James B. Pick

Staffing, planning, and control of information systems in charitable nonprofit organizations

Abstract Staffing, planning, and management control of information systems in the private not-for-profit (or nonprofit) sector are studied, based on a survey of symphony organizations in the United States and Canada. A conceptual model of information systems for charitable nonprofits is presented which emphasizes staffing, planning, and control. Empirical results for symphony orchestras reveal low IS funding, weaknesses in IS staffing, heavy dependence on outside expertise, low levels of IS training, inadequate IS planning and control, and moderate IS satisfaction. The model is tested empirically and found to be largely valid. A model modification is suggested in assessing the factor of IS satisfaction.

Geographical distribution and variation in selected socioeconomic variables for municipios in six Mexican Border States, 1980

The present study analyzes data on selected socioeconomic characteristics for the six states of Mexico on the U.S.-Mexico border utilizing data on the regions 272 municipios. A common definition of the Mexican borderlands, the one adopted in the present research, includes the six states of Baja California, Sonora, Chihuahua, Coahuila, Nuevo Leon, and Tamaulipas (Beegle et al. 1960; Stoddard et al. 1983; and Reich 1984). On occasion, researchers have modified the definition to encompass a seven state region, including the above states plus Baja California Sur (Stoddard 1983). The present analysis differs from all previous studies except Beegle et al. (1960) by analyzing all Mexican borderlands municipios. The data are first presented with descriptive statistics and computer mapping. Then, relationships among variables are examined at both regional and state levels.

Twentieth Century Migration to Baja California

This study examines state migration patterns to Baja California for most of the twentieth century. Methods of analysis include computerized mapping and regression. Findings indicate that, in spite of very rapid population growth in Baja California, the geographic distribution for origin states of migration to Baja remained consistent over eighty years of censuses from 1900 to 1980. Furthermore, there is strong consistency in the determinants of migration over the eighty years. There is ample indication that the intervening distance/obstacles hypothesis is a major factor in explaining migration patterns in Mexico, especially to the border region. Also, an economic opportunity model of migration explains at least part of the two major, contrasting migration patterns that have historically occurred in Mexico during this century, one to the Federal District and the other to the U.S. borderlands area, especially Baja California (for a contrasting view, see Davis 1981). This article examines the concepts of intervening distance/obstacles as opposed to economic opportunities influences upon migration (Fukurai et al. 1987a, Greenwood et al. 1981, King 1978, Lowly 1966, Rogers 1968, Whetten and Burnight 1956, Zipf 1946).

Correlates of fertility and mortality in low-migration standard metropolitan statistical areas.

Significant determinants of fertility and mortality were looked for among 17 demographic and socioeconomic variables characterizing the populations of 29 low-migration standard metropolitan statistical areas (SMSAs). Regression analysis showed density to be correlated negatively with life expectancy of white females and positively with the gross reproduction rate (GRR) of nonwhites. The GRR of whites was inversely related to the level of medical care but the GRR of nonwhites was most closely linked to the percent of nonwhites in an area with higher percentages lowering the GRR. Greater white income increased nonwhite infant female mortality possibly because of competition for medical services.

Projection of farm labor displacement from geothermal development, Imperial County, California, U.S.A.

A methodology is introduced to project the number of farm laborers displaced by reduction in agricultural land by geothermal energy development. For each geothermal area, the projection is based on estimates of land used for energy facilities and of land environmentally disrupted, on estimates of manpower per acre by crop type, and on estimates of alternative employment of farm laborers. Each areas projected farm labor force displacement per 100 megawatts is multiplied by the areas projected geothermal capacity. Results for Imperial County, California, indicate maximal farm laborer displacement in 25 years of 4.81 percent of the 1970 farm labor force. Assumption of slant drilling techniques reduces projected displacement. Distribution of crop types also significantly affects displacement. The methodology is transferable to other agricultural areas undergoing geothermal development.

An alternate approach to analyzing convergence by Leslie matrices

The process of convergence of a population vector to its stable equivalent under iteration by a Leslie matrix is analyzed. The norm mostly used is an additive norm, called the eigen‐norm. A natural convergence measure S is shown to be monotonic non‐increasing upon matrix iteration. Guaranteed rates of convergence of S for any population are described by functions F and B, and results are obtained for these functions. Analogous measures based upon concepts of spectral decompositions are considered. Corresponding results are presented, and comparisons made between these spectral measures and natural measures from a theoretical approach and from data analyses of samples of modern populations.

Socioeconomic determinants of fertility: selected Mexican regions, 1976-1977

Cumulative fertility is analyzed for 4 regions of Mexico, based on World Fertility Survey data of 1976-77; the state of Baja California, the Northwest region, the State of Jalisco, and the Northeast region. Based on stepwise regression methodology, the study compares results for 12 subsamples of married respondents, 3 age categories by 4 regions. The dependent variables are children ever born and children ever born in the last 5 years. Migration, urban, educational, and occupational variables are included as independent variables. Regression results reveal level of education is the major, and negative, influence on fertility. Other results include specific negative effects for prior occupation, size of place of residence, and childhood place of residence. Fertility effects appear different for migration origin and destination regions, but more similar for younger ages. Effects of migration on fertility are small. Mean fertility as measured by children ever born was 4.34 for the 1976-77 World Fertility Survey samples versus 3.69 for the Mexican census of 1980. Fertility varied somewhat by region with the highest and lowest values in Jalisco and the Northeast, respectively. Expected age-related changes in fertility were noted.