An Evaluation of Age Effects on Driver Comprehension of Flashing Traffic Signal Indications using Multivariate Multiple Response Analysis of Variance Models

Objective: The objective of this experiment was to identify whether drivers comprehended traffic signals differently when turning left at signalized intersections where traffic signals were in “flashing mode” operation. Method:Multivariate multiple response analysis of variance models were used to analyze the simultaneous effects of displayed color combination, age, and geographical location on signal message interpretation. Data were gathered in a laboratory environment. Results: Left-turn and through-signal color combination had a significant effect on subject comprehension. Comprehension was found to be lowest for displays flashing red only, followed by displays flashing red on the left-turn, and yellow on the through-signal, with best comprehended displays flashing yellow only. No overall significant age effects were identified, with one minor exception. No geographical region effects were identified. Signal section arrangement and the use of an arrow or circular illuminated lens had no significant effect on comprehension. Discussion: Traffic signal displays in “flashing mode” operation were previously identified as the least well-comprehended displays for drivers turning left. The present effort identified that this is mainly due to displays flashing red indications on the through-signal. Comprehension of displays flashing yellow indications on the through-signal is comparable to that of permitted left-turn indications. Impact on the Industry: There is a need to develop alternatives for signal displays flashing red indications on the through-signal because a large percentage of drivers facing such indications mistakenly think they have the right-of-way when, in fact, they do not. However, use of such displays on minor streets intersecting major streets cannot currently be avoided when signals are placed in flashing operation. Practitioners using flashing signal operations need not be concerned about signal message comprehension differences among age groups. They can use any among the analyzed alternative signals that convey a given message without impacting signal message comprehension

Problem formulation and organizational decision-making : biases and assumptions underlying alternative models of strategic problem formulation

Bibliography: p. 20-25

Preferences for Permitted and Protected Left-Turn Signal Displays

Twenty-two different signal displays for permitted and protected left turns were evaluated from a driver comprehension perspective. The objective was to identify which alternate signal displays used to convey the same left-turn message to the driver are better comprehended and therefore recommended for use in the field. Protected displays compliant with the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices were found to be better comprehended than certain noncompliant displays; however, some noncompliant permitted displays were found to outperform their compliant counterparts. Regional comprehension biases are nonexistent for the most part, regardless of display compliance with the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices. Permitted left-turn signals using indications other than a steady green ball were found to enhance driver comprehension. The “Left Turn Must Yield on Green Ball” sign used with a “doghouse” display is beneficial during the permitted phase, but confusing when displayed during the protected left-and-through phase. Other supplemental signs used with various left-turn displays were also evaluated

Crippling effects of 'hyper-rational' planning / 956

Includes bibliographical references

Trust, Organizational Controls, Knowledge Acquisition from the Foreign Parents, and Performance in Vietnamese International Joint Ventures

Successful adaptation in strategic alliances "calls for a delicate balance between the twin virtues of reliability and flexibility" [Parkhe 1998]. On one hand, the joint venture must be flexible enough to respond to the uncertainties of competitive business environments because it is not feasible to plan for every possible contingency. Yet, on the other hand, unfettered flexibility invites dysfunctional behavior, such as opportunism and complacency. This delicate balance accompanies a parallel balance between trust and control of the joint venture. The primary goal of this study is to empirically examine this relationship in the context of Vietnamese international joint ventures (IJVs) by building on the model of knowledge acquisition and performance in IJVs established by Lyles and Salk [1996]. This study makes three major contributions to the literature. First it confirms several findings of the original Lyles and Salk study [1996]. Second, we strengthen Lyles and Salk's original model by incorporating multiple measures of both interorganizational trust and control as independent variables. Finally, this study represents one of the first in-depth examinations of business in the emerging Vietnamese economy.http://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/39713/3/wp329.pd

Back to Our Roots: Revolutionizing Black Greek Letter Organizations to Dismantle Racism in Higher Education

Black Greek Letter Organizations (BGLOs) started appearing across college campuses in the early 1900s at a time when racism was widely spread and accepted in society and institutions of higher education. Over time, BGLOs that existed at predominantly White institutions (PWIs) were forced to assimilate to the norms of the dominant culture as a way to mitigate the acts of racial bias and discrimination that these organizations were often subjected to. Throughout generations, BGLOs have continued to be deculturalized and therefore have moved further away from their intended purpose of fighting racial inequality and promoting racial uplift. This thesis seeks to analyze how and why BGLOs are continuing to struggle in the fight for racial equity and justify how the history of these organizations gives them the ability to effectively do racial justice work on college campuses. My proposed intervention centers the experiences of Black students and provides institutions of higher education with a method to integrate antiracist practices throughout all divisions of the university

Climate Change Adaptation for Southern California Groundwater Managers: A Case Study of the Six Basins Aquifer

Groundwater has been very important to the economic development of Southern California, and will continue to be a crucial resource in the 21st century. However, Climate Change threatens to disrupt many of the physical and economic processes that control the flow of water in and out of aquifers. One groundwater manager, the Six Basins Watermaster in eastern Los Angeles and western San Bernardino Counties, has developed a long-term planning document called the Strategic Plan that mostly fails to address the implications of Climate Change, especially for local water supplies. This thesis presents an in-depth analysis of the Six Basin Watermaster’s Strategic Plan as a case-study of how groundwater managers can improve their planning assumptions to better prepare for Climate Change. It begins with a brief history of how Southern California’s environment influenced the development of the institutions that manage the Six Basins’ groundwater, then provides a physical description of the aquifer itself. The current scientific literature on Climate Change’s expected impacts on California water supplies are summarized, and the implications of these impacts for basin management are highlighted. The Strategic Plan’s projects are evaluated and critiqued in light of these insights, including a need for the Strategic Plan to: explicitly consider Climate Change in its planning assumptions, use decision-making frameworks that account for uncertainty, and prepare for more frequent droughts and floods in the future. Climate Change will have important effects on how Southern California’s groundwater is managed, and the Six Basins Strategic Plan should be revised to better account for these impacts