Search

This study explored the state of human resource (HR) outsourcing in the Asian context, a particularly important subject given its rapid proliferation in Europe and North America, the inconsistent and limited evidence from prior research, and its strategic importance to the human resource management (HRM) function. Drawing on both quantitative and qualitative data and the transaction cost, resource-based, and institutional perspectives, we found that although respondents were generally favourable towards outsourcing, that in practice its adoption and diffusion were in a nascent stage in Hong Kong. Decisions to outsource were, by and large, incremental and experimental and influenced by a range of contextual factors (e.g., availability of in-house expertise, skills and creativity, strategic priorities, legislation (coercive), availability of external service providers, and industry and peer (mimetic) influence). Despite considerable pressure to cut costs, instead of outsourcing in the first instance, firms placed greater emphasis on maximising internal resource utilization (insourcing). Implications for practice and suggestions for future research are also provided. Refereed/Peer-reviewed

This study examined the mediating effects of employee-organization service value congruence on pay for performance and work attitudes. Using a sample drawn from the hotel industry, we found that when employees perceived a high PFP link they tended to exhibit more positive work attitudes. We also found that the relationship between PFP link and work attitudes was mediated by P-O fit. These findings offer new insights into the important role that reward practices such as PFP play in the alignment of employer-organization service quality values. In doing so, they also pave the way for future contributions in this novel and important area of service value congruence. Refereed/Peer-reviewed

A variety of bis(2-alkoxy-6-aryl-3-pyridinecarbonitriles) 4a – m were prepared via reaction of bis(2-propen-1-ones) 3a – g with malononitrile in the appropriate alcohol in the presence of KOH. The reaction was assumed to take place via Michael addition followed by cyclization due to the alkoxide nucleophilic attack at one of the nitrile groups. This assumption was substantiated by the reaction of ylidenemalononitrile 5 with the corresponding acetophenone 2 in the appropriate alcohol in the presence of KOH. The starting bis(2-propen-1-ones) 3e and f were prepared stereoselectively as E,E ′-geometric isomer via condensation of bisbenzaldehyde 1 with substituted acetophenones 2e and f in ethanolic KOH solution. Vasodilating activity screening of the synthesized compounds 4a – g and 4i – m utilizing isolated rat’s thoracic aorta pre-contracted by norepinephrine hydrochloride exhibited that many of the tested compounds reveal considerable vasodilating properties, especially 4e and f which reveal remarkable activities.

J. Neurochem. (2010) 115, 994–1006. Abstract Serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5HT) is the neurotransmitter that mediates dishabituation in Aplysia. Serotonin mediates this behavioral change through the reversal of synaptic depression in sensory neurons (SNs). However, the 5HT receptors present in SNs and in particular, the receptor important for activation of protein kinase C (PKC) have not been fully identified. Using a recent genome assembly of Aplysia, we identified new receptors from the 5HT2, 5HT4, and 5HT7 families. Using RT-PCR from isolated SNs, we found that three 5HT receptors, 5HT1Apl(a), 5HT2Apl, and 5HT7Apl were expressed in SNs. These receptors were cloned and expressed in a heterologous system. In this system, 5HT2Apl could significantly translocate PKC Apl II in response to 5HT and this was blocked by pirenperone, a 5HT2 receptor antagonist. Surprisingly, pirenperone did not block 5HT-mediated translocation of PKC Apl II in SNs, nor 5HT-mediated reversal of depression. Expression of 5HT1Apl(a) in SNs or genistein, an inhibitor of tyrosine kinases inhibited both PKC translocation and reversal of depression. These results suggest a non-canonical mechanism for the translocation of PKC Apl II in SNs.

Ubr1 and Ubr2 are E3 ligases that target substrates by the N-end rule, and it is the UBR box that is needed for substrate recognition. The structures of the UBR boxes of human UBR1 and UBR2 show that they adopt a previously undescribed fold stabilized by zinc. One of the zinc-binding ligands is mutated in Johnson-Blizzard syndrome and leads to UBR box unfolding.

Ensuring joint program participation by distributors is essential to channel management. Although studies confirm that firms can promote distributor participation by attending to their participation motivations, the authors argue that distributors may change their motivations over the course of a joint program, driven by an increase of program-related information and how their peer distributors behave. Drawing insights from the information asymmetry literature, the authors postulate that distributors' ex ante commitment is driven by their motivation to avoid losses, and after they participate, their ex post adaptation reflects rent-seeking motivations. This study also examines how the participation of peer distributors operates as an information signal that moderates the motivation–participation link for the focal distributor. In the context of an actual sales program, this study confirms the postulate of motivation shift and the salience of network-based information in distributors' program part...

Ensuring joint program participation by distributors is essential to channel management. Although studies confirm that firms can promote distributor participation by attending to their participation motivations, the authors argue that distributors may change their motivations over the course of a joint program, driven by an increase of program-related information and how their peer distributors behave. Drawing insights from the information asymmetry literature, the authors postulate that distributors’ ex ante commitment is driven by their motivation to avoid losses, and after they participate, their ex post adaptation reflects rent-seeking motivations. This study also examines how the participation of peer distributors operates as an information signal that moderates the motivation–participation link for the focal distributor. In the context of an actual sales program, this study confirms the postulate of motivation shift and the salience of network-based information in distributors’ program participation. The results show that a manufacturer needs to manage its distributors’ participation in a discriminant, process-oriented, and system-sensitive manner by addressing the latter's diverse motivations, changing goals in the joint program, and influences from peer distributors.

The current study examines intergenerational knowledge sharing in Chinese family firms from the perspective of the successor. Drawing upon the attachment (Bowlby, 1969) and social identity (Tajfel,...

The past decade has seen a tremendous increase in research on expatriate knowledge sharing. In spite of its growing popularity there is a lack of clarity regarding what kind of knowledge expatriate...

This study investigated the relationships among job stressors, coping resources, and job stress. Data were collected from food service employees (n = 255) in the hotel and catering industry. Hierarchical regression showed main significant effects of job demands and job control and three-way (job demands x job control x work-life balance practices) interactions on job stress. The results further demonstrated that high job demands coupled with low job control and the availability of work-life balance practices resulted in a higher level of stress. Implications for Karasek's job demand-control model, managerial practice and future research are provided. Refereed/Peer-reviewed

Reaction of 2,5-bis(arylmethylidene)cyclopentanones 1a–d with nitrilimines (generated in situ via triethylamine dehydrohalogenation of the corresponding hydrazonoyl chlorides 2a,b) in 1:2 molar ratio proceeds in a high regioselective manner affording monocycloadducts 3 and dicycloadducts in the form of two isomers 4, 5. Single crystal X-ray diffraction studies of the isolated crystalline form of 3c support the established structure and indicate that the formed product is 7E, 4S, 5R. Antimicrobial activity screening of the synthesized compounds 3–5, utilizing a variety of Gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus fecalis and Streptococcus agalactiae), Gram-negative bacteria (Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Proteus vulgaris) and yeast (Candida albicans), exhibited that all the prepared analogues acquire promising activities against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria especially compounds 3b, 4a (antimicrobial active agents against Gram-positive bacteria) and 3c (antimicrobial active agent against Gram-negative bacteria).

This study examines the development of materialistic values from a historical generation perspective. On a macro level, we examine critical societal events such as the Cultural Revolution and the globalization that may affect the materialistic values embraced by parents and adolescents in China. On a micro level, we delineate the impacts of financial resources and media exposure on individuals’ materialism. Based on the historical generation theory, we hypothesize differing levels of materialism, and differential mechanisms of materialistic development for the two generations. The hypotheses are tested on the survey data of 2,860 adolescents (age 15‐19) and 11,920 adults (age 40‐49, the parent generation). The results show that adolescents are more materialistic than the parent generation in terms of acquisition centrality, novelty‐seeking, and susceptibility to social influence. The results also show that media exposure exerts a strong influence on adolescents’ materialism while income does not register any significant effects. The effects are sharply reversed for the parent generation, with income as the key determinant and media exposure having no impact. The article closes with managerial and research implications.

A variety of 5-amino-6,8-dicyano-1 H -[1,2,4]triazolo[1,5- a ]pyridin-4-ium-2-thiolate containing compounds 3a – i , 5a – c were prepared via reaction of arylidenemalononitriles 1a – c , 4a and 4b with 2-[(substituted amino)thiocarbonyl]cyanoacetohydrazides 2a – d in refluxing ethanol in the presence of triethylamine. Anti-inflammatory activity screening of the synthesized compounds (at a dose of 50 mg/kg body weight) utilizing in vivo acute carrageenan-induced paw oedema standard method in rats exhibited that the prepared heterocycles possess considerable pharmacological properties especially, 3f , 3h , 5b and 5c which reveal remarkable activities relative to indomethacin (which was used as a reference standard at a dose of 10 mg/kg body weight). PGE 2 inhibitory properties of the highly promising synthesized anti-inflammatory active agents ( 3f , 3h , 5b and 5c ) were determined by PGE 2 assay kit technique, which reveal remarkable activity coinciding greatly with the observed anti-inflammatory properties. Anti-tumor activity screening of 3b and 3e , as representative examples of the synthesized compounds, at a dose of 10 μM utilizing 59 different human tumor cell lines, representing leukemia, melanoma and cancers of the lung, colon, brain, ovary, breast, prostate and kidney exhibited that the tested compounds reflect mild or no activity at all against most of the used human tumor cell lines. However, compound 3e reveals considerable anti-tumor properties against leukemia CCRF-CEM and HL-60(TB) cell line.

The study drew on a sample (n = 284) front the hotel industry in Hong Kong to advance Our understanding about the perceived effectiveness of various reward instruments in achieving specific task and extra-task performance behaviors. We found that the perceived motivating value of a reward varied according to its type. Non-financial rewards, for example, were found to play a prominent role in achieving extra-task performance dimensions. Employee characteristics also affected the perceived performance implications of various rewards. Nevertheless, caution must be exercised when interpreting the results, as other factors may also influence reward-performance relationships, thus paving the way for future research. Refereed/Peer-reviewed

1. INTRODUCTION The financial plight and plunging quality of higher education has dominated the current debate about educational reforms in Taiwan. The debate has provided a forum on the issues of the economic behavior of institutions of higher education, including the amalgamation of institutions, in the search for economies of scale, the conglomeration of undergraduate and graduate programs, in the search for economies of scope, and the enormous quality disparity between private the public institutions. The paper aims to illuminate the debate by providing an empirical study on the scale and scope economies by estimating a multi-product university cost structure in Taiwan. The number of colleges and universities in Taiwan has increased rapidly in the last two decades. As of 2003, there were 139 colleges and universities compared with only 26 institutions in 1980. During the same period, the number of college student enrollments increased fivefold, and real educational expenditure per student more than tripled. (1) The variation in unit instructional costs among colleges and universities is substantial. For small institutions, the per-student instruction cost is on average 71% higher than in larger institutions. while public, research-oriented institutions' unit instructional costs are more than twice that of private institutions. (2) The cost differences may be due to the difference in orientation and goals between undergraduate teaching and graduate research. If the larger institutions have lower unit costs. it might be because there are economies of scale and scope. Many empirical studies in the United States and in other developed countries have uncovered factors that account for costs in higher education. However, there are no empirical studies investigating the existence or magnitude of economies of scale and scope or the impact of the dual role of higher education in teaching and in research on the university cost structure in Taiwan. Over the last several decades, the universities in Taiwan have essentially been administered at the discretion of the government. The Ministry of Education oversaw every step of university operations, both in public and in private universities, ranging from student admission and enrollment, faculty hiring and promotion, curriculum design and instruction, to budgeting decisions and administrative appointments. In recent years, the government has gradually lessened its rigid control and allowed universities more administrative and financial independence. This policy change has exerted undue pressure on administrators and policy makers to emphasize productivity, efficiency, and cost-effective management. In this paper, we explore university cost structure by estimating a stochastic frontier cost function. Particular attention is given to the estimation of cost efficiency and to the effect of quality-adjusted outputs on economies of scale and scope. While most empirical studies of higher education production in other countries show some evidence of scale and scope economies, (3) we demonstrate in this paper that they are elusive because the studies have failed to account for quality variation among colleges and universities, in particular, the endogeneity of congestion in facility utilization. In the short run, a university can reduce the average cost of enrollment by tolerating more congested living and learning environments in dormitory rooms and in recreational space, in classrooms and in libraries, etc. Since the congestion factor is endogenous, this leads to a reduced average cost, and it may give a myopic administrator an incentive to engage, at least in the short run, in a policy of overutilizing the university's fixed capital resource. Congestion thus has an implicit long-run cost in higher education production. While many empirical studies have linked the student-faculty ratio and faculty research activity to the quality of university's under-graduate and graduate education, these studies generally ignored how the congestion is linked to the estimation of university cost structure, in particular to scale and scope economies. …

Export manufacturers have been struggling with the question of how to coordinate activities between their internal export departments and their external distributors or agents that are located far from their home countries. The majority of studies on export coordination address inter-firm coordination rather than intra-firm coordination within an exporting firm. Furthermore, few studies have examined the interplay between intra- and inter-firm coordination and its influence on export performance. Using data collected from indigenous Chinese manufacturers that export to overseas markets, this study groups export manufacturers based on their intra- and inter-firm coordination practices using clustering techniques. Four groups were identified: balanced coordinators, rigid coordinators, process control coordinators, and flexible-only coordinators. These four clusters were found to differ meaningfully across product characteristics, organizational culture, export market conditions, and export performance variables. The findings of this study indicate that a firm’s coordination practices can be successfully used to group exporting manufacturers, and specific types of coordination practices may lead to superior performance.

Guanxi refers to the durable social connections and networks a firm uses to exchange favors for organizational purposes. This study examines how and when guanxi operates as a governance mechanism that influences firm marketing competence and performance in the transitional economy of China. Drawing on social capital theory, the authors propose an integrative framework that unbundles the benefits and risks of guanxi and delineates the organizational processes to internalize guanxi as a corporate core competence. The authors surveyed senior executives in 282 firms in China's consumer products industries. The findings confirm guanxi's direct effects on market performance and its indirect effects mediated through channel capability and responsive capability. The authors also confirm that technological turbulence and competition intensity can be effective structure-loosening forces, thus reducing the governance effects of guanxi. The findings suggest that firms can improve market access and growth through guanxi networks, but managers need to capitalize on them from the personal to the corporate level. In addition, managers should be aware of guanxi's dark sides, which include reciprocal obligations and collective blindness. This study shows that personal networks are popular universally, but in China, they have unique, distinct ways of operation.

Guanxi refers to the durable social connections and networks a firm uses to exchange favors for organizational purposes. This study examines how and when guanxi operates as a governance mechanism that influences firm marketing competence and performance in the transitional economy of China. Drawing on social capital theory, the authors propose an integrative framework that unbundles the benefits and risks of guanxi and delineates the organizational processes to internalize guanxi as a corporate core competence. The authors surveyed senior executives in 282 firms in China's consumer products industries. The findings confirm guanxi's direct effects on market performance and its indirect effects mediated through channel capability and responsive capability. The authors also confirm that technological turbulence and competition intensity can be effective structure-loosening forces, thus reducing the governance effects of guanxi. The findings suggest that firms can improve market access and growth thr...

Objectives To describe behavioral intentions regarding notification of sex partners and continuation of sexual relationships after a Chlamydia trachomatis diagnosis among women. Methods Data are from a study of women diagnosed with C. trachomatis during 2005–2007 in Connecticut. Participants ( n = 135) reported their intentions to notify each of their sex partners in the past 3 months ( n = 187) of the infection and intentions to continue these relationships; generalized estimating equations were used to determine correlates of intentions. Reasons for these intentions were also described. Results Participants intended not to notify 25% of sex partners; correlates were partnership duration and relationship quality. Participants intended not to continue 59% of sexual relationships; correlates included partnership duration, beliefs about partner's monogamy, and relationship quality. Intentions to notify partners and continue relationships were statistically associated ( p = 0.002). Non-mutually exclusive reasons for intending not to notify partners included no perceived need (46%), unwillingness to discuss the issue (43%), fear/discomfort with potential consequences (19%), and inability to locate partner (8%). Reasons for intending not to continue relationships were often related to the diagnosis (48%). Conclusions Sex partnership characteristics are the most salient correlates for intentions not to notify partners and continue relationships. Clinicians can identify those who are less likely to notify their partners and explore reasons for these intentions to promote behaviors to reduce further C. trachomatis transmission.

The Council of Education Reform of the Executive Yuan in Taiwan raised the issue of incorporating national universities in 1996. After that initial effort, the Ministry of Education in 2000 revealed its proposal to incorporate national universities in a White Paper on higher education policy. In 2003–2006 the government has tried at least twice to sell the policy to legislators in Taiwan's parliament (the Legislative Yuan). The first attempt was made in 2003 when the government submitted its bill to revise the University Act. In the bill, a whole chapter was devoted to regulations concerned with the incorporation of universities. The proposal promised university corporations autonomy, and, in particular, more flexible personnel and accounting systems. The bill, however, failed to pass the Committee of Education and Culture in the Legislative Yuan. In October 2005, the Ministry of Education tried again by including only one article related to the incorporation of universities in the bill. That article was to provide universities with a legal foundation for incorporation, but the Legislative Yuan passed the bill without including that particular article. It thus failed again. The Ministry of Education has not, however, given up on its policy of incorporating universities. In a special NT$50 billion dollar aid package to universities, the government required that all recipients include a plan for incorporation. In order to receive the special assistance, most universities have chosen not to resist. The incorporation of national universities in Taiwan is an issue that needs to be closely watched in the future.

By focusing on two dimensions of the digital divide-computer use and computer knowledge, this study explores four research questions: (1) What are the undergraduates doing with the computers they use at colleges? (2) How do undergraduates perform in regard to computer knowledge and skills? (3) With what is the digital divide among college students correlated? (4) What consequences does the digital divide have for student academic performance? In order to answer these research questions, a national survey was conducted. The survey investigated 3083 first-year college students of 12 4-year universities in Taiwan. A total of 2719 of them completed the questionnaires resulting in a response rate of 88.2%. In this study, the digital divide is measured in terms of computer use, which includes a variety of purposes for using computers and academic-related work as a proportion of total computer hours, and computer knowledge. Multiple regressions and a generalized ordered logit, i.e. a partial proportional odds model, are employed. The main findings include the following: (1) Undergraduates use computers not only for fulfilling their academic requirements and searching for information, but also for entertainment. On average, undergraduates spend about 19h per week using computers, of which 5h are academic-related. (2) Most undergraduates perform at the middle average level in terms of computer knowledge. (3) No significant differences among correlates in relating to demographic and socioeconomic family background were found in predicting the various purposes in using computers. (4) Students who are female, whose fathers and/or whose mothers are from minorities, whose fathers are blue-collar workers or unemployed, who study in the fields of the humanities and social sciences, and who enter private universities are at a disadvantage in terms of computer skills and knowledge. However, female students, students whose mothers were less educated and students who enroll in private universities are more focused computer users in terms of allocating time to academic-related work. (5) Computer knowledge and devotion to using computers for academic-related work have a moderate effect on college student learning, while the various other uses of computers do not. Of the different kinds of computer knowledge, it is the knowledge of software that helps students to learn the most.

This study examines the multi-dimensional nature of reward preferences (i.e. types, systems, and criteria) in the cross-border context, an area not sufficiently addressed by prior research. We found empirical evidence to suggest both similarities and differences in employee reward preferences. Although culture may impinge on reward preferences, this study suggests that its influence may be diminishing or giving way to a range of other contextual forces. Directions for future research are also presented.

This study examines cross-national differences in the perceived attributes of employee performance using a multi-country sample drawn from Canada, China (Hong Kong), Finland and the UK. Significant country differences were found in the relative importance individuals attach to internal versus external causes of their performance. Respondents in Canada, Finland and the UK considered internal factors to be the most relevant. This was in contrast to their counterparts in China (Hong Kong) where a combination of both internal and external factors are believed to influence performance outcomes. Understanding these East–West differences is essential to managers grappling with the design and implementation of performance management systems in cross-border settings. The present study also paves the way for future research.

Identifying distinctive target segments is a fundamental challenge faced by international marketers. This paper describes an approach to understanding consumer market structures in an important international market, China, and to segmenting Chinese consumers by integrating insights from generational cohort and social institutional theories. We conduct two empirical studies to verify how China's recent momentous ideological events could give rise to and affect the life experiences of different generation cohorts in the country. The results of Study 1 support the conceptual framework and establish three distinct cohorts in China: Red Guards, Modern Realists, and Global Materialists. Study 2 builds on the findings of Study 1: it links cohort differences to differences in consumer values (materialism) and choice behaviors (foreign vs local brands), and then compares them with parallel consumers in the United States. This paper outlines and tests an approach to segmentation that can help international firms identify distinct segments in and design effective marketing strategies for China. Journal of International Business Studies (2007) 38, 836–853. doi:10.1057/palgrave.jibs.8400288

This study explores the research question: Does the promotion system in Taiwan reward faculty research productivity? By conducting event history analyses, I have demonstrated that the simple answer to the question is ‘yes.’ After controlling for the effects of demography, education, institutions and seniority, the discrete‐time logit models indicate that the number of research publications predicts the odds of promotion well. Although the promotion system is unquestionably effective in rewarding research productivity for at least some faculty, whether the system is truly universalistic or equitable remains an open question. Female and younger faculty members are clearly disadvantaged in seeking promotion. Future research is recommended to study how particularism operates in the Taiwanese academic community.

This paper aims at exploring how faculty research behaviour changes before, during, and after promotion. Testing research hypotheses generated from behavioral reinforcement theory and an alternative claim on the learning effect of familiarity with publishing norms, the study collects career history data and longitudinal records on faculty research performance to fill literature gaps. The main findings include: (1) behavioral reinforcement theory receives support; (2) among different field groups, the research behaviour change curve of the natural sciences and engineering faculty best fits the theory; (3) different levels of anticipated promotion rewards have different effects for motivating subjects to publish.

A 1430 km magnetotelluric (MT) transect E-W direction crossing the Parnaiba basin has been performed in order to characterize the structural features that are highlighted through electromagnetic (EM) imaging. This transect is coincident with a deep crustal seismic reflection profile and integrates a multidisciplinary study, fostered by BP Energy do Brasil, being held in Parnaiba basin between Observatorio Nacional, University of Oxford and UFRN that aims to review the basin evolution models and provide an exploratory context to this basin. The MT study comprises a total of 220 broadband and 57 long-period MT stations along the MT profile. MT data have been modeled/inverted using 2-D algorithms and an electromagnetic imaging were obtained (section of electrical resistivity x depth). The resistivity model indicates an asymmetric structured western margin with diabase intrusions and a smoothly dipping eastern margin marked by the presence of high resistive vertical structures. These features could be associated with dikes, commonly found in this basin and yet a challenging scenario for a systematic interpretation in the basin in order to better characterize them as to their morphology, genesis and possible implications for the evolution of the petroleum system. Another geolectric feature draws attention to the eastern margin near Neoproterozoic Borborema block. This boundary is interpreted as the extension of the Transbrasiliano shear zone.

Informal investors' decisions are embedded in and influence by the institutional environment. This paper advanced a multilevel model on how institutional factors moderate the decision of informal investors. It is postulated that formal institutional factors (rule of law, regulation quality) and informal ones (social trust, institutional uncertainty tolerance) can enhance information flow, collaboration, and sanctioning mechanisms in a society; as a result, they moderate the importance of decision factors of informal investors. Multilevel modeling on data from 27 countries (over 90,000 people) shows that the institutional factors heighten the positive relationship between individual's having start-up skills and informal investment, but surprisingly dampen that between seeing opportunity in new business and informal investment. These moderating effects are robust even after wealth, cultural values, and other factors are controlled. This study contributes to the research interaction of entrepreneurship and institutional theory. It also sheds light on the differential effects of improved institutions on informal investment. Different from most people would believe, improved institutions could actually cast adverse effects on informal investment, as smart, opportunity-driven individuals can have many other choices to put their investment.

Although ostracism can have devastating consequences for employees and organizations, our understanding of what contributes to ostracism is notably limited. Drawing on and extending goal interdependence theory, we integrate the goal interdependence and social skill literatures to predict when individuals are likely to be ostracized. Across two studies we found that cooperative goal interdependence reduced, while competitive goal interdependence facilitated, being ostracized; social skill strengthened the negative impact of cooperative goal interdependence on ostracism and neutralized the positive impact of competitive goal interdependence on ostracism. In a third longitudinal study, we found that relationship conflict mediated the interactive effect of goal interdependence and social skill on being ostracized. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed. Refereed/Peer-reviewed

A policy of adding a new rank to the faculty career ladder was implemented in Taiwan in 1994. It was believed that structural changes of the incentive system would change faculty research behavior. This paper explores the question: Who are motivated to perform research by the desire for promotion? A mail survey investigating Taiwanese faculty members was conducted. The results show that the answer varies by different performance measures. Those who publish for the promotion reward tend also to be motivated by other external and internal rewards. Among all rewards, the most important to many faculty is an increase in personal income. Holding one's valence score on promotion constant, faculty with better research performance tends to be those who possess doctoral degrees. The results show that faculty in public institutions perform better than their private-institution counterparts, regardless of promotion valence. Finally, alternative policies to improve faculty research performance are recommended.

and Key Results ▪ The present study empirically investigates employee reward preferences in the cross-national context using a sample drawn from 60 companies in two culturally distinct countries, Finland and China (Hong Kong). ▪ The results underscore the benefits of adopting a total reward management approach which includes a mix of financial and non-financial rewards. ▪ We found that a fuller appreciation of reward preferences entails consideration of employee characteristics and other contextual factors beyond culture.

Implementation and outcomes of PFP can be controversial. Using a sample drawn from banks in the US and Hong Kong, we find that employee acceptance of and reactions to PFP are contingent upon a numb...

A variety of 2-substituted-4,6-diaryl-3-pyridinecarboxamides 5 were synthesized through aromatic nucleophilic substitution reaction of secondary amines with 2-bromo analogues 4. The latter were obtained via bromination of 2-cyano-3,5-diaryl-5-oxo-N-substituted pentamides 3 in glacial acetic acid. Moreover, pentamide derivatives 3 were prepared through base-catalyzed Michael addition of cyanacetanilides 2 with 1,3-diaryl-2-propen-1-ones 1. Otherwise, reaction of 2-bromo-3-pyridinecarboxamides 4 with primary aromatic amines in refluxing pyridine afforded the corresponding 2-(arylamino)-3-pyridinecarboxamides 6 besides the unexpected 2-unsubstituted amino analogues 7. Antitumor properties of the synthesized pyridinecarboxamides utilizing 59 different human tumor cell lines, representing leukemia, melanoma, and cancers of the lung, colon, brain, ovary, breast, prostate as well as kidney, were screened. Many of the tested compounds show considerable in vitro antitumor properties especially 5c and 7a, which reveal moderate activities against most of the used human tumor cell lines. It has also been achieved that, all the tested nicotinamide derivatives reveal promising antitumor properties against MDA-MB-231/ATCC (breast cancer).

Reward practices that are effective in one country may be very different from those that are successful in others. This is largely due to reward preference, which is shaped by individual needs, values and expectations. By integrating both the theories of motivation and culture, this study examines employee reward preference in four countries: the United Kingdom, Canada, Finland and Hong Kong. A construct for examining the multi-dimensional nature of reward is used, the type-system-criterion (TSC) model, to identify where specific differences in reward preference lie. The findings lend support to and extend the existing body of research. Yet, in contrast to prior research, empirical analysis reveals that while preferences for certain types of rewards remain relatively divergent, differences in preferences for both reward systems and the criteria by which rewards are allocated are diminishing as the forces of convergence take hold. The findings are particularly relevant to managers engaged in the design and implementation of reward practices in a MNC environment and open reward research to a promising new direction.

Hofstede's model has been extensively used and applied in international management. This study begins with a critique of Hofstede's thesis. The applicability of his framework is then tested using a cross-cultural comparison of reward preferences in four countries. The findings reveal that although his framework provides both theoretical and practical contributions to the reward arena, the proposition that human values are conditioned solely by national culture ignores the potential influence of a variety of other contextual factors.

Background Multiple studies have examined whether clinical outcomes are improved by invasive management following non–Q-wave myocardial infarction (NQWMI). However, it remains unclear whether functional status and quality of life are affected by an invasive strategy. Methods Following NQWMI, we randomized 88 patients to invasive management vs noninvasive management. The primary end point was functional status assessed at 12 months using maximal endurance exercise treadmill testing measured in metabolic equivalents. Secondary end points included changes in scores between baseline and 12 months on the Duke Activity Status Index, the Seattle Angina Questionnaire, and the Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short-Form Survey. Results Of the 42 patients in the invasive arm, 83% underwent initial angiography. Of the 46 patients in the noninvasive arm, 91% underwent initial stress testing. Inhospital and 12-month revascularization rates were similar in the 2 arms (24% vs 22%, P ≥ .99; 31% vs 30%, P ≥ .99). Maximal endurance exercise treadmill testing was also similar at 12 months (7.8 vs 6.7 metabolic equivalents, P = .24). Patients in the invasive arm showed improved functional status by mean difference in their Duke Activity Status Index scores (4.3 vs −3.5, P = .04). Improvements in angina-specific quality of life for patients in the invasive arm were demonstrated by the Seattle Angina Questionnaire measures of anginal stability (21.6 vs −5.3, P = .02), anginal frequency (22.9 vs 2.3, P = .02), treatment satisfaction (11.2 vs −10.3, P = .02), and disease perception (24.7% vs 10.9%, P = .07). Conclusions Compared with patients undergoing noninvasive management of NQWMI, patients undergoing invasive management have some measures indicative of improved functional status.

This study examines two central issues underlying effective media decisions in China. We pay particular attention to the issue in reaching China's upscale and status-seeking consumers and the cost/benefits of so doing. In this study, we analyzed syndicated secondary data involving 48,000 respondents in 15 cities in China, and compared the extent to which television, newspapers, and general and special interest magazines reach particular consumer segments effectively. The study then used a second database containing cost information on media vehicles, and compared their efficiency in reaching segments of upscale/status-seeking consumers in China. As hypothesized, and in accord with findings in developed economies, we found that magazines have the highest targetability among the three most popular mass media. Among special interest magazines, fashion magazines are significantly more costly to advertise in, while they reach the same income segments as travel and business magazines. The implications of these ...

There is evidence that human perception of their interaction with real and virtual objects is indistinguishable in some instances. In this work, an Internet-based system is designed to test the influence of modifications in the virtual environment on perception of hazard. Variations in lighting, sound, distance and speed of dynamic virtual objects that include robots and virtual humans are incorporated into the test environment. The system is designed considering that subject testing will incorporate a psychophysical approach to an empirical analysis of risk and hazard perception for risk reduction in the workplace. Virtual and real conditions can be compared. This Internet-based virtual reality facility layout system (IVLS) can be used to test in industry as well as in the laboratory to help demonstrate the relationships between staff perceptions and organizational performance. It is expected that the results of further testing can be used to help industry to establish realistic guidelines for using virtual reality training to improve facility design and reduce hazards in the workplace. Some difficulties are discussed regarding the time to develop the models. Newer technologies that may be suitable for speeding up the model development time are also discussed.

Previous studies examining newcomer socialization have underlined the importance of proactive behaviors in aiding the adjustment of newcomers to an organization. However, few studies have focused on the effects of different types of proactive behaviors. In this study, we examine different proactive behaviors in the person-environment fit domain and investigate its impact on newcomer learning and ultimately newcomer performance and mental health. Specifically, we focus on direct inquiry and changing work procedure and propose that direct inquiry results in more learning while changing work procedure results in less learning, which is also a mediating mechanism for performance and mental health. To test our model, we use a 2-wave multi-source dataset of newcomers. This study contributes to the literature on proactive behavior of newcomers by identifying differences between proactive behaviors in the person-environment domain and further understanding the behaviors that newcomers can take to be successfully ...

How to better motivate the distributor’s participation in channel collaborations is an ongoing concern for manufacturers. Previous research suggests that distributor participation is influenced by two types of variables: economic incentives and dependence dynamics. This study extends past research by investigating the role of fairness in affecting participation and long-term relationships. The contingent effect of fairness is observed along varying levels of distributor dependence. On the basis of a naturally occurred program, the authors collected data from a focal manufacturer’s distribution channel. The results indicate that (1) the distributor’s fairness perception has significant impacts on both compliance and relational outcomes; (2) the efficacy of fairness reduces as the distributor’s dependence on the manufacturer increases; and (3) the effect of economic incentives is strengthened as the distributor’s dependence increases. The authors discuss the theoretical and managerial implications of the study findings.

This study identifies two distinctive modes of the distributor commitment to a manufacturer-initiated new sales program: substantial and adaptive commitment. We argue that the performance of these committed behavior depends on whether the major motivation is to obtain new benefits from the program (called merit-seeking motivation) or to avoid possible losses from non-participation (called loss-aversion motivation).

Objective Ovarian cancer treatments and outcomes vary substantially, yielding a diverse group of survivors. Few data exist on quality of life (QoL) concerns and the foremost needs of these patients. Our goal was to conduct a pilot study to determine the QoL needs of ovarian cancer survivors to establish priorities for future interventions. Methods In this cross-sectional study, the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaires (EORTC QLQ-C30 and OV28) QoL questionnaires and one investigator-derived questionnaire were administered in an outpatient setting. Clinical parameters were abstracted and tested for associations with QoL measures. Results A total of 102 women consented to participate and completed all components. Their mean age was 58years (range 29 to 85), with 80% having epithelial ovarian carcinoma and 66% high-grade serous carcinoma. Women with stage I (28%), II (15%), III (47%), and IV (10%) lesions were represented in the primary treatment (25%), surveillance (46%), recurrent (23%), and palliative (7%) phases of the survivorship continuum. Fifty-one percent characterized their disease burden as "quite a bit" or "very much," and this did not vary by histology or diagnoses. Global QoL did not vary by clinico-pathologic parameters. Cardiovascular and respiratory comorbidities were associated with EORTC scores in physical functioning ( P =0.027 for cardiovascular and P =0.041 for respiratory), global QoL ( P =0.03 for cardiovascular and P =0.039 for respiratory), and sexual health ( P =0.025 for cardiovascular). Task completion/memory/concentration, anxiety, and fatigue were the distress categories given highest priority by respondents. Conclusion In women with ovarian cancer, clinical factors such as age, stage, and histology did not have a significant impact on QoL. Psychosocial factors have a larger impact on global QoL than physical symptoms.

Objective To define embarrassment and develop an understanding of the role of embarrassment in relation to cervical cancer screening and self-collected human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA testing in Uganda. Design Cross-sectional, qualitative study using semistructured one-to-one interviews and focus groups. Participants 6 key-informant health workers and 16 local women, purposively sampled. Key informant inclusion criteria: Ugandan members of the project team. Focus group inclusion criteria: woman age 30–69 years, Luganda or Swahili speaking, living or working in the target Ugandan community. Exclusion criteria: unwillingness to sign informed consent. Setting Primary and tertiary low-resource setting in Kampala, Uganda. Results In Luganda, embarrassment relating to cervical cancer is described in two forms. ‘Community embarrassment’ describes discomfort based on how a person may be perceived by others. ‘Personal embarrassment’ relates to shyness or discomfort with her own genitalia. Community embarrassment was described in themes relating to place of study recruitment, amount of privacy in dwellings, personal relationship with health workers, handling of the vaginal swab and misunderstanding of HPV self-collection as HIV testing. Themes of personal embarrassment related to lack of knowledge, age and novelty of the self-collection swab. Overall, embarrassment was a barrier to screening at the outset and diminished over time through education and knowledge. Fatalism regarding cervical cancer diagnosis, worry about results and stigma associated with a cervical cancer diagnosis were other psychosocial barriers described. Overcoming psychosocial barriers to screening can include peer-to-peer education, drama and media campaigns. Conclusions Embarrassment and other psychosocial barriers may play a large role at the onset of a screening programme, but over time as education and knowledge increase, and the social norms around screening evolve, its role diminishes. The role of peer-to-peer education and community authorities on healthcare cannot be overlooked and can have a major impact in overcoming psychosocial and social barriers to screening.

Determining the effectiveness of a product in repelling mosquitoes or other flying insects is a difficult task. One approach is to use a bioassay with textile fabric. We investigated the role of the textile substrate in a bioassay with a numerical model, and compared the outcome with known results for DEET. The model was then used to determine the effectiveness of textile slow-release formulations based on coatings, and results were compared with those of a field study in the Cameroon. Slow-release formulations are difficult to evaluate with standard tests, as the compound needs a build-up time not present in these tests.We found excellent correspondence between the model and the known DEET results without matching parameters. Slow-release approaches are deemed possible but have several drawbacks. Modelling can help in identifying optimal use conditions. The field test with a slow-release system performed better than anticipated by the model, with initially more than 90% repellency. DEET-coated textile was considered not to be marketable, however.We advise that bioassays characterise in more detail the type of textile fabric used so as to allow conclusions to be drawn by textile modelling. As regards coated-textile slow-release systems, more research is needed. We nevertheless advise usage mainly at entry points, e.g. as scrims.

A study of 302 front-line employees in three 5-star Hong Kong hotels found that high job demand variability diminished their job satisfaction. However, adding discretion to the job content and improving rewards and training as part of the job context resources and support were found to moderate the negative effects of high job demand variability on the employees' job satisfaction. The importance of service discretion is particularly intriguing for these employees, since their hotels' current cultural approach is to require supervisory approval for deviations from standard practice. This study draws on the job demands-control (JD-C) model to incorporate socio-psychological characteristics of customer service positions in the analysis of employees' job satisfaction. Refereed/Peer-reviewed