Robert L. Steiner

The effects of a group decision support system on culturally diverse and culturally homogeneous group decision making

Abstract Considerable research has been conducted over the last decade on the effects of using Group Decision Support Systems (GDSS) in group decision making. Studies have examined the influence of GDSS on such variables as group task, size, quality of decision, and satisfaction with the process. However, only a few studies have focused on the use of GDSS and its interaction with group composition. This study compared the effects of group decision making, both with and without GDSS technology, on culturally diverse and homogeneous groups. Group performance was measured by the number of non-redundant, realistic ideas and the quality of solution produced in response to posed problems. The GDSS used in the study was Vision Quest. Groups using it, regardless of cultural make up, developed a significantly higher number of non-redundant, realistic ideas than groups that did not. Furthermore, among groups using the GDSS, culturally diverse groups produced a significantly higher number of non-redundant, realistic ideas than homogeneous groups that used the GDSS. Implications for diversity management and group support research are suggested.

The influence of group decision support systems on contribution and commitment levels in multicultural and culturally homogeneous decision-making groups

Research concerning cultural diversity reports that the cultural composition of a group differentially affects group member contribution and commitment levels. In multicultural groups, the majority culture may dominate the decision-making process and ethnic minorities can be perceived to have a lower status due to their position within the social hierarchy. However, research also suggests that group decision making may be structured to promote a more equitable group process. Studies on group decision support systems (GDSS) cite improvements in group processing via the structure and anonymity that can be offered by the technology. This paper presents the results of a pilot study which compared the effects of group decision making, both with and without GDSS technology, on multicultural and homogeneous groups. Findings revealed that both multicultural and homogeneous groups had significantly higher levels of perceived contribution in the GDSS environment. However, there were no significant differences in terms of perceived contribution, commitment, or personal influence between groups in either environment. None the less, all groups achieved a higher number of brainstormed ideas in the GDSS environment. In addition, multicultural groups achieved a statistically higher number of ideas in the GDSS environment in comparison with homogenous groups in the GDSS environment.

Selection and retention of managers in the US restaurant sector

Reports on a survey of chain and independent restaurants in the USA designed to learn about current practices in selection and retention of managerial personnel; of 584 surveys sent out, 112 were returned for a response rate of 19.2 per cent. Findings indicate that reference checks, structured interviews and unstructured interviews are the most frequently‐used and effective selection procedures. Chain restaurants are more likely to use structured interviews, credit checks and police checks than independent restaurants. Annual managerial turnover is 18.6 per cent for the combined sample and costs US

WORK AND FAMILY BALANCE AMONG DUAL-EARNER WORKING-CLASS MEXICAN-AMERICANS: IMPLICATIONS FOR THERAPISTS

8,858 per turnover incident. Chain restaurants report higher and more costly managerial turnover (29.7 per cent for chains against 5.8 per cent turnover for independents; US

Microbial diversity and activity of disturbed soil in the northern Chihuahuan Desert

11,112 per incident for chains against US

Using Team Learning to Improve Student Retention

3,386 for independents). Provides two examples of good selection practices.

The Digital Divide for Hispanic Americans

The ability to balance work and family demands can affect marital satisfaction, family cohesion, and job satisfaction. While most research in this area has utilized middle-class Anglo-American samples, the present investigation examined dual-earner, working-class Mexican- Americans. Positive relationships were found between work-family balance and satisfaction with marriage, family life and jobs with gender and acculturation showing moderating effects on some variables. Family therapists should be cognizant of the impact of work- family demands on marriage and family functioning even when working class minority families do not offer these issues as presenting problems.

Uses of computer‐mediated political communication in the 1992 presidential campaign: A content analysis of the Bush, Clinton and Perot computer lists

Abstract The effects of intense grazing, seasonal drought, and fire on soil microbial diversity (substrate utilization) and activity in a northern Chihuahuan Desert grassland were measured in summer 1997, winter 1998, and spring 1998. Intense livestock grazing was initiated in winter 1995, burning occurred in August 1994, and drought stresses were imposed from October 1994 to June 1997. Microbial diversity was inferred from the carbon substrate utilization patterns in both gram (+) and gram (–) Biolog plates. Microbial activity was estimated by the activity of selected enzymes. Neither microbial diversity nor activity was affected by grazing. The interaction of intense grazing and stress sub-treatments only occurred in spring for one set of diversity measurements. The maximum microbial diversity and activity occurred in the winter-drought-stress sub-plots in summer and spring. Burning reduced microbial diversity and most enzyme activities as compared to the control in summer and spring. Microbial diversity was also lower in summer-drought-stress sub-plots than in the control in summer and spring. Microbial diversity was highest in summer, intermediate in winter, and lowest in spring. Microbial activity was generally higher in summer and lower in winter. It was concluded that substrate availability was the most important factor affecting the diversity and activity of soil microorganisms within a season. Soil moisture was not the factor causing differences in microbial diversity and activity among the stress treatments, but it was a predictor for some microbial responses under a particular stress.

Residual toxicity after biodegradation: interactions among benzene, toluene, and chloroform

In an effort to improve the retention rate in their entry-level information systems course, the authors of this article integrated a team-learning approach into its instructional format. This article describes the steps taken, including how team learning compares with the traditional approach based on lecture with occasional group exercises, and presents data demonstrating the effectiveness of the team-learning approach in terms of student retention and performance. The authors found that the use of team learning significantly increased student retention but did not significantly change performance levels.

Further Validation of the Adolescent Form of the SASSI

This study reports the data analysis of a probability sample of Anglo and Hispanic adults. The research objective guiding the study concerned discovering differences there may be in Internet usage between Anglo and Hispanic Americans. Twelve hypotheses were derived from past research and tested in this study. The findings indicate that Anglo Americans are more likely than Hispanic Americans to use the Internet and are higher on net usage frequency after becoming users. The data also show that Anglo Americans are more likely than Hispanic Americans to achieve interpersonal communication benefits from using the Internet. No significant differences were found for political communication benefits between the two groups. We also found significant ethnic differences in skills necessary for using the Internet. The process of testing these hypotheses provides more clarity of what contributes to the gaps between Hispanic and Anglo Americans in using the Internet. Overall, it appears that income, education, and ethnicity are all important to Internet usage, but in specific and differing ways.