LEVERAGING STRATEGIC MANEUVERABILITY TO AUGMENT BUSINESS MODEL INNOVATION FOR COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE DURING ENVIRONMENTAL TURBULENCE

ABSTRACT   Purpose: Ensuring that businesses thrive in turbulent environments is as challenging as navigating the proverbial stormy waters. Drawing upon attention-based and action-based views of firms’ dynamic capabilities, we examined whether firms with high strategic maneuverability can gain a competitive advantage in turbulent environments by adopting business model innovation

Dynamic Capabilities, Innovation, and Sustainable Competitive Advantage under Environmental Uncertainty in Textile Industry

This study examined the relationship between dynamic capabilities and sustainable competitive advantage through technological and non-technological innovation under environmental uncertainty.  The proposed interactive model has been explained using the dynamic capabilities theory. Data were collected from 246 managers in the textile manufacturing industries in Pakistan through a two-point survey. The measurement model showed excellent psychometric qualities for all variable measures. Findings provide that dynamic capabilities have a significant positive relationship with sustainable competitive advantage mediated by technological and non-technological innovations in parallel and serial ways. Environmental uncertainty accelerated the positive impact of dynamic capabilities on both these forms of innovation, leading to sustainable competitive advantage. Findings emphasize the importance of dynamic capabilities in the manufacturing industry and support investment in developing such capabilities, which enhance industry innovation and competitiveness

The Implication of Stem Cell Therapy in Cleft Lip and Palate and Other Craniofacial Anomalies – A Literature Review

ABSTRACTBackground In recent times, stem cell therapy has recently gained popularity, and is used for regenerating oral and maxillofacial structures. This study aimed to review stem cell applications in the reconstructive treatment of cleft lip and palate and other craniofacial anomalies.Methods A search on the PubMed database, Dental and Oral Science and CINAHL was conducted to identify relevant studies on stem cells and their implications in the reconstructive treatment of cleft lip and palate.Results Studies included in this review reported stem cell usage in the reconstruction of defects in cleft lip and palate cases, hemifacial microsomia, Treacher-Collins syndrome, Parry-Romberg syndrome and craniosynostosis. Stem cell knowledge is being utilized for several different tissues and organs. Preclinical data has displayed the potential of stem cells for craniofacial surgery.Conclusions Fortunately, stem cell-based oral and maxillofacial regeneration has shown promising results. Understanding stem cell practice will open a new era of research and proposed advancement in treating various diseases

Relationship between Socioeconomic Inequalities and Oral Hygiene Indicators in Private and Public Schools in Karachi: An Observational Study

Background: The study investigated the relationship between socioeconomic status and oral hygiene indicators in two schools located in Karachi, Pakistan. Oral hygiene indicators of public and private school children were compared. Private schools cater to children of relatively wealthier families compared to public school, whose attendees are generally children from less affluent backgrounds. The aim of this study was to determine whether socio-economic differences and inequalities have an impact on key oral hygiene indicators. Methodology: Primary data for this research was collected from community school visits conducted by the community dentistry department of Jinnah Medical and Dental and Medical College from January to September 2019. A convenience sample of the two schools, comprising 300 school students was selected. Data was collected using modified World Health Organization (WHO) oral health care forms. A pre-tested/customized dental hygiene form based on WHO forms was created by the research team. This form was used to measure DMFT/dmft scores and key oral hygiene indicators in the sample. Results: A total sample size of 300 school-children affiliated with public and private schools was selected. The children’s age ranged from 2 to 18 years. The mean DMFT scores of private and public-school children were not significantly different (private (1.82) vs. public (1.48)). (p = 0.257). The mean of carious teeth was 1.69 in private school children compared to 1.34 in government school children, whereas the mean values of other key indicators of oral hygiene including plaque deposition (p = 0.001), dental stains (p < 0.001) and bleeding gums/gingivitis (p < 0.001), were statistically significant between public and private school children. Conclusion: Oral health inequalities can be reduced with increased awareness and public funding to cater for the oral health needs of children of less affluent families. A dynamic and practical community-oriented program is fundamental for enhancing pediatric oral hygiene status, particularly for children attending government schools

Investigation of user behavior on social networking sites

<div><p>Social networking sites (SNS) are used for social and professional interaction with people. SNS popularity has encouraged researchers to analyze the relationship of activities performed on SNS with user behavior. In doing so, the term “user behavior” is rather used ambiguously with different interpretations, which makes it difficult to identify studies on user behavior in relation to SNS. This phenomenon has encouraged this thorough research on the characteristics of user behavior being discussed in the literature. Therefore, in this study, we aim to identify, analyze, and classify the characteristics associated with user behavior to answer the research questions designed to conduct this research. A mapping study (also called scoping study), which is a type of systematic literature review, is employed to identify potential studies from digital databases through a developed protocol. Thematic analysis is carried out for the classification of user behavior. We identified 116 primary studies for full analysis. This study found seven characteristics associated with behavior that have direct influence on SNS use and nine factors that have an indirect effect. All studies were conducted largely under seven areas that set the context of these studies. Findings show that the research on SNS is still in its early stage. The range of topics covered in the analyzed studies is quite expansive, although the depth in terms of number of studies under each topic is quite limited. This study reports that activities performed on SNS are either associated with user behavior or reflect personality characteristics. The findings of this study could be used by practitioners to evaluate their SNS platforms and develop more user-centered applications. These studies can also help organizations to understand better the needs of their employees.</p></div

Studies found and included in the mapping study.

<p>Studies found and included in the mapping study.</p

Clusters of Social Networking Sites and associated Studies.

<p>Clusters of Social Networking Sites and associated Studies.</p

Content assessment criteria.

<p>Content assessment criteria.</p

Classification of User Behavior.

<p>Classification of User Behavior.</p

Social networking sites discussed in primary studies.

<p>Social networking sites discussed in primary studies.</p