The influence of accountability and responsibility on managerial decision making: An investigation of environmental, health, and safety decisions within the chemical and steel industries

As the number of environmental regulations and the related compliance costs increase, corporate executives are viewing the environment as a key factor in determining their future competitiveness. Thus, it is of interest to determine what factors influence firms in making environmental investment decisions. Past research has primarily looked at the influence of economic factors on environmental, health, and safety (EHS) decisions. This dissertation explores the behavioral factors on these decisions, specifically accountability and responsibility levels, and explores the resulting managerial and policy implications. First, I address the question of how the increase in regulatory requirements, and hence an increase in external accountability, influences a firm\u27s EHS decisions by developing a theoretical model which incorporates reputational effects on these decisions. An empirical study is then conducted to determine whether companies in the chemical industry see, understand, and pursue reputation benefits by increasing their levels of external accountability. Using data from the Council of Economic Priorities, positive relationships are found between reputation levels and a firm\u27s level of internal accountability systems, improvements in objective environmental performance, and external accountability/communication levels. A second study reveals that steel companies having higher levels of accountability by participating in the voluntary 33/50 program had greater improvements in EHS performance and financial return compared to non-participating companies. Further evidence on the role of internal accountability on EHS performance is provided by an in-depth case study of a large steel manufacturer. Through interviews and survey data, this study looks at the deployment of accountability for environmental performance within the organization. Although top management has a commitment to EHS performance, an increase in the level of accountability for EHS performance is necessary to make improvements in this area. The theoretical and empirical research together provide evidence that suggest that behavioral factors, particularly accountability and reputation levels, in addition to economic factors, influence EHS investment decisions

Femoral neck trabecular patterns predict osteoporotic fractures

In this paper we show that texture analysis of femoral neck trabecular patterns can be used to predict osteoporotic fractures. The study is based on a sample of 123 women aged 44-66 years with and without fractures. We analyzed trabecular patterns using the Co-occurrence Matrix texture analysis algorithm and compared the predictive utility of the textural data with densitometry. Logistic regression was used to estimate the predictive utility, exp(B), of clinical and textural data per standard deviation. Reproducibility was also demonstrated using paired films at 1-year intervals (CoV = 4.5 %). Bone mass estimated by DEXA measurements of the spine and hip were the most predictive of fractures giving a two-fold increase in fractures per s.d. bone mass loss (95% CI: 1.2-3.1, p<0.005). Age was also highly predictive with fracture risk increasing by 1.07-fold per year (95 % Cl: 1.01-1.14, p<0.02). Trabecular texture was found to give a lower, but significant, prediction of fracture of 1.5-fold per s.d. trabecular pattern loss (95% Cl: 0.96-2.31, p<0.05). Combining age, weight, and trabecular texture increased the fracture prediction to 1.78-fold per s.d. (95% Cl: 1.19-2.67). Combining trabecular texture with densitometry increased the predictive ability to 2.06-fold per s.d. (95% Cl: 1.32-3.22) and combined with age and weight as well increased exp(B) to 2.1-fold per s.d. (95% Cl: 1.32-3.35). This shows that osteoporotic trabecular texture changes can be "measured." Moreover, the combination of age, weight, and trabecular texture is more predictive than either alone. We propose therefore that this trabecular texture analysis is both reproducible and clinically meaningful. The application of such methods could be used to improve the estimation of fracture risk in conjunction with other clinical data, or where densitometry data cannot be obtained (e.g., in retrospective studies). (C) 2002 American Association of Physicists in Medicine

Impact of a Nature- Based Science Enrichment Program for Preschoolers on Body Mass Index and Activity Preferences

This study explores children’s health as it relates to Body Mass Index (BMI), sedentary or active play prferences, and solitary versus active social play. To find the interrelatedness between the variables, 400 preschool children aged 3-5 from West Michigan schools were interviewed. BMI was assessed using portable stadiometers and digital scales. The BMI percentiles and the BMI of each student was calculated by utilizing the Centers for Disease Control BMI Tool for School Groups calculator in addition to their heights and weights. A face to face interview was conducted to measure the sedentary versus active play preferences and to gain insight into the children’s preferences for active or sedentary activities when participating with family and friend groups as compared to solitary playing. The interview collected data based on questions such as, “What is your favorite thing to do with your friends and family?” and “What types of things do you like to do when you are alone (by yourself)?” A negative correlation was predicted for BMI and activity preference such that participants with higher BMIs were more likely to prefer sedentary activities. We expected statistical analysis to demonstrate that children in a social atmosphere were more likely to engage in active play and when they engaged in solitary play they would tend toward more sedentary activities. If the data provides evidence that BMI is associated with one’s preferred choice of activity for preschoolers, it will support previous findings that BMI is negatively correlated with higher levels of physical activity for other age groups. If our hypothesis regarding social versus solitary play is supported such that group activity encourages a more active preference, this has implications for community programming initiatives and for parent education encouraging group play in order to yield higher levels of physical activity

Examining the Relationship Between BMI and Academic Performance

Evidence regarding the direct effect of weight on academic achievement is not entirely conclusive; however it is clear that overweight students face additional barriers to learning. These barriers are likely to contribute to a diminished academic performance among overweight students (Action for Healthy Kids, 2004). Although previous literature indicates links between activity preference and academic performance, as well as between activity preference and obesity (Action for Healthy Kids, 2004), it is still uncertain whether or not a direct link exists between Body Mass Index (BMI) and academic performance. The present study assesses BMI, activity preference, and early literacy development as measures of participants’ health, activity level and academic performance. BMI was calculated using the height and weight obtained from participants. The Preschool Early Literacy Indicators (PELI) assesses early literacy skills for preschool-aged children. Activity preference, as measured by Leary’s Preschool Activity Preference (2009), evaluates participants’ preference for active or sedentary activities. Participants consisted of over 400 preschool students from various preschools located in West Michigan. This current study suggests an inverse relationship between BMI and academic performance, specifically that high BMI relates to low PELI scores. In order to do so, it is first necessary to demonstrate that the positive relationship between activity preference and academic performance and the inverse relationship between activity preference and BMI exists within the current data. In demonstrating the existence of these relationships this study seeks to remove activity preference as a primary indicator of low PELI scores, suggesting instead a direct inverse relationship between high BMI and low PELI scores. If supported, this inverse relationship suggests that BMI is a primary indicator of academic performance