bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The adoption of Lean in the Greek public sector. An employee perspective
Authors: Psomas Evangelos , Keramida Efthalia , Bouranta Nancy , Kafetzopoulos Dimitrios 
Published: April 2023

Purpose
In times of strong global competition and worldwide economic downturn, there is an imperative need for public services organizations to reform and improve their quality. These organizations can base their improvement efforts on Lean philosophy. The purpose of this study is to assess the employees’ perceived degree of adoption of Lean principles by public services organizations in Greece. Determining the differences in the perceptions of groups of employees with regard to the adoption of Lean principles by public organizations is also an aim of the study.

Design/methodology/approach
A questionnaire survey was published online, inviting employees of Greek public services organizations to assess the degree of Lean adoption by their organizations, specified on the basis of general principles. A total of 1,022 employees completed the structured questionnaire. Descriptive statistics were applied to assess the degree of adoption of Lean principles by public organizations. The nonparametric Mann–Whitney U Test and Kruskal–Wallis Test were also applied to determine whether there are statistically significant differences in the perceptions of groups of employees with regard to the adoption of Lean principles by public organizations.

Findings
According to the perceptions of employees, Greek public organizations adopt Lean principles to a high extent. However, there is room for further improvement in the degree to which Lean is adopted. Statistically significant differences are observed in the perceptions of groups of employees from different sized organizations, hierarchical levels, skill sets and service subsectors, with regard to the degree of adoption of Lean principles by their organizations.

Research limitations/implications
The employees of the public sector who were invited to respond to the survey through social media, the subjective nature of the data collected and the fact that this is a country-specific study constitute the main limitations of the present study, based on which future studies can be designed.

Practical implications
By determining the strong and weak points of the adoption of Lean principles by Greek public services organizations, suitable managerial initiatives can be undertaken by these organizations to fully adopt Lean, eliminate waste and enhance quality management.

Social implications
Understanding and improving the current status of the adoption of Lean principles by Greek public organizations will influence the services provided to the citizens in terms of time, quality and delivery.

Originality/value
To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study which provides insights, based on employees’ perceptions, into the adoption of Lean by the public services sector.
Empirical benchmarking of virtual service centers' service quality: a case of a large telecom service provider in India
Authors: Kukreti Kamlesh , Ganguly Kunal , Samad Taab Ahmad 
Published: April 2023

PurposeThis paper aims to present a hybrid approach to measure the efficiency of virtual contact centers (VCCs) started during the pandemic and benchmark them for service performance. The results are used to plot the VCC's efficiency score (performance) and customer perception (Importance) to propose appropriate strategies.Design/methodology/approachUsing the survey method, 854 responses were collected from customers who used VCC services during the pandemic. This data was then employed to assess the performance of VCCs using SERVPERF and DEA methods, followed by the development of the model for performance analysis.FindingsResults reveal the ranking of different VCCs started during the pandemic for the telecom company using SERVPERF and DEA methods. Further, the performance analysis model highlighted the strategies appropriate for each VCCs.Practical implicationsThe findings add to the body of knowledge on how multiple service units of a large organization can assess service efficiency utilizing a combination of SERVPERF-DEA. The present work also contributes to the performance analysis field by proposing a model to assess the service centers and provide improvement guidelines.Originality/valueThe work is one of the first to assess the service efficiency of the VCCs started during the pandemic by using a unique hybrid approach of SERVPERF and DEA. This approach provides a direction to whom to benchmark and to what degree service quality should be improved. Further, the study proposes a unique performance analysis model based on performance scores and customer perception.
D&C technique as an MCDM tool for managing the heritage value assessment of historic buildings in post-war cities: Mosul Old City as a case study
Authors: Ismaeel Emad Hani 
Published: April 2023

PurposeThe value assessment process of the built heritage is a multipart procedure that includes diverse aspects with overlapping requirements. This process requires various measures to obtain better results, making it a multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) process. In post-disaster cases, a management system is required to promptly evaluate the degree of risk and damage and to set the preservation priorities in order to effectively supervise and protect the heritage places. MCDM is utilized for configuring and solving decision and planning problems encompassing multiple criteria, to assist decision-makers.Design/methodology/approachThis paper suggests an approach as a tool to be used in the development of the Built Heritage Record for Mosul Old City. It proposes a D&C technique as an MCDM effectual tool for solving multifaceted problems of heritage significance assessment process in post-conflict cities, adopting the conservation of the traditional houses of Mosul Old City as a case study.FindingsThe research results showed the need for a method to solve the complexity of the decision-making problem regarding the process of determining the value and significance of heritage buildings and sites in the old city of Mosul, and how to develop a methodology to facilitate decision-making within databases related to such a multi-criteria issue.Research limitations/implicationsFor an effective judgment of the expert or participant in the evaluation process, and to contribute to the decision-making more objectively, exploiting digital management programs including an interactive user interface with the ability to share on the Internet is the focal next intention of the project.Originality/valueThe paper shows that by using specific software, a database for heritage places of the old city of Mosul could be generated to apply the proposed system. The expert can utilize the software to calculate and define the total value of the place automatically according to the entered data.
Business intelligence and analytic (BIA) stage-of-practice in micro-, small- and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs)
Authors: Hoang Thinh Gia , Bui Minh Le 
Published: April 2023

PurposeWhile business intelligence and analytic (BIA) systems have been developed by large corporations around the world, micro-, small- and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) have recently paid attention and deployed BIA adoption, particularly during the Covid-19 pandemic disruption. This study sheds light on how MSMEs adopt the BIA systems and then proposes a framework for the BIA adoption process in the context of MSMEs.Design/methodology/approachThe multiple case research design and interpretivism approach are employed for expanding the theoretical boundary of the strategic management fields in BIA adoption by MSMEs. In total, 35 semi-structured interviews were conducted with senior managers and owners involved in BIA adoption from 17 participating MSMEs.FindingsThe research study identifies three BIA adoption stages with specific technical and managerial features in the path of BIA adoption in each stage, corresponding to the level of BIA maturity of MSMEs. The authors also highlight other factors that directly influence the successful adoption and transformation from each stage to another.Research limitations/implicationsThe research study identifies three BIA adoption stages with specific technical and managerial features in the path of BIA adoption at each stage that corresponds to the level of BIA maturity of MSMEs. Besides, this study also extends the current literature on BIA adoption in an organisation during the Covid-19 pandemic by identifying several contextual barriers that directly influence the BIA adoption.Practical implicationsResearch findings can help business leaders and owners of MSMEs to determine the BIA maturity of their organisation. Furthermore, the authors’ framework can also be used by consultancies and standard setters to develop detailed BIA adoption strategies and tactics that support MSMEs' digitalisation towards BIA adoption.Originality/valueThe research study’s results highlight that contextual factors, leadership competencies, motivations and barriers for BIA adoption can also be used to help MSMEs' leaders and owners to trigger, advance or eliminate challenges for the adoption of BIA initiatives in MSMEs.
Governance and the double-bottom-line performance of microfinance institutions: evidence from Bangladesh
Authors: Hussain Mohammad Delwar , Ahmed Iftekhar 
Published: April 2023

Purpose
This study aims to examine the impact of governance on the double-bottom-line performance of microfinance institutions (MFIs) in Bangladesh.

Design/methodology/approach
This study relies on three dimensions of corporate governance (CG) practices, that is, functions of the board of directors (BoD), top-level management activities and external governance mechanisms. This study uses panel data econometrics, particularly pooled OLS, fixed effects and two-stage system generalized method of moments to deal with potential endogeneity concerns. The panel data set covers 1,200 MFI year observations from Bangladesh for the period between 2005 and 2019.

Findings
The findings show that the presence of stakeholders on boards plays a critical role in MFIs. The dual goals of MFIs are influenced by board size, board independence and CEO duality. Internal management activities, risk perceptions and external governance also impact MFIs’ performance. Women on board have an inverse association with outreach. The activities of female managers have a significant impact on depth of outreach.

Research limitations/implications
Like many others, this study also admits the data constraint issues in microfinance research. CG data for MFI are mostly unavailable in the public domain; therefore, this study must rely on third-party data sources. This study only includes MFIs that has data for all variables of interest.

Practical implications
Governance attributes in hybrid organizations are constituted differently. To warrant multistakeholder engagement, there is a need to develop a distinctive governance manual for hybrid organizations like MFIs.

Social implications
This study proposes adopting a Social Director on the BoD to ensure the scope of outreach depth, given the importance of social goals in MFIs.

Originality/value
This study contributes to the ongoing debate on microfinance governance, addresses the issue based on different theoretical aspects using a country-specific data set and uses dynamic panel models to deal with potential endogeneity concerns.
The effect of Covid-19 on digital banking explored under business model approach
Authors: Yıldırım Ahmet Coşkun , Erdil Erkan 
Published: April 2023

PurposeThis study aims to understand the impacts of Covid-19 on the progression of digitalization of banks in an emerging market. For this purpose, business model canvas (BMC) is used as a theoretical framework to explore these effects on each business elements of Turkish Banks’ business strategies.Design/methodology/approachData are collected through structured interviews with the top managers of seven diversified banks. Interview questions are designed based on BMC.FindingsThe results show that the onset of the Covid-19 is a shock that has made digitalization a strategic issue that necessitates an urgent change in many business elements of banks such as customer relationships, communication channels, resource allocation, partnerships and financing. Further, it has stimulated redefining value proposition and collaboration/interaction among all financial institutions through digital platforms.Practical implicationsBMC can be used to explain decision-making and business processes of banks for exploring the effect of recent and/or unexpected developments in the business environment of an emerging economy. The results provide insights and recommendations to managers of financial institutions into the impacts of Covid-19 on banks’ operational and strategic processes. That allows financial institutions, including Fintechs, to use this information for taking precautions and proactive actions against shocks.Originality/valueThis study is an initial attempt to explore the impacts of the Covid-19 on banks in an emerging economy by using BMC. With that, this study contributes to the literature by explaining the effect of progression of digitalization in banking from a strategic business model perspective using a qualitative research method.
Time‐lapse PS‐wave time‐shifts and quantitative pressure‐saturation discrimination applications
Authors: Tura Ali , Simmons James , Damasceno Andrea , Held Marihelen 
Published: April 2023

AbstractWe show that time‐lapse (4D) time‐shifts from PS‐wave data are valuable as they are very sensitive to pressure changes, whereas 4D time‐shifts from PP‐wave data are sensitive to both pressure and saturation changes. This gives another opportunity from using 4D amplitudes alone to understand and discriminate areas of pressure changes from areas of saturation changes in field data. 4D PS time‐shifts sense transmission related changes taking into consideration propagation through the altered medium, whereas amplitude changes are reflection or backscattered signals from the boundary. Therefore, these two attributes will be complimentary in 4D interpretation. Rock‐physics‐based time‐shift cross‐plots are generated to analyse how pressure and saturation changes in a reservoir impact PP‐ and PS‐wave time‐shifts. The developments of 4D time‐shifts are shown fixing the reservoir properties and varying reservoir layer thickness. Synthetic seismic data from a wedge is modelled to understand differences between 4D amplitude and time‐shift changes and the value of PS time‐shifts. Cases with pressure changes only and saturation changes only are also analysed with the wedge model. The method is next applied to two 4D field data sets. One is in the North Sea and the other offshore Brazil. In these field data sets, with different levels of noise in the 4D data, we see interpretable results from PS‐wave time‐shifts that can help in 4D signal understanding and improve reservoir characterization and monitoring practices. We believe that with modern acquisition and processing, this technology is realizable and provides quantitative and accurate 4D interpretations. It is shown that the use of PS‐wave data can lead to a larger chance of success in placing development wells.
Foraging distances, habitat preferences and seasonal colony performance of honeybees in Central European forest landscapes
Authors: Rutschmann Benjamin , Kohl Patrick L. , Steffan‐Dewenter Ingolf 
Published: April 2023

Abstract

Unmanaged forest is considered as native habitat of the Western honeybee Apis mellifera and is assumed to provide important pollen and nectar sources. However, resource supply might be spatially and temporally restricted in managed forests and landscape‐scale studies in European forest regions are currently lacking.

Capitalizing on a unique communication behaviour, the waggle dance, we investigated honeybee foraging in a deciduous forest region in southern Germany. We analysed 2022 waggle dances performed by bees of 12 colonies placed in the centre of landscapes with varying degree of forest cover (50%–99% at a 2‐km radius) from March to August 2019, thereby identifying foraging distances and habitat preferences over almost an entire foraging season. By connecting dance information with colony weight recordings, we assessed the role of landscape composition and the contribution of different habitat types to colony weight gain.

Foraging distances generally increased with the amount of forest in the surrounding landscape pointing to inferior food resources in the forest. Yet, this effect strongly depended on the season and was more pronounced for pollen than for nectar foraging. Even though colonies in forest‐dominated landscapes had to fly further, colony weight was not significantly affected by forest cover.

Compared to expectations based on the proportions of different habitats, colonies foraged more frequently in grassland and cropland than in deciduous and coniferous forests, with late summer being an especially difficult period for pollen foraging in forests. During a phase of colony weight gain in early summer, the use of forests for nectar/honeydew foraging was close to the expectation, highlighting forests as an important complementary source of carbohydrates during short periods of the year.

Policy implication. The ecological and economic value of managed forest as habitat for honeybees could be significantly increased by the continuous provision of floral resources, especially for pollen foraging. Therefore, we recommend diversifying forest stands with insect‐pollinated trees, permitting secondary successions in forest gaps, and at larger scales, creating forest landscapes with high habitat diversity. This will not only help native, wild‐living honeybees and beekeepers' colonies residing in forest areas but will also foster social bees in general.
Arteriovenous malformation of the spermatic cord mimicking reducible inguinal hernia
Authors: Nakabayashi Rumi , Matsubara Taketo , Shimada Gen 
Published: April 2023

AbstractArteriovenous malformations are a vascular anomaly most often found in the central nervous system; however, they can present ubiquitously in any organs or tissues. We present the case of a 55‐year‐old man who developed a tender, reducible inguinal bulge and underwent laparoscopic transabdominal preperitoneal inguinal hernia repair under the clinical diagnosis of an inguinal hernia. Intraoperative observation revealed no hernia sac, but a poorly defined spermatic cord mass, appearing to be responsible for the patient's symptoms, was found and removed. The pathology of the mass was consistent with the diagnosis of an arteriovenous malformation of the spermatic cord. Surgeons should keep in mind the small possibility of arteriovenous malformations in patients with clinical presentation of an inguinal hernia, as they may cause massive bleeding during and after the operation unless handled appropriately.
Refractory multiple myeloma: Count refractory drugs, not lines of treatment!
Authors: Scheid Christof 
Published: April 2023

Current approved immunotherapeutic agents such as CART cells are limited to patients with at least 3 or even 4 prior lines of treatment. However more and more patients become refractory to standard regimens in earlier lines. Mohyuddin et al. examined the inclusion criteria of current immunotherapeutic trials in myeloma and propose a change to put more emphasis on refractoriness to 3 or more agents and to omit a required number of lines of therapy in current and future protocols.Commentary on: Mohyuddin et al. Inclusion criteria of currently enrolling T‐cell engaging trials in multiple myeloma: Should we be focusing on lines of prior therapy? Br J Haematol 2023;202:e1‐e2.
Can we prevent social identity switches? An experimental–computational investigation
Authors: Zinn Anna K. , Koschate Miriam , Naserianhanzaei Elahe , Lavric Aureliu 
Published: April 2023

AbstractPrevious studies suggested that social identity switches are rapid and highly effective, raising the question of whether people can intentionally control such switches. In two studies, we tested if participants could exert top‐down control to prevent a social identity switch triggered by the experimental context. In Study 1, participants (N = 198) were given a writing task aimed at prompting a switch from their parent identity to their feminist identity. Before the prompt, half of the participants (the experimental group) were instructed to remain in their parent identity, avoiding an identity switch; the control group was not given such instructions. We found no significant difference between the groups in either self‐reported salience or the implicit computational measure of salience based on participants' linguistic style, both measures suggesting a switch in both groups. Study 2 (N = 380) followed the same design but included a monetary incentive to prevent the switch in the experimental group. The groups differed significantly in their self‐reported salience but not in the implicit measure, which suggests limited ability to avoid the switch even when participants report being able to do so. These results point to limited intentional control over exogenously triggered identity switches, with important practical implications.
Suicide mortality, long‐term unemployment, and labor‐market policies: Evidence from European countries
Authors: Goulas Eleftherios , Zervoyianni Athina 
Published: April 2023

AbstractUsing data from 25 EU countries spanning the period 1999–2017, this paper examines the relationship between working‐age suicides and changes in long‐term unemployment and tests for mitigating effects through the implementation of labor‐market policies. The estimates suggest higher suicide risks following a rising rate of long‐term unemployment. Passive support policies have a suicide‐decreasing impact. Among active policies, a significant suicide‐decreasing effect is found for training and direct job creation. The results have important policy implications in that they suggest that strong commitment of governments to passive or to certain types of active labor‐market policies can, on average, contribute to social stability and the welfare of populations.