Compatibility of Human Resource Management, Industrial Relations, and Engineering Under Mass Production and Lean Production: An Exploration

La "production limitée" ("lean production") est une nouvelle approche de la production susceptible de modifier la gestion des ressources humaines, les relations industrielles et les processus de travail dans les entreprises américaines. Apparaissant après une longue période de stabilité reposant sur des règles relationelles et opérationnelles basées sur la production de masse, la transition vers la production limitée est controversée et traumatisante. Le modèle émergent suggère que la transition s'amorce avec des innovations qui mettent l'accent sur l'amélioration de la productivité et s'affirme avec le comanagement et la participation. En s'appuyant sur une revue de la littérature et sur une évaluation raisonnée des résultats disponibles, cet article propose un point de vue structuré sur la nature des changements dans le processus productif et sur leurs conséquences institutionelles.
"Lean production" as a new production concept is believed to be transforming human resource management, industrial relations, and work processes in American firms. Coming after a long period of stability under operational and relational rules supported by mass production, the transition to lean production is controversial and traumatic. The emerging pattern suggests that transition begins with workplace innovations that emphasise productivity enhancement and develops to co-management or joint governance of the enterprise. On an extensive review of the literature and by selective weighting of findings and evidence, this paper develops an integrative perspective on the nature of changes in the mode of production and its institutional correlates.     

Short-term effect of physical exercise at lactate threshold on choice reaction time

The duration of the enhancement of choice reaction task efficiency by physical exercise at lactate threshold was studied. After healthy male students completed the exercise or nonexercise (control) period for 10 min., they performed a three-choice reaction task for 20 min. The mean heart rate during the choice reaction task after the exercise was higher than that after the control period (p < .05). For average percentage of correct answers, there were no significant differences between the exercise and control conditions. The reaction time during the first 8 min. of the 20-min. choice reaction task after the exercise period was less than that after the control period and increased gradually thereafter. In conclusion, whereas the choice reaction time was improved by physical exercise at around lactate threshold, the positive effects were seen mainly in the early stages of the task.     

Order of a 'uniform random' presentation on contextual interference in a serial tracking task

The purpose of the present study was to examine the effect of order of a 'uniform random' presentation on contextual interference in a serial tracking task. Subjects (N=48) were randomly assigned to either a random condition or a blocked condition in the acquisition phase, in which they learned three patterns of serial tracking tasks. Subjects performed retention and transfer trials either in a blocked or a 'uniform random' order. Analysis indicated, in comparisons of performance among conditions, 'uniform random' presentation in the acquisition phase did not improve learning in retention and transfer phases. The results are discussed with regard to both theoretical significance to contextual interference and the nature of 'uniform random' presentation.     

A randomized controlled trial on the long-term effects of a 1-month behavioral weight control program assisted by computer tailored advice

OBJECTIVES: To examine the long-term effects of a new behavioral weight control program (Kenkou-tatsujin, KT program). The program consisted of twice-interactive letter communications including computer-tailored personal advice on treatment needs and behavioral modification. DESIGN: A randomized controlled trial comparing Group KM: KT program with 6-month weight and targeted behavior's self-monitoring, Group K: KT program only, Group BM: an untailored self-help booklet with 7-month self-monitoring of weight and walking, and Group B: the self-help booklet only. PARTICIPANTS: Two hundreds and five overweight Japanese females were recruited via a local newspaper. MEASUREMENTS: Weight loss (body weight, BMI, reduction quotient, etc.) and behavioral changes (daily eating, exercise and sleeping habits). FINDINGS: A significant weight loss was observed in all groups. At 1 month, Groups KM and K were superior, but at 7 months, the mean weight loss was significantly more in Group KM than the other 3 groups. At 7 months, 8 dietary habits and 4 physical activities were improved in all subjects. Habitual improvement was related to the weight loss in Groups KM and K at 1 month.     

Decision-making deficit of a patient with axonal damage after traumatic brain injury

Patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI) were reported to have difficulty making advantageous decisions, but the underlying deficits of the network of brain areas involved in this process were not directly examined. We report a patient with TBI who demonstrated problematic behavior in situations of risk and complexity after cerebral injury from a traffic accident. The Iowa gambling task (IGT) was used to reveal his deficits in the decision-making process. To examine underlying deficits of the network of brain areas, we examined T1-weighted structural MRI, diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) and Tc-ECD SPECT in this patient. The patient showed abnormality in IGT. DTI-MRI results showed a significant decrease in fractional anisotropy (FA) in the fasciculus between the brain stem and cortical regions via the thalamus. He showed significant decrease in gray matter volumes in the bilateral insular cortex, hypothalamus, and posterior cingulate cortex, possibly reflecting Wallerian degeneration secondary to the fasciculus abnormalities. SPECT showed significant blood flow decrease in the broad cortical areas including the ventromedial prefrontal cortex (VM). Our study showed that the patient had dysfunctional decision-making process. Microstructural abnormality in the fasciculus, likely from the traffic accident, caused reduced afferent feedback to the brain, resulting in less efficient decision-making. Our findings support the somatic-marker hypothesis (SMH), where somatic feedback to the brain influences the decision-making process.     

Confluence Proofs of Lambda-Mu-Calculi by Z Theorem

Studia Logica - This paper applies Dehornoy et al.’s Z theorem and its variant, called the compositional Z theorem, to prove confluence of Parigot’s $$\lambda \mu $$ -calculi extended...     

Bridging History and Social Psychology: What, How and Why

This special issue aims to bridge history and social psychology by bringing together historians and social psychologists in an exercise of reading and learning from each other??s work. This interdisciplinary exercise is not only timely but of great importance for both disciplines. Social psychologists can benefit from engaging with historical sources by being able to contextualise their findings and enrich their theoretical models. It is not only that all social and psychological phenomena have a history but this history is very much part of present-day and future developments. On the other hand historians can enhance their analysis of historical sources by drawing upon the conceptual tools developed in social psychology. They can ??test?? these tools and contribute to their validation and enrichment from completely different perspectives. Most important, as contributions to this special issue amply demonstrate, psychology??s ??historical turn?? has the potential to shed a new light on striking, yet underexplored, similarities between contemporary public spheres and their pre-modern counterparts. This issue thereby calls into question the dichotomy between traditional and de-traditionalized societies??a distinction that lies at the heart of many social psychology accounts of the world we live in. The present editorial will introduce and consider this act of bridging history and social psychology by focusing on three main questions: What is the bridge made of? How can the two disciplines be bridged? and Why we cross this interdisciplinary bridge? In the end a reflection on the future of this collaboration will be offered.     

An Eye‐Tracking Study of Exploitations of Spatial Constraints in Diagrammatic Reasoning

Semantic studies on diagrammatic notations (Barwise & Etchemendy, 1990 ; Shimojima, 1995 ; Stenning & Lemon, 2001 ) have revealed that the “non‐deductive,” “emergent,” or “perceptual” effects of diagrams (Chandrasekaran, Kurup, Banerjee, Josephson, & Winkler, 2004 ; Kulpa, 2003 ; Larkin & Simon, 1987 ; Lindsay, 1988 ) are all rooted in the exploitation of spatial constraints on graphical structures. Thus, theoretically, this process is a key factor in inference with diagrams, explaining the frequently observed reduction of inferential load. The purpose of this study was to examine the empirical basis for this theoretical suggestion, focusing on the reality of the constraint‐exploitation strategy in actual practices of diagrammatic reasoning. Eye movements were recorded while participants used simple position diagrams to solve three‐ or four‐term transitive inference problems. Our experiments revealed that the participants could exploit spatial constraints on graphical structures even when (a) they were not in the position of actually manipulating diagrams, (b) the semantic rule for the provided diagrams did not match their preferences, and (c) the constraint‐exploitation strategy invited a partly adverse effect. These findings indicate that the hypothesized process is in fact robust, with the potential to broadly account for the inferential advantage of diagrams.