An Analysis Of Marketing And Microenterprise: Does Marketing Have An Impact On These Unique Organizations?

This research study was a qualitative, multiple case study on how the implementation of good marketing techniques impacts the sustainability of microenterprises. This is a replicative extension study of prior research that revealed a theme of “promotional activities” correlating to microenterprise sustainability beyond two years (Haynes, 2017). This research extended the prior study by significantly increasing the number of participants (from six to forty), providing heterogeneity regarding lines of business, expanding to a new geography (the Upstate of South Carolina), focusing exquisitely on marketing techniques (as defined by the classical Marketing Mix), and defining sustainability by using both an accepted theoretical organizational concept (the Organizational Life Cycle) and the participants’ own definitions of success. The final analysis revealed that a healthy understanding and/or implementation of Marketing Mix techniques contributed to sustainability. The majority of the participants had a basic understanding of the classic “4 P’s”; Product, Price, Place, and Promotion; but their knowledge was developed through an often costly method of trial and error. Participants with a business education, acquired either informally or formally, were able to avoid the costly process and realize sustainability at a quicker pace. The owners’ definitions of success contributed substantially to the degree to which they pursued education and their implementation of the various elements of the classical Marketing Mix

The Case of the Smart City

January 7, 2021, marked the seventy-fifth anniversary of Marsh v. Alabama, the case in which the Supreme Court of the United States extended the protections of the First and Fourteenth Amendments to a privately held “company town.” This article makes the case that the longstanding Marsh precedent, and the basic jurisprudential framework it set out, remain important in working through twenty-first century problems regarding public-private partnerships and their impact on constitutional rights. We bring this old ruling into our new century by extrapolating a hypothetical legal controversy from legislation currently under consideration in the states. Thus, the heart of our analysis involves an imagined case (and the resulting, imagined judicial opinions) arising from a potential bill that has not yet become law. This speculative approach is an effective way to think through, in advance, stubborn and emergent questions about the constitutional nature and limits of private actions that emulate government functions

Controlling Costs: The 6-3-5 Method

Naval Postgraduate School Acquisition Research Progra

Student Involvement in Campus OER Movements: Creating and Sustaining an SGA Open Education Award

Presentation at OpenEd 2018, Niagara Falls, NY. October 10-12, 2018.A presentation describe the design and implementation of a Student Government Open Educational Resources Teaching Award for faculty at Texas A&M University and the University of Tennessee.OpenEd 201

From Physics to Fixtures to Food: Current and Potential LED Efficacy

Light-emitting diodes (LEDs) have enabled a historic increase in the conversion of electric energy to photons, but this is approaching a physical limit. The theoretical maximum efficiency occurs when all input energy is converted to energy in photosynthetic photons. Blue LEDs can be 93% efficient, phosphor-converted “whites” 76% efficient, and red LEDs 81% efficient. These improvements open new opportunities for horticultural lighting. Here we review (1) fundamental physics and efficiency of LEDs, (2) the current efficacy of LEDs, (3) the effect of spectral quality on crop yield, and (4) the potential efficacy of horticultural fixtures. Advances in the conversion of photons to yield can be achieved by optimization of spectral effects on plant morphology, which vary among species. Conversely, spectral effects on photosynthesis are remarkably similar across species, but the conventional definition of photosynthetic photons (400–700 nm) may need to be modified. The upper limit of LED fixture efficacy is determined by the LED package efficacy multiplied by four factors inherent to all fixtures: current droop, thermal droop, driver (power supply) inefficiencies, and optical losses. With current LED technology, the calculations indicate efficacy limits of 3.4 µmol J−1 for white + red fixtures, and 4.1 µmol J−1 for blue + red fixtures. Adding optical protection from water and high humidity reduces these values by ~10%. We describe tradeoffs between peak efficacy and cost

Differential response and traditional protection investigation: a comparison of two child welfare investigation streams

INTRODUCTION Determining an appropriate threshold for which children and families should receive child welfare services has been widely debated in literature. Workers are faced with multiple child welfare orientations when determining the appropriate level of intrusiveness during child maltreatment investigations [3]. Parental rights, family preservation, and safety of the child are some of the competing tensions in the child welfare model that investigating workers must balance [2,9]. Differential Response (DR) model is a flexible approach to child maltreatment investigations developed to provide a range of customized investigative streams incorporating family-centered, and strengths-based practices [4]. This model is a less intrusive approach to investigations for low-risk cases that do not present imminent risk to the child, compared to Traditional Protection Investigations (INV) [5,7]. There is a high degree of jurisdictional variation in screening, intake and administration of DR models resulting in a disparity of findings throughout child welfare research [4]. In 2002, the Alberta Response Model was created to allow child welfare agencies to provide flexible investigative streams to families based on the type and severity of child maltreatment [1,8]. The Family Enhancement Program works as part of the Alberta Response Model to provide children and families with a DR investigation stream [1]. High-risk cases are streamed to INV while lower risk families who are willing are streamed to the Family Enhancement Program [1]. This article will inform practitioners’ understandings of DR model by providing a provincial profile of DR streamed investigations while comparing child, household, maltreatment characteristics and case factor associated with each child welfare investigative stream based on the Alberta Incidence Study of Reported Child Abuse and Neglect 2008 (AIS-2008) [6].     METHODS This analysis is based on secondary analysis of the AIS-2008 dataset. The AIS-2008 is the second cycle of a provincial study that examines incidences of reported child abuse and neglect in Alberta for children 17 years and younger. This paper reports on findings based on a total weighted number of 26,957 child investigations that were noted as either DR streamed investigations, or INV streamed investigations. A total of 6,666 child investigations noted use of DR model, while an additional 20,291 child investigations noted use of INV model. Select comparisons of child, household, case and maltreatment factors from two child welfare investigation streams are presented in this analysis. Bivariate analyses and Pearson’s chi-squared test were used to compare each investigative stream and associated factors. For further information on methodology of the AIS-2008 refer to Chapter 2 of the full report [7].   RESULTS Figure 1 shows primary categories of all reported child maltreatment incidents and risk investigations streamed to DR and INV. Significant differences in child investigations were noted for younger children. Eleven percent of DR streamed investigations involved children who were less than 1 year old, and 8% of INV streamed investigations. Caseworkers were asked to report on nine caregiver risk factors, such as alcohol and/or drug abuse, cognitive impairment, and/or victim of intimate partner violence (IPV) [7]. While differences between the two investigative streams for caregiver risk factors would be expected, there were little differences noted. A risk investigation refers to situations where a specific incident of maltreatment has not yet occurred, however circumstances indicate that there is a significant future risk of maltreatment [7]. DR child investigations more frequently noted risk investigations than INV child investigations. For DR investigations, neglect was noted most frequently (38%), followed by exposure to intimate partner violence (23%), physical abuse (10%), and emotional maltreatment (9%). Ten percent of DR investigations noted emotional harm requiring treatment, compared to 16% of INV investigations. One percent of DR investigations noted physical harm severe enough to require medical attention, and 2% of INV investigations. The percentage of DR child investigations resulting in a formal child welfare placement was significantly less (5%) than INV child investigations (10%). Twenty-five percent of DR investigations remained open for ongoing services compared to 32% of INV investigations. DR investigations less often resulted an application to child welfare court (4%), than INV streamed investigations (13%). Figure 1. Primary Categories of All Reported Child Maltreatment Incidents and Risk Investigations in Alberta in 2008 by Child Welfare Investigation Streams. Percentages of type of maltreatment includes total number of child investigations (n=26,957) streamed to differential response (n=6,666), and traditional protection investigation (n=20,291). DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS This secondary data analysis examined 26,957 child maltreatment investigations from the AIS-2008 dataset. The increased flexibility of DR model enables workers to balance some of the competing tensions in child welfare. DR model allows child welfare agencies to provide less intrusive approach to investigations for low-risk investigations, compared to INV model which is intended for investigations presenting greater severity of harm. This exploratory analysis examined differences in characteristics between children and families of child maltreatment investigations streamed to DR approach and INV approach. Future research should examine long term outcomes of investigations streamed to DR and INV. Exploring long term outcomes will provide greater insight into the effectiveness of DR model child maltreatment investigations.   LIMITATIONS While the AIS-2008 dataset provides a unique opportunity to examine the child welfare response to reported maltreatment in Alberta, a number of considerations for this secondary analysis must be made when interpreting these findings. The AIS-2008 dataset; 1) only tracked reports investigated by child intervention services and did not include reports that were screened out, only investigated by police, and never reported; 2) is based on the assessments provided by the investigating child intervention workers and could not be independently verified; 3) is weighted using annual estimates which included counts of children investigated more than once during the year, therefore the unit of analysis for the weighted estimates was a child investigation; 4) as weighted estimates provided some instances where sample sizes were too small to derive publishable estimates [7].

Associated factors of investigations involving intimate partner violence and other forms of maltreatment; child family, household, and case characteristics

INTRODUCTION The co-occurrence of intimate partner violence (IPV) and child maltreatment intensifies the trauma experienced by children, compared with children who experience IPV alone [3]. IPV is linked to many negative developmental outcomes [2,7]. Children exposed to IPV are at risk for more social challenges [8], emotional issues [1,8], attachment issues [3], behavioural disorders [3], and more academic challenges [3,8]. There is a debate in literature where some researchers state that the involvement of child welfare in matters related to IPV result in overly intrusive interventions. Other research suggests that children exposed to IPV alone do not in general receive more intrusive intervention, but do require comparable supports as those children experiencing other forms of maltreatment. [2,4,6]   The Alberta Incidence Study of Reported Child Abuse and Neglect 2008 (AIS-2008) is a provincial study examining the characteristics of reported child abuse and neglect [5]. The AIS-2008 dataset provides the opportunity to examine characteristics of children and families involved in IPV child investigations, as well as the short term outcomes. This analysis will examine evidence supporting or challenging the use of child welfare services for children and families experiencing IPV in Alberta in 2008.   METHODS The AIS-2008 is the second provincial study on child abuse and neglect to be conducted in Alberta for children 17 years and younger [5]. This article presents select comparisons of child, family, household, and case factors across 3 groups of substantiated child investigations. This includes: 1) IPV only child investigations where IPV was noted as the single child maltreatment concern; 2) co-occurring child investigations where IPV and at least one other form of child maltreatment (physical abuse, sexual abuse, neglect and emotional maltreatment) was noted; and 3) other forms of maltreatment child investigations involving other forms of child maltreatment excluding concerns of IPV. Workers noted IPV as a form of maltreatment if a child had allegedly been a direct witness to physical violence, had indirect exposure to physical violence, and/or exposed to emotional violence. The analyses presented in this article are based on annually and regionally weighted estimates of substantiated child investigations and examines a total of 14,404 substantiated child maltreatment investigations. This includes 3,898 IPV only investigations (27%), 2,302 co-occurring investigations (16%), and 8,204 other forms of maltreatment investigations (57%). Bivariate analyses and Pearson’s chi-squared tests were used to compare IPV investigations with co-occurring investigations and other forms of maltreatment investigations. For further information on the methodology of the AIS-2008 refer to Chapter 2 of the full report [5].   RESULTS Child welfare workers were asked to report on 9 caregiver risk factors at the time of the investigation. Victim and/or perpetrator of domestic violence was excluded as a household caregiver risk factor. Caregiver risk factors varied considerably between IPV only investigations, co-occurring investigations, and other forms of maltreatment investigations. For IPV only investigations, this included alcohol abuse (58%), few social supports (49%), and mental health issues (35%). For co-occurring investigations, alcohol abuse (79%), mental health issues (56%), and few social supports (54%) were the top three concerns that were noted. Other forms of maltreatment investigations identified few social supports (45%), mental health issues (41%), and alcohol abuse (34%). The level of harm was significantly lower for IPV only investigations than both co-occurring investigations and other forms of maltreatment investigations. Fifteen percent of IPV investigations noted severity of emotional harm requiring treatment, compared with 39% of co-occurring investigations, and 26% of other forms of maltreatment investigations. As would be expected, estimates of severity of physical harm were too low to report for IPV only investigations. Sixty-six percent of IPV only investigations involved multiple maltreatment incidents, 88% in co-occurring investigations, and 70% in other forms of maltreatment investigations. Child investigations resulting in out-of-home placement greatly varied by each comparison group. Three percent of IPV only investigations noted formal child welfare placement, 15% in co-occurring investigations, and 20% in other forms of maltreatment investigations. Workers referred 30% of IPV only investigations to ongoing services compared to 56% of co-occurring, and 49% of other forms of maltreatment.   Figure 1. Case Outcome Factors. Percentages of case characteristics include 14,404 child maltreatment substantiated investigations. This includes 3,898 IPV only investigations (27%), 2,302 co-occurring investigations (16%), and 8,204 other forms of maltreatment investigations (57%). DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS The AIS-2008 dataset provides child, caregiver, household, and case factors associated with IPV only investigations, co-occurring investigations, and other forms of maltreatment investigations. While there is concern that the involvement of child welfare in IPV investigations will result in more intrusive interventions [6], findings from this analysis support Black et al. (2008) [1] who recognized that IPV as a single concern does not necessarily result in more intrusive outcomes. Co-occurring investigations noted the highest severity of harm, compared to IPV only investigations and other forms of maltreatment investigations. Subsequent analyses will build on this work in order to examine specific risk and protective factors that are predictive of child welfare placement and the provision of ongoing services. LIMITATIONS While the AIS-2008 dataset provides a unique opportunity to examine the child welfare response to reported maltreatment in Alberta, a number of considerations for this secondary analysis must be made when interpreting these findings. The AIS-2008 dataset; 1) only tracked reports investigated by child intervention services and did not include reports that were screened out, only investigated by police, and never reported; 2) is based on the assessments provided by the investigating child intervention workers and could not be independently verified; 3) is weighted using annual estimates which included counts of children investigated more than once during the year, therefore the unit of analysis for the weighted estimates was a child investigation; 4) as weighted estimates provided some instances where sample sizes were too small to derive publishable estimates [5].