The Ethical Case for Affirmative Action

Affirmative action has been a particularly contentious policy issue that has polarised contributions to the debate. Over recent times in most western countries, support for affirmative action has, however, been largely snuffed out or beaten into retreat and replaced by the concept of ‹diversity management’. Thus, any contemporary study that examines the development of affirmative action would suggest that its opponents have won the battle. Nonetheless, this article argues that because the battle has been won on dubious ethical grounds it is important that we do not allow affirmative action to sink unnoticed. This article explores and challenges the ethical and philosophical underpinnings of opponents’ views and finds their cases against affirmative action are not ethically sound. The article concludes there are strong ethical grounds for those organisations which seek to do well, to reassert affirmative action programmes in the global efforts to eradicate systemic discrimination and disadvantage.     

COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF FARM ACCOUNTS

With the development of farm management extension services in Australia, a need has arisen for an analytical technique which can be handled by extension officers and readily comprehended by farmers. Inter farm comparison met this need at a similar stage of development in the United States and United Kingdom, and its application to Australian conditions is discussed. Comparative analysis is presented as an integral feature of farm management accounting.     

Computational techniques for analysis of system dynamics models of social systems

This paper presents a methodology for analysis of system dynamics models of social systems. The methodology consists of computational algorithms Specifically, the computational techniques of sensitivity analysis as extended to system dynamics models are shown to enhance an understanding of model behavior and to contribute to considerations of model validity, whereas optimization analyses are shown to contribute to model utility and policy formulation.     

Student ratings of teaching effectiveness: What the research reveals

Over the years, evaluation of teaching effectiveness has been a significant issue facing faculty and administrators of accounting programs. This paper examines prior research on the validity and reliability of the most commonly used evaluation method, student ratings. The reviews purpose is to provide accounting educators with an understanding of the major research findings as well as their implications. The extent to which these findings can be generalized to an accounting program setting is a question that should be addressed by future research studies.