A Path Analytic Model of a Theory of Quality Management Underlying the Deming Management Method: Preliminary Empirical Findings*

Despite the impact that Deming and his 14 Points have had on the practice of quality management, empirical support for the effectiveness of the Deming Management Method has not advanced beyond the presentation of anecdotal, case-study evidence. In part, this is because theory to guide the conduct of empirical research has not been available. Only recently has such a theory of quality management to describe and explain the effectiveness of the Deming Management Method been articulated in the literature. This paper continues the journey of theory development; it reports the results of an exploratory empirical analysis of an articulated theory of quality management underlying the Deming Management Method. The constructs in the proposed theory are operationalized using measurement statements developed by the World-Class Manufacturing research project team at the University of Minnesota and Iowa State University. Path analysis is applied to the World-Class Manufacturing project data to explore the empirical strength of relationships advanced in the theory. The path analytic results provide support for several of the proposed relationships in the theory, and more importantly, suggest a number of new relationships which have not heretofore been proposed.     

Graphical Presentations of Data Envelopment Analyses: Management Implications from Parallel Axes Representations*

The conversion of multivariate data analysis into information that managers can readily use in their decision making has always been a challenging task. In this paper we provide a parallel axis representation of multivariate data and demonstrate how this representation may be used as a tool for implementing the results of data envelopment analysis. We use an analysis of the efficiency of electricity generating plants to illustrate the technique.     

Faculty Performance Evaluation: Modeling to Improve Personnel Decisions*

Based on likely future changes in faculty evaluation practices, this paper examines how institutions of higher education might operationalize performance evaluation as related to research, teaching, and service. A model is developed that allows coupling performance evaluation and relevant market considerations with merit pay, tenure, and promotion decisions. The approach is specifically applicable to tenure-track faculty members in colleges and universities.     

Estimating E-bayesian and hierarchical bayesian of scalar parameter of gompertz distribution under type II censoring schemes based on fuzzy data

In this study, the E-Bayesian and hierarchical Bayesian of the scalar parameter of a Gompertz distribution under Type II censoring schemes were estimated based on fuzzy data under the squared error (SE) loss function and the efficiency of the proposed methods was compared with each other and with the Bayesian estimator using Monte Carlo simulation.     

Using a community-created multisite evaluation to promote evaluation use across a sector

Multisite evaluation has been cited as a strategy for building knowledge about a program's success and enhancing evaluation capacity and evaluation use. Even so, the extent to which data from these efforts are made available to individual project participants varies. This article describes a community-created multisite evaluation that was designed to overcome this limitation. Based on the negotiated centralized evaluation model and implemented within the context of a community of practice, the EvalFest community-created multisite evaluation has used shared measures to collect data from 30,000 participants from partner sites across the community over three years. This article describes the design characteristics of the community-created multisite approach, and presents results related to partners’ evaluation use that demonstrate the early success of this method. We conclude by considering how this strategy might be applied to other sectors.     

江苏经济地域差异与苏北经济发展战略思考

江苏省的经济发展步伐较快,成就突出,然而,又存在着苏南、苏中与苏北间明显的地域差异,而且这种差异已经成为制约全省经济持续、快速发展的瓶颈。对此,详尽分析了苏南、苏中、苏北经济差异的现状,同时对造成三大地区差距的原因进行了探讨,并着重运用灰色关联法剖解了苏北经济落后的制约因素,在此基础上,对加快苏北地区经济发展提出了相应的思路和对策。     

中唐李观研究综述

中唐古文家李观以古文知名当世,韩愈与其交好,为其作墓志,称其"才高乎当世,而行出乎古人".他在古文运动之前英年早逝,留给世人诸多遗憾.其生平事迹在历代文献中记载甚少,专门研究李观的文章更是屈指可数.整理回顾前贤学者对李观的研究成果,可以明确今后的研究方向,以便对李观进行恰当的文学评价和适当的历史定位.     

论科学发展观与我国生态经济学的发展

在分析生态经济学理论优势的基础上,提出一个人口、生产和消费与生态环境关系的研究框架。研究重点主要是在短期内从生产的角度进行生态补偿研究,而长期必须从消费偏好的角度进行研究。在研究方法上,应该借鉴条件价值法、生态足迹和物质流会计、新制度经济学等方法。这样才能使生态经济学走出乌托邦式的哲学范式,接近公众从而找到其动力源泉。     

环境规制强化的经济增长效应与机制研究

基于中国275个地级市2004-2018年的面板数据,以环境空气质量新标准的实施为准自然试验,采用渐进双重差分方法,实证研究环境-经济双重红利效应的理论依据及实现路径。研究发现,环境规制强化能显著促进地区经济增长,结论在经过一系列稳健性检验后依然成立。并且该效应会随着地区经济水平提高而呈现边际递增的规律。机制研究发现,环境规制强化会通过增加政府公共支出、倒逼企业创新、促进公众消费及人才流入提高地区经济发展水平。