Michael R. Smith, Robert J. Kaminski, Jeffrey Rojek, Geoffrey P. Alpert and Jason Mathis
The purpose of this paper is to examine the effect of police use of conducted energy devices (CEDs) on officer and suspect injuries while controlling for other types of force and…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to examine the effect of police use of conducted energy devices (CEDs) on officer and suspect injuries while controlling for other types of force and resistance and other factors.
Design/methodology/approach
Data on 1,645 use‐of‐force incidents occurring between January 1, 2002 and July 2006 were obtained from two different law enforcement agencies. Logistic and generalized ordered logistic regressions are used to model the odds of injury and severity of injury.
Findings
The use of CEDs was associated with reduced odds of officer and suspect injury and the severity of suspect injury in one agency. In the other agency CED use was unrelated to the odds of injury; however, the use of pepper spray was associated with reduced odds of suspect injury. Among other findings, in both agencies the use of hands‐on tactics by police was associated with increased odds of officer and suspect injury, while the use of canines was associated with increased odds of suspect injury.
Research limitations/implications
Although this research was carried out in two distinctly different law enforcement agencies with different histories of CED adoption, the fact that CED use was associated with reductions in injuries in one agency but not the other indicates the need for additional research on the impact of CED use in other settings
Practical implications
The analysis suggests that relative to other forms of force, the use of CEDs and pepper spray can reduce the risk of injury to both suspects and law enforcement officers. This information should prove useful to law enforcement agencies considering adopting CEDs and suggests that agencies should consider the use of these less lethal alternatives in place of hands‐on tactics against actively resistant suspects.
Originality/value
At the time of this writing there was no published independent research on the risks of injury associated with CED use in field settings. The findings reported herein will help inform the public debate on the utility of CEDs for law enforcement.
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Michael W. Link and Robert W. Oldendick
As more state and local governments and agencies embrace strategic planning as a means of cost control, accountability, and goal achievement, the process of benchmarking has…
Abstract
As more state and local governments and agencies embrace strategic planning as a means of cost control, accountability, and goal achievement, the process of benchmarking has become increasingly important. This article examines the role survey research can play in the benchmarking process. The authors focus on some of the considerations and controversies involved in this process, including questionnaire design (What types of questions should be included?), population definition (Who should be included and how can these individuals be identified?), sampling procedures (What methods of sampling should be employed to ensure that the data are representative of the population of interest?), data collection methods (Should surveys be conducted via mail, face-to-face, or telephone?), and data analysis (How can the survey data help state and local officials evaluate their service delivery?)
Moutaz Khouja and Robert Conrad
Addresses an actual problem of assigning customers to employees ina mail order firm. The management of the firm groups customers based onthe first letter of the last name. To make…
Abstract
Addresses an actual problem of assigning customers to employees in a mail order firm. The management of the firm groups customers based on the first letter of the last name. To make assigning responsibility for handling customer orders easier, management specifies that no letter group can be broken up. In other words, all customers with last names beginning with the same letter must be assigned to the same employee. Management also desires a fair assignment among employees. A perfectly fair assignment entails assigning the same number of customers to every employee. A lower bound on the solution to the problem is established and two approaches to the problem are developed. First, it is formulated as a zero‐one goal programming problem and thus commercially available computer codes can be used to solve it. Second, a heuristic approach which assigns customers to employees based on rules similar to assembly line balancing is developed. The zero‐one goal programming approach yields slightly better results. However, it requires longer computer running time.
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Richard G. Mathieu and Robert L. Woodard
The Internet is increasingly used by management professionals to support information gathering and research activities. However, the different sources of information on the…
Abstract
The Internet is increasingly used by management professionals to support information gathering and research activities. However, the different sources of information on the Internet (i.e. electronic journals, online databases, messages posted to groups of readers, and e‐mail) must be carefully utilized by the prudent manager. In particular, examines three issues surrounding the use and citation of information received via the Internet. The first issue addresses problems surrounding the accuracy and recency of information obtained on the Internet. The second issue focusses on properly categorizing the type of information received. The last issue examines how to reference properly information obtained from the Internet that is used in academic and industrial research. Concludes with a section on ethical issues related to electronic media.
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Richard G. Mathieu and Robert L. Woodard
The Internet is increasingly used by management professionals tosupport information gathering and research activities. However, thedifferent sources of information on the Internet…
Abstract
The Internet is increasingly used by management professionals to support information gathering and research activities. However, the different sources of information on the Internet (i.e. electronic journals, online databases, messages posted to groups of readers, and E‐mail) must be carefully utilized by the prudent manager. In particular, examines three issues surrounding the use and citation of information received via the Internet. The first issue addresses problems surrounding the accuracy and recency of information obtained on the Internet. The second issue focuses on properly categorizing the type of information received. The last issue examines how to reference properly information obtained from the Internet that is used in academic and industrial research. Concludes with a section on ethical issues related to electronic media.
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Charles Emery, Tracy Kramer and Robert Tian
Compares the benefits and consequences of two different educational philosophies adopted by business schools: the customer‐oriented approach and the product‐oriented approach. The…
Abstract
Compares the benefits and consequences of two different educational philosophies adopted by business schools: the customer‐oriented approach and the product‐oriented approach. The customer approach suggests that faculty treat the students as their customers and the product approach requires that faculty treat the students as their products. Under a student‐customer program, enrollment and levels of student satisfaction increase at the expense of learning and program quality. The product approach shifts the focus from student satisfaction to student capabilities and holds business programs responsible for producing knowledgeable, effective students who possess skills and talents valued by public and private corporations.
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Charles R. Emery, Tracy R. Kramer and Robert G. Tian
A student evaluation of teaching effectiveness (SETE) is often the most influential information in promotion and tenure decision at colleges and universities focused on teaching…
Abstract
A student evaluation of teaching effectiveness (SETE) is often the most influential information in promotion and tenure decision at colleges and universities focused on teaching. Unfortunately, this instrument often fails to capture the lecturer’s ability to foster the creation of learning and to serve as a tool for improving instruction. In fact, it often serves as a disincentive to introducing rigour. This paper performs a qualitative (e.g. case studies) and quantitative (e.g. empirical research) literature review of student evaluations as a measure of teaching effectiveness. Problems are highlighted and suggestions offered to improve SETEs and to refocus teaching effectiveness on outcome‐based academic standards.
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Joyce W. Fields, Karen C. Thompson and Julie R. Hawkins
Robert Greenleaf’s principles of servant leadership are relevant to the helping professions, including empowerment and development of others, service to others, and open and…
Abstract
Robert Greenleaf’s principles of servant leadership are relevant to the helping professions, including empowerment and development of others, service to others, and open and participatory leadership. The study of servant leadership was infused into an undergraduate senior capstone experience (an internship) for emerging helping professionals (social work and child and family studies majors). Students read and discussed Greenleaf’s work and applied it to their internship experiences through weekly written reflections. Analysis of student reflections revealed an internalization of servant leadership principles and an understanding of their application within a professional context. Field supervisor evaluations of students indicated professional development consistent with servant leadership ideals. Analysis of servant leadership self-evaluations by students recorded at the beginning and end of the capstone experience revealed increases in empowering and developing others and serving others. These findings support the value of servant leadership education in the training of future leaders within the helping professions.
Shanan G. Gibson, Robert J. Harvey and Michael L. Harris
The purpose of this paper is to examine the accuracy of the US Department of Labor's Occupational Information Network (O*NET), which, replacing the Dictionary of Occupational…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to examine the accuracy of the US Department of Labor's Occupational Information Network (O*NET), which, replacing the Dictionary of Occupational Titles, analyzes jobs via a hierarchical taxonomy of work in which all task‐level activities are summarized into a 42‐construct taxonomy of first‐order generalized work activities (GWAs).
Design/methodology/approach
This study examined the degree of convergence between ratings made using the holistic‐judgment process in the O*NET (which directly rates GWAs using single‐item scales) vs traditional decomposed‐judgment methods which statistically combine ratings of multiple activity items for each GWA.
Findings
Analysis of holistic O*NET general work activity ratings with decomposed common‐metric questionnaire (CMQ) ratings revealed poor convergence between holistic vs decomposed methods, low interrater agreement and a tendency for incumbents to rate higher than job analysts.
Practical implications
It is believed that these results raise significant questions regarding the O*NET's plan to rely on unverified holistic ratings obtained from relatively small, volunteer samples of job incumbents to maintain its database over time. There is a clear risk of producing a database of uncertain quality and comparability with the existing analyst ratings. It is concluded that the criteria of quality, accuracy and verifiability should be paramount in efforts to develop a national database of occupational information.
Originality/value
This study is the only empirical analysis of the degree of convergence between ratings made using the holistic‐judgment O*NET and a traditional decomposed‐judgment job analysis. Because job analysis forms the foundation for many human resources functions, effectively setting the standards that drive recruiting efforts, establishing the criteria that are used in hiring, promoting, evaluating, and equitably compensating employees, and forming the basis for many employee training programs, it is absolutely essential that any data source utilized for these purposes should be both accurate and verifiable. This study not only furthers efforts to tests the validity of the O*NET, it also provides empirical evidence of its potential shortcomings.
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Christian L. Rossetti, Robert Handfield and Kevin J. Dooley
The purpose of this paper is to identify and examine the major forces that are changing the way biopharmaceutical medications are purchased, distributed, and sold throughout the…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to identify and examine the major forces that are changing the way biopharmaceutical medications are purchased, distributed, and sold throughout the supply chain. This will become important as healthcare reform moves forward, and logistics will be transformed in this industry.
Design/methodology/approach
Multiple interviews with key informants at each level of the value chain were combined with manifest text analysis from practitioner articles to derive key insights into the primary change drivers influencing the future of the biopharmaceutical supply chain.
Findings
The research discovered radical shifts in the structure of the biopharmaceutical supply chain. Future research into biopharmaceutical supply chain practices will need to explore three primary issues: How will supply chain member compensation influence the power of parties within the network? How will the role of supply chain intermediaries change the landscape of medication delivery to the end customer? What impact will the role of regulatory constraints on product pedigree and proliferation have on this network? The relationship between these forces is mediated by operations strategy concerning inventory policy, supply chain visibility, and desired service levels.
Research limitations/implications
The research was based on multiple interviews with a convenience sample, as well as text analysis from practitioner articles. These findings are an initial step to guide future more in‐depth research for this dynamic and contextually rich supply chain environment that impacts consumers in every country in the world.
Originality/value
The paper adds insights into the pharmaceutical supply chain, examining this from multiple perspectives.