Issues management,systems, and rhetoric: exploring the distinction between ethical and legal guidelines at Enron

• Many corporations use legal rather than ethical standards for decision making in issues management. The Enron collapse provides a case example of why legal standards should never be used as a substitute for ethical principles. As we illustrate in this discussion of Enron, seeking loopholes in the law can lead to ethical violations that are ultimately more severe than legal infractions. We use systems theory and rhetorical rationales to discuss the issues management function as the proper location in an organization for ethical decision making and corporate responsibility. Both systems theory and rhetoric support the argument that an organization must be good internally and make decisions from an outside‐in perspective; management at Enron heeded neither idea. This research recommends a deontological approach, based on Kantian norms of moral autonomy and good intention as a basis for ethical issues management, and uses the Enron case for illustration of these principles. We conclude this discussion by offering a matrix simplifying the principles of both ethical and legal decision making based on systems theory and rhetorical approaches to public policy.

Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

AmpFlSTR profiler Plus short tandem repeat DNA analysis of casework samples, mixture samples, and nonhuman DNA samples amplified under reduced PCR volume conditions (25 microL)

As part of the validation of the AmpFlSTR Profiler Plus short tandem repeat (STR) system, under reduced polymerase chain reaction (PCR) volume conditions (i.e., 25 microL), a total of 275 casework samples were processed. Examples of profiles are presented along with amplification conditions to improve the odds of obtaining balanced and complete profiles for samples showing partial results or profiles with a descending slope. Data collected and used to develop our interpretation guidelines are included. From the mixture studies, full profiles were obtained for minor contributors, using 2 ng of DNA, with ratios of 10:1 or 1:20 and using 1 ng of DNA, with ratios of 10:1 and 1:8. The specificity of the Profiler Plus amplification reaction performed in 25 microL was examined and confirmed using a large spectrum of nonhuman DNAs. This report supports the use of the AmpFlSTR Profiler Plus STR system for casework DNA typing under reduced PCR volume conditions.     

Roads to safety

He has written and lectured widely on problems of road construction and safety. He is co-editor (with H. V. Hurdle) of Transportation and Traffic Theory: Eighth International Symposium.     

Effects of ACA Medicaid Expansions on Health Insurance Coverage and Labor Supply

We examined the effect of the expansion of Medicaid eligibility under the Affordable Care Act on health insurance coverage and labor supply of low‐educated and low‐income adults. We found that the Medicaid expansions were associated with large increases in Medicaid coverage, for example, 50 percent among childless adults, and corresponding decreases in the proportion uninsured. There was relatively little change in private insurance coverage, although the expansions tended to decrease such coverage slightly. In terms of labor supply, estimates indicated that the Medicaid expansions had little effect on work effort despite the substantial changes in health insurance coverage. Most estimates suggested that the expansions increased work effort, although not significantly.     

马克思主义中国化与中国共产党的理论创新

理论创新是江泽民反复强调 ,并已成为全党在新的历史条件下加强指导思想建设和思想作风建设的一个重大课题。审视中国共产党的历史 ,这一课题与 2 0世纪 3 0年代毛泽东提出 ,并成为全党发展中国先进文化主旋律的“马克思主义中国化”的历史命题 ,有着密不可分的历史和现实联系。马克思主义在中国的发展史 ,就是中国共产党人把马克思主义与中国实际相结合 ,不断推进马克思主义中国化的历史 ,也是中国共产党人不断进行马克思主义理论创新的历史。党的十一届六中全会通过的《关于加强和改进党的作风建设的决定》要求全党“树立强烈的创新意识 ,…     

基于事故树分析法的幼儿园、小学校车安全研究

校车安全事关国家公共安全,影响着社会的和谐.校车作为方便学生上下学及为繁忙的家长节约接送时间的重要工具应需而生.但由于各种原因,校车安全事故频频发生,尤其多发于幼儿园、小学的年幼孩子中.本文基于事故案例的统计分析,针对校车事故发生的各类原因,运用事故树分析法分析导致校车事故的各层次原因、基本原因集合及重要度.在此基础上,本文探讨校车安全的薄弱环节需要完善的地方,并参考国务院出台的《校车安全管理条例》[1],从安全教育、规范行为和标准、监管力度、经济投入几个方面为我国校车现有安全问题提出科学的、有针对性的防范措施.     

Does state AFDC generosity affect child SSI participation?

This article examines the extent of interactions or spillovers between the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC) programs for children. In the early 1990s, the Social Security Administration substantially relaxed child eligibility criteria for SSI benefits. Since the changes, the number of U.S. children receiving cash and medical benefits through SSI tripled to nearly 1 million. The article describes a family's decision to participate in SSI and/or AFDC, and uses state‐level data for three years before, and three years after, the Zebley decision to estimate the effect of state program generosity on child program participation. The expansions in child SSI eligibility increased child SSI participation and contributed to increased total program participation by children in the early 1990s. Child SSI participation increased more in states with lower AFDC payments and higher state SSI supplementation payments. These results suggest that families use SSI and AFDC as substitutes. At least 32 percent of the Zebley increase in SSI is likely attributable to the SSI–AFDC benefit gap for the median AFDC benefit state. © 2000 by the Association for Public Policy and Management.     

《论人民民主专政》的文本修改与思想演变

承载着毛泽东对新中国理论构想的《论人民民主专政》,其文本内容自创生之后也经历了长期而复杂的发展演变过程。《论人民民主专政》最早于1949年7月1日发表在《人民日报》上,但由于毛泽东在新民主主义革命的经验总结和新政权的构想方面有了新的认识,于是很快对其内容进行了修改并编辑出版了单行本。在1960年编辑《毛泽东选集》第四卷时,《论人民民主专政》的文本又经历了一次修改,体现了毛泽东在社会主义建设方面的新思考。总结这一文本的演变过程,对于我们深入理解毛泽东思想特别是毛泽东关于新中国国家建设构想的发展转变具有重要意义。