Organizational commitment, attitudes toward information, and the use of formal and informal information in evaluating the performance of subordinates

Formal information is information developed by the organization which is recognized and sanctioned by senior management. All other information is, by definition, informal. In this regard, this study was performed to gain insights into the relationship between Relative Attitude toward Formal Information (as opposed to informal information) and Relative Use of Formal Information (as opposed to informal information) in the performance appraisal process. Additionally, this study was undertaken to gain insights into the relationship between Organizational Commitment and Relative Use of Formal Information in the performance appraisal process. Data was collected from members of the Institute for Supply Management (formerly National Association of Purchasing Management) using a questionnaire survey instrument. The primary statistical analysis technique employed in the study was multiple regression with univariate procedures used to a lesser extent. While the results of the study do not suggest the existence of a relationship between Organizational Commitment and Relative Use of Formal Information, the results of the study do suggest that appraisers in this sample used relatively more formal information when making termination decisions than when making other performance-related decisions (i.e., periodic performance reviews, merit pay adjustments, and promotion decisions). This finding seems extremely plausible given the legal and regulatory environment surrounding the termination process. In turn, this finding should “give comfort” to all stakeholders in the performance appraisal process. Additionally, the results of this study suggest that the Information Coverage dimension of Relative Attitude toward Formal Information is positively associated with Relative Use of Formal Information with respect to periodic performance reviews, merit pay adjustments, and promotion decisions. In contrast, Relative Use of Formal Information with respect to termination decisions is positively associated with the Information Accuracy dimension of Relative Attitude toward Formal Information as well as two appraiser attributes—Years in Current Position and Union Membership of Subordinates

Stud shear connectors for composite beams

The published results of push tests were analysed statistically in order to determine the main parameters that affect the strength of stud shear connectors. The results of the statistical analysis were used to design a series of seventy-nine push tests. A finite element analysis program was developed which allowed for the interaction between the tensile and compressive failure of concrete and hence predicted the variation in the bearing strength of concrete prisms of varying size and with varying amounts of lateral restraint, when subjected to concentrated loads. A combination of-theoretical and empirical analyses was used to determine the load at which the stud broke, the strength of concrete prisms which were subjected to patch loads of varying size and eccentricity and hence the strength of concrete slabs, the effect of lateral forces and transverse reinforcement on the strength of the stud and the slab, the-strength of shear connections in which the reinforcement is looped around the stud and the load-slip curve for a stud shear connection

REINVENTING THE APPROACH TO PERSONALITY-TYPE AND ETHICAL IDEOLOGY: A NEW MODEL

As unethical managerial behavior is increasing, people are looking to understand why. The result has led to a lack of trust in managers. One area being explored is managers\u27 ethical behavior. Based on previous models, the relationship between ethical ideology (idealism & relativism) and the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) is examined. Results show a significant relationship between idealism and the mental function (cognitive style) and dominant auxiliary function of the MBTI. In addition, the most innovative result shows a more salient model by combining ethical ideology and the dominant-auxiliary function. This new model strengthens the relationship between personality type theory and ethical ideology

Learning The Ropes: An Introductory Tax Return Case

In extant literature, there are few tax return cases appearing in journals.  We present a complex case using a realistic scenario that is designed to be an introductory tax return assignment used in an individual federal income taxation course.  The case is designed to teach students how to manually prepare a federal income tax return using the actual forms and schedules prepared by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).  This case is timely for two reasons.  1) Often tax return assignments in textbooks involve concepts that a student has yet to learn.  For example, a textbook assignment often includes itemized deductions and credits, even though these topics are typically taught towards the end of an individual tax course.  2) In addition, with the availability of information on the internet, students have greater access to solutions to textbook assignments.  This case comprehensively examines concepts typically covered in the first three or four chapters of an individual tax text: various types of income, exclusions, personal and dependency exemptions, capital gains and losses, and the standard deduction.&nbsp

A parametric study on the effectiveness of the NSM technique for the flexural strengthening of continuous RC slabs

Recent experimental research has shown that Near Surface Mounted (NSM) technique has high potential to increase the load carrying capacity of continuous reinforced concrete (RC) slabs. This flexural strengthening technique is based on the installation of rectangular cross sectional carbon fibre reinforced polymer (CFRP) laminates into thin slits opened onto the top concrete cover at the intermediate supports and in the bottom concrete cover in the tensile zones. However, the linear-elastic behaviour of the CFRP laminates, and the possibility of occurring premature detachment of the concrete cover that includes these laminates can compromise, not only the flexural strengthening effectiveness of the NSM technique, but also the moment redistribution and the ductility performance of this type of structures. To evaluate the influence of the concrete strength class, the percentage of existing longitudinal tensile reinforcement and the percentage of CFRP on the strengthening effectiveness, moment redistribution capacity and ductility performance, a parametric study was carried out by executing material nonlinear analysis with a FEM-based computer program, which predictive performance was calibrated using the results of a previous experimental program.The study reported in this paper forms part of the research program "PrePAM -Pre-Fabricated Thin Panels Using Advanced Materials For Structural Rehabilitation" supported by FCT, PTDC/ECM/114511/2009. The authors also wish to acknowledge the support provided by the S&P and Casais. The first author further wishes to acknowledge the Erasmus Mobility Program between the University of Minho (Portugal) and the University of Ferrara (Italy), which rendered this international cooperation possible. The third author would like to acknowledge the PhD grant SFRH/BD/69818/2010 supported by FCT

Simulating reinforced concrete members. Part 2: displacement-based analyses

A companion paper described the partial-interaction localised properties that require the development of pseudo properties. If the quantification through experimental testing of these pseudo properties could be removed by the use of mechanics-based models, which is the subject of this paper, then this would: (a) substantially reduce the cost of developing new reinforced concrete products by reducing the amount of testing; (b) increase the accuracy of designing existing and novel reinforced concrete members and structures, bearing in mind that experimentally derived pseudo properties are only applicable within the range of the testing from which they were derived; and (c) reduce the cost and increase the accuracy of developing reinforced concrete design rules. This paper deals with the development of pseudo properties and behaviours directly through mechanics, as opposed to experimental testing, and their incorporation into member global simulations. It also addresses the need for a fundamental shift to displacement-based analyses as opposed to strain-based analyses.Deric J. Oehlers, Phillip Visintin, Jian-Fei Chen and Tim J. Ibel

Derivation of normalized pressure impulse curves for flexural ultra high performance concrete slabs

In previous studies, a finite-difference procedure was developed to analyze the dynamic response of simply supported normal reinforced concrete (NRC) slabs under blast loads. Ultra high performance concrete (UHPC) is a relatively new material with high strength and high deformation capacity in comparison with conventional normal strength concrete. Therefore, the finite-difference procedure for analysis of conventional reinforced concrete members against blast loads needs to be significantly adapted and extended to accommodate UHPC. In this paper, an advanced moment-rotation analysis model, employed to simulate the behavior of the plastic hinge of an UHPC member, is incorporated into the finite-difference procedure for the dynamic response analysis of reinforced UHPC slabs under blast loads. The accuracy of the finite-difference analysis model that utilized the moment-rotation analysis technique was validated using results from blast tests conducted on UHPC slabs. The validated finite-difference model was then used to generate pressure impulse (PI) curves. Parametric studies were then conducted to investigate the effects of various sectional and member properties on PI curves. Based on the simulated results, two equations were derived that can be used to normalize a PI curve. Further numerical testing of the normalization equations for UHPC members was then undertaken. The generated normalized PI curve, accompanied by the derived normalization equations, can be used for the purposes of general UHPC blast design.Jonathon Dragos; Chengqing Wu; Matthew Haskett; and Deric Oehler