An Investigation of Equity as a Determinant of User Information Satisfaction

This paper reviews equity theory and proposes that perceived inequity in the allocation of management information systems (MIS) resources is likely to influence overall user information satisfaction (UIS). Therefore, in addition to currently identified factors such as quality of information products (QIP), user's knowledge and involvement level (KIL), and EDP staff and services (ESS), equity is also likely to be a relevant factor in determining overall UIS. The paper reports on a cross-sectional survey to obtain data for testing the relevance of equity related issues in the MIS context. Responses from 226 users showed a strong correlation (.67, p > .001) between equity and overall UIS. Further, the addition of equity to the previously identified factors that influence overall UIS (i.e., QIP, KIL, and ESS) significantly increased the explained variance (from .48 to .56). The results support the relevance of equity related issues in determining user attitudes. It is recommended that MIS researchers and professionals take into account the likely influence of equity perceptions on user attitudes and behavior, and strive to develop and implement equitable resource allocation mechanisms. Implications of the findings for future research in the areas of MIS, UIS construct, systems implementation, and management of MIS are also discussed.     

Migration,family structure and children's well‐being: a multi‐level analysis of the second generation of the 1958 Birth Cohort Study

The relationship between moving home, family structure and children's well‐being, is examined in the National Child Development Study (NCDS) Second‐Generation. Well‐being is measured as attainment in maths and reading, and on two behavioural assessments. Multivariate multi‐level modelling allows for heterogeneity both within and between families. We find little to no association between moving home and children's well‐being. Associations between family living arrangements and children's development appear to be mediated by human, financial and social capital, but not, on average, worsened by geographical mobility. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Likelihood ratio test for testing equality of location parameters of two exponential distributions from doubly censored samples

The Likelihood Ratio (LR) test for testing equality of two exponential distributions with common unknown scale parameter is obtained. Samples are assumed to be drawn under a type II doubly censored sampling scheme. Effects of left and right censoring on the power of the test are studied. Further, the performance of the LR test is compared with the Tiku(1981) test.     

Database Requirements for Epidemiological Estimates of Radiation Risks in Continuously Exposed Populations

Using the revised risk coefficients recommended by the 1990 report of the International Commission of Radiological Protection (ICRP), computations have been made on the minimum databases required for detecting radiogenic cancer excesses from epidemiological surveys of populations exposed to low level radiations. The computations have been made separately for Indian and Western populations using their representative demographic data. The western database requirements are generally found to be about half the Indian requirement.
For the exposures in high background radiation areas at the rate of say 5 mSv/y, the minimum required database is 121,500 person years, in the Indian case. Similarly, for Indian occupational workers exposed at the rate of say, 10 mSv/y, it is required to observe 30,000 persons for the first 40 years or 3600 persons over their entire lifetime for obtaining statistically significant results.     

Estimation and testing under exchangeable exponential model with a single outlier

Several estimators of mean of an exponential distribution, when an unidentified single outlier in a sample of size n is present* are discussed. It is assumed that n?1 of these observations have a mean σ, While one could have a mean σ/α. The estimation of σ has been considered in detail with some reference to the estimation of α. Finally, tests of hypotheses about σare briefly mentioned.     

Production,Reproduction, and Education: Women,Children, and Work in a British Perspective

This article reviews findings of studies by the author and colleagues on relationships between women's work and the reproduction of the British population based on data for female birth cohorts 1922–70. The studies address three questions: (1) How do children affect women's paid work and lifetime earnings? (2) How does women's employment affect the quantity of children born? (3) How does women's employment affect the “quality” of children? The answers are affected by the woman's educational attainment. On question 1, childrearing may often halve lifetime earnings, but seldom for the well educated. By contrast, any effects from employment to childbearing are most apparent in the late motherhood of the well educated. Child quality, as assessed by indicators of child development, benefits from maternal education and suffers little from maternal employment. The economic advantages for children in dual‐career families are thus unabated. A widening gulf between mothers will tend to polarize the life chances of their children, unless there are more options to combine employment and childrearing, especially including good‐quality child care for those who cannot afford the market price. Education is a powerful influence, but does not alone solve all issues of equity, whether between families or between sexes.     

Valuing an East European Company

Investors in many parts of the world are considering opportunities in transitional economies, but such investments typically require analyses that are different from those performed in mature, market-based economies. This article evaluates the application of traditional firm valuation procedures to state-owned enterprises in the former Soviet bloc countries. The valuation problems faced by the foreign joint venture partner extend beyond those posed by an absence of capital market prices and a lack of useful managerial data in the socialist-styled financial statements. A more fundamental problem arises from the deteriorated condition of the assets of most of these firms. Years of underinvestment and neglect have eroded the worth of assets so that firm value is driven by future growth opportunities rather than currently profitable assets. Based on extensive interviews with participants and using both socialist and western-compatible financial statements, we illustrate the difficulties in obtaining valuation estimates through the example of a Czech metals manufacturer. Given the importance of growth opportunities, we recommend that valuation be undertaken with active participation of insiders, instead of a mechanical task done by outside consultants alone.