Authentic Corporate Social Responsibility Based on Authentic Empowerment: An Exemplary Business Leadership Case

Authors Dillon, Back, and Manz examine the underpinnings of genuine or authentic Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), noting the direct nexus between stakeholder empowerment and the socially-responsible actions of authentic leaders. Such an empowering leadership approach– involving structural, psychological, developmental, and financial components – is particularly exemplified by a family-owned (Back) wine and cheese company (Fairview Trust), situate in South Africa

BASIS VARIABILITY ON THE FEEDER CATTLE CONTRACT VERSUS THE FAILED STOCKER CONTRACT

Basis variability is compared across markets, over time, between stocker and feeder cattle and the impact of market volume is determined. Variability was significantly greater with the Stocker contract. Volume varied seasonally by market. Increased market volume significantly reduced basis variability. Increased variability in market volume significantly increased basis variability.Livestock Production/Industries,

Coherent response of lakes in Ontario, Canada to reductions in sulphur deposition: the effects of climate on sulphate concentrations

International audienceSulphate deposition in south-central Ontario declined between 1976 and 2000 by more than 50%, whereas lake sulphate (SO42?) concentrations decreased by, on average, only half as much. To investigate the factors that controlled this slower than expected response, the temporal patterns in lake SO42? concentrations were compared with patterns in both deposition and climate, since climate has a major influence on the hydrological cycle in this part of the continent. To do this, the temporal coherence in SO42? concentrations between 9 lake basins was estimated using the intraclass correlation from a repeated-measures analysis of variance and two subsets of lakes were found (six in one group, four in the other), each with lakes having synchronous patterns. One subset (4 lakes) included the 3 with the longest water replenishment times (>3.4 yr) which are expected to respond to decreases in SO42? deposition more slowly. However, the average pattern reflecting the temporal changes of each of the two subsets was very similar. The response of both subsets of lakes to the decreasing SO42? deposition over two decades was independent of the degree of acidification or sensitivity to acidification of the lakes. In a determination of which factors best predicted each of those two subsets' SO42? time series, good predictive models were produced by regional/global-scale climate indices, specifically the Southern Oscillation Index (SOI) describing the El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) and the North Atlantic Oscillation Index (NAOI), as well as by SO42? deposition indices. When the predictor variables were combined, models which described the long-term changes in lake SO42? concentration best included the SOI, the NAOI and SO42? deposition. Thus, large-scale climate factors play a major role in determining the response of aquatic systems to changes in SO42? deposition, perhaps through their influence on lake and/or catchment processes that effectively delay recovery. Keywords: Atmospheric deposition, lake recovery, temporal trends, climate, temporal coherenc

RISK AND MARKET PARTICIPANT BEHAVIOR IN THE U.S. SLAUGHTER-CATTLE MARKET

Incomplete information generates uncertainty for market participants in the slaughter-cattle market. Buyer and seller behavior in the presence of that uncertainty is examined. Statistically significant risk premiums are charged by packers when buying slaughter cattle on either a live- or dressed-weight basis compared to buying on a grade-and-yield basis. Pratt-Arrow risk-aversion coefficients are calculated for buyers and these remain constant over all marketing methods. Sellers market cattle under all three marketing methods, suggesting producersÂ’' attitudes toward risk (risk-aversion coefficients) vary.Risk and Uncertainty,

COUNTRY-OF-ORIGIN LABELING OF BEEF PRODUCTS: U.S. CONSUMERS' PERCEPTIONS

In 2002, Chicago and Denver consumers were surveyed and participated in an experimental auction to elicit willingness to pay for country-of-origin labeling (COOL) of beef. Survey results indicate the majority of consumers (73%) were willing to pay an 11% and 24% premium for COOL of steak and hamburger, respectively. In the auction, consumers were willing to pay a 19% premium for steak labeled “"U.S.A. Guaranteed: Born and Raised in the U.S.”" Food-safety concerns, preferences for labeling source and origin information, a strong desire to support U.S. producers, and beliefs that U.S. beef was of higher quality were reasons consumers preferred COOL.Consumer/Household Economics,

CONSUMER PREFERENCE FOR DOMESTIC VERSUS INTERNATIONAL BEEF STEAKS

Demand and Price Analysis,

THE VALUE OF BEEF FLAVOR: CONSUMER WILLINGNESS-TO-PAY FOR MARBLING IN BEEF STEAKS

Consumer/Household Economics, Food Consumption/Nutrition/Food Safety,

U.S. Consumers' Willingness to Pay for Flavor and Tenderness in Steaks as Determined with an Experimental Auction

In a study of beef quality, consumers tasted steak samples and participated in an experimental auction to determine their willingness to pay. Steaks differed in marbling, tenderness, country of origin, and aging method. Marbling and tenderness had statistically significant impacts on consumers' palatability ratings for steaks. Tenderness significantly impacted consumers' willingness-to pay values. There appear to be threshold levels of marbling and tenderness, below which consumers discount steaks. Steaks from Australia were rated lower for overall acceptability, and bids were lower than for the U.S. steak samples. Dry-aging methods negatively impacted taste panel ratings and bids.beef, country of origin, experimental auctions, marbling, tenderness, Consumer/Household Economics,

The Factors and Features of Museum Fatigue in Science Centres Felt by Korean Students

This is the author accepted manuscript. The final version is available from Springer Verlag via the DOI in this recordOne of the objectives of science education in science centres has been the enhancement of interest in science. However, museum fatigue has a negative impact on interest. Museum fatigue has been described as physical tiredness or a decrease in visitors’ interest in a museum. The learning experience of students in science centres is also influenced by museum fatigue. The purpose of this study is to identify the phenomena of museum fatigue in science centres and to identity how it is manifested. First, we identified the factors causing museum fatigue in science centres using the data from an open-ended questionnaire which was given to 597 primary, middle and high school students in South Korea. From the responses to the questionnaire, 50 factors causing museum fatigue in science centres were identified. A second Likert-type questionnaire with the 50 factors of museum fatigue in science centres was administered to 610 primary, middle and high school students in South Korea. Using reliability and factor analyses, we developed a framework of the factors causing museum fatigue in science centres, which consists of three contexts, 12 categories and 50 factors. Secondly, through statistical analyses including T test and ANOVA analysis, the features of students’ museum fatigue in science centres were analysed and compared regarding student gender, school level, interest in science, grade of school science, the number of visits, and type of visit. The results, which were found to be statistically significant, are reported and discussed. The findings of this study are intended to serve for a deeper understanding and practical improvement of science learning in science centres

Retained Ownership Revisited: Balancing Market Prices and Genetic Potential

Retained ownership is a marketing strategy that involves maintaining ownership of young cattle beyond calf weaning, a traditional marketing time for many producers. Numerous retained ownership strategies exist. It is extremely important for producers and their lenders to clearly understand the advantages and disadvantages of a specific retained ownership strategy in order to fully evaluate profit potential. The advantages and disadvantages of retained ownership have been discussed by several authors. Advantages include 1) compensation for superior genetics, 2) reduction in market inefficiencies, 3) increased quality control in beef, 4) reduction in market risk for frost or drought damaged crops and 5) reduction in profitability peaks and valleys associated with cattle cycles. Retained ownership of cattle is not without problems. Disadvantages include 1) increased risk of poor performance due to poor genetics, health problems or deteriorating environmental conditions, 2) increased market risk, 3) increased financing requirements and 4) potential tax problems. Nearly every economic analysis of retained ownership has shown an increase in profitability over traditional cow-calf operations. Data adapted from the Kansas Steer Futurity (Simms and Maddux, 1990) are displayed in Table 1. Average annual net returns per cow through weaning were $4.84 from 1974-1988. Negative returns averaging -$43.81 were observed for 8 of the 14 years. Average annual returns per cow for the feedlot phase of production were $27.13. Negative returns averaging -$35.56 were observed in 5 of the 14 years. Returns for the combined cow-calf and feedlot phases of production averaged $31.97. This represents a 6.6-fold increase in profitability as compared to marketing the calf crop at weaning. Losses averaging -$40.69 were observed in 6 of the 14 years. A 1990-91 South Dakota Retained Ownership Demonstration Program (Wagner et al., 1991) showed average profits of $38.75 and$16.69 for an accelerated finishing program and a traditional two-phased growing and finishing program, respectively. The variability in profitability between groups of cattle representing different genetic and management backgrounds was tremendous. Profitability ranged from -$56.57 to$131.36 per head and 7 of 51 groups of five steers in the accelerated pen lost money