奥林匹克运动会与礼仪的力量

奥林匹克运动会产生之时,古希腊土地上分布着战事频频的诸城邦、不同的伦理群体和众多社会阶层.然而通过精心设计、历经艰辛方出台的礼仪,为运动会营造了一种氛围,使得所有群体包括那些敌对的群体也可以在合作的基础上竞争.运动会所需的社会和谐程度虽不高,但在一个充满冲突的社会中却是一项令人吃惊的创造.始于孔子和荀子,中国人始终把礼仪理解成一种社会之舞,有着不同利益的人可以为了整个社会的和谐而合作.儒家传统对礼仪有深刻的理解,如果缺少礼仪,有利益冲突的群体除了直接且经常是粗暴的竞争外,没有其他互动途径.在当今国际形势下,一个迫切的要求是把经济、政治以及军事竞争纳入礼仪外交的框架.一个新的当代礼仪系统需要尊重所有人的利益,并被所有人理解和欣赏.在北京举行的第29届奥林匹克运动会的礼仪品质,可以成为一个象征,象征着全球和谐形势发展的下一个阶段.奥运会的礼仪品质提供无须事先商议,不论输赢,每一个国家均可参与的模式,使其可以成为外交的典范.     

Substance abuse

Alcohol abuse poses special risks for increased morbidity and mortality among older adults, contributing to the heightened use of medical resources and the related increase in medical costs. Although the prevalance of alcohol use disorders in the older adults is generally less than that found in younger groups, it is expected to increase with the aging of the "baby-boom" generation. In spite of this, little attention has focused on developing, and evaluating the efficacy of, treatment programs for older adults with alcohol related disorders. This article discusses the availability of effective treatment strategies for older alcohol abusers and reviews the epidemiological and outcomes research literatures related to alcohol abuse and older adults. The few empirical studies that examine outcomes associated with the treatment of older substance abusers reveal positive outcomes, especially when "age-specific," cognitive-behavioral, and less confrontational treatment approaches are employed.     

Vstreet.com: a web-based community for at-risk teens

Most teens leaving the care of an agency are woefully unprepared and unsupported. Current approaches to aftercare are expensive and difficult to implement. This study evaluated a prototype version of Vstreet.com, an innovative website for at-risk youth designed to teach lifeskills and build community. Findings from a sample of youth in the Job Corps showed that the website was highly effective in increasing their knowledge of apartment hunting skills, feelings of peer social support, and intentions of staying in touch with their agency.     

A personal formula for motivation.

Have you ever wondered why some colleagues or subordinates are outstanding in their work while others are less so? Training and experience are extremely important factors but, by themselves, they will not ensure outstanding performance. The pivotal factor that activates all others is motivation. And underlying motivation is the fact that we all have needs that we desire to have fulfilled and that we make choices regarding the course of action or strategy to fulfill these needs. As managers, we do not typically create the "products" of the organization but rather must rely on subordinates. It is incumbent upon us to obtain from our employees desired behavior that will fulfill organizational goals. Indeed, it has been asserted that "one of the most basic responsibilities of the health service organization manager [is] motivating constructive participation of other organization members."     

ORGANIZATIONAL ENVIRONMENT,DIFFERENTIATION AND PERCEIVED ENVIRONMENTAL UNCERTAINTY1

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.