Measuring Organizational Performance in Strategic Human Resource Management: Problems and Prospects

A major challenge for Strategic Human Resource Management research in the next decade will be to establish a clear, coherent and consistent construct for organizational performance. This paper describes the variety of measures used in current empirical research linking human resource management and organizational performance. Implications for future research are discussed amidst the challenges of construct definition, divergent stakeholder criteria and the temporal dynamics of performance. The concept of performance information markets that addresses these challenges is proposed as a framework for the application of multi-dimensional weighted performance measurement systems

Measuring Organizational Performance in Strategic Human Resource Management: Looking Beyond the Lamppost

A major challenge for Strategic Human Resource Management research in the next decade will be to establish a clear, coherent and consistent construct for organizational performance. This paper describes the variety of measures used in current empirical research linking human resource management and organizational performance. Implications for future research are discussed amidst the challenges of construct definition, divergent stakeholder criteria and the temporal dynamics of performance. A model for performance information markets to address these challenges is introduced. The model uses a multi-dimensional weighted performance measurement system and a free information flow exchange mechanism for determining performance achievement criteria

Distributing program entities in Ada

In any discussion of distributing programs and entities of programs written in a high order language (HOL), certain issues need to be included because they are generally independent of the particular language involved and have a direct impact on the feasibility of distribution. Of special interest is the distribution of Ada program entities, but many of the issues involved are not specific to Ada and would require resolution whether written in PASCAL, PL/1, Concurrent PASCAL, HAL/S, or any language which provides similar functionality. The following sections will enumerate some of these issues, and will show in what ways they relate to Ada. Also, some (but by no means all) of the issues involved in the distribution of Ada programs and program entities will be discussed

The effect of multiple knowledge sources on learning and teaching

Current paradigms for machine-based learning and teaching tend to perform their task in isolation from a rich context of existing knowledge. In contrast, the research project presented here takes the view that bringing multiple sources of knowledge to bear is of central importance to learning in complex domains. As a consequence teaching must both take advantage of and beware of interactions between new and existing knowledge. The central process which connects learning to its context is reasoning by analogy, a primary concern of this research. In teaching, the connection is provided by the explicit use of a learning model to reason about the choice of teaching actions. In this learning paradigm, new concepts are incrementally refined and integrated into a body of expertise, rather than being evaluated against a static notion of correctness. The domain chosen for this experimentation is that of learning to solve "algebra story problems." A model of acquiring problem solving skills in this domain is described, including: representational structures for background knowledge, a problem solving architecture, learning mechanisms, and the role of analogies in applying existing problem solving abilities to novel problems. Examples of learning are given for representative instances of algebra story problems. After relating our views to the psychological literature, we outline the design of a teaching system. Finally, we insist on the interdependence of learning and teaching and on the synergistic effects of conducting both research efforts in parallel

National perspectives on climate change adaptation: A panel discussion of climate change adaptation efforts in diverse coastal regions of the United States

Climate change has rapidly emerged as a significant threat to coastal areas around the world. While uncertainty regarding distribution, intensity, and timescale inhibits our ability to accurately forecast potential impacts, it is widely accepted that changes in global climate will result in a variety of significant environmental, social, and economic impacts. Coastal areas are particularly vulnerable to the effects of climate change and the implications of sea-level rise, and coastal communities must develop the capacity to adapt to climate change in order to protect people, property, and the environment along our nation’s coasts. The U.S. coastal zone is highly complex and variable, consisting of several regions that are characterized by unique geographic, economic, social and environmental factors. The degree of risk and vulnerability associated with climate change can vary greatly depending on the exposure and sensitivity of coastal resources within a given area. The ability of coastal communities to effectively adapt to climate change will depend greatly on their ability to develop and implement feasible strategies that address unique local and regional factors. A wide variety of resources are available to assist coastal states in developing their approach to climate change adaptation. However, given the complex and variable nature of the U.S. coastline, it is unlikely that a single set of guidelines can adequately address the full range of adaptation needs at the local and regional levels. This panel seeks to address some of the unique local and regional issues facing coastal communities throughout the U.S. including anticipated physical, social, economic and environmental impacts, existing resources and guidelines for climate change adaptation, current approaches to climate change adaptation planning, and challenges and opportunities for developing adaptation strategies. (PDF contains 4 pages

Bach\u27s Continuo Group: Players and Practices in His Vocal Works. By Laurence Dreyfus

Rogers discusses and reviews Dreyfus\u27 1987 book

Optimization of the NEDM Experiment

The Neutron Electric Dipole Moment (NEDM) experiment is an upcoming experiment at ORNL to measure the size of an electric dipole moment inside of the neutron. This is being done to probe CP asymmetries that could give rise to a matter dominated universe. The experiment will utilize a nuclear reaction that outputs scintillation light in a manner that depends on the alignment of the spins of the reactant particles. This light will be detected and used to measure the NEDM. The amount of light collected for measurement will impact the accuracy of the results; the more photons collected the better the accuracy. However, during the process of transporting light from the reaction site to the light detectors, much of the scintillation light will be lost. Herein are the results of tests conducted on various parts of the NEDM apparatus in order to characterize and optimize light collection for the coming experiment

A Program for Parents in Children’s Literature and Prereading Activities

This project developed an educational program for parents of children in the lower economic classes. The program consisted of a series of workshops for parents to help them enrich the prereading background of their preschool and primary-grade children. The major emphasis was to acquaint parents with children\u27s literature and with the importance of their role in the reading development of their children

The Use of Ovarian Ultrasound and Biochemistry in the Investigation and Management of the Female Partner in Couples With Unexplained Infertility

Fertility assessment is founded firstly on the documentation of egg and sperm availability and secondly on a determination that the gametes can meet. If these criteria are met, then continued infertility is deemed to be unexplained, a situation found in 20-30% of the couples attending most infertility clinics. Conventional tests of ovulation are, in the absence of pregnancy, indirect barometers of ovarian function, and tell us little of the dynamics of follicular growth, oocyte release and corpus luteum function. Since gonadotrophin and ovarian steroid secretion is dynamic, and the endometrium is sensitive to hormonal fluctuations during the cycle, it is clear that if reproductive function is to. be assessed satisfactorily then the maximum information possible must be obtained. The concept of luteal phase deficiency (LPD) has aroused considerable debate over the years, and disagreements over the nature, definition, diagnosis and clinical implications of the condition abound in the literature. A number of studies on patients with unexplained infertility have demonstrated subtle deviations from normal in the plasma concentrations of gonadotrophins and ovarian steroids, but none have, in substantial numbers, related these features to ultrasonically observed follicular growth patterns. The present study was designed to explore ovarian function in women with unexplained infertility using the combined resources of ovarian ultrasound and simultaneous daily plasma biochemistry to elaborate follicular growth patterns and gonadotrophin and ovarian steroid hormone profiles in blood. These ultrasonic and endocrine profiles were then related to those obtained from normally cycling, presumably fertile, volunteers and from spontaneous conception cycles . Daily blood samples were taken throughout complete menstrual cycles and frequent ultrasound scans were performed during the periovulatory and luteal phases. The normal cycle data (43 cycles) were compared with that from 11 spontaneous conception cycles, and in terms of follicular growth and corpus luteum function, showed no differences, thus justifying the use of the control data as the yardstick of normality. 175 cycles from patients with unexplained infertility were studied in detail. 98 (56%) of these cycles demonstrated apparently abnormal ovarian function. The analysis of these "abnormal" cycles provides the core of the thesis. Luteal cyst formation was seen in 41 cycles (23. 4%); reference to the U/S and biochemical data discriminated two distinct subgroups - those where the dominant follicle was seen to shrink prior to luteal cyst formation, often associated with normal ovarian steroid profiles, and those cycles where no shrinkage of the follicle was seen following the LH peak, very often associated with markedly deficient luteal phase plasma P concentrations. The former, it is hypothesised, represent cystic corpora lutea and the latter, may be luteinised unruptured follicles (LUF's). Cyst size alone was not a sensitive indicator of the nature of the luteal cysts seen. 51 cycles (29. 1%) were found to exhibit abnormal patterns of P production in the early luteal phase. Many such PPS cycles exhibited mid-luteal P concentrations in excess of "normal ovulatory" criteria, indicating that infrequent sampling will miss a high proportion of abnormal cycles. 45. 1% of the PPS cycles also demonstrated luteal cyst formation, the majority of which were LUF's. Thus in these cycles it is likely that impairment of oocyte release and sub-optimal endometrial receptivity render the cycle infertile. (Abstract shortened by ProQuest.)