bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A decomposition and hierarchical approach for business performance measurement and management
Authors: Taticchi Paolo , Tonelli Flavio , Cagnazzo Luca 
Published: November 2009

PurposePerformance measurement and management (PMM) is a key practice to drive modern businesses. The literature available in this field highlights a certain maturity regarding performance measurement systems, while few frameworks have been proposed for PMM, which is today's target. Hence this paper aims to focus on the development of a new framework for providing direction and guidance to an organization in measuring and managing its performance.Design/methodology/approachThe proposed framework is developed based on the strengths of the axiomatic design (AD) and the analytical hierarchy process (AHP) techniques.FindingsThe framework proposed, namely “Business System Design Decomposition” (BSDD), offers a holistic approach to PMM, identifies cause‐effect relationships in business processes, measures performance versus stakeholders, and offers interlinking between performance indicators. The result is a deep understanding of the business environment and a real step forward for PMM.Research limitations/implicationsThe proposed framework for PMM needs to be validated through an empirical approach or by a clinical approach utilizing a case study.Practical implicationsThe paper offers to academics, managers and practitioners a framework to understand, measure and manage business performance. Moreover, the application of the framework represents a learning process for the people involved in the project.Originality/valueLittle research is available regarding holistic performance measurement and management systems and the understanding of quantitative relations between performance indicators. By combining two existing methodologies, the framework proposed adds value to the existing body of knowledge and offers good insights for addressing future research.
The dilemma of performance appraisal
Authors: Prowse Peter , Prowse Julie 
Published: November 2009

PurposeThis paper aims to evaluate the aims and methods of appraisal, and the difficulties encountered in the appraisal process.Design/methodology/approachThe paper uses a review of the literature to evaluate the development of appraisals and argues that the critical area of line management development that was identified as a critical success factor in appraisals has been ignored in the later literature evaluating the effectiveness of performance appraisals.FindingsThe review identifies the lack of theoretical development in appraisal and argues the psychological approach of analysis and a more critical realisation of appraisal, re‐evaluating the challenge to remove subjectivity and bias in judgement of appraisal.Research limitations/implicationsFurther evaluation of key interpersonal skills is required for appraisal systems to develop performance.Practical implicationsThe use and design of performance pay in public and private services linked to appraisal have not always improved organisational performance and can contribute to reduced motivation.Originality/valueLittle research has evaluated the current increases in using appraisals and the changes in focus from appraisal to performance management. The paper adds value to the existing body of knowledge and offers insights for practitioners and researchers.
Pervasiveness, severity, and remediation of internal control material weaknesses under SOX Section 404 and audit fees
Authors: Mitra Santanu 
Published: November 2009

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to examine the association between pervasiveness, severity, and remediation of internal control material weakness (ICMW) reported by the SEC registrants pursuant to SOX Section 404 and audit fees.Design/methodology/approachThe paper employs multivariate regression models for a sample of 854 firms that disclosed ICMW for the first time in 2004, 2005, or 2006, to investigate the empirical relationship of pervasiveness and severity of ICMW and its subsequent remediation with audit fees.FindingsThe analyses demonstrate that audit fees are significantly positively related to the severity (and pervasiveness) of ICMW in the years of ICMW disclosures and are significantly negatively related to the remediation of internal control weaknesses in the years when ICMW remediation took place. The test results further demonstrate that the remediation of systematic control weaknesses has a greater effect on reduction of audit fees compared to the remediation of nonsystematic (transaction/account related) control weaknesses, though the remediation of both systematic and nonsystematic control weaknesses is accompanied by audit fee declines.Research limitations/implicationsThe study produces evidence on pricing audit services by incumbent auditors in response to the severity of internal material control weaknesses and their remediation in subsequent fiscal periods. Its results shed light on certain new aspects of audit fee determinants in the post‐SOX period by virtue of their implications that the pervasiveness and severity of internal control problems induce auditors to make an upward fee adjustment while their remediation has a moderating effect on pricing audit services.Originality/valueThe study's finding is a useful addition to the existing fee literature and is relevant for the post‐SOX world which experienced a structural change in financial accounting and auditing environment.
Agency problems in stock market‐driven acquisitions
Authors: Fung Scott , Jo Hoje , Tsai Shih‐Chuan 
Published: November 2009

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to examine the ways in which stock market valuation and managerial incentives jointly affect merger and acquisition (M&A) decisions and post‐M&A performance, and to provide new evidence on the agency implications where such acquisitions are driven by the stock market.Design/methodology/approachUtilizing all publicly‐traded US firms in the NYSE, AMEX and NASDAQ during the period from 1992 to 2005 (excluding financial and utility firms), obtained from COMPUSTAT, CRSP, I/B/E/S, and the M&A database provided by SDC Platinum, this paper adopts a two‐stage approach: the first stage, predicts the probability of an M&A based on the market valuation variables; the second stage, regresses the post‐M&A firm performance on the predicted probability of a merger or acquisition from the first stage and other control variables.FindingsMarket valuation has a significant influence on corporate acquisition decisions, particularly for those firms whose compensation packages include less managerial equity ownership, more executive stock options and no long‐term incentive plans, and in those firms where CEOs are serving on the board of directors. The value‐destroying acquisitions made by these types of managers are likely to be financed using the firms' stocks, executed with high premiums and undertaken during periods of high market valuation.Originality/valueThe main finding suggests that market‐driven acquisitions could be value destroying when managers engage in opportunistic acquisitions for reasons of self‐interest. Managerial myopia, overconfidence, misaligned incentives, empire‐building motives and poor corporate governance can all exacerbate the agency problem of market‐driven acquisitions.
An analysis of short‐run performance of cross‐border mergers and acquisitions
Authors: Uddin Moshfique , Boateng Agyenim 
Published: November 2009

PurposeThe aim of this paper is to consider the short‐run performance of UK firms acquiring foreign target firms over a period of 1994‐2003 and to explore the impact of deal size and other firm‐specific factors on performance. Cross‐border mergers and acquisitions have witnessed a substantial growth worldwide, with the UK being one of the top acquiring nations in the global market for corporate control.Design/methodology/approachThe paper first uses event study methodology to analyse short‐run share price performance. Then a univariate analysis to examine the factors influencing the short‐run performance based on a sample of 373 acquisitions over the period of 1994 to 2003.FindingsThe study finds that the UK acquirers do not earn statistically significant positive abnormal returns in the short‐run. Univariate analysis shows that short‐run performance of UK acquirers is influenced by the form of target, acquisition strategy, geographical origin of target firm and the payment methods. However, the study finds no support for size of acquisition deal as a determinant of performance of acquiring firm.Originality/valueThe paper attempts to shed more light and extend existing research in cross‐border mergers and acquisitions by examining short‐run performance and factors influencing performance.
Building innovative models of territorial governance
Authors: Argiolas G. , Cabras S. , Dessì C. , Floris M. 
Published: November 2009

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to examine public‐private partnerships with a particular focus on the impact that such partnerships have on territorial governance. These organizations are spread all over the world with the goal of promoting community participation and sustainable development, and engaging citizens and organizations in the decision making of local governance. This situation underlines important changes in governance and territorial governance models.Design/methodology/approachA mix of qualitative and quantitative approaches are used. Analysing the existing literature, the paper focuses on specific type of public‐private partnership: the Local Action Group (LAG). Specifically, this study focuses on 63 Italian LAGs, in order to highlight their role in the challenges that local governance has to face.FindingsFindings suggest that public‐private partnerships can represent a new model of governance – the Partnership Governance – with features that differentiate this form from other models.Originality/valueThrough a relatively novel statistical technique, combined with interviews, document analysis and direct observations, on the one hand the public‐private partnership phenomenon is observed, and on the other hand, a new mode of governance that is affecting the worldwide scenario in a current era and that is introducing ethical principles in governance systems is conceived.
Non‐place marketing: transport hubs as gateways, flagships and symbols?
Authors: Warnaby Gary 
Published: November 2009

PurposeThe purpose of this paper it to investigate possible uses of what Augé terms “non‐places”, with particular reference to transport infrastructure, in place marketing messages and activities.Design/methodology/approachFollowing a review of the relevant academic literature in the areas of place marketing and transport architecture, the paper considers the possible role of transport infrastructure in place marketing.FindingsThe paper identifies a more overtly emblematic role for transport architecture – particularly airports and railway stations – in terms of their possible roles as gateways, flagships and symbols, and their consequent use in place marketing activities.Research limitations/implicationsThis is an exploratory investigation comprising a review of the existing literature. Some possible avenues for further research in this area emerge.Practical implicationsThe paper provides place marketers with an alternative perspective on the possible role of transport infrastructure in place marketing activity.Originality/valueThe paper's value is in its alternative perspective on the role of transport infrastructure, regarding infrastructure as a more overtly symbolic attribute of place, as opposed to its more usual portrayal as little more than a hygiene factor in place marketing messages.
Well‐being and the democracy of compulsory purchase
Authors: Riley Jonathan 
Published: November 2009

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to consider the powers under which compulsory purchase orders (CPOs) are made, including the “well‐being powers” of local authorities, the procedural and policy requirements which must be met for a CPO to be confirmed and how all of those fare in terms of meeting democratic and human rights.Design/methodology/approachThe paper outlines the key CPO policy tests and process formalities and discusses what the acquiring authority needs to show to be successful, where the balance of power lies and how aspects of the process may be fair or unfair for landowners, particularly those without significant fighting funds. The research moves on to look at the wider issues of how democracy and human rights are represented and held up in the CPO process, concluding that while there are rights to property and a home, the qualifications to these mean that the public interest can often quite easily override these “basic” rights.FindingsAfter briefly looking at the related issue of the “privatisation” of city centre road networks, such as in Liverpool, the paper finishes by comparing CPOs under the new nationally significant infrastructure projects regime, suggesting the concept of a new “national well‐being” test in which the national interest in the scheme will be weighed against local impacts. The paper concludes that the lack of clarity around procedure for that regime raises the risk for all involved of delay and further uncertainty from legal challenges.Originality/valueThe paper contains an analysis of the place of democracy in the compulsory purchase of land for well‐being purposes, including a consideration of the balance between national well being and democracy in the Planning Act 2008.
A theory of linkage between monetary policy and banking failure in developing countries
Authors: Cadet Raulin L. 
Published: November 2009

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to present a model that studies the impact of a tightening monetary policy on banking failure in a developing country.Design/methodology/approachThe interest rate on treasury bills is included in the model to measure monetary policy. Since the model considers developing countries with low‐income level, the paper assumes that a secondary market does not exist.FindingsThe model shows that, despite treasury bills constituting an alternative source of profit for banks in developing countries, a tightening monetary policy increases the probability of banking failure. In addition, the model shows that efficiency level explains the asymmetric effect of monetary policy on the profit of the banks.Practical implicationsThe policy implication of the results of the paper is that the central bank should take into account the adverse effect of a tightening monetary policy on banking failure, when planning policy decisions.Originality/valueThe paper offers insights into the linkage between monetary policy and banking failure in developing countries.
Exchange rate assessments for Australia and New Zealand
Authors: Edison Hali , Vitek Francis 
Published: November 2009

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to assess the level of the real effective exchange rate in Australia and New Zealand.Design/methodology/approachThe paper describes three empirical models commonly used to conduct exchange rate assessments and applies them to data for Australia and New Zealand.FindingsThe baseline results using data and medium‐term projections, available as of October 2008, suggest that the Australian and New Zealand dollar were broadly in line with fundamentals, but with a wide variation across models. A battery of sensitivity tests illustrates that altering the underlying assumptions can yield substantially different assessments. The results are particularly sensitive to the choice of assessment horizon, the set of economies included in the sample, medium‐term forecasts, and the exchange rate reference period.Originality/valueThe paper provides an assessment of the exchange rates in Australia and New Zealand.
Implementation of the European Water Framework Directive: Natural variability associated with the CARLIT method on the rocky shores of the Ligurian Sea (Italy)
Authors: Asnaghi Valentina , Chiantore Mariachiara , Bertolotto Rosa‐Maria , Parravicini Valeriano , Cattaneo‐Vietti Riccardo , Gaino Federico , Moretto Paolo , Privitera Davide , Mangialajo Luisa 
Published: November 2009

AbstractThe Water Framework Directive (WFD) 2000/60/EC, adopted by the European Community in 2000 with the goal of maintaining and improving the aquatic environments, requires that member states achieve and maintain a good ecological status of all water bodies by 2015. In the marine context, the ecological status has to be quantified applying indexes based on appropriate key biological elements, which allow the categorization of water bodies into five Ecological Status (ES) classes. The CARLIT index is a cartographic monitoring tool enabling the Ecological Quality Ratio (EQR) to be calculated using macroalgae in coastal hard bottoms as a key biological element; at present it is being applied in Spain, France and Italy. To detect actual changes of water quality and, consequently, rely on the application of indexes for the assessment of the ecological status in the marine environment, it is necessary to evaluate their sensitivity to natural variability at different temporal and spatial scales. In this study we present a first quantification of natural (spatial and temporal) variability of EQR‐CARLIT quality assessment in 2006 and 2007 along the Ligurian coast (North‐Western Mediterranean, Italy). The EQR‐CARLIT values recorded along the Ligurian coastline show that natural variability of EQR‐CARLIT is low and that it does not affect the attribution of a given stretch of coast to a particular ES class, in agreement with the major human pressures acting in the area (urbanization, river load, sea‐farming). A small‐scale variability was detected, strengthening the use of cartography of the whole rocky shore, whenever possible, or, alternatively, the assessment of the ecological status for long stretches of coast, to encompass the small‐scale variability due to local factors.
Characterization of the Isophthalate Degradation Genes of
Comamonas
sp. Strain E6
Authors: Fukuhara Yuki , Inakazu Keisuke , Kodama Norimichi , Kamimura Naofumi , Kasai Daisuke , Katayama Yoshihiro , Fukuda Masao , Masai Eiji 
Published: November 2009

ABSTRACT

The isophthalate (IPA) degradation gene cluster (
iphACBDR
) responsible for the conversion of IPA into protocatechuate (PCA) was isolated from
Comamonas
sp. strain E6, which utilizes phthalate isomers as sole carbon and energy sources via the PCA 4,5-cleavage pathway. Based on amino acid sequence similarity, the
iphA
,
iphC
,
iphB
,
iphD
, and
iphR
genes were predicted to code for an oxygenase component of IPA dioxygenase (IPADO), a periplasmic IPA binding receptor, a 1,2-dihydroxy-3,5-cyclohexadiene-1,5-dicarboxylate (1,5-DCD) dehydrogenase, a reductase component of IPADO, and an IclR-type transcriptional regulator, respectively. The
iphACBDR
genes constitute a single transcriptional unit, and transcription of the
iph
catabolic operon was induced during growth of E6 on IPA. The
iphA
,
iphD
, and
iphB
genes were expressed in
Escherichia coli
. Crude IphA and IphD converted IPA in the presence of NADPH into a product which was transformed to PCA by IphB. These results suggested that IPADO is a two-component dioxygenase that consists of a terminal oxygenase component (IphA) and a reductase component (IphD) and that
iphB
encodes the 1,5-DCD dehydrogenase. Disruption of
iphA
and
iphB
resulted in complete loss of growth of E6 on IPA. Inactivation of
iphD
significantly affected growth on IPA, and the
iphC
mutant did not grow on IPA at neutral pH. These results indicated that the
iphACBD
genes are essential for the catabolism of IPA in E6. Disruption of
iphR
resulted in faster growth of E6 on IPA, suggesting that
iphR
encodes a repressor for the
iph
catabolic operon. Promoter analysis of the operon supported this notion.
Multiplex PCR Method for Detection of Three
Aeromonas
Enterotoxin Genes
Authors: Bin Kingombe Cesar I. , D'Aoust Jean-Yves , Huys Geert , Hofmann Lisa , Rao Mary , Kwan Judy 
Published: November 2009

ABSTRACT

A novel multiplex PCR method using three sets of specific primers was developed for the detection of the cytotoxic (
act
), heat-labile (
alt
), and heat-stable (
ast
) enterotoxin genes in
Aeromonas
spp. This assay was used to characterize 35 reference strains as well as 537 food-borne isolates. A total of seven gene pattern combinations were encountered, including
act
,
alt
,
act/alt
,
act/alt/ast
,
act/alt/
148-bp amplicon,
alt/ast
, and
alt
/148-bp amplicon. The
alt
gene was detected with 34 reference strains (97%) and occurred singly in 14% of these strains. The frequency of occurrence of the
act/alt
,
act/alt/ast
, and
alt/ast
gene patterns in reference strains was 14 (40%), 2 (6%), and 2 (6%), respectively. An unpredicted amplicon was detected in 11 reference strains (31%). Characterization of this amplicon showed that its size was 148 bp, as generated by the AHLF and AHLR primers, and that it uniquely aligned with the
Aeromonas salmonicida
A449 genome sequence (GenBank accession number CP000644). This amplicon was named
Aeromonas salmonicida
subsp.
salmonicida
hypothetical protein amplicon (AssHPA). In the 537 food-borne isolates, the
act
and
alt
genes were most dominant and were detected in 349 (65%) and 452 (84%) isolates, respectively, either alone or in combinations. The
act
and
alt
genes occurred singly in 30 (6%) and 128 (24%) of these strains, respectively. The
act/alt
gene pattern occurred in 315 isolates (59%), whereas the
ast
gene was always linked to strains exhibiting the
act/alt/ast
and
alt/ast
gene combinations in 4 (0.7%) and 5 (0.9%) isolates, respectively. The uniplex amplification of three enterotoxin genes separately confirms the specificity of the unique selected primers. This multiplex PCR is rapid and simple and can detect the presence of three
Aeromonas
enterotoxin genes in a single assay.
Association of Beta-Glucan Endogenous Production with Increased Stress Tolerance of Intestinal Lactobacilli
Authors: Stack Helena M. , Kearney Niamh , Stanton Catherine , Fitzgerald Gerald F. , Ross R. Paul 
Published: November 2009

ABSTRACT

The exopolysaccharide beta-glucan has been reported to be associated with many health-promoting and prebiotic properties. The membrane-associated glycosyltransferase enzyme (encoded by the
gtf
gene), responsible for microbial beta-glucan production, catalyzes the conversion of sugar nucleotides into beta-glucan. In this study, the
gtf
gene from
Pediococcus parvulus
2.6 was heterologously expressed in
Lactobacillus paracasei
NFBC 338. When grown in the presence of glucose (7%, wt/vol), the recombinant strain (pNZ44-GTF
+
) displayed a “ropy” phenotype, while scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed strands of polysaccharide-linking neighboring cells. Beta-glucan biosynthesis was confirmed by agglutination tests carried out with
Streptococcus pneumoniae
type 37-specific antibodies, which specifically detect glucan-producing cells. Further analysis showed a ∼2-fold increase in viscosity in broth media for the beta-glucan-producing strain over 24 h compared to the control strain, which did not show any significant increase in viscosity. In addition, we analyzed the ability of beta-glucan-producing
Lactobacillus paracasei
NFBC 338 to survive both technological and gastrointestinal stresses. Heat stress assays revealed that production of the polysaccharide was associated with significantly increased protection during heat stress (60-fold), acid stress (20-fold), and simulated gastric juice stress (15-fold). Bile stress assays revealed a more modest but significant 5.5-fold increase in survival for the beta-glucan-producing strain compared to that of the control strain. These results suggest that production of a beta-glucan exopolysaccharide by strains destined for use as probiotics may afford them greater performance/protection during cultivation, processing, and ingestion. As such, expression of the
gtf
gene may prove to be a straightforward approach to improve strains that might otherwise prove sensitive in such applications.