Predicting Beef Carcass Retail Product Using Real-time Ultrasound and Live Animal Measures: Progress Report

Two-hundred-eighty-two crossbred steers were scanned with real-time ultrasound (RTU), slaughtered, and fabricated into retail cuts to determine the potential for a combination of live animal and ultrasound measures to predict carcass retail yield. Ultrasound measures of fat thickness, ribeye area, rump fat thickness, and body wall thickness, as well as live weight and visual muscle score were recorded three to five days prior to slaughter. Carcass measurements were taken, and one side of each carcass was fabricated into retail cuts with .3 inches fat. Stepwise regression analysis was used to compare possible models for prediction of either pounds or percent retail product from carcass measurements or a combination of live animal traits and ultrasound measures. Results indicate that possible prediction models for percent or pounds of retail product using live animal and RTU measures were similar in their predictive power and accuracy when compared to models derived from carcass measurements

Group Membership and Communication in Modified Dictator Games

This paper presents a laboratory experiment to measure the effect of group membership on individual behavior in modified dictator games. The results suggest that this effect is influenced by the degree of group membership saliency. A within-subject design is employed: in stage 1, each subject decides individually; in stage 2, the subjects are divided into groups of three and one person is selected at random from each group to make the decision (the 'hierarchical decision rule'). In stage 3, additional pre-play communication in the group is allowed before the decision and, in stage 4, the decisions are again made on an individual basis. Interestingly, the dictators behave more selfishly when group members are not allowed to communicate. However, if groups are allowed to communicate, decisions do not differ from individual choices. Chat content shows that groups are concerned with reaching a consensus, even though talk is 'cheap' and only one group member will make the binding decision.Diese Studie untersucht mittels eines Laborexperiments die Frage, ob Gruppenzugehörigkeit das individuelle Verhalten in modifizierten Diktatorspielen verändert. In der Studie wird ein 'within-subject' Design verwendet: In der ersten Runde entscheidet jeder Teilnehmer individuell; in der zweiten Runde werden die Teilnehmer in Gruppen mit je drei Mitgliedern aufgeteilt und eine Person pro Gruppe wird zufällig ausgewählt, um die Entscheidung zu treffen ('hierarchische Entscheidungsregel'). In der dritten Runde ist zusätzlich Kommunikation in der Gruppe vor der Entscheidung möglich und in der vierten Runde werden die Entscheidungen wieder individuell getroffen. Im Ergebnis bestimmt der Grad der Salienz von Gruppenzugehörigkeit den Einfluss von Gruppenzugehörigkeit auf das Verhalten. Diktatoren verhalten sich eigennütziger, wenn sie Mitglied einer Gruppe sind, in der nicht kommuniziert werden darf. Wenn aber Kommunikation erlaubt ist, unterscheiden sich Entscheidungen als Gruppenmitglied nicht von individuellen Entscheidungen. Eine Analyse der Kommunikationsinhalte zeigt, dass Gruppen Wert darauf legen, einen Konsens zu erzielen, obwohl die Kommunikation nicht bindend und somit nicht auszahlungsrelevant ist

Handbook of Management Consulting: The Contemporary Consultant, Insights from World Experts

This book provides a thorough examination of a variety of specialties within the broad range of management consulting. A book of such scope and depth could only be written by a large number of experts. Each chapter is written by a leading expert in one of the many specialties related to management consulting. Together, all 27 contributors take the reader through an industry that is currently undergoing significant change. While covering all the major practice areas of consulting, the book also offers new insights into change processes and addresses compelling management issues now facing consulting firms. Every practicing consultant and firm needs this bookÂ\u27s broad perspective and its treatment of specific areas of content in order to prepare them for a successful future in a highly competitive business environment. Presently, there is no book on the market that takes such an advanced look at both the complexity and multiple aspects of consulting. Ideas presented by the many consulting experts are thoughtful and provocative. Their sage advice on future developments in the field is not to be missed