Parametric,semiparametric, and nonparametric estimation of characteristic values within mass assessment and hedonic pricing models

Parametric estimators, such as OLS, attain high efficiency for well-specified models. Nonparametric estimators greatly reduce specification error but at the cost of efficiency. Semiparametric estimators compromise between these dual goals of efficiency and specification error. Semiparametric estimators can assume general forms within classes of functional forms. This paper applies OLS, the kernel nonparametric regression estimator, and the semi-parametric estimator of Powell, Stock, and Stoker (1989) to a data set, which should, based on theory and previous empirical work, yield positive coefficients. The semiparametric estimator, on average, displayed the performance most consistent with prior expectations followed by the nonparametric and parametric estimators. In addition, the paper shows how the semiparametric estimator can provide insights into the form of misspecification and suggest data transformations.     

Teamwork in Modern Organizations: Implications for Technology Education

Characteristics of teamwork in modern organizations and workplaces are examined, in order to extrapolate the means for imparting teamwork skills within technology education. Goals and tasks for the team, team composition, team-player styles, phases of team development, communication and interpersonal skills, decision making, leadership, and evaluation of team performance are discussed. Teamwork skills are acquired gradually as a result of experience. Mere provision of a joint task to a group of people does not produce teamwork spontaneously. In order to promote teamwork, technological tasks at school need to include considerable degrees of freedom and decision-making by pupils. When the teacher becomes a facilitator of the process, instead of being primarily a source of knowledge and a decision-maker, team members can determine the assignment of roles in the group by themselves. Evaluation of teamwork in technology education is an integral part of alternative assessment.     

Reproducibility investigation of elicitation techniques in risk assessment for hydraulic turbines

Abstract

Certain elicitation techniques exert some control on expert opinions by leading them to a consensus or to a specific choice. In the absence of such guidelines, experts rely on their own knowledge to formulate opinions. This can result in large dispersions and affects the decision maker’s judgment. In this situation, we wonder what the relevant elicitation techniques are and how we can help experts to express their knowledge. From literature review, it is hard to decide if elicitation techniques are equivalent or not, which justifies the reproducibility analysis that we carry out in this paper. In this study, multiple experts have been involved in order to predict the defect size in hydraulic turbines, according to four proposed elicitation techniques. The comparison between these techniques was performed based on a suggested algorithm using the area metric concept. Our Findings show that elicitation techniques with ‘support’ tend to limit variations between experts and might be suitable only when prior knowledge on the expected elicited variable is available. Otherwise, we can end up with a distorted opinion of the elicited variable and an erroneous risk assessment.     

基于建立估价模型的企业并购绩效评价研究

企业并购绩效可借助一些方法加以评价,本文重点研究建立估价模型评价并购绩效。本文首先深入研究建立估价模型评价企业并购绩效的基本原理；在此基础上,通过对具体案例并购绩效实证研究进一步验证文中观点。本文认为建立估价模型、借助于EVA评价企业并购绩效是一种比较理想的方法。     

企业并购中的组织文化冲突和文化评估

本文立足于组织文化与企业并购的关系,阐述文化评估对于企业并购中组织文化冲突的意义。     

一种基于信号机制在UNIX实时应用中快速传递信息的方法

在多进程的实时应用程序中，进程之间往往需要通过传递一些信息来达到资源共享的目的。介绍了一种基于信号机制在UNIX实时应用中的两个进程之间实现快速传递信息的方法，提高了实时性。     

Possible economic impacts of a shutdown of the thermohaline circulation: an application of <Emphasis Type="Italic">FUND</Emphasis>

Climate change can lead to a substantial reduction of the strength of the thermohaline circulation in the world oceans. This is often thought to have severe consequences particularly on the North Atlantic region and Northern and Western Europe. The integrated assessment model FUND is used to estimate the extent of these impacts. The results indicate that, owing to a slower warming (rather than cooling) of the regions most affected by a thermohaline circulation collapse, climate change induced damages in these regions would be smaller in case of a shutdown of the thermohaline circulation. However, even with a thermohaline circulation collapse, the total and marginal impacts of climate change are negative.JEL Classification: Q510, Q540We are grateful to Till Kuhlbrodt for providing the CLIMBER data and to Andre Krebber for processing them. The German Federal Ministry for Education and Research through the INTEGRATION project, the US National Science Foundation through the Center for Integrated Study of the Human Dimensions of Global Change (SBR-9521914) and the Michael Otto Foundation provided welcome financial support.     

Measuring the Implementation of Codes of Conduct. An Assessment Method Based on a Process Approach of the Responsible Organisation

More and more organisations formulate a code of conduct in order to stimulate responsible behaviour among their members. Much time and energy is usually spent fixing the content of the code but many organisations get stuck in the challenge of implementing and maintaining the code. The code then turns into nothing else than the notorious "paper in the drawer", without achieving its aims. The challenge of implementation is to utilize the dynamics which have emerged from the formulation of the code. This will support a continuous process of reflection on the central values and standards contained in the code. This paper presents an assessment method, based on the EFQM model, which intends to support this implementation process.     

模糊数学在标准评估中的应用

简述了如何将模糊数学方法应用于对标准进行综合评估的过程;分析了各种类型标准及处在各阶段的标准所具有的特点,提出应选择的评判因素,并结合实例叙述了标准评估的步骤。使用此方法可将各方专家的模糊评价语言进行数学处理,实现了对标准的多方面、多层次的综合定量评估。     

基于完整性管理的油气管道施工质量评价

基于施工质量在管道完整性管理中的重要作用,提出了对油气管道施工质量进行科学合理评价的新方法。并对影响管道施工质量的焊接、防腐和埋设三个主要方面及其相关的质量影响因素进行了简要分析。根据实际情况与专家打分,应用多级模糊综合评价模型对某一埋地管道施工质量进行了综合评价。最后对提高施工质量提出了参考建议。