bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Seeking the next wave of growth in a dynamic business environment: a case for Nitor Infotech Pvt. Ltd.
Authors: Saxena Manisha , Nandi Subrata Kumar 
Published: May 2019

Learning outcomes
The learning outcomes of this study include: recognizing the strategic inflexion points and related business and strategic perspectives in the life of an organization; understanding sources of sustained competitive advantage and connect it with resource-based view for internal analysis; applying dynamic capability theory to identify capabilities that help an IT company stay relevant in an IT sector characterized by VUCA (an acronym for volatility, uncertainty, complexity and ambiguity) environment; analyzing the multi-dimensional and multi-contextual challenge an organization faces, or is likely to face, in the foreseeable future and the possible ways it addresses or should address them; evaluating strategies adopted at various points of an organization’s journey for their effectiveness; and helping a company co-create value for its customers.

Case overview/synopsis
This case of Nitor Infotech Private Limited (Nitor), a mid-sized software product outsourcing company, outlines its decade-long journey, highlighting its achievements. While the company has consistently grown by leveraging its expertise in software product engineering and its domain knowledge in the healthcare segment, it entered into a stage of its life cycle where it had to develop a long-term strategy to effectively compete in the product engineering market. Nitor’s strategy was built around product engineering and outsourced product development. The two major choices for a software company were either to develop its own product and thereby own the intellectual property (IP) or to develop modules which would be part of a product that would be owned by a client. In the latter case, the IP would be held by the client. So far Nitor chose to follow the second option by developing components for its client’s products. Although this strategy allowed it to develop expertise in a particular domain, and serve different customers in a particular market, the chances of a competitor attacking its position was high. On the other hand, if it developed its own product, it can create its own brand name and can sell packaged software to several different customers. However, the challenge with the latter is that the cost of marketing could be very high. The choice for the company in the future is to decide on selecting a specific strategy to expand its international business.

Complexity academic level
This case is appropriate for an undergraduate and postgraduate management course in the area of strategic management. The level of difficulty can be from medium to high depending on the learning level. Knowledge of management fundamentals is not a prerequisite but is desirable for case analysis.

Supplementary materials
Teaching notes are available for educators only. Please contact your library to gain login details or email support@emeraldinsight.com to request teaching notes.

Subject code
CSS 11: Strategy
Threats of common method variance in student assessment of instruction instruments
Authors: Garger John , Jacques Paul H. , Gastle Brian W. , Connolly Christine M. 
Published: May 2019

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to demonstrate that common method variance, specifically single-source bias, threatens the validity of a university-created student assessment of instructor instrument, suggesting that decisions made from these assessments are inherently flawed or skewed. Single-source bias leads to generalizations about assessments that might influence the ability of raters to separate multiple behaviors of an instructor.Design/methodology/approachExploratory factor analysis, nested confirmatory factor analysis and within-and-between analysis are used to assess a university-developed, proprietary student assessment of instructor instrument to determine whether a hypothesized factor structure is identifiable. The instrument was developed over a three-year period by a university-mandated committee.FindingsFindings suggest that common method variance, specifically single-source bias, resulted in the inability to identify hypothesized constructs statistically. Additional information is needed to identify valid instruments and an effective collection method for assessment.Practical implicationsInstitutions are not guaranteed valid or useful instruments even if they invest significant time and resources to produce one. Without accurate instrumentation, there is insufficient information to assess constructs for teaching excellence. More valid measurement criteria can result from using multiple methods, altering collection times and educating students to distinguish multiple traits and behaviors of individual instructors more accurately.Originality/valueThis paper documents the three-year development of a university-wide student assessment of instructor instrument and carries development through to examining the psychometric properties and appropriateness of using this instrument to evaluate instructors.
Shaping business through and within networks: evolving from a traditional to a digital firm
Authors: Freytag Per Vagn , Philipsen Kristian 
Published: May 2019

Purpose
Although individual and business actors are often mentioned as an important part of clarifying the stages that firms and their networks go through from starting up to becoming established, most studies have emphasised activities and resources rather than actors. Therefore, more needs to be known about how actors shape and are shaped through and within firms’ networks.

Design/methodology/approach
To clarify the process of reshaping business in networks, the focus of this study is on the role of actors in firms’ networks during the main stages of development. The major events for each stage are described in terms of how these events affect the interaction, alignment and interfaces between individual actors and business actors with a focus on individual and collective interests.

Findings
The individual actor plays a key role in the start-up stage, whereas the business actor has a key role in the final stage when the firm has become an important player in the industry. In later stages, the individual actor plays a gradually decreasing role and the business actor an increasing role. However, it appears that an analysis of the interplay between the two levels of analysis provides deeper insight into the shaping.

Originality/value
This study provides new insights into the role of the actor and how the actor shapes and is shaped by a firm and its network in different stages. Further, the study contributes by clarifying actors’ roles on two levels of analysis and shows the roles of interests, conflicts, interfaces and alignment in shaping firms and their networks.
Exploring conspicuous compassion as a brand management strategy
Authors: Childs Michelle , Kim Seeun 
Published: May 2019

Purpose
Cause-related marketing (CR-M) – promising to donate to a charity when consumers purchase specific products – is a popular brand strategy, particularly in the social media context. In light of Veblen’s theory of conspicuous consumption, the purpose of this experimental study is to test the impact of a brand’s level and the conspicuousness of a brand’s CR-M campaign on consumers’ brand-related responses. Results reveal a novel mechanism underlying the effects by showing that pride and guilt mediate results.

Design/methodology/approach
This research is based on two studies that used a 2 (brand level: high-end vs low-end) × 2 (conspicuous of CR-M campaign: conspicuous vs non-conspicuous) between-subjects experimental design with random assignment to conditions and manipulation checks.

Findings
Results reveal that consumers respond more favorably when high-end brands participate in CR-M, particularly when the CR-M promotion is conspicuous. That is, when a high-end brand partners with a charity, especially under conspicuous conditions, it significantly improves consumers’ brand attitudes and intent to share with others. Moreover, pride and guilt are important mediators in effects.

Practical implications
The results of this study offer strong implications for brand managers seeking to partner with charities in CR-M campaigns. Results suggest that implementing CR-M campaigns may be fruitful for brands, particularly high-end brands when they enhance the conspicuousness of their CR-M campaign.

Originality/value
Results empirically extend the notion of conspicuous consumption by demonstrating that social status can be achieved by displaying not only acquired goods but also benevolence.
Dermoscopy of cutaneous melanoma metastases: A color‐based pattern classification
Authors: Avilés‐Izquierdo Jose Antonio , Ciudad‐Blanco Cristina , Sánchez‐Herrero Alejandro , Mateos‐Mayo Ana , Nieto‐Benito Lula María , Rodríguez‐Lomba Enrique 
Published: May 2019

AbstractDermoscopic studies about cutaneous metastases of malignant melanoma (CMMM) are few. Our objective was to analyze the dermoscopic features of CMMM and propose a new dermoscopic pattern classification based on color pigmentation and some specific dermoscopic features. A retrospective evaluation of 150 dermoscopic images of CMMM taken from 40 patients was performed. One hundred CMMM images were individually evaluated by six dermatologists in order to classify them according to four dermoscopic patterns: (i) blue pattern; (ii) pink pattern; (iii) brown pattern; and (iv) mixed pattern. One hundred and fifty dermoscopic images including 50 CMMM and 100 benign lesions were evaluated by five dermatologists to calculate the accuracy of these patterns in the recognition of CMMM. An intra‐ and interobserver reproducibility agreement study between all different dermoscopic pattern classifications was performed. Seventy‐five percent of our cases of CMMM showed a monochromatic pattern. Light brown pigmented halo, peripheral gray spots and polymorphic atypical vessels were the most significant focal dermoscopic structures. The reproducibility of the color‐based dermoscopic pattern classification was superior to previous dermoscopic pattern classification. In summary, a dermoscopic pattern classification based on color pigmentation and some specific dermoscopic features may be useful in recognizing early cutaneous melanoma metastasis. Multicentric studies are recommended in order to lower the impact of interobserver variability.
Host traits and competitive ability jointly structure disease dynamics and community assembly
Authors: Kirk Devin , Shea Dylan , Start Denon 
Published: May 2019

Abstract

Parasitism and competition are both ubiquitous interactions in ecological communities. The ability of host species to interact directly via competition and indirectly through shared parasites suggests that host traits related to competition and parasitism are likely important in structuring communities and disease dynamics. Specifically, those host traits affecting competition and those mediating parasitism are often correlated either because of trade‐offs (in resource acquisition or resource allocation) or condition dependence, yet the consequences of these trait relationships for community and epidemiological dynamics are poorly understood.

We conducted a literature review of parasite‐related host traits–competitive ability relationships. We found that transmission–competitive ability relationships were most often reported, and that superior competitors exhibited elevated transmission relative to their less‐competitive counterparts in nearly 80% of the cases. We also found a significant number of virulence–competitive ability and parasite shedding–competitive ability relationships.

We investigated these links by altering the relationship between host competitive ability and three parasite‐related traits (transmission, virulence and parasite shedding rates) in a simple model, incorporating competitive asymmetries in a multi‐host community.

We show that these relationships can lead to a range of different communities. For example, depending on the strength and direction of these distinct trait relationships, we observed communities with anywhere from high parasite prevalence to complete parasite extinction, and either one, two or the maximum of three host species coexisting.

Our results suggest that parasite–competitive ability relationships may be common in nature, that further integration of these relationships can produce novel and unexpected community and disease dynamics, and that generalizations may allow for the prediction of how parasitism and competition jointly structure disease and diversity in natural communities.
General rules for environmental management to prioritise social ecological systems research based on a value of information approach
Authors: Davis Katrina J. , Chadès Iadine , Rhodes Jonathan R. , Bode Michael 
Published: May 2019

Abstract

Globally, billions of dollars are invested each year to help understand the dynamics of social ecological systems (SES) in bettering both social and environmental outcomes. However, there is no scientific consensus on which aspect of an SES is most important and urgent to understand; particularly given the realities of limited time and money.

Here we use a simulation‐based “value of information” approach to examine where research will deliver the most important information for environmental management in four SESs representing a range of real‐life environmental issues.

We find that neither social nor ecological information is consistently the most important: instead, researchers should focus on understanding the primary effects of their management actions.

Thus, when managers are undertaking social actions the highest research priority should be understanding the dynamics of social groups. Alternatively, when manipulating ecological systems it will be most important to quantify ecological population dynamics.

Synthesis and applications. Our results provide a standard assessment to determine the uncertain social ecological systems (SES) component with the highest expected impact for management outcomes. First, managers should determine the structure of their SES by identifying social and ecological nodes. Second, managers should identify the qualitative nature of the network, by determining which nodes are linked, but not the strength of those interactions. Finally, managers should identify the actions available to them to intervene in the SES. From these steps, managers will be able to identify the SES components that are closest to the management action(s), and it is these nodes and interactions that should receive priority research attention to achieve effective environmental decision making.
A synthesis of ecosystem aboveground productivity and its process variables under simulated drought stress
Authors: Gao Jiangbo , Zhang Linlin , Tang Ze , Wu Shaohong 
Published: May 2019

Abstract

Projected increases in drought duration and intensity under climate change considerably affect aboveground productivity (ANPP) and associated process variables (photosynthesis rates (Pn), stomatal conductance (gs), soil respiration (Rs) and soil water content (SWC)).

Although ANPP has been extensively studied across the ecosystems, there is a little consensus on how the spatiotemporal patterns of ANPP will be altered with increasing drought stress. Here, we present a global meta‐analysis of ANPP and the four variables (610 observations from 78 studies) for drought duration, intensity and their combination.

Forest‐ANPP had stronger negative responses to long‐term drought (34.44%; ≥4 years) than short‐term drought (10.78%; ≤1 year) and decreased more in Mediterranean forests than in tropical forests. Decreases in Pn and gs were strongest under long‐term moderate drought. In the short term, Rs increased by 5.66% under light drought, but decreased by 14.12% and 28.43% under moderate and severe droughts. Grass‐ANPP showed a nonlinear decrease with extended duration and the rate slowed. Within light to severe intensities, ANPP decreased linearly, but became stable under extreme condition. In the short term, ANPP reduced more seriously with increasing drought intensity (12.01%‐30.34%). With aggravation of drought stress, the reductions in Rs and SWC increased. There was significant heterogeneity in grassland responses to drought stress. The greatest decreases in ANPP, Pn and gs were observed in North America, and the reductions in Rs and SWC were greater in Western Europe. Shrub‐ANPP showed stronger negative responses to long‐term moderate drought (12.59%). Pn and gs declined significantly with increasing drought intensity. Variations in Rs to drought duration, intensity and their combination were more complex, either showing positive or negative responses (dominated).

Synthesis. Forest‐ANPP shows high sensitivity to long‐term moderate drought, whereas grass‐ANPP is more responsive to short‐term drought. Compared to forests and grasslands, shrub‐ANPP exhibits less sensitivity to droughts. Different responses of ecosystems were predominantly driven by physiological mechanisms or species differences in turnover time, community architecture and drought adaptation strategies. Given these findings, future studies should focus on nonlinear patterns, response thresholds and adaptation mechanisms when predicting and modeling feedback between ecosystems and climate change.
Predictive clinical‐genetic model of long‐term non‐response to tumor necrosis factor‐alpha inhibitor therapy in spondyloarthritis
Authors: Polo y La Borda Jessica , Campos José , Sanz Jesús , Andréu José Luis , Mulero Juan , Sánchez Alejandra 
Published: May 2019

AbstractAimTumor necrosis factor inhibitors (TNFi) are effective in controlling disease activity in spondyloarthritis (SpA). However, in a proportion of patients these treatments are ineffective or lead to adverse events. Recently, alternative therapies, such as interleukin (IL)‐17 or IL‐23 inhibitors, have emerged in the treatment of these pathologies. This study aimed to determine clinical and genetic predictors of non‐response to TNFi treatment in 118 spondyloarthritis patients diagnosed according to Assessment in SpondyloArthritis International Society (ASAS) criteria.MethodFrom the literature, 41 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were selected that had previously been associated with TNFi treatment response in spondyloarthropathies, rheumatoid arthritis and psoriasis. A clinical non‐response was defined as a decrease of <50% of initial Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI) in axial involvement, or a reduction of less than 1.2 of initial Disease Activity Score of 28 joints—C‐reactive protein (DAS28‐CRP) in patients with only peripheral involvement. Univariate and multivariate hazard ratios (HR) were determined using Cox proportional hazard models to analyze the potential prognostic factors affecting non‐response to TNFi treatment.ResultsThe clinical factors that significantly increased the non‐response rate were: global visual analog scale (VAS), CRP, BASDAI, Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index (BASFI), and the number of TNFi used. Only rs11591741 SNP showed an association with non‐response. In the multivariate analysis, females had a non‐response rate 4.46 times higher than males; each one‐point increase in the BASFI index increased the non‐response rate by 75%, and being a genotype GG vs GC or CC carrier was associated with an almost 4 times greater non‐response rate.ConclusionWe developed a clinical‐genetic model to identify SpA patients with a long‐term non‐response to TNFi therapy.
Whither the pin factory? Modern food supply chains and specialization in India
Authors: Sutradhar Rajib , Nuthalapati Chandra Sekhara Rao , Bellemare Marc F. 
Published: May 2019

AbstractWhat is the relationship between smallholder participation in modern food supply chains and their degree of economic specialization? We investigate this research question by looking at whether there is a systematic relationship between whether a household grows crops for a supermarket chain—participation in the supermarket channel—and how concentrated among fewer crops are that household's total landholdings and its output. Using longitudinal data from India, we find that there is no relationship between whether a household participates in the supermarket channel and that household's Herfindahl–Hirschman index for land, but there is a robust statistically significant and negative relationship between whether a household participates in the supermarket channel and that household's Herfindahl–Hirschman index for output. These findings hold true at both the extensive margin (i.e., when considering whether a household participates in the supermarket channel) and the intensive margin (i.e., when considering how much of a household's marketed output is sold through the supermarket chain). This suggests that instead of fostering a greater degree of specialization, participation in modern food supply chains might lead to greater diversification.
Survey on use of antenatal magnesium sulphate for fetal neuroprotection prior to preterm birth in Australia and New Zealand – Ongoing barriers and enablers
Authors: Gatman Kate , May Robyn , Crowther Caroline 
Published: May 2019

BackgroundClinical practice guidelines recommend the use of antenatal magnesium sulphate for fetal neuroprotection before preterm birth at <30 weeks’ gestation.AimsThis survey assessed the use of antenatal magnesium sulphate for fetal neuroprotection to determine if use has changed since the previous survey in 2012, and to evaluate enablers and barriers to use.Materials and MethodsA questionnaire was sent to clinical leaders at 29 hospitals with a neonatal intensive care unit in Australia and New Zealand asking at what gestational ages magnesium sulphate was given, if use was audited and any enablers and barriers to use.ResultsResponses were received for 24 (83%) hospitals. The use of magnesium sulphate for fetal neuroprotection was reported as 89% (IQR 80–90%), an increase from 80% (IQR 53–90%) from the earlier survey. The majority of health professionals were reported as using magnesium sulphate at <30 weeks’ gestation. The top enablers for use of magnesium sulphate were availability of pamphlets, posters, case record stickers and PowerPoint presentations. The main reasons as to why eligible women did not receive magnesium sulphate were imminent birth, the hospital being short staffed and the patient declined. The use of antenatal magnesium sulphate has been or is being audited in 11 (46%) of the hospitals.ConclusionsClinical leaders at institutions in Australia and New Zealand report that uptake in the use of magnesium sulphate for fetal neuroprotection has continued to increase since the earlier, bi‐national survey in 2012. Barriers to the use of magnesium sulphate identified have institutional and consumer implications.