Scale Development and Its Relation to Inter-Customer Helping Behavior

Weretecki, P., Greve, G., & Henseler, J. (2021). Experiential Value in Multi-Actor Service Ecosystems: Scale Development and Its Relation to Inter-Customer Helping Behavior. Frontiers in Psychology, 11, 1-14. [593390]. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2020.593390Interactions in service ecosystems, as opposed to the service dyad, have recently gained much attention from research. However, it is still unclear how they influence a customer’s experiential value and trigger desired prosocial behavior. The purpose of this study is to identify which elements of the multi-actor service ecosystem contribute to a customer’s experiential value and to investigate its relation to a customer’s interaction attitude and inter-customer helping behavior. The authors adopted a scale development procedure from the existing literature. Service, brand, retail and tourism management research as well as expert feedback is used to generate a pool of 33 items. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) were conducted. The scale was validated based on more than 468 responses to a CASI at one of the world’s largest trade shows. Scale-development procedure was followed by structural equation modeling. CFA supports that experiential value in multi-actor ecosystems comprises five dimensions. The functional value of personnel (professionalism), the perception of other customers’ appearance (similarity), the perception of other customers’ behavior (suitable behavior), multisensory stimuli (sensory appeal), and a customer’s enjoyment (playfulness). Experiential value positively and directly relates to a customer’s interaction attitude and inter-customer helping behavior. Furthermore, the effect of experiential value on inter-customer helping behavior is partially mediated by interaction attitude. Managers interested in getting more out of interactions with customers will develop an understanding for the interplay between the physical environment and individuals within a multi-actor ecosystem. Social scientists and managers can use the scale to assess experiential value, encourage a customer’s interaction attitude and utilize the customers’ influence on their peers. This paper synthesizes insights from existing research on experiential value, from various fields, in one scale. This holistic approach is the first to simultaneously account for a customer’s interactions with the multisensory physical environment, personal interactions with employees and interactions between customers in a multi-actor service ecosystem.publishersversionpublishe

who they are, what they do and why it matters

Weretecki, P., Greve, G., & Henseler, J. (2021). Selling actors in multi-actor sales ecosystems: who they are, what they do and why it matters. Journal of Business and Industrial Marketing, 36(4), 641-653. [Advanced online publication on 30 november 2020].https://doi.org/10.1108/JBIM-03-2020-0145.Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to investigate selling actors in multi-actor sales ecosystems. When selling actors start taking over tasks that were formerly performed by salespeople, the distribution of tasks, allocation of responsibilities and finally the role of the salespeople changes. However, little is known about salespersons’ perceptions of selling actors’ identities and participation behavior in multi-actor sales ecosystems. Design/methodology/approach: The authors conducted a World Café, a new qualitative method to the field of sales research, to obtain first data on selling actor identities in multi-actor sales ecosystems. Salespeople, who had the chance to observe and interact with more than 98,000 selling actors, disclosed their perceptions of selling actors’ participation behavior in a multi-actor sales ecosystem. Four different data sources were analyzed using qualitative content analysis to develop a comprehensive understanding of the topic and to test validity through the convergence of information from different sources. Findings: Using identity theory, a salesperson–selling actor relationship/behavior typology for multi-actor sales ecosystems was developed. Eight different selling actor identities were identified: avoider, observer, receptive actor, prepper, expecter, savvy actor, challenger and coworker. Originality/value: The typology provides researchers and managers with a tool to better understand and evaluate sales ecosystems. This knowledge can be used as a starting point for the reassessment of the knowledge, skills and abilities necessary for salespeople in multi-actor sales ecosystems and to improve their training and coaching. The firsthand experiences reported by the participants of the World Café enable salespeople to identify different selling actors faster and prepare fitting approaches for all selling actor identities.authorsversionpublishe

Information management can't be all fun and games, can it? How gamified experiences foster information exchange in multi-actor service ecosystems

Weretecki, P., Greve, G., Bates, K., & Henseler, J. (2021). Information management can't be all fun and games, can it? How gamified experiences foster information exchange in multi-actor service ecosystems. International Journal Of Information Management, 61, 1-12. [102391]. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijinfomgt.2021.102391This paper investigates whether gamified experiences in a multi-actor service ecosystem can be used to encourage customers’ information exchange behavior. Furthermore, it examines the impact of customers’ knowledge sharing attitude on the relationship between experiential value and customers’ information exchange behavior. Structural equation modeling was used to assess these dynamic relationships and provide a scalable measurement instrument that can be applied to gamified experiences ranging from simple customer-interface interactions, all the way up to multi-actor service ecosystems. Our findings support the notion that managers can use gamification to foster information exchange and thereby value co-creation between customers and employees directly, without necessarily having to change customers attitudes first. The findings also suggest that gamification can be applied successfully in cases of large groups of people with widely varying characteristics, backgrounds, and motivations. Additionally, our research indicates that experiential value is a suitable candidate for a consistent measurement instrument for gamification. This study is the first to apply a holistic experiential value approach to a gamified experience that simultaneously accounts for customers’ interactions with a multisensory physical environment, their personal interactions with employees, and their interactions with other customers.publishersversionpublishe

Evaluation of the ALMA Prototype Antennas

The ALMA North American and European prototype antennas have been evaluated by a variety of measurement systems to quantify the major performance specifications. Nearfield holography was used to set the reflector surfaces to 17 microns RMS. Pointing and fast switching performance was determined with an optical telescope and by millimeter wavelength radiometry, yielding 2 arcsec absolute and 0.6 arcsec offset pointing accuracies. Path length stability was measured to be less than or approximately equal to 20 microns over 10 minute time periods using optical measurement devices. Dynamical performance was studied with a set of accelerometers, providing data on wind induced tracking errors and structural deformation. Considering all measurements made during this evaluation, both prototype antennas meet the major ALMA antenna performance specifications.Comment: 83 pages, 36 figures, AASTex format, to appear in PASP September 2006 issu

Upcoming immunotherapeutic combinations for B-cell lymphoma

After initial introduction for B-cell lymphomas as adjuvant therapies to established cancer treatments, immune checkpoint inhibitors and other immunotherapies are now integrated in mainstream regimens, both in adult and pediatric patients. We here provide an overview of the current status of combination therapies for B-cell lymphoma, by in-depth analysis of combination therapy trials registered between 2015–2020. Our analysis provides new insight into the rapid evolution in lymphoma treatment, as propelled by new additions to the treatment arsenal. We conclude with prospects on upcoming clinical trials which will likely use systematic testing approaches of more combinations of established chemotherapy regimens with new agents, as well as new combinations of immunotherapy and targeted therapy. Future trials will be set up as basket or umbrella-type trials to facilitate the evaluation of new drugs targeting specific genetic changes in the tumor or associated immune microenvironment. As such, lymphoma patients will benefit by receiving more tailored treatment that is based on synergistic effects of chemotherapy combined with new agents targeting specific aspects of tumor biology and the immune system

Barbed suture in neck dissection: a randomized clinical study on efficacy, safety and aesthetic outcome

Purpose The resection of lymph nodes/neck dissection is a typical part of the surgical treatment of head and neck malignancies. The aim of this study was to compare subcutaneous closure using single knotted, braided suture (VicrylTM, standard arm) with continuous self-locking, monofilament barbed suture (V-LocTM, experimental arm). Methods Neck Lock was a randomized clinical trial at a single tertiary referral center. It was conducted from 2016 till 2022 with a follow-up period of 3 months. Assessment of safety and aesthetic outcome was double-blinded. 68 patients were randomized after application of exclusion criteria. Subcutaneous wound closure was performed in an intrapatient randomized fashion for suture technique. The primary endpoint was the duration of subcutaneous sutures. Wound healing and scar formation were recorded at multiple postoperative intervals as secondary endpoints. Results The median age was 61 years, 89.7% were male. 92.6% suffered from a squamous cell carcinoma. There was a significant difference in median subcutaneous suture time (p = 0.024) between the experimental (6:11 ± 2:30 min) and standard (7:01 ± 2.42 min) arms. There was no significant difference in safety when assessing adverse events (AEs). At least one AE occurred in 14.7% vs. 5.9%, for barbed and smooth sutures respectively (p = 0.16). Conclusion For neck dissection of head and neck malignancies, subcutaneous wound closure with self-locking sutures offers significant time savings over the single knot technique with similar safety and aesthetic results

Adenosine-producing regulatory B cells in head and neck cancer

Background Multiple mechanisms of immunosuppression have been identified in the tumor microenvironment including regulatory B cells (Breg). Recently, we have shown that Breg suppress T cell function by production of adenosine (ADO). However, the autocrine effect of ADO on B cells and the role of Breg in head and neck cancer remains unclear. Methods Blood (n = 42) and tumor tissue (n = 39) of head and neck cancer patients and healthy donors (n = 60) were analyzed by FACS. The effect of ADO on phenotype, intracellular signaling pathways, Ca2+ influx and ADO production was analyzed in Breg and effector B cells (Beff) by FACS, luminescence and mass spectrometry. The blockage of the ADO receptor A2A was analyzed in a murine head and neck cancer model. Results ADO-producing Breg were found in tumor tissue and peripheral blood. ADO inhibited the intracellular Bruton’s tyrosine kinase (BTK) and Ca2+ influx only in Beff. The inhibition of BTK by ibrutinib mimicked the effect of ADO, and ibrutinib reduced the production of ADO by downregulation of CD39 in vitro. The inhibition of ADO receptor A2A significantly reduced tumor mass and increased B cell infiltration, in vivo. Conclusion Our data demonstrate the presence of a novel ADO-producing Breg population within the tumor microenvironment in mice and humans. A new model is proposed on how ADO-producing Breg can influence the function of Beff cells in healthy donors and cancer patients. Thus, the modulation of the ADO pathway in B cells may serve as a therapeutic approach for cancer patients

Medicina física e reabilitação em doentes com dor crônica

Physical medicine and rehabilitaiton in chronic pain patients physical medicine and rehabilitation including physical procedures, kinesiotherapy, prescription of proteses and orteses and educative programs are necessary and effective in the treatment of chronic muscle-skeletal pain patients. They allow faster and more appropriate rehabilitation and reintegration of the patients.Os procedimentos de medicina física incluindo os meios físicos, a cinesioterapia, o uso de órteses e próteses, as imobilizações,a reabilitação psicossocial e os programas educativos são eficazes e seguros no tratamento da dor e na reabilitação dosdoentes com dor. Proporcionam também reabilitação mais rápida e reintegração mais apropriada dos doentes