Business Commons^™

Think Your Business Is Ready For Internationalization?, Michael Lee, Michael Wright

Accountancy Faculty Publications and Presentations

Many small and medium-size enterprises that reach a relative saturation point in their domestic market look toward the global stage as a way to grow into a multinational corporation. This is known as internationalization, the process of increasing business involvement in international operations. Internationalization requires considerable resources and coordination, and it is fraught with business risks.

North Texas Domestic Partner Benefits Policies, James Wanek, Gundars Kaupins, Malcolm Coco

Management Faculty Publications and Presentations

A challenge facing managers and human resource professionals is determining whether to expand benefits, especially health insurance, beyond employees to other eligible dependents. Immediate family members such as the spouse and/or dependent children of employees are commonly eligible for company sponsored benefits. Among larger companies, unmarried same-sex or opposite-sex domestic partners are more frequently being included as eligible for coverage under employee benefit plans.

A Categorical Data Analysis On Relationships Between Culture, Creativity And Business Stage: The Case Of Vietnam, Quan Hoang Vuong, Nancy K. Napier, Tri Dung Tran

International Business Program

In this paper, we offer a new way of exploring relationships between three different dimensions of a business operation, namely the stages of business development, the methods of creativity and the major cultural values. Although separately each of these has gained enormous attention from the management research community, evidenced by a large volume of research studies, few studies have attempted to describe the logic that connect these three important aspects of a business, let alone develop empirical evidence that supports any significant relationships among these variables. This paper also provides a dataset and an empirical investigation on that dataset, using …

Offshoring At Acesco Medical Devices, John C. Mcintosh

Management Faculty Publications and Presentations

The medical device industry is highly profitable and projected to experience double digit growth well into the future. The five top performing American medical device companies offshore some core and non-core value chain activities to realize lower production costs, higher innovation, and faster time to market. This case examines the offshoring decision of Acesco Medical Devices-a medium-size company that produces neurology, orthopedics, and cardiovascular products. It considers the tradeoffs between corporate social responsibility, as it pertains to workforce reductions in the United Sates, and the substantial strategic benefits of offshoring to India.

A Categorical Data Analysis On Financial Failures In Vietnam, 2007-2013, Quan Hoang Vuong, Nancy K. Napier, Tri Dung Tran, Hong Kong T. Nguyen

International Business Program

In this paper, we examined 256 cases of financial failure and fraud occuring during the recent Vietnam’s chaotic years from 2007 to 2013, employing methods of categorical data analysis. Reported results suggest that the rent-seeking approach, or resource-based orientation, alone does not help explain the outcome of a business intention while the association between Orientation and Approach is the best-fit predictor. Rampant financial collapse not only increases the cost of funds but also erodes trust in the economy. Entrepreneurship development and creativity capacity building are necessary to improve socio-economic conditions and the environment. This work also introduces intuitive and cognitive …

Innovation As Determining Factor Of Post-M&A Performance: The Case Of Vietnam, Quan Hoang Vuong, Nancy K. Napier, Donaldine E. Samson

International Business Program

This research aims to communicate new results of empirical investigations to learn about the relationship between determination of controlling an acquired firm’s capital, assets and brand versus its capability of innovation and ex post performance of Vietnam’s M&A industry in the 2005-2012 period. The analysis employs a categorical data sample, consisting of 212 M&A cases, and performs a number of logistic regressions with significant results being reported on relationships between pre-M&A strategic pursuit of innovation (versus capital/physical assets) of the acquired and post-M&A performance. In addition, pre-M&A capital expenditures tend to cause poor post-M&A performance. As a general conclusion, this …

Accumulating And Spending Retirement Assets: A Behavioral Finance Explanation, Diane K. Schooley-Pettis, Debra Drecnik Worden

Marketing Faculty Publications and Presentations

Increasing uncertainty surrounding social security benefits and public sector pension plans is pushing retirement savings into the spotlight. This study finds that education, financial discipline, and financial sophistication increase the likelihood of participating in a pension or an IRA/Keogh plan. Financial distress decreases the likelihood of setting aside additional funds in an IRA/Keogh plan. Further, the likelihood that an eligible individual will decline an offered pension plan decreases with education and financial discipline and financial sophistication. Controlling for health and marital status, the choice to annuitize retirement assets decreases with age and the desire to take risk.

Boise State On Business: Companies Must Balance Feelings And Facts, Michael Lee, Nicholas Gaudioso Jr.

Accountancy Faculty Publications and Presentations

Many companies are founded with innovation, enthusiasm and hopes for success. In its inaugural days, the business founder/CEO is able to personally drive the company's success with a passion while wearing multiple hats and controlling all aspects of the business operations. They understand their market, can effectively communicate their chosen mission to employees and have a good "feel" for their cost and margins.

However, there comes a point where sales grow, new employees are hired and operations expand. All of a sudden, it becomes evident that managing by "feel" is not enough. Founders/CEOs must transition from managing by "feel" to …

The Arrows In Our Backs: Lessons Learned Trying To Change The Engineering Curriculum, Steven W. Villachica, Anthony Wayne Marker, Donald Plumlee, Linda Huglin, Amy Chegash

Organizational Performance and Workplace Learning Faculty Publications and Presentations

Published research has provided a robust set of documented tools and techniques for transforming individual engineering courses in ways that use evidence-based instructional practices. Many engineering faculty are already aware of these practices and would like to use them. However, they still face significant implementation barriers. The E²R2P effort addresses the question: How can successes in engineering education research translate into widespread instructional practice?

This poster session will describe hard-won lessons the E²R2P team has learned as it begins its third year attempting such curricular change.

Lesson 1: “Wonder workshops” and visible course redesigns don’t produce …

Lean Processes Without Compromising Controls, Robyn L. Raschke, Michael T. Lee, Arti Mann

Accountancy Faculty Publications and Presentations

In today’s economic environment, governments feel the pressure to operate more efficiently, and many are therefore considering the gradual and continuous process improvement that Lean provides. Lean begins by examining a process from beginning to end, without departmental barriers; identifying the parts of the process that are inefficient; making a case for Lean improvements; and improving the process by reducing activities and waste that don’t add value to the consumer of the process.

Boise State On Business: These Tools Can Help Make The Most Of Profit And Loss Data, Michael Lee, Michael Wright

Accountancy Faculty Publications and Presentations

Companies invest heavily in creating the traditional profit and loss statement because it is a periodic requirement that measures business performance. The problem is that management is framed into thinking about summarized information, routine reporting and often irrelevant historical performance. Rather than treat it like a mandatory reporting necessity, a periodic photograph of the past that reminds them of what once was, we suggest that companies exploit this versatile tool by adding our three applications that will provide insights into what can be.

The Relationship Between Equity Dependence And Environmental Performance, Jason B. Macdonald, Matthew Maher

Marketing Faculty Publications and Presentations

How does a corporation’s dependence on its shareholders affect the sustainability of its commitment to environmental performance? Although the literature has investigated how the financial markets respond to environmental and green initiatives, it has yet to examine the relationship between a firm’s commitment to the environment and its dependence on the equity markets. In this research, we explore the relationship between equity dependence and environmental performance and find equity dependence is significantly related to corporations’ environmental concerns but not their environmental strengths.

Resource Curse Or Destructive Creation In Transition Turmoil, Quan Hoang Vuong, Nancy K. Napier

International Business Program

This paper explores the “resource curse” problem as a counter-example of creative performance and innovation by examining reliance on capital and physical resources, showing the gap between expectations and ex-post actual performance became clearer under conditions of economic turmoil. The analysis employs the method of logistic regressions with dichotomous response and predictor variables, on a count data sample containing 154 point derived from the transition economy of Vietnam. Performance of analysis has shown significant results. Several findings that have use for economic and business practice follow. First, in a transition period, a typical characteristic of successful firms was their reliance …

Management Accounting Systems Support Start-Up Business Growth, Michael Lee, Spencer R. Cobia

Accountancy Faculty Publications and Presentations

When a start-up company entered an entrepreneurial crisis, it turned to forward-looking management accounting tools to meet the challenges of its changing marketplace strategy and increasingly departmentalized organizational structure. These strategic tools - variance analysis, profit planning, and a performance measurement system - allowed the company to sustain its entrepreneurial spirit and growth. Here is the story of how it all came together.

Reevaluating The Intellectual Property Holding Company, Mark J. Cowan, Warren Newberry Jr.

Accountancy Faculty Publications and Presentations

In their zeal to save on taxes, many companies isolate their intellectual property in wholly owned subsidiaries called intellectual property holding companies (IPHCs). The IPHC landscape, however, is changing. Recently state actions have reduced the tax benefits of IPHCs, impacting the business and legal ramifications of managing intellectual property through a holding company.

Boise State On Business: Old Accounting Tools Can Perk Up Mature Company, Michael Lee, Nicholas Gaudioso, Jr.

Accountancy Faculty Publications and Presentations

In recent weeks, Apple has taken a valuation hit on the back of its quarterly earnings release. Apple's financial reports show that average revenue per unit is declining, production costs are increasing, and sales growth is slowing down. Competition from the likes of Blackberry and Samsung (phones), and Google (Android operating system) is fierce. Blackberry has been on a downward valuation slide since 2011. We can add to this list: Dell (heading for privatization to regain its mojo) and Hewlett Packard.

It seems these companies have entered a "maturity" crisis, unable to keep pace with shortening product life cycles and …

Serendipity As A Strategic Advantage?, Nancy K. Napier, Quan Hoang Vuong

International Business Program

Who, over the age of 20, hasn't experienced a serendipitous event: unexpected information that yields some unintended but potential value later on? Sitting next to a stranger on a plane who becomes a business partner? Stumbling onto an article in a journal or newspaper that helps tackle a nagging problem? Creating a new drug by accident?

Organizational Culture, Performance, And Competitive Advantage: What Next?, Bianca Jochimsen, Nancy K. Napier

International Business Program

For over 20 years, beginning in the late 1970s and early 1980s, the topic of organizational culture has been a key area of interest for managers and scholars worldwide.¹ Much of the literature has focused on defining the term “organizational culture,”² and its relationship to an organization’s performance³ and competitive advantage.⁴ In particular, research has examined its importance, its links with other variables that may influence performance, and how managers can use corporate culture to create and build successful organizations. In this chapter, we present an overview of selected past research on organizational culture and how …

Anatomy Of The 3d Innovation Production With The Cobb-Douglas Specification, Quan Hoang Vuong, Nancy K. Napier

International Business Program

This paper focuses on verifying the relevance of two theoretical propositions and related empirical investigation about the relationship between creativity and entrepreneurship. It draws upon a creativity process that considers three “dimensions” or “disciplines” (3D) critical for creative organizations—within discipline expertise, out of discipline knowledge, and a disciplined creative process. The paper first explores the Cobb-Douglas production function as a relevant tool for modeling the 3D creative process. The next part discusses the 3D process as a production function, which is modeled following the well-known Cobb-Douglas specification. Last, the paper offers implications for future research on disciplined creativity/innovation as a …

The Soft Stuff Is The Hard Stuff: How Relationships And Communications Can Drive The Execution Of Business Strategy, Linda Clark-Santos, Nancy K. Napier

International Business Program

In this chapter, we take a somewhat contrarian approach and explore the value of “soft” skills—specifically, building strong relationships and communicating effectively—in driving the effective execution of strategy. We divided the chapter into five parts. First, we describe what happens with relationships and with communication that might contribute to the failure to execute business strategy. Next, we discuss why relationship and communication problems happen—including the power of organizational culture, competition among peers, the rise of cynicism, the isolation of executives, and the impact of organizational design. The third section focuses on what happens as a result of these problems. The …

Culture And Management Control Systems In Today’S High-Performing Firms, Michael T. Lee, Sally K. Widener

Accountancy Faculty Publications and Presentations

You might think that firms with bureaucratic cultures would emphasize their use of management control systems. Contrary to expectations, firms with bureaucratic cultures are not users of management control systems!