Performance Evaluation, Education, and Testing: Alternatives to Punishment in Professional Regulation

This article outlines the existing concept of self-regulation and focuses on the deficiencies and inadequacies of that concept. The author proposes that to be effective, self-regulation must encompass more than the traditional disciplinary functions of bar association grievance committees. Specific proposals include: mandatory recertification of attorneys; requiring continued professional education for specialties and for areas in which an individual lawyer has demonstrated weakness; creating administrative machinery to monitor the entire spectrum of professional regulation; assigning quality ratings to individual attorneys; and implementing an aggressive public information program to solicit the public\u27s opinion and to publicize steps the legal profession has taken in the self-regulation process

Performance Evaluation, Education, and Testing: Alternatives to Punishment in Professional Regulation

This article outlines the existing concept of self-regulation and focuses on the deficiencies and inadequacies of that concept. The author proposes that to be effective, self-regulation must encompass more than the traditional disciplinary functions of bar association grievance committees. Specific proposals include: mandatory recertification of attorneys; requiring continued professional education for specialties and for areas in which an individual lawyer has demonstrated weakness; creating administrative machinery to monitor the entire spectrum of professional regulation; assigning quality ratings to individual attorneys; and implementing an aggressive public information program to solicit the public\u27s opinion and to publicize steps the legal profession has taken in the self-regulation process

Effect of gaseous and solid simulated jet plumes on a 040A space shuttle launch configuration at Mach numbers from 1.6 to 2.2

An experimental investigation was conducted in a 9- by 7-foot supersonic wind tunnel to determine the effect of plume-induced flow separation and aspiration effects due to operation of both the orbiter and the solid rocket motors on a 0.019-scale model of the launch configuration of the space shuttle vehicle. Longitudinal and lateral-directional stability data were obtained at Mach numbers of 1.6, 2.0, and 2.2 with and without the engines operating. The plumes exiting from the engines were simulated by a cold gas jet supplied by an auxiliary 200 atmosphere air supply system, and by solid body plume simulators. Comparisons of the aerodynamic effects produced by these two simulation procedures are presented. The data indicate that the parameters most significantly affected by the jet plumes are the pitching moment, the elevon control effectiveness, the axial force, and the orbiter wing loads

Industrial Data Systems, Inc.

Industrial Date Systems Corporation (IDS) is a Houston-based general engineering and services firm targeted toward the energy industry. Founded in 1985, the company has grown to annual revenues of $17 million in FY2000, sixty-three percent from engineering and the remainder from its manufacturing and air handling divisions. Recently, IDS has acquired Petrocon Engineering, a much larger oilfield engineering and services from with FY2000 revenues of$68 million. Together, they potentially will be able to fully meet client need for both upstream and downstream engineering and services support in the oil/gas, refining, chemicals, and petrochemicals industries. Now they must make it work. (Contact author for a copy of the complete report.)Small Business Mgmt

The Blackstone Group: A Case Study

The Blackstone Group, Inc., located in Beaumont, Texas, is a full-service advertising agency providing design, media, and marketing support for clients in southeast Texas and the Lake Charles, Louisiana, area. The agency was founded April 15, 1978, with its first offices above owners Lawrence and Samantha’s garage. They began with three accounts. Prior to beginning their agency, Lawrence worked for two other agencies, serving five years as Art Director of the first agency, and four years as Creative Director for the second agency. Samantha was employed as a bookkeeper in a third agency. Lawrence began as a freelance designer, doing project work. Shortly thereafter, Samantha joined him in the business. They moved out of the garage, and established an upscale business address located quite near their major clients. Once they became an agency, they “pitched” every opportunity. As a result, they captured a wide variety of accounts, requiring that they become knowledgeable in every aspect of the business. Whatever it took – media buys, copywriting, radio scripts, design, television sport, photography – they did it, and learned as they went. Currently, employing five people plus the principals, the agency is the market leader in the Beaumont area with an estimated 25% market share in those service markets in which they compete. They are recognized as the quality leader in their market, and have garnered an impressive collection of local, regional and national awards for design in both print and other media. Gross billings in 1998 were $3.9 million. Capital billings, the measure used in the industry to report agency size, approximated$4.7 million. (Contact author for a copy of the complete report.)Entrepreneurship