Developing an organizational decision making model: the impact of organizational structures, decision types, and the social network

Organizational decision making can be seen as a complex process due to the fact that decisions across organizational levels are generally interdependent, and have effects ranging from immediate to long-lasting. Reviewing decision making mathematical and process models, decision making is fundamentally characterized by multiple decision making steps from encountering a problem to determining a course of action. The first objective of this dissertation was the determination of the decision making model that a certain type of organization uses, and the establishment of a foundation for an organizational decision model framework. Decision making can be classified into three decision types: strategic, tactical, and operational. These types of decisions can be made throughout the organization ranging from an executive board to operating floor managers. A second objective of this dissertation was the determination of the decision making model that is used to make a certain decision type, and the continued development of an organizational decision making model framework. Beyond decision making occurring within the “traditional” organization structure, decision making can be influenced and occurs within the organizational social groups. These social networks established within the parent organization can make similar decisions to ones made within the “traditional” organizational structure. Metrics of social network analysis (SNA) were used to characterize the configuration of social networks associated with different organizational structures and types of decisions being made in the organization. These metrics showed organizational social networks had the same composition regardless of organizational structure and decision type, with one outlier that social networks would comprise of organizational members making the same type of organizational decision. The first two studies developed an organizational decision making model, respectively. These two studies’ results showed none of the five researched decision making models being representative of how an organization makes decisions. Ultimately, these studies’ results allowed a new organizational decision making model to be constructed

Towards an understanding of ESL students' approaches to learning: a study of conceptions of learning, perceptions of situational demands, learning approaches and learning outcomes

Includes bibliographical references.An hypothesised relationship between levels of proficiency in English of ESL (English as a Second Language) students and the approaches to learning which they adopt, in situations in which English is the language of instruction, is the focus of this study. An attempt was made to identify the extent to which students, who are required to learn in a second language, adopt undesirable approaches to learning as a consequence of linguistic or cultural factors. Such students appear to adopt reproductive strategies to pass examinations and retain only isolated pieces of information for practical application. In a sense, they graduate but remain unqualified. Quantitative responses of 307 students, relating to their contextualised perceptions of the demands of the learning situation, were gathered and analysed using a learning approach categorisation procedure. Qualitative responses of 120 students, relating to their descriptions of the context and content of learning, were gathered in semi-structured interviews to supplement and enrich the quantitive data collected. Levels of proficiency in the language of instruction were measured using integrative tests of comprehension of spoken discourse and written texts presented in actual lecture situations. Students were given the opportunity to rate the lectures and reading material from which they were expected to learn and self-esteem was measured as a construct considered likely to affect perceptions of the demands of the learning situation. Concurrently with the above, a group of students from each of 3 year groups was taught a new topic over a short series of lectures and tested for understanding in the language of instruction. Balanced groups, from each of the 3 year groups, were taught the same topic and tested for understanding in the mother-tongue. This procedure was subsequently replicated with a second topic of similar complexity, across all three year groups, with languages switched. Critical aspects of the teaching/learning situation were kept constant. These procedures provided compelling evidence, after analysis of quantitative and qualitative data, of a relationship between proficiency in the language of instruction and the ways in which students engage in learning tasks. Difficulty with the language of instruction appears to increase the demands of the learning situation and the likelihood of adopting reproducing strategies, which are not normally associated with success in terms of learning outcomes

Summary of the Status of Harvest Mice, Cricetidae: Reithrodontomys, in Arkansas

Although four species of harvest mice, Reithrodoniomyx, are known to occur in Arkansas, the distributional status of the genus in the state is poorly understood. Recent museum specimens significantly extend the range of R. megalotix and R. fulvescens in the state. R. megalotis is shown to range south through Phillips Co. in eastern Arkansas, and R. fulvescens is shown to range throughout most of the state, now including most of the Mississippi Alluvial Plain. A new specimen of R. humulis from Delaware Co., Oklahoma, suggests that this species probably ranges throughout northwestern Arkansas. R montanus remains known only from Washington Co. in northwestern Arkansas

The Digital Engine Model: Lead Generation Through Applied DCM Strategies

Digital Content Marketing (DCM) has become a primary tool for marketers in driving lead generation in today’s digital marketing world. Leading brands are creating and curating content in order to develop brand equity, connecting content to brand story and narrative. And while strong theoretical models of content marketing have been discussed in the marketing literature, like Hollebeek and Macky (2019), there is a dearth of understanding about the application and direct impact of organic digital content strategies on marketing directives. This paper investigates an applied model, called The Digital Engine, which provides instruction on proper digital content marketing instruction and then measures the impact of this instruction through a live 8-week campaign across 221 active websites. Results indicate that the Digital Engine instruction not only provides applicable understanding but that the applied methodology provides significant impact in driving users through various methods of brand acquisition and retention through to the website where created and curated content lead website users to complete call-to-action forms. Most importantly, completion of these online forms produces serviceable leads to the sales team, whereby supporting the overarching aim of all DCM strategies, lead generation

Drug Use among a Sample of Federal Drug Crime Defendants: Implications for the Gateway Effect Hypothesis

This study investigated the association between marijuana first before other drugs and alcohol and later hard drug among a convenience sample of federal drug crime defendants from one federal court in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. Results from two binomial logistic regression models revealed statistically significant associations between first use of marijuana and regular drug use and hard drug use, respectively. Findings suggests a gateway effect for marijuana within this sample

Shooting as a Blue Jay Depredation Management Technique in Native Pecan Groves

We conducted a 4-year project in southcentral Oklahoma native pecan (Carya illinoensis) groves to evaluate the effectiveness of shooting blue jays (Cyanocitta cristata) to reduce pecan losses. We monitored blue jay abundance by time-area counts and bird nut damage using ground plots in 5, 4.3-ha study areas during the fall damage periods of 1989-1992. In 1991 and 1992 we applied shooting to 3 of these areas. A mean of 16.3 blue jays/ha was shot at a mean cost (shotgun shells and labor) of $18.65/ha over the 2 years. The break-even savings level was 0.5 kg of pecan nuts saved per blue jay for both years. Blue jay numbers were significantly (P = 0 .045) reduced in the areas where the shooting treatment was applied. Comparison of the 1991 and 1992 mean to the 1989 and 1990 mean shows that bird nut damage increased an average of 137$34.70/ha

Feline Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy: A Spontaneous Large Animal Model of Human HCM.

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is a common disease in pet cats, affecting 10-15% of the pet cat population. The similarity to human HCM, the rapid progression of disease, and the defined and readily determined endpoints of feline HCM make it an excellent natural model that is genotypically and phenotypically similar to human HCM. The Maine Coon and Ragdoll cats are particularly valuable models of HCM because of myosin binding protein-C mutations and even higher disease incidence compared to the overall feline population. The cat overcomes many of the limitations of rodent HCM models, and can provide enhanced translation of information from in vitro and induced small animal models to human clinical trials. Physicians and veterinarians working together in a collaborative and interdisciplinary approach can accelerate the discovery of more effective treatments for this and other cardiovascular diseases affecting human and veterinary patients

Mindful Awareness Training: A Pilot Study Integrating Mindfulness Practices into a Rural Jail-Based Substance Abuse Program

Mindfulness practices are now utilized in a variety of behavioral healthcare settings, including the criminal justice system. This article summarizes the findings of a pilot project incorporating mindfulness practices into a jail-based substance abuse program in a rural county jail. Participants that engaged in a psychoeducational mindfulness group that utilized practices adapted from the Mindfulness-Based Relapse Prevention (MBRP) curriculum had improved scores on measures of mindfulness, self-compassion, and quality of life. A mediated path model suggested that the length of time participants were involved in the group and their estimated amount of mindfulness practice outside the group was related to increases in mindfulness, which appeared to support subsequent increases in self-compassion and quality of life. Implications for incorporating these practices into jail-based programs and limitations are discussed

Three-Phase Equilibrium Calculations using Modified Chao-Seader Procedures

Chemical Engineerin

Isolation, Characterization, and Utilization of Plasma Membranes from Tumor Cells

Biochemistr