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Publication Towards implementing new payment models for the reimbursement of high-cost, curative therapies in Europe: insights from semi-structured interviews(Frontiers Media SA, 2025) Desmet, Thomas; Michelsen, Sissel; van den Brande, Elena; Van Dyck, Walter; Simoens, Steven; Huys, IsabelleACKGROUND: New ways of reimbursement for high-cost, one-shot curative therapies such as advanced therapy medicinal products (ATMPs) are a growing area of interest to stakeholders in market access such as industry representatives, legislative and accounting experts, physicians, hospital managers, hospital pharmacists, patient representatives, policymakers, and sickness funds. Due to the complex nature of ATMPs, new payment models and reimbursement modalities are proposed yet not widely applied across Europe. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to elicit opinions on and insights into the governance aspect of implementing outcome-based spread payments (OBSP) in Belgium for the reimbursement of innovative therapies. Stakeholders' responsibilities and roles were analysed and proposed solutions or general beliefs were assessed to identify necessary or sufficient conditions to establish outcome-based spread payments. METHODS: Semi-structured interviews (n = 33) were conducted with physicians (n = 2), hospital pharmacists (n = 4), hospital managers (n = 2), Belgian policymakers (n = 6), legislative experts (n = 2), accounting experts (n = 5), representatives of patients (n = 3), of industry (n = 5), and sickness funds (n = 4). The interviews took place between July 2020 and October 2020. The framework method analysis was performed using Nvivo software (version 20.4.1.851). Statements were allocated into six main topics: payment structure, spread payments, outcome-based agreements, governance, transparency, and regulation. RESULTS: Interviews revealed the necessary conditions that, fulfilled together, are seen to be sufficient for the successful implementation of OBSP, including consensus on pricing, payment logistics, robust data infrastructure and financing, clear agreement terms (duration, outcome parameters, payment triggers), long-term patient follow-up solutions, an external multi-stakeholder governance body, and transparency regarding agreement types. CONCLUSION: Despite the interest, the effective implementation of OBSP falls behind due to a lack of consensus on how this new reimbursement method can be a sustainable solution. By stating the necessary conditions that, when fulfilled together, are deemed sufficient for successful OBSP implementation, this study provides a framework towards overcoming implementation barriers and realizing the potential of OBSP in transforming healthcare reimbursement practices.Publication A multi-module explainable artificial intelligence framework for project risk management: Enhancing transparency in decision-making(Pergamon Elsevier Science Ltd, 2025) Badhon, Bodrunnessa; Chakrabortty, Ripon K.; Anavatti, Sreenatha G.; Vanhoucke, MarioThe remarkable advancements in machine learning (ML) have led to its extensive adoption in Project Risk Management (PRM), leveraging its powerful predictive capabilities and data-driven insights that support proactive decision-making. Nevertheless, the “black-box” nature of ML models obscures the reasoning behind predictions, undermining transparency and trust. To address this, existing explainable artificial intelligence (XAI) techniques, such as Local Interpretable Model-agnostic Explanations (LIME), Global Priors-based LIME (G-LIME), and SHapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP), have been applied to interpret black-box models. Yet, they face considerable limitations in PRM, including their inability to model cascading effects and multi-level dependencies among risk factors, suffering from inconsistencies due to random sampling, and failure to capture non-linear interactions in high-dimensional risk data. In response to these shortcomings, this paper proposes the Multi-Module eXplainable Artificial Intelligence framework for Project Risk Management (MMXAI-PRM), a novel approach designed to address the unique demands of PRM. The framework consists of three modules: the Risk Relationship Insight Module (RRIM), which models risk dependencies using a Knowledge Graph (KG); the Risk Factor Influence Analysis Module (RFIAM), which introduces a Conditional Tabular Generative Adversarial Network-aided Local Interpretable Model-agnostic Explanations using Kernel Ridge Regression (CTGAN-LIME-KR) to ensure explanation consistency and handle non-linearity; and the Visualization and Interpretation Module (VIM), which synthesizes these insights into an interpretable, chain-based representation. Extensive experiments demonstrate that MMXAI-PRM delivers more consistent, stable, and accurate explanations than existing XAI methods. By improving interpretability, it enhances trust in AI-driven risk predictions and equips project managers with actionable insights, advancing decision-making in PRM.Publication Shaping the future of business sustainability: LDA topic modeling insights, definitions, and research agenda(Springer, 2025) Li, Lan; Lemke, FredThis article offers a comprehensive overview of Business Sustainability (BuS), and directly addresses the lack of consensus around this important concept. Through a mixed-methods approach, we conduct the first systematic literature review of BuS employing Latent Dirichlet Allocation (LDA) topic modeling to uncover hidden thematic structures, Narrative Synthesis to refine and extend BuS definitions within different contexts, and the LDA-HSIM method to classify topics and design a new framework. We analyzed an extensive dataset comprising 92,311 articles sourced from 11,579 journal outlets. From this dataset, we identified 9,561 articles suitable for LDA topic modeling by applying funnel criteria, focusing on articles with clear theoretical underpinnings. A text extraction technique enabled us to identify and analyze theories used in BuS studies. This analysis revealed 150 underlying theories that advance the BuS concept across different research topics. The study contributes to BuS theory development with great potential to improve ethical decision-making by establishing meaningful, context-specific definitions and providing clear guidance for future researchers in selecting appropriate theoretical perspectives for their work. We identify research gaps, propose a prioritized research agenda focused on theory development, and formulate key implications for practitioners and policymakers. This study demonstrates the effectiveness of machine learning methods in conducting large-scale literature reviews to accelerate theoretical advancements and generate research agendas.Publication Motion analysis in adult spinal deformity: A time-driven activity-based costing perspective(Elsevier Ireland Ltd., 2025) Jacobs, Karel; Severijns, Pieter; Overbergh, Thomas; Neyens, Celine; Cardoen, Brecht; Roodhooft, Filip; Moke, Lieven; Kesteloot, Katrien; Scheys, LennartBackground - A novel motion analysis (MA) protocol for patients with adult spinal deformity (ASD) was developed within University Hospitals Leuven, aiming for better functional outcomes by improved treatment planning and decision making. Research question - Can insights into the costs of a research-focused MA (RMA) protocol support the transition to a concise clinical MA (CMA) protocol and facilitate its potential adoption as standard clinical care? Methods - Time-driven activity-based costing (TD-ABC) was used to quantify the costs directly related to performing the MA protocol. Time durations were derived from observations and interviews and validated using time intervals retrospectively derived from previous motion analyses metadata. Costs were computed based on resource time usage and the per-minute cost of practical capacity. An expert panel then refined the RMA into a CMA protocol by excluding some trials, utilizing cost insights and insights in the potential clinical relevance of trials, including their discriminative abilities, their ability to highlight compensatory mechanisms and their standardization potential. The clinical costs of the CMA were then again calculated using the same methodology. Results - The average time to perform the RMA was 179.0 minutes and dropped to 130.9 minutes after the expert panel excluded 12 types of motion trials. The total cost of this new CMA was € 220.83. The largest cost component of the CMA was staff costs (68.1 %), followed by the cost of equipment (30.2 %). Significance - This study demonstrates how cost insights complement insights on clinical relevance when defining a motion analysis protocol for integration in standard clinical care. Future value- improvements to the protocol should also integrate insights on its impact on treatment outcome.Publication Ageism towards younger workers: A scoping review(Oxford University Press, 2025) Schmitz, S.; Rosa, M.; Patient, David; Vauclair, C.M.Publication Bringing microaggressions from the shadows to the spotlight: Unveiling silencing mechanisms and distinct patterns in coping(Wiley, 2025) Mensitieri, Delia; Boroș, Smaranda; Toma, C.Publication A priority rule heuristic for the multi-skilled resource-constrained project scheduling problem(Elsevier, 2025) Vermeire, Guillaume; Vanhoucke, MarioThis research presents a priority rule heuristic approach for the multi-skilled resource-constrained project scheduling problem. The approach is based on a parallel schedule generation scheme which includes a new resource assignment procedure. The scheme combines three types of priority rules in order to schedule activities and assign resources to the skill requirements of these activities. In computational experiments, skill- and resource rule combinations are evaluated and selected based on two metrics using a Pareto Front approach. These rule combinations are then integrated with various activity priority rules after which their solution quality is evaluated. The heuristic approach and the selected rules are then employed to solve all project instances of the MSLIB dataset. It is shown that, on average, the presented approach is able to obtain solutions with a comparable quality to the solution quality of a meta-heuristic procedure from literature. Additionally, new best known solutions are obtained for the MSLIB dataset. The practical applicability of the heuristic is validated by solving empirical project instances.Publication Validación del Cuestionario de Conflicto Interpersonal en el Trabajo (CIT) en empleados españoles(Taylor & Francis, 2014) Benitez, Miriam; Leon-Perez, Jose; Ramirez-Marin, Jimena; Medina, FranciscoEl presente trabajo tiene como objetivo la validación a la población española de un instrumento de medida de conflictos interpersonales en el trabajo (CIT) en sus dos dimensiones (conflicto de tareas vs. conflicto de relaciones). Para ello, realizamos dos tipos de análisis con una muestra de 209 trabajadores provenientes de diferentes organizaciones españolas. El objetivo del primero fue la confirmación de la estructura factorial del cuestionario (AFC) y la demostración de su fiabilidad. El objetivo del segundo fue demostrar la validez predictiva de ambas dimensiones. La versión en español de conflictos interpersonales en el trabajo (CIT) mostró niveles aceptables de consistencia interna. Los resultados mostraron un mejor ajuste del modelo ante la existencia de una estructura bifactorial (conflicto de tareas y conflicto de relaciones) frente a un modelo unifactorial (conflicto interpersonal general) siendo diferente la relación entre ambos tipos de conflictos y las variables consecuentes de bienestar psicológico y clima de apoyo, respectivamente. Estos hallazgos apoyan la validez de constructo y la fiabilidad de la versión en español de conflictos interpersonales en el trabajo (CIT) para evaluar los distintos tipos de conflictos en muestras de habla hispana.Publication Lessons from practice: Extensions of current negotiation theory and research,(IACM-NCMR, 2022) Ramirez-Marin, Jimena; Druckman, Daniel; Donohue, WilliamNegotiation is in essence a practical skill. We identified the need to increase the number of academic contributions related to negotiation practice. The goal of this special issue – edited by Ramirez Marin, Druckman, and Donohue--is to call attention to areas in which research informs the practice, as well as areas in which the practice calls for advances in theory. The five papers included in this issue illustrate different ways in which practice can help academics extend the current theory. For example, describing how the predictions made by current theories can inform the practice, adapting and applying hostage negotiation principles to everyday negotiations, or testing the limits of current theories by adding external constraints and dependencies between and within negotiation issues. These examples can help researchers and teachers to bridge theory with practices as well as improve the way practitioners use evidence to improve their interventions.Publication Do you hear my accent? How nonnative English speakers experience conflictual conversations in the workplace(2022) Kim, Regina; Ramirez-Marin, Jimena; Tasa, KevinPurpose – The purpose of this paper is to investigate the experiences of nonnative speakers in conflictual situations with native speakers in the workplace. In three studies, the authors examine whether nonnative speakers experience stereotype threat in workplace conflict situations with native speakers, whether stereotype threat is associated with certain conflict managing behaviors (e.g. yielding and avoiding) and the relationship between stereotype threat, satisfaction with conflict outcomes and processes, and objective conflict outcomes. Design/methodology/approach – Studies 1 and 2 use critical incident recall methodology to examine nonnative speakers’ conflict behaviors and satisfaction with conflict outcomes. In Study 3, data were collected from a face-to-face simulation with a random-assignment design. Findings – Findings suggest that nonnative speakers indeed experience heightened stereotype threat when interacting with native speakers in conflict situations and the experience of stereotype threat leads to less satisfaction with conflict outcomes, perceptions of goal attainment, as well as worse objective conflict outcomes. Originality/value – The current study is one of the first studies to document the effects of accent stereotype threat on conflict behaviors and outcomes. More broadly, it contributes to the conflict studies literature by offering new insight into the effects and implications of stereotype threat on workplace conflict behaviors and outcomes.Publication Negotiation strategy: A cross-cultural meta-analytic evaluation of theory and measurement(IACM-NCMR, 2021) Brett, Jeanne M.; Ramirez-Marin, Jimena; Galoni, ChelseaNegotiation theorists conceptualize negotiation strategy from a behavioral or a motivational perspective and negotiation researchers code transcripts or collect negotiators’ self-reports to operationalize it. This meta-analysis evaluates the functional similarities and differences between these different theoretical perspectives and approaches to measuring negotiation strategy as it predicts joint gains. We analyzed 3,899 unique negotiations from 76 independent samples and 46 different papers. Our results reveal that motivational and behavioral theories and self-report and behavioral coding measurements yield similar predictions and are functionally equivalent, significant predictors of joint gains. On the other hand, our analysis testing culture (Western versus East Asian, South Asian and Middle Eastern samples) as moderator reveals that the current theories and methods of measuring negotiation strategy are only significant predictors of joint gains in Western culture samples.Publication Is stress good for negotiation outcomes? The moderating effect of social value orientation(Emerald Group Publishing, 2021) Ramirez-Marin, Jimena; Barragan Diaz, Adrian; Acar-Burkay, SinemPurpose Negotiations are often conducted under stress. Previous studies show that stress can help or hurt negotiation outcomes. This study suggests that individual differences explain these effects, and the purpose of this study is to examine the effect of social value orientation (SVO) and stress on negotiation outcomes. Design/methodology/approach Two experimental studies and a pilot investigate the influence of stress and SVO (prosocial vs proself) on negotiation offers and outcomes. The authors’ studies are grounded on social interdependence theory and arousal literatures to explain the effects of stress on negotiation. Findings Stress has a positive influence on integrative offers (S1) and joint outcomes (S2). SVO moderates the effect of stress on joint negotiation outcomes (S2), such that, under stress, prosocials fare better than proselfs. Research limitations/implications Managers negotiating under stress should pay attention to their own as well as the others’ SVOs. Managers could also build their negotiation teams considering this individual difference and favor the presence of prosocials in stressful negotiations. Practical implications The findings have practical implications for managers who are under stress on a daily basis. Social implications This research contributes to managers that need to understand how to reach integrative agreements under stress. This is especially important when negotiators are representatives of employees or companies, as the outcomes can affect many individuals. Originality/value To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study examining the relationship between stress, SVO and negotiation offers and outcomes.Publication Normatively speaking: Do cultural norms influence negotiation, conflict management, and communication?(Wiley, 2019) Ramirez-Marin, Jimena; Olekalns, Mara; Adair, WendiThis paper elaborates a research agenda on cultural norms in communication, negotiation, and conflict management. Our agenda is organized around five questions on negotiation and conflict management, for example: How do culture and norms relate to an individual's propensity to negotiate? Or How do tightness-looseness norms explain negotiators’ reactions to norm conformity and norm violation? And three questions on communication, for example: What individual and cultural factors lead negotiators to use miscommunication as an opportunity rather than an obstacle? Or Are there cultural differences in whether and what forms of schmoozing are normative? The present paper is based on three pillars: (a) ideas provided by the think tank participants (full list on website), (b) state of the art research and (c) the authors’ perspectives. Our goal is to inspire young, as well as, established researchers to purse these research streams and increase our understanding about the influence of cultural norms.Publication Selling to strangers, buying from friends: Effect of communal and exchange norms on expectations in negotiation(Wiley, 2019) Ramirez-Fernandez, Jaime; Ramirez-Marin, Jimena; Munduate, LourdesThis study examines the effect of relationships on negotiators' expectations. The authors derive theory and hypotheses from relational norms that govern relationships (communal and exchange) which impact negotiators' expectations when interacting with close others. The study focuses on the influence of the negotiator's role (buyer or seller) and relational norms on expected offers. The authors tested the hypotheses across three studies. Results consistently show that close relationships influence expectations such that buyers expect more favorable offers from best friends than from friends and acquaintances (Studies 1–3). And this effect is absent for sellers (Study 1). Moreover, the motivation to meet the needs of the other party (communal strength) is higher for close relationships but it does not moderate the effect of relationships on expectations (Study 2). Finally, negotiators high in communal strength and exchange orientation norms expect more generous offers from best friends (Study 3).Publication Social rewards: The basis for collaboration in honor cultures(Emerald Group Publishing, 2018) Ramirez-Marin, Jimena; Shafa, SaïdPurpose: The purpose of this paper is twofold: first, to define social rewards, as acts and expressions which specifically signal respect, courtesy and benevolence to the other party, based on cultural scripts found in honor cultures. Second, to explore whether social rewards mitigate competitive aspirations and foster collaboration in competitive settings, with honor values being a culturally relevant mechanism for this effect. Design/methodology/approach This paper reports on two experiments assessing high-honor and low-honor culture participants’ aspirations and behavioral decisions. In study 1, participants described a personal situation where they were praised by close others (social reward) or praised themselves (control condition), before responding to a buyer/seller negotiation scenario. In study 2, participants were either complimented (social reward) or not complimented (control condition), before engaging in live competition with a confederate for monetary outcomes. Findings: Both studies indicate that social rewards diminish competitive aspirations and offers among high-honor culture participants, but not among low-honor culture participants. Results of study 1 indicate that endorsement of honor values mediates this effect. In conclusion, social rewards can improve interactions with members of honor cultures. research limitations/implications These studies advance our understanding of cultural differences in negotiations and provide insight into social rewards as one of the mechanisms necessary to successfully manage intercultural negotiations and collaboration. Future research should address the effect of social rewards on self-worth and empowerment. Originality/value: This research is the first to shed light on the relevance and importance of social rewards as a device to facilitate social interactions in honor cultures.Publication I expected more from you: The influence of close relationships and perspective taking on negotiation offers(2018) Ramirez-Fernandez, Jaime; Ramirez-Marin, Jimena; Munduate, LourdesThree experimental studies show that interpersonal relationships influence the expectations of negotiators at the negotiation table. That is, negotiators expect more generous negotiation offers from close others (Study 1), and when expectations are not met, negative emotions arise, resulting in negative economic and relational outcomes (Study 2). Finally, a boundary condition for the effect of interpersonal relationships on negotiation expectations is shown: perspective taking leads the parties to expect less from friends than from acquaintances (Study 3). The findings suggest that perspective taking helps negotiators reach agreement in relationships. The article concludes with implications for practice and future research directions.Publication A measurement model for dignity, face, and honor cultural norms(Cambridge University Press, 2017) Yao, Jingjing; Ramirez-Marin, Jimena; Brett, J.; Aslani, Soroush; Semnani-Azad, ZhalehIn this work we develop and validate a model measuring norms that distinguish three types of culture: dignity, face, and honor (Leung & Cohen, 2011). Our motivation is to produce empirical evidence for this new cultural framework and use the framework to explain cultural differences in interdependent social interactions such as negotiation. In two studies, we establish the content validity, construct validity, predictive validity, and measurement invariance of this measurement model. In Study 1, we present the model's three-factor structure and situate the constructs of dignity, face, and honor in a nomological network of cultural constructs. In Study 2, which uses a sample of participants from 26 cultures, we show that the measurement model discriminates among people from the three cultural regions corresponding to the dignity, face, and honor framework. In particular, we report differences between face and honor cultures, which are not distinguished in other cultural frameworks (e.g., Hofstede, 1980). We also show that the measurement model accounts for cultural differences in norms for use of negotiation strategy.Publication Dignity, face, and honor cultures: A study of negotiation strategy and outcomes in three cultures(Wiley, 2016) Aslani, Soroush; Ramirez-Marin, Jimena; Brett, Jeanne M.; Yao, Jingjing; Semnani-Azad, Zhaleh; Zhang, Zhi-Xue; Tinsley, Catherine; Weingart, Laurie; Adair, WendiThis study compares negotiation strategy and outcomes in countries illustrating dignity, face, and honor cultures. Hypotheses predict cultural differences in negotiators' aspirations, use of strategy, and outcomes based on the implications of differences in self-worth and social structures in dignity, face, and honor cultures. Data were from a face-to-face negotiation simulation; participants were intra-cultural samples from the USA (dignity), China (face), and Qatar (honor). The empirical results provide strong evidence for the predictions concerning the reliance on more competitive negotiation strategies in honor and face cultures relative to dignity cultures in this context of negotiating a new business relationship. The study makes two important theoretical contributions. First, it proposes how and why people in a previously understudied part of the world, that is, the Middle East, use negotiation strategy. Second, it addresses a conundrum in the East Asian literature on negotiation: the theory and research that emphasize the norms of harmony and cooperation in social interaction versus empirical evidence that negotiations in East Asia are highly competitive.Publication Cross-asset return predictability: Carry trades, stocks and commodities(Elsevier Science Inc., 2016) Lu, Helen; Jacobsen, BenEquity returns predict carry trade profits from shorting low interest rate currencies. Commodity price changes predict profits from longing high interest rate currencies. The gradual information diffusion hypothesis (Hong & Stein, 1999) provides a ready explanation for these predictability results. These results cannot be explained by time-varying risk premia as stock returns and commodity price changes significantly predict negative carry trade profits. The predictability is one-directional, from commodities to high interest rate currencies, from commodities to stocks and from stocks to low interest rate currencies.Publication Trust and the value of CSR during the global financial crisis(Wiley, 2021) Berkman, Henk; Li, Michelle; Lu, HelenLins, Servaes and Tamayo (2017) (LST) show that during the Global Financial Crisis (GFC) US firms with high corporate social responsibility (CSR) ratings increased in value relative to firms with low CSR ratings. Our study raises questions about the internal and external validity of the inferences in LST. For a similar sample of US stocks, we find no evidence that high CSR firms outperformed low CSR firms during the GFC when we use a calendar-time portfolio analysis that controls for industry, or uses value-weighted portfolios. For a sample of Japanese stocks, we also fail to confirm the results reported in LST.