A multivariate examination of the relationship between strategic planning and organisational performance

Strategic planning and more specifically, the impact of strategic planning on organisational performance has been the subject of significant academic interest since the early 1970's. However, despite the significant amount of previous work examining the relationship between strategic planning and organisational performance, a comprehensive literature review identified a number of areas where contributions to the domain of study could be made. In overview, the main areas for further study identified from the literature review were a) a further examination of both the dimensionality and conceptualisation of strategic planning and organisational performance and b) a further, multivariate, examination of the relationship between strategic planning and performance, to capture the newly identified dimensionality. In addition to the previously identified strategic planning and organisational performance constructs, a comprehensive literature based assessment was undertaken and five main areas were identified for further examination, these were a) organisational b) comprehensive strategic choice, c) the quality of strategic options generated, d) political behavior and e) implementation success. From this, a conceptual model incorporating a set of hypotheses to be tested was formulated. In order to test the conceptual model specified and also the stated hypotheses, data gathering was undertaken. The quantitative phase of the research involved a mail survey of senior managers in medium to large UK based organisations, of which a total of 366 fully useable responses were received. Following rigorous individual construct validity and reliability testing, the complete conceptual model was tested using latent variable path analysis. The results for the individual hypotheses and also the complete conceptual model were most encouraging. The findings, theoretical and managerial implications, limitations and directions for future research are discussed

Social control in online communities of consumption: a framework for community management

Online communities of consumption (OCCs) represent highly diverse groups of consumers whose interests are not always aligned. Social control in OCCs aims to effectively manage problems arising from this heterogeneity. Extant literature on social control in OCCs is fragmented as some studies focus on the principles of social control, while others focus on the implementation. Moreover, the domain is undertheorized. This article integrates the disparate literature on social control in OCCs providing a first unified conceptualization of the topic. The authors conceptualize social control as a system, or configuration, of moderation practices. Moderation practices are executed during interactions operating under different governance structures (market, hierarchy, and clan) and serving different purposes (interaction initiation, maintenance, and termination). From this conceptualization, important areas of future research emerge and research questions are developed. The framework also serves as a community management tool for OCC managers, enabling the diagnosis of social control problems and the elaboration of strategies and tactics to address them

A novel broad specificity fucosidase capable of core alpha 1-6 fucose release from N-glycans labeled with urea-linked fluorescent dyes

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Weak lensing, dark matter and dark energy

Weak gravitational lensing is rapidly becoming one of the principal probes of dark matter and dark energy in the universe. In this brief review we outline how weak lensing helps determine the structure of dark matter halos, measure the expansion rate of the universe, and distinguish between modified gravity and dark energy explanations for the acceleration of the universe. We also discuss requirements on the control of systematic errors so that the systematics do not appreciably degrade the power of weak lensing as a cosmological probe.Comment: Invited review article for the GRG special issue on gravitational lensing (P. Jetzer, Y. Mellier and V. Perlick Eds.). V3: subsection on three-point function and some references added. Matches the published versio

Introduction: Shakespeare's public spheres

Habermas’ sense of a “cultural Public Sphere” is a notoriously complex term and, when applied to Early Modern cultures, needs careful definition. This essay both introduces the variety of methods by which we might approach playtexts with a view to their public – auditory – impact and contributes to a debate about an audience's understanding of Shakespeare's plays. By selecting two words and their spread of use in one play, Twelfth Night, we might appreciate the potential for meaningful ambiguity latent in how we hear the language of live performance. If we search for how certain terms (in this case, the cluster of semes derived from repetitions of “fancy” and “play”), we might find at times incompatible senses, yet we get near to appreciating the range of Early Modern dramatic language

Hypothermia and associated outcomes in seriously injured trauma patients in a predominantly sub-tropical climate

Aim: This study aimed to determine factors linked to hypothermia ( 15. Demographic, injury, environmental, care and clinical status factors were considered. Results: A total of 2182 patients were included; 124 (5.7%) had hypothermia on admission to the definitive care hospital, while a further 156 (7.1%) developed hypothermia during hospitalisation. Factors associated with hypothermia on admission included winter, direct admission to a definitive care hospital, an ISS ≥ 40, a Glasgow Coma Scale of 3 or ventilated and sedated, and hypotension on admission. Hypothermia on admission to the definitive care hospital was an independent predictor of mortality (odds ratio [OR] = 4.05; 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.26-7.24) and hospital length of stay (incidence rate ratio [IRR] = 1.22; 95% CI 1.03-1.43). Hypothermia during definitive care hospitalisation was independently associated with mortality (OR = 2.52; 95% CI 1.52-4.17), intensive care admission (OR = 1.73; 95% CI 1.20-2.93) and hospital length of stay (IRR = 1.18; 95% CI 1.02-1.36). Conclusions: Trauma patients in a predominantly sub-tropical climate are at risk of accidental and endogenous hypothermia, with associated higher mortality and care requirements. Prevention of hypothermia is important for all severely injured patients

Fatal hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis in X-linked chronic granulomatous disease associated with a perforin gene variant

A patient with previously unrecognized X-linked chronic granulomatous disease (X-CGD) died of multi-organ failure, secondary to ongoing infection and hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH). Post mortem histological investigations were compatible with X-CGD, and a CYBB gene mutation was confirmed. No homozygous mutations in the genes encoding perforin (PRF1), MUNC 13-4 or syntaxin-11 (STX11) were found; however, there was a heterozygous alteration c.1471G>A in the PRF1 gene causing a p.Asp491Asn substitution. Although this substitution has not been reported to cause primary or secondary HLH, we speculate that it may have made the patient more susceptible for HLH under the circumstances of ongoing infection associated with X-CGD