Andy Warhol and His work on the Contemporary Art Essay Example for Free

Andy Warhol and His work on the Contemporary Art Essay Andy Warhol (1928-1987) of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, less commonly known as Andrew Warhola, was a central figure in the pop art category. He is an American artist who reigned around the world as a painter, author, avant-garde filmmaker and as a public personage for his connection to many people of different fields of work and status. Warhol studied in Carnegie Institute of Technology (now known as the Carnegie Mellon University) to hone his artistry (www. artgallery. com, 2008). Warhol unify his works through the Keatonesque style which is aritistically and personally affectless. In his work s a Pop artist, conceptual aspects were always there as a key factor. His art was known for its irony, in most of its sense. Campbell’s soup cans was probably his most famous work. The mundane images he made were turned to the so-called ironic art through enlargement, hand-painting or silk-screening. He always mentioned that the idea of his work is always at the surface of his work, obvious, apparent. Other attributes of his work were slight color changes using ink spots (www. pbs. org, 2007). His work reveals contemporary art in such a way it concerns some human desires that never ceases to revolve around. He even made his film where he was an international celebrity and a pop artist. His experiences with many people brought him the ideas of what is contemporary, and made sure that no traces of the artists can be recognized from his artwork. Andy Warhol and His work on the Contemporary Art. (2017, Feb 14). We have essays on the following topics that may be of interest to you

Differentiated Instruction Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Differentiated Instruction - Research Paper Example This research aims to evaluate and present differentiated learning that has been approved as the most suitable way of acquiring new knowledge effectively by all irrespective of intellectual ability or power. In differentiated learning or instructions, students or pupils are placed at center of learning or learning institution. Each learner has the right to obtain knowledge. Furthermore, learner should be entitled to learning processes that adequately or effectively address their learning needs. This is the only way to ensure that quality of education improves and knowledge is effectively acquired by all learners and appropriately implemented. There are different types of students in the learning arena and each have a unique learning need. However, the learning process has to adequately and effectively address needs of all learners. Furthermore, learners have different academic skill development and instruction avocations. This requires a unique and universal approach hence address al l the needs of each student irrespective of their nature. This can only be adequately addressed by differentiated learning or instructions. This is because the learning process is flexible and easily incorporates learning processes that are easily adaptable by all learners. Generally, differentiated learning is considered the best method of acquisition of new knowledge or learning because it attempts qualitative learning rather than quantitative learning. This is because the learning process aims at provision of knowledge to learners through the ways or methods that best suits them. This ensures that learners acquire appropriate knowledge and according to their abilities. The process involves use of group work, individual study methods, instructions or experiments. This enables the learners to blend their learning abilities with the best methods that suit their abilities or the methods that they ca effectively use to acquire knowledge. The process also enable teachers to effectively analyze their students and determine the most appropriate learning process that suit their learning needs and hence provide knowledge to them appropriately. The process also allows a teacher to effectively assess the learners and determine their learning abilities (Heacox, 2002, p 68). Differentiated instruction or learning is viewed as an educational philosophy and a proactive approach to learning. The practice also has numerous practitioners due to its nature. Differentiated instruction or learning basically applies principle of quality knowledge provision to the students. Furthermore, it requires

Breach of Confidentiality Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Breach of Confidentiality - Essay Example This means that a physician cannot reveal any information of the patient during the course of treatment unless under the patients approval. The essence of physician’s responsibility is to preserve patients’ confidentiality, and help them to be open and able to give all the information regarding their health status. This is done with the assurance that the physician will safeguard such personal information. The honest revelation by the patient provides for a proper and effective treatment of the condition. There are, however, exemptions, for instance, if a patient may hurt others or himself or herself. A breach of confidentiality refers to the revelation of the patients’ medical information to another person without the patients’ permission by a physician or medical health expert. The revelation can be electronically, through word of mouth, or through writing. Thus, the physician’s responsibility of safeguarding the patients’ medical records sometimes has to relent to the interests of the whole. Â  In Estate of Behringer v Princeton Medical Centre (1990), the late Behringer, working as a surgeon at the medical centre, suffered from AIDS. Behringer received treatment from the same hospital. His chart containing information about his diagnosis was not safeguarded at the nurses’ location on the floor where it was kept. The exposure of the information on his diagnosis revealed his medical condition, making the hospital necessitate his patients to sign a form recognizing the dangers to their health. Eventually, this resulted to the deferral of the doctor’s surgical rights (McHale, 1993). The inability of the hospital to protect his personal medical information led to Behringer’s estate suing the hospital for breach of confidentiality. The breach of confidentiality occurred in the sense that the hospital was supposed to safeguard the chart containing the surgeon’s diagnosis information. However, they instead left the chart

Marketing and Stakeholders in the Food Industry Assignment

Marketing and Stakeholders in the Food Industry - Assignment Example In addition, the work finds out the various aspects of the marketing concept and illustrates how the marketing concept can be useful for the growth and development of an organization. Lastly, the work identifies the various stakeholders of McDonalds and suggests effective ways of communication that will satisfy each group. In general terms, the concept of marketing claims that in order to gain organisational goals, it is necessary to understand the needs and wants of the target market and deliver the required level of satisfaction more effectively and efficiently than competitors. Thus one can say that under marketing concept, it is more important to sell satisfaction than to sell product (Jain, 2006-07, pp. 292-293). According to AMA definition, â€Å"Marketing† is â€Å"the process of planning and executing the conception, pricing, promotion, and distribution of ideas, goods, and services to create exchanges that will satisfy individual and organisational objectives† (Shah & D’Souza, 2009, p. 8). Marketing concept and other business philosophies An analysis of the marketing concept proves that it does not focus on maximising profit through increased sales volume. Instead, it gains profit through increased satisfaction of customers. Thus, in the marketing concept, customer is the central figure around which all marketing activities take place. In essence, it becomes necessary to identify the target customers, develop an understanding with them, understand their demands, and provide services and goods to their satisfaction. One can summarise the components of marketing as satisfaction of customers, integration of various marketing activities, and good sales volume (Moore, et al. 2006, p. 142). This concept of marketing is different from the concepts of production, product, selling and holistic marketing. The selling concept was in vogue before the introduction of the marketing concept that is, during 1950s and 1960s. In this concept, the co mpany mainly aims to sell a product to the maximum and gives little attention to the precise requirements of the customers (Kuratko, 2008, p. 359). In that case, the company continues selling a product adopting various promotion schemes. In other words, the company focuses mainly on selling methods to attain maximum profit (Ibid). Yet another important concept is product concept. It focuses primarily on the quality of the product. In other words, a company gives maximum attention to the quality of its product on the belief that as far as the product is of high quality, consumers will be attracted to the product. Similarly, companies used to adopt the concept of production until 1950s. It claims that when a product or service is in maximum demand in the marketplace, the company should focus on producing that product or service as much as possible. An important part of marketing is marketing research. It becomes necessary for all companies to research their market in order to set thei r direction initially and to assess their performance thereafter. There are various sources to collect marketing information. Some primary sources are customers, dealers, and salesmen. As customers are the people who use the product, they are the best source of information regarding the quality of the product in terms of price, packaging, availability, design etc. similarly, dealers are capable of offering some useful information regarding the customer response to the products. In addition, they will be able to offer vital information regar

Effects of Diet and Exercise on the Human Body

Effects of Diet and Exercise on the Human Body How to Maintain a Healthy Body How do we maintain a healthy body? To look at this we need to first decide what health means. The World Health Organisation (WHO) has defined health as a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being, and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.1 If this is the case then having a healthy diet may not mean that we have a healthy body. We also need to take into account that how we look at health has changed dramatically over the years. For example in the 17th Century the major factor of health was things like the bubonic plague due to fleas on rats. Today we have to worry about things like obesity and swine flu. I am going to look at numerous factors which contribute to a healthy body. I am going to look at diet, exercise and social factors, all of which I believe can contribute to maintaining a healthy body. Firstly I am going to look at the effects diet has on our body. For humans to survive we need food, however, we need certain types of food and we need to eat a balanced diet to have a healthy body. The foods we should be consuming to have a healthy balanced diet are; proteins, fats and oils, carbohydrates, minerals, vitamins, fibre and water. We need each of these food groups for a certain reason. For example we need protein to help our body repair itself, we need carbohydrates as these are broken down into simple sugars like glucose which is the primary source of energy for the brain, and we need iron to form red blood cells which carry oxygen round the body. If we eat less or more of these than we require this may cause problems for our body making us unhealthy. It is typically known that a diet high in fruit and vegetables is good for our body, however it is not widely known that if we have a diet lacking in these that it can be very damaging to our body. The WHO estimates that 2. 7 million deaths are attributed to a diet low in fruit and vegetables every year2. If we have an unhealthy diet this can cause a number of chronic diseases including: high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity and cancer2. Each of these diseases can affect a persons quality of life and also can reduce a persons life expectancy. If we have an unhealthy diet this can cause many problems both for now and in the future, for example, if we eat too much sugar this can give us tooth decay which means we have an unhealthy mouth, and if we have too much salt then over time this can build up and cause us to have high blood pressure which can be potentially fatal. The WHO classes anyone that is 30% or more overweight to be obese. If we are obese then this can greatly lower our life expectancy and also our quality of life. If someone is overweight they do not have a healthy body and our likely also to not have a healthy mind. I now want to look at how exercise can help us to maintain a healthy body. There are many benefits of exercise both for our bodies and our mental health. The benefits of exercise on our bodies include; preventing heart disease, can reduce high blood pressure and can prevent diabetes. The benefits of exercise for our mental health include; helping to relieve stress, helping to reduce the symptoms of depression and helping to relieve sleeping problems. If someone is stressed or has had a bad day which has affected their mood then going out for a walk can be very beneficial to them. It has been proven that any aerobic exercise releases a mood altering substance called endorphins. Endorphins have been proven to improve our mood and also reduce levels of stress3. Now I am going to look at how social factors can affect whether or not we have a healthy body. Social factors include; our social status, area we live, and outside influences. Social factors can play a large role in how we maintain our bodies. In todays society it can be quite expensive to live healthy, the price of fresh and healthy foods are often more expensive than cheap processed foods. If someone doesnt have a lot of money and doesnt earn a lot then they are more likely to go for the cheaper version which is what they can afford. This then affects their health as processed foods tend to have more of the things that are bad for us in them. Also if someone is classed as poor they are more likely to live in an area where there is more pollution and less focus on health. This may have a huge impact on whether they have a healthy body or not. In conclusion having a healthy body can not be accomplished by merely eating healthy. There are many factors to consider when we are trying to maintain a healthy body. If we want to be healthy then we must take into account what health means; a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being, and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.1 Therefore we must have a healthy diet, exercise and make sure that we take care of our mental health. In todays society it is harder than ever to maintain a healthy body with all the outside influences like drugs and alcohol. However if we want to be healthy then we must at least try to lead a healthy lifestyle and take care of our bodies and minds as we only have one. References Given, P. and Reiss, M. Human Biology and Health Studies, 2nd Edition, (2002), Nelson Thornes LTD, Cheltenham, UK, ISBN 0-17-490060-0 World Health Organisation (WHO), Diet and physical activity: a public health priority, http://www.who.int/dietphysicalactivity/en/ Donnellan, C. (ed) How fit are we? Issues, (2000), Independence Publishers, Cambridge, UK, ISBN 1-86168-120-8 Encyclopedia, Endorphins facts and information, http://www.encyclopedia.com/topic/endorphins.aspx Medical News Today, What is health? What does good health mean?, http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/150999.php

BILLY IDOL :: essays research papers

BORN: November 30, 1955, Middlesex, England Most of you will probably know that our ‘Great American Rocker ‘ is originally from England. He was born William Michael Albert Broad on Nov 30th 1955, in Stanmore, Middx. When he was just 3 years old, his father moved the family to the USA, in the hope of what Billy describes as ‘finding the American dream’. They settled in Long Island, New York, but after about 4 years, Mr. Broad decided that perhaps it wasn’t the ‘promised land’ after all & they returned to the UK. After spending a short time in Bromley, Kent, the Broads moved to the quiet suburbia of Goring, Worthing in W.Sussex. And then returned once again to Bromley. Billy insists that he inherited his wild streak from his father & grandfather before him. Wherever it emerged from, I think there can be no denying that it exists ! He claims also that he has frequently been misunderstood throughout his career & I believe that this was the case even during his school days. It was suggested on Billy’s report card that he was ‘idle’. What the teachers failed to recognise is that Billy was just ‘bored’. There was never any question that Billy was indeed a very bright student, but his need for constant stimulation & possibly an over powering compulsion to reject conformity lead to him leaving Sussex University after just the first year. Billy had already realised his appreciation of music & was seriously contemplating following that path as his chosen career. As he says himself : " I never wanted no proper job " The fact that his father was so avidly adverse to it was all the prompting that Billy needed. It was not just a question of deliberately wanting to rebel against him, but eventually more a case of wanting to prove that what he had chosen was not worthless. After many huge rows & 2 years of not even speaking, Billy managed to convince his father of this & Mr. Broad is now one of the first to recognise his achievements. One of the most admiral points of Billy’s career is that he has always resisted the temptation to ‘jump on the band wagon’. It would have been so easy , as he says, to ‘brush his hair down & become the new David Cassidy ‘. But his resilience, determination & commitment to his beliefs prevented him from ‘selling out’ & gave him the strength of position that he still commands today. BILLY IDOL :: essays research papers BORN: November 30, 1955, Middlesex, England Most of you will probably know that our ‘Great American Rocker ‘ is originally from England. He was born William Michael Albert Broad on Nov 30th 1955, in Stanmore, Middx. When he was just 3 years old, his father moved the family to the USA, in the hope of what Billy describes as ‘finding the American dream’. They settled in Long Island, New York, but after about 4 years, Mr. Broad decided that perhaps it wasn’t the ‘promised land’ after all & they returned to the UK. After spending a short time in Bromley, Kent, the Broads moved to the quiet suburbia of Goring, Worthing in W.Sussex. And then returned once again to Bromley. Billy insists that he inherited his wild streak from his father & grandfather before him. Wherever it emerged from, I think there can be no denying that it exists ! He claims also that he has frequently been misunderstood throughout his career & I believe that this was the case even during his school days. It was suggested on Billy’s report card that he was ‘idle’. What the teachers failed to recognise is that Billy was just ‘bored’. There was never any question that Billy was indeed a very bright student, but his need for constant stimulation & possibly an over powering compulsion to reject conformity lead to him leaving Sussex University after just the first year. Billy had already realised his appreciation of music & was seriously contemplating following that path as his chosen career. As he says himself : " I never wanted no proper job " The fact that his father was so avidly adverse to it was all the prompting that Billy needed. It was not just a question of deliberately wanting to rebel against him, but eventually more a case of wanting to prove that what he had chosen was not worthless. After many huge rows & 2 years of not even speaking, Billy managed to convince his father of this & Mr. Broad is now one of the first to recognise his achievements. One of the most admiral points of Billy’s career is that he has always resisted the temptation to ‘jump on the band wagon’. It would have been so easy , as he says, to ‘brush his hair down & become the new David Cassidy ‘. But his resilience, determination & commitment to his beliefs prevented him from ‘selling out’ & gave him the strength of position that he still commands today.

Examining The Implications Of Process

Modern decision-making support system (DAMS) technology is often also needed for complex SAD, with recent research calling for more integrative DAMS approaches. However, scholars tend to take disintegrated approaches and disagree on whether rational or political decision-making processes result in more effective decision outcomes. In this study, the authors examine these issues by first exploring some of the competing theoretical arguments for the process-choice-effectiveness relationship, and then test these relationships empirically using data from a crisis response training exercise using an intelligent agent-based DAMS.In contrast to prior research, findings indicate that rational decision processes are not effective in risks contexts, and that political decision processes may negatively influence both response choice and decision effectiveness. These results offer empirical evidence to confirm prior unsupported arguments that response choice is an important mediating factor betw een the decision-making process and its effectiveness. The authors conclude with a discussion of the implications of these findings and the application of agent-based simulation DAMS technologies for academic research and practice.Keywords: Agent Software, Agent Technology, Decision Support Systems (ADS), Distributed Decision Making Systems, Knowledge Management, Security Management, Strategic Planning Introduction Strategic decision-making (SAD) involves the methods and practices organizations use to interpret opportunities and threats in the environment and then make response decisions (Shirtwaists & Grant, 1985). Modern decommissioning support system (DAMS) technology is DOI: 1 0. 4018/just. 0100701 01 often also needed for complex SAD, with recent research calling for more integrative DAMS approaches (Moral, Foregone, Cervantes, Carried, Guppy, & Agleam, 2005; Phillips-Wren, Moral, Foregoing, & Guppy, 2009). Such DAMS technologies offer the type of rich and powerful research tec hnology littorals with a high degree of external and internal validity as well as reliability required for integrated decision support (Moral et al. , 2005; Ill, Duffy, Whit- Copyright 0 2010, GIG Global. Copying or distributing in print or electronic forms without written permission of GIG Global is prohibited. International Journal Of Decision Support System Technology, 2(3), 1-15, July-September 2010 field, Bayle, & McKenna, 2009; Linebacker, De Spain, McDonald, Spencer, & Clottier, 2009; Mustachios & Susann, 2009; Phillips-Wren et 2009). Conditions of uncertainty in highly turbulent environments (e. G. , crisis espouse), by nature, further complicate the SAD process, and may limit decision making effectiveness (Ramirez-Marquee & Afar, 2009). At issue is the presumed need for speed of response where logic dictates that a satisfactory decision that is made quickly is superior to an optimal decision made too late.Two of the most commonly accepted, and widely employed decision makin g processes in these contexts are political behavior and procedural rationality (Frederickson & Mitchell, 1984; Hart, 1 992; Eisenhower & Kickback, 1992; Dean & Sherman, 1993; Hart & Binary, 1994; Reader, 2000; Hough & White, 2003; Elba & Child, 2007). ROR research advocates that ‘political' processes will be more effective in these contexts, and that ‘rational' decision processes will be less effective in unstable environments (Frederickson & Mitchell, 1984).Subsequent research considered the effectiveness Of processes in ‘high velocity environments and advocated that rational decision-making processes will allow for faster response and will be more effective than political decision-making processes in these contexts (Bourgeois & Eisenhower, 1 988; Eisenhower, 1989). Hart (1992) later expanded on these arguments to develop a framework for session-making processes involving a variety of forms stemming from political or rational bases, and also argued that ‘ra tional' approaches should relate positively to effectiveness, while more ‘political' approaches should not.Collectively, the literature on the effectiveness of these SAD processes across a variety of settings is in conflict as some studies suggest that rational decision-making processes will be positively related to effectiveness (Bourgeois & Eisenhower, 1988; Eisenhower, 1989; Hart, 1992) and political decision-making processes will not be effective (Hart, 1 992), while Others advocate for political decision- aging processes and against rational decision-making processes (Frederickson & Mitchell, 1984).Given this conflict, and the fact that these differences are largely unresolved empirically, one contribution of this study is that we examine the effectiveness implications of political and rational SAD processes. Through doing so, we offer some clarification and resolution of the conflicting predictions and findings of Frederickson and Mitchell (1984), Bourgeois and Eisenhowe r (1988), and Hart (1992). Further, while the inclusion off mediating role for response choice is well theorized, it is also largely untested empirically in prior work.Therefore a further contribution of this study is that we also seek to take into account this mediating role of choice on decision effectiveness. In this study we address several specific research questions: 1) Does variation in the decision-making process result in variation in response choice; 2) Does variation in response choice result in variation in decision effectiveness; and 3) Can we also trace the effectiveness of different SAD processes as mediated through particular response choices?Since management can influence the SAD processes, question three is likely to be of more interest than question woo. However, if we only look at the direct relationship between SAD processes and effectiveness (I. E. , Dean & Sherman, 1996), we might be attributing differences in effectiveness to process variation when these vari ations did not actually influence choices. Thus, we need to adequately discern which SAD processes are more effective in these situations and produce the most effective outcomes.Addressing these questions helps to clarify the integrated influences of process and choice on strategic decision-making effectiveness. This paper proceeds as follows: 1) We review related research on SAD, and leverage prior theory to develop hypotheses for an integrated process-choice-effectiveness SAD model; 2) We examine the model and hypotheses through empirical analysis of data from a crisis response training exercise using an agent-based simulation decision support system technology; 3) We present and discuss the results Of our analyses in relation to the model and hypotheses; Copyright 0 201 0, GIG Global.Copying or distributing in print or electronic September 2010 3 and 4) We conclude with a discussion of our findings along with implications for practitioners and future academic research. Theory' de velopment Prior work by Dean and Sherman (1993, 1 996) offers an integrated decision-making model, for framing this study of SAD process-cooperativeness's. Their work examines the assumptions underlying the relationship between decision- making processes, response choices, and SAD effectiveness.The model proposes that variation in decision-making process (political or rational) will produce different response choices, which result in variation in SAD effectiveness. However, empirical testing of their model is limited to the relationship between political and rational decision-making processes and variation in effectiveness alone, excluding the intermediate response choice arable.As the potential mediating implications of the response choice intermediate variable are thereby unexamined, we extend and examine Dean and Chairman's (1996) model to clarify the conflicting arguments in the prior SAD literature. We do this through examining the full model with the inclusion of the mediating relationship of response choice through our application to an extreme decision-making context (crisis response).Our approach is as follows: 1) We extend Dean and Chairman's (1996) strategic decision-making relationship and effectiveness model of variation in process, response choice, and effectiveness by expanding heir effectiveness model to include the potential mediating effects of intermediate choices; and 2) We then examine the competing arguments for process effectiveness in this context from Frederickson and Mitchell (1984), Bourgeois and Eisenhower (1 988), and Hart (1992). In Dean and Chairman's (1996) model variation in the strategic decision-making process (e. . , Political or Rational approaches) produce variation in response choice, resulting in variation in effectiveness. The effectiveness outcomes therefore depend on the following: 1) The strategic decision-making process utilized, and 2) The response strategy choices implemented. In order to clarify the conflicting d ominant arguments in the literature for process effectiveness under uncertainty, as well as test the theorized mediating role of choice, we develop several base-line hypotheses to be roughly consistent with the previous literature.Replicating Dean and Chairman's (1996) model: Hypothesis 1 : Variation In strategic decommissioning process will be related to variation in effectiveness. Examining the sub elements of the implied Dean and Sherman (1996) model: Hypothesis 2: Variation in strategic decommissioning process will be related to variation in response choice. Hypothesis 3: Variation in response choice will be related to variation in effectiveness.To examine the full model as proposed by Dean and Sherman (1996), which proposes a mediating relationship but only examines the direct relationship, we distinguish between the direct effect of SAD process on effectiveness (HI) and a mediating relationship acting through response choice. Whereas, Dean and Chairman's (1996) original model has choice as endogenous to the strategic decision-making and effectiveness relationship, we model response choice as an intermediate step and consider this as an expansion of the strategy decision-making and effectiveness relationship.We therefore derive hypothesis 4 to examine whether response choice has both a mediating and direct effect Examining the full Dean and Sherman (1996) model: Hypothesis 4: Variation in strategic decommissioning process and variation in response choice will be related to variation in effectiveness. Copyright C 2010, GIG Global. Copying or distributing in print or electronic 4 International Journal of Decision Support System Technology, 2(3), 1-15, To examine the conflict in the literature regarding the inconsistency among the Frederickson and Mitchell (1984) andBourgeois and Eisenhower (1988) propositions for uncertain and high velocity environments, as well as the Hart (1992) propositions for effectiveness by type of decision-making process, we develop hypotheses AAA and b: Hypothesis AAA: In highly turbulent environments, Rational decision-making processes should be positively related to effectiveness, while Political decommissioning processes should not have a positive relationship with effectiveness (Bourgeois & Eisenhower, 1 988; Hart, 1992).Hypothesis b: In highly turbulent environments, Rational decision-making processes should be negatively related to effectiveness, while Political consummating processes should have a positive relationship with effectiveness (Frederickson & Mitchell, 1984). Analytical considerations Study context Crisis events (I. E. , natural disasters, terrorism, etc. ) are environments characterized by varying levels of turbulence and ambiguity (National Commission on Terrorist Attacks, 2004).While government organizations differ from those in the private sector, research in the management field on SAD may be applicable to government organizations dealing with crisis events. For example, the core task o f organizations is the creation and/or maintenance of a fit between the organizations' internal strengths and capabilities and the demands placed on them by their environments.Government organizations must also draw upon unique resources and capabilities across various departments and levels of government to respond to challenges in their environments. Similarly, the levels of turbulence and ambiguity present in a government agency operating environment may also be direct contributors to the difficulties inherent to SAD in these contexts. The nature of the environmental pressure, turbidity, and outcome implications make this a unique and challenging operating environment.Prior related work on this topic from other fields includes the development of homeland defense strategy for the White House (KUDUS, 2004), the modeling of disease outbreaks (Ravager & Longing, 1985; Kurd & Hare, 2001; Kaplan, craft, & win, 2002, 2003; Bank, Gull, Kumar, Marathon, Cravings, Tutorial, & Wang, 2004; C raft, Win, & Wilkins, 2005). Further uses have included numerous academic, government, and practitioner publications on epidemiological, terrorism response, and homeland security and defense strategies (Deutsche, 1 963; Hoffman, 1981; Hugh & Selves, 2002; Ramirez-Marquee & Afar, 2009).Sample data We test our model and hypotheses using data collected from a multi-step approach consisting of an experiment (a U. S. Department of Homeland Security training exercise called Measured Response (MR.)) in conjunction with an intelligent agent-based simulation. We use this data to examine the extended Dean and Sherman (1996) model and the associated hypotheses for variation in SAD process, choice, and effectiveness. We use a computational experimentation methodological approach to do this.This approach consists of two steps: 1) Using a validated survey instrument to collect data on strategy process and choice from a lab experiment with actual practitioners grouped into several response teams; and 2) An intelligent agent-based simulation utilized in the exercise to produce data on the effectiveness of the groups' SAD processes and response choices. We test our model and its hypotheses through empirical analysis of a sub sample of 268 combined observations from the survey and simulation data collected from the exercise. Better 2010 5 Measured Response Exercise. The MR. Homeland Security training exercise consisted of nine teams of human agents comprised of three to five individuals each (representing their actual functional responsibilities in most asses) to play the roles of the Departments of Homeland Security (DISH), Health and Human Services (DISH), and Transportation (EDT) at the local, state, and federal levels.These human agents operated In a â€Å"Joint Operations Center environment where they were able to execute a variety of decisions and respond interactively to changes in the simulated environment the rough the exercise. Simulation Model. The Measured Response training exercise utilizes a synthetic environment as the decision support system technology for the exercise. This system uses a dynamic virtual computer simulation environment to simulate the outbreak ND dispersion of a biological agent on a mid-sized city in the United States.This outbreak affects tens of thousands of computer-based intelligent agents. These agents approximate the diversity of behavioral characteristics and demographics of the actual modeled population for the city. Additionally, we utilized pathogen-specific data from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) in the simulation model to ensure the attack takes place in a realistic manner on the virtual population of intelligent agents. Further, the organizational aspects of the simulation model incorporate data from actual DISH and CDC response plans.The simulated scenario therefore replicates the actual characteristics Of a real-world attack in which the decommissioning process and response strategy choice can sign ificantly affect outcomes in terms of infection rate, contagion spread, population death rate, and public mood. Given these factors, these types of decision support system technologies offer a rich and dynamic simulation environment, which largely alleviates the common concerns previously associated with using simplistic homegrown or off-the-shelf simulation tools in academic research (Linebacker et al. 2009; Mustachios & Susann, 2009). Specifically, our training exercise utilizes thousands of different participant decisions on a variety of teams, at multiple levels, which affect thousands of computerized agents who respond dynamically to the collective participant inputs, as well as each Agnes response behavior to the inputs (See Structured, Meta, & ornerier, 2005; Harrison, Line, Carroll, & Carrey, 2007 for more detail on simulation modeling).Additionally, conflicting criteria prevent exercise participants from â€Å"gaming† the system and drive the multiple measures of eff ectiveness. Thus these types of decision support system technologies offer the type of rich and powerful research technology littorals with a high degree Of external and internal validity as well as reliability required for integrated decision support (Lie et al. , 2009; Linebacker et al. , 2009; Mustachios & Susann, 2009). Measures Dependent variables. The dependent variable in our study consists of an integrated composite measure for decision effectiveness.This approach is consistent with recent research advocating integrated process and outcome measures for decision-making support system evaluation (Moral et al. , 2005; Phillips-Wren et al. , 2009). While the decision objective is to contain or control the outbreak and minimize totalities, the need to maintain acceptable levels of public mood complicates this objective. Therefore the decision makers must consider the outcome of their decisions choices in terms of containing the outbreak and impact on public mood. Examining The Implications Of Process Therefore a further contribution of this study is that we also seek to take into account this mediating role of choice on decision effectiveness. In this study we address several specific research questions: 1) Does variation in the decision-making process result in variation in response choice; 2) Does variation in response choice result in variation in decision effectiveness; and 3) Can we also trace he effectiveness of different SAD processes as mediated through particular response choices?Since management can influence the SAD processes, question three is likely to be of more interest than question two. However, if we only look at the direct relationship between SAD processes and effectiveness (I. E. , Dean & Sherman, 1 996), we might be attributing differences in effectiveness to process variation when these variations did not actually influence choices. Thus, we need to adequately discern which SAD processes are more effective in these situations and produce the most effective outcomes.Addressing these questions helps to clarify the integrated influences of process and choice on strategic decision-making effectiveness. This paper proceeds as follows: 1) We review related research on SAD, and leverage prior theory to develop hypotheses for an integrated process-choice-effectiveness SAD model; 2) We examine the model and hypotheses through empirical analysis of data from a crisis response training exercise using an agent-based simulation decision support system technology; 3) We present and discuss the results Of our analyses in relation to the model and hypotheses; Copyright C 2010, GIG Global.Copying or distributing in print or electronic September 201 0 3 and 4) We conclude with a discussion of our findings along with implications for practitioners and future academic research. Theory development Prior work by Dean and Sherman (1 993, 1 996) offers an integrated decision-making model, for framing this study of SAD process-cooperativeness's. Their work ex amines the assumptions underlying the relationship between decision- making processes, response choices, and SAD effectiveness.The model proposes that variation in decision-making process (political or rational) will produce different espouse choices, which result in variation in SAD effectiveness. However, empirical testing of their model is limited to the relationship between political and rational decision-making processes and variation in effectiveness alone, excluding the intermediate response choice variable.As the potential mediating implications of the response choice intermediate variable are thereby unexamined, we extend and examine Dean and Chairman's (1996) model to clarify the conflicting arguments in the prior SAD literature. We do this through examining the full model with the inclusion of the mediating allegations of response choice through our application to an extreme decision-making context (crisis response).Our approach is as follows: 1) We extend Dean and Chairm an's (1996) strategic decision-making relationship and effectiveness model of variation in process, response choice, and effectiveness by expanding their effectiveness model to include the potential mediating effects of intermediate choices; and 2) We then examine the competing arguments for process effectiveness in this context from Frederickson and Mitchell (1 984), Bourgeois and Eisenhower (1988), and Hart (1992).In Dean and Chairman's (1996) model variation in the strategic decision-making process (e. G. , Political or Rational approaches) produce variation in response choice, resulting in variation in effectiveness. The effectiveness outcomes therefore depend on the following: 1 ) The strategic decision-making process utilized, and 2) The response strategy choices implemented.In order to clarify the conflicting dominant arguments in the literature for process effectiveness under uncertainty, as well as test the theorized mediating role of choice, we develop several base-line hy potheses to be ugly consistent with the previous literature. Replicating Dean and Chairman's (1996) model: Hypothesis 1: Variation in strategic decommissioning process will be related to variation in effectiveness.Examining the sub elements of the implied Dean and Sherman (1996) model: Hypothesis 2: Variation in strategic decommissioning process will be related to variation in response choice. Hypothesis 3: Variation in response choice will be related to variation in effectiveness. To examine the full model as proposed by Dean and Sherman (1 996), which proposes a mediating relationship but only examines the erect relationship, we distinguish between the direct effect of SAD process on effectiveness (HI ) and a mediating relationship acting through response choice.Whereas, Dean and Chairman's (1996) original model has choice as endogenous to the strategic decision-making and effectiveness relationship, we model response choice as an intermediate step and consider this as an expansio n of the strategy decision-making and effectiveness relationship. We therefore derive hypothesis 4 to examine whether response choice has both a mediating and direct effect Examining the full Dean and Sherman (1996) model: Hypothesis 4: Variation in strategic decommissioning process and variation in response choice will be related to variation in effectiveness. Copyright 0 201 0, GIG Global.Copying or distributing in print or electronic 4 International Journal of Decision Support System Technology, 2(3), 1-15, July-September 201 0 To examine the conflict in the literature regarding the inconsistency among the Frederickson and Mitchell (1984) and Bourgeois and Eisenhower (1988) propositions for uncertain and high velocity environments, as well as the Hart (1992) propositions for effectiveness by type of decision-making process, we develop hypotheses AAA and b: Hypothesis AAA: In highly turbulent environments, Rational decision-making processes should be positively related to effectiv eness, while Political decommissioning processes should not have a positive relationship with effectiveness (Bourgeois & Eisenhower, 1 988; Hart, 1992). Hypothesis b: In highly turbulent environments, Rational decision-making processes should be negatively related to effectiveness, while Political decommissioning processes should have a positive relationship with effectiveness (Frederickson & Mitchell, 1984). Analytical considerations Study context Crisis events (I. E. , natural disasters, terrorism, etc. Are environments characterized by varying levels of turbulence and ambiguity (National Commission on Terrorist Attacks, 2004). While government organizations differ from those in the private sector, research in the management field on SAD may be applicable to government organizations dealing with crisis events. For example, the core task of organizations is the creation and/or maintenance of a fit between the organizations' internal strengths and capabilities and the demands placed on them by their environments. Government organizations must also draw upon unique resources and capabilities across various departments and levels of government to respond to challenges in their environments.Similarly, the levels of turbulence and ambiguity present in a government agency operating environment may also be direct contributors to the difficulties inherent to SAD in these contexts. The nature of the environmental pressure, turbidity, and outcome implications make this a unique and challenging operating environment. Prior related work on this topic from other fields includes the development of homeland defense strategy for the White House (KUDUS, 2004), the modeling of disease outbreaks (Ravager & Longing, 1985; Kurd & Hare, 2001; Kaplan, craft, & win, 2002, 2003; Bank, Gull, Kumar, Marathon, Cravings, Tutorial, & Wang, 2004; Craft, Win, & Wilkins, 2005).Further uses have included numerous academic, government, and practitioner publications on epidemiological, terroris m response, and homeland security and defense strategies (Deutsche, 1 963; Hoffman, 1981; Hugh & Selves, 2002; Ramirez-Marquee & Afar, 2009). Sample data We test our model and hypotheses using data collected from a multi-step approach consisting of an experiment (a U. S. Department of Homeland Security training exercise called Measured Response (MR.)) in conjunction with an intelligent agent-based simulation. We use this data to examine the extended Dean and Sherman (1996) model and the associated hypotheses for variation in SAD process, choice, and effectiveness. We use a computational experimentation methodological approach to do this.This approach consists of two steps: 1) Using a validated survey instrument to collect data on strategy process and choice from a lab experiment with actual practitioners grouped into several response teams; and 2) An intelligent agent-based simulation utilized in the exercise to produce data on the effectiveness of the groups' SAD processes and resp onse choices. We test Our model and its hypotheses through empirical analysis of a sub sample of 268 combined observations from the survey and simulation data collected from the exercise. Copyright C 201 0, GIG Global. Copying or distributing in print or electronic September 2010 5 Measured Response Exercise.The MR. Homeland Security training exercise consisted of nine teams of human agents comprised of three to five individuals each (representing their actual functional responsibilities in most asses) to play the roles of the Departments of Homeland Security (DISH), Health and Human Services (DISH), and Transportation (EDT) at the local, state, and federal levels. These human agents operated in a â€Å"Joint Operations Center environment where they were able to execute a variety of decisions and respond interactively to changes in the simulated environment throughout the exercise. Simulation Model. The Measured Response training exercise utilizes a synthetic environment as the dec ision support system technology for the exercise. This system uses a dynamic virtual computer simulation environment to simulate the outbreak ND dispersion of a biological agent on a mid-sized city in the United States. This outbreak affects tens of thousands of computer-based intelligent agents.These agents approximate the diversity of behavioral characteristics and demographics of the actual modeled population for the city. Additionally, we utilized pathogen-specific data from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) in the simulation model to ensure the attack takes place in a realistic manner on the virtual population of intelligent agents. Further, the organizational aspects of the simulation model incorporate data from actual DISH and CDC response plans. The simulated scenario therefore replicates the actual characteristics Of a real-world attack in which the decommissioning process and response strategy choice can significantly affect outcomes in terms of infection rate, contagi on spread, population death rate, and public mood.Given these factors, these types of decision support system technologies offer a rich and dynamic simulation environment, which largely alleviates the common concerns previously associated with using simplistic homegrown or off-the-shelf simulation tools in academic research (Linebacker et al. , 2009; Mustachios & Susann, 2009). Specifically, our training exercise utilizes thousands of different participant decisions on a variety of teams, at multiple levels, which affect thousands of computerized agents who respond dynamically to the collective participant inputs, as well as each agent's response behavior to the inputs (See Structured, Meta, & ornerier, 2005; Harrison, Line, Carroll, & Carrey, 2007 for more detail on simulation modeling).