bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Relationship between transformational leadership behaviors and manufacturing strategy
Authors: Birasnav M. 
Published: April 2014

Purpose– It is widely agreed that top management's leadership behavior is a source for achieving and sustaining competitive advantage. Very few research studies analyzed the prevalence of transformational leadership style in the manufacturing environment, and importantly, the associations between transformational behaviors and manufacturing strategies in connection with flexibility, quality, delivery, and cost are not yet deeply explored in the literature. In this direction, efforts are initiated to explain the relationships between transformational leadership behaviors and manufacturing strategies in this study. The paper aims to discuss these issues.Design/methodology/approach– A systematic literature review was conducted by analyzing all traditional and contemporary research studies in the fields of leadership and operations management in order to examine the link between transformational leadership and manufacturing strategies comprising of flexibility, quality, delivery, and cost strategy.Findings– It was found from the review that top-level leaders exhibit transformational leadership behaviors while implementing manufacturing strategies in their firms. In particular, transformational leaders are capable to transform the production system into flexible system, and in addition, they develop new production processes for manufacturing both new and old products. Such leaders ensure quality in all the levels of production process and support to speed up order delivery process with the help of technology. Finally, they also concentrate on reducing cost growth.Research limitations/implications– This study is bounded by its focus on Bass and Avolio's transformational leadership behaviors and Ward and Duray's manufacturing strategies comprising of flexibility, quality, delivery, and cost strategy.Originality/value– This study shows that transformational leaders, in the manufacturing environment, use manufacturing strategy as a tool to improve operational performance. Thus, they have potential to achieve and sustain competitive advantage through formulation of manufacturing strategy.
Does message placement influence risk perception and affect?
Authors: Lachlan Kenneth , R. Spence Patric 
Published: April 2014

Purpose
– A recent body of research in crisis communications suggests that risk awareness and negative affect concerning a risk may be separate psychological constructs. These constructs may have independent and combined implications for crisis communication practitioners, in terms of message placement and audience responses. Making affected audiences aware of the nature of a risk, and coupling this awareness with an appropriate degree of negative affect, may be critical in motivating individuals to take action to protect themselves. The purpose of this paper is to discuss the above issues.

Design/methodology/approach
– In order to explore the best outlets for inducing risk awareness and appropriate levels of negative affect, an experimental study explored the influence of print, video, and combined messages on these factors. The experiment also examined whether or not order of presentation of print and video messages would be relevant.

Findings
– The findings indicate that the use of organization-produced messages placed in print media may reduce negative affect, while the order of presentation in multimedia approaches may have little effect on either construct. The findings are discussed in terms of their implications for those crafting public messages concerning developing crises, while suggesting that organizations must consider the highly arousing nature of televised risk messages when informing and persuading the public.

Originality/value
– This study moves the literature a step forward by offering an empirical assessment of the value of an organizational message in reducing negative affect. It moves beyond past studies exploring the combined impact of risk awareness and affect by examining their relationship with placement strategy, and does so by measuring actual audience reactions.
In defense of profit-seeking
Authors: Lingenfelter Jonathan , E. Block Walter 
Published: April 2014

Purpose
– Profits have a bad press. They are associated in the public mind with greed, avarice, self-seeking. The purpose of this paper is to make the case in behalf of profit-seeking, so as to right the balance of publications on this topic.

Design/methodology/approach
– The authors undertake an economic analysis of the phenomenon of profit-seeking. The paper explores how profits lead to resource allocation, wealth creation, the promotion of human welfare and well-being.

Findings
– The paper finds that the system of profit and loss, part and parcel of economic freedom and laissez faire capitalism, does indeed promote wealth. It is the last best chance to fight poverty. Contrary to the views of the economically illiterate, it does not cause inflation or the business cycle nor any other economic malady.

Originality/value
– We cannot give ourselves good marks as to originality. Adam Smith, Ludwig von Mises and Murray Rothbard beat us to the punch as to the benefits of the profit and loss private property rights system. However, as Friedrich Hayek said each generation must fight these battles in its own context. So, the authors claim value for this paper, since it confronts more modern criticisms, and addresses more recent contexts.
Foreign value-adding of industrial firms
Authors: Pehrsson Anders 
Published: April 2014

Purpose– There is a lack of research on how the industrial firm's international strategy is associated with basic and advanced value-adding modes of the wholly owned foreign subsidiary. The purpose of this paper is to fill the gap by answering two questions: how are relatedness between the firm and the foreign subsidiary, and the firm's international scope associated with foreign subsidiary's value-adding mode? How does the subsidiary's market experience moderate the relationships?Design/methodology/approach– The study develops a conceptual model that integrates strategy theory and internationalization theory in order to explain basic value-adding modes (promotion, sales, and after-sales services), and advanced modes that also include product development and/or production. Also, the study tests the model using statistical data from subsidiaries of Swedish firms operating in Germany, the USA, and the UK.Findings– It was found that greater relatedness between the core business unit of the parent firm and the foreign subsidiary favors a basic mode. However, the foreign subsidiary's market experience weakens the relationship, and the interaction triggers an advanced mode. Also, greater international scope of the firm favors an advanced mode.Research limitations/implications– The model test shows that research needs to consider both international strategy and market experience in explaining value-adding modes of an industrial firm's wholly owned subsidiary.Practical implications– By using the study contributions the industrial firm's efforts to efficiently implement international strategy would become more efficient as strategy coherence will increase.Originality/value– This paper contributes to literature on international strategy and internationalization by showing that international strategy and market experience of foreign markets mutually impact value-adding modes of wholly owned foreign subsidiaries.
Enhancing visualisation to communicate and execute strategy
Authors: de Salas Kristy , Huxley Craig 
Published: April 2014

Purpose
– Developing an organisational, business, or corporate strategy is an important process which sets the direction and the scope for the business, over a period of time. While any organisation can create their own strategy, not all strategies are well executed and lead to business success. What is required is a process that provides a holistic understanding of an organisational strategy, and clear links between the elements of the strategy and the organisational processes that will be central to its execution. The paper aims to discuss these issues.

Design/methodology/approach
– This paper describes three case studies of medium-sized organisations that were the research context in which the methodology for developing and representing Strategy-to-Process Maps was developed and iteratively refined.

Findings
– Each of these three case organisations had identified a need to better understand their strategic objectives by a stronger visual representation of the components of their strategy, as well as a need to identify how their daily operational tasks contributed to, or distracted from, the achievement of their strategic goals. These cases assisted in the creation of a method of both facilitating better understanding of strategy through visualisation, and better execution through linking strategy to process. This methodology resulted in the employees of these organisations gaining a much stronger understanding of the strategic directions of the organisation and improved the three elements of effective strategy execution: visibility; leverage and responsiveness.

Originality/value
– Strategy-to-Process Maps provide a new way in which organisations can communicate without reliance on any specific strategy development methodology; and can execute their strategy more effectively by linking it closely with organisational processes.
Determinants of quality corporate governance in Sub-Saharan Africa
Authors: Waweru Nelson 
Published: April 2014

Purpose– This study aims to examine the factors influencing the quality of corporate governance in South Africa (SA) and Kenya. Firm-level variables including performance, firm size, leverage, investment opportunities and audit quality were identified from the corporate governance literature.Design/methodology/approach– The study used panel data of 247-firm years obtained from the annual reports of the 50 largest companies listed on the Johannesburg Securities Exchange (JSE) of SA and 234-firm years obtained from the 49 companies listed on the Nairobi Stock Exchange (NSE). The author then used content analysis to extract the study variables from the annual reports and multiple regression analysis to determine their relationship.Findings– The study found audit quality and firm performance as the main factors influencing the quality of corporate governance in Kenya and SA. There are also differences in the quality of corporate governance between the two countries.Research limitations/implications– First the study sample consists of the 50 largest firms listed in the JSE of SA and another 49 companies listed in the NSE of Kenya. Since these are large companies, the results may not be generalized to other smaller firms operating in both SA and Kenya. Second, this study is constrained to SA and Kenya. Firms in other developing countries may differ from their SA and Kenyan counterparts.Originality/value– The results of this study are important to the King Committee and other corporate governance regulators in Sub-Saharan Africa, in their effort to improve corporate governance practices, minimize corporate failure and protect the well-being of the minority shareholders. Furthermore, the study contributes to the understanding of the variables affecting the quality of corporate governance in developing economies of Africa.
The regulation of statutory auditing: an institutional theory approach
Authors: Baker C. Richard , Bédard Jean , Prat dit Hauret Christian 
Published: April 2014

Purpose– This paper aims to examine the recent evolution of the regulation of statutory auditing since the passage of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 in the USA by comparing the regulatory structures for auditing in the USA, France and Canada.Design/methodology/approach– Using publicly available documents, the paper seeks to understand how the regulatory structures for statutory auditing have changed in the period since the passage of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. The USA, France and Canada were chosen for analysis because prior to Sarbanes-Oxley the regulatory structures of these three countries were relatively distinct, whereas subsequent to the Act they appear to be becoming similar.Findings– The authors interpret the increasing apparent similarity in the regulatory structures for statutory auditing in these three countries to be the result of external pressures from global capital markets for standardized regulatory practices. However, this apparent similarity may also be a form of “decoupling”, whereby actors in the institutional field of professional regulation, under pressures from powerful external forces, seek to enhance their legitimacy while maintaining internal flexibility and a certain capacity for resistance against external pressures in the institutional field.Research limitations/implications– The paper relies on a qualitative analysis of regulatory structures based on a review and analysis of publicly available documents and legislation. As such, it has limitations similar to other qualitative studies.Practical implications– The regulation of statutory auditing is important to society both to assure the proper functioning of capital markets and to provide reliable information to the general public. Gaining a better understanding of the regulatory structures for statutory auditing advances the public interest.Originality/value– There have been few prior research efforts that have examined the regulation of statutory auditing through the lens of new institutional theory.
Auditors General ' s impact on administrations: a pan-Canadian study (2001-2011)
Authors: Morin Danielle 
Published: April 2014

Purpose– The influence that Supreme Audit Institutions (SAIs) exert on management of administrations through performance audits has been examined very little and questioned even less. This study of the impact of Auditors General (AG) on management of six Canadian administrations for the 2001-2011 period aims to highlight the auditors ' successes and the limits imposed on them in their role of agents of change for administrations.Design/methodology/approach– A survey was sent out to a total of 125 respondents identified by the authorities of the targeted organizations. Eighty-seven usable questionnaires were completed (70% response rate).Findings– AG appear to influence the organizational life of Canadian entities to a moderate extent. The figures suggest that auditors do exert an influence on the organizations audited, but their influence attempts fail fairly often. Indirect powers to reward and punish conferred on AG by their institutional status are conditioned not only by the will of the central and political authorities of the entities audited but also by the will and capacity of parliamentarians to assume real control over the executive branch. One explanation for this mitigated influence is that the “obligatory reverence” that SAIs inspire in administrations masks the real value that auditees perceive in auditors ' work.Research limitations/implications– Given the ten-year period that the study covered, it had to deal with the mortality of respondents and the loss of organizational memory.Practical implications– The study gives insights about the auditees ' recognition regarding the auditors ' added value to administrations through their performance audits.Originality/value– This paper fulfils an identified need for further empirical research on AG ' s impact on administrations through their performance audits.
Long‐term changes to the frequency of occurrence of British moths are consistent with opposing and synergistic effects of climate and land‐use changes
Authors: Fox Richard , Oliver Tom H. , Harrower Colin , Parsons Mark S. , Thomas Chris D. , Roy David B. 
Published: April 2014

Summary

Species’ distributions are likely to be affected by a combination of environmental drivers. We used a data set of 11 million species occurrence records over the period 1970–2010 to assess changes in the frequency of occurrence of 673 macro‐moth species in Great Britain. Groups of species with different predicted sensitivities showed divergent trends, which we interpret in the context of land‐use and climatic changes.

A diversity of responses was revealed: 260 moth species declined significantly, whereas 160 increased significantly. Overall, frequencies of occurrence declined, mirroring trends in less species‐rich, yet more intensively studied taxa.

Geographically widespread species, which were predicted to be more sensitive to land use than to climate change, declined significantly in southern Britain, where the cover of urban and arable land has increased.

Moths associated with low nitrogen and open environments (based on their larval host plant characteristics) declined most strongly, which is also consistent with a land‐use change explanation.

Some moths that reach their northern (leading edge) range limit in southern Britain increased, whereas species restricted to northern Britain (trailing edge) declined significantly, consistent with a climate change explanation.

Not all species of a given type behaved similarly, suggesting that complex interactions between species’ attributes and different combinations of environmental drivers determine frequency of occurrence changes.

Synthesis and applications. Our findings are consistent with large‐scale responses to climatic and land‐use changes, with some species increasing and others decreasing. We suggest that land‐use change (e.g. habitat loss, nitrogen deposition) and climate change are both major drivers of moth biodiversity change, acting independently and in combination. Importantly, the diverse responses revealed in this species‐rich taxon show that multifaceted conservation strategies are needed to minimize negative biodiversity impacts of multiple environmental changes. We suggest that habitat protection, management and ecological restoration can mitigate combined impacts of land‐use change and climate change by providing environments that are suitable for existing populations and also enable species to shift their ranges.
Desert shrub responses to experimental modification of precipitation seasonality and soil depth: relationship to the two‐layer hypothesis and ecohydrological niche
Authors: Germino Matthew J. , Reinhardt Keith 
Published: April 2014

Summary

Ecohydrological niches are important for understanding plant community responses to climate shifts, particularly in dry lands. According to the two‐layer hypothesis, selective use of deep‐soil water increases growth or persistence of woody species during warm and dry summer periods and thereby contributes to their coexistence with shallow‐rooted herbs in dry ecosystems. The resource‐pool hypothesis further suggests that shallow‐soil water benefits growth of all plants while deep‐soil water primarily enhances physiological maintenance and survival of woody species. Few studies have directly tested these by manipulating deep‐soil water availability and observing the long‐term outcomes.

We predicted that factors promoting infiltration and storage of water in deep soils, specifically greater winter precipitation and soil depth, would enhance Artemisia tridentata (big sagebrush) in cold, winter‐wet/summer‐dry desert. Sagebrush responses to 20 years of winter irrigation were compared to summer‐ or no irrigation, on plots having relatively deep or shallow soils (2 m vs. 1 m depths).

Winter irrigation increased sagebrush cover, and crown and canopy volumes, but not density (individuals/plot) compared to summer or no irrigation, on deep‐soil plots. On shallow‐soil plots, winter irrigation surprisingly decreased shrub cover and size, and summer irrigation had no effect. Furthermore, multiple regression suggested that the variations in growth were related (i) firstly to water in shallow soils (0–0.2 m) and secondly to deeper soils (> 1 m deep) and (ii) more by springtime than by midsummer soil water. Water‐use efficiency increased considerably on shallow soils without irrigation and was lowest with winter irrigation.

Synthesis. Sagebrush was more responsive to the seasonal timing of precipitation than to total annual precipitation. Factors that enhanced deep‐water storage (deeper soils plus more winter precipitation) led to increases in Artemisia tridentata that were consistent with the two‐layer hypothesis, and the contribution of shallow water to growth on these plots was consistent with the resource‐pool hypothesis. However, shallow‐soil water also had negative effects on sagebrush, suggesting an ecohydrological trade‐off not considered in these or related theories. The interaction between precipitation timing and soil depth indicates that increased winter precipitation could lead to a mosaic of increases and decreases in A. tridentata across landscapes having variable soil depth.
Sentinel lymph node mapping for defining site and extent of elective radiotherapy management of regional nodes in Merkel cell carcinoma: A pilot case series
Authors: Naehrig Diana , Uren Roger F , Emmett Louise , Ioannou Kim , Hong Angela , Wratten Chris , Thompson John F , Hruby George 
Published: April 2014

SummaryMerkel cell carcinoma is a rare and aggressive skin malignancy. We discuss sentinel lymph node mapping which is a valuable decision aid for radiotherapy management and planning of treatment volumes as illustrated by four cases.
Radiographer commenting of trauma radiographs: A survey of the benefits, barriers and enablers to participation in an Australian healthcare setting
Authors: Neep Michael J , Steffens Tom , Owen Rebecca , McPhail Steven M 
Published: April 2014

AbstractIntroductionRadiographer abnormality detection systems that highlight abnormalities on trauma radiographs (‘red dot’ system) have been operating for more than 30 years. Recently, a number of pitfalls have been identified. These limitations initiated the evolution of a radiographer commenting system, whereby a radiographer provides a brief description of abnormalities identified in emergency healthcare settings. This study investigated radiographers' participation in abnormality detection systems, their perceptions of benefits, barriers and enablers to radiographer commenting, and perceptions of potential radiographer image interpretation services for emergency settings.MethodsA cross‐sectional survey was implemented. Participants included radiographers from four metropolitan hospitals in Queensland, Australia. Conventional descriptive statistics, histograms and thematic analysis were undertaken.ResultsSeventy‐three surveys were completed and included in the analysis (68% response rate); 30 (41%) of respondents reported participating in abnormality detection in 20% or less of examinations, and 26(36%) reported participating in 80% or more of examinations. Five overarching perceived benefits of radiographer commenting were identified: assisting multidisciplinary teams, patient care, radiographer ability, professional benefits and quality of imaging. Frequently reported perceived barriers included ‘difficulty accessing image interpretation education’, ‘lack of time’ and ‘low confidence in interpreting radiographs’. Perceived enablers included ‘access to image interpretation education’ and ‘support from radiologist colleagues’.ConclusionsA range of factors are likely to contribute to the successful implementation of radiographer commenting in addition to abnormality detection in emergency settings. Effective image interpretation education amenable to completion by radiographers would likely prove valuable in preparing radiographers for participation in abnormality detection and commenting systems in emergency settings.