Business Commons^™

Editorial: Introduction To Special Issue On Modern Day Experiential Exercises, Steven Meisel, Dilip Mirchandani

Rohrer College of Business Faculty Scholarship

[No abstract available]

Union Pacific Railroad Company Strategic Audit, Alison Steger

Honors Theses

Union Pacific Railroad Company (Union Pacific, UP, UPRR) is a freight railroad based in Omaha, Nebraska, servicing 23 states in America, with additional ports and country interchanges. The 160-year history of this railroad began with Abraham Lincoln and continues into 2023, with the recent announcement of CEO Lance Fritz’s departure. A PESTEL analysis provides an in-depth look at UP's external operating environment, and Porter’s Five Forces industry analysis assesses the industry's competitive environment. Analyses of Union Pacific's competitive advantages, essential resources, and projected roadblocks are followed by strategic recommendations for UP to remain a Class I freight railroad industry leader.

Knowledge Management Intellectual Capital, Lidia Gabalova

Books

The aim of this monograph is to bring to the attention of the Bulgarian reader new knowledge crucial to the strategic management of organisations in the conditions of knowledge-based economy. The monograph summarises over a decade of experience and considerable research in this field undertaken in Bulgaria, Scotland and Finland.

The Knowledge Management and Intellectual Capital book reviews the historical development of knowledge management and intellectual capital theory and presents fundamental concepts, models, tools and substantial body of knowledge in these parallel research fields to the reader. The monograph makes an in-depth comparative analysis of key concepts and research frameworks, …

Subsidiary Staffing, Location Choice, And Shareholder Rights Effectiveness, Nathaniel C. Lupton, Vishaal Baulkaran, Yeonji No

Faculty Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activity

Institutional differences between countries influence strategic choices and performance of international businesses, but the unintended effects of legal institutions on firm legitimacy have received less attention. We argue that, while minority shareholder rights protection in an investment location does not directly protect shareholder interests abroad, the normative and mimetic effects it has on host country managers can mitigate agency problems. Using Japanese FDI established between 1986 and 2013 we find that (a) subsidiaries established in host countries with higher shareholder rights protection employ a smaller proportion of Japanese expatriates, (b) shareholder rights protection enhances a country’s FDI attractiveness, and (c) …

Society Dilemma Of Computer Technology Management In Today's World, Iwasan D. Kejawa Ed.D

School of Computing: Faculty Publications

Abstract - Is it true that some of the inhabitants of the world’s today are still hesitant in using computers? Research has shown that today many people are still against the use of computers. Computer technology management can be said to be obliterated by security problems. Research shows that some people in society feel reluctant or afraid to use computers because of errors and exposure of their privacy and their sophistication, which sometimes are caused by computer hackers and malfunction of the computers. The dilemma of not utilizing computer technology at all or, to its utmost, by certain people in …

Competencies For Successful Middle Managers In Healthcare And Medical Education, Ahmed Al Ansari

Antioch University Full-Text Dissertations & Theses

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) and the Kingdom of Bahrain (KB) are currently in the process of the rapid transformation of health care to a self-sustained autonomous system. Middle managers play a pivotal role in achieving this goal. The aim of this study is to develop a feasible, reliable, and valid scale for measuring the leadership and managerial competencies of MM in KSA and KB. Zhou’s (2019) conceptual framework using a mixed-method approach was followed. After procuring ethical clearance from concerned authorities and informed consent from all the participants (n = 27), semi-structured interviews were conducted across three groups: …

Low Textbook Cost Syllabus For Mgt 9600 (Strategy And Competitive Advantage), Helaine J. Korn

Open Educational Resources

This course examines how to gain advantage against competitors in the complex and dynamic global marketplace. Core business strategy themes include how to analyze the business environment, assess resources and capabilities, and choose competitive strategies. The course also considers how to create corporate value through configuring and coordinating multibusiness activities. Core corporate strategy themes include how to analyze scale and scope, evaluate corporate competencies, manage the multibusiness corporation, assess global strategies, and choose corporate strategies.

Principles Of Management, Punit Arora

Open Educational Resources

This course addresses theory and practice of the modern organization, its historic development, and its role in our modern society. The course takes a functional approach, first introducing the role of a manager and the modern managerial environment, then exploring planning, organizing, leading, and control. Particular attention is given to developing the skills necessary to manage, lead, and compete in today’s world.

The Effects Of Lean Management In Nonprofit Operations, Brandon Diaz

Senior Honors Theses

Many nonprofits desire to serve the segment of society that is helpless or in distress, and this paper seeks to demonstrate that the implementation of Lean management into nonprofit operations aids a nonprofit in accomplishing its vision of service. The goal of this essay is to combine Lean management with nonprofit operations to develop a more sustainable method of managing nonprofit operations. This essay will be written from a Christian point of view, so partnership with the Church will be considered when discussing Lean operations. Lean management is effective in reducing waste and increasing efficiency in nonprofit operations; however, only …

Resilient Leadership In Chicago Hotels: Case Study In A Global Pandemic, Deborah Popely Dba, Michael Krause Cha, Chia, Msed

Kendall College Research

The impact of COVID-19 on the hotel industry has been catastrophic and like elsewhere, the Chicago hotel market has faced steep declines in occupancy, revenues and profitability, resulting in severe staff cuts and drastic operating changes. Yet many hotels continued operating, albeit at a reduced level. What factors made it possible for hotels to adapt to these conditions? To answer this question, a case study was developed from in-depth surveys with 16 Chicago hotels combined with interviews with 7 leaders from these hotels, providing a snapshot of resilient leadership in the Chicago hotel market before and after the COVID-19 pandemic. …

An Integrative Study Of Service And Safety Climate And Performance: Do Climates Compete?, Jeffrey B. Paul

Selected Faculty Publications

Organizational scholars continue to expand our knowledge of the contextual forces influencing employee behavior in organizations. A notable stream in this research agenda includes organizational climate studies that describe the social processes guiding employee perceptions of their environment. These shared perceptions formulate climate constructs that have demonstrated through theorizing and empirical findings relationships with attitudinal, behavioral, and performance outcomes across multiple levels of analysis. Contemporary climate studies have focused on facet-specific climates, such as a service climate or safety climate, and have linked facet climates with the same facet related performance (e. g. safety climate predicts increased safety performance). Given …

Effective Project Management And The Role Of Quality Assurance Throughout The Project Life Cycle, Monier Madison Ouabira, Hengameh Fakhravar

Engineering Management & Systems Engineering Faculty Publications

Quality is a fundamental requirement in effective project management. Effective project management entails a steady focus on quality management as well as achievement of all user requirements as defined during the requirements engineering phase of project implementation. Quality assurance must be executed throughout the project development cycle as a new normal in reducing errors and challenges during project development. Conducting quality assurance throughout the project development cycle has many benefits to both the project as well as the project development team. Understanding the research approach to use is critical in achieving high-quality findings in projects. There is a need to …

Language In Collaborative Spaces: Advantages And Barriers, Ludovica Leone, Cristina Guardiano, Monica Alexandrina Irimia, Elisa Mattarelli, Fabrizio Montanari

Faculty Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activity

An indispensable desideratum in collaborative spaces is to foster dynamic, barrier-free environments where professionals from different backgrounds can find common ground for collaborative projects. However, although such goals cannot be met without proficient and effective communication, research on the use of language as the most important means of information exchange in collaborative spaces is still needed. Our contribution in this chapter consists in exploring the linguistic interactions among coworkers of such spaces. We propose a multidisciplinary approach integrating insights from the organizational literature on communication and research methods in theoretical linguistics. The sociolinguistic analysis of two coworking spaces reveals essential …

Prototypes As Identity Markers: The Double-Edged Role Of Prototypes In Multidisciplinary Innovation Teams, Clio Dosi, Elisa Mattarelli, Matteo Vignoli

Faculty Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activity

Prototypes play a powerful role in facilitating the work of multidisciplinary innovation teams, but if not properly managed, they may inhibit innovation processes. This paper inquires into the tensions that exist around the use of prototypes in multidisciplinary teams. We studied the relationship between work identities (related to teams and subgroups within teams) and prototypes with a field study of a multidisciplinary team in an emergency department, in charge of redesigning the layout of the unit. Results show that different values of subgroup identities are reflected in the solutions devised by the team. These values become salient through the prototype; …

Zero Textbook Cost Syllabus For Mgt 3800 (Management And Society), Jared Peifer

Open Educational Resources

The course aims to help students better understand how business interacts with society. The dramatic rise in the exchange of goods, information, services and capital around the world makes business a driving force in global society. Yet, the evolving expectations of corporate stakeholders (e.g., customers, investors, governments and civil society groups) are not well understood. Corporations are expected to meet ever-higher standards of care wherever they operate. Stakeholders expect managers to make a profit for their companies in ways that are lawful, socially responsible and contribute to the welfare of society. Tomorrow’s business leaders will need to be equipped with …

The Use Of Emotional Intelligence In 21st Century Organizations, Jordan Martin

Honors Program Theses and Projects

Emotional intelligence is an increasingly growing trend throughout businesses, and is extremely beneficial to the hiring process in particular. It can be defined as the ability to monitor one's own and others' feelings and emotions, and use the information to guide one's thinking and actions. This knowledge will help obtain better hires and ultimately strengthen the development of employees. It’s also an important factor for managers and all employees to have exposure to. Increasing emotional intelligence not only benefits the employee, but their co-workers, customers, and the business as a whole. By now seeing EQ (emotional quotient, or emotional intelligence) …

Unintentional Bias In Management Based On Perception, Liliana Monteil-Doucette, Liliana Monteil-Doucette

University Diversity Committee records

Students in the College of Business are taught to be effective managers, by challenging coursework. Yet part of being a strong leader is being aware of intentional or unintentional biases based on stereotypes.

1. The goal of this project was to raise student awareness that negative perception of groups of individuals within an organization affects that group’s ability to succeed, and also impacts businesses negatively. By writing a business proposal to address a diversity, equity or inclusion issue at a business, students demonstrated that they understood the effects of negative unconscious perception. The proposal was intended to enlighten students and help …

Multiplex Boundary Work In Innovation Projects: The Role Of Collaborative Spaces For Cross-Functional And Open Innovation, Paula Ungureanu, Carlotta Cochis, Fabiola Bertolotti, Elisa Mattarelli, Anna Chiara Scapolan

Faculty Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activity

Purpose
This study investigates the role of collaborative spaces as organizational support for internal innovation through cross-functional teams and for open innovation with external stakeholders. In particular, the study focuses on collaborative spaces as tools for multiplex (i.e., simultaneous internal and external boundary management in innovation projects).

Design/methodology/approach
The authors conducted a qualitative study in a multi-divisional organization that set up in its headquarters a collaborative space for collaborative product development. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and participant observations.

Findings
Findings highlight that the relation between expectations and experiences about the collaborative space impact on employees' ability to perform …

Social Reckoning? In This Economy?, Madison Carter

WWU Honors College Senior Projects

'A business student's take on what society is demanding, academics are critiquing, and business schools seem to be ignoring.' This essay is a personal account of how the College of Business and Economics at Western failed to fulfill their mission statement to be a student-focused college that contributes to the well-being of society. It explores society's sentiments towards businesses, general critiques of 'the business school', where CBE fell short of their mission, and suggestions for reform.

Leading The Way: Investing In Management Development For Sme Productivity And Growth: Report By The Expert Group On Future Skills Needs, Expert Group On Future Skill Needs, Deirdre Mcquillan, Thomas M. Cooney, Ciara Nolan, Osa Godwin Osaghae, Lorraine Sweeney, Wael Rashwan

Reports

The vision set out for this project is to support and enable a fresh approach to growth for SMEs in Ireland where management development is a key strategic priority for SMEs to drive productivity, sustainability, competitiveness and growth, and prepare for the future of work. This research, carried out between October 2019 and March 2020, identifies 7 key findings outlined in the report.

Improving The M&A Success Rate: Identity May Be The Key, Carol M. Sanchez, Mahendra Joshi, Paul Mudde

Peer Reviewed Articles

Every year companies spend over $4 trillion on mergers and acquisitions (M&As) in spite of the fact that between 70% to 90% of these M&As fail. Both practitioners and scholars are puzzled by these intriguing statistic and have tried to identify the causes of M&A failures. Factors such as inaccurate assessment of financial and operational synergies, lack of clarity in the execution of the integration process, negotiation errors, lack of backup plans, and cultural issues are only a few of the long list of reasons that may lead to such high rate of failure. Evidently, some of these factors have …

Shareholder Collaboration, Jill E. Fisch, Simone M. Sepe

All Faculty Scholarship

Two models of the firm dominate corporate law. Under the management-power model, decision-making power rests primarily with corporate insiders (officers and directors). The competing shareholder-power model defends increased shareholder power to limit managerial authority. Both models view insiders and shareholders as engaged in a competitive struggle for corporate power in which corporate law functions to promote operational efficiency while limiting managerial agency costs. As scholars and judges continue to debate the appropriate balance of power between shareholders and insiders, corporate practice has moved on. Increasingly, the insider–shareholder dynamic is collaborative, not competitive.

This Article traces the development of insider–shareholder collaboration, …

Strategic Success: The Ansoff Matrix Vs. The Balanced Scorecard, Christian Cleberg

Honors Theses

Academic and professional research has proven that strategic planning and management frameworks have tremendous impact on an organization’s success. However, these studies do not opine on the usability and fit of strategic frameworks within an organization. This paper examines the composition of two popular frameworks, the Ansoff matrix and the balanced scorecard, and illustrates the various ways that these frameworks have found success in the corporate world. It also compares and contrasts the frameworks’ differing structures and offers recommendations for how these frameworks may be applied to companies with diverse goals and missions.

Change Management Can Be Simple And Complex, Lalit Jagtiani

Asian Management Insights

The success of any intervention is achieved by winning over the support of staff and aligning team members who are driven by different professional agendas.

The Impact Of Campus Facilities On The Recruitment Of Students In Higher Education, Lucinnda Sue Mcdonald

Dissertations

The statement often has been made over the years that university recruitment efforts are strongly impacted by campus facilities. The subject has been a topic of research over the past several decades. This study indicates that as generations change and times change, the significance of various aspects of the university to the prospective student change as well.

This research effort is a mixed-methods study to provide insight on the facilities current students deem most important when determining which college or university they will attend. The research for this study was conducted through an online survey asking students to:

• Choose …

Barriers Women Face At Work: A Cursory Review Of The Literature, Jessica Curran

Honors Program Theses and Projects

“Whether there are female leadership styles…is not really the right question. It is more important to ask why there has been so little attention paid to women leaders over the years as well as why the styles of leading more often exhibited by women are particularly useful at this critical moment in history” ~Charlotte Bunch

In the United States, women have been making steady gains in the workforce for more than 40 years (Ho, 2018).Despite this fact, women continue to face discrimination when it comes to leadership roles in the upper ranks of organizations (Ho, 2018). Noting these challenges, this …

The Opportunity Zones Program Provides High Returns On Investments, Kane Moran

Honors Program Theses and Projects

The Opportunity Zones Program is a new tax incentive established in the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017. The program aims to direct investors towards low-income communities in the United States by providing more attractive investment prospects. The end goal of the program is to disrupt the unhealthy trend of geographic inequality caused by a disproportionate number of investments being funneled to a select few areas of the U.S. On a large scale, the benefits include a more balanced economy across the entire nation, while also providing tax benefits for investors, which can contribute to a higher return on …

The Lebron Effect: Is A Superstar Worth The Money?, Colin Josselyn

Honors Program Theses and Projects

Every industry has superstars. Whether it’s the entertainment industry, the music industry, or the sports industry, superstars are everywhere. Sports are perhaps where we most commonly see and pay superstar athletes the most. Some athletes drive fans to come and flood the area near the arena. These “superstar” athletes cause a buzz and can bring in more and more fans to spend money both inside and outside the arena. In this paper using a combination of qualitative and quantitative methodologies we research NBA superstar LeBron James and his possible impact on the franchises he plays for in the cities he …

Collaboration And Identity Formation In Strategic Interorganizational Partnerships: An Exploration Of Swift Identity Processes, Paula Ungureanu, Fabiola Bertolotti, Elisa Mattarelli, Francesca Bellesia

Faculty Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activity

We investigate how collective identity formation processes interplay with collaboration practices in an inter-organizational partnership promoting regional innovation. We found that initial collaboration challenges are dealt with by setting up an early “swift identity” which is associated with material artifacts to increase its strength and stability (“swift identity reification”). However, as the partnership evolves, the reified identity becomes misaligned with partners’ underdeveloped collaboration practices. To ensure realignment, new attempts at reification are performed, as partners buy time for learning how to collaborate. Our findings contribute to extant identity research by proposing alternative (i.e. “swift” and “reified”) mechanisms of identity formation …

Non-Monetary Motivation In The Nonprofit Sector, Brianna Gulchuk

Senior Honors Theses

The nonprofit industry is currently in a state of flux. With the shifting dynamics of generations entering and leaving the workforce and the high turnover rates of volunteers, there is an increasing need for organizations to adjust current practices to hold on to skilled workers. This cannot be accomplished unless organizations make an effort toward sustainable motivational practices that train and retain their workers. This paper examines motivation strategies and how they can presently be seen in the nonprofit sector. There are also several practical applications of these motivational theories, referred to as motivational strategies, which will be presented. Special …