Articles tagged with Corporations
A RAND Corporation study concludes that few small employers will choose to self-insure or maintain grandfathered plans due to significant financial risk. The analysis found that stricter regulations will be essential to keep premiums affordable in small business insurance exchanges.
Yale researchers developed a methodology to evaluate the importance of scarce metals using supply risk, environmental implications, and vulnerability analysis. The new approach provides a standardized framework for corporations and national governments to inform strategic decision-making around resource use.
A study by Rice University and the University of California at Irvine found that corporate boards tend to dismiss top executives later in a scandal rather than immediately. Companies often use other companies' similar misconduct to justify their own, rather than taking responsibility for their actions.
A California occupational safety program can help prevent workplace injuries, but only if it is adequately enforced. The study found that businesses cited for noncompliance with the program's specific safety mandates saw a 20% decline in injury rates.
A study on post-Katrina New Orleans found that residents reject corporate gifts, viewing them as a threat to the community's cultural identity. The authors argue that corporations usurping community traditions erode the status and cohesiveness among community members.
University of Missouri researchers found that emotional news framing during crises influences public responses, with 'sadness-frame' stories eliciting more positive attitudes. Corporate responses focusing on victim well-being can improve perceptions.
Researchers at Boston College and Northwestern University found that the more cohesive a group appears, the less likely it is that individuals will be held responsible for their own actions. This 'trade-off' in perception leads to assigning moral rights and responsibilities to groups, rather than individual members.
A new method for measuring artery narrowing could eliminate the need for a drug in assessing patients for a coronary stent. The investigational technique, termed instant wave-Free Ratio (iFR), produced similar results to existing methods and is being developed by Imperial College London and Volcano Corporation.
A study by Adam Waytz and Liane Young found that people judge groups as having a collective mind, while attributing individual minds to their members. This 'trade off' affects judgments of responsibility, blame, and moral judgment. The research explores the consequences of this attribution for both groups and individuals.
A new study from the University of Toronto's Rotman School of Management finds that smart managers engage in earnings manipulation and insider trading due to limited capacity and ethical weaknesses. The study suggests that choosing less ethical managers may be in the best interests of current shareholders but not future ones.
A new study suggests that politeness strategies can cause confusion about the meaning of statements, especially in sensitive or high-stakes situations. This confusion can have negative consequences for safety and security, as well as decision-making in corporate culture.
A new study found that patients with consumer-directed health plans have more control over healthcare costs, with two-thirds of the reduction in total healthcare costs coming from reduced utilization of medical services. This is due to lower use of name-brand medications, less in-patient care, and lower use of specialists.
A new study by RAND Corporation reveals that fast-rising health costs have eaten nearly all the income gains made by a median-income American family of four over the past decade. The family would have had an additional $545 per month to spend if healthcare costs had risen only as fast as other goods and services.
Researchers at VCU are developing a new paradigm for digital computing that could enable the creation of energy-efficient processors running without batteries. The goal is to increase computational power and reduce heat dissipation, making it suitable for medical devices such as brain signal monitors.
A multicenter study of over 3,000 preterm infants found that those monitored with the Heart Rate Observation System experienced a greater than 20 percent reduced mortality rate. The HeRO monitor detects early signs of distress and provides a new tool for clinical assessment.
The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) will present awards recognizing key achievements in space science and technology, program management, and sustained service. The AIAA Sustained Service Awards will be presented to Guy Jette and Peter Kurzhals for their contributions.
A study reveals how British American Tobacco used its corporate social responsibility programme to shape UK public health policy, highlighting the need for greater transparency in interactions between governments and industry. The authors argue that this approach has implications for other industrial sectors, such as alcohol and food.
The Operational Land Imager (OLI), built by Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp., has been approved for shipment to Orbital Sciences Corporation. OLI will provide more sensitive land cover information and better detect changes over time, benefiting scientific, commercial, and governmental users.
The NTU-JTC I3 Centre will focus on four areas: reclamation & marine infrastructure, sustainable infrastructure, underground infrastructure, and infrastructure systems & materials. The Centre aims to attract top students and faculty to pursue projects and careers in industrial infrastructure.
A study found that luxury brands associated with self-enhancement concepts can cause consumers to feel a sense of disfluency when receiving social responsibility messages. In contrast, brands associated with openness or conservation concepts tend to have less conflict and experience more positive reactions to CSR initiatives.
A new UT Dallas study is investigating whether a rise in female executives spurs greater gender diversity across all company ranks. Researchers are looking at the 'trickle-down effect' of women breaking through into executive roles and joining boards, with hopes to inform management strategies for expanding women's roles.
Researchers found that angry user-generated comments can perpetuate negative perceptions of corporations during crises. Organizations should monitor and respond to online comments from victims to prevent reputation damage.
A recent study by Oregon State University reveals that small companies in the US stock market are often disproportionately affected during international financial crises. Investors tend to flee from smaller stocks and shift their holdings towards larger, safer corporations, resulting in significant losses for smaller companies.
A recent study published in the Journal of Management Studies suggests that using ingratiation, or 'sucking up', can neutralize psychological distress and ostracism in the workplace. Employers should create a culture that discourages workplace ostracism by providing training to managers and employees.
Despite 89% saying they'd call 9-1-1 at the first sign of a stroke, only 12% actually did, highlighting a significant gap between intention and action. Prompt hospital arrival is critical for preventing permanent damage, with intravenous clot-busting drugs administered within three hours being the most effective treatment.
A report from a blue-ribbon panel recommends guidelines to improve board practices and standards in seven core dimensions: Purpose, Culture, Leadership, Information, Advice, Debate and Self-Renewal. The report aims to foster further review of board structure and function.
A repeat corporate tax holiday is unlikely to boost the stagnant US economy, according to a University of Illinois expert. The previous 2005 tax holiday resulted in repurchases of shares rather than increased domestic investment and employment.
A RAND Corporation study examined high-deductible health plans and found that medically vulnerable families are not at greater risk of cutting back on needed healthcare. Medical spending declined among all families enrolled in high-deductible plans, with reductions being similar for vulnerable and non-vulnerable families.
Research finds that stroke survival improves for seniors living in cohesive neighborhoods, where social support and interactions with neighbors play a crucial role. The study's results suggest that a positive neighborhood environment is essential for senior health.
Major global health foundations have links with pharmaceutical and food corporations that may benefit from foundation grants, raising conflicts of interest concerns. The analysis found all five largest US private/family foundations had endowment investments in these companies.
A study found that health journalists who regularly read medical journals are more open to covering stories based on corporate press releases, while those covering strokes tend to have negative views. Deadline pressure also plays a role in shaping journalists' attitudes toward press releases.
A pilot study found that noninvasive brain stimulation improved swallowing ability in stroke patients by at least two points in 86% of those receiving treatment. The treatment, tDCS, showed a statistically significant improvement compared to sham stimulation, with patients increasing their ability to swallow by more than 2.5 points.
Researchers predict a significant increase in stroke cases among Mexican-Americans, rising from 26,000 in 2010 to over 120,000 by 2050. This represents a 350% rise, compared to a 75% increase expected for non-Hispanic whites.
A report in the Journal of Service Research found that corporate social responsibility initiatives are ineffective against criticism and bad press, as consumers separate ethics from product quality issues. To combat negative information, firms must focus on service quality and prioritize customer outcomes.
Partnerships with major food companies bring funding and support, but may obscure health messages. Health charities must tread carefully to avoid brand co-branding and maintain public health focus.
A new RAND Corporation study found that electronic medical records have only a limited impact on improving the quality of hospital care. Hospitals with basic electronic health records showed a significant increase in quality of care for patients with heart failure, but no similar gains were noted among those with advanced electronic he...
A new study found that most Massachusetts physician groups are using patient feedback to improve patient experiences, with a focus on staff courteousness, scheduling practices, and electronic health records. However, only a small number of groups are prioritizing the role of physicians in improving patient care.
A RAND Corporation study finds that home health care technology can empower patients to self-manage their conditions, improve health outcomes, and reduce costs. Despite its promise, adoption faces obstacles such as restrictive insurance coverage, limited patient readiness, and concerns about product design.
Health care costs in Canada are expected to increase due to rising expenditures. Governments have options to deal with this, including increasing revenue through taxes or social insurance.
Researchers used data from Bureau Van Dijk and the SIR model to identify countries with greatest potential to cause a global crash. The top twelve countries include Belgium and Luxembourg alongside more obviously impactful economies.
A new joint project between University of Nottingham and University of Bath aims to identify best practices for integrating sustainability in business school activities. The study will produce case studies guiding other schools on financial benefits and contributing to a greener future.
A study by UT professors found that firms engaging in corporate political activities enjoy a 20% higher performance. However, the researchers express concern that this increased activity constrains natural market forces and is undesirable.
Researchers from Northwestern University and the University of California, Berkeley found that reflecting counterfactually on an institution's origins increases employee commitment and morale. By thinking about alternative scenarios, employees see their current circumstance in a more positive light, fostering a renewed sense of devotion.
Researchers found that downloadable LIA software reduces inappropriate shocks by 46% in patients with fractured leads. The study demonstrates the possibility of making other improvements to devices while they're implanted.
The University of Alaska Fairbanks has secured funding to test and evaluate payloads on small unmanned aircraft. The program will also expand its fleet of Insitu ScanEagles to include new models that can fly in remote and extreme conditions.
A new study from the journal Financial Management found that politically connected firms enjoy higher leverage, lower taxes, and regulatory protection. This study highlights the benefits of having government ties for corporate success, suggesting distortions in public resource allocation are common globally.
Economists Krislert Samphantharak and Robert M. Townsend introduce a framework that enables researchers to create detailed accounts for households based on corporate financial accounting principles. This approach allows for more accurate data collection and comparisons across households and regions.
A study from RAND Corporation and University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine found that three characteristics - being female, board certified, and graduating from a domestic medical school - had a small association with better quality medical care. However, these findings highlight the need for better physician performance data to hel...
The OSPREY clinical trial evaluates the safety and efficacy of Terumo's MISAGO Stent System for treating peripheral artery disease in the US and Japan. The study aims to streamline the product approval process through unprecedented international regulatory cooperation.
A study by Michigan State University sociologist Zachary Neal found that city size is no longer the key factor in building a thriving economy. Instead, connections to other cities through technology and air travel are crucial.
Researchers at UC San Diego and NEI Corporation are designing new types of lithium-ion batteries with exceptional energy density, potentially used in NASA space exploration projects and consumer applications. The goal is to create commercially useable cathode materials with high capacity and structural stability.
The concept of corporate social responsibility (CSR) can be traced to The World's Work magazine from November 1900. Arthur W. Page, editor of the magazine, advocated for sustainability, labor rights, and consumer education in his editorials. His actions as a vice president at AT&T further solidified CSR principles.
A study by Thomas Schielke found that altering lighting can significantly affect the perceived brand identity of a store, with subtle differences between global regions. The study suggests that using consistent lighting designs can facilitate sending a specific brand image globally.
A pilot-dentist duo proposes adapting airline crew resource management principles to dental offices, aiming to reduce human errors and improve patient safety. By implementing standardized safety procedures and empowering team members with CRM checklists, dentists can significantly reduce complications and deaths in surgical settings.
Research from University of Cincinnati finds that sales turnover is the only uniform corporate indicator predicting a firm's bankruptcy in three major economies. The study also reveals that different financial factors are correlated with bankruptcy in each country, mainly due to varying financial and business structures.
A study found that corporate directors tend to ignore anonymous whistleblower allegations, especially if they threaten their reputation. In contrast, non-anonymous allegations are more likely to trigger investigations and resource allocation.
Companies that prioritize sustainable management of biodiversity are seen as winners in resource-constrained worlds, while those neglecting it risk being out of step with the market. Consumers are increasingly aware of biodiversity loss and are willing to stop buying from companies disregarding ethical sourcing practices.
Patients admitted to teaching hospitals for end-of-life illnesses receive high-quality medical care, but more family communication is necessary. The study found that timely efforts to keep patients comfortable and better discussions about goals of treatment can improve the quality of care.
A sociological study examines the largest US corporations and finds that capital dependence on investors creates incentives for financial malfeasance. The multilayer-subsidiary business model also creates opportunities for managers to engage in improper reporting, leading to significant restatements.
A study found that CEO pay increased significantly over 20 years, driven by 'leapfrogs' who receive large raises, affecting peer groups and company pay. The research suggests that benchmarking practices contribute to the surge in executive compensation.