Chuck Wessell, Assistant Professor of Mathematics

In this newest Next Page column, Chuck Wessell, Assistant Professor of Mathematics, shares what he and his cat, George, read first thing in the morning; his affinity for books with colons in the title; must-read math books for the non-mathematician; and much more

Stages of succession planning and factors of transferring management and ownership for the family agribusiness

Although many family business owners want to maintain family control of the business for future generations, few businesses survive across generations. Neglecting to plan an entry and exit strategy for family members are just two factors that explains why more businesses don\u27t succeed in transferring the business to the next generation in the family. Ordered Probit models and Probit models were used to discover factors that influence the process of family business transfer of management and ownership. Data came from a survey of 736 businesses in four Midwest states. ^ Four factors were found to be correlated with the transition of both management and ownership of the family business: (1) identification of a successor, (2) discussions of future goals, (3) knowledge of where to start the transfer process, and (4) perception of being prepared for a transfer. Family businesses that had these four factors were found to be further along in the succession process than businesses that did not have these factors. The presence of conflict and tension were found to hinder businesses from progressing in the transfer process

EMI from Spacecraft Docking Systems Spacecraft Charging - Plasma Contact Potentials

The plasma contact potential of a visiting vehicle (VV), such as the Orion Service Module (SM), is determined while docking at the Orion Crew Exploration Vehicle (CEV). Due to spacecraft charging effects on-orbit, the potential difference between the CEV and the VV can be large at docking, and an electrostatic discharge (ESD) could occur at capture, which could degrade, disrupt, damage, or destroy sensitive electronic equipment on the CEV and/or VV. Analytical and numerical models of the CEV are simulated to predict the worst-case potential difference between the CEV and the VV when the CEV is unbiased (solar panels unlit: eclipsed in the dark and inactive) or biased (solar panels sunlit: in the light and active)