A Cognitive Mapping Approach to Organizing the Participation of Multiple Actors in a Problem Structuring Process

Problem structuring methods lead to a better understanding of problems by proposing that individuals engage in a structured process of investigation of such elements as causal relationships, connected problems, and possible solutions. This paper first examines possible ways of organizing the participation of multiple decision-makers in the varying contexts of the problem structuring process. The paper presents an original methodology based on investigating the participants’ contributions with respect to the problem explored. This methodology uses cognitive mapping techniques and offers two kinds of support, the first justifying a specific division of the participant set into thematic subgroups and the second providing a basis for further exploration using different problem structuring methods.     

Facilitating Collaboration with Problem Structuring Methods: A Case Study of an Inter-Organisational Construction Partnership

Despite the potential of inter-organisational collaboration to create ‘collaborative advantage’ among participant organisations, not all collaborations realise this potential due to the complexities and challenges faced by potential collaborators. To address these difficulties and increase the likelihood of collaborative success, different forms of intervention approaches for fostering inter-organisational collaboration has been advocated by collaboration researchers and practitioners. These intervention approaches all facilitate interaction and consensus formation among the participants. However their ‘added value’ is procedural rather than substantive in nature. They do not incorporate tools which can enable participants to structure the complexity of the web of factors that are implicated in their collaboration, and thus make it more manageable. This paper argues that problem structuring methods (PSMs), a family of model-based approaches to group decision and negotiation support, are a form of intervention which can provide a balanced attention to both the process and the content of inter-organisational collaboration, and reports the experience of applying a particular PSM to an inter-organisational collaborative partnership in the UK construction industry. Drawing on the rich data generated from the intervention, the paper discusses the impact of the PSM in supporting the joint appreciation activities carried out by collaborators to address their problematic situation. Implications of the experience for the research and practice of PSMs within collaborative contexts are then presented.     

金融结构理论对我国金融结构调整优化的启示

R.W.戈德史密斯的金融结构理论是西方金融理论中的重要流派。该理论分析了决定金融发展的因素、金融结构与金融发展对经济增长的引致效应以及各国金融发展中的普遍规律性趋势。戈德史密斯认为,金融发展的实质就是金融结构的变化,金融相关比率是衡量金融结构演变程度最重要的数量指标;世界上存在一条主要的金融发展道路,在这条道路上,金融结构的变化呈现出一定的规律性。金融结构理论的研究方法和基本框架对我国金融结构调整和结构优化具有重要启示。     

On Evaluating the Performance of Problem Structuring Methods: An Attempt at Formulating a Conceptual Model

In the past decade there has been a discussion on the need for and degree of empirical evidence for the effectiveness of problem structuring methods (PSMs). Some authors propose that PSMs are used in unique situations which are difficult to study, both from a methodological and a practical perspective. In another view experimental validation is necessary and, if not obtained, PSMs remain substantially invalidated and thus ‘suspect’ with regard to their claims of effectiveness. Both views agree on one point: the necessity of being clear about the important factors in the context in which a method is used, the method’s aims and its essential elements through which these aims are achieved. A clear formulation of central variables is the core of a theoretical validation, without which empirical testing of effects is impossible. Since the process of PSMs is sometimes referred to as ‘more art than science’, increased clarity on the PSM process also supports the transfer of methods. In this article we consider goals important to most PSMs, such as consensus and commitment. We then focus on outcomes of group model building, and expectations on how context and group modeling process contributes to outcomes. Next we discuss the similarity of these central variables and relations to two sets of theories in social psychology: the theory of planned behavior and dual process theories of persuasion. On the basis of these theories we construct a preliminary conceptual model on group model building effectiveness and address its practical applicability for research on PSM.     

The Stakeholder Approach: A Sustainability Perspective

This article considers the stakeholder approach (SHA) to organisational management through the lens of what it means for humans to live sustainably on the Earth (that is, for there to be a sustainable world). In particular, the article considers if the SHA, as it is presented in mainstream academic and management literature, is supportive of corporate practices that advance the achievement of a sustainable world. The analysis shows the SHA to have significant failings in this regard when viewed against key sustainable world criteria, with issues of concern evident from the normative core of the SHA through to is practical application in the management setting.     

我国在纳米技术专利保护过程中存在的问题及对策

纳米科技作为影响未来人类生活的世界三大新兴科技之一,是与生命科学、信息技术、并重的具有战略意义的研究领域。由于纳米技术拥有广泛的应用前景,使其在专利保护及产业化方面成为全球关注的热点。介绍了全球纳米技术的竞争态势,重点分析了纳米技术专利应用及保护的重要性以及存在的问题,并讨论了在全球形势下纳米技术专利保护的对策。     

The Equal Surplus Division Value for Cooperative Games with a Level Structure

Group Decision and Negotiation - In this paper, we investigate the equal surplus division value for cooperative games with a level structure, which is a sequence of coalition structures becoming...     

The Accuracy of Design-based Judgments: A Constructivist Approach

Three studies examine how three factors generic to design, its typicality, clarity, and information content, relate to the accuracy of individual judgments about a brand's quality or personality. Study 1 focuses on interpersonal accuracy and shows that consensus in judgments made by managers and consumers are higher for designs high rather than low in typicality, clarity, and information content. Study 2 focuses on the interpersonal accuracy among consumers and finds again that consensus is higher for high typicality, high clarity, and high information designs. Study 3 focuses on intrapersonal accuracy and shows that – when consumers view designs first from a distance and then close – viewer judgments change less (i.e., are higher in consensual accuracy) for designs low on information content, whereas typicality has no effect. Across the studies, individual design acumen enhanced and category involvement attenuated design effects on accuracy. Further, higher accuracy was associated positively with purchase intention, and corresponded with greater ease and speed of judgment formation.     

A Sequential Allocation Problem: The Asymptotic Distribution of Resources

In this paper, we consider a sequential allocation problem with n individuals. The first individual can consume any amount of a resource, leaving the remainder for the second individual, and so on. Motivated by the limitations associated with the cooperative or non-cooperative solutions, we propose a new approach from basic definitions of representativeness and equal treatment. The result is a unique asymptotic allocation rule for any number of individuals. We show that it satisfies a set of desirable properties.     

人力资本、人力资本结构与区域经济增长——基于分位数回归方法的经验研究

通过对1993—2006年中国29个省区的人力资本和人力资本结构等相关指标进行测算,运用分位数回归方法考察二者对区域经济增长的影响大小及变动情况。结果表明:(1)在中国,人力资本对经济增长具有显著的促进作用,且在条件分布的不同位置,这种促进作用存在明显差异。人力资本结构对经济增长存在负面影响,低分位点处的负面影响最大,高分位点处的负面影响相对较小。(2)在不同地区和分位点,人力资本和人力资本结构对经济增长的影响大小以及变动情况存在明显差异。     

The Effect of Stake Size in Experimental Bargaining and Distribution Games: A Survey

We review the literature on bargaining and distribution experiments to investigate whether changes in stake size have significant effects on behaviour in laboratory/field settings. We conclude that experiments in this field do not lead to clear/common results. The joint presence of opposing factors (e.g., increasing relative risk aversion and increasing cost of fairness) might be one reason contributing to this. Moreover, we argue that variables such as subjects’ financial conditions, cognitive abilities, risk attitudes, loss-aversion, justice orientations, and relevant personality characteristics should be controlled in laboratory experiments to understand the effect of stake size on behaviour, more clearly. Finally, quasi-experiments using data from (very) high-stake games/events and meta-analysis studies should complement (individual) controlled experiments.     

对我国大型体育赛事物流问题的研究

随着各种大型体育赛事以及奥运会落户中国,大赛的物流工作已经成为赛事成功与否的关键因素之一,本文通过对大赛的物流问题的分析,对赛会物流组织工作提出建议,以促进大型体育赛事更好的开展。     

The Development of International Industry Clusters: A Complexity Theory Approach

Recent research on networks and clusters as distributive systems of knowledge is drawing on complexity theory as a way of explaining the knowledge processes involved in these organizational forms. It appears that complexity theory and its component concepts, such as coevolution and self-organization, can offer some meaningful insights into, and possible explanations for, knowledge phenomena associated with networks and clusters. Using a case study approach, this paper explores the development of a New Zealand based industry cluster from early formation to international expansion, with a particular focus on the creation and dissemination of knowledge within the cluster. The observations are reported and discussed in the context of complexity theory, drawing particularly on coevolutionary principles. It is suggested that these approaches provide a useful way of understanding the process of industry cluster development and the dynamics associated with international expansion.     

一个最佳融资结构的理论模型

Jensen的研究注意到了融资结构会通过约束自由现金流量对公司代理成本产生影响.其见解非常独到,但他并没有用数学模型作出严格的推证.本文的工作在于综合了Jensen和其他一些学者的成果,构建了一个数学模型,严格分析融资结构是如何约束经理可以用于相机处理的现金流量,以降低经理们的控制租并进而影响公司价值大小的.此外,本文还指出了应该进一步研究的方向,以及该模型在我国现实制度条件下的适用性.     

A Functional Approach to International Channel Structure and the Role of Independent Wholesalers

The functional approach to the design of marketing channels has a long history in the marketing literature. In more recent years, the functional approach has been all but forgotten as the transactions cost approach has come into fashion. Yet, the functional approach offers severl significant advantages over transactions cost analysis, especially when the number of functions is condensed. Using a succint summary of the functions, produced through factor analysis, this paper examines the relationship between the functional performance capabilities of U.S. wholesalers used in the channel structure of foreign manufacturers. A statistically significant relationship was found, thus providing evidence of the role of functions in determining channel structure.     

A General Problem Solving Approach for Wicked Problems: Theory and Application to Chemical Weapons Verification and Biological Terrorism

Wicked ill-defined problems such as violent crime, illegal drugs and terrorism may contain technical, economic, and political elements operating together as systems. Practical resolution requires simple solutions that are technically feasible, economically sustainable and politically implementable. Here we show an approach to achieve simple solutions to these problems. The approach was derived and tested in two experiments: first to develop verification measures for the Chemical Weapons Convention and subsequently to develop response concepts for biological terrorism. The approach's validity derives from its close relationship to the scientific method in objectively testing results, and its power is achieved by focusing a team of people directly on the problem of interest in the setting of a learning organization. The approach appears to provide access at will of the full human potential to resolve wicked problems and, thereby, yields a general problem solving tool of substantial power.