The Supreme Court Holds Class on Sexual Harassment: How to Avoid a Failing Grade

This article analyzes the three recent sexual harassment cases decided by the U.S. Supreme Court in its 1997–98 session. The purpose is to highlight the most common mistakes made by management as evidenced by the case history on this topic. Each mistake is described in the context of the cases and with reference to widespread business practices. The explanation of each error is followed by a brief practical directive to aid management in formulating appropriate policies and practices on that topic. A concluding section describes the desired result of each recommendation from the perspective of the employees. This article gives managers a quick checklist to ensure that their policies and practices avoid common problems and are up to date with the latest court interpretations on sexual harassment.     

震后重建为契机的城市政策转型:墨西哥城案例的启示

1985墨西哥城发生8.1级地震,是世界上为数不多的发生在国家首都的中心地区、并使人口和公共设施都受到严重损害的地震。地震发生时墨西哥正处于快速城市化和经济衰退时期、正要推出一系列改革的起步阶段,面对如此巨大的损失,震后重建的政策调整显得尤为关键。以首都重建为契机,墨西哥政府开始关注城市宏观发展策略、可负担性住房和法规健全等问题,并且通过一系列震后改革策略来推进城市管治思路的转型。事实上,这些震后推出的新政策对城市发展产生了深远的影响:城市中心职能外迁促进了城市功能的有机疏散;以低收入住房为主的住房政策推动了城市的郊区化,同时也使城市中心区住房产权发生了本质性转变;从立法角度对城市进行灾害危险性分区,并对建筑单体构造性能进行严格规定。同样发生在发展中国家高速城市化时期的灾害,墨西哥震后重建的经验和教训将对中国城市防灾抗灾提供重要的借鉴意义。     

Time Past and Time Present: a Duration Analysis of IMF Program Spells*

The programs of the IMF were designed to provide short‐term assistance to countries with balance‐of‐ payments disequilibria. Over time, however, the Fund instituted new facilities with longer time horizons, while many countries adopted consecutive programs. As a result, the length of time spent by countries in IMF programs has grown. This paper analyzes IMF program spells for a group of developing economies over the period of 1982–2000. Duration models are used to investigate the time dependence of the spells and the factors that affect their duration. The hazard ratio of spells has a nonmonotonic shape, first rising and then falling. Spell duration is independent of previous spell length or the number of spells. Program duration is extended for countries with lower income, exports concentrated in primary goods, landlocked geographic status and autocratic regimes. Governments that are polarized have shorter spells, which may reflect a breakdown in governance.     

The status of biotehnology-based innovation

This paper contributes to the debate surrounding the question of whether biotechnology, particularly its applications in agricultural and food-related industries, should be regarded as revolutionary or evolutionary (with some reservations about the vaildity of teh question). The potential to create a revolutionary techno-economic paradigm shift does exist but it is currently systems. It is also important to consider the motivations underlying statements about the revolutionary/ evolutionary nature of biotechnology, as some such statements are intended to influence events rather than to reflect them. The impact of small firms on the direction and place of revolutionary change in these industries is likely to be marginal, unlike the situation in the early phases of teh electronics/IT revolution. At present the lack of integration of policy initiatives by national governments and the EC is a major factor discouraging the rapid implementation of change.     

The formal system paradogm for studying failures

One way in which general lessons may be learnt from sets of failures and disasters is by using a common conceptual framework for analysis. Many authors have found the use of individual systems concepts useful in their studies of failure. This paper presents a unified model that draws together those concepts and other related concepts. The model that is described forms part of a systemic methodology which has been used successfully in the understanding of failures. It is suggested that the model could be developed further so as to become a predictive and preventative tool.     

The making of women trade union leaders

A trade union's constitution is intended to produce its leaders in a democratic and even-handed manner, but the reality for women is one of inequality. They remain almost invisible in senior positions in British unions. The social processes by which women do or do not progress in a union's career structure are investigated through a case study of SOGAT ‘82.     

EXPLORING STRATEGY PERCEPTIONS IN CHANGING ENVIRONMENTS*

This article explores how a firm perceives its own strategy and that of its competitors. Findings from an exploratory, sociometric study covering both a period of ‘boom’ and a period of ‘bust’ demonstrated that firms and competitors differ greatly in their strategy perceptions. These perceptions were also found to differ from ‘objective’ evaluations made by the investigator. None of the firms studied was found to change their basic strategy in response to environmental jolts.