Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods Commons^™

Bulletin 4272 - Growing Bananas In Carnarvon, Terry Hill

Bulletins 4000 -

The banana industry in Carnarvon began with small plantings. plantings in the 1940s. Since that time the industry has grown and become the mainstay of the region's horticulture industry.

In 1991, there were 360 ha planted to bananas and the industry was valued at $18.2 million. The major market for the crop is the Perth metropolitan area and Carnarvon remains the major supplier to this market. In recent years the development of a banana industry in Kununurra has resulted in increased competition, particularly in the winter months.

The industry is sited on land bordering the Gascoyne River, close to the …

Measuring User Satisfaction Of The Electronic Mail System At Air Force Materiel Command Headquarters As An Indicator Of The System's Effectiveness, Randall R. Bradford

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of the electronic mail system at the Air Force Materiel Command Headquarters. User satisfaction was measured as an indicator of the systems effectiveness. In order to provide an objective measurement of system effectiveness, the following research questions were addressed: (1) What is system effectiveness in relation to this particular electronic mail system, and how should it be measured? (2) What measurement instruments can be adapted, modified, or created to measure effectiveness as it is defined for problem? (3) If a measurement instrument is administered what do the results of the …

Plan For Implementation Of Total Quality Management In The Republic Of China Air Force, Meng-Chun Chao

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study is to build a plan for implementation of Total Quality Management in the Republic of China Air Force. The primary TQM elements are reviewed through definitions, advantages, principles, tools and techniques, education and training, and continuous improvement. In order to establish a TQM plan, the related experience of quality improvement in the U.S. DOD are referenced. The characteristics of ROCAF related to TQM are analyzed and related culture issues are mentioned. The implementation plan includes four parts, top management orientation, TQM structure establishment, empowerment, and continuous improvement. A Chinese view of TQM continuous improvement models …

Benchmarking Practices Of Air Cargo Carriers: A Case Study Approach, Mila D. Abalateo, Joni R. Lee

Theses and Dissertations

This research effort used the benchmarking process and a case study methodology to determine what the Air Force can learn from commercial air cargo carriers. A literature search showed that the U.S. air cargo industry leaders are United Parcel Service, Federal Express, Emery Air Freight, Airborne Freight, DHL Airways, and Burlington Air Express. In addition, the 436th Aerial Port Squadron at Dover AFB, Delaware was chosen as the Air Force representative in the benchmarking study. Observations of air cargo operations and interviews with operational managers or applicable experts familiar with air cargo operations were conducted at each carrier's hub and …

The Effect Of Fill Patterns On Graphical Interpretation And Decision Making, Robert D. Helgeson, Robert A. Moriarty

Theses and Dissertations

This study investigated if decision makers could be mislead by computer generated vertical bar graphs that contained varying intensities of fill patterns. It also investigated if the misleading influence of vertical bar graphs caused any differences in interpretation or decision making. A literature review revealed a need to test bar graphs with varying intensities of fill patterns in a controlled environment. By creating vertical bar graphs that use fill patterns, stronger impressions may be produced on the decision maker which may lead to misinterpretations of the underlying data. An experiment was conducted on 182 mid to upper level Department of …

Fisheries Management Paper No 53 - Rock Lobster Industry Advisory Committee - Report To The Minister For Fisheries And Management Arrangements For 1992/93, Fisheries Department Of Western Australia

Fisheries Management Papers

The Minister for Fisheries announced the 1992/93 fishing season management arrangements for West Coast Rock Lobster Fishery on 11 August 1992. These arrangements arose as a result of the Minister's consideration of the Rock Lobster Industry Advisory Committee's recommendations outlined in Fisheries Management Paper no.46.

Following this announcement, on 28 August 1992, the Western Australian Fishing Industry Council Sub-Committee on rock lobster submitted a range of alternative management proposals.

The Rock Lobster Industry Advisory Committee (RLIAC) met in Perth on the 9 September 1992 at the request of the Minister for Fisheries to further examine and report on management arrangements.

Constraints Posed By Inadequate Data Supply To Planning And Evaluation Of Services In Nigeria., M. O Ojo Dr

Bullion

The paper discusses the importance of accurate, timely and adequate data in national planning and economic development of Nigeria.

Managing Russian Factory Workers: The Impact Of U.S.-Based Behavioral And Participative Techniques, Dianne H.B. Welsh, Fred Luthans, Steven M. Sommer

Department of Management: Faculty Publications

The new internationalization of the field of management has produced growing concern as to whether theories and techniques largely developed in the United States apply to other cultures. A within-subjects experimental design was used to analyze the impacts that three popular and successful techniques used in U.S. studies had on the performance of workers in the largest textile factory in the Russian republic of the former Soviet Union. Two techniques, providing extrinsic rewards and behavioral management, had significant,

The Small Plan Audit Program: The Opinions Of The Court, Arnold F. Shapiro

Journal of Actuarial Practice (1993–2006)

One of the most important issues of recent years from the perspective of many pension actuaries is the IRS's small plan audit program. The program initially was expected to raise two-thirds of a billion dollars by targeting well-funded defined benefit plans with five or fewer participants. The focus of the audit was the assumed interest rate and the normal retirement age, both of which the IRS generally regarded as too low. While the focus of the audit was relatively narrow, the issue it raised was a funda mental one. The basic question was the extent to which the IRS could …

Toward A Sustainable Maine : The Politics, Economics, And Ethics Of Sustainability, Richard Barringer (Ed.)

Maine Collection

Toward A Sustainable Maine : The Politics, Economics, and Ethics of Sustainability

Richard Barringer, editor, Professor Emeritus at the University of Southern Maine

Edmund S. Muskie Institute of Public Affairs, University of Southern Maine, Portland, Maine, 1993.

The proceedings of a conference presented at Bowdoin College on March 19 and 20, 1993, by the Edmund S. Muskie Institute of Public Affairs at the University of Southern Maine, and by the Natural Resources Council of Maine. Ellen Baum, conference organizer.

Contents; Foreword by Richard Barringer / Welcome by Everett Carson / Global, Canadian, and Maine Perspectives / Sustaining Our Natural and …

Ethical Issues, Helps, And Challenges: Perceptions Of U.S. Actuaries, Therese M. Vaughan, Robert W. Cooper, Garry L. Frank

Journal of Actuarial Practice (1993–2006)

This paper reports the findings of a survey of Fellows of the Casualty Actuarial Society (FCAS) to determine their perceptions of the key ethical issues and dilemmas facing the industry today and the factors they view as most helpful and challenging in resolving these dilemmas. The responses are compared to a previous survey of Fellows of the Society of Actuaries (FSA). The study finds that FSAs and FCASs tend to rank key ethical issues similarly and that both groups of actuaries tend to look first to their own personal values, second to certain factors in their business environment, and last …

The Process Of Pension Forecasting, Michael Sze

Journal of Actuarial Practice (1993–2006)

This paper explains the process of pension forecasting. It discusses the common purposes and uses of pension forecasts, the major steps involved, and the principal limitations of these forecasts. Some insights into each stage of the forecasting process are provided. Among the stages discussed are: the background research to be performed; the selection of scenario assumptions; shortcuts used in the actual performance of the forecast; review of the forecast results; and communication of the forecast findings.

Book Reviews, Hoque A. Sharif

Journal of Actuarial Practice (1993–2006)

No abstract provided.

Funding Methods And Pension Plan Amendments, Keith P. Sharp

Journal of Actuarial Practice (1993–2006)

This paper considers the treatment of plan amendments under the individual entry age normal and projected unit credit methods. Alternative treatments are considered, and comments are made about their acceptability.

A Critique Of Defined Contribution Plans Using A Simulation Approach, David M. Knox

Journal of Actuarial Practice (1993–2006)

During the 1980s there was a trend in many countries away from defined benefit plans toward defined contribution plans. This development means that the individual member bears the full investment risk in the preretirement period and the annuity rate risk at retirement, as no pension benefit (expressed as a percentage of salary) is provided. This paper, through the use of a stochastic model for both inflation and a range of investment returns, analyses the distribution of retirement incomes that will be produced from a defined contribution plan. The impacts of changing entry and exit ages, different investment strategies, alternative career …

On Becoming A Cost Effective Company, Robert D. Shapiro, Barton H. Clennon

Journal of Actuarial Practice (1993–2006)

The 1990s financial services environment requires each life company to identify its distinct capabilities and competitive strengths and to build its future direction from these features. This demands a fundamental rethinking of traditional approaches to planning, organization, and financial management.

Group Insurance, Charles Fuhrer

Journal of Actuarial Practice (1993–2006)

No abstract provided.

Estimating The Effect Of Statutory Changes On Insured Casualty Losses Using Generalized Indicator Variables, Ruy A. Cardoso

Journal of Actuarial Practice (1993–2006)

Techniques for estimating future insured losses in casualty insurance typically assume consistency in the insurance environment over time. Statutory changes, however, can create sharp discontinuities in the loss-generating process, complicating the estimation of those losses. Using indicator variables and dummy variables allows for quantification of the effect of such discontinuities. Three examples from private passenger automobile insurance are presented to illustrate how these variables can be used.

Discussion Of Patrick Butler's "Cost-Based Pricing Of Individual Automobile Risk Transfer: Car-Mile Exposure Unit Analysis", Ruy A. Cardoso

Journal of Actuarial Practice (1993–2006)

No abstract provided.

The Definition Of Insurance: Implications For A Health Insurance Demand Model, Mark J. Browne

Journal of Actuarial Practice (1993–2006)

This paper uses data from the 1977-78 National Medical Care Expenditures Survey to evaluate five different measures of insurance: a family's expected out-of-pocket payment for medical care, the expected value of the indemnity (fee-for-service) benefits from an insurance policy for a family, the percentage of the expected loss that the insured pays, the policy premium, and the policy limit of coverage. The study provides information that can help us understand whose insurance coverage will change significantly as a result of health care reform. For example, it shows that those with low income (such as minorities, families headed by females, and …

On The Equivalence Of The Loss Ratio And Pure Premium Methods Of Determining Property And Casualty Rating Relativities, Robert L. Brown

Journal of Actuarial Practice (1993–2006)

There are two distinct stages in the property and casualty ratemaking process. First, there is the portfolio average rate change. Second, there is the adjustment of classification relativities. It is well known that the loss ratio and pure premium (also called the loss cost) methods are algebraically equivalent in the stage called the portfolio average rate change. This paper reviews the proof of this equivalence. Further, it is proved algebraically that the loss ratio and pure premium methods are also equivalent in calculating classification relativities (or differentials) if certain data requirements can be met. A short numerical example of this …

Recruiting Sources And Posthire Outcomes For Job Applicants And New Hires: A Test Of Two Hypotheses, Chuck R. Williams, Chalmer E. Labig, Thomas H. Stone

Scholarship and Professional Work - Business

This study, unlike most recruitment source research, tested for and ruled out the contaminating effects of prescreening and self-selection bias by examining applicants and new hires for nursing positions (S. L. Rynes and A. E. Barber, 1990). Consistent with the predictions of A. Rees (1966) and J. C. Ullman (1966), recruitment sources reached differently qualified applicants in terms of nursing experience and education which, in turn, were valid predictors of subsequent nurse performance. In a similar manner, recruitment sources produced sharply different levels of prehire knowledge, which was inversely related to voluntary turnover after 1 yr. However, contrary to both …

Discussion Of David Knox's "A Critique Of Defined Contribution Plans Using A Simulation Approach", Michael Sze

Journal of Actuarial Practice (1993–2006)

No abstract provided.

Global Social Security: How The Rules Are Changing In Certain Countries, Robert J. Myers

Journal of Actuarial Practice (1993–2006)

Social security programs (i.e., national pension systems) differ widely between countries. This is only natural, and desirable, because of varying social and economic conditions and philosophies. This paper discusses some of the general worldwide trends, such as the equal treatment of men and women, increases in the normal retirement age, projection of future costs, and the different philosophies of social security. Some of the interesting and unique changes recently made in selected countries-Canada, Chile, Eastern European countries, Germany, Japan, People's Republic of China, Saudi Arabia, Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, United Kingdom, and United States-are described.

Journal Of Actuarial Practice, Volume 1, No. 2, 1993, Colin Ramsay , Editor

Journal of Actuarial Practice (1993–2006)

ARTICLES

Ethical Issues, Helps, and Challenges: Perceptions of U.S. Actuaries • Therese M. Vaughan, Robert W. Cooper, and Garry L. Frank

Managing the Relative Volumes of Participating and Nonparticipating Business in a Mutual Life Company • Robert G. Chadburn

A Critique of Defined Contribution Plans Using a Simulation Approach • David M. Knox

Discussion • Michael Sze & David M. Knox's Reply

The Definition of Insurance: Implications for a Health Insurance Demand Model • Mark J. Browne

Discussion • Charles S. Fuhrer & Mark J. Browne's Reply

On the Equivalence of the Loss Ratio and Pure Premium Methods of Determining …

Journal Of Actuarial Practice, Volume 1, No.1, 1993, Colin Ramsay , Editor

Journal of Actuarial Practice (1993–2006)

ARTICLES

Global Social Security: How the Rules are Changing in Certain Countries • Robert J. Myers

On Becoming a Cost Effective Company • Robert D. Shapiro and Barton H. Clennon

The Process of Pension Forecasting • Michael Sze

Cost-Based Pricing of Individual Automobile Risk Transfer: Car-Mile Exposure Unit Analysis • Patrick Butler

Discussion • Ruy A. Cardoso & Richard G. WolI & Patrick Butler's Reply

A New Approach to Modeling Excess Mortality • Peter D. England and Steven Haberman

The Small Plan Audit Program: The Opinions of the Court • Arnold F. Shapiro

BOOK REVIEWS

A. Hoque Sharif reviews "Options …

Life Insurance Applications Of Recursive Formulas, Timothy L. Giles

Journal of Actuarial Practice (1993–2006)

This paper discusses several practical applications of recursive formulas:

a) Traditional whole life-As an introduction, the well-known relationship between successive terminal reserves is reviewed. Recursive formulas are developed to calculate the reserves and the premiums;

b) Universal life-Recursive formulas are used both for the calculation of target premiums and reserves. Consideration is given to the TEFRA corridor;

c) Paid-up rider-A participating single premium rider that provides a level death benefit can be devised using an inherent one year term benefit. Recursive functions are used to determine the premium that precisely matures the rider.

Because the APL programming language is particularly …

Discussion Of Mark J. Browne's "The Definition Of Insurance: Implications For A Health Insurance Demand Model", Charles Fuhrer

Journal of Actuarial Practice (1993–2006)

No abstract provided.

A New Approach To Modeling Excess Mortality, Peter D. England, Steven Haberman

Journal of Actuarial Practice (1993–2006)

This paper describes a complete framework for the statistical modeling of excess mortality, with particular reference to the experience of insured, impaired lives. The principal measure of excess mortality considered is the standardized mortality ratio. The modeling approach, based on the theory of generalized linear models, allows us to build models containing several explanatory variables. The statistical significance of these variables can be tested, and the effect of interactions between the variables can be assessed rigorously. The paper uses data drawn from the extensive, continuing investigation into the mortality of insured, impaired lives conducted by the Prudential Assurance Company (UK). …

Managing The Relative Volumes Of Participating And Nonparticipating Business In A Mutual Life Company, Robert G. Chadburn

Journal of Actuarial Practice (1993–2006)

Management decisions of a mutual life company involving the amounts and relative proportions of participating (with profits) and nonparticipating (without profits) business and the level of expenses are examined in relation to their effect on participating policyholders' returns. A particular expense ratio is defined that plays a key role in a framework for making such decisions. The sensitivity of participating policy returns to changes in each factor are analyzed. Companies with expense ratios (as defined) of less than 2 are shown to prefer a different strategy from companies with higher ratios. There is an incomplete tendency for the ratio to …