The Effects of Technological Change on the Economic Impact of Agricultural Drought in Manitoba

A series of physical and economic models is used to simulate the effects of drought and two drought-mitigating cropping strategies on the performance of Manitoba's agricultural sector. A drought scenario, defined in terms of the weather events of 1936–37, is compared with anormal weather scenario, consisting of the average soil moistures of 1961 to 1982. Results simulated under 1979–80 economic/technological conditions indicate that, in the absence of drought-mitigating measures, two years of drought followed by three more “normal” years (1938 to 1940 weather) result in an average annual crop revenue loss of 10%, most of which accrues in the calendar year following the year of most severe drought. Examination of two potential drought-mitigating strategies – conservation tillage in conjunction with one million acres of winter wheat, and two irrigation projects – suggests that their revenue-enhancement effects predominate. The alternative strategies would result in significantly increased gross (but not necessarily net) sales revenues over the entire simulation period, but the variance of these revenues over time would not be attenuated. Nous avons eu recours à une série de modèles physiques et économiques pour simuler les effets de la sécheresse et de deux stratégies culturales visant à réquire ces effets sur le rendement du secteur agricole du Manitoba. Un scénario de sécheresse fondé sur les conditions observées en 1936–1937 a été comparé à un scénario normal fondé sur les conditions ?humidité moyenne du sol observées de 1961 à 1982. La combinaison de ces donnés et des conditions économiques et technologiques qui existaient en 1979–1980 laissent conclure qu'en ?absence de mesures de lutte contre la sécheresse, deux années de sécheresse suivies par trois années “normales” (conditions observées de 1938 à 1940) entraînent une perte moyenne annuelle des revenus des cultures de 10%, la majeure partie de cette perte survenant au cours de ?année civile suivant immédiatement ?année de la sécheresse la plus grave. ?étude de deux stratégies possibles de lutte contre la sécheresse (méthode de travail du sol favorisant la conservation et ensemencement ?un million ?acres en blé ?hiver et deux projets ?irrigation) laisse conclure que les effets ?augmentation du revenu prédominent. Les stratégies de rechange ont laissé voir des hausses sensibles des recettes brutes (mais pas nécessairement des recettes nettes) sur ?ensemble de la période de simulation mais la variance correspondant à ces recettes n'a pas été atténuée.     

Continuing the evolution of the selling process: A multi-level perspective

This paper considers the selling process from a relational perspective, thereby developing a more comprehensive understanding of the process. Emerging from this is a multi-level framework, which delineates the multiplicity and connectedness of relationships which exist in B2B interactions. The paper provides a relationship management tool for theorists as well as practitioners. The model visualizes strategic advantage for selling firms in seeking to optimize their position in an evolving network context. The combining of IMP, sales and relationship marketing theories that underpin this approach calls for further extension and/or reconceptualization of the selling process. Our reconceptualization asserts that identifying, measuring and managing selling-related relationships at the monadic, dyadic and network levels will facilitate the strengthening of a firm's network position and thus their performance. Our framework provides an analytical tool to assist in this.     

Emotional exhaustion and job performance: the mediating role of organizational commitment

We analyze the impact of emotional exhaustion (EE) on turnover intention, task performance and organizational citizenship behavior (OCB) among hospital nurses in China. The differential mediating effects of affective organizational commitment on the associations between EE and turnover intention, task performance and OCB were examined. Data were collected from both nurses and their supervising physicians using a questionnaire survey in Mandarin. The results revealed full mediation effect for turnover intention and for OCB directed at the organization. There was a significant indirect effect for OCB directed at individuals and no mediation effect for task performance.     

Dimensions of small business performance from the owner-manager's perspective: a re-conceptualization and empirical validation

Owner-managers make decisions and manage their firm as governed by the manner in which they conceptualize or ‘conceive’ performance for themselves and their firm, rather than being governed by researchers' and experts' conceptualizations of small business performance. On the basis of survey data obtained from 433 Canadian small businesses, this study aims at a deeper understanding of what owner-managers conceive performance to be, and to what extent this conception is determined by their objectives and social influences.     

An Exploratory Study in Community Perspectives of Sustainability Leadership in the Murray Darling Basin

This article explores the emergence of leadership during implementation of a water saving initiative in the rural community surrounding Barren Box Swamp in the Murray Darling Basin, Australia. Qualitative data analysis indicated that the system elements affecting the type of leadership to emerge included the extent to which the groups were engaged in the process, the level of access to resources, and the level of investment in the outcomes of the project. Although these results reinforced key aspects of complex problem-solving through collaboration, they demonstrated varying degrees and types of both engagement and leadership within the case community. Given the current finding that these varying elements can coincide within one system, this case suggests that each community’s characteristics, resources and context will determine the optimal combination of leadership style and level of collaboration needed to facilitate sustainable community development.