Business Commons^™

Corporate And Individual Influences On Managers' Social Orientation, Joachim W. Marz, Thomas L. Powers, Thomas Queisser

WCBT Faculty Publications

This paper reports research on the influence of corporate and individual characteristics on managers' social orientation in Germany. The results indicate that mid-level managers expressed a significantly lower social orientation than low-level managers, and that job activity did not impact social orientation. Female respondents expressed a higher social orientation than male respondents. No impact of the political system origin (former East Germany versus former West Germany) on social orientation was shown. Overall, corporate position had a significantly higher impact on social orientation than did the characteristics of the individuals surveyed.

The Balanced Scorecard At Futura Industries, Andra Gumbus, Susan D. Johnson

WCBT Faculty Publications

Most companies use the balanced scorecard (BSC) to focus on the financial aspects or the operational metrics required by ISO quality certification. But that is not all one unique company uses the BSC for. At Futura Industries, President Susan Johnson built the enterprise's success over the past 3 years on the BSC's foundational level - the learning, innovation, and growth dimension. This dimension provides the building blocks that generate success in the remaining 3 quadrants: customer service, financial, and internal operations. And the results have followed: a 50% increase in revenue without adding personnel from 1996 to 1999. This organization …

Monetary Convergence And Risk Premiums In The Eu Accession Countries, Lucjan Orlowski

WCBT Faculty Publications

This study examines the impact of various monetary policy regimes on the ability to lower inflation and exchange rate risk premiums in the EU accession countries as they undergo monetary convergence to the eurozone. It proposes a monetary policy framework of flexible targeting of relative inflation risk premium that is believed to be credible and useful for managing these two categories of risk. A model of inflation and exchange rate risk premiums within the context of inflation targeting is developed. Recent trends in these risk premiums in Hungary, the Czech Republic and Poland are tested by employing the threshold ARCH …

The Impact Of Increasing User Expectations On Machine Replacement, Robert F. Marsh, Seong-Hyun Nam

WCBT Faculty Publications

This study explores the traditional equipment maintain or replace decision under scenarios of increasing customer expectations, loss due to process deviation, and process drift. Customer expectations are operationalized by tighter product specifications. The Taguchi loss function is employed to estimate the loss due to target deviation. In this paper we characterize the machine drift, uncertainty about future technological change, and the learn-and-break-in process by a generalized Brownian-Motion-Ito-Process. The photolithography process is analyzed in numerous scenarios varying demand, rejection levels, and quality losses.

Aligning Capital Investment Decisions With The Balanced Scorecard, Andra Gumbus, Bridget Lyons, Dorothy E. Bellhouse

WCBT Faculty Publications

The Balanced Scorecard (BSC) has evolved from a measurement tool to a strategic management tool used by thousands of organizations. The Balanced Scorecard has proven to be a powerful tool in translating strategy into action in the for-profit sector and has recently been adopted by increasing numbers of not-for-profit organizations as well.

University of Bridgeport Hospital, part of the Yale-New Haven Health System, has been using the BSC for over three years to effectively translate strategy into dayto-day operations. The hospital has also linked the capital budgeting process to the BSC to ensure that resource allocation is aligned with strategic …

Collaboration Among Smes As A Mechanism For Innovation: An Empirical Study, Mario J. B. Franco

New England Journal of Entrepreneurship

The interest for collaboration among small and mediumsized enterprises and innovation has been highlighted, in recent times, due to the acceleration of technological changes and to increasing international competitiveness. Many small firms, with rigid structures and weak entrepreneurial dynamics, experienced difficulties in becoming innovators. Some of these firms can adopt collaborative agreements because these relationships enable them to get the necessary innovative activities, know-how, and exploit opportunities, which they cannot achieve alone. This study examines the motives for the formation of collaborative agreements in industrial Portuguese SMEs and presents some empirical evidence concerning collaboration as an important vehicle for the …

The Value And Impact Of Seminary Training, R. Stephen Shuart, Joshua Shuart

New England Journal of Entrepreneurship

Interview by Joshua Shuart of R. Stephen Shuart, of Stephen Shuart Export Co.

The Reverend R. Stephen Shuart is an Episcopal priest by profession. He is rector of two parishes and serves on the Diocesan Financial Committee and as a rural dean. However, he has spent most of his wage-earning life as owner/operator of Stephen Shuart Export Co., an internationally known photographic business, located in Kane, Pennsylvania. Shuart’s unique entrepreneurial endeavor has been the subject of a televised news feature, and the object of camera collectors’ attention since his company’s inception in the early 1970s.

The Region And The Smaller Enterprise: A Discussion Of Appropriate Investigative Methodologies, Ian Pownall

New England Journal of Entrepreneurship

Regional policy instruments are typically driven by economic rationales, from either a firm or industrial perspective. Yet too often, these rationales are taken as ex ante to the contexts within which firms and industries compete. Recent regional development research has urged a better link be developed between the individual, the firm, and their context, so as to understand the role of regions in supporting effective competitiveness of organizations. In this article, recent research themes are explored that may shed light on the nature of this relationship and that can be developed into an investigative methodology that could aid policy practitioners …

New England Journal Of Entrepreneurship, Fall 2003

New England Journal of Entrepreneurship

No abstract provided.

Musings Of A Serial Entrepreneur — Reconciling Theory With Practice, Joseph E. Levangie

New England Journal of Entrepreneurship

To reminisce about my entrepreneurial career with appropriate self-importance, I might note that I have helped create companies and jobs. This contributes in a small way to economic growth. Economic growth is, however, an often illusive concept to characterize. Job growth is an essential component of a dynamic, innovative process. In the late 1970s jobs growth research suggested that the vast majority of new jobs are created by small business formation. Such empirical research is difficult to support with theoretical constructs. Classic macroeconomics analysis discounts size-offirm as irrelevant. Entrepreneurial contribution is therefore difficult to assess.

Supplier Selection And Development: The Relationship Between Small Manufacturing Enterprises And Mass Merchandisers, Stephen C. Jones, Tami L. Knotts, Gerald G. Udell

New England Journal of Entrepreneurship

This study examines the results of a program intended to act as a selection tool for mass merchandisers and a development tool for small manufacturers. The evaluation program assessed the management practices and products of potential suppliers. Based on past experience, buyers for mass merchandisers consider small manufacturing enterprises a poor risk as potential suppliers of retail goods. As part of the evaluation process, firms were asked 34 closed-end questions regarding their management practices, and each product was evaluated on 41 specific qualities necessary for the mass merchandising market. Of the 1,690 firms that participated in this project, about 5 …

Documentaries: Both Informing And Entertaining New Zealanders, William De Friez, Veronica Mccarthy, Laurence Weinstein

New England Journal of Entrepreneurship

Interview by Laurence Weinstein of William De Friez and Veronica McCarthy, owners of Raconteur Productions in New Zealand.

William (“Bill”) De Friez and Veronica (“Ronni”) McCarthy own and operate Raconteur Film and Television Productions located in downtown Christchurch. Bill serves as part-time director; his full-time position is faculty lecturer in the Film Department of the University of Canterbury. Ronni is the full-time producer for their small business operation that completes an average of three documentaries per year as well as a network children’s series and other special projects. She won the prestigious Winston Churchill Fellowship in 1995 to study children’s …

Marketing Orientation In Smes: Effects Of The Internal Environment, Richard C. Becherer, Diane Halstead, Paula J. Haynes

New England Journal of Entrepreneurship

Marketing orientation refers to a culture in which organizations strive to create superior value for their customers (and superior performance for the business) by focusing on customer needs and long-term profitability. Some studies have found that firms with a high degree of marketing orientation experience improved performance; others have found mixed or nonsignificant results. The marketing orientation of small businesses has not been thoroughly investigated, however. This study of more than 200 small business CEOs examines the marketing orientation levels of small to medium-sized firms (SMEs) as well as the impact of various internal variables (sales/profit performance, company characteristics, and …

Turning A Hobby Into Millions, Philip King, Laurence Weinstein

New England Journal of Entrepreneurship

Interview by Laurence Weinstein of Philip King, bookstore entrepreneur in New Zealand.

Before Philip King sold his five bookstores in Christchurch roughly 10 years ago to Whitcoulls, a large Australian-owned bookstore and office supplies operation, he hardly fancied himself as an entrepreneur. Books were his passion: He loved to read. However, his first job was selling barbeque charcoal to New Zealand’s South Island residents.

Jade Software: Getting Ready To Tackle America, Sir Gilbert Simpson, Laurence Weinstein

New England Journal of Entrepreneurship

Interview by Laurence Weinstein of Sir Gilbert Simpson, founder and CEO of Jade Software in New Zealand.

Sir Gil Simpson is one of New Zealand’s pioneers in software development, having started in the field in 1967. He holds steadfast to his dream that one day his approach to software programming will take hold around the world. Simpson has just opened up the company’s first office in the United States; he expects his first significant foray into this country will be a successful one.

From The Editors, Laurence Weinstein, Joshua Shuart, Christopher Sheehan

New England Journal of Entrepreneurship

No abstract provided.

From The Editors, Laurence Weinstein, Shawn Blau, Christopher Sheehan, Joshua Shuart

New England Journal of Entrepreneurship

No abstract provided.

International Franchising In Emerging Markets, Nadia Ballard

New England Journal of Entrepreneurship

Book review by Nadia Ballard.

Ilan Alon and Diane H. B. Welsh, editors, International Franchising in Emerging Markets: Central and Eastern Europe and Latin America. Chicago: CCH Inc., 2001.

Ilan Alon and Diane H. B. Welsh, editors, International Franchising in Emerging Markets: China, India and Other Asian Countries. Chicago: CCH Inc., 2001.

The Bay House Café: Against All Odds, Dudley-Anne Thomson, Brian Finlayson, Michael Varekamp, Laurence Weinstein

New England Journal of Entrepreneurship

Interview by Laurence Weinstein of Dudley-Anne Thomson, Brian Finlayson, and Michael Varekamp.

Dudley-Anne Thomson is the current manager of the Bay House Café, located10 kilometers from Westport, South Island, New Zealand. She rents the space from Brian Finlayson and Michael Varekam, who both started the Bay House Café eight years ago and then moved on to open restaurants in Sydney, Australia.

Applying Entrepreneurship To Health Care Organizations, Kristina L. Guo

New England Journal of Entrepreneurship

This study examines entrepreneurship and assesses its relevance to health care organizations through a detailed description of the optimal environment, organizational factors, and managerial roles in the entrepreneurship process. The article finds entrepreneurship processes to be especially useful to health care organizations as they struggle to survive in the competitive managed care environment.

From Corporate To Entrepreneurial Life: Risks And Challenges Along The Way, Gene O'Neill, Liz Ellington, Laurence Weinstein

New England Journal of Entrepreneurship

Interview by Laurence Weinstein of Gene O'Neill and Liz Ellington, owners of TeWhau Lodge in New Zealand.

From Intrapreneurship To Entrepreneurship: Is Technical Expertise Sufficient?— A Case Study, John Woodilla

New England Journal of Entrepreneurship

Following a successful career in industry, Dr. Douglas V. Shick, a newly minted entrepreneur, established NRS Associates, LLC, to perform consulting services based on two highly technical computer-modeling programs. Doug was heavily involved in the development of one program, an innovative computer simulation software for modeling a particular manufacturing process, through intrapreneurial activity during his corporate experience. Doug established his business on September 1, 2001, and on September 10 announced his services by e-mail to everyone he knew. The unforeseen events of the next day, September 11, produced some unexpected aftereffects that Doug had to factor into his developing business.

Responding To God's Guidance, Craig Hoekenga, Joshua Shuart, Laurence Weinstein

New England Journal of Entrepreneurship

Interview by Joshua Shuart and Laurence Weinstein of Craig Hoekenga, CEO of Microboard Processing, Inc.

Craig Hoekenga is CEO of Microboard Processing, Inc. (MPI), a very successful subcontract electronics manufacturing company located in Seymour, Connecticut. There are many reasons why Hoekenga would stand out in any gathering of CEOs, but one of the most arresting reasons would be that Hoekenga credits his success to God and considers MPI a “Christian business.” The New England Journal of Entrepreneurhip editors started with a plant tour and then caught up with Hoekenga in his office.

Collective Entrepreneurship In Family Firms: The Influence Of Leader Attitudes And Behaviors, Jun Yan, Ritch L. Sorenson

New England Journal of Entrepreneurship

Collective entrepreneurship is the synergism that emerges from a collective and that propels it beyond the current state by seizing opportunities without regard to resources under its control (Stevenson and Jarrillo 1990). This study provides a conceptual model of collective entrepreneurship and its relationship with leadership and team dynamics in the context of a small family business. It proposes two types of prerequisites for collective entrepreneurship: attitudinal and behavioral. The attitudinal prerequisite is family business members’ commitment to the family business. The behavioral prerequisite includes collaboration and task conflict among family business members. Further, the article argues that leadership behaviors …

New England Journal Of Entrepreneurship, Spring 2003

New England Journal of Entrepreneurship

No abstract provided.

Propensity To Trust, Purchase Experience, And Trusting Beliefs Of Unfamiliar E-Commerce Ventures, Gregory B. Murphy

New England Journal of Entrepreneurship

Trust has become a major issue among online shoppers. This underresearched subject will predictably determine the success or failure of e-commerce vendors. The lack of face-to-face interaction, the inability to inspect goods and services prior to purchase, and the asynchronous exchange of goods and money all contribute to the perceived risk of purchasing online and the resulting need for trust. Trust is particularly critical for small and new Internet ventures confronted by the liability of newness (Stinchcombe 1965). Lacking, among other things, a name that is readily recognized in the marketplace, entrepreneurial Internet ventures require trust if they are to …

Cewa: An International, Interdisciplinary, Educational, Environmental Partnership, Brenda Bushell, Pratibha Dangol, Beverly Kracher, Bridget Lyons

WCBT Faculty Publications

This chapter reports the international, interdisciplinary partnership that supports the Creative and Educational Welfare Affiliation (CEWA). We begin by describing CEWA, its various projects, and the genesis of the partnership that supports the CEWA card project. We describe the first year's achievements as well as the difficulties with the CEWA card project. We conclude with recommendations for how to create successful international, interdisciplinary educational partnerships.

The Playmasters (Book Review), Joshua Shuart

WCBT Faculty Publications

Book review by Joshua Shuart.

Ham, Eldon L. The Playmasters: From Sellouts to Lockouts-An Unauthorized History of the NBA. Lincolnwood, IL: Contemporary Books, 2000. ISBN 9780809226023

Sfas 143 On Asset Retirement Obligations, Cheri Mazza, Robert H. Colson

WCBT Faculty Publications

Discusses an accounting legislation provision in the U.S. which concerns accounting for asset retirement obligations that requires the recognition of a liability for certain obligation associated with retirement of long-lived assets. Asset retirement obligations; Recognition of a liability for an asset retirement obligation in a certain period; Discussion on a subsequent-period accounting.

Monetary-Policy Targeting In The Central European Transition Economies, Lucjan T. Orlowski

WCBT Faculty Publications

This chapter examines the monetary-policy-targeting systems, in the second half of the 1990s (until 1998), of three Central European EU-accession candidates—the Czech Republic, Hungary, and Poland--and advocates the potential benefits of applying a direct-inflation-targeting (DIT) system in them. For the purpose of the analysis presented here, DIT is defined as "a monetary policy framework that is based on the assumption of long-term price stability as the official policy goal and on the designation of the official inflation forecast as intermediate policy target" (Orlowski, 2000). Section 1 is a brief overview of monetary-targeting practices in the Czech Republic Hungary, and Poland. …