Knowledge Management in Supply Chain

The aim of this thesis is to analyse the crucial role of knowledge management in supply chain starting from a systematic literature review on the topic. The thesis is structured in seven chapters. After the first chapter dedicated to the introduction, the aim of the second chapter is to provide a systematic review on knowledge management in supply chain in order to identify the state of art in the literature, highlight research gaps and define appropriate research questions to be addressed. The review was carried out using Scopus and Web of Science databases from 1960 to 2014. A total of seventy papers were selected and studied in detail. The paper highlights that knowledge management in supply chain is a crossroad research issue that includes a variety of contributions coming from different research areas. The paper also shows that although there is a growing number of papers addressing knowledge management in supply chain, many research issues are still neglected. The content analysis of the papers highlights seven main gaps in the literature. Starting from these seven gaps eight research questions are formulated. These research questions represent possible areas of investigation to improve the body of knowledge in the field of knowledge management in supply chain. The third chapter provides a systematic review of the literature on knowledge management (KM) in small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and SME networks. The main objective is to highlight the state-of-the-art of KM from the management point of view in order to identify relevant research gaps. The review highlights that in recent years the trend of papers on the topic is growing and involves a variety of approaches, methodologies and models from different research areas. The vast majority of papers analysed focus on the topic of knowledge management in the SME while there are only few papers analysing KM in networks populated by SMEs. The content analysis of the papers highlights six areas of investigation from which were derived ten research questions concerning three perspectives: the factors affecting KM; the impact of KM on firm’s performance; the knowledge management systems (KMSs). The fourth chapter deals with knowledge management (KM) in small and medium enterprises (SMEs). Three research questions have been identified concerning the barriers hindering the spread of KM practices in SMEs, the main knowledge management systems (KMSs) adopted by SMEs and the impact of the use of KM practices on SME performance. The research questions were subsequently addressed through a field analysis conducted on a sample of SMEs. The empirical evidence highlights that the scenario has changed in the space of but a few years. Although SMEs are generally characterized by poor financial and human resources, they are able to overcome the barriers preventing the spread of KM practices. The SMEs investigated perceive the strategic value of KM and consequently adopt a variety of KMSs. Nevertheless, such systems are generally outdated in comparison with cheaper, more recent, and user-friendly applications. Finally, the chapter emphasizes that the use of KM practices can contribute to the overall growth of SMEs by simultaneously and significantly enhancing their performance. The fifth chapter provides an overview on the knowledge management systems (KMSs) adopted by small and medium enterprises (SMEs). KMSs are divided into two categories: knowledge management tools (KM-Tools) and knowledge management practices (KM-Practices). On the base of the analysis of the literature two research questions (RQs) were identified and addressed through semi-structured interviews carried out in a sample of 35 SMEs operating in high-tech industries. The first RQ concerns the degree of adoption of KMSs by SMEs. The second RQ regards the relationship between KM-Tools and KM-Practices. As far as the degree of adoption of KMSs, the chapter highlights that SMEs are not a homogeneous world but there are a variety of approaches and behaviours. As far as the relationship between the degree of adoption of KM-Tools and KM-Practices, the chapter identifies three groups of SMEs that seem to point out the stages of the process of adoption of KMSs: Introduction, SMEs that deal with the process of knowledge management exploiting practices and tools that already know; Growth, SMEs that adopt specialist practices of knowledge management acquiring new organizational and managerial competence in the field of knowledge management; Maturity, SMEs that invest in new technology and that acquire new technological competence in the field of knowledge management. The sixth chapter aims to highlight the degree of diffusion and the intensity of use of knowledge management systems (KMSs) among small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and to propose a taxonomy that synthesises the strategies of using KMSs on the part of SMEs. Starting from a literature review on KMSs used by SMEs and from a focus group with consultants/researchers operating in the field of information technology in SMEs, an empirical investigation was designed, developed and conducted through semi-structured interviews involving 61 selected SMEs operating in high tech industries. The chapter highlights three main issues regarding the use of KMSs. Firstly, SMEs adopt and use more intensively traditional tools (KM-Tools) rather than new and more updated ones that are generally cheaper and easier to use. Secondly, SMEs adopt and make more intensive use of practices (KM-Practices) that do not exclusively focus on the knowledge management process, but seek to adapt practices they already know to the requirements of knowledge management. Finally, the chapter points out that there is a relationship of reciprocity between KM-Tools and KM-Practices: one reinforces the other and vice versa. The chapter proposes a taxonomy bringing together SME strategies for using KMSs. Specifically, four strategies are identified: guidepost, explorer, exploiter, and latecomer. The seventh chapter analyses the alignment between knowledge management systems and the nature of small and medium enterprises’ knowledge. Based on a Delphi panel involving senior KM consultants and a field analysis conducted in 61 SMEs operating in complex manufacturing and service industries, a software in Matlab language named KM-Alignment Evaluation System (KM-AES) has been designed to elaborate the collected data. The methodology used by the software is based on a three-dimensional fuzzy term set. The results highlight that KM-Tools used by the firms are aligned with KM-Practices they should support according to the epistemological and ontological dimensions identified by Nonaka. Specifically, there is a relation of reciprocity between KM-Tools and KM-Practices used by the firms: the higher the degree of coverage of KM-Tools with KM-Practices, the higher the degree of coverage of KM-Practices with KM-Tools and vice versa. Nevertheless, both KM-Tools and KM-Practices are misaligned with firm’s corporate knowledge used in five macro-processes identified (planning, production, organization, market relationships, strategic relationships). Moreover, the chapter allows to identify four different strategies of KMSs adoption for SMEs: misaligned SMEs, efficiently misaligned SMEs, effectively misaligned SMEs, aligned SMEs. The findings show that the majority of surveyed firms are efficiently misaligned SMEs. These latter have great potential for growth and through appropriate learning and training processes involving KM experts and/or KMSs’ providers, they can become aligned SMEs. Finally, the eighth chapter summarises the conclusions and implications of the thesis

Management of Relapsed/Refractory Multiple Myeloma with Bendamustine-Bortezomib-Dexamethasone

Multiple myeloma (MM) is a malignant neoplasm of plasma cells that accumulate in bone marrow, leading to bone destruction and marrow failure. It accounts for approximately 1.8% of all hematologic and solid cancers and slightly > 15% of hematologic malignancies in the United States. MM is most frequently diagnosed among people aged 65 to 74 years (median age 69 years). During 2016, the American Cancer Society estimated that 30.330 new cancer cases occurred in USA, with 12.650 deaths. Over the past decade, statistical analysis show that the rates for new MM cases have been increasing an average of 0.8% each year. However, these analysis also reveal that death rates have been declining an average of 0.8% each year (period 2004-2013) thanks to the availability of newer and more effective treatment options. MM is typically sensitive to different classes of cytotoxic drugs, both as frontline treatment and as treatment for relapsed disease. Unfortunately, even if responses are typically durable, nowadays MM is not considered curable with current approaches. However, treatment of MM has been rapidly evolving, due to the introduction of new classes of drugs, such as proteasome inhibitors, immunomodulatory drugs (IMIDs), histone deacetylase inhibitors and monoclonal antibodies and new indications for old classes of drugs, such as alkylating agents. Moreover, there is increasing understanding of MM tumor biology, creating the rational for new combinations of drugs and new therapies development. Discover of the associated cytogenetic abnormalities confirm the hypothesis that MM is a heterogeneous disease, suggesting that risk-adapted therapies and individualizing treatment will further help to improve patient management. Bendamustine is a molecule largely adopted in the past as effective chemotherapeutic agent in several types of hematological and non-hematological malignancies. Its unique mechanism of action, both as alkylating agent and antimetabolite, probably accounts for its wide efficacy profile also in the treatment of relapsing/refractory multiple myeloma. In this specific clinical setting, in which patients experience several therapy lines and have poor prognosis, bendamustine combined with bortezomib and dexamethasone, is emerging as an effective salvage therapy, also in the era of new drugs. In fact, despite the introduction of so-called novel agents, such as second generation proteasome inhibitors (carfilzomib) or third generation immunomodulatory drugs (pomalidomide), many trials have demonstrated that bendamustine in combination with other agents is also a valid therapeutic option as these mentioned above. This retrospective, observational study aimed to evaluate, in a real-life setting, a cohort of heavily pre-treated patients affected by relapsing/refractory multiple myeloma, whose salvage therapy consisted in courses of bendamustine-bortezomib-dexamethasone. Efficacy and safety data were evaluated, focusing especially on effectiveness of this regimen on previously bortezomib-refractory patients and on its tolerability. Data on efficacy and safety of our real-life experience were highly comparable to those of major trials adopting the same regimen in the same clinical setting, demonstrating how it is a feasible salvage therapeutic option, in a context of poor treatment choices. Moreover, our data revealed how bendamustine addition could overcome a previous pharmacological refractoriness to bortezomib, leading to clinical response also those patients already treated with this proteasome inhibitor

The impact of corporate social responsibility activities on stakeholders' value co‐creation behaviour

AbstractThis paper analyses the relationships between corporate social responsible employees, corporate social responsible suppliers and customer value co‐creation behaviour in banking industry. More in detail it aims to investigate the mediating effect of relationship marketing orientation between corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities and customer value co‐creation behaviour. Data collected from 383 banking customers are analysed through smart partial least square (PLS). The results highlight that corporate social responsible employees and suppliers have a positive impact on customer value co‐creation behaviour. Moreover, relationship marketing orientation has a mediating role between CSR activities and customer value co‐creation behaviour

Mapping knowledge management research: a bibliometric overview

In recent years, knowledge management (KM) has consistently attained considerably growing research attention. Consequently, several literature reviews have been performed addressing different topic areas of KM. This paper seeks to present a comprehensive bibliometric and network analysis on KM to understand its development from the perspective of academic communities. Subsequently, it seeks to identify the structure of associations between prior and current themes, predict emerging trends and offer a longitudinal perspective on KM research. This study used web of science database and the initial sample was trimmed down by considering only the articles contributing to KM literature, and further 8,721 KM papers published in the last 30 years were systematically evaluated. The descriptive statistics and science mapping methods employing co-citation analysis were performed with VOSviewer software. In the descriptive analysis, we have analysed publication trends over time, geographical localization of the contributing institutions, journals, most prolific authors, top-performing institutions and most cited articles. Science mapping analysis is based on co-word analysis and co-citations analysis, namely articles’ co-citations and authors’ co-citations. The main findings of this paper will help researchers and academicians to develop knowledge in a specific sub-field by analysing the research outcomes of the papers included in the body of literature. First published online 28 December 202

Measurement of consumer awareness of food waste : construct development with a confirmatory factor analysis

Purpose This study aims to examine the role of hunger, environmental, economic, landfill and water shortage concerns as significant dimensions of consumer social awareness marketing in socially responsible plate food consumption. Design/methodology/approach To carry out their purpose, the authors validate the hypothesized model empirically through data from 1,536 households using structural equation modeling (SEM). In particular, the construct measures of the structural model have been tested by confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). Findings The outcome the authors came up with is coherent with the hypothesized model, and it proves a positive relationship of the five dimensions identified on consumer awareness. Moreover, the study results show the crucial role of landfill and water shortage concerns in measuring consumer awareness. Practical implications These findings may be of interest to practitioners, academics and policymakers for socially responsible food consumption guidance and training for planning consumer awareness programs. More in detail, this study offers the indication that the dimensions of the social consumer awareness construct are differing from commercial consumer awareness. Originality/value Even though several previous studies have addressed the concept of consumer awareness concerning product and service purchase decisions, this is one of the first research studies on consumer awareness as a multidimensional construct in social marketing studies domain.Peer reviewe

Reply to the letter to the editor “chronic disseminated candidiasis” by Kenneth Rolston

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Safety and comfort of domestic bortezomib injection in real-life experience

Despite novel agents, multiple myeloma is still an incurable disease, especially for elderly and frail patients, who are difficult to manage for concomitant comorbidities as the therapeutic options are limited and the response to chemotherapy is often short. We report our evaluations upon safety and efficacy of domestic subcutaneous bortezomib in elderly and frail patients candidate to bortezomib-melphalan-prednisone (VMP) regimen. We confirmed that overall incidence of adverse events, including peripheral neuropathy, was low, and in no case required admission to emergency service, contributing to reduce the rate of therapy discontinuation. These results confirm the effectiveness and safety of subcutaneous bortezomib, in a real-life-experience, and define a new possibility of safe auto-administration in a comfortable domestic setting. We suggest that domestic treatment can significantly improve the quality of life of the patients, avoiding unnecessary transfer to the hospital without reducing treatment efficacy

Pegfilgrastim in primary prophylaxis of febrile neutropenia following frontline bendamustine plus rituximab treatment in patients with indolent non-Hodgkin lymphoma: a single center, real-life experience

In this prospective study, the impact of granulocyte colony-stimulating factors (G-2 CSF) administered during induction treatment with bendamustine plus rituximab for indolent non- Hodgkin Llymphoma (NHL) was evaluated by comparing patients who received secondary prophylaxis with filgrastim (control group) versus. patients who received pegfilgrastim as primary prophylaxis (peg-group). The primary endpoint was the incidence rate of febrile neutropenia (FN)- related chemotherapy disruptions (regarding dose-dense and/or dose-intensity of schedule). The Ssecondary endpoint included days of hospitalization due to FN, and G-CSF-related side effects (grade ≥3 WHO toxicity criteria) in each group