Developing the competencies of interactional justice

Grounded in social exchange theory, interpersonal and informational justice (collectively “IJ”) reflect the degree to which people affected by organizational decision makers perceive that they have been treated in a dignified and informative manner. Empirical research shows that IJ is positively correlated with myriad beneficial organizational outcomes (e.g., performance, job satisfaction and trust in authority figures) and negatively correlated with several noxious ones (e.g., withdrawal, negative reaction to decisions). The presence of IJ is an important mitigating factor in accepting negative organizational outcomes. In addition, the negative impact of injustice on an individual’s self-esteem can have profound implications for relationships among organizational stakeholders. The platform for introducing learners to IJ is a skills-based design for identification and use of fair behaviors. The experiential exercise is also designed to facilitate observational skills in seeing the consequences of IJ in organizational life – particularly as its presence or absence affects the communication flow in various interactions between managers and their subordinates

THE EFFECT OF VOLUNATARY EXERCISE ON NEUROPATHIC PAIN

Neuropathic pain results from damage to peripheral sensory axons, which can occur due to physical trauma (via nerve trauma) or metabolic diseases (via diabetes). Neuropathic pain can be a debilitating disease that often responds poorly from pharmacological interventions. The ability of exercise to reduce behavioral sensitivity associated with neuropathic pain in rodents has been reported; however, the exercise-induced mechanisms were not researched in this study. Increases in neurotrophic factors (e.g. glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor [GDNF]) have been proposed as a possible mechanism for reducing neuropathic pain. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to determine whether voluntary exercise can attenuate or delayed mechanical sensitivity associated with neuropathic pain and assess GDNF levels as a possible mechanism. Two neuropathic pain models (SNI and streptozotocin [STZ]-induced diabetes [type 1 model]) were assessed. Following surgery and/or injections, animals in the exercised groups were housed in standard cages with voluntary running wheels while the sedentary group was housed without wheels. To quantify neuropathic pain mechanical allodynia and hyperalgesia were assessed. GDNF protein levels and mRNA expression were examined in the lumbar region of the spinal cord, dorsal root ganglion (DRG), sciatic nerve, and skeletal muscle. Our results showed that both models produced mechanical hypersensitivity. However, voluntary exercise significantly reduced mechanical hypersensitivity within 2 to 3 weeks. Within the spinal cord, the SNI surgery increased GDNF protein levels, whereas diabetes significantly decreased GDNF levels. Voluntary exercise had no effect on GDNF levels after nerve injury; however, among diabetic animals voluntary exercise significantly increased GDNF protein levels in the spinal cord and sciatic nerve, mRNA expression in skeletal muscle, along with axonal transport in the sciatic nerve. Intrathecal injections of recombinant GDNF ameliorated mechanical sensitivity associated with diabetic neuropathy, therefore implicating the potential therapeutic actions of GDNF. In summary, voluntary exercise caused favorable changes in behavioral sensitivity in both nerve-injured and diabetic rodents. In diabetic rodents this reduction in mechanical sensitivity may be due to an increase in GDNF and axonal transport, whereas the exercise-induced mechanism after nerve injury remains unknown. This investigation supports the use of exercise to complement current treatment strategies aimed at decreasing neuropathic pain associated with peripheral nerve injury and diabetes

Court of Public Opinion in and for the State of Uncertainty

Our session has two goals. First, we aim to stimulate debate over a ubiquitous, yet largely unchallenged, instrument that purports to operationalize Jungian personality theory (the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator). Second, we suggest a platform for teaching management theories, the mock-trial, which manifests active learning as well as critical thinking and has been successfully utilized in other disciplines. With contributors playing key roles in the trial and volunteers from the audience serving as potential prosecution and defense witnesses as well as the jury, we hope the discourse on substantive theory and teaching process will provide the jolt OBTC 2008 envisions

Organizational Engagement with Supply Chain Integration: Achieving a Tangible Strategy

Although supply chain management and supply chain integration have become topics found within today’s organization as well as topics for researchers from various disciplines, little research has been completed concerning the linkage between business strategy, supply chain strategy, and the resulting decision which an organization makes to enter into an integration initiative. This paper discusses the experience of one organization in formulating a supply chain strategy consistent with its business strategy. The paper concludes with key elements driving the supply chain which emerge from this linkage, a framework for determining the importance of the supply chain to the organization, and a discussion of the benefits gained from creating a tangible incarnation, an enactment, of the firm’s strategy

Enabling Context-Based Learning with KPortal Webspace Technology

Recognizing the importance of context-based learning and the general lack of technology applications in the design and development of the ideal and formal curricula, this paper describes an experimental system at a large public university. The authors describe the creation of a contextual environment for introducing concepts related to information security to undergraduate business students using the KPortal (Knowledge Portals) webspace technology that supports dynamic content gathered from various sources automatically. The KPortal webspace rated highly on the various attributes of effective contexts and the characteristics of technologies that enable context-based learning. The flexibility provided by the webspace permitted the authors to develop adaptable environments in which the students could connect well with rather abstract concepts. The overall intervention was designed to examine if a limited portion of the course could be supported by technology and next phases of the research will broaden its use to semester-length curriculum

Developing Communities of Research and Practice to Support Teacher Use of Proactive Behavior Management

Project CoRP (Communities of Research and Practice) seeks to narrow the research-practice divide in the use of proactive behavior management (PBM) strategies in schools by collaborating with teachers, caregivers, and students to create and test professional development modules aimed at increasing teacher use of PBM. Modules will incorporate (a) activities and messaging from social psychology shown to facilitate belief and behavior change, and (b) expertise of teachers and families of children who show challenging behavior in school. Modules will then be placed in an online platform and tested with teachers in a randomized controlled trial to investigate their potential for increasing teachers' supportive beliefs and use of PBM in the classroom