Search

China currently faces increasingly serious social conflicts. In the past, China's approach to resolving social conflicts was 'social management'. Now, however, it is turning to the development of 'social governance'. This change reflects the inability of government acting alone to recognise and to address comprehensively the type of social problems that require co-ordination of social forces. Our research identifies three dimensions of governance and provides a comparative framework allowing us to illuminate how social governance as conceived in China differs from that in Western countries. Under China's current conditions, the strengthening and development of social governance is a holistic process. Neither market-centrism nor state-centrism is pursued, and pure social-centrism is not the favoured direction of development; the path chosen is rather a state-led social pluralism. The implications we see for the Government are that it should first transform its own functions to achieve a substantially higher quality of public service. This would put it in a position to empower (civil) society to mobilise multiple and varied social forces to participate so that social conflict can be optimally addressed. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Suburban school districts have undergone significant demographic shifts over the past several decades. The research literature to date, however, has yet to explore how suburban district leaders are responding to such changes, or examine the factors that shape response. In this article, we apply a “zone of mediation” framework to examine how the leaders of one large and rapidly changing suburban school district in Texas responded to its changing student population. In our analysis, we consider the technical, normative, and political dimensions of this district’s response to demographic shifts. Research Methods/Approach: We conducted an in-depth qualitative case study of a large and rapidly changing district in the San Antonio Metropolitan area, which we named “Southern Independent School District.” Our data included interviews with 28 district-level and community actors and interviews with 26 educators across three “focus” schools that were undergoing particularly rapid demographic shifts. Findings and Implications: We found that Southern Independent School District’s response to demographic change focused intensely on technical changes in curriculum and instruction. Such technical changes we found were explicitly adopted to address the needs of the increasing proportion of low-income students and students of color within the district. At the same time, we illustrate how the district failed to address the more challenging normative and political dynamics within the district. This failure, we show, placed significant limits upon the technical reforms that were adopted. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Both standard formulations of the frame problem and standard solutions implicitly assume that the re-identification of objects as persisting individuals between pre- and post-action contexts is unproblematic. In the case of human beings, this assumption is false: humans dedicate considerable cognitive resources to object re-identification. An analysis of both the phenomenology and neurocognitive implementation of object re-identification is used to show that in humans, all of the information architecturally available to solve the frame problem is in fact deployed for object re-identification. The frame problem is, therefore, equivalent to the object re-identification problem in the case of human problem solving. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] The relationship between preferential paw use and problem solving was investigated for the first time in domestic dogs. [•] Non-lateralized (ambilateral) dogs were more successful i.e. faster at accessing the apparatus than lateralized dogs. [•] No difference in problem-solving performance was found between right and left-pawed dogs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine the role of leaders' creativity as a predictor of organizational creativity. The authors expected that creative leaders would promote creativity directly by functioning as a model and inspiration for their followers and indirectly by promoting a creativity-supporting work climate. Design/methodology/approach – The research was conducted in organizations within the restaurant sector; the data were obtained using questionnaires to employees and leaders (n=207), as well as external raters' evaluation of restaurant creativity level. Responses from each organization were aggregated using mean scores (n=39). Findings – Significant positive associations were found between leaders' creative behavior, organizational creative climates, and organizational creative behavior. Mediation analyses revealed that the relationship between leaders' creative behavior and organizational creativity was mediated by organizational creative climate. Practical implications – The results may provide useful guidelines for organizations that put emphasis on creativity, both for leader recruitment and leader development. Originality/value – The paper contributes to the creativity literature since it is one of the first to explore leader personality and leader creative behavior as predictors of creativity in organizations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article presents a selective survey of current law and society research in the Netherlands. After a brief historical sketch, it focuses on contemporary Dutch studies on legal effectiveness and several studies on courts and dispute resolution. Based on a review of both fields, I identify two important trends in Dutch law and society research. The first trend is that, since the 1970s, most researchers have been interested in ‘old gap studies’, which primarily focus on the efficacy of law. In recent years, however, public opinion in the Netherlands has become increasingly critical of the Dutch justice system. I argue that this has generated a second trend in Dutch law and society research, which I refer to as ‘new gap studies’. Unlike traditional gap studies, their primary focus is not the efficacy but the legitimacy of law. In the final section, I draw several general conclusions and I look forward to the future of law and society research in de Netherlands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many drivers of intrastate conflict concern the relationship between the state and society, and thus are influenced by the quality of governance. Efforts to restore or create good governance, however, have adopted a relatively standardised democratising template. This article argues that conflict mitigation is a useful mechanism for adapting this template to conditions in fragile states. Furthermore, subnational reforms have important potential to mitigate the drivers identified in quantitative studies of conflict, as illustrated by selected experiences with decentralisation, citizen participation and local service delivery. The analysis confirms the important contributions both of quantitative research that has identified causal factors driving conflict and of qualitative study that has explored governance reforms that can address those factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Operations in Government bureaucracy have to follow the guidance of policy, laws, and restrictions. The Government staff often do not know which solution they should use when facing a management problem that needs decision-making and problem solving, which means that the project to be carried out may jeopardize other projects and cause contradiction, which may in turn lead to difficulty in executing the project. System innovative thinking has been considered effective in uncovering structural flaws that limit system performance and explaining why a well-intended policy intervention fails to produce expected results. This study proposes a new method of diagnosis and improvement design by using TRIZ for management. Furthermore, through examples of 40 inventive principles, a pattern of innovation perfectly matching the solutions for management is then built up. This research is considered as being available for further users to utilize for management problem solving. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent scholarship indicates that people who view their work as a calling are more satisfied with their work and their lives. Historically, calling has been regarded as a religious experience, although modern researchers frequently have adopted a more expansive and secular conceptualization of calling, emphasizing meaning and personal fulfillment in work. The assumption that calling can be easily secularized and applied has not been tested. Therefore, we tested whether calling was related to psychological adjustment and positive work attitudes of both highly religious and less religious college students (N = 242). We also tested whether these positive relations were mediated by people's intrinsic religiousness or by a broader, secular construct, meaning in life. Moderation-mediation analyses supported views of calling centering on people's experience of meaning in their work rather than more constrained religious views. Implications for future research and practical applications of calling to positive work attitudes are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

T his article seeks to understand the meanings of conflict experience between management practice and family relations. The study, based epistemologically on the premises of the interpretative paradigm, used a qualitative approach and was conducted with managers who work at the Brazil Bank. The conflict between the management practice and the relations in the family is related to the time devoted to exercising the roles of work and family, the incompatibility of interests and differing perceptions on the part of the agents involved. The research revealed the existence of factors that provoke conflict in management practice and in family relationships. The managers' perception is that the conflicts in family relations affected them emotionally and interfere in their professional performance. Addressing the issue in a complex and multidimensional perspective is a way to acknowledge the existence of spatial, temporal and behavioral connections, and this finding may help to understand the experience of the managers in a unique and multifaceted way. Additional studies should consider the links between gender, personality, context, nature of work and career stage. It is hoped that the theme will broaden the analysis focus of conflict and support in the understanding of organizational theory and practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines the idea that attention to emotion in conflict management leads to conflict transformation. An experimental design compared mediated and negotiated conflict simulations in which participants were primed to discuss emotions as they moved toward agreement. Participants in the mediation group reported increased positive affect, decreased negative affect, and improved perception of other following the simulation. The negotiation group reported decreased positive affect, increased negative affect, and no difference in perception of other, yet they reported increased satisfaction. Mediated agreements included reference to the ongoing relationship, whereas negotiated agreements included tit-for-tat arrangements. Implications for organizational conflict management are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mediation is a process that links a predictor and a criterion via a mediator variable. Mediation can be full or partial. This well-established definition operates at the level of variables even if they are categorical. In this article, two new approaches to the analysis of mediation are proposed. Both of these approaches focus on the analysis of categorical variables. The first involves mediation analysis at the level of configurations instead of variables. Thus, mediation can be incorporated into the arsenal of methods of analysis for person-oriented research. Second, it is proposed that Configural Frequency Analysis (CFA) can be used for both exploration and confirmation of mediation relationships among categorical variables. The implications of using CFA are first that mediation hypotheses can be tested at the level of individual configurations instead of variables. Second, this approach leaves the door open for different types of mediation processes to exist within the same set. Using a data example, it is illustrated that aggregate-level analysis can overlook mediation processes that operate at the level of individual configurations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Although the contract net protocol answers some of the questions in cooperative distributed problem solving (CDPS), it raises many others that CDPS researchers are still trying to answer. In contract net protocol, an agent may play the role of a manager or a bidder. Without a coordination mechanism, a manager may acquire excessive resources from the bidders in forming a collaborative network to execute the assigned task and thus hinder the progress of the tasks assigned to other managers due to resource contention. As a result, application of contract net protocol may not always lead to feasible solutions to accomplish tasks effectively. As a general framework for exchanging messages, the original contract net protocol does not prescribe how agents should cooperate. How to develop a collaborative mechanism to effectively perform the tasks is an important issue. This paper aims to improve the insufficiency of the contract net by developing a mechanism to facilitate cooperation of agents to accomplish their tasks while avoiding undesirable states and enhance the overall system performance in manufacturing systems. To achieve these objectives, detail process models about how agents accomplish their tasks are required. Due to the advantages in modeling concurrent, synchronous and/or asynchronous activities, Petri nets are adopted in this paper. Based on Petri net models, we study the information needed for agents to make cooperative decisions, mechanism to make agents cooperate, and how to enhance the performance in the system level by taking advantage of the agents’ cooperation capabilities. To characterize the condition for cooperation, we represent the collaborative networks formed based on the contract net protocol with Petri nets and then find the condition for a collaborative network to be feasible. The feasible condition also serves as a condition for the development of cooperation mechanism for managers. We propose a cooperation mechanism based on the idea of resource donation, including unilateral resource donation and reciprocal resource donation. Implementation architecture has also been proposed to realize our methodology. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Research across disciplines suggests that bad is stronger than good and that individuals punish deception more than they reward honesty. However, methodological issues in previous research limit the latter conclusion. Three experiments resolved these issues and consistently found the opposite pattern: Individuals rewarded honesty more frequently and intensely than they punished deception. Experiment 2 extended these counterintuitive findings by revealing a divergence between evaluation and behavior: Evaluative reactions to deception were stronger than those to honesty, but behavioral intentions in response to honesty were stronger than those in response to deception. In addition, individuals wanted to avoid deceivers more than they wanted to approach honest actors. Experiment 3 found that punishment, but not reward, frequencies were sensitive to costs. Moderated-mediation tests revealed the role of different psychological mechanisms: Negative affect drove punishments, whereas perceived trustworthiness drove rewards. Overall, bad appears to be stronger than good in influencing psychological reactions, but good seems to be stronger than bad in influencing behavior. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study used innovative assessment practices to obtain and document broad learning outcomes for a 15-hour game-based curriculum in Quest Atlantis, a multi-user virtual environment that supports school-based participation in socio scientific inquiry in ecological sciences. Design-based methods were used to refine and align the enactment of virtual narrative and scientific investigations to a challenging problem solving assessment and indirectly to achievement test items that were independent of the curriculum. In study one, one-sixth grade teacher used the curriculum in two of his classes and obtained larger gains in understanding and achievement than his two other classes, which used an expository text to learn the same concepts and skills. Further treatment refinements were carried out, and two forms of virtual formative feedback were introduced. In study two, the same teacher used the curriculum in all four of his classes; the revised curriculum resulted in even larger gains in understanding and achievement. Gains averaged 1.1 SD and 0.4 SD, respectively, with greater gains shown for students who engaged more with formative feedback. Principles for assessing designs and designing assessments in virtual environments are presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Global product development teams work in ambiguously complex dynamic networks. Characterization of the distributed work environment includes many factors, including: individuals and sub-teams are geographically distributed; they belong to different organizational cultures; they operate in different time zones and within different cultural and professional-frameworks. From a communication perspective, individual team members may speak different languages and lack a common tongue. Even in these scenarios, project teams are expected to produce quality products and bring them quickly to the market. The design-to-market life cycle has shortened markedly in the past decade in many industries. How do they manage to perform effectively in the face of these many obstacles? Development team “Coaching” has emerged as a guiding force in many project-organized environments. Individuals may have arrived at the role informally, tacitly responding to the needs of teams around them, or they are professionals with formal training as we find in SAP’s “Design Team Services” group (Plattner 2007, personal comunication). We have observed that the coach provides project team members with assistance that ranges from problem solving to moral support. In spite of the growing use of coaching, there is significant confusion about the nature of the role, the attributes of good versus poor coaching, associated terminology and definitions. We report on the development of a conceptual framework for further research in the emerging domain of design engineering coaching. Our efforts began with an extensive literature review that yielded leading candidates for role terminology and the scope of the subject. With that framework in hand, we performed a field assessment (survey) in an industry-academic environment that is noted for the extreme nature of its project-based learning paradigm and deep corporate engagement, including a mixture of industry liaisons and academic advisors who are in coaching roles. We expect the combination of methods to provide common ground for further work and to better explain the issues to students and industry partners. The resulting framework consists of five main roles that design-team coaches have been observed to assume. It is anticipated that our results will help others identify new research questions and apply an expanded set of empirical methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The present investigation empirically examined if the negative association between self-concealment and subjective well-being is spurious because it results from the associations of both variables with their common causes neuroticism and extraversion. We concluded from applying structural equation modeling to the data obtained from two independent student samples that neuroticism, but not extraversion, explains part of the negative association between self-concealment and subjective well-being. More than 60% of the negative association between self-concealment and subjective well-being could not be explained by Neuroticism. Implications of our findings for both research and clinical therapy are discussed. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

This study examined average-, high- and top-performing US fourth graders' rational number problem solving and their understanding of rational number representations. In phase one, all students completed a written test designed to tap their skills for multiplication, division and rational number word-problem solving. In phase two, a subset of students sorted cards that showed part-whole, ratio, quotient, measure, and operator perspectives of rational number representations. Each perspective was shown in numerical notational, word-problem, and visual formats. The results indicated that top-performing students scored significantly higher in problem solving and showed more effectively linked rational number representations than the other groups. The results imply that successful rational number problem solving is intertwined with representational knowledge for a wide range of rational numbers and that the bulk of US students do not possess effective skills for working with rational number representations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: More than five decades of research and development have focused on making the Creative Problem Solving process and tools accessible across a wide range of ages and contexts. Recent evidence indicates that when individuals, in both school and corporate settings, understand their own style of problem solving, they are able to learn and apply process tools more effectively, and when teams appreciate the styles of their individual members, their problem solving efforts are enhanced. We summarize recent studies and report new data supporting the conclusion that individual style differences provide an important key to understanding the interaction of person, process, product, and press when managing change. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: We investigate a tool, namely visual art, which enables firms to increase the extendibility of their brands. Extant research proposes that successful brand extensions depend on favorable brand image and high perceived fit between the brand and the extension category. We propose that the presence of art has a positive influence on brand image (via a transfer of luxury perceptions from art onto the brand) and enhances perceived fit (via increased cognitive flexibility), resulting in more favorable brand extension evaluations. A pilot study and two experiments demonstrate that the presence of visual art favorably influences brand image perceptions and enhances perceptions of category fit. Mediation analysis reveals that together these factors explain the influence of visual art on brand extendibility. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The article reports on mathematical lens problem solving from basic fractions to calculus. It reports that the Simplex lock is said to incorporate thousands of codes, exactly 1082 combinations. It infers that the metallic lock is made up of five buttons that can be pushed individually or simultaneously with the other four buttons. A fresh and new look in contrived-rate problems from a true problem-solving perspective. It states that problem solving from basic fractions do not differ much from solving calculus.

In recent years, most researchers have focused on methods which mimic natural processes in problem solving. These methods are most commonly termed “nature-inspired” methods. Ant colony optimization (ACO) is a new and encouraging group of these algorithms. The ant system (AS) is the first algorithm of ACO. In this study, an improved ACO method is used to solve hybrid flow shop (HFS) problems. The n-job and k-stage HFS problem is one of the general production scheduling problems. HFS problems are NP-hard when the objective is to minimize the makespan []. This research deals with the criterion of makespan minimization for HFS scheduling problems. The operating parameters of AS have an important role on the quality of the solution. In order to achieve better results, a parameter optimization study is conducted in this paper. The improved ACO method is tested with benchmark problems. The test problems are the same as those used by Carlier and Neron (RAIRO-RO 34(1):1–25, 2000), Neron et al. (Omega 29(6):501–511, 2001), and Engin and Döyen (Future Gener Comput Syst 20(6):1083–1095, 2004). At the end of this study, there will be a comparison of the performance of the proposed method presented in this paper and the branch and bound (B&B) method presented by Neron et al. (Omega 29(6):501–511, 2001). The results show that the improved ACO method is an effective and efficient method for solving HFS problems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Process Improvement (PI) is an approach for helping organizations to identify and resolve inefficient and ineffective processes through problem solving and pilot testing change. Use of PI in improving client access, retention and outcomes in addiction treatment is on the rise through the teaching of the Network for the Improvement of Addiction Treatment's (NIATx) Model for Improvement. Emphasizing five phases of change, five key principles for change, and four revolving aims, NIATx has taught hundreds of addiction treatment administrative and clinical staff to lead successful process improvement initiatives. This paper draws on experience from NIATx and offers methods and concepts to consider in the teaching of core process improvement tools and techniques. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose — The purpose of this paper is to develop a theory based on transaction cost economics to help explain how firms venturing into different foreign markets should properly formulate and implement contractual governance mechanisms to create greater efficiency, lower costs, and minimize conflict with partners. Design/methodology/approach — Defines and discusses a conceptual framework of the determinants regarding contracts and strategies used to manage conflict in foreign ventures through the integration of foreign venture conflict resolution, contract, and transaction cost economics literature. Findings — Suggests that perceived transaction costs will predict which contractual governance mechanism and which conflict resolution strategy a partner firm will choose when resolving conflict in a foreign venture. Postulates that consistency of conflict resolution strategy with contract type will impact the performance of the foreign venture, and that cultural distance, relative power, and interest alignment will all play a moderating role in this process. Originality/value — The model demonstrates the necessity of examining how coupling certain conflict resolution strategies and contract types will impact foreign venture performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses John McDowell's central mentalist notions, conceptuality and mindedness. Conceptuality when applied to everyday living means that we tend to use an equipment based on its usefulness to a specific task not by the physical properties it has such as weight or color. It is the process of how a person conceive, perceive or cope something. Mindedness as discussed by the author stressed that a person is said to be coping when it is involved in a particular activity. It notes that when a person is involved in learning, problem solving, responding to training, that person is mindful of what he is doing.

Purpose — The research aim has two purposes: to clarify the concepts of values, collaboration and conflict and their relationship with one another within organizations; and to provide data that supported or disconfirm values alignment as a proactive approach to conflict management. Design/methodology/approach — An interdisciplinary review of literature was undertaken, as current literature on the topic of values as it relates to conflict was very limited in scope. The key concepts investigated were the connection between values (including alignment and congruence) and decision making, behavior, collaboration, strategy, prioritization and conflict within an organization. Research was guided using constructionism, chaos and complexity theories within a framework of Chaordic systems thinking. Findings — The paper provides documentation that previous values research practices have been fragmented and have had limited practical applications. Support is provided indicating that values alignment fosters collaboration and could be a proactive approach to conflict management. Research implications/limitations — No long-term studies were found on the topic of inquiry, although some documentation on business performance is starting to appear. Further research using values alignment as an organizational process would be beneficial. Practical implications — The framework presented appears to have a pragmatic application that would benefit organizational development and effectiveness. Originality/value — This paper expands previous studies by examining values research across domains and suggesting a different research approach. A model is discussed that provides meaningful linkage between business strategy and organizational values. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose — The purpose of this article is to review and comment on recent and emerging trends in negotiation research, and to highlight the importance of the interactions between various dimensions of negotiation. Design/methodology/approach — Consistent with the behavioral negotiation framework, a two-level structure is maintained consisting of the contextual characteristics of negotiation, on the one hand, and the negotiators themselves, on the other. The framework is supplemented with updated research, and the influence of culture in negotiation is commented upon — noting its increasing role in negotiator cognition, motivation, attribution, and cooperation. The paper also adds new themes to reflect the recent advancements in negotiation research. In particular, it focuses on the ways in which negotiator effects can mediate and/or moderate contextual effects, as well as the ways in which contextual effects can mediate and/or moderate negotiator effects. Findings — The paper suggests that efforts to integrate the recent developments in negotiation research are necessary and that the behavioral negotiation perspective, due to its simultaneous simplicity and flexibility, is appropriate and effective for incorporating the various streams of negotiation research into a systematic framework. Critically, this framework highlights the dynamic interaction between the two levels and leaves much room for further exploration of these dynamics. Originality/value — The paper identifies emerging areas of inquiry that can be especially fruitful in helping negotiation scholars to expand more traditional approaches to conflict in bold new ways and open up innovative avenues for thinking about the domain of negotiation. The paper offers a comprehensive model that integrates various dimensions of negotiation and illustrates the interaction among them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A computational model is presented that explores the effect of diversity among members' problem-solving strategies on group problem-solving performance. The model is called ValSeek, after the value-seeking problems with which it is concerned. A value-seeking problem requires problem solvers to choose from a set of solution alternatives that vary in their underlying value. The goal is to discover the solution with the highest value. The model is restricted to problems for which it is impractical to evaluate every possible solution alternative. For such problems, the strategies that problem solvers use to navigate the solution space are critical to their performance. The article describes how value-seeking problems, and various strategies for solving them, are represented generically in the computer program that instantiates the model. The results of a simulation study using this model suggest that (a) diverse groups should perform better than homogeneous groups, (b) diverse groups should perform better than even their best individual members, and (c) cooperative interaction between members during problem solving should benefit the performance of diverse groups but impair the performance of homogeneous groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The current study explores the inferential abilities of visually impaired children in a task presented in two formats, manipulative and verbal. The results showed that in the group of visually impaired children, just as with children with normal sight, there was a wide range of inference types. It was found that the visually impaired children perform slightly better in the use of inductive and relational inferences in the verbal format, while in the manipulative format children with normal sight perform better. These results suggest that in inferential functioning of young children, and especially visually impaired children, the format of the task influences performance more than the child''s visual ability. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The role of knowledge in firm strategy and performance is well documented in existing literature. Numerous studies conclude that, in general, the higher the level of knowledge acquired, the greater the level of firm performance. In this study, we take a more micro-level approach. Specifically, we examine the impact of external knowledge on the processes of creativity and learning in problem solving. We also investigate the role of absorptive capacity in knowledge acquisition, creativity and learning. As we will show, simply having access to a pool of external knowledge is not enough. If the firm is to use this knowledge to improve its performance, it must be able to do the following: • absorb that knowledge • act creatively upon that knowledge • create new knowledge from these activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose — The purpose of this paper is to investigate strategies used by managers when intervening in subordinates' conflicts and the factors affecting choice of strategy in Turkish organizations, where heavy emphasis is placed on intermediaries in managing conflicts. Design/methodology/approach — Data were collected by means of a questionnaire from 392 employees of a convenience sample of 59 organizations, most of which were located in Ankara. Findings — Factor analysis results showed that managers utilize as many as five strategies: mediation, inquisitorial (similar to arbitration), motivational tactics, conflict reduction through restructuring, and educating the parties. The conditions under which these strategies are used were analyzed by regression. Harmony emphasis in the organization led to increased use of mediation. However, harmony emphasis, when coupled with a low degree of delegation of authority to subordinates, resulted in increased use of the inquisitorial strategy. Harmony emphasis, when combined with substantive (as opposed to personal) conflicts and with high impact conflicts led to educating the subordinates. Motivational tactics were used more when the conflict had high impact at the workplace and had escalated or threatened to get out of control. Research limitations/implications — Readers are cautioned on possible common factor bias; relations between variables may have emerged as a result of the data being reported by the same respondent. Originality/value — The findings have research implications for future studies and for training of managers for conflict intervention in collectivistic cultures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article is about conflict in an educational workplace setting. It reports on a case study investigating the emergence, development, and management of conflict among diverse native English speakers working as language instructors within a Japanese university. The example of conflict presented, which deals with divergent assumptions about the nature and management of collaborative research projects, illustrates how communication is inextricably tied to culture, out of whose interplay conflict may arise. This example also highlights one of the most important challenges facing educators the world over: how to encourage people to cooperatively address and manage conflicts. This challenge requires us as educators, in both our individual and institutional capacities, to become more conversant with practices in the field of conflict resolution and management. Such familiarity is a prerequisite to us becoming exemplary models of its practices for our students, our colleagues, our organizations, and our society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent research on top management teams examines the effects of team processes on performance. This study attempts to add to this literature by examining how social political relations such as conflict and trust among members ofa top management team moderate the performance effects of the team's cognitive processes, as represented by its transactive memory. The results indicate that the location dimension of transactive memory positively influences performance for teams with low levels of relationship conflict but has no significant effect for teams with high levels of relationship conflict. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Organisations increasingly use multidisciplinary teams to construct solutions for complex problems. Research has shown that multidisciplinary teams do not guarantee good problem solutions. Common ground is seen as vital to team performance. In this paper an ICT-tool to support complex problem solving is studied. A framework for knowledge construction inspired the design of computer support for knowledge construction. The basic support principle consisted of making individual perspectives explicit, which serves as a basis for negotiating common ground. This principle was embedded in a collaborative learning environment in three ways, which differed from each other in the extent to which users were coerced to adhere to the embedded support principles. Coercion, as expected, was correlated with negotiation of common ground; the more coercion, the more participants would negotiate the meaning of contributions to the ICT-tool, and the more common ground they would have. Self-report data suggested that Intermediate coercion resulted in the least common ground. This may have been caused by some disruption of group processes. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

In this paper, we analyze an investigative situation proposed to a class of 5th graders in a primary school. The situation is based on the following task: In a sale with group rates on a sliding scale, the students must find the lowest possible purchase price for a given number of tickets. A study of students’ arguments made it possible to identify a large number of rhetorical forms. However, it turned out that one of the intrinsic features of the situation restricted the teacher’s possibilities of making didactical use of the students’ forms of reasoning and led him to try to support students’ learning with “didactical reasons” rather than with “reasons for knowing”. RÉSUMÉ. L’article analyse une situation de recherche proposée dans une classe de 5ième année de primaire. Dans une vente par lots à tarif dégressif, les élèves doivent minimiser le prix d’achat pour une quantité donnée. L’étude des arguments des uns et des autres fait apparaêtre de nombreuses formes rhétoriques, mais une propriété intrinsèque de la situation va limiter les possibilités du professeur dans l’utilisation didactique des raisonnements des élèves et va dissocier les raisons de savoir et les raisons didactiques utilisées. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Reformulation is ubiquitous in problem solving and is especially common in modeling physical systems. In this paper we examine reformulation techniques in the context of reasoning about physical systems. This paper does not present a general theory of reformulation, but it studies a number of known reformulation techniques to achieve a broad understanding of the space of available reformulations. In doing so, we present a practical framework for specifying, classifying, and evaluating various reformulation techniques applicable to this class of problems. Our framework provides the terminology to specify the conditions under which a particular reformulation technique is applicable, the cost associated with performing the reformulation, and the effects of the reformulation with respect to the problem encoding. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

This article explores the relationship between students' knowledge of underlying legal doctrine and their ability to learn effective methods of practice in law school skills courses. One of the primary goals of skills training in law school, especially clinical legal education, is to teach students how to apply what they have learned in doctrinal courses in the "real world." While much has been written about training students in proper methods of practice and problem solving in skills courses, little attention has been paid to the significance of doctrinal knowledge to this training. Reviewing recent cognitive psychology research on the development of expertise and creativity, and in particular, a number of empirical studies examining the development of clinical skills in medical education, this article concludes that basic knowledge of substantive legal doctrine is a necessary prerequisite to learning effective legal practice. Skills law teachers, for the most part, have incorrectly downplayed that role. The article concludes by proposing some curricular changes in skills and clinical programs to take into account the role that legal doctrine performs in learning effective methods of legal practice and suggests future empirical studies on the relationship between legal doctrine and skills training in the legal education setting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The authors investigated the association between emotional intelligence and counseling self-efficacy. Participants were 140 counseling students and practicing counselors who completed the Emotional Judgment Inventory and the Counseling Self-Estimate Inventory. Emotional intelligence differentiated counselors from noncounselors (Mdn d = .6650) but provided mixed results in differentiating counseling students and counselors. Moreover, the emotional intelligence factors Identifying Own Emotions, Expressing Emotions Adaptively, and Using Emotions in Problem Solving successfully predicted counseling self-efficacy of both counseling students and practicing counselors (R = .537). Emotional intelligence may be another marker for individuals exploring professional counseling as a career and for improving students' counseling self-efficacy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study focused on examining the cross-cultural validity of Bowen family systems theory (M. Bowen, 1978), namely differentiation of self for individuals of color. Ethnic minority men and women completed measures of differentiation of self, ethnic group belonging, and 3 indices of personal adjustment Initial support for the cross-cultural utility of Bowen family systems theory was observed. Higher levels of differentiation of self predicted better psychological adjustment, social problem-solving skills, and greater ethnic group belonging among persons of color. Limitations regarding the cross-cultural utility of differentiation of self, directions for further research, and implications for counseling are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Choosing the right problem-solving method from available methods is a crucial skill for experts in many areas. We present a technique for automatic selection among methods based on analysis of their past performances. We formalize the statistical problem involved in choosing an efficient method, derive a solution to this problem, and describe a selection algorithm. The algorithm not only chooses among available methods, but also decides when to abandon the chosen method if it takes too much time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In mathematics, generalizations are the end result of an inductive zigzag path of trial and error, that begin with the construction of examples, within which plausible patterns are detected and lead to the formulation of theorems. This paper examines whether it is possible for high school students to discover and formulate generalizations similar to ways professional mathematicians do. What are the experiences that allow students to become adept at generalization? In this paper, the mathematical experiences of a ninth grade student, which lead to the discovery and the formulation of a mathematical generalization are described, qualitatively analyzed and interpreted using the notion of uniframes. It is found that reflecting on the solutions of a class of seemingly different problem-situations over a prolonged time period facilitates the abstraction of structural similarities in the problems and results in the formulation of mathematical generalizations. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

In this study the relevance of the concept of mental kinesiophobia (respectively cogniphobia or fear of mental exertion) for clients with chronic stress problems was explored. It was hypothesized that cognitive, chronic stress complaints, such as concentration problems or decreased problem solving abilities, could be catastrophized as signs of heightened personal vulnerability, with a chance of becoming permanent. As a consequence, mental exertion is avoided. This line of reasoning comes from the existing concept of kinesiophobia. This concept describes the avoidance behavior in chronic benign pain patients and refers to their fear of inflicting irreversible bodily damage due to physical exertion.An illustrative case of cogniphobia is presented. In an explorative pilot-study it was demonstrated that chronically stressed clients scored significantly higher on an experimental questionnaire measuring avoidance tendencies for mental exertion, compared with actively working employees. Consequences for treatment and suggestions for further study are discussed. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Some points in time are more favorable for mediation success than others and result from the concatenation of contextual factors that encourage movement toward more cooperative behavior by disputants. Ripeness for mediation between enduring rivals is examined by focusing on mediation success in the short and extended term. Results suggest that the factors conducive to the achievement of short-term mediation success differ significantly from those that promote extended-term improvement in the rivalry relationship. These results help to reconcile some of the diversity of expectations in the ripeness literature by demonstrating that short-term and extended-term mediation success follow distinct dynamics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A growing body of research suggests that conflict can be beneficial for groups and organizations (e.g, De Dreu & Van De Vilert, 1997). This paper articulates the argument that to be in conflict is to be emotionally activated (Jones, 2000) and utilizes Galtung's (1996) triadic theory of conflict transformation to locate entry points for conflict generation. Application of these ideas is presented through exemplars that demonstrate the utility of addressing emotions directly in the management of organizational conflicts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Political leader Mohammed Abu-Nimer's use of exploratory research to analyze the postsettlement situation in Israel, his findings and recommendations are a most welcome contribution to a better future for his fellow countrymen. In view of its interdisciplinary nature, the application to protracted social and political conflict of this fairly new academic pursuit is overstimulating to most. An Israeli Palestinian whose credentials are not in any of the core disciplines mentioned previously but in conflict resolution itself, the writer has grown up amidst the problem and the problem solving, and has celebrated his rite of passage with he book "Dialogue, Conflict Resolution, and Change: Arab-Jewish Encounters in Israel." The author's first impression of this article on postsettlement was that the writer seemed to be jamming the cylindrical peg of conflict resolution theory through the square hole of recent events in Israel, but the more background material the author has read from other sources, the more the peg squared up and the hole rounded out. It is an exciting time for Israeli and Palestinian peace builders. The recent presidential elections have paved the way for meaningful change. In the future, much reference will be made to Abu-Nimer's article, for its humanitarian approach is based on unbiased and principled rational thinking.

The article studies the role of anger management in parent-adolescent conflict. In the present study it was assumed that a number of factors contribute to the development and maintenance of parent-adolescent conflict and that treatment of the affective, cognitive, and behavioral components of conflict would be more effective than treatment that addresses the behavioral component alone. Conflict management skills were conceptualized as self-control skills that either the parent or adolescent could use individually before or during a conflict situation to reduce stress and avoid escalating conflict. The hypothesis that conflict management would enhance the effectiveness of conflict resolution alone was partially supported by the between group differences on the behavioral observation measure. Although the primary purpose of this investigation was to evaluate whether conflict management training added to the effectiveness of conflict resolution training, a secondary purpose was to increase knowledge about small group treatment for reducing parent-adolescent conflict. In the current study, parent-adolescent dyads in both treatment conditions consistently showed both acquisition of communication and problems solving skills and a decrease in conflict at home.

Cognitive conflicts arise within groups because the members of a group view a problem from different perspectives, even when they have similar interests in achieving a goal. Disagreement within a group may occur due to: (a) differing judgment policies among the members, (b) inconsistency by any member in using a judgment policy, (c) group process losses that prevent group members from understanding each other better, or (d) limited processing capability which may prevent group members from processing all information effectively. Disagreement is especially likely when policies, processes, or information are conflicting in nature. A level 2 GDSS to aid judging in cognitive conflict tasks is presented that combines cognitive feedback and Multi-attribute utility (MAU) theory based multicriteria decision-making techniques with the communication structure and activity-structuring capabilities of a level 1 GDSS. Though cognitive feedback and MAU methods have been used separately to help groups resolve cognitive conflicts, never before have the two decision aids been used together in a computer-based collaborative system. The contributory effects of the components of this GDSS design were empirically tested in a laboratory setting. Three treatments: an unaided face-to-face meeting, a level 1 GDSS supported meeting, and a level 2 GDSS supported meeting were compared in a repeated measures experimental design. Results largely supported the proposed research hypotheses. Some specific findings include: (1) the level 2 GDSS reduced disagreement between group members and improved consistency of judgments better than the other meeting environments did; (2) there was no significant difference in the reduction of disagreement between the level 1 GDSS and face-to-face meetings; and (3) while there was no difference in improvement of consistency of individual judgments between the face-to-face and level 1 GDSS supported meetings, group judgments made in face-to-face meetings were more consistent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article explores the impact of person information about an alternative party in negotiations in which one of two individuals had the option to further negotiate with the alternative party. Individualistic negotiators engaged in problem solving behavior to a lesser extent when the alternative negotiator was portrayed as weak and submissive rather than strong and dominant. Individualistic negotiators also voiced more general threats and putdowns when the alternative negotiator was weak and submissive. Finally, they felt less satisfied with their outcomes from the negotiation when their alternative was weak and submissive rather than strong and dominant. However, negotiated outcomes were not influenced by potency information about an alternative negotiator. Results suggest that the mere availability of an alternative negotiator is sufficient to provide a negotiator with a greater share of the resource pie. Secondly, one might conclude that information about an alternative negotiator's attractiveness is of minor relevance only, whereas it is more important whether or not one has an alternative.