bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Effects of offshore outsourcing of information technology work on client project management
Authors: Lacity Mary C. , Rottman Joseph W. 
Published: February 2009

PurposeWhile strategic outsourcing decisions are crafted by senior executives, they are executed by middle managers and staff who may not share the vision or enthusiasm of their senior leadership team. The purpose of this paper is to provide a deep understanding of the effects of outsourcing on one of those stakeholder groups – the client project managers – responsible for the implementation of outsourcing strategies, and to identify practices to better empower and enable them.Design/methodology/approachInterviews with 67 client project managers in 25 organizations responsible for integrating suppliers into project teams.FindingsClient project managers report 27 effects of outsourcing on their roles, including six positive effects and 21 negative effects.Practical implicationsSenior executives who implemented the following practices had more success with their outsourcing decisions: provide enough resources to implement the sourcing strategy, be willing to change internal work practices, build social capital with key supplier executives and seek independent assessment of sourcing strategy effectiveness.Originality/valueThe paper presents an original framework to categorize the effects of outsourcing on client project managers. The framework addresses six areas of concern: organizational support, project planning, knowledge transfer, process standards, managing work and managing people. The paper identifies four practices senior executives use to align and empower their employees to deliver the expected business benefits from strategic outsourcing decisions.
Corruption as a determinant of transaction governance structure
Authors: Zhang Aimao 
Published: February 2009

PurposeAs companies move their businesses offshore to developing countries, how to estimate market costs and select transaction governance structures (TGS) accordingly has become a challenge. Based on transaction cost theory, the purpose of this paper is to propose that corruption is an influential factor, which can potentially increase market transaction costs and favor selections of hierarchy oriented TGSs.Design/methodology/approachData are collected from World Development Indicators database and the Corruption Perception Index 2006. In total, 154 countries are included in the study. A regression analysis is used to demonstrate the correlation between levels of corruption and selections of TGS.FindingsThe results indicate a strong correlation between corruption and TGS.Practical implicationsLow labor costs and other incentives should not be the only reasons for moving businesses into developing countries. Managers should take a closer look at levels of corruption and estimate transaction costs accordingly. If a company plans to enter into a highly corrupted environment, it should consider using a hierarchy oriented TGS.Originality/valueThis paper applies transaction cost theory to strategic management of outsourcing and highlights corruption as an unfavorable factor for outsourcing to developing countries.
Captive outsourcing – a way to move complex products to emerging markets
Authors: Hameri Ari‐Pekka , Tunkelo Teemu 
Published: February 2009

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to examine how companies should off‐shore complex product related tasks to low‐cost countries, without jeopardizing their competitive advantage and intellectual property, while building solid and sustainable business in the sourcing country.Design/methodology/approachThe underlying case concerns a multinational, globally operating engineering company delivering complex system products used as part of industrial and social infrastructure, and its entry to off‐shoring and how it has evolved from a green field operation to sizeable value center over the past six years.FindingsThe case provides support to the fact that companies understanding that building permanent, knowledge‐based and proprietary presence with full product management responsibility in lower labor cost countries will be more responsive in serving customers, cost efficient in maintaining old infrastructure products and in delivering new ones in the future. Further, complex product business companies focusing on long term and knowledge based legacy building in emerging economies will develop, not only more robust global business platform for themselves, but they will also contribute to the sustainable development of the global economy.Originality/valueThe paper presents unique descriptive data on the overall outsourcing strategy of a global engineering company and how one of its off‐shoring units has evolved over time since its inception.
Developing the pre‐employment schema
Authors: Fonner Kathryn , Roloff Michael 
Published: February 2009

PurposeEconomic insecurity has had a major impact on employees; however, much less is known about its relationship to the expectations of individuals as they prepare to enter the full‐time professional workplace. This study aims to focuss on relationships between negative workplace information and emotional support communicated by social networks and the development of undergraduates' pre‐employment schemas.Design/methodology/approachA survey of university upperclassman was conducted, resulting in a sample of 153 participants. Correlations and linear regressions were used to test hypotheses.FindingsResults indicated that the emotional support undergraduates receive from parents and employed friends is more strongly related to their workplace expectations than the specific information they receive regarding downsizing, the faltering economy, and job insecurity.Research limitations/implicationsData were collected using self‐report surveys. Future research should examine “non‐traditional” undergraduates who may have greater work experience and exposure to the workplace. Further exploration of work‐related discussion content, and whether it differs across cultures, is also warranted.Originality/valueThis study offers insight into the relationship between interpersonal discussions about the workplace ‐ and specifically emotional support during those discussions – to undergraduates' pre‐employment schemas. Study results contribute uniquely to the socialization literature by confirming the crucial role of friends as sources of information and emotional support during later stages of the anticipatory socialization process.
Considering individual linear/nonlinear thinking style and innovative corporate culture
Authors: Vance Charles , Zell Deone , Groves Kevin 
Published: February 2009

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to examine the importance of a balanced or versatile linear and nonlinear pattern of thinking style in contributing to effective innovative capability of individuals and their organizations.Design/methodology/approachThe relationship between these individual thinking style dimensions and the development of an innovative corporate culture that encourages linear/nonlinear thinking style balance and versatility, and how their mutual interaction may contribute to successful innovation management within organizations are considered.FindingsThe paper discusses how organizational leaders and other employees through collective development to a balanced linear/nonlinear thinking style can develop a corporate culture that in turn is supportive of organizational innovation.Research limitations/implicationsImplications for future research on organizational innovation are discussed involving composition of organizational executives and work group members relative to linear/nonlinear thinking style.Practical implicationsIndividual linear/nonlinear thinking style balanced skill development and the formation of a supportive and reinforcing organizational culture have important implications for developing organizational intrapreneurship and innovation in medium‐sized and larger organizations leading to increased productivity.Originality/valueThis paper explores how the collective development of individual linear/nonlinear thinking style balance can contribute to a more supportive corporate culture for organizational innovation.
Responses to perceived voice in decision‐making among congregational members
Authors: Olison Willona , Roloff Michael 
Published: February 2009

PurposeChurches require an active congregation to provide services to their members and community. This study aims to examine the conditions under which perceived voice in decision‐making is related to church satisfaction and when satisfaction is related to withdrawal.Design/methodology/approachA total of 193 congregational members from an urban African‐American ministry were surveyed about their responses to a recent decision.FindingsAlthough members without perceived voice within the church were less satisfied when the amount of their financial contributions was high, the same association was not present when it came to the amount of hours spent volunteering within the church. Church members with low satisfaction levels scaled back their involvement in the church and considered terminating their membership. Among those who were dissatisfied, newer church members considered exiting from the church to a greater extent than did long‐term members.Research limitations/implicationsBecause only one congregation was used, the findings might not generalize to congregations drawn from other denominations or who have a different demographic profile. Also, using self‐reports about a single critical incident may limit the generalizability of the results.Practical implicationsIn order to enhance congregational involvement, church leadership should create opportunities for member voice and especially for those who make large financial donations.Originality/valueThis is the first study investigating how congregational members react to perceived voice in church decision‐making. It also demonstrates how perceived voice is related to financial contributions to churches.
Prevalence and correlates of purchasing contraband cigarettes on First Nations reserves in Ontario, Canada
Authors: Luk Rita , Cohen Joanna E. , Ferrence Roberta , McDonald Paul W. , Schwartz Robert , Bondy Susan J. 
Published: February 2009

ABSTRACTAims  Non‐First Nations people purchasing cigarettes on First Nations reserves do not pay applicable taxes. We estimated prevalence and identified correlates of purchasing contraband cigarettes on reserves; we also quantified the share of contraband purchased on reserves relative to reported total cigarette consumption and the associated financial impact on taxation revenue.Design  Data from the Ontario Tobacco Survey, a regionally stratified representative population telephone survey that over‐samples smokers.Setting  Ontario, Canada.Participants  A total of 1382 adult current smokers.Measurements  Reported status of purchasing cigarettes on reserves and the quantity of cigarettes bought on reserves. The prevalence of purchasing cigarettes on reserves was assessed with descriptive statistics. A two‐part model was used to analyse correlates of having recently purchased contraband.Findings  A total of 25.8% reported recent purchasing and 11.5% reported usual purchasing. Heavy smoking, having no plans to quit and lower education were correlated with recent purchasing. Heavy smoking and not having plans to quit were also correlated with buying more packs of cigarettes on reserves. Contraband purchases on reserves accounted for 14.0% of the reported total cigarette consumption and resulted in an estimated tax loss of $122.2 million.Conclusions  There was substantial purchasing of contraband cigarettes on reserves in Ontario, resulting in significant losses in tax revenues. The availability of these cheap cigarettes undermines the effectiveness of tobacco taxation to reduce smoking. Wherever indicated, governments should strengthen their contraband prevention and control measures, as recommended by the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, to ensure that tobacco taxation achieves its intended health benefits and that tax revenues are protected.
Pathways to cannabis abuse: a multi‐stage model from cannabis availability, cannabis initiation and progression to abuse
Authors: Gillespie Nathan A. , Neale Michael C. , Kendler Kenneth S. 
Published: February 2009

ABSTRACTAims  Although previous twin studies have modeled the association between drug initiation and abuse, none has included the obvious risk factor of drug availability. Our aim is to determine whether the genetic and environmental risk factors for cannabis availability also generate variation in cannabis initiation and/or progression to DSM‐IV symptoms of abuse.Design  We used multi‐stage modeling, also known as causal‐common‐contingent (CCC) analysis, to partition the genetic and environmental factors into common and stage‐specific components.Participants  This report is based on data collected from 1772 adult males from the Mid Atlantic Twin Registry.Measurements  The twins participated in two structured interviews which included clinical and non‐clinical measures of cannabis abuse as well as retrospective assessments of perceived cannabis availability between ages 8 and 25 years.Findings  Cannabis availability explained almost all the shared environmental risks in cannabis initiation and abuse. The influence of availability on the symptoms of abuse was indirect and mediated entirely by cannabis initiation.Conclusion  These findings have begun to elucidate the causal processes underlying the liability to drug use and abuse in terms of putative risk factors. Specifically, our results show that the latent shared environmental factors in cannabis initiation and abuse can be explained by measured aspects of the shared environment—those responsible for variation in cannabis availability.
A systematic review of work‐place interventions for alcohol‐related problems
Authors: Webb Gloria , Shakeshaft Anthony , Sanson‐Fisher Rob , Havard Alys 
Published: February 2009

ABSTRACTAims  The aims of this study were to (1) gauge any improvement in methodological quality of work‐place interventions addressing alcohol problems; and (2) to determine which interventions most effectively reduce work‐place‐related alcohol problems.Methods  A literature search was undertaken of the data bases, Ovid Medline, PsychINFO, Web of Science, Scopus, HSELINE, OSHLINE and NIOSHTIC‐2 for papers published between January 1995 and September 2007 (inclusive). Search terms varied, depending on the database. Papers were included for analysis if they reported on interventions conducted at work‐places with the aim of reducing alcohol problems. Methodological adequacy of the studies was assessed using a method derived from the Cochrane Collaboration guidelines.Results  Ten papers reporting on work‐place alcohol interventions were located. Only four studies employed randomized controlled trials (RCT), but all these had methodological problems. Weaknesses in all studies related to representativeness of samples, consent and participation rates, blinding, post‐test time‐frames, contamination and reliability, and validity of measures used. All except one study reported statistically significant differences in measures such as reduced alcohol consumption, binge drinking and alcohol problems.Conclusions  The literature review revealed few methodologically adequate studies of work‐place alcohol interventions. Study designs, types of interventions, measures employed and types of work‐places varied considerably, making comparison of results difficult. However, it appears from the evidence that brief interventions, interventions contained within health and life‐style checks, psychosocial skills training and peer referral have potential to produce beneficial results.
The global diversion of pharmaceutical drugs
Authors: Paoli Letizia , Greenfield Victoria A. , Charles Molly , Reuter Peter 
Published: February 2009

ABSTRACTAims  This paper explores India's role in the world illicit opiate market, particularly its role as a producer. India, a major illicit opiate consumer, is also the sole licensed exporter of raw opium: this unique status may be enabling substantial diversion to the illicit market.Methods  Participant observation and interviews were carried out at eight different sites. Information was also drawn from all standard secondary sources and the analysis of about 180 drug‐related criminal proceedings reviewed by Indian High Courts and the Supreme Court from 1985 to 2001.Findings  Diversion from licit opium production takes place on such a large scale that India may be the third largest illicit opium producer after Afghanistan and Burma. With the possible exceptions of 2005 and 2006, 200–300 tons of India's opium may be diverted yearly. After estimating India's opiate consumption on the basis of UN‐reported prevalence estimates, we find that diversion from licit production might have satisfied a quarter to more than a third of India's illicit opiate demand to 2004.Conclusions  India is not only among the world's largest consumer of illicit opiates but also one of the largest illicit opium producers. In contrast to all other illicit producers, India owes the latter distinction not to blatantly illicit cultivation but to diversion from licit cultivation. India's experience suggests the difficulty of preventing substantial leakage, even in a relatively well‐governed nation.
Ecohydrology of a seasonal wetland in the Rift Valley: ecological characterization of Lake Solai
Authors: De Bock Tanguy , Kervyn de Meerendré Baptiste , Hess Tim , Gouder de Beauregard Anne‐Christine 
Published: February 2009

AbstractThe following research describes through an ecohydrological approach, the first assessment of the ecology of Lake Solai, with a particular emphasis on the vegetation. Lake Solai is located 50 km north of Nakuru in the Rift Valley in Kenya at E36°80′–36°84′ to N00°05′–00°08′. It is a shallow lake that follows a very peculiar seasonal water regime, and that faces conflicts between agriculture and conservation water users. In the upper catchment, an overview of the agricultural practices was implemented and river water uses were identified to assess river flows. Crops/grassland and woodland/shrubland were the major land uses, covering c. 65% of the catchment. Closer to the lake, vegetation samples were collected around the lake together with samples of environmental factors such as soil and water quality. Thirteen vegetation communities were identified within four main zonations: forest, grassland, river inlet and rocky outcrop. These communities showed abundance, distribution and diversity determined mostly by the human pressures, the flooding periods and the salinity. Cynodon, Cyperus and Sporobolus genera were the most abundant.
Interleukin 10 (IL‐10) gene variants and susceptibility for paediatric onset Crohn’s disease
Authors: AMRE D. K. , MACK D. R. , MORGAN K. , ISRAEL D. , LAMBRETTE P. , COSTEA I. , KRUPOVES A. , FEGURY H. , DONG J. , GRIMARD G. , DESLANDRES C. , LEVY E. , SEIDMAN E. G. 
Published: February 2009

SummaryBackground  A recent genome‐wide association study in adult patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) has implicated the interleukin 10 (IL‐10) gene as an important candidate gene. Moreover, a UC‐associated single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) rs3024405 was also significantly associated with adult Crohn’s disease (CD).Aims  To examine whether IL‐10‐CD associations extended to paediatric‐onset CD.Methods  We implemented the case‐control design at three paediatric gastroenterology clinics in Canada. CD patients (≤20 years) were recruited along with healthy controls. DNA samples were genotyped for tag‐single nucleotide polymorphisms (tag‐SNPs) in the IL‐10 gene. Allelic, genotype and haplotype associations with CD were studied.Results  A total of 270 patients and 336 controls were studied. The mean age (±s.d.) at diagnosis was 12.1 (±3.5). There were a slightly higher proportion of male patients (56.3%). Of the five IL‐10 tag‐SNPs, rs2222202 (C/T) (P = 0.03) and rs1800871 (C/T) (P = 0.05) showed significant allelic associations with CD. Specific IL‐10 SNPs were associated with CD disease location and/or disease behaviour.Conclusions  Our gene‐wide analysis replicates recent findings of associations between IL‐10 and adult CD, and suggests that these associations extend to paediatric‐onset CD as well.
Review article: anti TNF‐α induced psoriasis in patients with inflammatory bowel disease
Authors: FIORINO G. , ALLEZ M. , MALESCI A. , DANESE S. 
Published: February 2009

SummaryBackground  Anti TNF‐α agents are used successfully for several autoimmune diseases, including IBD and psoriasis. An emerging challenge is the increasing incidence of anti TNF‐α induced psoriasis. A total of 120 cases have been currently reported, of whom 18 patients were treated with biological agents for IBD.Objectives  To analyse all cases of anti TNF‐α induced psoriasis in patients with IBD in the literature and to investigate potential mechanisms of action.Methods  A literature review was performed in the PubMed, Medline, Cochrane and EMBASE databases, with simple analysis of demographic data, drug administration and psoriasis onset. Risk and incidence patient/year/duration (pyd) was calculated.Results  A total of 18 patients with IBD treated by anti TNF‐α agents developed drug‐induced psoriasis of which, 17 patients developed with infliximab, one with adalimumab. The most frequent time of onset is between 3rd and 4th infusion of infliximab. Withdrawal of infliximab led to regression of lesions in 16 patients. In six patients, infliximab was reintroduced with no further recurrence of psoriasis.Conclusions  Although anti TNF‐α induced psoriasis is extremely rare, understanding the mechanism will be a key step towards better realizing the role played by TNF‐α and its pharmacological inhibitors in immune‐mediated diseases.
Liver test patterns in patients with acute calculous cholecystitis and/or choledocholithiasis
Authors: PADDA M. S. , SINGH S. , TANG S. J. , ROCKEY D. C. 
Published: February 2009

SummaryBackground  Liver tests are utilized to determine the presence of biliary obstruction.Aim  To examine our hypothesis that liver tests aid in elucidating whether patients have simple calculous cholecystitis (ACC) or choledocholithiasis (CDL).Methods  We performed a retrospective study of patients admitted to two University of Texas Southwestern teaching hospitals with a clinical picture consistent with ‘acute gallstone disease’, i.e. cholecystitis ± choledocolithiasis. The presence of ACC and CDL was based on defined clinical criteria.Results  The cohort consisted of 154 patients meeting specific entry criteria, primarily with right upper quadrant pain; 62 ACC, 79 both ACC and CDL and 13 CDL alone. Approximately 30% of patients with ACC had abnormal alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and/or bilirubin level and approximately 50% had abnormal aminotransferase levels. Among patients with ACC/CDL, 77% had abnormal ALP, 60% had abnormal bilirubin and 90% had abnormal aminotransferase levels. By multivariate analysis, increasing common bile duct size and an abnormal ALP and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) were excellent predictors of having ACC with CDL.Conclusions  Liver test patterns can aid in elucidating CDL, including in ACC patients. Fundamentally, patients with CDL were more likely to have more abnormal liver tests, whether they had CDL only, or CDL and ACC. A dilated CBD, and abnormal ALP and ALT had modest sensitivity and high specificity for identification of patients with ACC and CDL.