10,200 research outputs found
Incentives and managerial experience in multi-task teams: evidence from within a firm
This paper exploits a quasi-experimental setting to estimate the impact that a multi-dimensional group incentive scheme had on branch performance in a large distribution firm. The scheme, which is based on the Balanced Scorecard, was implemented in all branches in one division, but not in another. Branches from the second division are used as a control group. Our results suggest that the balanced scorecard had some impact, but that it varied with branch characteristics, and in particular, branches with more experienced managers were better able to respond to the new incentives.Incentive design, balanced scorecard, managerial experience
An Analysis of Homicides in Oakland 2003, 2004 and 2005
This report summarizes changes in specific characteristics of homicides over the past three years, such as victim/suspect demographic characteristics, locations and methods of the crimes and the parole/probation status of victims and suspects. In addition to presenting annual data for 2003, 2004, and 2005, the tables and figures in this report show how characteristics of the homicides changed from year to year and over the three year period.In general there was an overall homicide increase of 7% from 2004 (88 homicides) to 2005 (94 homicides). While this increase does represent a troubling trend, total homicides remain well below the 20 year average of 111.8 homicides per year, and represents a decrease of 17% from 2003.Demographic trends also appear to have shifted from 2004 to 2005 for both the victims and suspects. The percentage of Black victims and suspects dropped from 2004, while Latino and Asian victims and suspects both increased. The number of identified Latino homicide suspects is especially troubling, rising from 7 in 2004 to 13 in 2005. Finally, the number of suspects who were known to be on probation/parole status decreased from 59% to 49%
A Langmuir approach on monolayer interactions to investigate surface active peptides
The Langmuir Blodgett apparatus provides a versatile system for studying the interfacial properties of peptides and peptide-membrane interactions under controlled conditions. Using amphiphilic α-helical peptides to highlight studies undertaken, here we discuss the use of this system to provide information on the surface activity of peptides and describe the insights these studies give into biological functio
The interaction of social and perceivable causal factors in shaping âover-imitationâ
Over-imitation has become a well-documented phenomenon. However there is evidence that both social and visible, physically causal factors can influence the occurrence of over-imitation in children. Here we explore the interplay between these two factors, manipulating both task opacity and social information. Four- to 7-year-old children were given either a causally opaque or transparent box, before which they experienced either (1) a condition where they witnessed a taught, knowledgeable person demonstrate an inefficient method and an untaught model demonstrate a more efficient method; or (2) a baseline condition where they witnessed efficient and inefficient methods performed by two untaught models. Results showed that the level of imitation increased with greater task opacity and when children received social information about knowledgeability consequent on teaching, but only for 6- to 7-year-olds. The findings show that children are selectively attuned to both causal and social factors when learning new cultural knowledge
Recommendations for Incorporating Postsecondary and Workforce Data into Statewide Longitudinal Data Systems
Outlines the need for data systems to assess educational transitions, completions, and labor market outcomes of adult students and workers in postsecondary, adult education, and skill development programs in order to strengthen policies and programs
Near-Infrared Integral Field Spectroscopy of Damped Lyman-alpha Systems
We assess the feasibility of detecting star formation in damped Lyman-alpha
systems (DLAs) at z>1 through near-infrared spectroscopy using the forthcoming
integral field units on 8m-class telescopes. Although their relation to
galaxies is not well established, high-z DLAs contain most of the neutral gas
in the Universe, and this reservoir is depleted with time - presumably through
star formation. Line emission should be an indicator of star formation
activity, but searches based on Lyman-alpha are unreliable because of the
selective extinction of this resonant UV line. Using more robust lines such as
H-alpha forces a move to the near-infrared at z>1. For line emission searches,
spectroscopy is more sensitive than imaging, but previous long-slit
spectroscopic searches have been hampered by the likelihood that any star
forming region in the DLA galaxy disk would fall outside the narrow slit. The
new integral field units such as CIRPASS on Gemini will cover sufficient solid
angles to intercept these, even in the extreme case of large galactic disks at
high redshift. On an 8m-class telescope, star formation rates of <1M_sun/yr
will be reached at z~1.4 with H-alpha in the H-band. Such star formation rates
are well below L* for the high-z Lyman-break population, and are comparable
locally to the luminous giant HII complexes in M101. It appears that
instruments such as CIRPASS on Gemini will have both the sensitivity and the
survey area to measure star formation rates in z>1 DLAs. These observations
will probe the nature of damped Lyman-alpha systems and address their relation
to galaxies.Comment: To appear in the proceedings of the ESO/ECF workshop on "Deep
Fields", 9-12 October 2000, Garching. 4 page
Exploring Supermarket Loyalty Card Analysis to Identify Who Buys Fairtrade
The aim of this paper is to show how supermarket loyalty card data from a panel of over 1.7 million
shoppers can be analysed to provide behavioural segmentation insights to profile the fairtrade shopper
in order to enhance making targeted marketing decisions. The paper demonstrates the huge marketing
potential that loyalty card based shopper segmentation can bring to objectively describe who buys
fairtrade products, compared to profiling shoppers with claimed/reported behaviour dataset. A pairedsamples t-test is used to test the degree of appeal of fairtrade tea, coffee, chocolate, drinking
chocolates, banana and sugar categories in Tesco to life-stage and lifestyle shopper segments in terms
of their retail sales values over 104 weeks. The results show that analysing loyalty cards based on
actual behaviour provides a more detailed picture of how specific fairtrade food product categories
appeal to the various life-stage and lifestyle shopper segments
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