1,721,396 research outputs found
Systematic problem-solving and its antecedents: a synthesis of the literature
No full textPurpose: This study aims at determining the factors that favor a systematic approach to deal with complex operational and strategic problems. Management literature on problem-solving makes a clear distinction between either fixing a problem temporarily by eliminating its symptoms or solving it by diagnosing and altering underlying causes. Adopting a cognitive perspective of the dual-processing theory, this study labels these two approaches intuitive problem-solving and systematic problem-solving (SPS). While the superior effectiveness of SPS in fostering organizational learning is widely documented, existing literature fails to provide an overview of the conditions that support the adoption of SPS. Design/methodology/approach: This paper presents a systematic literature review to shed light on the main supporting factors of SPS in operational as well as strategic domains. Findings: Seven supporting factors of SPS (namely, nature of the problem, time availability, information availability, collaborative culture, transformational leadership, organizational learning infrastructure and environmental dynamism) are first identified and then discussed in an integrative model. Originality/value: This work is an original attempt to inclusively address organizational, environmental and problem nature-related factors that favor SPS adoption. By determining the SPS supporting factors, this study highlights why many organizations fail or struggle to implement and sustain SPS over time
The thickening of flexor tendons pulleys: a useful ultrasonographical sign in the diagnosis of psoriatic arthritis
No full textPURPOSE: To investigate the frequency of thickening of pulleys for flexor tendons in patients with early arthritis in their hands, and to evaluate it as a predictive sign of PsA. METHODS: A prospective observational study involving 228 consecutive patients presenting with recent onset of arthritis in their hands was conducted at rheumatology outpatient clinics in the Veneto region of Italy between October 2014 and September 2017. Diabetic patients were excluded because of the high frequency of trigger finger. The final diagnosis of the rheumatologist delivered after 12 months of follow-up, was considered as the gold standard for the analysis of diagnostic accuracy. RESULTS: Twenty-two patients were excluded from the study because of diabetes. A total of 86 patients with thickening of A1 pulleys in flexor tendons and 120 without were evaluated. Pulley thickness was significantly associated with a family history of psoriasis (18/86 vs 3/120, p ˂ 0.001) and diabetes (9/86 vs 4/120, p = 0.036), and with a personal history of cutaneous psoriasis (25/86 vs 10/120, p ˂ 0.001), psoriatic onychopathy (7/86 vs 2/120, p = 0.028), lower back pain (22/86 vs 11/120, p = 0.001), Dupuytren's disease (7/86 vs 2/120 p = 0.028) and De Quervain tenosynovitis (4/86 vs 0/120, p = 0.028). In isolation, this sign had a good sensitivity rate (80%). The specificity rate for the disease was barely significative (71%), with an LR+ of 2.71 for PsA. CONCLUSIONS: The thickening of the pulleys in the flexor tendons is an easy-to-detect sign with good sensitivity for the diagnosis of PsA. Its specificity and positive predictive value are not very high; however, if it is included in a complete classification process, sonographers should report it during hand evaluations of patients with arthritis
Developing operational problem solvers: the role of job design decisions
No full textTo pursue continuous improvement, organisations must overcome numerous operational problems. To avoid these problems recurring, employees adopt a problem-solving orientation (PSO) behaviour to search for the underlying causes of problems and find the most adequate solution. Despite the importance of PSO in generating continuous improvement, past research has scarcely investigated the drivers of PSO. The purpose of this paper is to identify whether and how job design decisions related to task routinisation, job complexity, and job autonomy affect PSO. Drawing on data from 238 front-line employees of 23 manufacturing plants, multilevel regression models are used to test the research question. Results show that task routinisation and job complexity are positively associated with PSO whereas job autonomy is negatively associated with PSO. Moreover, job autonomy positively moderates the relationship between task routinisation and PSO whereas job complexity negatively moderates the relationship between task routinisation and PSO. In terms of managerial contributions, findings suggest that managers might develop PSO behaviours by involving employees in stable, standardised, and repetitive tasks (that generate high task routinisation) and making them perform complex tasks
Hepatocellular carcinoma: Diagnostic imaging criteria
No full textThe diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) can be reached noninvasively on imaging in patients at high risk as discussed in chapter “Hepatocellular carcinoma: Diagnostic Guidelines.” In this chapter, we describe the CT and MR imaging criteria more commonly used in the guidelines for the diagnosis and management of patients with HCC, including arterial phase hyperenhancement, washout, capsule, growth, and hypointensity on hepatobiliary phase MR imaging. The provided definitions are based on the latest version (v2018) of the liver imaging reporting and data system (LI-RADS) document (American College of Radiology 2018, https://www.acr.org/Clinical-Resources/Reporting-and-Data-Systems/LI-RADS)
Customer-Supplier Integration Forms in the High-Precision Air-Conditioning Supply Chains
No full textPurpose – This paper explores what suppliers and customers do in order to integrate their
operations across the supply chain. It also identifies on what contextual factors these specific CSI
practices are contingent.
Design/methodology/approach – The paper uses the multiple case study methodology as a basis
for theory formulation. Insights from nine cases of OEM-supplier relationships in the Italian high
precision air conditioning industry are used to address the research questions and formulate
theoretical propositions.
Findings – The paper develops four theoretical propositions derived from a framework that
identifies four CSI forms contingent on two contextual variables – the value impact of goods
purchased from each supplier and the degree of purchasing goods customization.
Research limitations/implications – This paper provides a framework that advances the
understanding of effective supplier relations management in two ways. Firstly, it gets over the
traditional dichotomy between arm’s length relationships and strategic partnerships by identifying a
more articulated typology of CSI forms. Secondly, it characterizes each of the four CSI forms in terms
of the practices buyers and suppliers apply to manage four key business processes.
Practical implications – The paper provides a template to configure integration in
customer-supplier relations and suggests the different mix of integrative practices business
partners should use in diverse supply chain environments.
Originality/value – The proposed framework improves existing theory that either considers one
single aspect of customer-supplier relations (i.e. pricing, logistics, or new product development) or
interprets interfirm collaboration as a single dimension phenomenon
Going Beyond Counting First Authors in Author Co-citation Analysis
Full text linkThe present study examines one of the fundamental aspects of author co-citation analysis (ACA) - the way co-citation
counts are defined. Co-citation counting provides the data on which all subsequent statistical analyses and mappings
are based, and we compare ACA results based on two different types of co-citation counting - the traditional type that
only counts the first one among a cited work's authors on the one hand and a non-traditional type that takes into
account the first 5 authors of a cited work on the other hand. Results indicate that the picture produced through this non-traditional author co-citation counting contains more coherent author groups and is therefore considerably clearer. However, this picture represents fewer specialties in the research field being studied than that produced through the traditional first-author co-citation counting when the same number of top-ranked authors is selected and analyzed. Reasons for these effects are discussed
The Process of Supply Network Internationalization
No full textThis paper explores the process that dynamically links the why’s, how’s and what’s of supply network internationalisation. We propose
a conceptual framework that adapts and extends the Uppsala internationalisation model and apply it to analyse nine case studies of
Italian footwear and apparel companies involved in relocating some segments of their supply networks to Romania. Consistently with
behavioural theories, our findings confirm that internationalisation is an incremental process in which firms gradually increase their
international exposure and involvement. However, differently from the Uppsala establishment chain internationalisation model, our
cross-case analysis suggests a different typology of supply network internationalisation processes: (1) traditional subcontracting, (2) coordinated
subcontracting, and (3) supply system relocation. We discuss the theoretical and managerial implications of these findings and
suggest directions for further research
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