Environmental and Psychological Challenges Facing Entrepreneurial Development in Transitional Economies

In the former planned economies, a major result of the economic reform programs has been the resurgence of private entrepreneurship. As these countries have struggled to make the transition to a market-based economy over the past decade, the environment has played an important structural role in entrepreneurial development. However, from a psychological perspective, the environmental structural context affects human action through cognitive processes such as self-regulation. Thus, we first identify and analyze the effect of the political, economic, legal, and cultural environment on the development of entrepreneurship in transitional economies, mainly using the former Soviet Union and particularly the Republic of Kazakhstan as an example. We then examine the role that social cognitive variables such as self-efficacy may play in the relationship between this external environment and entrepreneurial development

Behavioral Management and Task Performance in Organizations: Conceptual Background, Meta-Analysis, and Test of Alternative Models

In this study, we provide the conceptual background, meta-analyze available behavioral management studies (N = 72) in organizational settings, and examine whether combined reinforcement effects on task performance are additive (sum of individual effects), redundant (combined effects are less than the additive effects), or synergistic (combined effects are greater than the sum of the individual effects). We found a significant overall average effect size of (d.) = .47 (16% improvement in performance; 63% probability of success), and a significant within-group heterogeneity of effect sizes. To account for this variation, we conducted a theory-driven moderator analysis, which indicated that money, feedback, and social recognition each had a significant impact on task performance. However, when these 3 reinforcers were used in combination, they produced the strongest (synergistic) effect on task performance. Based on our findings, we offer directions for future research, and suggestions for effective application of behavioral management at work

Differential Effects of Incentive Motivators on Work Performance

In this field experiment, we first compared the performance effects of money systematically administered through the organizational behavior modification (O.B. Mod.) model and routine pay for performance and then compared the effects of O.B. Mod.- administered money, social recognition, and performance feedback. The money intervention based on the O.B. Mod. outperformed routine pay for performance (performance increase = 37% vs. 11%) and also had stronger effects on performance than social recognition (24%) and performance feedback (20%)

Reinforce for performance: The need to go beyond pay and even rewards

Perhaps the most talked about, if not actually implemented. practical solution for making human resources more productive is pay for performance. Yet many researchers and practitioners doubt the true effectiveness of this approach. To help solve this controversy. we suggest drawing from reinforcement theory and behavioral management. This approach can be used to explain the simple statements: You get what you reinforce. but you do not necessarily get what you pay for. We first critically review the traditional pay for performance practices and address the question of whether rewards. not reinforcers. do more harm than good. Next, we discuss the theoretical foundation that you get what you reinforce. Finally. we outline the behavioral management steps of organizational behavior modification (O.B. Mod.). When O.B. Mod. has been systematically applied over the years using both monetary and nonmonetary reinforcers. our recent meta-analysis found that performance on average increased 17 percent. The contingencies and practical implications of this behavioral management approach that advocates reinforce for performance instead of payor even reward for performance are discussed

A META-ANALYSIS OF THE EFFECTS OF ORGANIZATIONAL BEHAVIOR MODIFICATION ON TASK PERFORMANCE, 1975-95

Results of a primary meta-analysis indicated a significant main effect of the organizational behavior modification (O.B. Mod.) approach on task performance (d. = .51; a 17 percent increase) and a significant treatment-by-study interaction. To account for within-group heterogeneity of effect sizes, we conducted a two-level theory-driven moderator analysis by partitioning the sample of studies first into manufacturing and service groups and then into seven classes of reinforcement interventions. Results indicated a stronger average effect of O.B. Mod. in manufacturing organizations, moderation by the type of contingent interventions, and pairwise differences among average effect sizes in both organizational types. The practical implications of these findings for solvin

Macronutrient contents in the leaves and fruits of red raspberry as affected by liming in an extremely acid soil

The study evaluates the effect of liming materials application in combination with NPK fertilizer and borax on macronutrient contents (nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), calcium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg)), in an extremely acid soil and raspberry leaves and fruits during a two-year period. Liming increased soil pH, N mineral content, P, Ca and Mg soil content, while K content either increased (dolomite and borax application), or decreased (lime application). The N and P contents in raspberry leaves after liming increased significantly, but P content remained below the optimal values. Some treatments with lime caused a decrease in K content in leaves, while dolomite and borax application increased K content. Initially optimal Ca content in leaves increased significantly in the treatments with lime, but decreased after dolomite application. The Mg content in leaves increased after dolomite and borax application, but mainly remained below optimal values. Liming either did not alter or only slightly altered macronutrient contents in raspberry fruits

Proizvodnja i karakteristike “Banatskog Sira”

Autohtonous cheeses are products produced in a specific geographical areas as a result of development of tarditional production for many years. „Banatski cheese“ has been producing in Vojvodina, in the Middle Banat in a tarditional mannerat farms (salaš) and inividual households,as well.The aim of this article was to describe the production of "Banastskog cheese, which is produced in tardicionalan manner at househols of Hungarian nationality in the area of Zrenjanin. The cheese samples were examined for the presence of L. monocytogenes, coagulase-positive staphylococci, the number of lactic acid bacteria, Enterobacteriaceae, and physicochemical parameters (total, fat in total solids, fat in total solids, weight of moisture in cheese, moisture on a free fat basis, acidity, pH value,NaCl content. The observation of autohtonous technology was carried out by the survey consisting of questions, which combined the basic elements and technological operations of an autohtonous production.Lactic acid bacteria were the dominant microbiota.The mean value for the number of Lactococcus spp. was 7.45 log CFU / g andLactobacillus spp. 7.20 log cfu/g.In the examined samples were not detected L. monocytogenes and coagulase-positive staphylococci, while the number of Enterobacteriaceae ranged from130 to 2500 cfu/g. The value of total solids in cheese ranged from 67,90 to 73,71% for fat in total solids from 16,96 to 27,98%,for moisture on a free fat basis from 30,84 to 39,63%, total proteins ranged from 23, 92 to 35.95%, the acidity from 15 to 20.75 ° SH, pH value from 4.24 to 5.37 and NaCl content from 4.45 to 13.95%.Autohtoni sirevi su proizvodi nastali u određenom podneblju kao rezultat dugogodišnjeg razvoja tradicionalne proizvodnje. U Vojvodini, u Srednjem Banatu se na tradicionalan način proizvodi “Banatski sir” na salašima i u individualnim domaćinstvima. Cilj ovog rada je bio da se opiše proizvodnja “Banastskog sira“, koji se proizvodi na tardicionalan način u domaćinstvima mađarske nacionalnosti u okolini Zrenjanina. Sirevi su ispitani na prisustvo L. monocytogenes, koagulaza pozitivnih stafilokoka, određivan je broj bakterija mlečne kiseline,enterobakterija, kao ifizičkohemijski parametri (suva materija, mast, mast u suvoj materiji, voda, voda u bezmasnoj materiji, kiselost, pH vrednost i sadržaj NaCl). Snimanje autohtone tehnologije je izvedeno pomoću ankete sastavljene od pitanja, koja objedinjuju osnovne elemente i tehnološke postupke autohtone proizvodnje.Dominantnu mikrofloru su činile bakterije mlečne kiseline. Srednja vrednost broja Lactococcus spp.je bila 7,45 log cfu/g i Lactobacillus spp. 7,20 log cfu/g. U ispitanim uzorcima nisu dokazane L. monocytogenes i koagulaza pozitivne stafilokoke, dok je broj Enterobacteriaceaebio od 130 do 2500 cfu/g. Vrednost za suvu materiju sira se kretala 67,90 do 73,71%, za mast u suvoj materiji sira 16,96 do 27,98%, za vodu u bezmasnoj materiji 30,84 do 39,63%, za ukupne proteine 23,92 do 35,95%, za kiselost 15 do 20,75°SH, pH 4,24 do 5,37 i za sadržaj NaCl 4,45 do 13,95 %

Isolation and characterization of endophytic non-rhizobial bacteria from root nodules of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.)

Soil bacteria associated with plant roots that can exert beneficial effects on their hosts are designated as plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR). Some of these PGPR can enter the root interior and establish endophytic populations. The present study was performed to isolate non-rhizobial endophytes from the surface sterilized root nodules of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) and assess their effects on alfalfa growth. Out of 15 endophytic non-rhizobial strains isolated, 5 gram-positive strains were selected for further identification and characterisation. The strains LR1k, 4148pk and SNji formed one single cluster in rep-PCR analyses and partial sequences of 16S rRNA genes showed 100% similarity to Bacillus megaterium. Strains 251s and 236 displayed two separate rep-PCR patterns and according to 16S rRNA genes sequences they were closely related to Brevibacillus chosinensis and Microbacterium trichothecenolyticum, respectively. None of the non-rhizobial isolates was able to nodulate alfalfa when re-inoculated in gnotobiotic culture. Co-inoculation of all non-rhizobial strains with S. meliloti positively influenced nodule number of alfalfa, but was without significant effect on growth parameters with respect to inoculation with S. meliloti alone. However, single inoculation with non-rhizobial strains caused significant increase in shoot and root parameters compared to uninoculated plants, indicating that non-rhizobial strains possess some plant growth promoting potential. Further studies on the interactions among these endophytic bacteria and other legumes or non-leguminous plants are needed

How Supervisors Influence Performance: A Multilevel Study of Coaching and Group Management in Technology-Mediated Services

This multilevel study examines the role of supervisors in improving employee performance through the use of coaching and group management practices. It examines the individual and synergistic effects of these management practices. The research subjects are call center agents in highly standardized jobs, and the organizational context is one in which calls, or task assignments, are randomly distributed via automated technology, providing a quasi-experimental approach in a real-world context. Results show that the amount of coaching that an employee received each month predicted objective performance improvements over time. Moreover, workers exhibited higher performance where their supervisor emphasized group assignments and group incentives and where technology was more automated. Finally, the positive relationship between coaching and performance was stronger where supervisors made greater use of group incentives, where technology was less automated, and where technological changes were less frequent. Implications and potential limitations of the present study are discussed

Characterization of indigenous bacillus isolates from stabilized sludge in petrochemical industry

Bacillus species are rod-shaped, endospore-forming aerobic or facultatively anaerobic, Gram-positive bacteria; in some species cultures may turn Gram-negative with age. The many species of the genus exhibit a wide range of physiologic abilities that allow them to live in every natural environment. The spores are resistant to heat, cold, radiation, desiccation, and disinfectants. Bacillus species are used in many medical, pharmaceutical, agricultural, and industrial processes that take advantage of their wide range of physiologic characteristics and their ability to produce a host of enzymes, antibiotics, and other metabolites. Certain Bacillus species are important in the natural or artificial degradation of waste products. We isolated 15 indigenous Bacillus isolates from stabilized sludge in petrochemical plant in Serbia (FOV – HIP “Petrohemija”, Pancevo) and investigated their morphological and biochemical characteristics, emulsification activity and sensitivity to antibiotics and heavy metals. In addition, we estimated the genetic diversity of isolates by RAPD and rep-PCR. Three of 15 isolates showed very strong emulsification ability of xylol (E24 from 95 to 100). Six isolates showed strong emulsification of mineral oil (E24 from 78 to 100). All isolates were tolerant to 100μg/ml of Zn and Co, 10μg/ml of Hg and Mo, while eleven isolates showed tolerance to 10μg/ml of Cd and six isolates to 100μg/ml Hg. Only one isolate was sensitive to trimethoprim (5 μg). All isolates were sensitive to bacitracin (40U), cephalexin (30 μg), clindamycin (2 μg) and neomycin (120μg), while five isolates were resistant to novobiocin (5μg) and two to bacitracin (40U). Based on PCR analysis, we assessed genetic similarity of investigated Bacillus isolates