bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effect of an Educational Intervention on Optimizing Antibiotic Prescribing in Long‐Term Care Facilities
Authors: Monette Johanne , Miller Mark A. , Monette Michèle , Laurier Claudine , Boivin Jean‐François , Sourial Nadia , Le Cruguel Jean‐Pierre , Vandal Alain , Cotton‐Montpetit Marie
Published: June 2007

OBJECTIVE: To assess the effect of an educational intervention aimed at optimizing antibiotic prescribing in long‐term care (LTC) facilities.

DESIGN: Cluster randomized, controlled trial.

SETTING: Eight public LTC facilities in the Montreal area.

PARTICIPANTS: Thirty‐six physicians.

INTERVENTION: The educational intervention consisted of mailing an antibiotic guide to physicians along with their antibiotic prescribing profile covering the previous 3 months. Targeted infections were urinary tract, lower respiratory tract, skin and soft tissues, and septicemia of unknown origin. In the prescribing profile, each antibiotic was classified as adherent or nonadherent to the guide. Physicians in the experimental group received the intervention twice, 4 months apart, whereas physicians in the control group provided usual care.

MEASUREMENTS: Data on antibiotic prescriptions were collected over four 3‐month periods: preintervention, postintervention I, postintervention II, and follow‐up. A generalized estimating equation (GEE) model was used to compare the proportion of nonadherent antibiotic prescriptions of the experimental and control groups.

RESULTS: By the end of the study, nonadherent antibiotic prescriptions decreased by 20.5% in the experimental group, compared with 5.1% in the control group. Based on the GEE model, during postintervention II, physicians in the experimental group were 64% less likely to prescribe nonadherent antibiotics than those in the control group (odds ratio=0.36, 95% confidence interval=0.18–0.73).

CONCLUSION: An educational intervention combining an antibiotic guide and a prescribing profile was effective in decreasing nonadherent antibiotic prescriptions. Repetition of the intervention at regular intervals may be necessary to maintain its effectiveness.
ESTIMATING THE COST OF CAPITAL, A DIFFERENT APPROACH
Authors: BIERMAN HAROLD , ALDERFER CLAYTON P.
Published: June 2007

If a firm is owned by one person, that person can directly indicate to management the cost of his capital. The determination of the stockholder's cost of capital of a publicly owned firm is more complex. Econometric studies using past earnings, dividends, and capital structure have been performed by Miller and Modigliani, Gordon and others to estimate the cost of equity capital. But the cost of capital is a function of investor expectations and only indirectly related to past operating results.

The objective of the study was to estimate the cost of capital using information obtained directly from investors. Personal interviewing of the investors of specific firms would be more meaningful to the management of that firm, but this technique was not feasible; thus a mail questionnaire sent to a select group of investors was used. Conclusions are reached relative to the magnitude of the cost of equity capital of four selected firms as of May‐June of 1968, and several surprising and contrasting insights concerning dividend policy, that could have financial policy implications, are obtained. The desirability of the financial manager obtaining more information from investors is stressed.
PATH‐GOAL MODELS AS A BASIS FOR THE DESIGN OF ORGANIZATION REWARD SYSTEMS
Authors: GALBRAITH JAY R.
Published: June 2007

All organizations are faced with choices of reward system design. In order to make intelligent choices of compensation systems, promotions, supervisory styles and job content a model of human behavior is needed. The model must be at a level of abstraction which will generalize to the entire work force. This paper presents such a model, indicates its relation to reward system choices, and indicates a research strategy to test the hypotheses.
A NOTE ON A SIMULATED STOCK MARKET
Authors: SHUBIK MARTIN
Published: June 2007

This article describes the design of a stock market exercise to be run with a business game (or a simulated business game). It reports on an exercise in which around 100 traders participated in a market, trading four stocks. The results obtained are reported: however, the work was primarily a feasibility study to see if very large group behavior could be studied in a controlled experiment. The experience gleaned from the experiment indicates that this is a fruitful approach.
COMPACT: THE USE OF COMPUTER SCIENCE TO IMPROVE ACCOUNTING PEDAGOGY
Authors: NEVEU RAYMOND P. , HALE JACK A.
Published: June 2007

Desirable improvements in college‐level accounting pedagogy are now possible through the use of computer science technology that provides efficient student input using optical scanners or mark‐sense cards and permits information retrieval using direct access storage devices. Optimum application of this technology requires that students receive error analyses capable of increasing their level of retained knowledge and that instructors receive output which identifies student strengths as well as emerging weaknesses. Instructor output should also provide data for statistical evaluation of class sections.

We have developed the COMPACT system in attempting to meet these needs. Our article deleneates the minimum computer configuration as well as the one currently in use. We discuss the contents of student and instructor feedback. Through examples we show the role of the input error analysis routines and demonstrate the use and current limitations of these routines in their ability to provide algorithmic error analysis. We then illustrate a heuristic set which, under certain circumstances, is required to analyze multi‐entry transactions occuring as subsets of student problem solution input. We conclude by indicating the probable extentions of our system both in terms of subject matter and computer hardware.
COST OF CAPITAL AS A FUNCTION OF FINANCIAL LEVERAGE*
Authors: MELNYK Z. LEW
Published: June 2007

This study has three objectives. First, it develops new evidence on the sensitivity of cost of capital in relation to financial leverage. Second, the findings are interpreted in the light of the existing financial theory. The concept of shifting of cost of capital curves is also introduced and explored both in theory and in relation to empirical testing. Third, the conclusions are placed within the framework of financial management at the business firm level.

To accomplish these objectives a new, heretofore untried, approach to testing the cost of funds to a firm has been developed. In contrast to the almost universally accepted cross‐section analysis, this study develops cost of capital functions for each company separately. Subsequently these functions are aggregated, compared, and also analyzed in a cross‐section fashion. This approach, in the opinion of the present author, is supported by the fact that (1) both the Net Operating Income and Net Income theories of cost of capital are stated in terms of a firm, not industry or other grouping of firms, and (2) from the practical point of view the question of optimality of capital structure is relevant, and indeed operationally meaningful, only at the firm level.
THE APPLICABILITY OF BAYESIAN STATISTICS IN AUDITING
Authors: KNOBLETT JAMES A.
Published: June 2007

The basic purpose of this study was the investigation of the usefulness of Bayesian statistical techniques to problems of estimation in the field of auditing. By using subjective probabilities the auditor can explicitly bring prior knowledge to bear on his problem by incorporating his feelings in the sampling process and thus obtain an efficient method by which refined estimates can be obtained. The results of the study strongly support the premise that the auditor can obtain superior results from the Bayesian model in estimating unknown quantities as opposed to those obtained through either the non‐statistical approach or the classical statistical approach.
THE ESTIMATION OF LINEAR PRODUCTION FUNCTIONS HAVING MULTICOLLINEAR INPUTS
Authors: WALKER DAVID A.
Published: June 2007

In this paper linear production functions with highly correlated independent variables are estimated. Because many production processes require the use of inputs in fixed proportions, multicolinearity is usually a serious problem. This is usually the case when one attempts to estimate a linear or Cobb‐Douglass (in log linear form) production function.

Estimates of the marginal products of a linear production function are obtained by employing the first order conditions of the output maximizing solution given a cost constraint. Parameter estimates are determined for the case where the input costs are constants. The general case, where the input prices are functions of utilization levels, is delineated.
SELF ADAPTIVE FORECASTING RECONSIDERED
Authors: RAINE JESSE E.
Published: June 2007

Recent work in demand forecasting has been done on a variation of exponential smoothing, which has been called a response surface. This response surface is analyzed, and an attempt is made to specify the nature of the sampling distributions involved. Then the response surface is compared to the basic single exponential smoothing forecast using actual demand data to see if it is a significantly better forecast.
SOLUTION OF THE SHORTEST ROUTE PROBLEM USING THE ASSIGNMENT TECHNIQUE
Authors: HESSE RICK
Published: June 2007

A solution to the shortest route problem of going from city i to city j with p necessary intermediate stops (0 p n ‐ 2) is given using the assignment algorithm, with a simple modification of the initial matrix. A branch and bound algorithm is necessary in all but the simplest case (p = 0).
THE RATIONALE FOR INCENTIVE CONTRACTING*
Authors: BRADLEY CHARLES E. , McCUISTON CLAYTON
Published: June 2007

The incentive‐type fee function (which has supplanted the Cost‐Plus‐Fixed‐Fee arrangements of a decade ago) provides an excellent medium for achieving “fee flexibility” or, more exactly, for increasing the fee outcome on government contracts. The originators of incentive contracting stumbled unwittingly on a method for negotiating acceptable fee arrangements under conditions of uncertainty, and the primary purpose of this paper is to establish apodictically that incentive contracts (whether single or multiple) can and do provide the contractor with a method for securing a fee arrangement preferable to that obtainable through a CPFF or a FP (Fixed‐Price) contract. Furthermore, this characteristic of incentive contracts can be demonstrated through the use of elementary decision theory.

The incentive fee structure provides the contractor with a long‐needed procedure for optimizing the expected utility of the fee outcome, and an appreciation of this property should be of value to both contractors and procurement officials with the authority for designing new contract fee arrangements. The paper does not investigate procedures for the optimal negotiation of contracts; rather, it identifies a feature of the incentive contract which appears to be the primary basis for its use and popularity.

Our thesis is applicable to both single and multiple incentive contracts. For reasons of simplicity, however, the analysis has been largely confined to the former type of fee arrangement.
INVESTMENT STRATEGY FOR A SMALL GROWTH COMPANY*
Authors: FOGLER H. RUSSELL
Published: June 2007

The purpose of this article is to illustrate the impact of the simultaneous investment‐financing decisions required by a small growth company when accepting relatively large investment projects. By such illustration, the capital budgeting rationale for using “rules of thumb” will be clarified, and correspondingly, the implicit assumptions for approximating a company's “cost of capital” will be exposed. To provide quantitative estimates of the various impacts of different capital budgeting strategies, a relatively simple simulation model was constructed. Once the implicit assumptions are exposed, the importance of a strategy combining the rules of thumb and cost of capital criteria is evident. It is believed that this combined strategy provides a practical bridge between the “art” and science of finance.
TIME BETWEEN PURCHASES AND CONSUMER BRAND CHOICE
Authors: RAO TANNIRU R.
Published: June 2007

Past research has presented conflicting evidence regarding the effect of time between purchases on consumer brand choice. This study investigates the time effect on brand purchase probabilities after homogenizing the data with respect to store switching, size of purchase, and frequency of the product purchase. Two exponential models have been proposed and their over‐all effectiveness compared with a naive model. The contribution of the study is in building a realistic model of consumer purchase choice by incorporating the elements of the marketing environment.
STOCK MARKET RESEARCH METHODOLOGY: A CASE FOR THE SYSTEMS APPROACH
Authors: CHOTTINER SHERMAN
Published: June 2007

Few stock market “truths” are known despite extensive research by academicians, investment advisors, and investors. This state is hypothesized to be a result of an emphasis on external or “black box” methods of inquiry. The use of internal methods or systems analysis is suggested as the way to bring about new insights into the stock market.

In this article, the stock market is described as a system. Methods to study this system, ranging on a continuum with external and internal poles, are presented. The danger of heavy reliance on external methodologies and the need for a more balanced methodology is illustrated with reference to the “random‐walk hypothesis.” Finally, the advantages of internal methodologies are detailed.
IDENTIFICATION: IT'S PERFORMANCE THAT COUNTS
Authors: PATTON R. A. , SMITH V. KERRY
Published: June 2007

This paper discusses two different forms of identifying restrictions and compares them in a Monte Carlo framework. A similar analysis is performed to illuminate how the identification procedures affect problems of mis‐specification. It is found that, using ordinary least squares as the estimating technique, the two types of identification perform much differently and thus they should not be confused. Similar results hold in the mis‐specification case.
SOME RESEARCH AND TEACHING WITH AN ON‐LINE OLIGOPOLY GAME USING AN ARTIFICIAL PLAYER*
Authors: Wolf Gerrit
Published: June 2007

Teaching and research can be integrated using an artificial player. A series of studies are reported that note the assets and liabilities of using an on‐line oligopoly game with an artificial player. By appropriately combining teaching and gaming research costs may be lowered, the learning experience increased, and the validity of the research increased.
Functional and Behavioral Application
Authors: Lewellen Wilbur G. , Long Michael S.
Published: June 2007

Simulation techniques have been recommended in the recent literature as vehicles for improving the analysis of the corporate capital budgeting decision. Such techniques are alleged to provide more helpful measures of both return and risk than do single‐point discounted cash flow estimates of project worth. This contention is challenged here. The conclusion is reached that the information provided by simulation is, at best, no better than is generated by the traditional single‐point present value approach and, in one very important respect, is markedly inferior.
Tutorial and Survey
Authors: Thompson Howard E. , Krajewski LeRoy J.
Published: June 2007

In a recent article Baruch Lev [1] analyzed 29 peak‐demand forecasts (consisting of 1917 monthly forecasts) made by Commonwealth Edison Company between 1955 and 1966. The conclusions made by Lev from analysis of theseactualforecasts bear a close resemblance to the kinds of conclusions that we derived from an application of time series analysis to historical data to produce forecasts.

It is the purpose of this paper to show how the conclusions which Lev made about forecast errors would also be true of the errors resulting from forecasts derived solely from analysis of historical data. Although in no way definitive, such a demonstration of consistency between actual forecasts made by businessmen and statistical forecasts made only from historical data yields further evidence of the practical applicability of time series analysis to forecasting problems in real life.

In particular Lev concluded that the major factor affecting the distribution of forecast errors was the month of the forecast and that the “…interval between prediction and realization has only a slight effect on the prediciton errors.” Mr. Lev's analysis of these observations showed that the expected value of forecast errors was about one quarter of one percent and independent of the time interval of the forecast. In addition he pointed out that the variance of the log forecast errors increased slightly with the prediciton interval but was affected more directly by the month which was forecasted.
CYCLICAL BEHAVIOR OF UNEMPLOYMENT AND THE HELP WANTED INDEX: A CROSS SPECTRAL ANALYSIS
Authors: Jonish James E. , Worthley Reginald G.
Published: June 2007

The unemployment rate and the help‐wanted index are two frequently used indicators of the state of the labor market. Traditional regression techniques used in the analysis of the relationship between these two indicators and their cyclical behavior with business fluctuations have yielded varying results. Spectral analysis is used in this article to examine the cyclical behavior of the labor market indicators with respect to each other and with respect to a measure of aggregate economic activity in the United States. Very strong relationships are found, lending support to the rationale of using such indicators as labor market proxies. This application of spectral analysis also provides an illustration of the potential fruitfulness of spectral analysis in examining the cyclical relationships between economic time series.
MULTIPLE OBJECTIVES IN LINEAR PROGRAMMING –AN EXAMPLE IN SCHEDULING POSTAL RESOURCES
Authors: Ritzman Larry P. , Krajewski Leroy J.
Published: June 2007

This paper describes a methodology to treat multiple objectives in a mathematical programming problem. A linear programming model is developed for the short‐term manpower scheduling problem in a post office so as to get a desirable balance between mail transit times and resource expenditures. The scheduling problem is of particular interest because of 1) the multiplicity of objectives, 2) the existence of several mail classes, each having different arrival patterns, routings, and dispatch times, and 3) the complexity of the different scheduling options available. The paper demonstrates how the model can be used experimentally to obtain model parameters which, in the judgment of management, achieve a desirable balance between objectives. Once the parameters are determined, the model prescribes how to vary the overtime usage, reassign workers to the various work stations, and adjust the priorities of the mail classes. The model has indirect use in studying the effects of changing work capacities, dispatch schedules, and mail arrival patterns.
IS BRAND LOYALTY A CRITERION FOR MARKET SEGMENTATION: DISCRIMINANT ANALYSIS
Authors: Rao Tanniru R.
Published: June 2007

Is it possible to use brand loyalty for market segmentation? The answer rests solely on whether the researcher can identify the group of loyal buyers among the product users. This study investigates the usefulness of external information obtained from a set of independent variables in order to discriminate between loyal and disloyal groups. The independent variables of the study measure a consumer's shopping patterns, general characteristics of the product usage, and the element of price in purchase decision.
A STATISTICAL ANALYSIS OF THE UTILIZATION EFFECTIVENESS OF A PERT PROGRAM
Authors: Green Thad B.
Published: June 2007

This article is based on the belief that students should learn the computational aspects of decision science techniques outside the classroom, thus freeing the instructor from this task and enabling him to devote more class time to focusing on the theoretical and/or application‐oriented elements which will take students further in their learning experience. An experiment was designed to determine the learning value of one way of achieving this, namely the use of a Learning Center where students learned individually using a programmed instruction learning machine. The research involved both graduates and undergraduates learning the fundamentals of PERT—some with the learning machine approach while others were involved in more conventional pedagogies. Surprising success was discovered relative to both the approach and the quality of the PERT program used, with far‐reaching implications regarding futuristic approaches to decision science education.
A USEFUL APPROACH TO THE GROUP CHOICE PROBLEM
Authors: Paine Neil R.
Published: June 2007

The problem of amalgamating individual preferences to form a group or social choice has been the subject of much discussion and controversy. This paper describes an approach to the problem which, it is argued, should be followed in certain situations. The argument in favor of the approach involves applying a theorem of Goodman and Markowitz [6] in a context somewhat different from theirs.
ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE OF DUAL‐CONSTRAINT JOB SHOPS
Authors: Fryer John S.
Published: June 2007

This paper describes the results of a simulation study to examine the effects of different organizational structures on the performance of a dual‐constraint job shop production system. A hypothetical shop in which machines and workers are constraining resources is the setting of the study. The shop consists of divisions comprised of work centers which, in turn, contain machines to which workers are assigned. There are fewer workers than machines. Variations in organizational structure are achieved by different allocations of a fixed number of work centers to the divisions. Each structure is studied for three levels of labor flexibility. Mean flow‐time, flow‐time variance, and worker transfers between divisions and work centers are used as performance measures.
AN EMPIRICAL STUDY OF A FRAMEWORK FOR INFORMATION SYSTEMS*
Authors: Lucas Henry C.
Published: June 2007

A decision‐making orientation to systems design has been suggested to overcome some of the current deficiencies of computer‐based information systems. This paper derives several hypotheses from a decision‐making framework proposed by Robert Anthony. These hypotheses are tested with empirical data from a sample of twenty major computer‐based information systems drawn from seven Bay Area manufacturing firms. The results indicate that present computer‐based information systems follow the descriptive aspects of the Anthony framework, but have had little effect on top management. There is little evidence of common guidelines for systems design which are accepted by the different companies. The data also indicate that users have a strong negative reaction to large numbers of computer‐produced reports. The implications of the results for systems design are discussed.
MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEMS CURRICULA: STATE‐OF‐THE‐ART*
Authors: Igersheim Roy H. , Swanson Lloyd A.
Published: June 2007

Business and business/management schools were surveyed to determine the characteristics of management information systems (MIS) curricula. All academic degree levels–Bachelors, Masters, and Doctorate–were investigated. An encouraging 82% response from 260 academic institutions queried lends credibility to findings reported. These survey results should provide insights for the development of new and/or revised MIS curricula. They also indicate opportunities for expanding enrollments.

The MIS field, still in its infancy, has not yet stabilized. This is causing difficulties in planning curricula for this newly‐evolving discipline. The MIS area within both the academic and business communities is undergoing constant and rapid change due to environmental and technological advancements. In order to insure curriculum relevance and properly trained personnel in this field, these areas must respond to these changes. Suggestions as to where and how this discipline should proceed must be based upon the currently existing situation.
A COMPUTER‐BASED METHOD FOR PREDICTING TRANSIT TIME PARAMETERS USING GRID SYSTEMS
Authors: Camp Robert C. , DeHayes Daniel W.
Published: June 2007

This article reviews a computer‐based method to predict transit time parameters (mean and variance) from historical data for use in logistics planning analysis. Efficient use of the data depends on relating it to a grid system of the United States. Performance of the technique on a sample of shipments by four methods of transportation is compared to a system based solely on highway distance. The techniques perform equally well for average transit time (speed). The grid system method demonstrates superior predicting power for reliability (transit time variance). Use of the system in daily operations is also anticipated.
FILE MANAGEMENT IN MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEMS*
Authors: II Thomas A. Wilson , Gray Paul
Published: June 2007

The file management requirements of a particular management information system, that used for intelligence operations, are examined and a data storage and retrieval system developed that can be either manual or computer based. Scoring models are used to quantify the value of information. Values are adjusted dynamically so that decisions can be made on which items to add and which existing items to delete. Results of experiments with a police intelligence system are presented.
CRITERIA FOR ASSESSING MODEL VALIDITY FOR MANAGERIAL PURPOSES*
Authors: Schellenberger Robert E.
Published: June 2007

Very little work has been done in developing a systematic and exhaustive set of criteria which can be used for assessing model validity from a managerial standpoint. Most of the other published work in this area focuses on an individual criterion, such as sensitivity analysis. This manuscript offers a set of criteria making that assessment. The following three basic kinds of validity are proposed: (1) technical validity; (2) operational validity; and (3) dynamic validity. Each has a number of subcriteria which are identified and discussed. Some of these criteria are quantifiable, and some are not. Each of the criterion identified is discussed in relatively broad terms, with brief examples.

One of the purposes of this paper is to draw attention to an area worthy of further investigation. Perhaps further scrutiny will generate a truly systematic and exhaustive set of criteria. It is also hoped that further attention will lead to clarification of the criteria identified.
RAPID CONVERGENCE TECHNIQUES FOR MARKOV DECISION PROCESSES*
Authors: Zaldivar Miguel , Hodgson Thom J.
Published: June 2007

When a person is working with large scale Markov Decision Processes, he normally uses the policy iteration approach developed by Howard [1] and modified by White [3]. White's modification makes use of the method of successive approximations. Computational experience has shown that for many processes, the rate of convergence of the successive approximation is very slow. In this paper, techniques for speeding convergence are discussed. Numerical examples and computational experience which show the relative merits of the various approaches are presented.
BAYESIAN MODELS FOR NEW PRODUCT PRICING
Authors: Thomas Joseph , Chhabria Prem
Published: June 2007

This paper develops an information decision system for new product pricing based on Bayesian updating of prior estimates of demand distribution parameter values and on optimization by dynamic programming. The model considers the interaction of production and pricing decisions and emphasizes the simultaneous making of both decisions. After presentation of the basic model, approximate techniques are introduced which obtain most of the benefit of the approach while requiring only a fraction of the computer cost and input data. Numerical examples using growing demand and price sensitivity are given to demonstrate the high computer cost of the first model and the relative performance (on a profit basis) of the approximate techniques.
SIMULATION OF THE ECONOMIC FACTORS AFFECTING ORGANIZATIONAL SLACK: A FACTORIAL DESIGN
Authors: Onsi Mohamed
Published: June 2007

This paper investigates, through simulation models, the factors that affect organizational slack in a monopoly company under varying conditions of budget information, managerial behavior, and economic growth. The impact of organizational slack on corporate economic variables was identified in the models. The analysis of individual factors and the interactions among factors was based on the output of the factorial design. The implications of the findings for decision‐making are discussed.
A NOTE ON A MULTIVARIATE GENERALIZATION OF THE KRUSKAL‐WALLIS TEST
Authors: Horrell James F. , Lessig V. Parker
Published: June 2007

Marketers are often interested in testing whether the mean vectors of multivariate distributions are equal. The test usually applied, one‐way MANOVA, assumes the distributions are multinormal. Unfortunately, this assumption is not supported in many studies. As an alternative, a nonparametric multivariate one‐way analysis of variance procedure is presented.
A HEURISTIC ALGORITHM FOR THE FLOWSHOP PROBLEM WITH A COMMON JOB SEQUENCE ON ALL MACHINES*
Authors: Aggarwal Sumer C. , Stafford Edward
Published: June 2007

This paper presents a scheduling algorithm to solve flowshop problems with a common job sequence on all machines. This algorithm uses makespan as its criterion. Initially, it chooses a preferred sequence by scanning the processing times matrix and making a few calculations. The makespan time of the preferred job‐sequence is further reduced by using an improvement routine that allows interchanges between adjacent jobs. Solutions of 1200 problems are compared with the best solutions previously reported for corresponding size problems in the Campbell‐Dudek‐Smith (C‐D‐S) paper [1]. This algorithm offers up to 1% average improvement in reducing the makespan of nearly 50% of the problem sets over the results of the existing algorithms, and its computational time requirements are about one‐fifth of that of the C‐D‐S algorithm.
CONCEPTUAL LEVELS AND THE DESIGN OF ACCOUNTING INFORMATION SYSTEMS*
Authors: Miller Danny , Gordon Lawrence A.
Published: June 2007

This article attempts to expand and clarify the discussions in the literature on complexity theory applied to accounting via two central assertions:

(a) affecting the cognitive conceptual level of an individual through the financial reporting system can be accomplished not only by varying the immediate information load, but also, in the long run, by modifying the types of information and the mode of user‐system interface. In other words, a properly designed accounting information system can have developmental cognitive effects in both the short and long run.

(b) attempting to maximize the conceptual level of the decision maker is not always desirable. In certain types of environments, a high conceptual level actually impedes appropriate decision making. Therefore, the appropriate conceptual level must be related to the type of decision being made as well as to the type of decision maker.
A COMPARISON OF ALTERNATIVE PRODUCTION MANAGEMENT COEFFICIENT DECISION RULES
Authors: Hamner W. Clay , Carter Phillip L.
Published: June 2007

Production managers are called on to combine cues to arrive at work force and production level decisions. Bowman has developed a theory which claims that a manager makes good decisions on the average, but that he may exhibit a high degree of variance in his behavior. Mathematical representation of such managers can be constructed to capture critical aspects of their judgmental strategies. This paper examines four different linear regression models in an attempt to specify which model is best for prescription of decision making behavior in an organization. The models include (1) the Typical Manager Model, (2) the Best Manager Model, (3) the Composite Manager Model, and (4) the Best Composite Manager Model.

The study described in this paper concerns an experiment conducted by Moskowitz and Miller in 1972. Eighty‐seven graduate students in industrial management were randomly assigned to one of six information groups. Each student made a series of production and work force decisions to minimize total production, work force, and inventory‐related costs. Moskowitz and Miller concluded that Bowman's Typical Manager Model was a better model than the managers' actual initial plans. While there are no disagreements with this finding, a reanalysis of this data was needed to see if perhaps another mathematical rule might prove even better than the Typical Manager Model recommended by Bowman. This reanalysis of the Moskowitz and Miller results enables us to point up the strengths and weaknesses of using regression models in managerial decision making tasks. Suggestions for future research are discussed in detail.
HOW MANAGEMENT USERS VIEW INFORMATION SYSTEMS
Authors: Adams Carl R.
Published: June 2007

The literature of management information systems suggests that substantial discord exists between management users and systems personnel. This paper describes the current attitudes of managers toward information systems and computers as reflected in seventy‐five carefully structured interviews with managers from ten major companies. The author concludes that management user attitudes are quite favorable and do not reflect the predicted discord. In fact, the author believes that one of the major systems implementation problems of the future may be apathy rather than antipathy. The data collection was structured to indicate differences in attitudes on the part of users based on organizational level, functional area of work, type of activity, and type of environment.
CUMULATIVE ADVERTISING EFFECTS: THE ROLE OF SERIAL CORRELATION*
Authors: Houston Franklin S. , Weiss Doyle L.
Published: June 2007

Since its publication, Palda's [12] initial work which supported the existence of a lagged relationship between advertising expenditures and sales has been frequently discussed and criticized. That criticism has been directed at both methodological and structural issues. This paper is an attempt to answer some of the questions which have been raised regarding the structural issues concerning the role of autocorrelation in Palda's results and to develop the implications of these structural issues for the marketing manager.
OPTIMIZING ORGANIZATIONAL GOALS IN ASSIGNING FACULTY TEACHING SCHEDULES
Authors: Harwood Gordon B. , Lawless Robert W.
Published: June 2007

The administration of higher education, as with other administrative environments, has become increasingly complex. This paper presents a mathematical model which addresses one of the administrative tasks concerning administrators in all institutions, the establishment of faculty teaching schedules. The assignment technique utilized by the model is linear programming with two special characteristics: goal programming and mixed‐integer programming. The goal programming characteristic refers to the provision of explicit stack variables to take on values representing deviations from assignment criteria that may result in resolving conflicts which arise from interactive administrative priorities. The mixed‐integer programming characteristic refers to a requirement of the model that certain variables take on only integer values if they appear in the final solution. The model is demonstrated using two different sets of preference orderings for goal achievement.
A SHARPENED GOODMAN‐KRUSKAL STATISTIC AND ITS SYMMETRY PROPERTY*
Authors: Book Stephen A.
Published: June 2007

The goal of the present article is to formulate a precise and easily understood measure of dependence in contingency tables in which each of the two classifications is ordered and in which the order relationship is of primary interest. The measure presented here is a simplification of that suggested by Goodman and Kruskal in their pioneering 1954 paper, “Measures of Association for Cross Classifications” [3].
PROCEDURES TO INCREASE THE VALIDITY OF SUBJECTIVE PROBABILITY ESTIMATES
Authors: Berhold Marvin
Published: June 2007

A decision making model is often very sensitive to the subjective probability estimates that are used. To reduce this sensitivity, it is necessary to utilize elicitation procedures that yield more valid estimates and increase the decision maker's confidence in the estimates. This paper discusses an experiment in which the subjects were asked to estimate the areas of various squares. Two procedures were evaluated. In one procedure, the subjects were told that estimates were distributed typically around the true value in accordance with the normal probability distribution. In the other, the subjects were asked to estimate the length as a component that could be used to calculate the area. The results indicate that the normal error model is a reasonable representation of the estimation procedure. Both procedures provided estimates with significant validity. There is also an indication that the procedures reduce bias and that both procedures result in more consistent estimates when the sizes of the squares are varied.
A RETROSPECTIVE STUDY ON THE INFLUENCE OF A STATE PARK‐LAKE ON LAND VALUE, FROM THE TIME OF LAND ACQUISITION TO RESERVOIR FILLING
Authors: Laessig Robert E. , Glaser Edward R. , Ricci Paolo F.
Published: June 2007

A new multiple purpose park‐lake facility is being developed in the sub urbanrural fringe of the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania metropolitan region. This study assesses the impact of the new park‐lake upon surrounding land values in order to provide information for improved planning and decision making in such a context.

The investigation covers the period from the time of land acquisition to that of near‐completion of dam construction. The results of the study provide a “baseline” from which it will later be possible to assess changes in land values as the park‐lake becomes fully operational as a major public recreational facility.

Two geographic zones of impact on surrounding land value are identified by the analysis, and variations in the impact of the park‐lake over time are identified. The importance of these new findings to public organizations involved in recreational decision making is discussed and areas for future research are suggested.
THE ADOPTION OF OPERATIONS RESEARCH TECHNIQUES BY MANUFACTURING ORGANIZATIONS
Authors: Gaither Norman
Published: June 2007

This research examines the adoption of operations research techniques by manufacturing organizations. The study includes the frequency of use, techniques used, organizational units and the number of personnel, types of problems analyzed, overall results achieved, and problems encountered among various sizes of firms and industry classes.
SPECTRAL ANALYSIS IN BUSINESS FORECASTING*
Authors: Chan Hung , Hayya Jack
Published: June 2007

Although spectral analysis has previously been discussed in a number of business journals, the discussion has not been detailed enough for non‐mathematicians. The objective of this paper is to review in detail the concepts and to go over the computations of spectral analysis as they pertain to forecasting.

To gain insight into the model building technique of spectral analysis, a passing comparison with a familiar model–regression–is made. Regression analysis attempts to find a set of independent variables that shed some light on the dependent variable to be forecasted. In other words, if the independent variables have some functional relationship with the dependent variable, a reliable forecast of the dependent variable can then be made.

Forecasting using spectral analysis, on the other hand, is based on the assumption that the variation of a time series can be explained by some mixture of sine and cosine waves. Model parameters can then be estimated for these waves and forecasts be made. These parameters have the same property of least squares as in ordinary regression analysis. A transformation of these parameters gives the spectra of the time series. The spectra are related to the explained variation present in regression analysis. An extension of the spectra gives a set of coefficients of an autoregressive forecasting model. This latter model is referred to as the Wiener‐Kolmogorov forecasting model.
A TENANT VACANCY MODEL
Authors: Solberg James J.
Published: June 2007

A stochastic model of the vacancy/occupancy pattern of a collection of rental units (a building) is used to obtain expressions relating vacancy rates to measurable market parameters. The model is well known in queueing theory, but yields new insigts when interpreted in the above context. By investigating the effects of the number of units, the mixture of units, and the “start‐up” time, one can obtain a number of useful principles with implications for public and private planning.
PORTFOLIO MODELS WITH STOCHASTIC CASH DEMAND, BORROWING AND FIXED TRANSFER COSTS
Authors: Thakkar Rashmi B.
Published: June 2007

Portfolio models of the Markowitz‐Tobin type implicitly assume that the investor does not have to liquidate any part of his portfolio to meet some exogenous cash demand. Since liquidity needs can be an important factor in portfolio management, Chen, Jen, and Zionts [3] in a recent paper developed a model assuming stochastic demand for cash and the possibility of meeting the cash demand by liquidating one or more assets. However, borrowing is an important alternative to liquidating assets. This paper considers that possibility. Unlike Chen, Jen, and Zionts, this paper also considers the more difficult question of liquidation costs being partly fixed and partly variable. In order to make the consideration of borrowing and fixed transfer costs mathematically tractable, the problem is first cast in a framework different from that of [3].
STATISTICAL VERSUS SALES FORCE–EXECUTIVE OPINION SHORT RANGE FORECASTS: A TIME SERIES ANALYSIS CASE STUDY
Authors: Mabert Vincent A.
Published: June 2007

This paper presents a comparison of statistical techniques versus a sales force‐executive opinion approach to forecasting single item demand over a five year period for a single company. Three statistical techniques are used: Winter's three parameter exponential smoothing model, Brown's harmonic model, and Box‐Jenkins methodology. These techniques are compared against the company's forecasts and actual sales for a five year period. The results indicate an interesting area for further research.
A COURSE MODEL FOR TEACHING CONCEPTS RELATED TO THE SUCCESSFUL IMPLEMENTATION OF QUANTITATIVE ANALYSES
Authors: Byrd Jack , Esposito Patrick
Published: June 2007

This paper examines a course model for teaching the concepts of successful implementation of quantitative analyses to both administrative and technical students. The objectives of the course were to examine the principles of effective model building and to examine the problems in communication between administrative and technical individuals. The course model utilizes case study discussions in conjunction with a series of applications projects. The cases illustrated a wide variety of implementation concepts, including concepts related to problem definition, analysis planning, information needs, systems modeling, and general model building philosophies. The applications projects gave the students varied experiences in realistic problem solving. A subjective evaluation of the student's progress in the course did show an increased perceptiveness of what constitutes good model building. The quantitative students in the course seemed to improve in their ability to develop practical solutions to problem solving, while the administrative students improved their ability to communicate with technical individuals and to perform evaluations of technical proposals for quantitative analyses.
MIXING OF MARKOV PROCESSES*
Authors: Silver Edward A. , Moore John B.
Published: June 2007

This paper considers a Markov process in which there are rewards associated with state transitions. Two or more actions are available to the decision maker, and the transition probabilitities and the rewards are influenced by the actions selected. A key assumption is that control cannot be a function of the current state of the process. In other words, the decision maker is assumed to have no knowledge of the current state of the process (or to ignore such knowledge if it exists). Within this context the problem of determining the best randomized policy, the best in the sense of maximizing the expected reward per transition in the steady state, is discussed. Analytic results are developed for the simplest case of a two state process with two possible actions.
ORGANIZATIONAL ENVIRONMENT, DIFFERENTIATION AND PERCEIVED ENVIRONMENTAL UNCERTAINTY1
Authors: Schmidt Stuart M. , Cummings Larry L.
Published: June 2007

Four propositions are derived from an a priori model which relates environmental characteristics, organizational differentiation, and perceived environmental uncertainty. The four propositions are: (P1) the greater the magnitude of each of several task environmental dimensions confronting an organization, the greater the degree of organizational differentiation, (P2) the greater the degree of task environment change, the greater the degree of organizational differentiation, (P3) the greater the size of the organization, the greater the organizational differentiation, and (P4) the greater the organizational differentiation, the less the degree of perceived environmental uncertainty seen by top administrators. These propositions were tested on 23 Employment Service District Offices with objective environmental and organizational differentiation measures and with self report indices of perceived environmental uncertainty. Zero‐order correlational and regression analyses supported propositions P1, P3, and P4. Based on the empirical findings, a revised model of environment, differentiation and uncertainty was developed. Suggestions for future research and theorizing are offered.
A PLURALITY MAXIMIZING APPROACH TO THE ALLOCATION OF CAMPAIGN RESOURCES
Authors: Sweeney Dennis J. , Abad Prakash
Published: June 2007

An important problem in the planning of political campaigns is the allocation of resources to precincts and other geographical voting units in order to maximize a candidate's plurality. Essentially, parties may increase candidate plurality by engaging in registration drives, midcampaign activities such as canvassing and candidate appearances, and get‐out‐the‐vote drives. Based on previous work which has related voter response to party identification, the authors develop a model for the optimal allocation of campaign resources to these activities. The computational feasibility of the solution procedure is made possible by a decomposition across activities.
ON EXTENSIONS OF PROBABILISTIC PROFIT BUDGETS: A COMMENT
Authors: Hammood Abdul W.
Published: June 2007

Recognizing the potential importance of new uses of analysis, the author provides an alternative approach for constructing the confidence interval (C.I.) for the population coefficient of variation, V=α/μ. More specifically, the comment demonstrates the use of some of the existing percentage points of the sample coefficient of variation, v=s/x. The results of these approximations are then compared empirically with the results recently published by Hayya, Copeland and Chan [1, pp. 115–118]. The available approximations given by Iglewicz [2] and again by Iglewicz and Myers [3] of the practical range of V and of the sample size n are more accurate than those obtained using the method in [1].