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Social dysfunctions are appearing inevitably in any organization, but if they are continuously monitored and controlled by the human resources specialists and managers, then these specialists may correct the gap between the obtained results and the proposed performance. To make these corrections are necessary some simulation techniques. In this article we propose to forecast social dysfunctions by diminishing these gaps or eliminate them using simulation and mathematical modeling based on prediction (Markov chains) and on use of IT programs (MATLAB and Excel). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Managerial performance is viewed with great interest at any organization; its determination is an ongoing objective in the medium and long term. Conditionalities generally recognized by experts in this area of scientific concerns are clear: only good management exercised by professional managers, is capable of performance management, generating economic, financial and social performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Leadership, currently prescribed as a key requirement for effective school organization and management, is examined here as a rhetorical or discursive device, as a 'turn', in the sense used in literary and sociological discussion of the linguistic turn. In the educational sphere, a tacit separation of leadership from issues of governance and management is becoming apparent. This move may be significantly related to an aestheticization of learning, and what is said to be increasingly the performative nature of its application in educational institutions in England. Leadership is inherently relational, but institutes and sustains unequal power relations. The paper argues that a significant distinction should be understood between performance and performativity, analogous to 'event' and 'possibility', which affords unrealized ethical and emancipatory opportunities for educational practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The aim of this study was to assess the predisposing factors leading to uterine infection in dairy cows and evaluate its impact on the cow''s performance. Performance indicators included feed intake, milk fat and protein composition, milk yield, fertility and culling. Data were studied from 2914 completed lactations from the Holstein Friesian Langhill Dairy herd between January 1990 and August 2005. There were 402 cases of uterine infection (from 321 cows) in the Langhill herd, a level of 13.8% during the study period. Calving assistance was highly associated with the incidence of uterine infection (χ 2 =106.63, P <0.001). Failure to conceive (χ 2 =3.89, P <0.05; χ 2 =11.20, P <0.001) and culling (χ 2 =13.66, P <0.001, χ 2 =8.55, P <0.01) were also implicated with calving assistance and uterine infection, respectively. The main predisposing factors related to an incidence of uterine infection were calving assistance, twin births, malpresented calves, and retained placenta. First-time calvers and cows with a shorter gestation length were associated with more cases of uterine infections. Additionally, lower daily dry matter intakes and milk yields during the first 100 days in milk (DIM) were associated with higher incidence levels of uterine infection. Also, a higher incidence level of uterine infection was related to lower milk protein composition from 1 to 21 DIM and a poorer body condition from 101 to 300 DIM. Cows with poorer drying off body condition scores and longer lactation lengths were associated with a higher incidence level of uterine infection. Calving assistance was associated with male and twin births, first-time calvers and cows with oversized calves. Cows with an assisted calving were also associated with an increased number of days from calving to first service. The predisposing factors influencing the occurrence of calving assistance can be influenced by suitable management to reduce the chances of oversized calves, the detrimental effects of twin births (such as calving assistance and retained placentas) and prenatal knowledge of the calf''s sex. The occurrence of uterine infection can be reduced by minimising the need for assistance at calving. Assistance should only be carried out when necessary and appropriate hygiene should be used to decrease the incidence of uterine infections from intervention and involuntary culling due to cows failing to conceive. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

This study examines the challenging area of R&D performance analysis. Our purpose is to increase the understanding of the essential factors and dimensions related to R&D performance analysis, and to introduce and facilitate a process of choosing applicable metrics of R&D performance for a specific need, context and situation. The research results show the linkages of the measurement dimensions to the selection of R&D measures, which is ultimately a case-specific process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]