Stakeholder engagement as a facilitator of organizational learning

This paper examines the relationship between stakeholder engagement and competence building. Following the dual perspective of the firm, which indicated that managers deal with both transactions and competences concurrently, we argue that stakeholder interactions also concern both transaction cost reduction and value creation. Based on a review of the extant literature, we incorporated a micro-macro connection between organizational learning and competence building. Further to this, we developed a conceptual framework by linking stakeholder engagement and organizational learning. This framework demonstrates that stakeholder relations may have significant effects on organizational learning and thus stakeholder engagement can play the role of facilitator in building firm competences

20(S)-Protopanaxadiol Inhibits Angiotensin II-Induced Epithelial- Mesenchymal Transition by Downregulating SIRT1

20(S)-Protopanaxadiol (PPD) is one of the major active metabolites in ginseng saponin. Our previous studies revealed a broad spectrum of antitumor effects of PPD. Angiotensin II (Ang II), the biologically active peptide of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS), plays a critical role in the metastasis of various cancers. However, its role in the anti-metastatic effects of PPD is not clearly understood. In this study, we investigated the inhibitory effect of PPD on Ang II-induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells, and the potential molecular mechanisms of suppression of NSCLC migration and metastasis by PPD. Treatment of A549 cells with Ang II increased metastases in an experimental model of cancer metastasis in vivo. PPD effectively prevented Ang II-induced EMT, as indicated by upregulation of E-cadherin and downregulation of vimentin. Additionally, Ang II upregulated the class III deacetylase sirtuin 1 (SIRT1) expression in EMT progression, while downregulation of SIRT1 was involved in suppression of Ang II-induced EMT by PPD. Moreover, the inhibitory effect of PPD was reversed by SIRT1 upregulation, and PPD demonstrated synergy with an SIRT1 inhibitor on Ang II-induced EMT. Taken together, our data reveal the mechanism of the anti-metastatic effects of PPD on Ang II-induced EMT and indicate that PPD can be used as an effective anti-tumor treatment

Lived experience of bereaved parents of young children : the role of spirituality and religion for coping with loss

This paper aims to explore the lived experience of bereaved parents of young children and the supportive role of spirituality and religion in helping them cope with their loss. This study offers a new perspective into the subject as it focuses on the Asian context, incorporating the experiences of different religions. This is a qualitative research, adopting a descriptive phenomenological approach to capture lived experiences and to find common emerging themes in different religions. Four parents of different religions who were at least one and a half years into bereavement participated in this study. It was found that parents journey through three phases, “Pre-loss, Separation”, “Liminality, Segregation” and “Post-loss, Integration”. In Phase 1, there are seven themes related to religion and spirituality. Amongst the themes, religion provided strength and support while meaning making and acceptance helped parents come to terms with their children’s impending death. Phase 2 refers to the time that their children are at the brink of death. At this point, parents prepare themselves for their children’s final journey. Three different kinds of support, in the spiritual, bereavement and social aspects are most helpful to parents are this moment. In Phase 3, the four themes that emerged have religion and spirituality intertwined. They are mostly related to parents rebuilding their lives reintegrating back to their normal lives. Religion and spirituality was found to be helpful for bereaved parents. It is recommended that palliative care workers incorporate aspects of religion and spirituality when journeying with parents throughout the three phases. Keywords: bereaved parents, young children, spirituality, religion, palliative careBachelor of Art

The search for sustainable competitive advantage : a stakeholder management perspective : a thesis presented in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Management at Massey University, Albany, New Zealand

Competitive advantage and stakeholder management are two important research streams that have attracted much attention during the past two decades. Although competitive advantage is the core issue of strategic management in which stakeholder management is rooted, the two topics have developed seemingly independently in the literature. The main purpose of this thesis is to explore how stakeholder management influences competitive advantage. The research is guided by a theoretical framework that employs a stakeholder perspective, linking three perspectives of competitive advantage—the resource-based view, the relational view, and the activity-position view. The general research approach chosen is a qualitative, multiple-case study. Ten cases were selected, from leading firms of several industries in Taiwan, and in-depth interviews were conducted. Results showed that a firm’s competitive advantage comes from its resource capacity (superior resources, unique capabilities, and solid relationships) and a mix of activities that respond to the competitive context. Competitive advantage, too, can be analysed in terms of two components: resource advantage and positional advantage. Stakeholder management can have significant influences on resource advantages as stakeholders play important roles in the process of value creation. They are the providers who supply valued resources to the firm and, as such, can act as catalysts or hindrances that either facilitate or impede the generation of valued resources. Successful stakeholder management strengthens a firm’s resource profile and thus enhances its resource advantages. Stakeholder management also has considerable influences on positional advantages, as stakeholders are relevant to activities and drivers that determine cost and differentiation. Moreover, stakeholders are key players in the competitive context, who help to shape the competitiveness of the firm. The study reported that stakeholder management helps to sustain competitive advantage through advancing a firm’s resource capacity—resource commitment, developing capabilities, and building relationships. Stakeholder management also generates several isolating mechanisms that preserve competitive advantage, including time compression diseconomies, causal ambiguity, social complexity, and transaction costs. However, in the face of ever-changing situations, managers need to adopt different strategies for managing stakeholder relations. To achieve sustained competitive advantage in a dynamic context, firms not only have to strengthen the capacity of resource advantage to fit the competitive strategy, but also need to use innovative and entrepreneurial approaches for managing their stakeholder relations

Brain relaxation using desflurane anesthesia and total intravenous anesthesia in patients undergoing craniotomy for supratentorial tumors: a randomized controlled study

Abstract Background Satisfactory brain relaxation is essential in neurosurgery. Desflurane anesthesia and propofol-based total intravenous anesthesia (TIVA) have different effects on cerebral hemodynamics, potentially contributing to discrepant brain relaxation. The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of desflurane and TIVA on brain relaxation in patients undergoing craniotomy for supratentorial tumors. Methods In this randomized, controlled study, we enrolled patients aged 18–60 years, with ASA I–III, who were scheduled to undergo elective craniotomy for supratentorial tumors. Patients were randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to receive desflurane anesthesia or TIVA. The primary outcome was the proportion of satisfactory brain relaxation. Secondary outcomes included emergence and extubation times, recovery of cognitive function and postoperative complications. Results Of 369 patients who were assessed for eligibility, 111 were randomized and 110 were included in the modified intention-to-treat analysis (55 in the desflurane group and 55 in the TIVA group). The proportion of satisfactory brain relaxation was similar between the two groups: 69% in the desflurane group and 73% in the TIVA group (RR: 0.950, 95% CI: 0.748–1.207; P = 0.675). Patients assigned to the desflurane group had shorter emergence (10 [8–13] min vs. 13 [10–20] min, P < 0.001) and extubation times (13 [10–18] min vs. 17 [13–23] min, P < 0.001), and better recovery of cognitive function at 15 min after extubation (16 [0–24] vs. 0 [0–20], P = 0.003), but experienced increased postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) (16 [29%] vs. 6 [11%] P = 0.017) and tachycardia (22 [40%] vs. 9 [16%], P = 0.006) during recovery. Conclusions Desflurane anesthesia and TIVA provide similar brain relaxation in patients without intracranial hypertension undergoing elective craniotomy. Desflurane accelerates the recovery from anesthesia but is associated with increased PONV and tachycardia during the recovery period. Trial registration Clinicaltrial.gov (NCT04691128). Date of registration: December 31, 2020