This study investigates the attitudes of small business owners/managers toward computers and how computers are used in small businesses. A survey of 236 firms revealed that a majority of the respondents are currently using computers. In general, owners/managers have a positive attitude toward computers. Respondents who have taken a computer class, own a microcomputer, or whose businesses are using computers have a more positive attitude toward computers. The most frequent business computer applications were accounting, mailing lists, and storing information. The most frequently reported personal applications were word processing, accounting, and budgeting. Implications for further computerization of small businesses are discussed.
Cooperation in pairs of rats playing the prisoner's dilemma game was investigated. Six pairs of animals were taught to make either cooperative or uncooperative responses by running to one or the other end of a T-maze. Two T-mazes were joined together such that animals could respond simultaneously. Animals were run under conditions in which visual communication was present and absent. Mutually uncooperative responses were the most common and mutually cooperative behaviors the least preferred. Introduction of a barrier between the mazes, which removed visual communication between pairs, sharply accentuated uncooperative behavior. Similarities of the present findings to results with human subjects and the implications of using game theory for studying cooperative behavior in animals are discussed.
The authors explored group members' positive reactions to working in groups that performed a card-sorting task for which they set goals. They also tested predictions regarding observed differences between the goal decisions of groups and individuals for their own and others' performance. Consistent with predictions, group members had more goal commitment, more positive attitudes toward goal attainment, and greater satisfaction with their performance than individuals. Moreover, groups chose goals that were less difficult than the goals of individuals both for their own and for others' performance. The ways in which group decision processes and other factors may account for differences in group and individual goal decisions are considered. In addition, the social-emotional and task-related benefits members perceive of working in their groups are discussed.
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