Über Tautologien, gesicherte Erkenntnisse und ein problematisches Wissenschaftsverständnis: Eine Antwort auf die Kritik von Alexander Nicolai und Alfred Kieser

In ihrem Beitrag zum DBW-Dialog über die Erfolgsfaktorenforschung (DBW 64 (2004) 5, S. 621-635) behaupten Nicolai und Kieser u.a., Erfolgsfaktorenforscher würden sich in Tautologien flüchten, um gescheiterte Analysen zu retten, was insbesondere für Untersuchungen des Zusammenhangs zwischen der Marktorientierung und dem Unternehmenserfolg gelte. Nicolai und Kieser bestreiten darüber hinaus die Erfolgsfaktoreneigenschaft der Marktorientierung u.a. mit der Behauptung, der aktuelle Forschungsstand widerspräche der Marktorientierungs- Unternehmenserfolgs-Hypothese. Darüber hinaus unterstellen sie Erfolgsfaktorenforschern eine naive Gläubigkeit an die Unfehlbarkeit wissenschaftlicher Kontrollmechanismen. Ferner monieren sie, ihre Kritiker wichen zahlreichen ihrer weiteren Einwände aus (z.B. dem Problem der Selbstzerstörung der Erfolgsfaktoren und dem Key- Informant-Problem). In diesem Beitrag wird die Kritik von Nicolai und Kieser detailliert zurückgewiesen. --

Formal Proof of SCHUR Conjugate Function

The main goal of our work is to formally prove the correctness of the key commands of the SCHUR software, an interactive program for calculating with characters of Lie groups and symmetric functions. The core of the computations relies on enumeration and manipulation of combinatorial structures. As a first "proof of concept", we present a formal proof of the conjugate function, written in C. This function computes the conjugate of an integer partition. To formally prove this program, we use the Frama-C software. It allows us to annotate C functions and to generate proof obligations, which are proved using several automated theorem provers. In this paper, we also draw on methodology, discussing on how to formally prove this kind of program.Comment: To appear in CALCULEMUS 201

Public Utilities—Franchise Rates as Affected by the World War

The economic convulsions due to the World War are abundantly reflected in the relations between the public and their public utilities operating under franchises fixing rates for service. The enormous rise in cost of labor and materials has, in many cases, so reduced the net income of such utilities as to make it a negative quantity at existing franchise rates. The utilities are crying to be saved from bankruptcy, but the unfortunate suspicion bred by past dealings of many such companies has made the public skeptical, and perhaps in many cases entirely unreasonable. In some cases plain selfishness may explain the attitude on both sides. The Supreme Court of the United States has recently held that a contract is still a contract, notwithstanding the critical conditions caused by the war. Columbus Ry. P. & L. Co. v. Columbus, (U. S. 1919) 39 Sup. Ct. 349, (see 17 MICH. L. REV. 689), followed in Michigan Ry. Co. v. Lansing, (1919) 260 Fed. 322. Though the German steamship company may have been justified in turning back and failing to carry out its contract to deliver at Plymouth and Cherbourg gold shipped on the Kronprinzessin Cecilie, since the imminent danger of capture by a belligerent which would have ended possibility of performance excused performance entirely, Kronprinzessin Cecilie, 244 U. S. 13, yet this does not affect the general principle that if a party charge himself with an obligation possible to be performed he must abde by it. unless performance is rendered impossible by the act of God, the law, or the other party. Unforeseen difficulties will not excuse performance. lb. The very essence of a contract is that the contractor takes the risk within the limits of his undertaking. Day v. U. S., 245 U. S. i59; North Hempstead v. Pub. Serv. Corp., 176 N. Y. S. 621. The courts cannot relieve nor make new contracts for the parties. Muscatine Lighting Co. v. Muscatine, (1919) 256 Fed. 928

Public Utilities—Franchise Rates as Affected by the World War

The economic convulsions due to the World War are abundantly reflected in the relations between the public and their public utilities operating under franchises fixing rates for service. The enormous rise in cost of labor and materials has, in many cases, so reduced the net income of such utilities as to make it a negative quantity at existing franchise rates. The utilities are crying to be saved from bankruptcy, but the unfortunate suspicion bred by past dealings of many such companies has made the public skeptical, and perhaps in many cases entirely unreasonable. In some cases plain selfishness may explain the attitude on both sides. The Supreme Court of the United States has recently held that a contract is still a contract, notwithstanding the critical conditions caused by the war. Columbus Ry. P. & L. Co. v. Columbus, (U. S. 1919) 39 Sup. Ct. 349, (see 17 MICH. L. REV. 689), followed in Michigan Ry. Co. v. Lansing, (1919) 260 Fed. 322. Though the German steamship company may have been justified in turning back and failing to carry out its contract to deliver at Plymouth and Cherbourg gold shipped on the Kronprinzessin Cecilie, since the imminent danger of capture by a belligerent which would have ended possibility of performance excused performance entirely, Kronprinzessin Cecilie, 244 U. S. 13, yet this does not affect the general principle that if a party charge himself with an obligation possible to be performed he must abde by it. unless performance is rendered impossible by the act of God, the law, or the other party. Unforeseen difficulties will not excuse performance. lb. The very essence of a contract is that the contractor takes the risk within the limits of his undertaking. Day v. U. S., 245 U. S. i59; North Hempstead v. Pub. Serv. Corp., 176 N. Y. S. 621. The courts cannot relieve nor make new contracts for the parties. Muscatine Lighting Co. v. Muscatine, (1919) 256 Fed. 928

The virtue in youth civic participation

This paper provides a summary of our past and recent work on the questions of whether and how involvement in community service promotes civic and political development in youth. We focus not on the psychological attributes adolescents bring to service, but on the conditions which make the service experience an opportunity for discovering one\u27s relationship to ongoing value traditions toward society, its problems, and well-being. Our most recent work was centered on four specific issues. Using a quasi-experimental longitudinal design, we found that (1) school-based required service does not dampen enthusiasm in students who already favor service, whereas it generates interest in civic life in students with no prior service experience. Using a path model covering a 2-year period, we found also that (2) participation in challenging service led to a process in which contributions to a sponsoring organization eventuated in changes in the self, increased helpfulness, and ultimately to civic engagement. (3) We found further that adolescents with a clear sense of their identity chose to do challenging service which, in turn, sustained their clarity of self over a 2-year period. (4) Using a nationally representative sample of youth, we found that young adults of age 26 were more likely to have voted and to have done volunteer service when they did do service when they were in high school 8 years previously. It made no difference whether their service during high school was required or voluntary, thus, complementing the results of the first study. Our conclusion is that policy makers should not shy away from having youth participate in civic and political processes. The experience helps to frame civic identities which have lasting positive consequences. (DIPF/Orig.)Dieser Beitrag bietet einen Überblick über unsere bisherige Forschung zur Frage, ob und wie gemeinnützige Tätigkeit bürgerschaftliches und politisches Engagement bei Jugendlichen fördert. Dabei werden weniger die psychischen Dispositionen betrachtet, die Jugendliche dazu motivieren, gemeinnützige Tätigkeit aufnehmen. Vielmehr stehen die Bedingungen im Vordergrund, unter denen gemeinnützige Tätigkeit dazu beitragen kann, dass Jugendliche ihre Eingebundenheit in gesellschaftliche Prozesse entdecken. Unsere jüngere Forschung hat dabei vier Aspekte in den Mittelpunkt gerückt: (1.) Verpflichtende gemeinnützige Tätigkeit im Rahmen der High School-Zeit mindert nicht die Bereitschaft und Begeisterung Jugendlicher, sich freiwillig zu engagieren. Sie erzeugt vielmehr politisches Interesse bei Jugendlichen, die vor dem verpflichtenden Service nicht gemeinnützig tätig waren. In einer Längsschnittstudie fanden wir mittels Strukturgleichungsmodellen (2.), dass gemeinnützige Tätigkeit in direkter Interaktion mit bedürftigen Menschen in karitativen Organisationen zu einem veränderten Selbstbild, erhöhter Hilfsbereitschaft und zu politischer Sensibilisierung führt. Wir fanden (3.), dass Jugendliche mit einem konturierten Selbstbild eher herausfordernde gemeinnützige Tätigkeiten wählten, was ihrer Identitätsentwicklung nochmals förderlich war. (4.) An einem für die USA repräsentativen Jugend-Survey konnten wir zeigen, dass junge Erwachsene im Alter von 26 Jahren eher wählen gehen, wenn sie als Jugendliche gemeinnützig aktiv waren. Dies unabhängig davon, ob es sich dabei um verpflichtenden oder freiwilligen Service handelte. Unsere Schlussfolgerung ist, dass politische Entscheidungsträger gemeinnützige Tätigkeit Jugendlicher fördern sollten, weil Heranwachsenden die dabei gemachten Erfahrungen helfen, eine bürgerschaftliche Identität mit lang anhaltenden, positiven Wirkungen für die Demokratie zu entwickeln. (DIPF/Orig.