Gender differences within 360‐degree managerial performance appraisals

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine the impact of gender on the performance assessments of managers arising from the 360‐degree scheme operated within the UK headquarters of a large multi‐international financial services organisation. Design/methodology/approach – A questionnaire approach was used to collect data on 66 managers (33 males and 33 females) against four broad capabilities on the 360‐degree appraisal system. Data were gathered on each of the 66 managers from eight different sources including the individual being appraised, three of their peers, three of their direct reports (subordinates) and their manager (supervisor). Findings – Performance ratings were either gender neutral or higher for female than for male managers. Within the case company there was no evidence of unfavourable discrimination against female managers, if anything the reverse with female managers showing superior performance compared to their male counterparts. Research limitations/implications – As with all cross‐sectional research causality cannot be confirmed and difficulties in accessing 360‐degree appraisal information for a large number of managers led to constraints on research methodology. Practical implications – The implication for human resource management is that the 360‐degree appraisal system did not necessarily fulfil the degree of objectivity claimed by its adherents and that possible adverse influence may be inherent within the 360‐degree rating system of managers particularly

Radiation hardened transistor characteristics for applications at LHC and beyond

The high radiation environment at the LHC will require the use of radiation hardened microelectronics for the readout of inner detectors. Two such technologies are a Harris bulk CMOS process and the DMILL mixed technology process. Transistors have been fabricated in both of these and have been tested before and after irradiation to 10 Mrads, the total dose expected in the innermost silicon microstrip layers. Several processing runs of Harris transistors have been carried out and samples from one have also been irradiated to 100 Mrads. A preamplifier-shaper circuit, to be used for readout of the CMS microstrip tracker, has been tested and the noise performance is compared with individual transistors

The changing world of the temporary worker: the potential HR impact of legislation

Purpose – Temporary workers have many human resource and labour market implications. These consequences are further influenced with the introduction of new legislation relating to temporary workers. The purpose of this article is to present research on the impacts of the legislation – Fixed Term Employees Regulations and Conduct of Employment Agencies and Employment Businesses Regulations – on temporary workers in the labour force. Design/methodology/approach – Information from 24 Labour Force Surveys, conducted between December 1997 and November 2003, were analysed with two longitudinal Labour Force Surveys. Qualitative data was also gathered from six temporary worker employers and 17 agency workers. Findings – Analysis of data demonstrated that the utilisation of temporary workers had declined in the labour force: Temporary workers had decreased in real terms by 24 per cent and agency workers who were less regulated by only 11 per cent. Also, an increased take‐up of permanent work by temporary workers was found post‐legislation (27 per cent) compared with pre‐legislation (22 per cent). Research limitations/implications – Some limitations exist in the study using National Statistics and qualitative data to analyse labour force dynamics. Further research is warranted in this area investigating how strategic decisions in utilising temporary workers are formed and how recent legislation has influenced these policies. Practical implications – Changes in temporary worker legislation have direct consequences to the labour force. Originality/value – The paper reveals the decline of temporary workers in the labour force between 1997 and 2003 and examines specific legislation, which may have influenced this phenomenon

Results of irriadiating the APV5 chip

An APV5 chip has been irradiated in steps up to 16 Mrads using a Co-60 source in order to confirm the radiation hardness expected from individual transistor and sub-circuit measurements. Full functionality is preserved after irradiation and measurements of the amplifier pulse shape and noise are presented