Clarifying the Dominant Logic Construct by Disentangling and Reassembling its Dimensions

Since its introduction, Prahalad and Bettis's concept of dominant logic has informed a variety of scholarly conversations in management and strategy research. However, scholars have interpreted dominant logic in different ways, emphasizing different aspects, such as managerial mindsets, administrative tools and management functions, as defining elements. Similarly, empirical studies have captured various aspects, such as meanings of entrepreneurs, observable strategic decisions and business model similarity, as indicators of dominant logic. Consequently, the concept lacks analytical clarity, and it is difficult to compare or generalize findings from this diverse set of studies. The aim of this review is to improve conceptual clarity by analysing, comparing and evaluating the existing interpretations and assessments of dominant logic in 94 studies. In the first part of the review, by disentangling the interpretations of the concept, we show that dominant logic consists of four defining dimensions: (i) shared mental models; (ii) values and premises; (iii) organizational practices; and (iv) organizing structures. In the second part, we reassemble dominant logic into an integrative model and theorize about how these dimensions operate in concert to produce a firm's dominant logic. Thus, our main contribution is a clarification and synthesis of the literature, which comes with implications on how future research can conceptualize and operationalize dominant logic more consistently

Introduction of systemic quality assurance in Slovenian higher education

The paper aims to describe some characteristics of Slovenian higher education and the new endeavour to establish a quality higher education system. A draft plan for gradually introducing a system of quality assurance has been developed on the basis of foreign experiences, with due attention being given to national circumstances and particularities. Higher education in Slovenia comprises two universities, the University of Ljubljana and the University of Maribor, together with some free-standing higher education institutions. In such a small higher'education system, a key challenge is the introduction of flexible quality assurance mechanisms which can be implemented without too great a difficulty. The evaluation process is to be supported by research and development work from the very start. It will include continual development .of evaluation methodology and procedures. as well as an analysis of the institutional effects of quality assurance.peer-reviewe

Der Wandel von Praxis, Wissen und Identität in der Industrie 4.0

Oft wird bei der Digitalisierung und Automatisierung von Arbeitsprozessen übersehen, dass dadurch für die Organisation gravierende Veränderungen angestoßen werden. Dieser Beitrag zeigt auf, dass solche Veränderungen zu einer Inkongruenz zwischen dem "was eine Organisation tut" (Praxis), "was sie kann" (Wissen) und "wer sie ist" (Identität) führen können. Um Veränderungen erfolgreich umzusetzen, müssen diese Inkongruenzen überwunden werden. Wenn Manager sich dessen bewusst sind, können viele Probleme wie z. B. der Zusammenbruch bestehender Routinen, Wissenslücken oder der Abgang von wichtigen Mitarbeitern vorhergesehen und gelöst werden

The apoptosis resistance of a keratinocytic cell line and of basal cell carcinoma is mediated by the transcription factor Gli2 via cFlip upregulation

With regard to the fact that many basal cell carcinoma (BCC) bear mutations in a key player of the Hedgehog signal pathway (PTCH), and have thus an imbalance in the Hedgehog mediators, the Gli transcription factors, we studied the relationship between elevated Gli and oncogenicity, focusing especially on apoptosia mechanisms. It has already been shown that Bcl-2, an antagonist of the intrinsic, mitochondrial apoptosis pathway, is a transcriptional target of the pirimary Hedgehog signal mediator, Gli2. Our aim was to locate and define further Gli2 targets that are related to apoptosis. We made use of a human transgenic keratinocytic cell line (HaCat NHis-Gli2) that expresses high levels of Gli2 under the control of a tetracycline (tet)-controlled transactivator. It allowed us to shut on Gli2 expression by culturing the cells in a tetracycline-containing medium. We firstly screened differential gene expression between tet-on and tet-off cells using Affymetric gene chip analysis. It turned out that besides the expected Gli2 targets, also cFlip, a potent Caspase 8 inhibitor, was significantly upregulated upon Gli2 overexpression. We confirmed this result by quantitative RT-PCR on the mRNA level and by Western blot on the protein level, and could observe a time-dependent cFlip upregulation in response to Gli2. As an enzymatically inactive structural homolog of Caspase 8, cFlip blocks the extrinsic, death-ligand induced pathway of apoptosis at the level of the death receptor complex formation. In a next step, we assessed the apoptosis-inhibitory impact of Gli2 and the role of cFlip. Our HaCat cells NHis-Gli2 cells express the death receptors TR1 and TR2 (Trail receptors 1 and 2) and are thus susceptible to Trail-induced apoptosis (shown by FACS data and apoptosis assays based on DNA fragmentation). Indeed, when we overexpress Gli2, the cells are significantly protected against Trail-induced apoptosis. With other molecules that are related to extrinsic apoptosis being equally expressed (Affymetrix data), we postulated that cFlip must play a considerable role in the Gli2-mediated protective effect. We therefore downregulated cFlip using RNAi technology and found that cells, although expressing high Gli2 levels, lost their protection, pointing to cFlip as a potent player in the Gli2-mediated defence against apoptosis. All apoptosis assays were done by FACS screening of DNA fragmentation (propidium iodide staining), and were confirmed using the APOPercentage TM assay (Biocolor). This assay reports a different step of the apoptotic process, as it stains apoptotic cells in situ using a dye that is taken up only by those cells that flip their membranes inside out. In order to further confirm the apoptosis data, and to prove that cFlip is the key player, we performed a Caspase 8 activity assay and could show that Trail-triggered Caspase 8 activity is significantly reduced in Gli2 overexpressing cells. Caspase 8 activity could be rescued by cFlip downregulation (RNAi) even in the Gli2 overexpressing situation. We thus identified cFlip downregulation (RNAi) even in the Gli2 overexpressing situation. We thus identified cFlip as an important player in the Gli2-mediated apoptosis resistance in our model cell line. We then in silico analysed the putative cFlip promoter region (so far undefined), and identified several clusters of potential Gli2 binding sites as defined from formerly published transcriptional targets of Gli2 (e.g. Bcl-2). We cloned these clusters into a luciferase expression reporter vector adnw ere able to identify one cluster that reacted on elevated Gli2 levels as a promoter when transfected into our tet-inducible model cell line. The four potential binding sites in this cluster were analyzed in a gel shift assay, and two of them clearly showed binding to Gli2. We thereby at least partially defined a cFlip promoter region or a cis-element of the cFlip gene. In a second phase, we addressed the situation in basal cell carcinoma. We were lucky to get a collaboration with Dr. P. Häusermann from the Dermatology Unit of the University Hospital in Basel, who provided us with BCC tissue specimens. We screened protein expression in all BCC specimens in cryosections, and found that in high Gli2 expressing tumors, cFlip was also highly coexpressed. We then used the RNAi technology on cultured pieces of BCC to downregulate Gli2 ex vivo in these tumors, and measured the expression of Gli2 and of its targets Bcl-2 and cFlip. We succeeded to downregulate Gli2 efficiently and found that also the expression of its targets was significantly lowered, confirming that cFlip is atranscriptional target of Gli2. We then assessed the apoptosis susceptibility of BCC tissue ex vivo under native and Gli2-downregulated conditions. As Trail receptors 1 and 2 were expressed on the BCC tissues tested, we applied soluble Trail on cultured pieces of BCC. We observed a higher cell death in Gli2-downregulated BCCs compared to native tissue, which supports an anti-apoptotic impact of Gli2 via cFlip in BCC. The results found in NaCat NHis-Gli2 and in BCCs tested point to a tumor defense mechanism, postulating that BCC can escape from the immune system, among other ways by preventing death-ligand induced apoptosis through the upregulation of the anti-apoptotic cFlip

Dancing on Checkers\u27 Grave by Eric Lane

My proposed honors project consists of directing my own, fully-actualized production of Eric Lane’s play Dancing on Checkers’ Grave within the BGSU’s Department of Theatre & Film Elsewhere season. As the director, I must hone in on the play’s relevance to today’s society and shape my storytelling tools to clearly communicate the narrative, establishing a relationship between the performers and the audience. Dancing on Checkers’ Grave is a play about two very different teenage girls who come to bond over homework, “munchkining,” relationships, and nail polish. Rooted within the text are topics of sexual identity, what it means to be openly gay in high school, and the idea of self-acceptance. I plan to draw audience attention to LGBT issues allowing a different, and often suppressed, voice to be heard. However it is equally important that the play transcends the issue of sexual identity, creating honest, real characters experiencing life. As director of this production, my goal is to effectively communicate a clear concept of the play using the techniques and vocabulary I learned in my directing course in addition to the skills I have acquired from my other theatre courses. I will be responsible for overseeing the entire production process with specific emphasis on the visual/presentation and acting/storytelling elements of directing. Essentially this project is a culmination of my college education as a theatre major with the end product to be a clear and engaging show for the audience

A Model for Determining the Publication Requirements of Section 552(a)(1) of the Administrative Procedure Act

This article addresses the question of when the publication rule requires an agency to publish its results in the Federal Register, particularly interepretations of general applicability and statements of general policy. The vast number of recent cases involving violations of the publication rule provide ample· impetus for settling this controversy. Of striking significance is the broad spectrum across which these cases stretch: food stamp cases, prison matters, and immigration disputes. The list is as broad as the range of administrative practice