Socratic Problem-Solving In The Business World

Accurate and effective decision-making is one of the most essential skills necessary for organizational success. The problem-solving process provides a systematic means of effectively recognizing, analyzing, and solving a dilemma. The key element in this process is critical analysis of the situation, which can be executed by a taking a Socratic approach to the situation. Applying the Socratic Method to the problem-solving model ensures a well-rounded and versatile analysis

Teaching To Think: Applying The Socratic Method Outside The Law School Setting

An active learning process has the potential to provide educational benefits above-and-beyond what they might receive from more traditional, passive approaches.  The Socratic Method is a unique approach to passive learning that facilitates critical thinking, open-mindedness, and teamwork.  By imposing a series of guided questions to students, an instructor can challenge students to think for themselves, learn from their mistakes, and give them the necessary tools they will need to assess situations they will encounter in both their professional and personal lives

Novel Polymorphisms of ZRSR2 and GPM6B Gene Homologs and Their Use in Sex Identification of Bovine and Porcine Species

Accurate and cost-effective PCR based sex identification is important in animal production because it gives producers the ability to determine the sex of embryos prior to transfer, saving time and money. The most efficient PCR sex identification assays work by using a single primer pair to amplify a specific target region located on the Y-chromosome and a second, separate target region on the X-chromosome. This thesis reports the design of two novel assays. The first assay was designed to target the Zinc finger CCCH-type, RNA binding motif and serine/arginine rich 2 (ZRSR2) gene found on the X-chromosome and its Y-chromosome homolog, ZRSR2Y, in European domestic cattle (Bos taurus). It creates X- and Y-specific amplicons of 149 bp and 116 bp long respectively and is effective for sex identification of Bos taurus, African domestic cattle (Bos indicus), bison (Bison bison), domestic goat (Capra hircus), domestic sheep (Ovis aries), and domestic yak (Bos grunniens). The second assay was designed to target the glycoprotein M6B (GPM6B) gene found on the X-chromosome in domestic pigs (Sus scrofa) and a homologous pseudogene on the Y-chromosome. It creates X- and Y-specific amplicons of 244 bp and 201 bp long, respectively. The presence of a 16 bp intron deletion variant (rs1111696537) on the X-specific amplicon in a subset of the population was confirmed. Despite the variant, the primer pair is effective for sex identification of domestic pigs

Building Consensus Among General Counsel to Address Managerial Legal Strategy Perspectives

The research problem for this study focused on organizations\u27 inability to derive strategic value from the law due to the lack of integration between legal strategy and business strategy. The purpose of this study was to build consensus among in-house general counsel working across business industries in the United States with regard to techniques that will alter unreceptive managerial viewpoints toward the strategic value of law within the corporate setting. The research question centered on assessing the level of consensus among general counsel relative to those techniques. This 3-round qualitative Delphi study began with open-ended questions in Round 1 and progressed toward consensus in Round 3. The results encompass a consensus by the panel on 25 techniques for altering unreceptive managerial viewpoints toward the law spanning 5 categories: integrating legal considerations with business processes, improving workplace collaboration between in-house counsel and managers, leadership qualities and expectations of counsel, understanding legal implications of business decisions, and demonstration of strategic value. This was the first study to apply the construct of consensus to the generation of techniques by general counsel for altering unreceptive managerial viewpoints toward the strategic value of law. Incorporating the techniques identified in this study into the development of coaching practices, team building sessions, or other collaborative exercises may lead to positive social change through: (a) reduced anxiety stemming from organizational conflict between managers and in-house counsel; (b) decreased managerial burnout, absenteeism, and turnover due to organizational conflict with in-house counsel; and, (c) decreased workplace resistance between managers and in-house counsel

Synergy Of Incident Management And Real-Time Technology: The Next Step In The Evolution Of Supply Chain Management

Over the last two decades, the culture of the supply chain environment has transformed from one of mass production and distribution to one centered on pull-based demand sensing and response.  This transformation, in turn, has necessitated the use of more efficient supply chain operations.  One of the cornerstones of efficient supply chain operations is just-in-time (JIT) delivery and inventory reduction, both in-transit and in-facility (Anderson et al 2003, Simchi-Levi et al 2000).  The goal of JIT, a sub-part of a larger concept referred to as time-critical logistics (TCL), is to facilitate the delivery of materials only as they are required.  This practice, in turn, leads to improved efficiency by reducing inventory costs and idled capacity.  In addition, JIT provides increased customer orientation and responsiveness; two very critical elements in an environment of intense competition and rising fuel prices.  A vital part of JIT is the routing and scheduling of shipments.  Therefore, in order to effectively manage JIT, accurate predictions of routes and travel times are essential. (Miller et al 1999).  The JIT approach has dramatically increased the importance of reliability and efficiency throughout supply chain operations, in such areas as the sourcing of goods, transportation, manufacturing, and distribution. &nbsp

Government Control Of Communications Technology

The internet allows for the sharing of knowledge, communications, and business transactions on a global scale. Governmental regulation of the internet varies among different countries and regions of the world.  The benefits and burdens of such regulatory policies should be considered