University of Vermont

Faculty Profiles

• Professor
  • Chiang, Kevin C.H. Ph.D.
  • DeWitt, Rocki-Lee Ph.D.
  • McIntosh, Barbara R. Ph.D.
  • Noordewier, Thomas G. Ph.D.
  • Sharma, Sanjay Ph.D.
  • Sharma, Pramodita Ph.D.
  • Sinkula, James M. Ph.D.
• Associate Professor
  • Arel, Barbara Ph.D.
  • Bonifield, Carolyn M Ph.D.
  • Cats-Baril, William L. Ph.D.
  • Dempsey, Stephen J. Ph.D.
  • Hughes, Susan B. Ph.D.
  • Jones, David A. Ph.D.
  • Lucas, Marilyn T. Ph.D.
  • Novak, David Ph.D.
  • Parke, E. Lauck Ph.D.
  • Tomas III, Michael J. Ph.D.
  • Vanden Bergh, Richard G. Ph.D.
  • Zhang, Chun Ph.D.
• Assistant Professor
  • Beaudoin, Cathy A. Ph.D.
  • Do, Hung Tuan Ph.D.
  • Kingsley, Allison F. MSL, Ph.D.
  • Marble III, Hugh Ph.D., CFA
  • Walberg, Glenn C. JD, LLM
  • Zhang, Jie DBA
• Lecturer/Sr Lecturer
  • Chittenden, Thomas I. MBA
  • Monahan, John D. JD
  • Tomas, Amy M. Ph.D.
  • Woodman, Martha MBA
• Lecturer (Part Time)
  • Jones, Christopher Ph.D.
  • Kasper, Keith J. JD
  • Lee, Peter PhD
  • Meier, Frederic MPA
  • Mount, David W. MBA
  • Walberg, Julia C MS
  • Wood, Larry N. MBA
• Faculty Emeritus
  • Averyt, William F. Ph.D.
  • Battelle, Peter E. M.B.A.
  • Brandenburg, Richard G. Ph.D.
  • Gatti, James F. Ph.D.
  • Gurdon, Michael A. Ph.D.
  • Jesse, Richard R. Ph.D.
  • Kraushaar, James M. Ph.D.
  • Laber, Gene Ph.D.
  • Savitt, Ronald Ph.D.
  • Severance, Malcolm Ph.D.
  • Shirland, Larry E. Ph.D.
  • Tashman, Len J. Ph.D.

William L. Cats-Baril, Ph.D. Associate Professor

Contact Information

Office: 312 Kalkin
Phone: 656-0510
E-Mail: William.Cats-Baril@uvm.edu

Office Hours: TH 3:00 to 4:45 p.m. and by appointment or by appointment

Dr. Cats-Baril is as an Associate Professor for Information and Decision Sciences in the School of Business at the University of Vermont. He has been a Senior Research Fellow at the London School of Economics and Political Science, and has been a Visiting Professor at several international institutions including the European Institute Administration at the University of Business Administration (INSEAD) in Fontainebleau, France; Reykjavik University; the International Management Centers in Budapest; the Executive Development Centre in Bled (Slovenia), and the China-Europe Management Institute in Beijing. Professor Cats-Baril teaches regularly courses on business strategy, customer-orientation and total quality management, and implementation of change in executive development programs in Asia, Europe, and North and Latin America. He has won several teaching awards including most recently the School of Business Graduate Teacher of the Year award in 2011.

He has developed curricula for executive training in a variety of settings. For example, he trained most of the Portuguese hospital administrators in management techniques and decision analysis through a 3 year grant from the US AID. Through a contract from ISC, Dr. Cats-Baril trained the staff of 50 of the most influential Ukrainian NGOs in consensus building and implementation of change. He has also developed professional continuing education and maintenance of competence programs for medical associations and financial institutions in the United States and Mexico.

Dr. Cats-Baril is a consultant with an international practice in organizational performance assessment, consensus building, and program evaluation. He has had several major consulting engagements with for-profit and non-profit organizations, government agencies, and political campaigns. His clients have included Airport Council International, AT&T, GE, and Hospital for Special Surgery, IBM, LVMH, Johnson & Johnson, Podrawka, TenetHealthcare, and Wyeth, among others. He directed as a consultant the design and implementation several outcome programs for several medical associations in the US. He is an expert in certification and maintenance of competence programs. In the last couple of years, he developed the overall strategy and business plan for the Global Training Hub, the training arm of ACI, the Geneva-based organization representing more than 1,600 airports worldwide; for the Academy for Environmental Health and Safety which is funded by the GE Foundation in Guandong Province, China; and, for the Academy of Medical Educators, at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York City.

Dr. Cats-Baril has worked closely with the medical community, in particular the orthopedic and plastic surgery communities, for the last 25 years. He was a Principal Investigator in the Vermont Rehabilitation Engineering Center (VREC) where he developed a predictive risk model of low back pain disability. His research at the VREC won the Eastern Orthopedic Association Award for Spinal Research in 1988. Dr. Cats-Baril was the founder and President of Devanda Corporation, a company that developed expert systems in the diagnosis and treatment of low back pain.

He has worked on numerous projects for the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, American Board of Orthopedic Surgery, the Muller Foundation, the North American Spine Society, the American Academy of Hip and Knee Surgeons, and the Hospital for Special Surgery in NYC and has been a member of several task forces on outcomes studies, work related injuries, and the Worker's Compensation system. Dr. Cats-Baril has directed the development of a number of research instruments, including the North American Spine Society's Lumbar Spine Questionnaire, and the AMA's Patient Confidentiality and Medical Ethics Questionnaire and helped several medical societies initiate outcomes data collection programs. In particular, he directed, as a consultant, the design and implementation of the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons program on outcomes and its program to assess patient satisfaction. He did the same for the American Society of Plastic Surgery and the American Board of Plastic Surgery.

He has published several articles in the orthopedic surgery literature including pieces in Spine, JBJS, and the Journal of Occupational Medicine. He contributed a chapter on the costs of low back pain disability to the Adult Spine, which has become a standard reference. As a speaker, he has been invited to address the NIH Task Force on Chronic Pain and Disability on the costs of chronic pain and the Travelers Insurance Symposium on the costs and measurement of LBP.

Dr. Cats-Baril has also published over thirty articles and book chapters in the management literature on business strategy, conflict resolution and negotiation, and implementation of change. This work has appeared in Decision Sciences, Management Information Systems Quarterly, and the Public Administration Review. His book Systems to Support Health Policy Analysis was published by the Hospital Administration Press in 1992; a second edition is coming out later this year. The second edition of his book Information Technology and Management (McGraw-Hill/Richard C. Irwin; 2003) has just been translated to Chinese. His latest book on business process transformation and customer satisfaction is being reviewed by Addison-Wesley. He has authored more than 20 teaching cases and was featured on two video-series on increasing the effectiveness of public administrators sponsored by the American Society of Public Administration.

Dr. Cats-Baril has always been involved in management positions. He was Special Assistant for Systems Analysis and Policy to the Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board of the University Health Center in Burlington. Dr. Cats-Baril was as a member of the leadership team of the Faculty Practice at Fletcher Allen where he created the Center Health Care Management. He was a founding partner and Chairman of the Board of Data Harbor, a consulting and data management company that specialized in developing and implementing medical outcomes programs. In that role, Dr. Cats-Baril consulted with more than a dozen medical associations and specialty boards, and several pharmaceutical companies. He was a member of the Board of Directors of Verinform, Inc., a company that sells Graduate Medical Education software. Dr. Cats-Baril has always been involved in management positions. He is now Chairman of the Board, of CEPCEL, an internet-based business incubator in Mexico in the professional continuing education space.

His current research interests include the implementation of Electronic Medical Record systems, the design of integrated health care delivery systems, and the development of a predictive risk model of suicide in hospital in-patient populations.

Born and raised in Mexico City of French parents, Dr. Cats-Baril has dual French and Mexican citizenship and is a USA resident, and he is fluent in English, French, and Spanish. He has two daughters and he is an avid world traveler, cyclist, skier, and mountaineer.

Courses Currently Taught by William Cats-Baril:

• BSAD 295 - Advanced Special Topics SU 2013
  • Sustainable Business - Section Z1, W427 Waterman 8:30-5:00 MWTRF

Publication History

Journal Article, Academic Journal

• Memtsoudis, S. G.; Hargett, M.; Russel, L. A.; Parvizi, J.; Cats-Baril, W. L.; Stundner, O.; Sculpo, T. P. - "Consensus Statement from the Consensus Conference on Bilateral Total Knee Arthroplasty Group" (Refereed) - Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Reserach - 2013 [Show/Hide Abstract]
  Abstract: Controversy exists regarding many aspects of decision making pertaining to same-day versus staged bilateral TKA (BTKAs), including patient selection, perioperative management decisions, and other important choices. Questions/purposes In the absence of suitable randomized trials, we sought to determine areas of consensus among national experts on the following questions: (1) What are the comparative risks of same-day BTKAs compared with unilateral TKA (UTKA) and staged BTKAs? (2) Who should be considered an appropriate candidate for same-day BTKAs? (3) What constitutes appropriate workup and perioperative management for BTKAs? (4) What is the optimal time between procedures if same-day BTKAs are not deemed appropriate? (5) Are there orthopaedic or rehabilitation considerations for BTKAs that might outweigh medical contraindications? Methods In the setting of a consensus conference of national experts in orthopaedic surgery, anesthesiology, perioperative medicine, and epidemiology, the major questions surrounding same-day BTKAs were addressed by using an extensive literature review and the modified Delphi process. The process concluded with a meeting of participants and formulation of consensus statements. Results Eighty-one percent of participants agreed that BTKAs are more invasive and complex procedures associated with increased risk for perioperative adverse events compared with UTKA in an unselected group of patients. The consensus group agreed that physicians and hospitals should consider using more restrictive patient selection criteria and exclude those with a modified cardiac risk index greater than 3 to mitigate the potentially increased risk. The majority of the group agreed that perioperative assessment and management should reflect the higher level of acuity of same-day BTKAs. Eighty-one percent of participants agreed that if a patient is not deemed a candidate for same-day BTKAs, a second TKA should be scheduled no sooner than 3 months after the first. The entire group agreed that when there is a conflict between the orthopaedic need and the medical adequacy of same-day BTKAs, the medical concern for the patient???s safety should prevail over the orthopaedic need. Conclusions Experts perceived that same-day BTKAs increase medical risk, and thus a systematic approach to the management of patients should be taken to minimize complications.
  
• Berman, J. R.; Aizer, MD, J.; Bass, MD, A.; Cats-Baril, W. L.; Parrish, MD, E. J.; Robbins,, L.; Salmon, MD, J.; Paget, MD, S. A. - "Building a Rheumatology Education Academy: Insights Gained from Assessment of Needs During a Rheumatology Division Retreat" (Refereed) - The Journal of Rheumatology - 2012 - v. 39, no. 6, pp. 1280-1286 [View publication] [Show/Hide Abstract]
  Abstract: Objective. To implement a rheumatology department education retreat to systematically identify and address the key factors necessary to improve medical education in our division in preparation for developing a rheumatology academy. Methods. The Hospital for Special Surgery organized a retreat for the Rheumatology Department aimed at (1) providing formal didactics and (2) assessing participants' self-reported skills and interest in education with the goal of directing this information toward formalizing improvement. In a mixed-methods study design, faculty and fellows in the Division of Rheumatology were surveyed online pre- and post-retreat regarding various aspects of the current education program, their teaching abilities, interest and time spent in teaching, divisional resources allocated, and how education is valued. Results. Enthusiasm for teaching was high before and rose further after the retreat. Confidence in abilities was higher than expected before but fell afterward. Many noted that the lack of specific feedback on teaching skills and useful metrics to assess performance prevented the achievement of educational excellence. Most responding felt lack of time, knowledge of how to teach well, and resources prevented them from making greater commitments to educational endeavors and participating fully and effectively in the department's teaching activities. Conclusion. While most rheumatology faculty members want to improve as teachers, they know neither where their educational strengths and weaknesses lie nor where or how to begin to change their teaching abilities. The key elements for an academy would thus be an educational environment that elevates the quality of teaching throughout the division and promotes teaching careers and education research, and raises the importance and quality of teaching to equivalence with clinical care and research.
  
• Berman, J. R.; Aizer, J.; Bass, A.; Cats-Baril, W. L.; Parrish, E. J.; Robbins, L.; Salmon, J.; Paget, S. A. - "Building a Rheumatology Education Academy: Insights Gained from Assessment of Needs During a Rheumatology Division Retreat" (Refereed) - HSS Journal (Hospital for Special Surgery) - 2012 - v. 8, no. 2, pp. 165-168 [View publication] [Show/Hide Abstract]
  Abstract: This artilce, originally published in The Journal of Rheumatology, was selected for inclusion by the editor of clinical highlights for the Rheumatologist which selects articles based on their appeal to the clinician. Background: While most faculty members want to improve as teachers, they neither know where their educational strengths and weaknesses lie nor where or how to begin to effect a change in their teaching abilities. The lack of actionable, directed and specific feedback, and sensible and sensitive metrics to assess performance and improvement complicates the attainment of educational excellence. Purpose: The purpose of this article was to outline a series of specific steps that medical education programs can take to enhance the quality of teaching, promote teaching excellence, elevate the status and value of medical educators, and stimulate the creation of innovative teaching programs and curricula. Methods: To achieve these goals at the Hospital for Special Surgery, the Academy of Rheumatology Medical Educators was formed. The academy had the following goals: (1) create within our institution a mission which advances and supports educators, (2) establish a membership composed of distinguished educators, (3) create a formal organizational structure with designated leadership, (4) dedicate resources that fund mission-related initiatives and research, and (5) establish a plan for promoting teachers as well as enhancing and advancing educational scholarship. Results: The Hospital for Special Surgery Academy of Rheumatology Medical Educators was recently formed to address these goals by promoting teaching and learning of musculoskeletal skills in an environment that is supportive to educators and trainees and provides much needed resources for teachers. Summary: The development of a pilot academy of medical educators represents one of the high-priority goals of those institutions that wish to elevate and enrich their teaching through a structured, proven approach.
  
• Berman, J.; Aizer, J.; Bass, A.; Cats-Baril, W. L.; Paget, S. A.; Parrish, E. J.; Robbins, L.; Salmon, J. - "Creating an Academy of Medical Educators: How and Where to Start" (Refereed) - HSS Journal: The Musculoskeletal Journal of Hospital for Special Surgery - 2012 [Show/Hide Abstract]
  Abstract: While most faculty members want to improve as teachers, they neither know where their educational strengths and weaknesses lie nor where or how to begin to effect a change in their teaching abilities. The lack of actionable, directed and specific feedback and sensible and sensitive metrics to assess performance and improvement complicates the attainment of educational excellence. The Hospital for Special Surgery Academy of Rheumatology Educators was recently formed with the goal of addressing these concerns by promoting teaching and learning musculoskeletal skills in an environment that is supportive and provides much needed resources for teachers. The purpose of this article is to outline a series of specific steps that programs can take to begin working towards the goal of establishing a similarly successful Academy.
  
• Bridwell, K.; Cats-Baril, W. L.; Harrast, J.; Berven, S.; Glassman, S.; Fancy, J.; Horton, W. C.; Lenke, L. G.; Baldus, C.; Radake, T. - "The Validity of the SRS-22 Instrument in an Adult Spinal Deformity Population Compared With the Oswestry and SF-12: A Study of Response Distribution, Concurrent Validity, Internal Consistency, and Reliability" (Refereed) - Spine - 2005 - v. 30, no. 4, pp. 455-461 [View publication] [Show/Hide Abstract]
  Abstract: Study Design. Prospective analysis of a consecutive cohort of adult spinal deformity patients queried over a 12-month period. Objectives. To assess the SRS-22 instrument compared with the SF-12 and Oswestry. Summary of Background Data. Very few reports in the literature have applied the SRS-22 to adult spinal deformity patients. Methods. Consecutive adult spinal deformity patients were applied the SRS-22, SF-12, and Oswestry. Four analyses were done: 1) floor/ceiling effect; 2) Pearson's correlation coefficients between the SRS-22, SF-12, and Oswestry; 3) Cronbach's alpha analysis for internal consistency within the SRS-22; and 4) test/retest. Results. Floor/ceiling range for the SRS-22 compared favorably with the SF-12 and Oswestry. The Pearson's coefficients correlating the two questionnaires relative to the SRS-22 were > 0.7. The Cronbach's alpha within each domain for the SRS-22 were > 0.7, except for pain (0.67). Test/retest correlation coefficients ranged from 0.84 to 0.95 for the subscales. Conclusions. The SRS-22 is a disease-specific instrument with the capacity to demonstrate change in health status more effectively than the SF-12 and in more domains than the Oswestry. The SRS-22 showed high criterion validity with the SF-12 and Oswestry based on Pearson's coefficients. High Cronbach's alpha scores suggested a high internal consistency within each domain of the SRS-22, except for pain (0.67). Test/retest reliability was excellent.
  
• Sanders MD, J. O.; Polly Jr. MD, D. W.; Cats-Baril, W. L.; Jones, J.; Lenke MD, L. G.; O'Brien MD, M. F.; Richards MD, S. B.; Sucato MD, D. J. - "Analysis of Patient and Parent Assessment of Deformity in Idiopathic Scoliosis Using the Walter Reed Visual Assessment Scale" (Refereed) - Spine - 2003 - v. 28, no. 18, pp. 2158-2163 [View publication] [Show/Hide Abstract]
  Abstract: Objectives. This study evaluates the Walter Reed Visual Assessment Scale (WRVAS) compared with clinical parameters and written descriptions of the deformity from idiopathic scoliosis patients and their parents. Summary of Background Data. The WRVAS demonstrates seven visible aspects of spinal deformity in an analogue scale. Higher scores reflect worsening deformity. Materials and Methods. The WRVAS was administered to 182 idiopathic scoliosis patients at four centers in conjunction with open-ended questions about patients' and their parents' perceptions of their spinal deformity. The open-ended responses were categorized as either "deformity noted" or "no deformity noted." Results. WRVAS scores strongly correlate with curve magnitude (P = 0.01) and clearly differentiates curves of 30[degrees] or more from lesser curves. Among treatment groups, patients with surgery recommended had significantly higher scores than that of other patients. The instrument differentiated those noting no deformity from those noting a deformity. The correlation between patients' and parents' scores was high (Spearman's rho = 0.8). When a deformity was noted, parents gave higher scores than did their children for rib prominence, shoulder level, scapular rotation, and the total score, but not for the other dimensions. Conclusions. Increasing scores of the WRVAS are strongly correlated with curve magnitude lending construct validity to this type of assessment tool. Patients with "surgery recommended" report more visible deformity on the scale than observed, braced, and postoperative patients, supporting the hypothesis that surgery improves the perceived appearance. Parents perceive more deformity of the ribs and shoulders more than did the patients, but other aspects of the deformity are identified equally. WRVAS scores correlate significantly with curve magnitude and treatment. Parents and patients have similar scores, but with parents perceiving more deformity of the ribs and shoulders than patients.
  
• Cats-Baril, W. L.; Gibson, L. - "Evaluating landscape aesthetics: A multi-attribute utility approach " - Landscape and Urban Planning - 2002 - v. 14, pp. 463-480 [View publication] [Show/Hide Abstract]
  Abstract: Regulatory functions require subjective judgments which are sometimes inconsistently and arbitrarily applied. Aesthetic assessments of land-use proposals is such a situation. The research presented here involved developing a multi-attribute utility model to measure the aesthetic impact of proposed land developments. It was hypothesized that such a model would help in the process of reviewing land-use permit applications by increasing the consistency and comprehensiveness of the evaluation; while at the same time increasing the efficiency of the process. A panel of 11 experts with backgrounds in architecture, historical preservation, law, art, planning and government was convened to construct the model. The panel met seven times for 2.5 hours each time over a 6-month period. The resulting instrument, called the Aesthetic Impact Model (AIM), consists of 34 attributes. AIM has been used on a variety of examples and has proved to be an excellent framework for discussing the aesthetic impact of proposed development projects. AIM has also been used very successfully in public gatherings of 20???30 people to discuss landscape aesthetics. Specifically, AIM has shown five strong points: it increases communication among interested parties by providing a common lexicon and clear and detailed feedback; it clarifies disagreements by narrowing them to specific attributes; it facilitates discussion of aesthetics by lay people; it rates projects on a systematic and consistent scale; it allows the performance of sensitivity (or ???what-if???) analyses to determine the effect of changing the scores on specific attributes of a project. Some of the disadvantages of AIM are a false sense of objectivity and a verbalization of priorities by the regulating bodies that may have political ramifications and affect the chances of implementing the model.
  
• Cats-Baril, W. L. - "Assessment of postoperative vigor in patients undergoing elective total joint arthroplasty : A concise patient- and caregiver-based instrument" - Orthopedics - 1999 - v. 22, no. 1, pp. 119-128 [View publication] [Show/Hide Abstract]
  Abstract: Assessment of early postoperative recuperative power (i.e., vigor and functional ability) in surgery patients is considered to be important for optimizing patient rehabilitation, discharge planning, and health system resource utilization. However, no broadly accepted method of patient assessment has been available to measure these parameters. Therefore, a panel of experts was assembled to design an instrument to assess recuperative power in the total joint arthroplasty setting. The instrument consists of both subjective, patient-based, preoperative and postoperative, fixed-ended questions and objective, caregiver-based measures of patient function (i.e., muscle strength and hematocrit [HCT]). The prototype instrument employed the vitality subscale of the Short Form-36 (SF-36), the activities of daily living items from the Western Ontario and McMaster University Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC-ADL), as well as three novel scales: Well-being, Ready to resume activities, and Ready to leave the hospital. The instrument was tested in 65 patients at two medical centers. The reliability and validity of the three novel psychometric scales were tested by measuring internal consistency and validity by comparison with the standard scales. Postoperative patient Well-being and Ready scales correlated strongly with muscle strength (P <.01), while postoperative HCT correlated with muscle strength (r = 0.4) and Ready scale (P <.01). This analysis suggested that patient well-being and readiness to resume normal activities may be the best surrogates of patient vigor and that these parametric assessments correlate well with functional and laboratory measures of vigor (i.e., muscle strength and HCT). Based on these findings, the final instrument (Version 4.2) consists of a patient questionnaire that can be completed within approximately 5 minutes (12 preoperative and 14 postoperative questions), and a caregiver questionnaire that includes two objective functional tests: muscle strength and HCT. In conclusion, postoperative vigor may be able to be assessed with a concise, patient-based instrument and may provide valuable information for rehabilitation and discharge planning. The utility of this instrument is currently being assessed in a prospective clinical study.
  
• Cats-Baril, W. L.; Keating, M.; Ranawat, C. - "The Vigor Instrument" (Refereed) - Orthopaedic Supplement - 1999
• Dempsey, S. J.; zz-Gatti, J. F.; Grinnell, D. J.; Cats-Baril, W. L. - "The Use of Strategic Performance Variables as Leading Indicators in Financial Analysts' Forecasts" (Refereed) - The Journal of Financial Statement Analysis - 1997 - v. 2, no. Summer, 4, pp. 61-79 [View publication] [Show/Hide Abstract]
  Abstract: The emerging view among managers and academicians argues for an expanded reporting system to provide more comprehensive information about organizational performance, including internal strategic performance variables. Little systematically-gathered evidence is available, however, concerning the views of the analyst community on this matter. This paper reports the results of a survey of 420 senior investment officers, directors of research and financial analysts regarding the frequency of use, predictive value, and ease of acquisition of a variety of financial and non-financial performance measures. The patterns of use that emerge from the study paint a picture in which analysts go well beyond the traditional financial measures and use a broad range of strategic leading indicators to assess long-term organizational success. The results contribute to our understanding of (1) the extent to which analysts currently use or are interested in using various strategic performance variables in addition to traditional financial performance measures, (2) the linkage between the use of performance measures and their predictive value and ease of acquisition, and (3) the information gaps which currently exist between various measures predictive usefulness and external accessibility.
  
• Daltroy, L. H.; Cats-Baril, W. L.; Katz, J. N.; Fossel, A. H.; Liang, M. H. - "The North American Spine Society Lumbar Spine Outcome Assessment Instrument: Reliability and Validity Tests" - The North American Spine Society Lumbar Spine Outcome Assess... - 1996 - v. 21, no. 6, pp. 741-748 [View publication] [Show/Hide Abstract]
  Abstract: A cross-sectional study of a convenience sample of lumbar spine patients, with a subsample followed for retest reliability.
  
• Cats-Baril, W. L.; Jelassi, T.; Teboul, J. - "Establishing a national information technology infrastructure: the case of the French videotex system" - Wiley Series In Information Systems - 1994 - pp. 73-98 [View publication]
• Cats-Baril, W. L.; Jelassi, T. - "The French Videotex System Minitel: A successful Implementation of a National Information Technology Infrastructure" - MIS Quarterly - 1994 - v. 18, no. 1, pp. 1-20 [View publication] [Show/Hide Abstract]
  Abstract: Building an advanced national information technology infrastructure can provide a competitive advantage for the countries that develop it as well as for the companies that operate in those countries. This article describes the development of the French national videotex system Teletel, also known as Minitel. The factors -technical and political-that made Teletel successful are explained and contrasted against other national videotex systems that became commercial failures. Political intrigue, technical capability, creative choices, and the deep pockets of a government-owned utility are all part of the Teletel story.
  
• Cats-Baril, W. L.; Wyman, E. T. - "Working it out : recommendations from a multidisciplinary national consensus panel on medical problems in workers' compensation" - Journal of occupational Medicine - 1994 - v. 36, no. 2, pp. 144-154 [View publication]
• Cats-Baril, W. L. - "Supporting executives in strategic decision making : ( an alternative paradigm ) " - 1991 - pp. 35 [View publication]
• zz-Gatti, J. F.; Grinnell, D. J.; Cats-Baril, W. L. - "Making Transfer Pricing Fit Your Needs" (Refereed) - CMA: The Management Accounting Magazine - 1988 - v. 62, no. 5, pp. 40-49
• zz-Gatti, J. F.; Grinnell, D. J.; Cats-Baril, W. L. - "Transfer Pricing Policy in a Dynamic Market" (Refereed) - Management Accounting - 1988 - v. LXIX, no. 8, pp. 30-33
• Cats-Baril, W. L.; Huber, G. P. - "Decision Support Systems for Ill-Structured Problems: An Empirical Study" (Refereed) - Decision Sciences - 1987 - v. 18, no. 3, pp. 350-372 [View publication] [Show/Hide Abstract]
  Abstract: Decision support systems (DSSs) are more complex than most other traditional decision-aid systems. For what types of problems are they more effective, and what design characteristics make them more effective? The laboratory experiment reported here examined the effect of three design characteristics of these systems in the context of decision makers faced with ill-structured problems. The characteristics were presence or absence of decision-aid heuristics, degree of interaction between the user and the system, and whether or not the system was computerized. The dependent variables were (1) quality of user performance, (2) user productivity of ideas, (3) user confidence in the quality of his/her performance, (4) user satisfaction with the decision aid or support system, (5) changes in user attitude toward the problem addressed, and (6) changes in user attitude toward computers. Use of heuristics and increased interaction had positive effects on decision quality, user productivity, and attitude toward computers; they had negative effects on user confidence, satisfaction, and attitude toward the problem addressed. Whether or not the system was computerized did not have a significant effect on any dependent variable. The findings concerning negative effects, in particular, suggest the need for research on the design of heuristics for addressing ill-structured problems???heuristics that will deliver the positive but not the negative effects observed in this study. The findings also suggest the need for research on how to benefit from computers in the context of solving ill-structured problems.
  
• Cats-Baril, W. L.; Gibson, L. - "Evaluating aesthetics: the major issues and a bibliography " - NAL/USDA (United States of America) - 1986 - v. 5, no. 2, pp. 93-102 [View publication]
• zz-Gatti, J. F.; Grinnell, D. J.; Cats-Baril, W. L. - "Joint Product Costing in the Semiconductor Industry" (Refereed) - Management Accounting - 1986 - v. LXVII, no. 8, pp. 28-35 [Show/Hide Abstract]
  Abstract: Awarded Certificate of Merit 1986 Lybrands Awards Competition, National Association of Accountants.
  

Journal Article, Public or Trade Journal

• Cats-Baril, W. L. - "Designing Effective E-Learning Programs: Eleven Critical Success Factors" (Refereed) - International Public Management Association - 2007 - v. 73, no. IPMA-HR News (6), pp. 7-13 [View publication] [Show/Hide Abstract]
  Abstract: Traditionally, training has been based on classroom-based methods, with testing and tracking of scores done manually. Increasingly, this approach has problems in terms of scheduling staff, the availability of instructors and training facilities, and obtaining just-in-time skills. It is also time consuming and costly due to the requirement to leave one's job to be trained. The mandatory recurrent nature of certain courses-which in most cases are merely refresher courses-often makes it hard to justify the expenses associated with travel and absences from work. For agencies to run efficiently and effectively in an increasingly competitive job market they have to develop a strong manpower skills base and communicate a professional training culture-a culture that supports continuous learning. In this way training and development becomes an integral part of the agency's critical success factors: improving efficiencies, reducing costs, creating client awareness and improving safety.
  

Conference Proceeding

• Cats-Baril, W. L.; Sanders, J. O.; Polly, D. W. - "An Analysis of Patient and Parent Assessment of Deformity in Idiopathic Scoliosis Using the Walter Reed Visual Assessment Scale" (Refereed) - Proceedings of the Scoliosis Research Society Annual Meeting - 2002 - no. April, [Show/Hide Abstract]
  Abstract: Purpose: While patient's perceptions of their deformity are a major aspect of idiopathic scoliosis, they are difficult to measure. The Walter Reed Visual Assessment Scale (WRVAS) demonstrates 7 visible aspects of spinal deformity in an analogue scale. Higher scores reflect worsening deformity. This study evaluates the scale compared to clinical parameters and written descriptions of the deformity from idiopathic scoliosis patients and their parents. Methods: The WRVAS was administered to 182 idiopathic scoliosis patients at 4 centers in conjunction with categorized responses regarding demographics, curve characteristics, and open-ended questions about patients' and their parents' perceptions of their spinal deformity. The open-ended responses were categorized as either 'deformity noted' or 'no deformity noted'. Statistical significance was selected at p=0.05. Results: Curve magnitude strongly correlates with increased scores (p=.01) and clearly differentiates curves of -30 degrees from lesser curves. Among treatment groups, those with surgery recommended had significantly higher scores than patients without scoliosis, and patients observed, braced, or postoperative. The instrument differentiated those noting no deformity from those noting a deformity. The correlation between patients' and parents' scores was high (r square = .66). If neither the parent nor child noted a deformity, parents' scores were not significantly different than the patients'. However, when a deformity was noted, parents gave higher scores than their children for rib prominence, shoulder level, scapular rotation, and the total score, but not for the other dimensions. Conclusions: Increasing scores of the WRVAS are strongly correlated with curve magnitude lending construct validity to this type of assessment tool. Patients with 'surgery recommended' reported more visible deformity on
  

Book, Chapter in Scholarly Book-New

• Cats-Baril, W. L. - "Establishing a national IT infrastructure" (Refereed) - Strategies for e-business - 2006 - pp. 209-223 , [Show/Hide Abstract]
  Abstract: The case argues that establishing an advanced information technology infrastructure can provide a competitive advantage not only for the country that develops it but also for the companies that creatively use it. It describes the developments of the most successful national videotex system, Minitel, and highlights why it was successful while other systems have been commercial failures. It also stresses the strategic business impact of Minitel.
  

Book, Scholarly-New

• Cats-Baril, W. L.; Alemi, F.; Gustafson, S. - "Health Policy Analysis (Book)" (Refereed) - Health Administration Press - 2005 - no. Fall, , [Show/Hide Abstract]
  Abstract: Quantitative tools to analyze management issues in health care delivery system.
  
• Cats-Baril, W. L.; Simmons - "Outcomes Assessment in the Information Age: Available Instruments, Data Collection, and Utilization of Data" (Refereed) - Instructional Course Lectures/American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons - 1999 ,
• Cats-Baril, W. L.; Thompson, R. - "Information Technology and Management" (Refereed) - Irwin/McGraw-Hill - 1996 - pp. 528 , [Show/Hide Abstract]
  Abstract: For use in an Introduction to Information Systems course often required in four-year schools of business at the undergraduate level. This course is usually taught in the freshman or sophomore year. Introduction to IS is also found in MBA programs that require this course for incoming graduate students.
  

Written Case with Instructional Material

• Cats-Baril, W. L. - ""Bondseye": A data warehouse outsourcing decision" - University of Vermont - 2010 - pp. 20 pages
• Cats-Baril, W. L. - "Autumn Harp: Utilizing I/T for Competitive Advantage" - University of Vermont - 2010 - pp. 20 pages
• Cats-Baril, W. L. - "RainWorx" - University of Vermont - 2009 - pp. 20 pages
• Cats-Baril, W. L. - "Reengineering UVM's College of Medicine Curriculum (A), (B), and Teaching Note" - University of Vermont - 2007 - pp. 30 pages
• Cats-Baril, W. L. - "State of Vermont Tax Department: ERP Implementation (A)" - University of Vermont - 2006 - pp. 20 pages
• Cats-Baril, W. L. - "El Cruncho (A): The Hand-Held Project" (Refereed) - 2003
• Cats-Baril, W. L. - "Odyssey, Inc." (Refereed) - 2002 [Show/Hide Abstract]
  Abstract: Short case of a company that manufactures bicycles. The case is used to illustrate concepts of General Systems Theory and feedback systems.
  
• Cats-Baril, W. L. - "Reinventing BurgerSupreme" (Refereed) - 2002 [Show/Hide Abstract]
  Abstract: A case describing the retooling of a fast service chain.
  
• Cats-Baril, W. L. - "Photon Motors" (Refereed) - 2001 [Show/Hide Abstract]
  Abstract: Short case describing an automotive company using information technology to change the basis of competition.
  
• Cats-Baril, W. L. - "Vermont's Best (A), (B), (C), and (D)" (Refereed) - 2001 [Show/Hide Abstract]
  Abstract: A set of exercises in redesigning the business processes using a customer-centred approach in a pizza delivery business.
  

Research Report

• Cats-Baril, W. L. - "Developing an Instrument to Assess Affective Response to Deformity in Scoliosis Patients and Their Parents" (Refereed) - Funded by the Scoliosis Research Society - 2001 [Show/Hide Abstract]
  Abstract: The report describes the results of a study to test the validity of a questionnaire to assess the response of patients and their parents to deformity of the spine. Among other findings, the study describes a preliminary result showing parents to have a more negative view of deformity than the patients themselves.
  
• Cats-Baril, W. L. - "TOPS: Designing a Universal Data Collection Portal in Plastic Surgery" (Refereed) - The American Society of Plastic Surgery & the Board of Plastic Surgery - 2001 [Show/Hide Abstract]
  Abstract: The American Society of Plastic Surgery (ASPS) and the Board of Plastic Surgery studied the possibility of minimizing the burden of practicing surgeons in collecting and submitting information on their practice for credentialling and certification. The report suggests the design and features of a data collection and transmission system (TOPS for Tracking Outcomes in Plastics Surgery) that minimizes burden while maximizing quality and security of the data.
  

Technical Report

• Cats-Baril, W. L.; Jelassi, T. - "The French Videotex System Minitel: A successful Implementation of a National Information Technology Infrastructure" - INSEAD - 1992 - pp. 35 [View publication]
• Cats-Baril, W. L. - "Executive information systems : ( developing an approach to open the possibles ) " - Insead - 1990 - no. 90-37-TM-OB-SM, pp. 17 [View publication]

Working Paper

• Cats-Baril, W. L.; zz-Gatti, J. F.; Grinnell, D. J. - "Strategic Performance Measurement: Identification of the Leading Indicators of Organizational Performance and Success" - Eastern Financial Association Annual Conference - 1999 [View publication] [Show/Hide Abstract]
  Abstract: The emerging view among managers and academicians argues for an expanded reporting system to provide more comprehensive information about organizational performance. Little systematically-gathered evidence is available, however, concerning the views of the investment community on this matter. This article reports the results of a survey of 420 senior investment officers, directors of research, and financial analysts regarding the use, predictive value, and ease of acquisition of a variety of financial and nonfinancial performance measures. The patterns of use that emerge from the study paint a picture in which analysts go well beyond the traditional financial measures and use a broad range of leading indicators to assess long-term performance.
  

Material Regarding New Courses/Curricula

• zz-Kraushaar, J. M.; zz-Bovee, M. W.; Cats-Baril, W. L.; Chittenden, T. I. - "Curriculum Redesign - 1st Year Course: Management & Information Technology" - School of Business Administration - 2006 [View publication] [Show/Hide Abstract]
  Abstract: To further introduce students to Tablet PC Functionality expanded lecture demonstrations were incorporated into the primarily first-year introductory business course (the first business school course required of Business school majors). These lectures included demonstrations of: Keyboard & Writing Pad (TIP-Tablet Input Panel); Microsoft Journal (right-clicking, double-clicking, lasso, erase); Virtual Printers (Document Image Writer, Journal Note Writer, CutePDF Printer, etc.); Microsoft OneNote (audio capture, importing electronic content, content organization, notebook organization); Tablet PC Experience/Education Pack. The course was altered to expand coverage of the uses of Microsoft One-Note for in-class shared sessions as well as home-work involving MS OneNote. The course also integrated a Tablet PC - Classroom oriented application called Classroom Presenter (http://www.cs.washington.edu/education/dl/presenter/) developed and distributed by the University of Washington. This application was designed for enhanced classroom sharing of digital hand written notes and is currently being integrated into the junior/senior level Information systems course.
  

Other

• Cats-Baril, W. L. - "Outcomes Assessment in Periodontology: Results of a Web-Based Outcomes Assessment Program" - The American Academy of Periodontology - 2001 [Show/Hide Abstract]
  Abstract: The American Academy of Periodontology (AAP) developed and implemented a web-based outcomes assessment program. The AAP collected data for six months. The report summmarizes the results of the data collection effort. The results show very high patient satisfaction with periodontic care.
  
• Cats-Baril, W. L.; Thompson, R. - "Instructors Manual - Information Technology and Management" - 1997
• Cats-Baril, W. L. - "Customer-Driven Performance Index: Measuring Progress Along The Path To Continuous Improvement" - 1995
• Cats-Baril, W. L.; Thompson, R. - "Managing Information Systems Projects in the Public Sector" - Public Administration Review - 1995 - v. 55, no. 6, pp. 559 [View publication] [Show/Hide Abstract]
  Abstract: Are frameworks developed in the private sector for managing information technology (IT) projects appropriate for public sector efforts? The management of IT projects is an increasingly important issue in the public sector, especially as budgetary constraints become more stringent and failed IT project implementations receive widespread publicity. Although frameworks for project risk assessment and project management exist for the private sector, such frameworks do not explicitly recognize the inherent differences between managing in public and private organizations. In this article, the authors use an in-depth case description of the State of Vermont's Human Resource Management System (HRMS) to illustrate many of the pitfalls of public sector management of IT projects. The project was two years late and more than $1 million over budget, and by early 1995, the system was still experiencing some problems. Unfortunately, the difficulties that surfaced are not unique to this project; nor are they unique to the State of Vermont. The authors propose modifications to private sector project management techniques and identify lessons that can be learned from the HRMS experience.
  
• Cats-Baril, W. L.; Thompson, R. - "Pam Linton: The Profile of an Entrepreneur" - Unviersity of Vermont Business School Case #IS-595-2 - 1995
• Cats-Baril, W. L.; Thompson, R. - "Pollution Solutions" - University of Vermont Business School Case #IS-595-1 - 1995
• Cats-Baril, W. L.; Thompson, R. - "Teaching Note: DEC MRPII" - 1994
• Cats-Baril, W. L. - "Test-Retest Reliability and Validity of the NASS Outcome Assessment Instrument for the Lumbar Spine" - Arthritis and Rheumatism - 1994 - pp. 37 (9): 225
• Cats-Baril, W. L.; Thompson, R. - "A Note on Business Recovery Plans" - 1993
• Cats-Baril, W. L.; Thompson, R. - "Dakin Farm (A): Mail Order Processing" - 1993
• Cats-Baril, W. L.; Thompson, R. - "Dakin Farm (B): Evaluating Systems Alternatives" - 1993
• Cats-Baril, W. L.; Thompson, R. - "Dakin Farm: Teaching Note" - 1993
• Cats-Baril, W. L.; Thompson, R. - "DEC MRP II (A): Achieving Class A" - 1993
• Cats-Baril, W. L.; Thompson, R. - "DEC MRP II (B): Sustaining Change" - 1993
• Cats-Baril, W. L.; Thompson, R. - "Lessons From the 80s: The Tale of One MIS Department" - Information and Management - 1993 - v. 25, no. 6, pp. 313-323 [View publication]
• Cats-Baril, W. L. - "Minitel" - Strategic Information Systems: A European Perspective - 1993
• Cats-Baril, W. L.; Thompson, R. - "Note on Manufacturing Resource Planing (MRP II)" - 1993
• Cats-Baril, W. L.; Grinnell, D. J. - "Replicating a Free Market for Internal Transactions: An Alternative Approach to Transfer Pricing" - 20th Annual Meeting of the European Association for Research on Industrial Economics - 1993 - pp. Sept. 4-7, Tel Aviv
• Cats-Baril, W. L.; Thompson, R. - "State of Vermont: The HRMS Teaching Note" - 1993 - pp. revised
• Cats-Baril, W. L.; Thompson, R. - "State of Vermont: The Human Resource Management System (B)" - 1993 - pp. revised
• Cats-Baril, W. L.; Grinnell, D. J. - "Strategic Performance Measurement: Identification of the Leading Indicators of Organizational Performance and Success" - 20th Annual Meeting of the European Association for Research on Industrial Economics - 1993 - pp. Sept. 4-7, Tel Aviv
• Cats-Baril, W. L.; Thompson, R. - "Vermont Mutual (A): Disaster Recovery" - 1993
• Cats-Baril, W. L.; Thompson, R. - "Vermont Mutual (B): After the Flood" - 1993
• Cats-Baril, W. L.; Thompson, R. - "Vermont Mutual: Teaching Note" - 1993
• Cats-Baril, W. L. - "Minitel" - 1992
• Cats-Baril, W. L. - "Minitel Teaching Note" - 1992
• Cats-Baril, W. L. - "State of Vermont: The Human Resource Management System (A)" - 1992
• Gustafson, D. H.; Cats-Baril, W. L.; Alemi, F. - "Systems to Support Policy Analysis" - 1992 - pp. 430 pages [View publication]
• Cats-Baril, W. L.; Thompson, R. - "TDIC, Inc, (A)" - 1992
• Cats-Baril, W. L.; Thompson, R. - "TDIC, Inc, (B)" - 1992
• Cats-Baril, W. L.; Thompson, R. - "TDIC, Inc, Teaching Note" - 1992
• Cats-Baril, W. L. - "Teletel: An Industrial Policy Success" - America's Stake in European Telecommunications Policies - 1992 - pp. pp 123-148
• Cats-Baril, W. L. - "An Overview of the Incidences and Costs of Low Back Care" - Orthopaedics Clinics of North America - 1991 - v. 22, no. 2, pp. 263-71 [View publication] [Show/Hide Abstract]
  Abstract: The basic premise of this article is that low back disorders are extremely prevalent in all societies, and probably have not increased substantially over the past two decades. What has increased is the rate of disability, the reasons for which are uncertain. Not only has this phenomenon heightened the awareness of low back pain, but it has led to an explosion in costs. Although a precise estimate is impossible, it is plausible that the direct medical and indirect costs of these conditions are in the range of more than $50 billion per annum, and could be as high as $100 billion at the extreme. Of these costs, 75% or more can be attributed to the 5% of people who become disabled temporarily or permanently from back pain--a phenomenon that seems more rooted in psychosocial rather than disease determinants. Within this overall equation, spinal surgery plays a relatively small role, although the contribution to disability probably has more than passing significance. The future challenge, if costs are to be controlled, appears to lie squarely with prevention and optimum management of disability, rather than perpetrating a myth that low back pain is a serious health disorder.
  
• Cats-Baril, W. L. - "Demographic Factors Associated with the Prevalence of Disability in General Population: Analysis of the NHANES 1 Database" - European Edition of Spine - 1991 - pp. May, Vol 16, No. 5
• Cats-Baril, W. L. - "Identifying Patients at Risk of Becoming Disabled Due to Low Back Pain: The Vermont Rehabilitation Engineering Center Predictive Model" - European Edition of Spine - 1991 - v. Volume 16, no. No. 6 , pp. pp 605-608 [View publication] [Show/Hide Abstract]
  Abstract: A predictive risk model of low-back pain (LBP) disability was developed by a panel of six experts in the fields of chronic pain and disability. It comprised 28 factors organized into eight categories: job, psychosocial, injury, diagnostic, demographic, medical history, health behaviors, and anthropometric characteristics and was administered as a 15-minute written questionnaire. The model was tested prospectively on 250 patients (age range, 18-65 years) attending two secondary-care low-back clinics. Disability, as predicted by the model, was compared with 1) actual disability assessed 3 and 6 months later; 2) predictions of disability made by the attending physicians; and 3) predictions obtained from an empirically derived model. These results showed that 1) the expert-generated risk model had a predictive accuracy of 89% and did better in predicting disability than the physicians across all samples and 2) the empirically weighted model did best of all (91% predictive accuracy), suggesting that the expert model used appropriate factors but that the weights assigned to these factors by the panel of experts could be improved.
  
• Cats-Baril, W. L. - "Teletex: The French Videotex Experience" - 1991 - pp. 30 pages
• Cats-Baril, W. L. - "The Economics of Spinal Disorders" - The Adult Spine - 1991 - pp. Volume 1, pp 85-106
• Cats-Baril, W. L. - "The Total Hip Arthroplasty Outcome Evaluation Form of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, Results of a Nominal Group Process" - Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery - 1991 - pp. Volume 73, No. 5, pp 639-647
• Cats-Baril, W. L. - "Risk Analysis Tools and Techniques in Software Project Management" - 1990 - pp. July INSEAD Working Paper, 30 pages