bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The Moral Significance of Employee Loyalty
Authors: Schrag Brian 
Published: July 2007

Abstract:Expectations and possibilities for employee loyalty are shifting rapidly, particularly in the for-profit sector. I explore the nature of employee loyalty to the organization, in particular, those elements of loyalty beyond the notion of the ethical demands of employee loyalty. I consider the moral significance of loyalty for the employee and whether the development of ties of loyalty to the work organization is in fact a good thing for the employee or for the employer. I argue that employees have a natural inclination to extend loyalty to the organization and that organizations consequently have an obligation to make clear to employees the degree to which the organization will recognize and reward employee loyalty.
Employee Voice in Corporate Governance: A Defense of Strong Participation Rights
Authors: McCall John J. 
Published: July 2007

Abstract:This article surveys arguments for the claim that employees have a right to strong forms of decision-making participation. It considers objections to employee participation based on shareholders’ property rights and it claims that those objections are flawed. In particular, it argues the employee participation rights are grounded on the same values as are property rights. The article suggests that the conflict between these two competing rights claims is best resolved by limiting the scope of corporate property rights and by recognizing a strong employee right to co-determine corporate decisions.
On Social Psychology, Business Ethics, and Corporate Governance
Authors: Fort Timothy L. 
Published: July 2007

Abstract:This paper is a response to a recent colloquy among Professors David Messick, Donna Wold, and Edwin Harman. I defend Messick’s naturalist methodology, which suggests that people inherently categorize others and act altruistically toward certain people in a given person’s in-group. This paper suggests that an anthropological reason for this grouping tendency is a limited human neural ability to process large numbers of relationships. But because human beings also have the ability to modify, to some extent, their nature, corporate law can organize small mediating institutions within large corporations in order to take ethical advantage of this grouping tendency. Within a corporate law taking seriously a mediating institution’s formulation of business communities, a virtue ethics approach can be integrated with a naturalist approach in a way that fosters ethical business behavior while mitigating the dangers of ingrouping tendencies.
Transforming Justice: A Conceptualization
Authors: McMahon Thomas F. 
Published: July 2007

Abstract:Rights, justice, and power raise many interesting questions. Why do such basic concepts as rights and justice have such different points of concern—equality, proportionality, medium rei (moderation or the middle of the thing itself without reference to the person using it)? Why are there such different perspectives in philosophy, theology, and law? Why is the notion of power in business ethics so isolated from the general discussion of applied justice in treatises on business contracts, employee relations, and in other related topics? Discussions of power seemed parallel with discussions of justice. The two did not seem to intersect.In this paper I shall argue that rights, power, and justice are interrelated. While natural rights are the basis for justice, rights cannot be realized nor justice become operative without power. I shall call this relationship and the theory underlying it “Transforming Justice.” One of the basic concerns of this article is to notice the lack of interaction between rights and power in the traditional theories of justice. Granted that for many philosophers it is sufficient to determine what is just. But the notion of justice as an active virtue that persons are to exercise in their dealings with others goes further. It touches the realities of life that every person experiences. Life does not separate rights from power. Reflection upon the current separation of rights from power both in theory and in action is analogous to the separation of the “sensory” from the “imaginative” in art and in life. The urge to devise a framework of justice that brings out the wholeness of its existential being is the underlying rationale for developing a theory of transforming justice. Another purpose for developing a theory of transforming justice is to suggest a conceptual framework of business ethics and corporate social responsibility that incorporates values, rights, power, and virtue. Authors and teachers approach these issues either from a value (or rights/justice) perspective or from the view that institutions respond only to those who exercise power (apart from legitimate claims). Thus, it is necessary for a conceptual framework to incorporate the dynamics of power and the qualifying aspects of rights or claims. A natural law approach to justice and rights argues that humans have certain basic rights that others, whether humans or institutions (regardless of source), are required to respect. Natural rights theory places the burden or duty on each individual to respect the rights of every other person. In addition, justice is usually defined by natural law theorists as “giving each person his or her due,” what is required by natural rights, what is owed, earned, or deserved. But its applications fall short of reality. It raises other questions. How does one person get another to give him what is “his due”? How are duties and claims entailed by natural rights enforced in practice? The notion of transforming justice attempts to answer these questions.
Toward an Ethics of Organizations
Authors: Phillips Robert A. , Margolis Joshua D. 
Published: July 2007

Abstract:The organization is importantly different from both the nation-state and the individual and hence needs its own ethical models and theories, distinct from political and moral theory. To develop a case for organizational ethics, this paper advances arguments in three directions. First, it highlights the growing role of organizations and their distinctive attributes. Second, it illuminates the incongruities between organizations and moral and political philosophy. Third, it takes these incongruities, as well as organizations’ distinctive attributes, as a starting point for suggesting an agenda for an ethics of organizations.
Corporate Ethics and the Entrepreneurial Theory of “Social Success”
Authors: Sciarelli Sergio 
Published: July 2007

Abstract:The introduction of ethics in the running of a corporate firm is functional to the reaching of its business purposes.The adoption of values of distributive justice (equity) and respect (trust) concurs and determines the building of trust both inside the corporation itself and externally, making the birth of solid relationships based on collaboration and a lasting sense of loyalty possible in a productive world, which tends to praise efficiency throughout the entire production line. Therefore, the judgment that ethics pays and the conclusion that the growth of an “ethical sense” in the organization makes up one of the most difficult challenges of modern management.
Upping the Stakes: A Response to John Hasnas on the Normative Viability of the Stockholder and Stakeholder Theories
Authors: Palmer Daniel E. 
Published: July 2007

Abstract:This essay responds to Hasnas’s recent article “The Normative Theories of Business Ethics: A Guide for the Perplexed” in Business Ethics Quarterly. Hasnas claims that the stockholder theory is more plausible than commonly supposed and that the stakeholder theory is prone to significant difficulties. I argue that Hasnas’s reasons for favoring the stockholder over the stakeholder theory are not as strong as he suggests. Following Hasnas, I examine both theories in light of two sets of normative considerations: utilitarian and deontological. First, I show that utilitarian considerations clearly favor the stakeholder theory. I then argue that though Hasnas rightly accents the basic deontological constraint at the core of the stockholder theory, he is wrong to think that acknowledging such a constraint necessarily counts against the stakeholder theory. Here, I develop Ross’s notion of prima facie obligations to show how a viable stakeholder theory might be developed within a deontological framework.
Robust pole placement indirect adaptive control
Authors: Giri F. , M'Saad M. , Dugard L. , Dion J. M. 
Published: July 2007

AbstractThe problem of designing a robustly stable pole placement indirect adaptive controller in the presence of output disturbances and unmodelled dynamics is addressed. The key features of such a design are the following. (1) The unknown parameters are estimated by a normalized least‐squares algorithm with a dead zone to provide the stability robustness with respect to bounded disturbances and ‘small’ unmodelled dynamics. (2) The estimated model controllability is ensured by modifying the control law over a finite time. The modification involved consists of adding an internal impulse excitation and ‘freezing’ the controller parameters.
A robust solution to the admissibility problem in indirect adaptive control without persistency of excitation
Authors: de Larminat Philippe , Raynaud Henri‐Francois 
Published: July 2007

AbstractThis paper deals with adaptive control based on explicit identification. The problem of admissibility of the identified model is solved without requiring persistently exciting inputs. This solution is robust with respect to process variations, unstructured disturbances and model order errors. Finally, this approach is not restricted to a particular class of control laws.
Direct adaptive control of a pulsed liquid‐liquid extraction column
Authors: Najlm K. , Youlal H. , Praly L. , Najlm M. 
Published: July 2007

AbstractThis paper describes an application of a direct adaptive control scheme to a pulsed liquid‐liquid extraction column. Liquid—liquid extraction has been increasingly used in several industries as a separation technique. It performs a high degree of purification and is not heavy on energy. In spite of the flow and physical properties of solvent (the extractor) and solute (the liquid mixture) fluctuations, the control objective is to maintain the column at the flooding point. The pulser frequency and the conductivity measured under the distributor at the bottom of the column have been selected as control variables. A simplified linear discrete model of the complex dynamics of the process was assumed. The control algorithm is derived using the pole placement method as the underlying design procedure and is based on estimation of both model and controller parameters. This estimation procedure is bilinear in these parameters and is obtained from input and output prediction error models. A least‐square criterion minimization is adopted to solve this identification problem. In this approach no assumptions are made on the stabilizability of the identified model nor on the persistence of excitation. The column was interfaced by a PDP‐11 microcomputer. Attention was paid to practical problem implementation of the algorithm for permanent plant operation. Experimental results demonstrate that this algorithm accomplishes satisfactory and robust control of this highly sensitive plant.
Adaptive estimation in the presence of order and parameter changes
Authors: Xia L. , Krishnamurthy V. , Moore J. B. 
Published: July 2007

AbstractThis paper gives an approach to adaptive estimation/control when there are jump parameter changes which include order changes. Order changes can be viewed as the introduction of overparametrization, which in conventional algorithms causes ill‐conditioning. Here, modified algorithms which involve the introduction of noise into the calculations are proposed and studied by theory and simulations.
Adaptive decoupling control of mimo systems
Authors: And Li Mo , Bayoumi M. M. 
Published: July 2007

AbstractThis paper describes a new adaptive controller for MIMO systems. The resulting closed‐loop system will be stable and decoupled. The system to be controlled can be linear, non‐minimum phase and/or unstable. The interactor matrix need not be known beforehand. Instead of employing the certainty equivalence principle to design the adaptive controller, a special controller design procedure is used. By using this special scheme, the computation time required for controller design will be drastically reduced. Moreover, the boundedness of the controller parameters is automatically ensured. This is a desired property which is useful in stability analysis. The steady state performance of the controller designed by the proposed method will be the same as that of controllers designed using the certainty equivalence principle. Approximate decoupling can be achieved by underestimating the degree of the decoupling matrix without affecting the stability of the system. To achieve decoupling, we need to specify the denominator of the closed‐loop transfer function matrix of the system which is assumed to be in the form T(q−1) = t(q−1)I where the polynomial t(q−1) is assumed to be monic and stable. Global stability of the adaptive system is obtained for deterministic systems. A simulation example is presented to demonstrate this control scheme.
Application of linear adaptive control to some advanced benchmark examples
Authors: Johnson C. D. 
Published: July 2007

AbstractLinear adaptive control1–8 is a new approach to adaptive controller design that uses a novel exogenous linear dynamical model of parameter perturbation ‘effects’ and an ordinary linear observer to generate the required adaptive control signal u(t). By this means, the need for a non‐linear parameter estimator, as traditionally used in adaptive control, is eliminated and the resulting adaptive controller is completely linear and time‐invariant (all controller ‘gains’ are constant).The performance capabilities of linear adaptive controllers have been demonstrated in References 4 and 6–8 using relatively simple examples. In this paper the linear adaptive control technique is applied to several examples having complex forms of plant uncertainty. Computer simulation studies are presented to demonstrate the quality of adaptive performance achieved.
A method for the state estimation of elastic joint robots by global position measurements
Authors: Nicosia Salvatore , Tomei Patrizio 
Published: July 2007

AbstractThe design of observers for elastic joint robots is investigated. Using some structural properties of the robot dynamics, a model‐based observer is proposed which requires only the knowledge of the link positions. The asymptotic stability of the related error dynamics along with an estimate of the region of attraction are also given. The observer performances are analysed by means of simulation tests.
Consistent parameter estimation for deterministic mimo systems with overparametrized models
Authors: Mo L. , Bayoumi M. M. 
Published: July 2007

AbstractIn this paper the parameter estimation problem for deterministic MIMO systems with overparametrized models will be addressed. In SISO systems overparametrized signal models might arise if the order of the plant model is set too high. For MIMO systems this problem will arise whenever its observability indices are different or, as in SISO systems, the order of the system is set too high. With a proper definition of persistent excitation it is shown that the estimated parameters will converge to a set of parameters. Each point of this set will result in the same transfer function as that of the system under consideration. A very efficient correction algorithm will be used to remove the greatest left common divisor of the estimated system parameters. Hence adaptive control algorithms, which may not be suitable if the estimated system parameters are not left coprime, can then be implemented.
Robust failure detection for linear distributed parameter systems
Authors: Lou Sheldon X. C. , Jiang Jiong 
Published: July 2007

AbstractThis paper discusses the robust failure detection methods in general separable Hilbert space using an operator approximation approach. It is simple and provides an intuitive geometric interpretation. The computational procedure required is the Schmit expansion of an operator. An example arising from the sensor failure detection design for space structures is given to illustrate the methodology suggested.This paper was recommended for publication by editor A. Benveniste
PID, Predictive and fuzzy temperature control for nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy experiments
Authors: Grossi P. , Scattolini R. 
Published: July 2007

AbstractTemperature control inside the probe of an NMR spectrometer is dealt with. First a simple model of the system is derived by means of step response experiments. Then four control algorithms are implemented and compared. Specifically, a PID regulator is first synthesized and applied to the real plant. Then, in order to cope with the non‐linearity of the plant, two adaptive predictive control algorithms are implemented, namely the generalized predictive control and the constrained receding horizon predictive control algorithms. They both show superior performance with respect to PID for control of a simulated plant model and of the real plant. Finally a feasibility study is carried out for a fuzzy controller; its unsatisfactory behaviour in simulation prevents one from applying it to the plant.
Robustness of VS‐MRAC with respect to unmodelled dynamics and external disturbances
Authors: Costa Ramon R. , Hsu Liu 
Published: July 2007

AbstractA variable structure model reference adaptive controller (VS‐MRAC) using only input and output measurements was recently proposed and shown to be globally asymptotically stable with superior transient behaviour and disturbance rejection properties. In this paper a singular perturbation approach is used in order to establish the robustness of the controller in the presence of unmodelled dynamics (parasitics) and disturbances. We develop a new Lyapunov‐based technique to analyse the overall system and show that for sufficiently small parasitics the system remains stable and the output error is small in some sense.
An adaptive tracking problem
Authors: Miller Daniel E. , Davison E. J. 
Published: July 2007

AbstractIn this paper we consider the problem of designing a controller for an uncertain linear time‐invariant (LTI) system; the control objective is that of asymptotic error regulation for reference and disturbance signals which are described by a known unforced differential equation. In particular, we are concerned with the case in which this differential equation describes linear combinations of sinusoidal and constant functions; we show that under mild (almost necessary) structural requirements on the plant, prior knowledge of the order of an LTI exponentially stabilizing compensator is sufficient to achieve this control objective.
Adaptive control of siso plants with unmodelled dynamics
Authors: Bartolini G. , Ferrara A. 
Published: July 2007

AbstractIn this paper we pursue a twofold aim. First we want to simplify the complexity of the classical Monopoli's scheme, the so‐called ‘Augmented error signal control scheme’. Then we also wish to cope with the realistic situation in which the presence of unmodelled dynamics has to be taken into account. This latter problem has been faced in the literature by suitably modifying the adaptation mechanism in order to avoid undesired phenomena as well as to obtain an attractive stability region for the state trajectories starting from any point in a predefined initial condition set. In our case the necessity of introducing any sort of modification in the adaptation mechanism is completely avoided, but we still obtain asymptotic stability of the output error signal.
Estimation of convergence rate for robust identification algorithms
Authors: Kul'Chitskiy O. Yu. , Mozgovoy A. E. 
Published: July 2007

AbstractThe problem of constructing non‐asymptotic (true from the first step) estimates of the convergence rate of robust identification on‐line algorithms is considered. Estimates which are correct at each procedural step with any preassigned probability are shown for the one‐dimensional algorithm class. Examples of such estimates are given.
A stable gradient algorithm of adaptation using an output signal
Authors: Nikiforov V. O. 
Published: July 2007

AbstractThis paper studies the adaptation law design problem for a linear error model with a scalar output signal. The proposed gradient algorithm of adaptation allows one to provide asymptotic stability of a closed adaptive system without the necessity of error model positivity. The basis of the design is similar to that of Monopoli, who proposed using an additional signal proportional to the speed of parameter adjustment. Relationships of the algorithm and previous ones (the MIT‐rule and Narendra's et al. one) and its employment for a time‐variant error model are briefly discussed.
Enhancing optimal controllers via techniques from robust and adaptive control
Authors: Imae J. , Irlicht L. , Obinata G. , Moore J. B. 
Published: July 2007

AbstractOptimal control strategies for both non‐linear and linear plants and indices are notoriously sensitive to modelling errors and external noise disturbances. In this paper a general framework to enhance robustness of an optimal control law is presented, with emphasis on the non‐linear case. The framework allows a blending of off‐line non‐linear optimal control, on‐line linear robust feedback control for regulation about the optimal trajectory and on‐line adaptive techniques to enhance performance/robustness. The adaptive‐Q techniques are those developed in previous work based on the Youla‐Kucera parametrization for the class of all stabilizing two‐degree‐of‐freedom controllers. Some general fundamental stability properties are developed which are new, at least for the non‐linear plant and linear robust controller case. Also, performance enhancement results in the presence of unmodelled linear dynamics based on an averaging analysis are reviewed. A convergence analysis based on averaging theory appears possible in principle for any specific non‐linear system but is beyond the scope of the present paper. Certain model reference adaptive control algorithms come out as special cases. A non‐linear optimal control problem is studied to illustrate the efficacy of the techniques, and the possibility of further performance enhancement based on functional learning is noted.
Functional learning in signal processing via least squares
Authors: Perkins J. E. , Mareels I. M. Y. , Moore J. B. , Horowitz R. 
Published: July 2007

AbstractThis paper addresses certain functional learning tasks in signal processing using familiar algorithms and analytical tools of least squares for autoregressive moving average exogenous input (ARMAX) models, the models can be viewed as conventional ARMAX models but with parameters dependent on variables such as inputs or states, termed function input variables. The functional dependence of the parameters on these variables is represented in terms of basis function expansions or, more generally, interpolation function representations. The interpolation functions in a least‐squares identification of coefficients also turn out to be in essence spread functions that spread learning throughout the space of function input variables. Thus for a set of training sequences or trajectories in function input space, system parameters and thereby system functionals can be updated. The idea is that these will have relevance for similar sequences or neighbouring trajectories.The concept of persistence of excitation to achieve complete function learning or, equivalently, signal model learning is studied using least‐squares convergence results. Application of the proposed algorithms and theory within the signal‐processing context is addressed by means of simple illustrative examples.