tronic feedback devices to train patients to consciously control such involuntary func- tions as circulation in the hands, jaw tension, blood pressure, heart rate and pulse, digestion, brain waves, and muscle responses. 2. A stress management technique that makes use of spe- cially designed electrical or electronic equip- ment to reduce strain, tension, and pressure.
Also used in treating chronic pain.
biographical action-research A research methodology that combines studying individ- ual executives and helping them in their pro- fessional development. It involves studying people in their current work and collecting data on their early history and present life away from work. Attributed to Robert E. Kaplan and
his associates of the Center for Creative Leadership.
biometric access control A means of control- ling access to facilities or equipment through human measurements, such as fingerprinting, voiceprinting, facial scanning, or eye scans.
biometric security systems Virtually fool- proof systems that control access to buildings, rooms, and vaults by means of computerized machines that can recognize personal charac- teristics of people seeking entrance: finger- prints, handprints, blood-vessel arrangement in the eye’s retina, and voice patterns. The machines have special sensors that pick up the characteristics, convert them into digital code, and compare them to data stored in the com- puter. Unless the information matches the characteristics of an authorized person, entrance is denied.
bipolar disorder A serious mental illness, periodic and recurrent with intervening peri- ods of complete normalcy; a disorder of mood rather than of thought, which involves mood swings from depression (lows) to mania (highs). Also called manic depressive illness ormanic depressive disorder. Not to be con- fused with schizophrenia. See also manic epi- sode; depressive episode.
Birth and Adoption Unemployment Com- pensation (BAA-UC) In December 1999, the Department of Labor issued a regulation that allowed states to use unemployment insurance trust funds to provide current employees with paid leave for the birth or adoption of a child. On July 24, 2002, a busi- ness community attempt to block the regula- tion failed when a U.S. District Court judge dismissed the case based on its lack of “ripe- ness,” thereby leaving the issue unresolved. In December 2002, the Department of Labor published a notice in theFederal Register of its intent to repeal the regulation. Often called theBaby UI.
Birth Defects Prevention Act of 1998 Pro- vides for surveillance, research, and services aimed at prevention of birth defects and autho- rized appropriations for that purpose for FY 1999 through 2002. Approved April 21, 1998.
bit The smallest piece of information in a computer file. A bit is a binary digit that is
bitBit 66 blended learning solutions
either a one or a zero; the one turns the circuit on, and the zero turns it off.
bitBit Bit-block transfer. In graphics, a means of moving an entire block of pixels as a single unit, such as scrolling a graphics image or sliding a window around a screen.
bitmap font In typography, a font that is dis- played by transmitting minuscule electronic bits of information to certain pixels (dots) on the screen and turning those pixels on or off.
The on/off information is mapped to a grid of pixels on the computer screen. On Macintosh computers, bitmap fonts are known as screen fonts.
bit-mapped graphics In desktop publishing, early versions of computer graphics software wherein every single point in a drawing or illustration had to be defined. Although more precise than vector graphics, this made the process slower and required more computer memory.
bitnick A person who uses a coin-operated computer terminal in a coffeehouse to log onto cyberspace.
bitslag The worthless junk one must wade through on the Internet to get any worthwhile information.
bits per second A measure of bandwidth.
Black Book A directory of corporate travel product and services providers published annually by Business Travel News. Catego- ries are hotel chain and management firms, airlines, airline clubs, car rental companies, payment systems providers, consultants and lawyers serving corporate travel, ground transportation providers, industry associa- tions, affiliates of the National Business Travel Association and Association of Cor- porate Travel Executives, technology ven- dors, tele- and videoconferencing vendors, major travel agencies and consortia, and travel security consultants. Contact:Business Travel News, One Penn Plaza, New York, NY 10119- 1198 (phone 212-615-2704).
black box approaches Strategies used by employers to control health care costs by hold- ing providers accountable for the quality of clinical procedures and processes without get- ting bogged down in detailed evaluation of products and services at the clinical level.
Instead, employers hold providers account-
able for such broad performance indicators as cost, access, and patient satisfaction, assum- ing that fear of liability will restrain providers from abuses and shoddy practices.
Black or African American An ethnic or racial category used for federal statistical reporting and the 2000 census. A person with origins in any of the black racial groups of Africa. Terms such as “Haitian,” or “Negro”
can be used in addition to “Black or African American.”
blackout period A period of time during which the right of participants in a retirement plan to switch their investments is suspended.
For example, when changing 401(k), a black- out is ordered so that during the changeover accounts can be valued and switched. The Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 gave compli- ance oversight responsibilities for regulating the auditing, financial disclosure, executive compensations, and corporate governance practices to the Department of Labor’s Pen- sion Welfare Benefits Administration, which published final rules that went into effect Jan- uary 26, 2003. The rules require that employ- ees receive a 30-day advance notice of any blackout period that suspends their right to direct investments, take loans, or obtain distributions.
blanket In offset printing, a rubber-surfaced fabric that is clamped around a cylinder, to which the image is transferred from the plate and from which it is transferred to the paper.
bleed In desktop publishing, described as extending an object off the print area to ensure when the printed paper is trimmed ink cover- age extends to edge of paper. Bleeds are some- times intentional, specified by the designer.
blended learning Learning interventions that combine aspects of online and face-to-face instruction.
blended learning solutions Tailored reme- dies that match the desired learning outcomes of defined business problems. They involve delivery methods such as classroom training, synchronous learning, and asynchronous learning and supporting learning services such as remote e-labs, e-mentoring, peer communities, content customization, and learning management systems.
blended workforce 67 Bloodborne Pathogens Standard
blended workforce A combination of full- time, part-time, temporary, and outsourced employees, including independent contractors used by employers to save money, improve productivity, increase flexibility, and enhance customer service.
blender learning E-learning that allows the designer to “repurpose, mix and match, to cre- ate learning hybrids.” Attributed to Eric Parks, CEO (and Web-based training designer) Ask International, Fair Oaks, CA (Web site www.askintl.com).
blendo A mixture of different media, such as graphics, text, scanned images, and anima- tion. Also called meltomedia.ormuchomedia.
blind As defined under Social Security, a per- son whose vision cannot be corrected to better than 20/200 in the better eye or whose visual field is 20º or less, even with corrective lenses.
blind ad An advertisement in a newspaper or magazine that does not include the name of the company placing the ad. Readers are asked to mail their responses to a post office box number.
blind and vision impaired People who are totally or partially blind and whose loss of vision places limitations of varying severity on personal, social, or occupational pursuits.
Gordon M. Bliss Memorial Award An award presented annually to a national member of the American Society for Training and Development who has excelled in human resource development over a significant period of time. Selected by an awards com- mittee by reviewing documentation and direct contacts with the nominating individual and other persons with direct knowledge of the accomplishments of the nominee. Contact:
ASTD National Awards Program, 1640 King St., Box 1443, Alexandria, VA 22313-2043 (phone 703-683-8100).
block busting The process of overcoming blocks to creativity.
block diagram A chart or graphic that depicts the route that information, documentation, or materials take from supplier to customer or from one function or department within an organization to others. It is produced by iden- tifying the key steps in the process or system;
indicating the offices, departments, teams, or individuals involved; and depicting the steps
and hand-offs over time. It helps people see how work moves among individuals and groups of people.
blocked space In meeting management, sleeping rooms, meeting rooms, exhibit space, and other function rooms reserved for use by an organization for a meeting.
blogging 1. A technology term that is short for
“weblog.” Can be used as either a noun or a verb. Essentially a blog is a frequently updated Web page that consists of brief, dated entries, with newer ones moving the old to the bottom of the page. 2.Web pages with these charac- teristics: commentary (terse sentences or para- graphs or lengthy treatises), hyperlink connec- tions to other Web pages,discussion subjects, a search online capability, even advertising.
Use may grow in business and other organi- zations because of its simplicity and ease of use, built-in motivation, and ability to empower and because it is less disruptive than e-mail.See also personal blogs and portal-like blogs. See www.userland.com/, www.move- abletype.org/, and www.blogger.com/.
blood alcohol concentration (BAC) T h e percentage of alcohol found in a person’s blood after drinking. In most states, a person with a BAC of 0.10 is considered legally drunk.
bloodborne diseases Diseases contracted from exposure to infectious materials borne by human blood or other body fluids (e.g., HIV and hepatitis B).
Bloodborne Pathogens Standard An Occu- pational Health and Safety Administration standard that requires employers to determine which job classifications or specific tasks and procedures can reasonably be expected to cause worker contact with blood or other potentially infectious materials and to devise exposure control plans to minimize or elimi- nate occupational exposure to bloodborne pathogens. The Standard also requires organi- zations to train all employees, such as workers in laboratories, hospitals, clinics, emergency response units, and physicians’ offices, and safety officers, athletic trainers, first aid pro- viders, and other at-risk employees who may have occupational exposure to blood, body fluids, and other potentially infectious material.
Bloom’s taxonomy 68 body work
Bloom’s taxonomy A classification of in- structional objectives that deals with the recall or recognition of knowledge and the devel- opment of mental skills and abilities (as con- trasted with the affective domain, which has to do with a trainee’s interests, attitudes, and values, and the psychomotor domain, which focuses on objectives relating to motor skills). Attributed to Benjamin Bloom (Taxon- omy of Educational Objectives: Handbook I, Cognitive Domain, 1956).See also cognitive domain.
blue-chip stocks Stocks in the biggest and most consistently profitable companies.
blue-collar technical workers M e c h a n i c s , repairers, precision production workers, extractive workers (mining, oil and gas, and timber), craft workers, and operator and assembly workers in high-tech industries.
blue-collar workers Wage earners, rather than salaried employees. In earlier years, it referred to employees who wore work clothes instead of more formal attire.
Blue Cross Plan A nonprofit, tax-exempt insurance plan that provides coverage for hos- pital care and related services.
blues In desktop publishing, one-color proofs of a document or illustration.
Blue Shield Plan A nonprofit, tax-exempt insurance plan that provides coverage for phy- sicians’ services. Blue Shield coverage is sometimes sold in conjunction with Blue Cross coverage.
Bluetooth The code name for a technology that allows users to connect a wide range of computing and telecommunications devices easily without the need to connect cables. It delivers opportunities for rapid connections and the possibility of automatic, seamless connections, via direct connectivity or the Internet, between devices such as speakers, printers, and projectors.
board and care home A plan by which, in exchange for rent, an elderly or disabled indi- vidual receives room, meals, utilities, house- keeping and laundry, and daily contact with staff. In addition to a private room, common- user space is also provided.
board certified A designation indicating that a physician has completed a residency
program and passed a certifying examination in a particular medical specialty.
Board Certified Financial Analyst See The American Academy of Financial Management.
boarding care home See licensed group home.
Board of Education of Independent School District No. 92 of Pottsawatomie County, et al. Petitioners v. Lindsay Earls et al.
On June 22, 2002,the Supreme Court held that the Student Activities Drug Testing Policy implemented by the Board of Education, requiring that all students who participate in competitive extracurricular activities, is con- stitutional because the policy reasonably serves the school district’s important interest in detecting and preventing drug use among its students.
body fat measurement Assesses how much of a person’s body weight is fat, providing a fairly accurate means of determining how much he or she needs to lose (or gain). Means of measurement include skin-fold calipers, which measure fat under the skin at selected body sites; bioimpedence, which uses a pain- less electric current; and hydrostatic weigh- ing, in which a person is weighed while under water.
body language Visible signals of an individ- ual’s attitude, interest, emotional state, and the like. Includes dress, hair style, voice cues (tone, volume, and pitch), posture, gestures, facial expressions, body movements, blush- ing, contraction of the facial muscles, squirm- ing, blinking, or forced smiles.
body mass index (BMI) A composite calcu- lation of a person’s height to weight to deter- mine whether that person is overweight. A BMI between 19 and 25 is considered
“healthy.” Established by the National Insti- tutes of Health.
body type In typography, type used for exten- sive composition, usually from 6 to 14 point.
Also called text type.
body work Types of alternative medicine that encompass hundreds of methods of improving the structure and functioning of the body through therapies such as massage, deep-tis- sue manipulation, movement awareness, and energy balancing.
bold/boldface 69 boomerangers
bold/boldface In typography, type that is heavier and darker than the text type with which it is used.
b o n a fi d e o c c u p a t i o n a l q u a l i fi c a t i o n (BFOQ) A legal term used to describe law- fully permissible discriminatory job require- ments as an exception to Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Job applicants may be classified based on BFOQ, which permits employers to discriminate in hiring and pro- motion only if they have a valid reason directly related to performance of the job.
bona fide residence test As defined by Sec- tion 911, Internal Revenue Code, a U.S. citi- zen who has established a permanent home or living quarters in a foreign country while working abroad for an extended or indefinite period of time that includes at least one full tax year, even though the individual intends to return to the U.S. eventually. Brief trips or vacations in the U.S. or other locations do not interrupt this period.
bonanza babies People born in the 5-year period before 1977 who are the recipients of higher Social Security payments than the notch babies, who receive lower benefits due to legislation passed in 1977 that established a new benefit formula designed to correct an earlier computation. Between 1972 and 1977 retirees had been paid more than they should have received.
bond A legal document under which an indi- vidual, corporation (such as an insurance company), or government agrees to pay, within stated limits, for financial loss caused to another by the principal, default of a third person, or other contingency over which the principal may have no control. The bond issuer is borrowing money from the buyer and pays interest at regular intervals until the bonds mature, at which time the investors get their principal back.
bonding Occurs when two or more people join and remain together out of respect, regard, and concern for each other.
bond rating A means of measuring a bond issuer’s ability to make good on its commit- ments to buyers. The primary bond rating agencies are Standard & Poor’s Corp. and Moody’s Inc.
bonus After-the-fact, discretionary, extra cash compensation (in addition to base salary) paid to employees based on productivity, profits, savings, cost avoidance, or a combination of two or more of these factors, for a period of 12 months or less.
bonus payment A type of executive incentive plan whereby bonuses are paid in cash or are deferred.
booking agent In employee relocation, the agent who sells and registers the move with the carrier (van line).
booking code In travel management, an alphanumeric code used by travel agents to reserve a specific fare. Such codes vary by agent or agency.
booking software Software that supports and enhances computer reservation system information or graphic displays at the point of sale. Such systems enable travel agents to book reservations faster and more accurately.
bookmark 1. An icon or position on a com-