Modelling the valuesphere and the ecosphere: Integrating the decision makers' perspectives into LCA

Methods for Life Cycle Impact Assessment have to cope with two critical aspects, the uncertainty in values and the (unknown) system behaviour. LCA methodology should cope explicitly with these subjective elements. A structured aggregation procedure is proposed that differentiates between the technosphere and the ecosphere and embeds them in the valuesphere. LCA thus becomes a decision support system that models and combines these three spheres. We introduce three structurally identical types of LCA, each based on one coherent but different set of values. These sets of values can be derived from the Cultural Theory and are labeled as ‘egalitarian', ‘individualistic', and ‘hierarchic'. Within Life Cycle Impact Assessment, a damage oriented assessment model is complemented with both a newly developed precautionary indicator designed to address unknown damage and an indicator for the manageability of environmental damages. The indicators for unknown damage and for manageability complete the set of indicators judged to be relevant by decision makers. The weights given to these indicators are also value-dependent. The framework proposed here answers the criticisms that present LCA methodology does not strictly enough separate subjective from objective elements and that it fails to accurately model environmental impact

Unstructured mathematical model for biomass, lactic acid and bacteriocin productions by lactic acid bacteria in batch fermentation

6 páginas, 3 figuras, 2 tablasBACKGROUND: A simple macroscopical model was proposed to describe the fermentation kinetics of growth, bacteriocins and lactic acid production by Lactococcus lactis and Pediococcus acidilactici in a batch system. The equations used were: the logistic reparametrized for growth, the Luedeking–Piret model for bacteriocin production, the maintenance energy model for glucose consumption; and the homofermentative balance equation for lactic acid formation. RESULTS: In all the cultures, the mathematical models, consistents and robusts, adjusted, perfectly, the experimental kinetic profiles. Also, the corresponding kinetic parameters were significant, so much biological as statistically. CONCLUSIONS: The group of integrated equations used, besides showing high accuracy in predicting the studied bioproductions, established a useful tool for the control of lactic acid bacteria kinetics in bioreactors in terms of its statistical consistency. Copyright © 2007 Society of Chemical IndustryPeer reviewe

Temporary sharing prompts unrestrained disclosures that leave lasting negative impressions

With the advent of social media, the impressions people make on others are based increasingly on their digital disclosures. However, digital disclosures can come back to haunt, making it challenging for people to manage the impressions they make. In field and online experiments in which participants take, share, and evaluate self-photographs (“selfies”), we show that, paradoxically, these challenges can be exacerbated by temporary-sharing media—technologies that prevent content from being stored permanently. Relative to permanent sharing, temporary sharing affects both whether and what people reveal. Specifically, temporary sharing increases compliance with the request to take a selfie (study 1) and induces greater disclosure risks (i.e., people exhibit greater disinhibition in their selfies, studies 1 and 2). This increased disclosure is driven by reduced privacy concerns (study 2). However, observers’ impressions of sharers are insensitive to permanence (i.e., whether the selfie was shared temporarily versus permanently) and are instead driven by the disinhibition exhibited in the selfie (studies 4–7). As a result, induced by the promise of temporary sharing, sharers of uninhibited selfies come across as having worse judgment than those who share relatively discreet selfies (studies 1, 2, and 4–7)—an attributional pattern that is unanticipated by sharers (study 3), that persists days after the selfie has disappeared (study 5), is robust to personal experience with temporary sharing (studies 6A and 6B), and holds even among friends (studies 7A and 7B). Temporary sharing may bring back forgetting, but not without introducing new (self-presentational) challenges

Do business customers perceive what salespeople believe? Perceptions of salesperson adoption of innovations

A salesperson's commitment and effort toward an innovation can determine whether the customer agrees to buy it, such that customers' perceptions of such commitment and effort are critical. But these perceptions also might differ fundamentally from the salesperson's self-perceptions of commitment and effort. Therefore, this paper presents a theoretical framework of the relation between salesperson-perceived and customer-perceived commitment and effort, as exhibited by the salesperson while selling an innovation, which represents salesperson adoption. In the framework, job satisfaction factors also exert contingent, moderating effects. The authors gather unique, dyadic data from surveys of salespeople and their (potential) business customers during visits to sell a conventional, incremental innovation, complemented by objective purchase data gathered from company records. Three key insights emerge fromt this study. First, salespeople's own perceptions of their commitment and effort have only moderate influences on customers' perceptions of salespeople's commitment and effort. Second, customers seem to recognize salesperson effort more readily than salesperson commitment, although salesperson commitment has a higher sales performance impact than salesperson effort. Thus, sales managers should seek to encourage and support both the commitment of salespeople and also perceptions of that commitment among customers. Third, while a higher organizational support or job autonomy strengthens customers' perceptions of salesperson adoption, a higher pay satisfaction diminishes it. Thus, firms might need to find ways to increase the support for the salespeople and their autonomy and to reduce salespeople's satisfaction with their (direct) payments. In total, these findings suggest significant scientific and managerial implications

Evidence for models of diagnostic service provision in the community: literature mapping exercise and focused rapid reviews

Background Current NHS policy favours the expansion of diagnostic testing services in community and primary care settings. Objectives Our objectives were to identify current models of community diagnostic services in the UK and internationally and to assess the evidence for quality, safety and clinical effectiveness of such services. We were also interested in whether or not there is any evidence to support a broader range of diagnostic tests being provided in the community. Review methods We performed an initial broad literature mapping exercise to assess the quantity and nature of the published research evidence. The results were used to inform selection of three areas for investigation in more detail. We chose to perform focused reviews on logistics of diagnostic modalities in primary care (because the relevant issues differ widely between different types of test); diagnostic ultrasound (a key diagnostic technology affected by developments in equipment); and a diagnostic pathway (assessment of breathlessness) typically delivered wholly or partly in primary care/community settings. Databases and other sources searched, and search dates, were decided individually for each review. Quantitative and qualitative systematic reviews and primary studies of any design were eligible for inclusion. Results We identified seven main models of service that are delivered in primary care/community settings and in most cases with the possible involvement of community/primary care staff. Not all of these models are relevant to all types of diagnostic test. Overall, the evidence base for community- and primary care-based diagnostic services was limited, with very few controlled studies comparing different models of service. We found evidence from different settings that these services can reduce referrals to secondary care and allow more patients to be managed in primary care, but the quality of the research was generally poor. Evidence on the quality (including diagnostic accuracy and appropriateness of test ordering) and safety of such services was mixed. Conclusions In the absence of clear evidence of superior clinical effectiveness and cost-effectiveness, the expansion of community-based services appears to be driven by other factors. These include policies to encourage moving services out of hospitals; the promise of reduced waiting times for diagnosis; the availability of a wider range of suitable tests and/or cheaper, more user-friendly equipment; and the ability of commercial providers to bid for NHS contracts. However, service development also faces a number of barriers, including issues related to staffing, training, governance and quality control. Limitations We have not attempted to cover all types of diagnostic technology in equal depth. Time and staff resources constrained our ability to carry out review processes in duplicate. Research in this field is limited by the difficulty of obtaining, from publicly available sources, up-to-date information about what models of service are commissioned, where and from which providers. Future work There is a need for research to compare the outcomes of different service models using robust study designs. Comparisons of ‘true’ community-based services with secondary care-based open-access services and rapid access clinics would be particularly valuable. There are specific needs for economic evaluations and for studies that incorporate effects on the wider health system. There appears to be no easy way of identifying what services are being commissioned from whom and keeping up with local evaluations of new services, suggesting a need to improve the availability of information in this area. Funding The National Institute for Health Research Health Services and Delivery Research programme

Der M&A Canvas zur Analyse der strategischen Passung von Akquisitions- und Kooperationskandidaten

Im strategischen Management ist externes Unternehmenswachstum durch die Übernahme von Unternehmen zur Erreichung definierter unternehmerischer Zielsetzungen eine Option. Ein wichtiges Kriterium bei der Bewertung eines Akquisitionskandidaten im Rahmen der Pre-Acquisition Phase ist die strategische Passung. In der Literatur findet sich dazu eine Reihe an Analyseinstrumenten. Einige dieser Methoden scheitern schlichtweg an Praxisfähigkeit, andere helfen auf Grund der nicht gegebenen, aber dringend gebotenen Ganzheitlichkeit, nur bedingt weiter. Mit dem M&A Canvas soll eine Methode vorgestellt werden, die den Prozess der Bewertung des strategischen Fits in wenigen, einfach nachvollziehbaren Schritten ermöglicht. Ausgehend von einem Vergleich des eigenen Geschäftsmodells mit dem des Übernahmekandidaten werden dabei potentielle Synergien, wie auch Dyssynergien identifiziert, kurz beschrieben und bewertet. Im Weiteren erfolgen die Quantifizierung der (Dys)synergien und eine Bewertung der Eintrittswahrscheinlichkeiten. Die in diesen einfachen Arbeitsschritten erarbeiteten Ergebnisse lassen sich nun aufwandsarm in eine erste, rudimentäre Bewertung überführen und geben ein sowohl qualitativ, als auch quantitativ beschriebenes und auf den Punkt gebrachtes Bild der strategischen Passung zwischen dem akquirierenden Unternehmen und dem potentiellen Kaufkandidaten. Der M&A Canvas hat seine Praxistauglichkeit bereits erfolgreich unter Beweis stellen können und lässt sich unabhängig von Branche und Unternehmensgröße anwenden. Die Erfahrung zeigt, dass Strategic Fit Bewertungen bei Anwendung der Methode äußerst effizient und zielgerichtet verlaufen und die Ergebnisse bereits in dieser Phase wertvolle Informationen für die spätere kaufmännische Bewertung liefern

Modelling the valuesphere and the ecosphere: Integrating the decision makers’ perspectives into LCA

ISSN:0948-3349ISSN:1614-750