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PurposeThis article studies the role played by sustainability operations management (OM) practices in the relationship between governance and environmental and social performance adopting the lenses of the upper echelons theory and the resource-based view. In particular, the authors study three main relationships: (1) the impact of governance on the implementation of sustainability OM practices, (2) the impact of sustainability OM practices on sustainability performance and (3) the mediating role of sustainability OM practices in the relationship between governance and sustainability performance.Design/methodology/approachTo test this study’s research model, the authors retrieved secondary data of 430 firms from the United Stated (US) and Europe and analyzed it using partial least squares (PLS)-based structural equation modeling (SEM).FindingsThis study’s results suggest that sustainability OM practices are needed to achieve higher social and environmental performance outcomes from governance, highlighting the key role of the OM department in the achievement of a sustainability strategy.Originality/valueThis paper adopts the environmental, social, governance (ESG) neglected focus and aims to provide a better understanding of and reveal the interrelationship between governance and sustainability OM practices (i.e. environmental and social).

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to illustrate how a focal firm can manage sustainability in its lower-tier suppliers which lie beyond the firm’s visible horizon. Design/methodology/approach This paper presents a new approach to managing sustainability in multi-tier supply chains with an illustrative case study that analyzes how electronic equipment firms make efforts to verify that they are not using conflict minerals. Findings The nexus supplier (smelters in the electronics supply chain) plays a relevant role in increasing visibility and tracing the source of minerals, thus guaranteeing sustainability upstream in the supply chain. Research limitations/implications The paper is based on a specific supply chain (i.e. electronics supply chain) and therefore its conclusions might be only partially generalized to other sectors. Practical implications Firms in complex supply chains need to make efforts to identify and manage nexus suppliers to extend sustainability upstream in the supply chain, especially beyond their visible horizon. Originality/value The paper focuses on management of sustainability in the invisible zone of the supply chain, which has been neglected in previous literature and is increasingly important to the managerial world in an economy with a growing number of global supply chains.

Neste trabalho apresentamos uma formulação geral para a metodologia baseada no escore corrigido (Nakamura, 1990), para inferência em modelos com erros nas variáveis. O método é aplicável tanto a modelos lineares quanto não lineares e permitetratar de forma unificada os casos funcional e estrutural. Exibimos um modelo simples para o qual a função escore corrigida não pode ser obtida como o gradiente de uma log-verossimilhança corrigida, mesmo existindo esta função. Portanto,estabelecemos condições de regularidade suficientes, sem referência à log-verossimilhança corrigida, para provar consistência e normalidade assintótica dos estimadores. Testes de hipóteses assintóticos baseados nos estimadores do escorecorrigido, são propostos. A eficiência relativa assintótica destes testes com respeito a testes 'naive' e testes baseados nas verdadeiras covariáveis, é calculada para uma classe particular de modelos lineares generalizados. A técnica é aplicadaem dois modelos de interesse, o modelo de calibração comparativa e o modelo de regressão Weibull not available

Introducción: El Objetivo fue evaluar los parámetros metabólicos en pacientes adultos ≥ 65 años en comparación con adultos < 65 años sometidos a CB pre y post intervención.Materiales y métodos: Estudio analítico de cohorte prospectiva en 40 pacientes sometidos a CB durante el periodo julio de 2015 y marzo de 2018. Los pacientes fueron divididos en dos grupos (A: ≥65 años; B: < 65 años) y se evaluaron previo a la cirugía (basal), y a los 3 y 6 meses posteriores al acto quirúrgico parámetros antropométricos y parámetros bioquímicos. Se calculó el porcentaje de peso perdido (PEPP) y se evaluó el índice Triglicéridos/HDLc (TAG/HDLc) como marcador de insulinorresistencia.Resultados: De los 40 pacientes sometidos a la CB, se incluyeron 36: 21 pacientes eran del grupo A (mediana de edad: 59, RIQ: 48-61 años) y 15 pacientes del grupo B (mediana de edad: 67, RIQ: 66-69 años), el porcentaje de pacientes con diabetes mellitus tipo 2 era de 53%(n=8) en B vs 43% (n=9) en A. Luego de 3 y 6 meses post CB se observó en el grupo B un descenso en el peso, índice de masa corporal y porcentaje de exceso de peso perdido (PEPP) no significativo, disminución en los niveles de glucemia y HbA1c sumado a un aumento significativo en los niveles de HDLc, además de un descenso significativo del índice TAG/HDLc en el grupo B. Se encontró una correlación positiva entre los niveles de HbA1c y PEPP, HDLc y el índice TAG/HDLc así como el descenso del uso de antidiabéticos e hipolipemiantes en el grupo B. Conclusiones: la CB logró similares resultados antropométricos en el grupo de pacientes ≥ de 65 años presentando una mejoría significativa en los paramétricos metabólicos a los 3 y 6 meses, principalmente en la insulinorresistencia, lo cual apoyaría el beneficio de la CB en este grupo etario.

Despite the emergent application of 3-dimensional technology for thoracic reconstructions, reports regarding its use for the resolution of the heterogeneous subgroup of complex chest wall malformations are lacking. We aim to report a novel, standardized process of personalized repair of complex chest wall malformations comprising multidisciplinary, comprehensive surgical planning; surgical simulation on a 3-dimensionally printed scale model of the area of interest; manufacturing of customized prostheses; and surgical repair according to plan. We propose this therapeutic strategy for the resolution of such a wide variety of chest wall deformities to reduce improvisation and enhance outcomes.

This paper aims to examine the role of national culture in the relationship between sustainability practices (social and environmental practices) and sustainability performance (social and environmental performance). While previous literature has focused on the influence of national culture on the decision-making and ethical behaviors of managers, the role of national culture on the effectiveness of sustainability practices has been rather neglected. Our study addresses this gap by highlighting the relevance of national culture as a contextual element when implementing sustainability practices in different countries. Based on a multi-level regression analysis using data from 484 firms in nine countries (China, Germany, Hungary, India, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, Slovenia, and Sweden), we found that the impact of social practices on social performance is accentuated in countries characterized by high uncertainty avoidance and high masculinity. The impact of environmental practices on environmental performance, however, is not affected by national culture.

DOI: 10.18312/cadernounivag.v0i10.1447 RESUMO Alergia alimentar (AA) e uma resposta imune especifica que ocorre apos a exposicao a um determinado alimento, gerando uma reacao adversa, podendo causar reacoes potencialmente fatais e diminuir a qualidade de vida do individuo. A carne de frango apresenta rico teor de proteinas de boa qualidade e e recomendado consumo em todas as idades, sendo classificada como alimento saudavel, pobre em gorduras, desde que esteja sem pele. Este trabalho objetivou desenvolver e analisar bromatologicamente o leite desenvolvido a partir do peito de frango como alternativa para aqueles que nao podem fazer o uso do leite de vaca ou outros leites, por conta de apresentarem intolerâncias e alergias alimentares. A partir de uma receita tradicional, chamada Mamadeira de Frango, produziu-se 4 receitas diferentes variando o tipo de arroz como ingrediente e o tipo de acucar (demerara ou de coco). Os resultados das analises fisico-quimicas das 4 receitas mostraram indices proteicos relativamente baixos, 083% em media, com cinzas em torno de 4,5% de cinzas, lipidios chegando a 7,20% de lipidios, fibras atingindo 6,20% e carboidratos por volta de 80%. A obtencao e de baixo custo se for empregado acucar de baixo custo, mas sugere-se hidrolizar a proteina do frango para proximos estudos. Palavras-Chave: Extrato; Hipersensibilidade; Baixo Custo

Shallow geothermal resource exploitation through the use of groundwater heat pump systems not only has hydraulic and thermal effects on the environment but also induces physicochemical changes that can compromise the operability of installations. This study focuses on chemical clogging and dissolution subsidence processes observed during the geothermal re-injection of pumped groundwater into an urban aquifer. To explain these phenomena, two transient reactive transport models of a groundwater heat pump installation in an alluvial aquifer were used to reproduce groundwater-solid matrix interactions occurring in a surrounding aquifer environment during system operation. The models couple groundwater flow, heat and solute transport together with chemical reactions. In these models, the permeability distribution in space changes with precipitation-dissolution reactions over time. The simulations allowed us to estimate the calcite precipitation rates and porosity variations over space and time as a function of existent hydraulic gradients in an aquifer as well as the intensity of CO2 exchanges with the atmosphere. The results obtained from the numerical model show how CO2 exolution processes that occur during groundwater reinjection into an aquifer and calcite precipitation are related to hydraulic efficiency losses in exploitation systems. Finally, the performance of reinjection wells was evaluated over time according to different scenarios until the systems were fully obstructed. Our simulations also show a reduction in hydraulic conductivity that forces re-injected water to flow downwards, thereby enhancing the dissolution of evaporitic bedrock and producing subsidence that can ultimately result in a dramatic collapse of the injection well infrastructure.

This research studies how firms and NGOs achieve inter-organizational fit for implementing practices that create value in socially sustainable supply chains. This paper presents a theoretical model that identifies the factors that drive and enable firm-NGO inter-organizational fit. Previous research has adopted an institutional perspective in which secondary stakeholders put pressure on the firm to implement sustainable practices. However, anecdotal evidence and latest industry practices suggest that a cooperative perspective could be more appropriate to understand how value can be created in socially sustainable supply chains. The proposed theoretical model depicts the achievement of inter-organizational fit as a process that entails several alignments along the way: a value logic alignment, the alignment of an NGO's mission with the profit-oriented behavior of firms, the alignment of an NGO's objectives with firms' strategies, and the adjustment of firms' organizational structures and organizational routines to an NGO's activities. We use a qualitative nested case study, which involved an NGO-led project that undertook supplier development programs for poor suppliers in cooperation with several firms. Recommendations for practitioners and areas of future research are also provided.

Introduction Chronic low back pain is a public health problem, and there is strong evidence that it is associated with a complex interaction of biopsychosocial factors. Cognitive functional therapy is an intervention that deals with potentially modifiable multidimensional aspects of pain (eg, provocative cognitive, movement and lifestyle behaviours). There is evidence (from a single randomised, controlled trial) that cognitive functional therapy is better than combined manual therapy and motor control exercise. However, this study had significant methodological shortcomings including the failure to carry out an intention-to-treat analysis and a considerable loss of follow-up of participants. It is important to replicate this study in another domain through a randomised clinical trial with similar objectives but correcting these methodological shortcomings. Aim To investigate the efficacy of cognitive functional therapy compared to combined manual therapy and exercise on pain and disability at 3 months in patients with chronic non-specific low back pain. Design Two-group, randomised, multicentre controlled trial with blinded assessors. Participants and settings One hundred and forty-eight participants with chronic low back pain that has persisted for >3months and no specific spinal pathology will be recruited from the school clinic of the Centro Universitario Augusto Motta and a private clinic in the city of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Intervention A Four to 10 sessions of cognitive functional therapy. The physiotherapists who will treat the participants in the cognitive functional therapy group have previously attended 2 workshops with two different tutors of the method. Such physiotherapists have completed 106 hours of training, including workshops and patient examinations, as well as conducting a pilot study under the supervision of another physiotherapist with>3 years of clinical experience in cognitive functional therapy. Intervention B Four to 10 sessions of combined manual therapy and motor control exercises. Participants in the combined manual therapy and exercise group will be treated by two physiotherapists with an average of >10years of clinical experience in manual therapy and motor control exercises, including isolated contractions of the deep abdominal muscles. Measurements The primary outcome measures will be pain intensity and disability 3 months after randomisation. Secondary outcomes will be pain and disability assessed 6 and 12 months after randomisation, and both global perceived effect and patient satisfaction at 3, 6 and 12 months after randomisation. The potential outcome mediators will be assessed at 3 and 6 months after randomisation, with brief screening questions for anxiety, social isolation, catastrophisation, depression, fear of movement, stress and sleep. Non-specific predictors and moderators will include age, gender, duration of chronic low back pain, chronicity risk (Orebro and Start Back score), number of pain areas, stressful life event, MRI scan imaging, and family history. Analysis Intention-to-treat analysis will be performed. Linear mixed models will be used to compare the mean differences in pain intensity, disability and global perceived effect between the intervention arms. The analysis of the effect of potential mediators of the treatment will be performed using the causal mediation methods described by Imai and colleagues. The baseline variables will be evaluated as predictors and moderators of treatment, including terms and interaction models. A level of statistical significance of 5% will be used in the analysis. All the analyses will be performed using RStudio. Significance This study will investigate whether the results of the first cognitive functional therapy randomised clinical trial are reproducible. The present study will have a sample size capable of detecting clinically relevant effects of the treatment with a low risk of bias. In pragmatic terms, this clinical trial is designed to reproduce the intervention as it would be performed in clinical practice by a trained physiotherapist who works with cognitive functional therapy, which increases the relevance of this study. The combined manual therapy and exercise group comprises an intervention strategy widely used by physiotherapists to treat low back pain. As evidence of efficacy is still limited, the results of a randomised, controlled clinical trial of high methodological quality will help physiotherapists in clinical decision-making.

Our study analyzes the effectiveness of governance mechanisms (transactional or relational) in managing buyer–supplier relationships with respect to environmental issues. Based on data from 170 firms located in Hong Kong, this study empirically identifies the mechanism that enhances suppliers' commitment towards environmental protection, and hence allows buying firms to improve their environmental performance. In addition, we have adopted a contingency perspective to investigate the conditions (namely product complexity, relationship stability and relationship adaptability) under which these governance mechanisms are more effective in nurturing supplier commitment. Our results suggest that while both mechanisms lead to suppliers' commitment with environmental issues, their effectiveness can be leveraged if they are applied under specific conditions. In particular, transactional mechanisms are more effective in situations of high product complexity and high relationship stability and adaptability. Relational mechanisms show higher effectiveness if they are used in the context of low product complexity and low relationship adaptability. Furthermore, implications for managers are also derived from this study.

Our study analyzes the effectiveness of two sustainable supply management practices (i.e., assessment and collaboration) on achieving a socially – responsible supply chain. Based on data from 120 Spanish manufacturers the paper investigates the impact that both practices have on the buying firm's and the supplier's social performances. SmartPLS was used to test the hypothesized relationships between practices and performance. Our results suggest that while assessing suppliers contributes to improve the buying firm's social performance, collaborating with them enhances the suppliers' social performance. Furthermore, the paper provides some additional insights on how to measure social performance.

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explore the role of information technologies (IT) in the impact of environmental practices on environmental performance. Design/methodology/approach The authors use data from the fifth (2009) round of the International Manufacturing Strategy Survey (IMSS) which includes responses from manufacturing plants within the manufacturing industry in Brazil, China, Germany, Hungary and USA. The authors use multiple regression analysis to test the relationship between environmental practices and environmental performance and the moderating effect of IT. Findings The paper finds evidence that IT strengthens the relationship between environmental practices and environmental performance. The IT construct is operationalized through IT-enabled control and IT-enabled coordination. The results confirm the established relationship between environmental practices and environmental performance and show that IT-enabled coordination moderates the relationship between environmental practices and environmental performance. Originality/value This research contributes to the literature of green operations in the following ways: First, this paper offers an alternative explanation about the role of IT; the authors provide evidence that existing IT resources that support the coordination between product design and manufacturing strengthen the effect of environmental practices. Second, this paper provides evidence that environmental practices can take advantages of the IT resources embedded in daily plants’ routines to enhance plants’ environmental performance. Overall, this research provides suggestions to managers about the role that IT plays in the implementation of environmental practices.

The objective of this paper is to study the impact of institutional pressures at the country level (i.e., coercive, regulatory, normative) on the adoption of sustainable supplier development practices. Globalization is allowing firms to expand in new markets and to leverage on localization advantages by establishing foreign plants and sourcing internationally. Plants located in different countries might be subject to different institutional pressures shaping their organizational response to sustainability within and outside their domain (e.g., in relation to their suppliers). The paper also aims to examine if firm specific capabilities (e.g., supply chain integration) play an enabling role in the adoption of sustainable supplier development practices. To analyse these relationships we relied on both primary and secondary data, and used hierarchical linear modelling to test our hypotheses. The results show that mimetic pressures have a positive effect on the adoption of sustainable supplier development and that this influence is positively moderated by the firm’s level of supplier integration. Coercive and normative pressures have no effect on the adoption of sustainable supplier development practices. Overall our results suggest that sustainable supplier development is a proactive practice adopted for competitive reasons and enabled by firm specific capabilities.

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to assess the influence of cultural collectivism on the efficacy of lean practices. Furthermore, this study assesses whether or not potential cultural disadvantages related to the level of individualism at the national level can be compensated for at the organisational culture level. Design/methodology/approach – Hofstede’s cultural dimension of individualism is used to test whether practicing a collectivistic culture at the organisational level can fully compensate for the potential disadvantages of being geographically situated in an individualistic culture when practicing lean manufacturing. Findings – Results suggest that cultural collectivism at the national and organisational level have a significant impact on the efficacy of lean practices. Furthermore, the negative impact of being situated in an individualistic country cannot be fully compensated for through practicing a collectivistic organisational culture when practicing lean. Originality/value – This study represents a comprehensive attempt to simultaneously assess the collectivism cultural components of lean practices at the national as well as at the organisational level.

The use of e-business (EB) applications has reshaped an organisations’ supply chain structure. EB applications have enabled supply chain organisations to integrate their upstream and downstream supply chain processes to reach higher performance outcomes. Employing the resource-based view and contingency perspective as theoretical anchors, we propose and test a model of the relationship between EB applications, supply chain integration and financial performance that is moderated by a country’s regulatory quality. Cross-country data have been collected from 637 organisations through the International Manufacturing Strategy Survey research initiative. We hypothesise that the efficacy of the EB value creation process depends on the regulatory quality of the country that companies are located in. Results indicate that EB has a stronger impact on supply chain integration and supply chain integration has a stronger impact on financial performance, if the companies are situated in countries with high quality regu...

In view of the limited understanding and research on the effect of sustainable supplier development practices on supplier performance, this study examines the impact that the implementation of assessment and collaboration practices have on supplier performance outcomes. In addition, we investigate the role that supplier dependence has on the performance outcomes of assessment on and collaboration with suppliers. Based on a sample of 129 Chinese manufacturing firms, we run a series of OLS regressions to test our theoretical models. The findings suggest that collaboration improves supplier performance, while assessment causes a deterioration. In addition, supplier dependence could be leveraged for suppliers to gain performance improvements through collaborative practices.

Companies have reacted to the opportunities and threats of globalization through numerous production practices that have increased supply chain complexity. One of the ways companies have been able to manage this increased level of complexity is by integrating their supply chains. Logistical capabilities at the company level play a key role in integrating global supply chains, but logistical capabilities need not be company specific. In this study we explore the role of a country's logistical capabilities in external supply chain integration. Our results indicate that plants situated in countries with superior levels of logistical capabilities adopt significantly lower levels of external supply chain integration. Additionally, plants situated in countries with superior logistical capabilities do not gain the same performance benefits from external integration as plants situated in countries with relatively low levels of logistical capabilities.

PurposeThe purpose of this research is to examine the effect of internal lean practices on multiple operational performance dimensions, and assess the contingency perspective of these relationships with respect to industry clockspeed.Design/methodology/approachThe study is based on empirical data gathered from 228 manufacturing companies in the Republic of Ireland. The relationships between the constructs are analyzed through regression analysis.FindingsThe results indicate that the relationships between internal lean practices and quality, delivery, flexibility and cost were found to be positive and significant. Further, industry clockspeed was found to moderate the relationship between internal lean practices and quality, delivery and flexibility, but not cost.Practical implicationsWhile internal lean practices can improve operational performance, managers should be aware that internal lean practices are not universally applicable, and the rate of change within an industry should be considered at the time of implementing lean principles.Originality/valueMuch of the lean literature tends to be biased towards its effectiveness. However, empirical evidence shows that not all lean implementation have led to positive results, which has been attributed to the general complexity in the relationship between internal lean practices and performance. We propose to investigate further this relationship by disaggregating operational performance into four of its dimensions, namely quality, delivery, flexibility and cost, and by investigating the possible contingency effect of industry clockspeed.

Different firms have implemented environmental programmes (such as design to recycle, life cycle analysis or environmental certification) and social practices (such as programmes aimed to improve employees’ working conditions or projects to support the external community). This study aims to analyse the impact of these programmes on each dimension of the triple bottom line (environmental, social and economic performance). It extends the extant literature by (1) considering environmental and social initiatives in the same study, (2) analysing their impact on the three pillars of the triple bottom line, (3) comparing the impact of internal and external programmes, and (4) analysing sustainable operational projects at the plant level. The data used were obtained from the fifth (2009) round of the International Manufacturing Strategy Survey (IMSS) which includes responses from manufacturing plants within the assembly industry in 19 countries. Our findings suggest that internal environmental programmes have a positive impact on the three components of the triple bottom line, whereas internal social initiatives have a positive impact on only two components: Social and environmental performance. It seems that firms still need to achieve positive financial gains from these social programmes. Finally, regarding the external or supply chain initiatives, our results show that supply chain assessment has no impact on the triple bottom line, unlike supply chain collaboration which contributes to improve all three elements. Two important managerial contributions can be derived from this study: (1) Managers have to be aware of the possible negative effects (on the short term) of social practices on manufacturing costs, and (2) they need to implement collaborative practices with their supply chain partners, as assessment alone has been found not to have any impact on the triple bottom line.

This paper focuses on the management of cultural conflicts that arise during the provision of humanitarian aid (HA). In particular, we study the cultural conflicts in the HA relationship between those delivering HA and the beneficiaries, and we examine how those delivering HA manage these conflicts. By drawing upon structuration theory, we conceptualise culture as consisting of three dimensions – systems of meaning, norms of behaviours, and power relations. We then develop a process model that shows the interactions between the HA organisation and the local community beneficiary of the aid and that shows how these interactions are mediated by culture. We illustrate the model with a case study that analyses the intervention of a non-governmental organisation during an outbreak of cholera in Mozambique in 2008. The case shows how the non-governmental organisation reflexively monitored its actions and consequences, creating a basis for adaptation and change in its practices. Furthermore, the case shows that culture is not immutable but dynamic – being constantly produced and reproduced during HA operations. From the results of the case study, we formulate some theoretical propositions that may guide further research in this area.

One of the key challenges for firms is to manage sustainability along the supply chain. To extend sustainability to suppliers, organizations have developed different governance mechanisms. The aim of this paper is to analyze the effectiveness of two different mechanisms (i.e., supplier assessment and collaboration with suppliers) to improve one dimension of sustainability: environmental performance. Structural Equation Modeling and cluster analysis were used to analyze the relationships between supplier assessment, collaboration with suppliers, and environmental performance. The results suggest that (1) both mechanisms, supplier assessment and collaboration with suppliers, have a positive and synergistic effect on environmental performance, and (2) assessment acts as an enabler of collaboration. Finally, the paper also contributes to the literature by providing a framework of sustainability governance mechanisms.

Purpose – To make their supply chains more socially responsible, many companies are implementing supplier assessment tools and collaborative practices. The aim of this paper is to provide a systematic literature review on the governance structures used to extend sustainability to suppliers. More specifically, the authors aim to answer two questions: “What is the impact of these mechanisms or governance structures on sustainable performance?” and “What are the enablers of these mechanisms?”.Design/methodology/approach – A structured literature review is carried out that analyses published studies, evaluates contributions, summarises knowledge and identifies managerial implications and lines for further research.Findings – Both assessment and collaboration have a positive impact on environmental performance and corporate social responsibility, although the most recent collaborative paradigm stresses that assessment alone is not enough. Some enablers of these practices are identified.Research limitations/imp...

PurposeThe purpose of this research is to examine the effect of industry clockspeed on the relationship between supply chain management (SCM) practices, from both upstream and downstream sides of the supply chain, and SCM performance.Design/methodology/approachThe study is based on a questionnaire sent to manufacturing companies in the Republic of Ireland. The relationships between the constructs are analysed through regression analysis.FindingsThe results suggest that the relationship between SCM practices and SCM performance is not monotonic across varying levels of industry clockspeed. Although mixed support was found for the hypothesized relationships, this research contributes considerably to the theoretical development of the contingency view in the SCM literature.Practical implicationsManagers should be aware that the rate of change in their industries can affect the way SCM practices across the supply chain impact on SCM performance.Originality/valueThe literature review has shown that empirical studies which address the relationship between SCM practices and SCM performance provide mixed results. One possible explanation lies in the contingency theory. This paper contributes to the theoretical development of the contingency view in the SCM literature by showing that industry clockspeed affects the way SCM practices impact on SCM performance.

The main purpose of this paper is the evaluation of previous German and Spanish research conducted related to oral communication capability in a different cultural surrounding. In order to test the validity of the European findings, a new sample was drawn using membership data of the U.S. based National Institute of Governmental Purchasing. The results of this paper corroborate that oral communication capability is a construct consisting of three dimensions. The model obtained in Europe for managers from private sector purchasers is also applicable in the U.S. for public purchasers. Furthermore, European results proposed four distinct types of communicators, while in the U.S. two additional groups of purchasers were found. Nevertheless, there is limited evidence for demographic or cultural influences on the oral communication capabilities of purchasers.

The influence of sex and egg weight on small intestine villi height and crypt depth was analyzed at 18 d of incubation, at hatching, and 7 days post-hatch. Amounts of duodenum. jejunum and ileum were removed and fixed in Bouin solution for 24 hours. After rinse in 5% ethanol, the amounts were dehydrated in a graded alcohol series up to absolute ethanol (70%, 80%, 90% and 100%), diafanized in absolute xylene and embedded in paraplast. Sections were stained with hematoxylin and eosin. Dta were submitted to analysis of variance. And significant treatment means were separated by Tukey´s test (pKEY WORDS: Broiler embryos, chicks, egg weight, sex, small intestine. Analisou-se a influência do sexo e peso dos ovos (leve, intermediário e pesado) sobre altura dos vilos e profundidade das criptas do intestino delgado no 18º dia de incubação, eclosão e 7º dia de idade. Amostras do duodeno, do jejuno e do íleo foram fixadas em Bouin, desidratadas em série de concentração crescente de etanol, diafanizadas em xilol, infiltradas e incluídas em parafina. Cortes histológicos foram corados com HE. O delineamento experimental seguiu um fatorial 2x3 (sexo: machos e fêmeas, e peso dos ovos: leves, intermediários e pesados). Analisaram-se os dados pelo teste de variância e de Tukey, com nível de significância de 5%. Nas três idades analisadas, o peso corporal mostrou-se maior (pPALAVRAS-CHAVES: Embriões de frangos, intestino delgado, peso do ovo, pintos de corte, sexo.

SUMMARY As supply chain management (SCM) becomes increasingly important, the sharing of information and oral communication has also increased in significance. This has resulted in the need for an instrument to measure managers' oral communication capabilities. The main objectives of this paper are to identify the dimensions of the oral communication capability and to develop an instrument to measure this capability. To achieve these goals, a survey was conducted among German and Spanish buyers and supply managers. The results indicate that the oral communication capability construct has a second-order structure with three dimensions: the ability to pass on information, the ability to persuade and the ability to listen and understand. Based on these results, the Oral Communication Capability Self-test (OCCS) was developed. This study also investigates the typology of purchasing managers based on their oral communication capabilities.

PurposeThis paper examines the logistics‐production and logistics‐marketing interfaces and their relation with the external integration. The study also investigates the causal impact of these internal and external relationships on the company's logistical performance.Design/methodology/approachAn empirical study was conducted in the Spanish FMCG sector and the theoretical model was subjected to analysis using SEM.FindingsThe generic results derived from this study are: Internal and external integration influence each other. Integration in the logistics‐marketing interface does not lead to reductions in costs, stock‐outs and lead‐times, while the integration achieved in the logistics‐production interface does improve these performance measures, if there is no external integration. The external collaboration among supply chain members does always contribute to improving firms’ logistical performance.Research/limitations/implicationsThe study has some limitations: other important members of the grocery supply chain (such as retailers, TPL, etc.) have not been considered and the effect of inter‐firm co‐ordination has only been analyzed from the perspective of the provider (as most studies do). Further research on the logistics‐marketing impact on performance should be carried out and other important supply chain members should be considered.Practical implicationsThe study contributes to the existing literature by showing that the impact on performance of internal integration depends on the functional areas that are being integrated and the level of external integration.Originality/valueIt is believed that this paper will be insightful to researchers and managers in the SCM field. For researchers, this paper has provided new lines of research. And, for managers, this paper has shown that there is a positive relationship between firms’ logistical performance and SCM.

Studies based on the role of context and stakeholder pressures on the relationship between CSR practices and financial performance are few and inconclusive. Aimed at contributing to filling this gap, the paper is based on data collected in 2013 from the sixth round of the International Manufacturing Strategy Survey (IMSS-VI). Hierarchical regression is used to investigate three hypotheses on the relationships between CSR practices, financial performance and the influence of context and stakeholder pressures. The results show that CSR practices affect financial performance positively, while stakeholder pressures moderate this relationship.