Output planning for material requirements under uncertainty

This paper considers a production planning and control system requiring that, for each work station, a time-phased series of input and output values be estimated. It is assumed that the projected input levels can vary significantly across time periods and that anticipated output levels can be determined by management, subject to limits specified by available manpower and subcontracting. The actual input and output levels for each period depart from the planned levels according to a probability distribution determined empirically. An approach is presented that allows management to evaluate a chosen set of output levels to determine the probability that sufficient amounts of work will be available at a work station each period.     

Saul D. Alinsky: An Applied Urban Symbolic Interactionist

Urban sociology and symbolic interaction theory share Robert E. Park as a leading figure, yet there has not been a tradition of applying symbolic interaction theory to issues of urban research. A convergence is suggested as urbanists are becoming aware of the importance of sentiments and symbols in organizing and motivating urban behavior, and symbolic interactionists increasingly are becoming interested in social structure. Saul D. Alinsky demonstrated an applied symbolic interactionist perspective in his efforts to develop organizations capable of strengthening community cohesiveness and increasing citizen participation and involvement in local affairs.     

NEURO-LINGUISTIC PROGRAMMING™ AND FAMILY THERAPY*

A brief introduction to Neuro-Linguistic Programming? (NLP?) as taught by the developers of NLP, Richard handler, John Grinder and their associates, is presented. This is followed by case examples. The cases illustrate what the authors believe are some of the substantive gains which NLP techniques have provided in their own and others' work with couples and families. NLP's major contributions involve understanding new models of human experience. This paper, however, is focused principally on a consideration of useful technology. The intent is to share from over three years' experiences certain fundamental and consistent benefits derived from the addition of NLP to clinical practice.     

Mentors and Protégés: Power-Dependent Dyads*

Largely as a consequence of the recent interest in the educational and occupational experiences of women, a well-known but long overlooked form of social interaction–the mentor-protégé relationship–is now receiving some attention. This concern usually views the relationship as a highly beneficial one. However, virtually no sociological analysis has been made of this phenomenon. This article provides a sociological conceptualization of the mentor-protégé relationship as a power-dependent, dyadic role set with a strong potential for role strain. Additional consideration is given to gender problems in mentor-protégé relationships.     

Hardiness and the relationship between stressors and outcomes

Using a sample of 468 participants, from two organizations, this study examined direct and moderating relationships between hardiness (a composite of challenge, control, and commitment), life and work stressors, and a variety of health-related outcomes. The results indicated that hardiness did not moderate the relationship between stressors and outcomes as reported by others (e.g. Kobasa 1982a). However, hardiness did have significant direct effects on emotional and psychological factors thought to be related to personal well-being and work performance. Hardy individuals reported higher levels of job satisfaction and fewer tensions at work dun did the less hardy. In general, hardy individuals experienced a higher quality of life and a more positive affect while being more energized and less negative about life. Hardy individuals also reported fewer somatic complaints and tended to be less depressed and anxious than individuals low in hardiness. In addition, hardiness was negatively related to all four measures of life and work stress implying that hardiness may not be independent of life demands.     

Improving the accuracy of migration age detail in multiple-area population forecasts

Population projections are often required for many geographical areas, and must be prepared with maximal computer and minimal analytical effort. At the same time, realistic age detail forecasts require a flexible means of treating age-specific net migration. This report presents a migration projection technique compatible with these constraints. A simplified version of Pittenger's model is used, where future migration patterns are automatically assigned from characteristics of historical patterns. A comparative test of age pattern accuracy for 1970–1980 indicates that this technique is superior to the commonly used plus-minus adjustment to historical rates.     

Vandalism: The Environmental Crime

Vandalism is the ultimate ‘environmental’ crime because acts of vandalism are always committed against physical objects and because the physical design and setting play an important role. Vandalism is not a ‘senseless’ crime, but has important reasons tied to the design and management of environments. Vandalism is often misunderstood by designers, planners, facility managers and administrators. Understanding the patterns and environmental context of vandalism enables us to promote better strategies for its pervention and control.     

Rationality and Freedom: Weber and Beyond*

In the tradition of German social thought from Kant and Hegel through Toennies and Simmel, the development of rationality in modern Europe is associated with an increase of human freedom. Weber's work departs from that tradition by providing an incomparably differentiated framework for the analysis of rationality and by associating modern European rationalization with a curtailment of freedom. More careful examination of Weber's oeuvre, however, indicates that he, too, connected rationalization with the growth of freedom in many respects. His amended argument remains valuable today, although ways in which it stands to be improved by incorporating subsequent analyses are suggested.