- Table View
- List View
Measurement across the Sciences: Developing a Shared Concept System for Measurement (Springer Series in Measurement Science and Technology)
by Mark Wilson Luca Mari Andrew MaulThis book proposes a conceptual framework for understanding measurement across a broad range of scientific fields and areas of application, such as physics, engineering, education, and psychology. The authors, who themselves span these disciplines, argue that the justification of the public trust attributed to measurement results can in principle apply identically to both physical and psychosocial properties. They further argue that the lack of a common conceptualization of measurement hampers interdisciplinary communication and limits the ability to share knowledge. They advance their views by first surveying the conceptual history of the philosophy of measurement and arguing that classical, operationalist and representational perspectives on measurement each make important contributions but also each have important shortcomings. A synthesis is then offered as the foundation for a new conceptual framework. The authors describe how the framework, which operates as a shared concept system, supports understanding measurement’s work in different domains, using examples in the physical and human sciences. They consider connections and consequences with respect to causality, objectivity, and intersubjectivity, among other topics, and how measurement science concepts and issues are construed across these disciplines and settings. They also address contemporary issues and controversies within measurement in the light of the framework, including operationalism, definitional uncertainty, and the relations between measurement and computation. The book concludes with a justification for the basic claim that measurement is an empirical and informational process that produces explicitly justifiable information. Researchers and academics across a wide range of disciplines including biological, physical, social and behavioral scientists, as well as specialists in measurement and philosophy will appreciate the work’s fresh and provocative approach to the field at a time when sound measurements of complex scientific systems are increasingly essential to solving critical global problems.
Measurement and Analysis of Performance of Industrial Crop Production: The Case of Iran’s Cotton and Sugar Beet Production (Perspectives On Development In The Middle East And North Africa (mena) Region Ser.)
by Masoomeh RashidghalamThis book employs different parametric and non-parametric panel data models which have been used in history of developed panel data efficiency measurement literature. It assesses the differences of models based on characteristics and efficiency scores measurement using a systematic sensitivity analysis of the results. On the whole twelve parametric and four nonparametric models were studied. Parametric models are classified in four groups in terms of the assumptions made on the temporal behavior of inefficiency. A common issue among all the parametric models is that inefficiency is individual producer-specific. This is consistent with the notion of measuring the efficiency of decision-making units. Non-parametric models are divided into partial and full frontier models. A main contribution of this volume is that it helps to understand differences between parametric and non-parametric models. On empirical part of the volume, technical efficiency of two agricultural strategic crops (cotton and sugar beet) in different provinces of the Iran are analyzed. Using different models, the most efficient and inefficient provinces in cotton and sugar beet production of Iran are recognized.
Measurement and Management in the Information Age
by Robert S. Kaplan David P. NortonToday, organizations are competing in such complex environments that an accurate understanding of their goals and the methods for attaining those goals is vital. The Balanced Scorecard translates an organization's mission and strategy into a comprehensive set of performance measures that provide the framework for a strategic measurement and management system. This chapter introduces the Balanced Scorecard, which enables companies to track financial results while simultaneously monitoring progress in building the capabilities and acquiring the intangible assets they need for future growth. This chapter was originally published as chapter 1 of "The Balanced Scorecard: Translating Strategy into Action."
Measurement for the Social Sciences
by John R. RossiterThis book proposes a revolutionary new theory of construct measurement - called C-OAR-SE - for the social sciences. The acronym is derived from the following key elements: construct definition; object representation; attribute classification; rater entity identification; selection of item type; enumeration and scoring. The new theory is applicable to the design of measures of constructs in: * Management * Marketing * Information Systems * Organizational Behavior * Psychology * Sociology C-OAR-SE is a rationally rather than empirically-based theory and procedure. It can be used for designing measures of the most complex and also the most basic constructs that we use in social science research. C-OAR-SE is a radical alternative to the traditional empirically-based psychometric approach, and a considerable amount of the book's content is devoted to demonstrating why the psychometric approach does not produce valid measures. The book argues that the psychometric approach has resulted in many misleading findings in the social sciences and has led to erroneous acceptance - or rejection - of many of our main theories and hypotheses, and that the C-OAR-SE approach to measurement would correct this massive problem. The main purpose of this book is to introduce and explain C-OAR-SE construct measurement theory in a way that will be understood by all social science researchers and that can be applied to designing new, more valid measures. Featuring numerous examples, practical applications, end-of-chapter questions, and appendices, the book will serve as an essential resource for students and professional researcher alike.
Measurement in Marketing: Operationalization of Latent Constructs
by Azza FrikhaScientific research uses concepts (or constructs) and requires means to measure them. Often latent, abstract and not directly observable, these concepts demand special attention. When facing problems related to their operationalization, considerable efforts are required to construe measures that effectively represent the phenomena studied. Measurement in Marketing presents a wide range of ideas to help researchers in the selection, design and validation of measurements of constructs. It analyzes the provisions that must be implemented to allow the transition from a latent conceptual construct to an operational level close to reality, and thus to make possible a fluid, reliable and valid reading of the phenomena observed. This instructive book guides readers through all stages of the implementation of a measure. It is intended for a wide audience, offering examples, summary tables and boxes in order to emphasize the primary information.
Measurement of Facilities Management Performance in Ghana's Public Hospitals (Management in the Built Environment)
by Daniel Amos Cheong Peng Au-Yong Zairul Nisham MusaThis book presents the concept of healthcare facilities management performance measurement (HCFMPM) using Ghana as a case study. It set forth in-depth theoretical and empirical underpinnings of performance measurement concepts for hospital facilities services, with the view to demonstrate critical performance dimensions to improve FM contributions and added value to healthcare delivery. The research approach adopted is mixed method encompassing qualitative interviews in case study setting and a questionnaire survey of sampled hospitals in Ghana. The book presents a number of useful tables, graphs as well as a pedagogic illustration of statistical analysis which are useful in understanding the concepts under reference. It develops a structural equation model for performance measurement of FM services. The book is of relevance to healthcare managers, facilities management practitioners and academics towards measuring and improving FM performance in hospitals. Although the data used in the analysis is based on the case study country Ghana, the result is by extension useful to several developing countries faced with the challenge to improve FM services delivery in public hospitals as well as other facilities management sectors.
Measurement of Fiscal Impact: Methodological Issues
by Mario I. Blejer Ke-Young ChuA report from the International Monetary Fund.
Measurement of Human Resources (Routledge Library Editions: Human Resource Management #34)
by W T Singleton P SpurgeonThe issue of physical resources is one of considerable interest in the field of human resource management, but the solution to such difficulties must depend upon the skills and enterprise of those in positions of management. The purpose of this book, first published in 1975, is to focus upon these skills and upon the issues involved in examining the utilisation of human resources. The concept of human resources is an extremely broad one and there are many relevant disciplines. Each discipline provides information with respect to monitoring, developing or utilising the human resource. The set of papers in this volume will provide a source of reference for a wide range of research worker, practitioners and students in the total sphere of human resources as well as within the various disciplines represented.
Measurement of Nontariff Barriers
by Robert M. Stern Alan V. DeardorffAs tariffs on imports of manufactures have been reduced as a result of multi-lateral trade negotiations, interest in the extent to which existing nontariff barriers may distort and restrict international trade is growing. Accurate and reliable measures are needed in order to address the issues involving the use and impacts of nontariff barriers. This study assesses currently available methods for quantifying such barriers and makes recommendations as to those methods that can be most effectively employed. The authors focus both on the conceptual issues arising in the measurement of the different types of nontariff barriers and on the applied research that has been carried out in studies prepared by country members of the OECD Pilot Group and others seeking to quantify the barriers. Nontariff barriers include quotas, variable levies, voluntary export restraints, government procurement regulations, domestic subsidies, and antidumping and countervailing duty measures. The authors discuss the many different methods available for measuring the effects of these and other nontariff barriers. Illustrative results are presented for industrial OECD countries, including Australia, Canada, Germany, Norway, the European Union, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Finally, the authors offer guideline principles and recommend procedures for measuring different types of nontariff barriers.
Measurement of Productivity and Efficiency: Theory and Practice
by Professor Robin C. Sickles Professor Valentin ZelenyukMethods and perspectives to model and measure productivity and efficiency have made a number of important advances in the last decade. Using the standard and innovative formulations of the theory and practice of efficiency and productivity measurement, Robin C. Sickles and Valentin Zelenyuk provide a comprehensive approach to productivity and efficiency analysis, covering its theoretical underpinnings and its empirical implementation, paying particular attention to the implications of neoclassical economic theory. A distinct feature of the book is that it presents a wide array of theoretical and empirical methods utilized by researchers and practitioners who study productivity issues. An accompanying website includes methods, programming codes that can be used with widely available software like Matlab, R, and Julia, and test data for many of the productivity and efficiency estimators discussed in the book. It will be valuable to upper-level undergraduates, graduate students, and professionals.
Measurement, Modeling and Automation in Advanced Food Processing
by Bernd HitzmannThis book review series presents current trends in modern biotechnology. The aim is to cover all aspects of this interdisciplinary technology where knowledge, methods and expertise are required from chemistry, biochemistry, microbiology, genetics, chemical engineering and computer science. Volumes are organized topically and provide a comprehensive discussion of developments in the respective field over the past 3-5 years. The series also discusses new discoveries and applications. Special volumes are dedicated to selected topics which focus on new biotechnological products and new processes for their synthesis and purification. In general, special volumes are edited by well-known guest editors. The series editor and publisher will however always be pleased to receive suggestions and supplementary information. Manuscripts are accepted in English.
Measurement, Modelling and Evaluation of Computing Systems: 19th International GI/ITG Conference, MMB 2018, Erlangen, Germany, February 26-28, 2018, Proceedings (Lecture Notes in Computer Science #10740)
by Reinhard German Kai-Steffen Hielscher Udo R. KriegerThis book constitutes the proceedings of the 19th International GI/ITG Conference on Measurement, Modelling and Evaluation of Computing Systems, MMB 2018, held in Erlangen, Germany, in February 2018. The 16 full papers, 4 PhD track papers, and 9 tool papers presented in this volume were carefully reviewed and selected from 42 submissions. They are dealing with performance and dependability evaluation techniques for computer and communication systems and its related fields.
Measurement, Quantification and Economic Analysis: Numeracy in Economics
by Ingrid H. RimaMost economists assume that the mathematical and quantative sides of their science are relatively recent developments. Measurement, Quantification and Economic Analysis shows that this is a misconception. Its authors argue that economists have long relied on measurement and quantification as essential tools. However, problems have arisen in adapting these tools from other fields. Ultimately, the authors are sceptical about the role which measurement and quantification tools now play in contemporary economic theory.
Measures of Social Evolution: Macroeconomic Indicators of Social Stability (SpringerBriefs in Sociology)
by Erik W. AslaksenThis book extends a previously published model of social evolution by using macroeconomic measures to indicate both the current state of the society, and its evolutionary trajectory. This model considers society as a system of interacting elements evolving through stages of increasing strength of interaction and complexity of structure. It measures society in constituting the world collectively, with nation-states as the elements, here described through macroeconomic measures such as GDP, government expenditure, and inequality. The economic data presented indicates that this stage is approaching the next evolutionary step, which is either the formation of a world society of nations, with an associated overarching common infrastructure absorbing some of the sovereign functions of nation-states as they exist today, or as a society of competing groups of nations, each bound by alliances and bilateral agreements. The book explores how the former faces great obstacles in the form of nationalism and a misunderstood concept of sovereignty, and poses that it is in an embryonic stage. The author poses that it is this structure that would be best equipped to handle common challenges, such as the environment and global warming, and topically, pandemics. A novel interdisciplinary text in social complexity, this book is of interest to researchers in socio-economic fields.
Measures of Underlying Inflation in Sri Lanka
by Magnus Saxegaard Souvik GuptaA report from the International Monetary Fund.
Measuring Advertising Effectiveness
by William D. WellsThis volume includes edited and revised versions of the papers delivered and discussed at the recent Advertising and Consumer Psychology Conference. Following the theme of the conference -- "Measuring Advertising Effectiveness" -- the book blends academic psychology, marketing theory, survey methodology, and practical experience, while simultaneously addressing the problems and limitations of advertising. Acknowledging that advertisements are subtle, diverse, complex phenomena that require detailed investigation, this compilation explores the multidimensional nature of advertising's diverse effects from both academic and applied perspectives. Updates on theories and methods -- along with expert commentaries -- help to make this a valuable collection that will be of interest to advertising and marketing specialists and communications experts alike.
Measuring And Sustaining The New Economy: Enhancing Productivity Growth In The Information Age
by National Research Council of the National AcademiesStarting in the mid 1990s, the United States economy experienced an unprecedented upsurge in economic productivity. Rapid technological change in communications, computing, and information management continue to promise further gains in productivity, a phenomenon often referred to as the New Economy. To better understand this phenomenon, the National Academies Board on Science, Technology, and Economic Policy (STEP) initiated a project to better measure the contributions of different elements of the “new economy” (semiconductors, computers, software, and telecommunications) and to develop policies to meet the needs of these growth-enhancing industries. Accompanied by four workshop reports, this summary volume describes the steps required to better measure and sustain the benefits of this “new economy” in the sectors examined.
Measuring Business Excellence (Routledge Advances in Management and Business Studies #Vol. 21)
by Gopal K. KanjiBusiness Excellence and Total Quality Management (TQM) models provide a means of measuring the satisfaction of customers, employees and shareholders simultaneously. A number of such models currently exist, but, the author argues, none of these address all dimensions of TQM.This book introduces the principles of TQM, and establishes their use in measuring Business Excellence in an organisational environment. It comparatively evaluates various TQM and Business Excellence models, and discusses the complexities of measuring success.Presenting important, innovative work by one of the most eminent scholars in the field, this book is essential reading for both academics and professionals working in quality management.
Measuring Business Interruption Losses and Other Commercial Damages
by Gaughan Patrick A.An updated explanation of the methodology for how lost profits should be measured Now fully revised and updated, focused on commercial litigation and the many common types of cases, this is the only book in the field to explain the complicated process of measuring business interruption damages. The book features an easy to understand and apply, step-by-step process for how losses should be measured so as to be accurate and reliable and consistent with the relevant laws. With a new chapter on the economics of punitive damages, the new edition also explains detailed methods for measuring damages in contract litigation, intellectual property lawsuits, antitrust, and securities cases. This new Second Edition incorporates the latest developments in the fields of economics and accounting, while also integrating the most current changes in case law. Here's what you will find Each chapter includes new materials and updated content Added websites for sources of data Includes a website for updated tables that can be utilized by readers A section of the new cases involving Daubert challenges to economists Includes methods on how to do industry research A new section covering the equity risk premium and the various recent research studies, which set forth the debate on what the premium should be Containing exhibits, tables, and graphs, new cases involving Dauber, how to do industry research, equity risk premium, research studies on the marketability discount, anti-trust, punitive damages, and more, Measuring Business Interruption Losses and Other Commercial Damages, Second Edition incorporates the relevant literature and research that has come out in this field over the past four years.
Measuring Business Interruption Losses and Other Commercial Damages: An Economic Approach
by Patrick A. GaughanMeasure business interruption losses with confidence You hope for the best and plan for the worst. It’s your job. But when the unimaginable happens, are you truly prepared for those business interruption losses? Measuring Business Interruption Losses and Other Commercial Damages is the only book in the field that explains the complicated process of measuring business interruption damages after you’ve been hit by the unexpected, whether the losses are from natural or man-made disasters, or whether the performance of one company adversely affects the performance of another. Understand the methodology for how lost profits should be measured Deal with the many common types of cases in business interruption lawsuits in commercial litigation Take a look at exhibits, tables, and graphs Benefit from updated data, case studies, and case law references Don’t get caught off guard. Get ahead of planning for measuring your interruption losses before disaster strikes.
Measuring Capital in the New Economy
by John Carol Daniel Corrado Haltiwanger SichelAs the accelerated technological advances of the past two decades continue to reshape the United States' economy, intangible assets and high-technology investments are taking larger roles. These developments have raised a number of concerns, such as: how do we measure intangible assets? Are we accurately appraising newer, high-technology capital? The answers to these questions have broad implications for the assessment of the economy's growth over the long term, for the pace of technological advancement in the economy, and for estimates of the nation's wealth. In Measuring Capital in the New Economy, Carol Corrado, John Haltiwanger, Daniel Sichel, and a host of distinguished collaborators offer new approaches for measuring capital in an economy that is increasingly dominated by high-technology capital and intangible assets. As the contributors show, high-tech capital and intangible assets affect the economy in ways that are notoriously difficult to appraise. In this detailed and thorough analysis of the problem and its solutions, the contributors study the nature of these relationships and provide guidance as to what factors should be included in calculations of different types of capital for economists, policymakers, and the financial and accounting communities alike.
Measuring Capital in the New Economy
by John Haltiwanger Carol Corrado Daniel SichelAs the accelerated technological advances of the past two decades continue to reshape the United States' economy, intangible assets and high-technology investments are taking larger roles. These developments have raised a number of concerns, such as: how do we measure intangible assets? Are we accurately appraising newer, high-technology capital? The answers to these questions have broad implications for the assessment of the economy's growth over the long term, for the pace of technological advancement in the economy, and for estimates of the nation's wealth. In Measuring Capital in the New Economy, Carol Corrado, John Haltiwanger, Daniel Sichel, and a host of distinguished collaborators offer new approaches for measuring capital in an economy that is increasingly dominated by high-technology capital and intangible assets. As the contributors show, high-tech capital and intangible assets affect the economy in ways that are notoriously difficult to appraise. In this detailed and thorough analysis of the problem and its solutions, the contributors study the nature of these relationships and provide guidance as to what factors should be included in calculations of different types of capital for economists, policymakers, and the financial and accounting communities alike.
Measuring Compliance: Assessing Corporate Crime and Misconduct Prevention
by Benjamin Van Rooij Melissa RorieCompliance, or the behavioral response to legal rules, has become an important topic for academics and practitioners. A large body of work exists that describes different influences on business compliance, but a fundamental challenge remains: how to measure compliance or noncompliance behavior itself? Without proper measurement, it's impossible to evaluate existing management and regulatory enforcement practices. Measuring Compliance provides the first comprehensive overview of different approaches that are or could be used to measure compliance by business organizations. The book addresses the strengths and weaknesses of various methods and offers both academics and practitioners guidance on which measures are best for different purposes. In addition to understanding the importance of measuring compliance and its potential negative effects in a variety of contexts, readers will learn how to collect data to answer different questions in the compliance domain, and how to offer suggestions for improving compliance measurement.
Measuring Corruption (Law, Ethics And Governance Ser.)
by Arthur Shacklock Fredrik GaltungWith the advance of an increasingly globalized market, the opportunities for, and scale of, corruption is growing. The size of corporations and their wealth relative to nations provides the resources for corrupt practices. The liberalization of international financial markets makes transferring and hiding the proceeds of corruption easier. Moves towards privatization in East and West are providing once-only incentives for corruption on an unprecedented scale, as officials not only deal with the income of the state, but with its assets as well. In this book, Transparency International's (TI) world-renowned 'Corruption Perception Index' (CPI) and 'Bribery Perception Index' (BPI) are explained and examined by a group of experts. They set out to establish to what extent they are reliable measures of corruption and whether a series of surveys can measure changes in corruption and the effectiveness of anti-corruption strategies. The book contains a variety of expert contributions which deal with the complexity, difficulty and potential for measuring corruption as the key to developing effective strategies for combating it.
Measuring Customer Experience
by Philipp KlausNow, more than ever, customer experience plays a pivotal role in the success and longevity of a company. Based on rigorous scientific tools and global data, this book offers a simple but thorough guide on how to master the challenges of the market, and how to deliver superior performance through effective customer experience management.