This study provides baseline data from a nationwide sample of telecommuting programs in organizations with facility managers. Based on Rogers’ Adoption/Diffusion Theory, the two-phase study revealed a 38% telework adoption rate. The data describe the telecommuting programs, their attributes, and resultant off-site work environments and central office changes. In conclusion, among U.S. organizations that employ facility managers, the rate of adoption of telecommuting is growing steadily, primarily in large, reengineered, and services-oriented firms. The perceived attributes of these programs are (a) their relative advantage as an effective informal method for organizations to attract and retain valued employees and (b) their compatibility with theorganization’s corporateculture. Thus far, thesamplefacility managers’limited involvement in the corporate decision to adopt telecommuting and in evaluating work environment outcomes may constrain their potential effectiveness as telework change agents.
The purpose of this research was to explore and explain the role housing plays in rural community vitality. Community vitality refers to economic strength and social well‐being. In spring 2002 we collected primary interview data from informants in 134 small rural communities in nine north‐central states and identified related secondary data from the U.S. census. We developed a structural‐equation‐path model, which supported a “housing decision chain” that influenced community vitality. Based on this research, local housing decisions do play an important role in community vitality. Strong local leaders use housing planning to secure funding to produce a change in the quantity of housing, which in turn positively influences community vitality. Housing inventory also mediated the effects of total population and percentage population change on community vitality, indicating that housing supply is a fundamental ingredient in community growth strategies. These findings support the conclusion that a combination of housing plans and strategies orchestrated by skilled, committed leadership strengthens rural communities. Heretofore the ling between housing and community vitality has not been investigated; evidence‐based data has been missing from the debate on viable rural community‐development strategies.
Two national data sets (the Panel Study of Income Dynamics and the Survey of Income and Program Participation) are analyzed to compare housing affordability and quality between U.S. disability households and other households and by region. The researchers conclude that disability households in the United States are at risk of inability to afford housing. In addition to higher housing-income ratios, these households are more likely to be older, in poverty, in poor or fair health, and on public assistance than other U.S. households. They are also more likely to carry severe housing cost burdens, to be in housing poverty, and to be receiving housing assistance. Regional differences among disability households and their housing seem to echo geographic economic and population trends, as well as regional variances in the housing stock. The data, which did not address housing accessibility, are tess clear about disability households' risks relative to housing quality.
The purpose of this research was to identify factors associated with local housing and service decisions that support aging adults in rural communities. These decisions represent de facto strategies that affect the quality of life of older residents and their ability to age in place.communities. Analyses were undertaken to identify the role of community characteristics in predicting the availability of a group of housing options and support services. Findings support the notion that the community context is important to the delivery of key housing and service needs. Population size, proportion of community residents 65 years and older, and housing planning processes promoted gains in housing and services.
Data from a study identifying consumer difficulties with the homebuying process were analyzed. The instrument listing 66 potential difficulties was mailed to a random sample of 250 homebuyers to indicate those encountered during search, purchase, and first year of occupancy. They were also asked to identify the two problems considered most important and their perceived causes. The response rate was 80.4 percent. Of the 201 households who responded, 153 were eligible buyers. The mean total number of difficulties reported by the sample was 7.16. Problems most frequently reported were higher utility costs, foregone activities, mechani cal system problems, necessary repairs or adjustments, delayed closings, and overlapping payments. Frequency distribution comparisons between sample subgroups showed sim ilarities on the most frequent difficulties, but variation in both content and rank order for the most important problems. Mean comparison tests revealed significant differences in total number of difficulties on the variables purchaser experience, income level, and age of struc ture. The 30 items reported most frequently by respondents were factor analyzed to identify underlying constructs. Upon extraction and rotation, 27 variables loaded upon four factors which were named: surprise difficulties, new‐construction problems, financiallpersonal con sequences, and chain transaction constraints. Implications for further research and consumer education are drawn from the findings.
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