E-Mailed Prompts and Feedback Messages to Reduce Energy Consumption: Testing Mechanisms for Behavior Change by Employees at a Green University

E-mail is a common mechanism for communication within organizations. Extending prior research on effects of informational messages on behavior change, the present study evaluated effects of e-mailed prompts and feedback on energy consumption at a green university. A nonconcurrent multiple baseline design was used to evaluate the effects of messages to occupants of 5 campus buildings over a period of 12 weeks. Energy consumption changes were tracked using the university’s energy dashboard. Results and implications for further research and organizational behavior change efforts are discussed.     

Discussing feedback system thinking in relation to scenario evaluation in a balanced scorecard setup

Since the emergence of the Balanced Scorecard (BSC) at the beginning of the 1990s, literature has intensively discussed the problems of the cause-and-effect relationships, the time-delay elements between measures and perspectives and the concepts of feedback loops. This article focuses on the use of the System Dynamics Modelling approach to deal with these three problems, an approach first suggested by Forrester back in 1958. The wide scope of application of BSC as a decision-supporting instrument continues to spur the interest in BSC. We have used an actual case as inspiration on which our model construction and our simulation scenarios are based. Our findings suggest that the idea of linking BSC and System Dynamics together based on properties of the systems dynamic nature seem to be both a natural and a relevant development. Furthermore, our simulations demonstrate the ability to: (1) provide a scheme for the translation of the strategy into operational terms and at the same time (2) offer possibilities for the decision maker to be able to evaluate the plan–do–review results based on the feedbacks, specifically in a risk evaluating context.     

The Impact of Wireless Technology on Order Selection Audits at an Auto Parts Distribution Center

Audits of store order pallets or totes performed by auditors at five distribution centers (two experimental and three comparison distribution centers) were used to check for picking accuracy prior to being loaded onto a truck for store delivery. Replacing the paper audits with wireless handheld computers that included immediate auditory and visual feedback was instrumental in increasing the number of audits by nearly 89% without incurring overtime hours for the auditors. Increasing the number of audits meant that more orders were checked for accuracy within an 8-hr shift. The errors and inefficiencies noted with paper audits were eliminated immediately at implementation. The role of the organizational behavior management (OBM) practitioner in designing work procedure changes using technical solutions to accelerate key operational processes was examined.     

Goal Statements and Goal-Directed Behavior

Summary

Goal setting has consistently been shown to increase performance under specific conditions. These goal setting effects have previously been explored from both a cognitive perspective and in terms of traditional behavioral concepts. We highlight limitations of these approaches and propose a novel account based on Relational Frame Theory. This account focuses on both the content of goal statements and the contingencies that maintain goal-directed behavior. The content of goal statements is analyzed in terms of relational networks established for employees. We then detail how the current account explains the major effects noted in previous empirical studies. Two broad types of rule following contingencies that support goal-directed behavior, pliance and tracking, are then described. We then outline how these different types of contingencies results in the variety of goal-directed behavior observed in organizations. Throughout we relate this two-part approach to goal setting to specific recommendations for practice and future basic research.     

知识发酵系统及其反馈控制

介绍知识发酵系统的构成,简述知识发酵模型与知识发酵反应方程,建立知识发酵数学模型,借助此数学模型提出知识发酵系统的反馈控制,并对此反馈控制进行优化。     

委婉言语交际的信息编码、解码与反馈

委婉言语表达就是将体现交际意图的话里意义隐含在话表意义里发送给对方 ,因此要求编码时言语形式选择正确 ,而解码时含义信息即思想内容理解准确。委婉言语形式的选择受制于交际对象的领悟能力、心理状态、交际双方的特定关系与交际环境。编码往往采用逻辑手段和修辞方式进行 ,解码则依据委婉言语形式 ,联系特定的言语交际环境 ,去分析理解规范语言比较信息、变异语言联想信息和逻辑语言推断信息 ,并针对不同情况 ,采用顺应含义信息或话表信息的正面反馈和规避这两种信息的侧面反馈     

多维化英语词汇习得策略

相对其它一些国家的英语教学而言,我国英语教学对词汇量的要求偏低。就词汇习得的现状而言,非但理论亟待完善,又缺乏系统性的习得机制。因此,应根据我国缺乏语言环境的教学现状,系统性地研究英语词汇习得的方式与方法,并在英语词汇教学实践中结合记忆学、心理学等多种学科理论将词汇习得机制付诸于教学实践。多种渠道扩大词汇广度结合词汇深加工的习得原则,会给学习者带来认知方面的变化,取得良好的效果与反馈。     

大学英语四级通过率的相关性研究

在大学英语教学中,教学双方的相互配合不仅存在单纯的英语学习能力问题,其他课程素质的相关影响也不容忽视。在随机抽样基础上,本文对重庆大学300名非英语专业学生一次性通过CET-4考试的英语成绩与其各科成绩进行相关的对比分析。结果表明,学习者的英语成绩不仅与英语学习能力有关,还与其他需要某种特定思维的课程学习能力直接相关。其研究结果反馈于教学,教师和学生应当注重学习技能和综合素质培养,更加主动、准确地把握英语学习的内在规律,而非仅仅局限于英语考试本身。     

基于半边结构的膜组织触觉仿真

针对一类可以用面模型表示的软组织,提出一种基于半边数据结构和AABBs(Aligned Ax-is Bounding Boxes)树结构混合的碰撞检测响应方法,以适应触觉反馈计算的高帧率要求。触觉反馈即包含粘弹性反馈力,又包括用修改的滞滑摩擦模型表示的膜软组织的粘滞性摩擦效果。软组织变形基于简单的质点弹簧模型建模。实验表明,提出的方法比单一的使用AABBs树结构方法效率较高,使用PHANTON力反馈设备可以清楚感受到粘滞性摩擦效果。这些方法将是建立白内障虚拟手术仿真器的基础。     

大学英语写作教学的现状及其对策

从全国大学英语四、六级考试成绩不难看出 ,写作是学生最薄弱的一个环节。我们应当高度重视这种现状 ,认真思考大学英语写作教学中存在的问题 ,并且针对这些问题提出行之有效的对策。笔者认为 ,过程教学法能克服结果教学法的种种弊端 ,而它的成功又取决于反馈的引入