Assessing Big Data Analytics Capability and Sustainability in Supply Chains

Big data analytics capability (BDAC) is a technology-based capability, which can influence sustainability performance of firms in supply chains. By using BDAC strategically, supply chains could improve their responses to social, environmental, and social changes taking place in uncertain business environments. This paper presents a detailed literature review on the two ends of the equation: BDACs and sustainability in supply chains performance (SSCP). The theoretical perspective of the dynamic capabilities helps us to understand BDAC holistically, a combination of non-human and human capabilities. Then, we adapt the three-bottom-line approach: economic, environmental, and social performance in order to offer a comprehensive measurement of SSCP Based on the overview of the literature, the paper offers metrics to be used in assessing both BDAC and SSCP that can advance the understanding of the relationship between them

Hybrid Organizational Forms In Public Sector's Digital Transformation: A Technology Enactment Approach

The purpose of this paper is to examine how public sector organizations become nimbler while retaining their resilience during digital transformation. The study adopts a hermeneutic approach in conducting deep expert interviews with 22 senior executives and managers of multiple organizations. The method blends theory and expert views to study digital transformation in the context of enterprise information management. Drawing on Fountain’s (2001) Technology Enactment Framework (TEF), this research poses that organizational form is critical in the enactment of technologies in digital transformation. By extending TEF, we claim that organizations are not in pure bureaucratic or network organizational form during digital transformation; instead, they need a hybrid combination in order to support competing strategic needs for nimbleness and resilience simultaneously. The four hybrid organizational forms presented in our model (4R) allow for networks and bureaucracy to co-exist, though at different levels depending on the level of resiliency and nimbleness required at each point in the continuous digital transformation journey. The main theoretical contribution of this research is to extend TEF to illustrate that the need for co-existence of nimbleness with stability in a digital transformation, results in a hybrid of networks and bureaucratic organization forms. This research aims to guide public sector organizations’ digital transformation with extended TEF as a tool for building the required organizational forms to influence the technology enactment to best meet their strategic needs in the digital era. The results from expert interviews point to the fact that the hybrid organizational forms create a multi-modal organization, extending our understanding of enterprise information management. Depending on the department or business needs a hybrid organizational form mode would be dominant. This dominance creates a paradox in organizations to handle both resilience and nimbleness. Therefore, 4R model is provided as a guide to public sector managers and consultants to guide strutting their organization for digital transformation. text The model (4R), the extended TEF, shows that organizations still work towards networks and bureaucracy; however, they are not two distinct concepts anymore; they co-exist at different levels in hybrid forms depending on the needs of the organization

Weaning practices in phenylketonuria vary between health professionals in Europe

Background: In phenylketonuria (PKU), weaning is considered more challenging when compared to feeding healthy infants. The primary aim of weaning is to gradually replace natural protein from breast milk or standard infant formula with solids containing equivalent phenylalanine (Phe). In addition, a Phe-free second stage L-amino acid supplement is usually recommended from around 6 months to replace Phe-free infant formula. Our aim was to assess different weaning approaches used by health professionals across Europe. Methods: A cross sectional questionnaire (survey monkey (R)) composed of 31 multiple and single choice questions was sent to European colleagues caring for inherited metabolic disorders (IMD). Centres were grouped into geographical regions for analysis. Results: Weaning started at 17-26 weeks in 85% (n=81/95) of centres, > 26 weeks in 12% (n=11/95) and 26 weeks. First solids were mainly low Phe vegetables (59%, n=56/95) and fruit (34%, n=32/95). A Phe exchange system to allocate dietary Phe was used by 52% (n=49/95) of centres predominantly from Northern and Southern Europe and 48% (n=46/95) calculated most Phe containing food sources (all centres in Eastern Europe and the majority from Germany and Austria). Some centres used a combination of both methods. A second stage Phe-free L-amino acid supplement containing a higher protein equivalent was introduced by 41% (n=39/95) of centres at infant age 26-36 weeks (mainly from Germany, Austria, Northern and Eastern Europe) and 37% (n=35/95) at infant age > 1y mainly from Southern Europe. 53% (n=50/95) of centres recommended a second stage Phe-free L-amino acid supplement in a spoonable or semi-solid form. Conclusions: Weaning strategies vary throughout European PKU centres. There is evidence to suggest that different infant weaning strategies may influence longer term adherence to the PKU diet or acceptance of Phe-free L-amino acid supplements; rendering prospective long-term studies important. It is essential to identify an effective weaning strategy that reduces caregiver burden but is associated with acceptable dietary adherence and optimal infant feeding development.Peer reviewe

Early feeding practices in infants with phenylketonuria across Europe

Background: In infants with phenylketonuria (PKU), dietary management is based on lowering and titrating phenylalanine (Phe) intake from breast milk or standard infant formula in combination with a Phe-free infant formula in order to maintain blood Phe levels within target range. Professionals use different methods to feed infants with PKU and our survey aimed to document practices across Europe. Methods: We sent a cross sectional, survey monkey (R) questionnaire to European health professionals working in IMD. It contained 31 open and multiple-choice questions. The results were analysed according to different geographical regions. Results: Ninety-five centres from 21 countries responded. Over 60% of centres commenced diet in infants by age 10 days, with 58% of centres implementing newborn screening by day 3 post birth. At diagnosis, infant hospital admission occurred in 61% of metabolic centres, mainly in Eastern, Western and Southern Europe. Breastfeeding fell sharply following diagnosis with only 30% of women still breast feeding at 6 months. 53% of centres gave pre-measured Phe-free infant formula before each breast feed and 23% alternated breast feeds with Phe-free infant formula. With standard infant formula feeds, measured amounts were followed by Phe-free infant formula to satiety in 37% of centres (n = 35/95), whereas 44% (n = 42/95) advised mixing both formulas together. Weaning commenced between 17 and 26 weeks in 85% centres, >= 26 weeks in 12% and <17 weeks in 3%. Discussion: This is the largest European survey completed on PKU infant feeding practices. It is evident that practices varied widely across Europe, and the practicalities of infant feeding in PKU received little focus in the PKU European Guidelines (2017). There are few reports comparing different feeding techniques with blood Phe control, Phe fluctuations and growth. Controlled prospective studies are necessary to assess how different infant feeding practices may influence longer term feeding development.Peer reviewe

Low-level laser and local corticosteroid injection in the treatment of subacromial impingement syndrome: A controlled clinical trial

Objective: To investigate the effectiveness of low-level laser treatment and local corticosteroid injection in patients with subacromial impingement syndrome. Design: Controlled clinical trial. Setting: Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation outpatient clinic. Subjects: One hundred thirty-five patients with subacromial impingement syndrome. Intervention: The patients were allocated to three groups: local corticosteroid injection (group I); sham laser treatment (group II); and low-level laser treatment (group III). Low-level laser treatment was performed three times per week for a total of nine sessions. Local corticosteroid injections were administered twice, with an interval of 10 days between each. The patients were assessed at pre-treatment, post-treatment and three and six months after the first visit. Main measures: The primary outcome of the study was pain intensity (visual analog scale) during activity and at rest. The secondary outcomes were, shoulder functional status and quality of life measured by the University of California at Los Angeles rating score (UCLA) and Nottingham Health Profile (NHP) scale respectively. Results: Significant differences were observed between groups I and II and between groups II and III regarding pain during activity and at rest scores at all of the visits (p<0.05). Nevertheless, significant improvement was observed between groups I and III regarding pain during activity only at post-treatment (p=0.013). The UCLA scores were significantly changed in all three study groups at all of the visits (p<0.05). Conclusion: The effectiveness of low-level laser treatment was similar to that of local corticosteroid injection in patients with subacromial impingement syndrome. We concluded that both low-level laser treatment and corticosteroid injection were more effective than sham laser treatment. © The Author(s) 2014.Firat University Scientific Research Projects Management Unit: TF2006LTP19Both low-level laser treatment and local steroid injection seem to have similar effect and might be useful therapeutic options in patients with subacromial impingement syndrome. Low-level laser treatment and local steroid injection both seemed to provide an enhanced effect when used in combination with exercise in patients with subacromial impingement syndrome. We appreciate and express our sincere thanks to the anonymous reviewers for their critical comments on earlier drafts of this paper. Conflict of interest The authors declare that there are no conflicts of interest. Funding This work was supported by the Scientific Research Projects Coordination Unit of Cukurova University (grant number TF2006LTP19

Using Women Entrepreneurship in Technology Ventures: Gendered Organization and Gendered Society Interactions

Women technology entrepreneurs are a neglected topic in entrepreneurship literature. Rather than following gender blind frameworks used for entrepreneurship, this study proposes to use a feminist approach. Literature is overcrowded with analyses of individual level factors while ignoring the role of macro factors in shaping entrepreneurship. Thus, this study develops a total of nine propositions around two key macro factors: organizational factors (such as the hierarchical structure of scientific workplaces) and societal factors (such as stereotypes). The paper presents a case analysis using the propositions developed on an exemplar country chosen for the study: Turkey. Our overview of Turkey confirms the propositions developed in this paper. The paper ends with implications of the study and suggestions for future studies

Continuous transformation of public–sector organisations in the digital era

© 2019 Association for Information Systems. All rights reserved. Public-sector organisations need to continuously transform to retain their legitimacy by meeting their obligations to citizens, central governments, and laws. Digital era brings new challenges for public-sector organisations who historically are slow in adoption of changes. This is significant as policymakers are concerned that unexpected disruptions could take away their governance power. This research in progress aims to clarify how public-sector organisations respond to digital transformation drivers. The literature review and expert interviews highlight that organisations require both existing and novel organisational capabilities to utilise digital technologies in order to respond to transformation drivers. This research highlights the gap related to organisational capabilities for existing and novel organisational forms

Understanding the Role of Employees in Digital Transformation: Conceptualization of Digital Literacy of Employees as a Multi-Dimensional Organizational Affordance

Abstract Purpose Much of recent academic and professional interest in exploring digital transformation and enterprise systems has focused on the technology or the organizations’ external forces, leaving internal factors, in particular employees, overlooked. The purpose of this paper is to explore digital literacy of employees as an organizational affordance to capture contextual factors within which digital technologies are situated and are used. Design/methodology/approach We used the evidence-based practice for information systems approach and undertook a systematic literature review of 30 papers coupled with brainstorming with 11 professional experts on the neglected topic of digital literacy and its assessment. Findings This paper draws upon affordance theory and develops a novel framework for conceptualization of digital literacy of employees as an organizational affordance. We do this by distinguishing digital literacy at the individual level and organizational level, and by assessing digital literacy through Information/Cognitive and Social Practice/Articulation affordances. Research Implications The current paper contributes to the notion of organizational affordances by examining the effect of interactions between employee-technology through digital literacy of employees in using digital technologies. We offer a novel conceptualization of digital literacy to improve understanding of the role of employee in digital transformation and utilization of enterprise systems. Thus, our definition of digital literacy offers an extension to the recent discussions in the IS literature regarding the actualization of affordances by bringing a lens of employees into the process. Practical Implications This paper operationalizes digital literacy at organizational and individual levels and offers managers a high-level tool to assess digital literacy of their employees. By doing so, managers can achieve the fit between employees' capabilities and digital technologies that will improve affordance actualization and support their digital transformation initiatives. Originality The study is one of early attempts to apply and extend affordance theory on digital literacy at organizational level by not limiting the concept to the individual level. The proposed framework improves the communication among researchers and between researchers and practitioners

The role of employees in digital transformation: Application of the Theory of Planned Behavior on Australian employees’ cloud technology usage

Even though digital technologies such as cloud technologies are prevalent in transforming businesses, the role of employees and their digital skills in the process is, to a large extent, neglected. This study brings forward the novel concept of digital literacy to explore the role of employees in understanding the wide variety of opportunities of digital technologies and their actualization. By treating digital literacy as the antecedent of cognitive behavior of employees in utilizing cloud technology at companies, we apply the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) for analyzing preliminary empirical data collected from 124 Australian employees’ technology use intentionality and behavior. The quantitative analysis shows that the TPB holds for the utilization of cloud technology and there is a positive relationship between employees' digital literacy and the utilization of cloud technology at companies. Overall, the study contributes to the technology management literature by offering a workable construct to measure the digital skills of employees in the form of digital literacy. Further, it expands the TPB framework by introducing digital literacy as a perceived behavior control variable that helps to examine the role of employees in digital transformation. The paper ends with implications and limitations of our preliminary study, followed with suggestions for future studies