Strategic group decision support systems--a guide for the unwary

Considerable interest is currently being shown in the use of information technology to assist in improving group process, particularly those associated with strategic planning. Three major approaches are developing to provide this support, and these are described in this article. In general, articles about Group DSS are overwhelmingly favourable to the approaches, although research findings suggest that some forms of Group DSS can have deleterious effects on the quality of meetings. These research findings are discussed.     

How reporting delay,duration of follow-up and number of cases affect the estimates of the incubation time of transfusion-associated AIDS cases

The authors discuss the impact of reporting delay, duration of follow-up, and number of cases in a sample on estimates of the incubation time of transfusion-associated AIDS cases. "This article comes to the conclusion that the accuracy of the incubation time estimate would depend on the sample size rather than on the duration of follow-up." (SUMMARY IN FRE)     

Republic of Korea. Country feature

The Government of Korea's 5th 5-Year Economic and Social Development Plan (1982-86) seeks to reduce the population growth rate from its 1982 level of 1.58% to 1.49% by 1986; it is assumed that the population replacement level of fertility (total fertility rate, 2.1) will be attained in 1988. The task of achieving these demographic targets is expected to be made more difficult by factors such as the impact of the 1950s baby boom and widespread son preference. New population control policy measures announced in 1981 call for improvements in the current family planning program management system; a new social and institutional support system to inculcate the small family size norm; strengthened information, education, and communication activities for family planning; and establishment of coordination among the government organizations involved in population-related activities. Numerous social support measures have already been put into effect, including income tax exemptions for up to 2 children, inclusion of population education in the school curriculum, priority in alloting public housing to sterilization acceptors with 2 or fewer children, and provision of IUD services through the medical insurance system. The number of contraceptive acceptors in the government program increased 78.3% from 1981-83, from 614,000 to 1,094,600. Sterilization and menstrual regulation services have shown particularly sharp increases. Program achievement for 1983 was equivalent to 19% of eligible women ages 15-44 years. The total fertility rate stood at 2.7 in 1982. Major efforts now must be directed toward eradicating the strong parental son preference and ensuring better family planning program efficiency and effectiveness.     

The health belief model and the contraceptive behavior of college women: implications for health education

This study applied the "health belief model" in a comparison of the subjective perceptions, attitudes and beliefs between college women who were adequate or inadequate contraceptors. The 171 sexually active subjects were ascertained from clients of the Family Planning Clinic at the University of Illinois. A questionnaire was designed and tested to measure variables of perceived susceptibility to pregnancy, seriousness of unplanned pregnancy, benefits and barriers of contraceptive use. Inadequate contraceptors or risk-takers were defined as women who used no contraception, less effective methods such as rhythm, spermicides only or withdrawal, or effective methods sporadically. 49.5% of the subjects were risk-takers. Among the inadequate contraceptors, 17% were nonusers, 29% relied on ineffective methods, and 52% used effective methods sporadically. There was no difference between the 2 groups in their belief in seriousness of an unplanned pregnancy. The groups differed significantly in their perceived susceptibility to pregnancy (p.001). They also differed significantly in perception of overall costs and benefits of contraception (p.001), a score created by combining 12 questions on topics such as difficulty and embarrassment in obtaining contraceptives and inconvenience and awkwardness in dealing with them. There was a smaller significant difference (p.05) in a score termed "general use cost benefits," but no difference in a score called "method specific perceptions." These results were corroborated by a discriminate analysis which singled out the perceived costs and benefits and the perceived susceptibility variables as accurate predictors of the adequate contraceptor group. The health belief model showed considerable utility in explaining contraceptive behavior.     

中国城镇化对建筑业碳排放影响的时空差异

在分析城镇化对建筑业碳排放影响机理的基础上,采用LMDI分解法将城镇化对建筑业碳排放的影响分解为规模效应（包括固定资产投资效益效应、居民收入效应、人口密度效应和空间规模效应）、结构效应和技术效应,并进一步分析各效应对城镇化不同阶段及各个省市建筑业碳排放的影响。研究结果表明:（1）从时间上看,在城镇化由初级发展到中级再到高级阶段的过程中,固定资产投资效益效应和结构效应的作用程度均不断增强,不同的是前者具有促进作用（1 937.11万吨、12 941.27万吨、36 948.37万吨）,后者具有抑制作用（-413.69万吨、-13 824.62万吨、-14 149.08万吨）;其余效应的作用程度均呈现"倒U形"变化趋势,但是作用方向不同,其中居民收入效应（-180.41万吨、-1 862.58万吨、-522.86万吨）和人口密度效应（-298.85万吨、-5 303.46万吨、-1 538.78万吨）均具有抑制作用,空间规模效应具有促进作用（1 654.67万吨、13 750.80万吨、6 013.79万吨）,技术效应则先促进后抑制（3 805.32万吨、32 526.22万吨、-9 053.30万吨）。（2）从空间上看,固定资产投资效益效应在处于城镇化高级阶段以及初级、中级阶段的省市分别具有促进和抑制作用,贡献程度均非常突出（第一位或第二位）;居民收入效应在经济发达省市具有抑制作用,欠发达省市仍具有促进作用,贡献微弱;人口密度效应仅在北京、天津、上海、河北具有促进作用,贡献程度较小（多为第五位）;空间规模效应在各省市均具有促进作用,特别是在中级阶段的省市贡献较突出（前三位）;结构效应贡献也非常突出（第一位或第二位）,在各省市的作用方向与固定资产投资效益效应相反;技术效应仅在江苏、新疆具有抑制作用,在各省市作用程度差异较大。认为,政府应依据所处城镇化阶段,有针对性地制定低碳城镇发展规划和建筑业节能减排措施的政策。     

An Interaction Model of Business Service Production and Consumption

This paper develops a conceptual framework and model of the production and consumption of a business service. The model captures the interacting and dynamic nature of relationships between individuals both within and between client and supplier firms. The role played by the client during the different phases of production of the service will influence the degree to which the final service delivered meets the customer's specifications and the probability of implementation. Some empirical evidence of the complex interactions that occur in the creation of business services is presented and is used to suggest a modified typology of business services.     

Global economic restructuring and international migration: some observations based on the Mexican and Central American experience

"The purpose of this article is to explore the relationship between processes of global economic restructuring and international migration through an examination of Mexican and Central American immigration to the U.S. and the experiences of Central American and Mexican immigrants in the U.S. This relationship is analysed as one of mutual causation: on the one hand, global restructuring affects conditions in both sending and receiving countries (it is not only a factor in emigration but also in the economic and political receptivity to immigrants at their point of destination); on the other, international migration in turn has an important impact on countries of origin, receiving countries, and the relationship between them." (SUMMARY IN FRE AND SPA)     

The courageous follower

With the recent changes in the delivery of medical care in the United States, physicians are being thrust into new and unsettling roles. Many are finding themselves for the first time in the role of the follower, subject to myriad types of leadership. Leaders frequently complain that leading physicians is like "herding cats." What are the characteristics of followers? Do physicians make good followers? This article examines the role of the "cats"--what is effective followership, why physicians may fall short in followership skills, and how physicians might become better "followers."