Ambiguous Effects Research Articles

How does strategic agenda building affect valuation of supply resources and sourcing policies? A case from the food industry

PurposeBusiness strategy issues increasingly concern value realized from supply resources. However, how supply resources are valorized by managerial factions in a strategic issue setting is not sufficiently explored. In organizations operating in complex business contexts, several strategic agendas and supply value perceptions typically coexist. This study aims to explore the process of developing corporate attention towards supply-related strategic issues and how it links to sourcing strategy.Design/methodology/approachAn explorative longitudinal case study within the food industry is conducted. Data are collected in a four year period. Working physically from the case company made it possible to be close to the company’s actors. The first author participated in 26 formal team meetings ranging from 1.5 h to 3 days long, conducted 28 interviews across managerial levels and functions and participated in informal verbal and written communications.FindingsThis study explores strategizing efforts of organizations and scrutinize consequences of strategic ambiguity for sourcing strategy and supply resources. Furthermore, this study outlines implications for management and theory development.Research limitations/implicationsSince this paper is based on an in-depth single case study, its findings are not empirically generalizable.Practical implicationsThis paper suggests that managers should pay stronger attention to constituents’ valuation of supply resources, and how they fit with the different strategic agendas within the firm. By doing so, a more comprehensive supply resource mobilization is possible.Originality/valueBusiness strategy research increasingly focuses on the value of supply resources for a buying firm’s business strategy (Kotabe and Murray 2018; Lee and Rammohan 2017; Schiele, Calvi, and Gibbert 2012). In a context where the value obtained from sourcing is gaining increased importance, more organizations link supply policies with corporate strategic goals (Andersen, Ellegaard, and Kragh 2016; Hesping and Schiele 2015; Pardo et al., 2011). However, existing supply chain research does not incorporate an organization’s strategizing efforts, when considering supply resource valuation, and how this can be a source of ambiguity to sourcing strategy. The is the paper’s contribution.

CAMELS parameters’ impact on the risk of losing financial stability: The case of Russian banks

The banking sector stability determines the financial immunity of a national economy. Current economic and political tensions precondition the need for predicative diagnosis of factors behind a decrease in a bank’s financial stability taking into account national specificities. The paper aims to explore the impact of intrabank parameters on a risk of deteriorated financial stability of Russian banks. The methodological basis of the study is the theory of financial management as applied to the banking practice. The research methods include content analysis, multiple regression, and logit modelling. The evidence comes from the published financial statements of Russian banks for 2018–2023. The paper suggests an approach for rating banks according to their financial stability and develops logit models for evaluating the risk of losing financial stability based on the CAMELS parameters. The analysis demonstrates a noticeable positive impact of the return on assets and a noticeable negative effect of the overdue loans share on a bank’s financial stability. At the same time, capital adequacy and current liquidity produce an ambiguous effect on the financial strength: they are significant only up to a certain point, after passing which they no longer exert any impact on the financial stability (the so-called “surplus paradox”). The study finds that the impact of the parameters differs for the mediumand long-term forecasting horizons: for a 6-month period, the return on assets is a more significant predictor of the financial instability risk, while the overdue loans share is more important for a 12-month period. The findings extend the understanding of the influence that bank’s internal factors have on their financial stability and can be useful in building the algorithms for analysing and forecasting banking risks.

Coffee consumption and cardiometabolic health: a comprehensive review of the evidence.

This review provides a comprehensive synthesis of longitudinal observational and interventional studies on the cardiometabolic effects of coffee consumption. It explores biological mechanisms, and clinical and policy implications, and highlights gaps in the evidence while suggesting future research directions. It also reviews evidence on the causal relationships between coffee consumption and cardiometabolic outcomes from Mendelian randomization (MR) studies. Findings indicate that while coffee may cause short-term increases in blood pressure, it does not contribute to long-term hypertension risk. There is limited evidence indicating that coffee intake might reduce the risk of metabolic syndrome and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Furthermore, coffee consumption is consistently linked with reduced risks of type 2 diabetes (T2D) and chronic kidney disease (CKD), showing dose-response relationships. The relationship between coffee and cardiovascular disease is complex, showing potential stroke prevention benefits but ambiguous effects on coronary heart disease. Moderate coffee consumption, typically ranging from 1 to 5 cups per day, is linked to a reduced risk of heart failure, while its impact on atrial fibrillation remains inconclusive. Furthermore, coffee consumption is associated with a lower risk of all-cause mortality, following a U-shaped pattern, with the largest risk reduction observed at moderate consumption levels. Except for T2D and CKD, MR studies do not robustly support a causal link between coffee consumption and adverse cardiometabolic outcomes. The potential beneficial effects of coffee on cardiometabolic health are consistent across age, sex, geographical regions, and coffee subtypes and are multi-dimensional, involving antioxidative, anti-inflammatory, lipid-modulating, insulin-sensitizing, and thermogenic effects. Based on its beneficial effects on cardiometabolic health and fundamental biological processes involved in aging, moderate coffee consumption has the potential to contribute to extending the healthspan and increasing longevity. The findings underscore the need for future research to understand the underlying mechanisms and refine health recommendations regarding coffee consumption.

ECONOMIC AND LEGAL ASPECTS OF PROVIDING INNOVATIVE DEVELOPMENT OF THE ECONOMY IN THE CONDITIONS OF INCREASED INFLUENCE OF FACTORS OF A MILITARY NATURE: THE EXPERIENCE OF UKRAINE AND THE COUNTRIES OF CENTRAL AND EASTERN EUROPE

The purpose of the article is to analyze the state of innovative development of the economy of Ukraine and the countries of Central and Eastern Europe and to identify the problems of its provision in the conditions of martial law. The results of the study prove that factors of a military nature have an ambiguous effect on stimulating the innovative development of the country's economy. It has been established that economic evolution through innovation is a prerequisite for strengthening its competitiveness in countering modern challenges and threats. The results of the empirical study made it possible to find out that during the large-scale aggression of Russia on the territory of Ukraine in 2022, a decrease in the level of innovative economic development was also observed in the countries of Central and Eastern Europe. It was established that in 2023, the countries of the analyzed group managed to increase the indicators of innovative activity of business entities and the parameters of the innovative development of the economy. Important problems in ensuring economic progress through innovative activity have been identified: (1) shortcomings of the legislation regulating the innovation sphere; (2) lack of formation of a unified innovation infrastructure; (3) significant tax burden; (4) lack of an effective system of taxation and provision of tax benefits and preferences; (5) lack of effective investment mechanisms in the field of innovation; (6) low level of technological capacity of production facilities; (7) imperfection of the education system; (8) low level of financing of research activities; (9) focus on the export of raw materials and dependence on high-tech imports. In order to ensure sustainable innovative development of the country's economy, it is necessary to create appropriate conditions for the development of innovative potential, activate the creation of cross-border innovation clusters, and strengthen the country's investment attractiveness.

Falling Interest Rates and Credit Reallocation: Lessons from General Equilibrium

Abstract We show that in a canonical model with heterogeneous entrepreneurs, financial frictions, and an imperfectly elastic supply of capital, a fall in the interest rate has an ambiguous effect on aggregate economic activity. In partial equilibrium, a lower interest rate raises aggregate investment both by relaxing financial constraints and by prompting relatively less productive entrepreneurs to invest. In general equilibrium, however, this higher demand for capital raises its price and crowds out investment by more productive entrepreneurs. When this reallocation is strong enough, a fall in the interest rate reduces aggregate output. A numerical exploration of the model suggests that this reallocation effect is quantitatively significant and—in response to persistent changes in the interest rate—stronger than the traditional balance-sheet channel. We provide evidence of the reallocation effect using U.S. firm-level data.

STIMULATING THE DEVELOPMENT OF RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT THROUGH MORTGAGE LENDING

The article is devoted to stimulating the development of housing construction through mortgage lending. The purpose of the article is to determine the role of mortgage lending in the development of the housing sector, in particular through its impact on supply and demand in the real estate market and pricing in this sector. In the course of the research, data analysis, correlation analysis, and methods of forecasting economic trends were used. Graphical methods were also used to provide a clear understanding of how changes in the mortgage market affect the development of the real estate sector. The results of the study show that mortgage lending is a key element in stimulating the development of the housing sector, as it not only directly facilitates access to finance for potential property buyers, but also indirectly affects the pricing and investment attractiveness of the housing sector. The paper shows that fluctuations in mortgage rates have a significant impact on the dynamics of supply and demand in the residential real estate market, as well as on price trends. In particular, rising mortgage rates tend to reduce demand for housing, as households expect better investment opportunities. There is also a strong correlation between mortgage rate increases and slower price growth. The expansion of the mortgage lending market and, consequently, a reduction in mortgage rates boosts supply in the real estate market. Nevertheless, it is found that such changes can have complex and ambiguous consequences, including the risks of market overheating and the formation of price "bubbles" that threaten the stability of the sector in the long run. In addition, the study found that mortgage lending facilitates the implementation of new construction projects and the expansion of the housing stock, which is an important factor in stimulating economic growth. At the same time, the analysis showed that the impact of mortgage rates on the real estate market depends on a wide range of factors, including the economic situation, central bank policy, consumer confidence and other macroeconomic indicators. The practical significance of the publication is to provide recommendations for the development of a balanced policy in the field of mortgage lending aimed at supporting the stable development of the housing sector and preventing potential destabilising factors in the real estate market.

Comparison of Acceptance vs. Abstinence Self-Control Techniques Effects on Procrastination and Well-Being in Video-Gamers

<i>Activities that bring short-term pleasure, such as video gaming, have an ambiguous effect on long-term goal attainment. From one perspective, they are a source of positive affect, which helps people to overcome procrastination and finally initiate the planned task. However, these short-term pleasure activities may become the source of procrastination themselves, tempting people to engage in them beyond the intended timeframe. The present study attempts to resolve this conflict. It implies a novel “qualitative experiment” methodology in order to test a behavioral strategy; taking 10-minute breaks after each game round, which is aimed to help gamers control their desire to play beyond the self-imposed limit. Over the course of two weeks, participants who used this strategy (Strategy group) reported a similar decrease in procrastination tendencies compared to participants who totally abstained from video gaming (Abstinence group) and a larger decrease in procrastination compared to participants who played in their regular routine (Control group). In addition, the Strategy group reported a higher sense of emotional well-being than both the Abstinence and the Control ones. These results corroborate the effectiveness of the self-control model, oriented on the productive coexistence of hedonic pleasures and long-term goals.</i>

The Influence of Role Ambiguity and Workload Moderated by Resilience on Employee Burnout

The purpose of this research is to determine the effect of Role Ambiguity, Workload moderated by Resilience on employee Burnout at PT. United Waru Biscuits manufacturing. Cikande Branch. The research method used is associative with a quantitative approach. Data collection techniques, data questionnaires and literature study. The partial research results of the first test using a one sample t-test showed; The first test of the Ambiguity variable on Burnout obtained a t-count value of 11.983 > t-table 1.988, with a significance of 0.000 < 0.05, this shows that there is a positive and significant influence, the second test of the Workload variable on Burnout obtained a t-count value of 6.813 > t -table 1.988 with a significance of 0.000 < 0.05, this shows that there is a positive and significant influence, the third test of Role Ambiguity on Employee Burnout which is moderated by Resilience obtained a t-count value of 1.045 < t-table 1.988, with a significance of 0.299 > 0, 05 This shows that there is no positive and significant influence. The fourth test of Workload on Employee Burnout moderated by Resilience obtained a t-count value of 1.695 < t-table 1.988, with a significance of 0.094 > 0.05, this shows that there is no positive and significant influence.

Promoting customer satisfaction and reuse intention using ride-hailing taxi services: role of consumer perceived value, personal innovativeness and corporate image

Purpose This study aims to investigate the impact of several factors on customer satisfaction and intention of reusing ride-hailing services that is a new type of passenger urban transport service.Design/methodology/approach This research applied the Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling analysis method to examine the measurement scale and to analyze the primary data collected from 388 passengers in Vietnam.Findings This study demonstrates that three dimensions of perceived value, namely, functional value, hedonic value and economic value, positively influence customer satisfaction. The other dimension of perceived value, which is social value, has an ambiguous effect on satisfaction. In addition, personal innovativeness promotes all dimensions of perceived value. In particular, this study highlights that customer satisfaction and corporate image positively impact reuse intention, and corporate image moderates the relationship between customer satisfaction and reuse intention.Originality/value This study enriches knowledge about customer behavior using services based on the sharing economy business model. In particular, theoretical and practical implications are provided for researchers and enterprises to find suitable strategies for business.

The effect of workload and work ambiguity on burnout with work stress as a mediation variable

The effect of workload and work ambiguity on burnout with work stress as a mediation variable

Duality of command in teaching hospitals: exploring its impact on employee emotions and the mediating effect of role ambiguity

ABSTRACT The prime purpose of this study is to investigate the impact of duality of hierarchical structure on various employee related outcomes in teaching hospitals. Teaching hospitals in Pakistan are usually managed by professional – clinical and administrative hierarchies simultaneously. The study is seminal and novel because it explores how duality of command affect employees’ well-being within the context of teaching hospitals of under developed countries. A quantitative, explanatory, and cross-sectional study design was employed to conduct this study. Doctors, nurses and administrative staffs were randomly classified into three strata and data was collected from 430 respondents on an adopted questionnaire. Hypotheses were tested through inferential statistics including Structural Equation Modeling using SmartPLS. Our findings reveal that duality of command effect employees’ feelings of frustration, depression, overwhelm and burnout. Role ambiguity mediates the relationship between duality of command and employees’ emotional responses. The study contributes to the field by providing empirical evidence of the negative implications of duality of command on employees’ mental health and suggesting the need for redefining the hierarchy of these teaching hospitals. Additionally, it opens venues for further research in diverse cultural and organizational context, highlighting global importance of understanding organizational structure and its impact on employees’ well-being.

Этические проблемы и риски цифровой трансформации преподавателя высшей школы

The article examines the concept of “digital transformation of a teacher” and its implications. It identifies the advantages of digital transformation for teacher while highlighting and analyzing the ethical issues arising from this transformation in the context of modern university education. Potential risks associated with the digital transformation of teacher are identified, along with recommendations for their mitigation. The relevance of the study lies in the fact that the digitization of higher education leads to fundamental changes in the university educational process, affecting the activities of teacher and triggering his digital transformation. This shift facilitates a transition from traditional to digital education, aligning with the needs of a digital society. However, this comprehensive transformation through digital technologies also gives rise to ethical issues that can have ambiguous consequences for both the teacher himself and higher education institutions. The author concludes that the digital transformation of higher education teacher is a complex and contradictory process. On one hand, it fosters professional engagement and enhances teachers’ skills, leading to the effective development of digital university education. On the other hand, it generates numerous ethical issues and associated risks that require careful consideration to ensure the quality of digital higher education. Balancing the benefits of digital transformation with ethical considerations is crucial for fostering a sustainable and responsible digital education environment.

Prevalence of vestibular disease in France: analysis of prescription data from a national health insurance database

Vestibular problems are frequent reasons for primary care consultations. However, there is considerable uncertainty about the prevalence and cost of vestibular disorders. Despite ambiguous effectiveness data, the histamine analogue betahistine is widely and almost exclusively used for treatment of vertigo. Prescription of betahistine can, therefore, be used as a proxy estimate for prevalence. We used openly available claims data from the French health insurance data warehouse, defining annual prevalence of vestibular disease as the number of people who received at least one betahistine prescription that year. Dosage and pack size of each prescribed formulation were extracted to calculate the sum of betahistine in mg and the Defined Daily Dose (DDD) for age and sex strata and in total. To estimate the relative impact of one landmark trial, the BEMED study, we compared prescriptions from the years 2014/2015 to prescriptions in 2019/2022. A total of 735,121 (2014), 694,705 (2015), 614,431 (2019), and 562,476 (2022) persons filled in a prescription of betahistine. Patients were predominantly older and female. Average amount dispensed per year and per person increased from 4422.54 mg during the pre-BEMED period to 4736.90 mg during the post-BEMED period. DDD decreased from 130 Mio per year in 2014/2015 to 116 Mio per year in 2019/2022. Total costs for betahistine decreased by 42% from 21,615,037 Euro in 2014 to 12,894,249 Euro in 2022. Vestibular disease is frequent in France and has a relevant impact on population health. Despite conflicting clinical evidence, betahistine continues to be prescribed widely in medical practice.

Pengaruh Ambiguitas Peran dan Beban Kerja Terhadap Kinerja Pegawai Pada Dinas Pekerjaan Umum (PU) Kabupaten Dompu

This research aims to determine the effect of role ambiguity and workload on employee performance at the Dompu Regency Umin Works (PU) Department. This type of research is associative with the research sample being 105 employees. Data collection techniques in this research were observation, questionnaires and questionnaires. The data analysis technique uses multiple linear regression analysis. The research results show that role ambiguity and workload partially have a significant influence on employee performance. Simultaneously, role ambiguity and workload also have a significant influence on employee performance at the Dompu Regency Public Works (PU) Department.

Effects of emotional ambiguity and emotional intensity on true and false memory.

Whereas the effects of emotional intensity (the perceived strength of an item's valence or arousal) have long been studied in true- and false-memory research, emotional ambiguity (the uncertainty that attaches to perceived emotional intensity) has only been studied recently. Available evidence suggests that emotional ambiguity has reliable effects on true memory that are distinct from those of emotional intensity. However, those findings are mostly restricted to recall, and the effects of emotional ambiguity on false memory remain unexplored. The current study addressed both limitations by measuring the effects of emotional ambiguity and emotional intensity on true and false recognition. In two experiments, we manipulated valence ambiguity and valence intensity (Experiment 1) and arousal ambiguity and arousal intensity (Experiment 2) of Deese/Roediger/McDermott lists. Multiple linear regression analyses were conducted for Experiment 1, Experiment 2, and the combined data of the experiments to separate the effects of emotional ambiguity and emotional intensity. Our results showed that both valence ambiguity and arousal ambiguity improved true recognition, and the effects of valence ambiguity remained robust even when controlling for valence intensity, arousal intensity, and arousal ambiguity. More importantly, for both valence and arousal, there was an interaction between ambiguity and intensity in false memory. Specifically, we found that valence ambiguity increased false recognition with positive valence, while arousal ambiguity amplified the effect of arousal intensity on false recognition. Our results are discussed in the context of the emotional ambiguity hypothesis and fuzzy-trace theory.

Freezing for ‘unlove’: Declining fertility, heterosexual partnering and conflicting subjectivities among women pursuing social egg freezing in their 30s in Norway

This article discusses so-called social egg freezing among women in Norway. The women, single and in their thirties, link the desire to freeze their eggs to challenges with heterosexual partnering and the lingering threat of becoming ‘desperate’ due to presumed declining fertility. I show that ‘desperation’ stands for impulses, desires, priorities and strategies, which are in conflict with an ideal feminine subjectivity – the ‘strong independent woman’ – who is gender equal, autonomous, rational and self-regulating. At the same time, normative coupledom based on ‘true love’ remains at the heart of the women’s idea of an optimal way of life. Drawing on feminist sociologist Eva Ilouz’ theorisation of the effects of late capitalism on heterosexual dynamics and relationships, I show how egg freezing is pursued in order to retain and improve one’s ability for what Illouz calls ‘unlove’: to avoid and escape substandard relationships and prioritise autonomy and self-empowerment over a desire for attachment. I contend that, although in some cases (and/or for some time) experienced as empowering and an enhancement of gender equality, egg freezing remains an individualised, and largely ineffective, response to conflicts and dilemmas stemming from gendered paradoxes of late capitalist intimate normativity, where norms of ‘true love’ coupledom come into conflict with an ideal subjectivity of radical autonomy. ‘Freezing for unlove’, thus, also highlights the ambiguous effects of an individualist neoliberal feminism, which fails to adequately address material gender differences, and to problematise adjustment to a male norm as a strategy for gender equality.

Ectonucleotidase Activity in Smooth Muscle Tissues of Rats with a Valproate Model of Autism.

Ectonucleotidases play an important role in regulating the level of extracellular nucleotides and nucleosides and are an important part of the regulation of the effects of adenosine and ATP on adenosine and P2 receptors, respectively. We have previously established the ambiguous effect of P2 receptor agonists on the contractile activity of smooth muscle tissue in rats with the valproate model of autism. In this work, HPLC was used to evaluate the activity of ectonucleotidases in the smooth muscle tissues of the internal organs of rats with a valproate model of autism. The activity of ectonucleotidases was significantly higher in the smooth muscle tissues of the duodenum, vas deferens, and bladder, but lower in the ileum and uterus. The results obtained make it possible to compare the activity of ectonucleotidases identified here with changes in P2 receptor-mediated contractility of smooth muscle tissues revealed in our previous experiments.

The oxytocin antagonist cligosiban reduces human prostate contractility: Implications for the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia.

With increasing life expectancy, benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) consequently affects more ageing men, illustrating the urgent need for advancements in BPH therapy. One emerging possibility may be the use of oxytocin antagonists to relax smooth muscle cells in the prostate, similar to the currently used (although often associated with side effects) α1-adrenoceptor blockers. For the first time we used live-imaging, combined with a novel image analysis method, to investigate the multidirectional contractions of the human prostate and determine their changes in response to oxytocin and the oxytocin antagonists atosiban and cligosiban. Human prostate samples were obtained and compared from patients undergoing prostatectomy due to prostate cancer as well as from patients with transurethral resection of prostate tissue due to severe BPH. The two cohorts of tissue samples showed spontaneous multidirectional contractions, which significantly increased after the addition of oxytocin. Different to atosiban, which showed ambiguous effects of short duration, only long-acting cligosiban reliably prevented, as well as counteracted, any contractile oxytocin effect. Furthermore, cligosiban visibly reduced not only oxytocin-induced contractions, but also showed intrinsic activity to relax prostatic tissue. Thus, the oxytocin antagonist cligosiban could be an interesting candidate in the search for novel BPH treatment options.

The cost of protecting resources: a cross-sectional study on the interaction between LMX and role ambiguity on work addiction and burnout among Canadian first-level healthcare managers.

Using the conservation of resources (COR) theory, our study explores the interaction between role ambiguity and leader-member exchange (LMX) quality on burnout using work addiction as a mediator among Canadian first-level healthcare managers. Cross-sectional data was collected among 165 first-level managers working in healthcare with the support of interprofessional associations in Canada. Linear regression was used to test the presented hypotheses. Work addiction fully mediated the positive relationship between role ambiguity and burnout among first-level managers. In addition, high LMX exacerbated both the direct and indirect effects of role ambiguity. Our study contributes by identifying role ambiguity as a context under which LMX can have adverse effects for first-level managers in healthcare. Moreover, work addiction acted as a mediator, theorized as a risky resource investment which depletes managers' resources. Having a good relationship with their team further entices managers to develop a pathological relationship with their work to protect its members, which in turn is related to higher levels of burnout.

From theory to practice: Monetary policy transmission and bank risk dynamics.

This paper investigates the relationship between monetary policy and bank risk-taking by introducing a model wherein banks expend a level of costly monitoring effort to select low-risk projects, thereby reducing the risk associated with the loans they grant. The impact of monetary policy on bank risk-taking is examined through both theoretical models and empirical analysis. The paper compares theoretical models with different assumptions, revealing an unambiguous negative effect without the assumption of limited liability for banks, and an ambiguous effect with the assumption of limited liability for banks, influenced by the equity ratio. The empirical model employs unique quarterly data comprising balance sheet information for top-listed banks in the U.S. banking system from 2000 to 2017. The findings indicate that low-interest rates contribute to an increase in bank risk-taking. Moreover, this effect is more pronounced after the financial crisis and weaker before the crisis. Additionally, the impact is evident for undercapitalized banks and more substantial for those financed with a higher proportion of equity.