Yes / Purpose- Research on entrepreneurial orientation (EO) has concluded a positive link between EO and firm performance and that relationship depends on several contingencies. The paper derives insights from the absorptive capacity and contingency perspectives to introduce extraorganizational advice as a moderator of the relationship between EO and firm performance in a dynamic environment. Design/methodology/approach-Using survey data from 340 small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Ghana, the study examines the moderating influence of extraorganizational advice on the EO-firm performance relationship in dynamic environments. Findings-The study’s empirical findings suggest that extra-organizational advice amplifies the EO-performance relationship in dynamic environments. Research limitations/implications-The cross-sectional design of the study does not permit causal inferences to be made regarding the variables examined. Future studies may use longitudinal design to examine the causal links of the variables. Limitations aside, the study helps to answer how extra-organizational advice translates EO into improved performance in an environment characterised by constant flux. Practical implications- The results of this paper can assist entrepreneurs and policy-makers in understanding the dynamics and processes involved in implementing a strategic orientation to achieve higher performance. For SME managers, firm performance is determined by high levels of EO and extra-organizational advice in dynamic environments. The understanding of this issue can promote the development and maintenance of entrepreneurial ventures. Originality/value-The paper examines an important, but under-researched issue-the moderating effect of extra-organizational advice on the EO-performance relationship in dynamic environments. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, the present study pioneers research in this area.

In today's global market environment, enterprises are increasingly turning towards collaboration in projects to leverage their resources, skills and expertise, and simultaneously address the challenges posed in diverse and competitive markets. Moderators, which are knowledge based systems have successfully been used to support collaborative teams by raising awareness of problems or conflicts. However, the functioning of a moderator is limited to the knowledge it has about the team members. Knowledge acquisition, learning and updating of knowledge are the major challenges for a Moderator's implementation. To address these challenges a Knowledge discOvery And daTa minINg inteGrated (KOATING) framework is presented for Moderators to enable them to continuously learn from the operational databases of the company and semi-automatically update the corresponding expert module. The architecture for the Universal Knowledge Moderator (UKM) shows how the existing moderators can be extended to support global manufacturing. A method for designing and developing the knowledge acquisition module of the Moderator for manual and semi-automatic update of knowledge is documented using the Unified Modelling Language (UML). UML has been used to explore the static structure and dynamic behaviour, and describe the system analysis, system design and system development aspects of the proposed KOATING framework. The proof of design has been presented using a case study for a collaborative project in the form of construction project supply chain. It has been shown that Moderators can "learn" by extracting various kinds of knowledge from Post Project Reports (PPRs) using different types of text mining techniques. Furthermore, it also proposed that the knowledge discovery integrated moderators can be used to support and enhance collaboration by identifying appropriate business opportunities and identifying corresponding partners for creation of a virtual organization. A case study is presented in the context of a UK based SME. Finally, this thesis concludes by summarizing the thesis, outlining its novelties and contributions, and recommending future research.

Promouvoir l'activité physique durablement à l'adolescence est un enjeu majeur de santé publique. À ce jour, les programmes susceptibles d'être efficients restent discutés. ICAPS, une étude randomisée de quatre ans, a montré l'intérêt d'une approche socioécologique pour promouvoir l'activité physique, limiter la sédentarité et prévenir le surpoids chez l'adolescent. Cependant, le maintien à long terme, l'équité et les mécanismes expliquant l'efficacité de cette intervention restaient à démontrer. Dans ce travail, nous avons montré que les effets d'ICAPS se maintenaient à distance de l'intervention de manière équitable. Les effets étaient similaires quels que soient le genre et le poids initial et tendaient à être plus élevés chez les adolescents les moins socialement favorisés, les plus sédentaires et ne bénéficiant pas de support parental à la pratique d'activité physique. Grâce à l'utilisation de modèles d'équations structurelles, nous avons pu démontrer que l'efficacité de l'intervention reposait bien sur les mécanismes envisagés dans le modèle théorique initial. Les déterminants personnels (perception de l'activité, norme sociale, sentiment d'accomplissement personnel et intention de pratiquer), le support social et l'offre d'activité ont été identifiés comme des médiateurs significatifs. Nous avons de plus montré que le programme avait favorisé des interactions synergiques entre ces facteurs. Autrement dit, grâce à son action sur le support social et l'environnement, ICAPS a permis aux adolescents de mettre en pratique les compétences acquises grâce aux actions ciblant l'individu, renforçant l'efficacité de l'intervention et son maintien à long terme / Promoting long term physical activity practice during adolescence is one of the public health priorities. Nowadays, the question about the program’s efficiency aiming at reaching this objective is still on course. ICAPS, a four year randomized controlled trial, highlighted the benefits of a socioecological approach in the physical activity promotion and the sedentary behavior and overweight preventions in adolescence. However, the sustainability, the equity and the understanding efficacy mechanisms of such a program have still not been studied. In this report, long term effects of the ICAPS program have been established as its efficient equity. ICAPS effects were similar whatever the adolescent’s gender and initial weight status and were stronger among the adolescent’s from a low socioeconomic status, with a higher sedentary behavior and among those considered as having a low parental support towards physical activity practice. Using structural equation modeling, our results confirmed the efficiency mechanisms of the socioecological approach. Individual determinants (physical activity perception, social norm, self efficacy and intention to practice), adolescent’s social support and physical activity offer were identified as significant mediators. Moreover, we have highlighted that the program has promoted synergistic interactions between them. Finally, with its action over the social support and the environment, the ICAPS program allowed the adolescent’s to put into practice the competences they have acquired with the individual centered actions, reinforcing the program efficacy and its long term sustainability

The current study investigated whether finding meaning in relation to sexual trauma and using mature defense mechanisms would moderate the association between child sexual abuse (CSA) severity and relationship and psychological adjustment in a sample of undergraduate women with a history of child sexual abuse. CSA severity was measured both objectively (i.e., severity of the abusive event) and subjectively (i.e., self-reported perceptions of the severity of the abusive event). As predicted, the interaction of objective CSA severity and mature defenses uniquely predicted one of four aspects of romantic relationship functioning (i.e., dyadic cohesion or doing joint activities with one's partner), which provides strong support for a moderating effect of mature defenses on relationship adjustment for CSA survivors. In addition, Objective CSA Severity X Meaning and Perceived CSA Severity X Meaning were both significantly correlated with various aspects of psychological functioning. Similarly, Objective CSA Severity X Mature Defenses and Perceived CSA Severity X Mature Defenses were significantly correlated with psychological functioning. These findings provide mild support for a possible moderating effect of meaning and mature defenses on psychological adjustment for CSA survivors. Contrary to hypotheses, the interaction of perceived CSA severity and mature defenses was not significantly related to relationship functioning. Also contrary to hypotheses, the interactions of Perceived CSA Severity X Meaning and Objective CSA Severity X Meaning were not significantly related to relationship functioning. Finally, results did not support the hypothesis that relationship functioning would moderate the association between CSA severity (objective and perceived) and psychological adjustment.

<p>Violence is considered to be one of the most critical and threatening global problems plaguing the world today, leaving a trail of devastating consequences to societies, economies, cultures, families and individuals (Desjarlais &amp / Kleinman, 1997). Adolescents who grow up in a context of violence learn distorted ways of thinking, acting, living and interacting. Aggressive tendencies and violent behaviour become internalised and adopted as acceptable ways to resolve conflict situations. Chronic, continuous exposure to violence results in physical, psychological and emotional disturbances, such as depression, anxiety, lowered self-confidence, sleep disturbances, decreased attention and concentration spans. This study addressed the form of violence known as community violence, i.e. violence that children experience within their communities (either as witnesses or as victims). This study investigated the effects of this negative environmental experience and investigated potential mediating and moderating variables that could influence the harmful effects of such experiences. The variables considered as mediating and/or moderating variables were social support and self-esteem. The theoretical framework adopted for this study was Bronfennbrenner&rsquo / s Bioecological Systems theory.</p>

<p>Violence is considered to be one of the most critical and threatening global problems plaguing the world today, leaving a trail of devastating consequences to societies, economies, cultures, families and individuals (Desjarlais &amp / Kleinman, 1997). Adolescents who grow up in a context of violence learn distorted ways of thinking, acting, living and interacting. Aggressive tendencies and violent behaviour become internalised and adopted as acceptable ways to resolve conflict situations. Chronic, continuous exposure to violence results in physical, psychological and emotional disturbances, such as depression, anxiety, lowered self-confidence, sleep disturbances, decreased attention and concentration spans. This study addressed the form of violence known as community violence, i.e. violence that children experience within their communities (either as witnesses or as victims). This study investigated the effects of this negative environmental experience and investigated potential mediating and moderating variables that could influence the harmful effects of such experiences. The variables considered as mediating and/or moderating variables were social support and self-esteem. The theoretical framework adopted for this study was Bronfennbrenner&rsquo / s Bioecological Systems theory.</p>

With the increasing use of knowledge management technologies for collaborative work, organizations must recognize how to evaluate individual performance. User evaluations of information systems are frequently used as measures of MIS success, since it is extremely difficult to get objective measures of system performance. When the technology meets the user¡¦s needs and provides features that support the fit of the requirements of the task, positive performance impacts will result. This dissertation takes the special characteristics of the knowledge management system (KMS) and task into a research model and extends the theory of task technology fit with concepts from Fit-Appropriation Model. This dissertation goes on to empirically test the research model by investigating the task and related KMS characteristics. Furthermore, it seeks to understand the task technology fit, which links with KMS use and individual performance. Four hypotheses are developed. Structural equation modeling (SEM) techniques and moderated regressions will be used to provide statistical support indicating that there is a positive relationship between task-technology fit, the use of knowledge management systems and individual performance. The data was collected from 203 KMS users. This dissertation concludes with a discussion of the implications that the results have for future research, and managerial practices are described.

A review of the literature indicates that a universally enhancing relationship between market orientation and performance is not conclusively supported. Recent research suggests that the relationship between marketing investments and profit may be inverted U-shaped such that there is an optimal level of marketing investments which maximises profit (Mantrala et al 2007). In this study, it is proposed that market orientation has different curvilinear relationships with different types of performance. Using a performance categorisation suggested by Kirca et al (2005), it is theorised that market orientation s relationship with revenue-based performance (e.g. sales growth, market share growth) is subject to diminishing returns such that performance is enhanced for all levels of market orientation but the incremental benefits diminish as market orientation increases. For cost-based performance (e.g. profit, return on sales), it is proposed that the incremental costs of implementing market oriented activities may exceed the benefits. Thus, cost-based performance may have an inverted U-shaped relationship with market orientation. Three mechanisms by which diminishing returns affect the market orientation - performance relationship are identified; duplication, contradiction and prioritisation. A review of over 400 papers in the market orientation literature demonstrates that a research gap exists for different curvilinear relationships between market orientation and different types of performance. In particular, an inverted U-shaped relationship has not previously been found between market orientation and profit. A sampling frame was selected to control for both the macro-environment, and different performance levels in different industries (Dess and Robinson 1984). In a sample of 113 UK car dealers operating in the new car market the hypothesised relationships were tested using both objective and subjective performance measures. The findings relating to objective performance measures support the full inverted U-shaped relationship between market orientation and profit across the observed range of values. The relationship for objective revenue-based performance is more curvilinear with significant linear and curvilinear components. In highly competitive environments maximum profit shifts to a higher level of market orientation and overall the relationship is predominantly enhancing. Conversely, in uncompetitive environments profit is maximised at a lower level of market orientation and the relationship becomes detrimental at moderate market orientation levels. In recession, the profit for all new car dealers is reduced and maximum profit occurs at a lower market orientation level. In addition, the relationship between market orientation and sales growth turns negative in a recession. Interestingly, the results for subjective performance are distinctly different to, and sometimes contradict, the objective performance results. In particular, subjective performance predominantly has a positive linear relationship with market orientation.

<p>Violence is considered to be one of the most critical and threatening global problems plaguing the world today, leaving a trail of devastating consequences to societies, economies, cultures, families and individuals (Desjarlais &amp / Kleinman, 1997). Adolescents who grow up in a context of violence learn distorted ways of thinking, acting, living and interacting. Aggressive tendencies and violent behaviour become internalised and adopted as acceptable ways to resolve conflict situations. Chronic, continuous exposure to violence results in physical, psychological and emotional disturbances, such as depression, anxiety, lowered self-confidence, sleep disturbances, decreased attention and concentration spans. This study addressed the form of violence known as community violence, i.e. violence that children experience within their communities (either as witnesses or as victims). This study investigated the effects of this negative environmental experience and investigated potential mediating and moderating variables that could influence the harmful effects of such experiences. The variables considered as mediating and/or moderating variables were social support and self-esteem. The theoretical framework adopted for this study was Bronfennbrenner&rsquo / s Bioecological Systems theory.</p>

<p>Violence is considered to be one of the most critical and threatening global problems plaguing the world today, leaving a trail of devastating consequences to societies, economies, cultures, families and individuals (Desjarlais &amp / Kleinman, 1997). Adolescents who grow up in a context of violence learn distorted ways of thinking, acting, living and interacting. Aggressive tendencies and violent behaviour become internalised and adopted as acceptable ways to resolve conflict situations. Chronic, continuous exposure to violence results in physical, psychological and emotional disturbances, such as depression, anxiety, lowered self-confidence, sleep disturbances, decreased attention and concentration spans. This study addressed the form of violence known as community violence, i.e. violence that children experience within their communities (either as witnesses or as victims). This study investigated the effects of this negative environmental experience and investigated potential mediating and moderating variables that could influence the harmful effects of such experiences. The variables considered as mediating and/or moderating variables were social support and self-esteem. The theoretical framework adopted for this study was Bronfennbrenner&rsquo / s Bioecological Systems theory.</p>