Business Commons^™

Don't Waste Your Time, Doug Leigh, Ryan Watkins

Doug Leigh

Commentary.

The Relationships Among Generativity, Values, Individual Differences, And Commitment To An Ideal Vision, Doug Leigh

Doug Leigh

Kaufman (2006a, 2011) defines Ideal Visions as measurable statements of the kind of world an organization, as well as its associates and external stakeholders, commits to help create for the future. This study investigated the relationships among several research-supported variables regarding personality aspects and individual characteristics with indicators of individuals’ motivation to achieve goals aimed at adding value to external clients and society. Indicators of generative beliefs, values, individual differences, and commitment to an Ideal Vision were examined in this study. Generativity (the concern in establishing and guiding the next generation), membership and activity in a formal civic organization, and …

A Scientific Dialogue: A Performance Accomplishment Code Of Professional Conduct, Doug Leigh, Ryan Watkins, Roger Kaufman

Doug Leigh

No abstract provided.

Alternate Models Of Needs Assessment: Selecting The Right One For Your Organization, Doug Leigh, Ryan Watkins, Roger Kaufman, William Platt

Doug Leigh

Needs assessment seems intuitively attractive to planners. Virtually all authors recommend that needs assessment be the first step in any organizational or human resource development intervention. Planners sensibly recognize the importance of building a foundation grounded in data-based needs, and see data produced by needs assessment as justifying organizational planning and accountability. They also see the usefulness of needs assessments for obtaining and allocating resources for projects. In their best use, needs assessments ensure that resources (Inputs) and methods (Processes) deliver useful results, that their value-added can be demonstrated. Unfortunately, the wide and varied usage of the term need often …

Performance Improvement: More Than Just Bettering The Here-And-Now, Doug Leigh, Ryan Watkins

Doug Leigh

No abstract provided.

Key Factors Of Sustainable Firm Performance: A Strategic Approach, Mustafa Emre Civelek, Murat Çemberci, Okşan Kibritci Artar, Nagehan Uca

Zea E-Books Collection

The development of information technologies and their increased significance for business environments have forced businesses to rethink traditional methods of generating value and surviving the hyper-competitive conditions of our time. The uncertainty, dynamism, volatility, and impermanence of modern commercial environments have shifted the foundations of business success and survival.

Key factors that now affect firm performance and determine sustainability include knowledge creation, knowledge management, uncertainty management, organizational intelligence, and supply chain administration. The authors propose an analytical approach to identifying and enhancing these critical factors, and they describe ways for firms to exploit their strengths and minimize or compensate for …

Defining Your Own Sustainable Future, Jacob Johnsen

Jacob Johnsen, MSc

How do you create – and maintain – an attractive service portfolio, and how to compete in a shifting environment? In our changing world, survival is not a question of size, speed or coverage. You must be adaptive. Posts can find out where to adapt, by examining the changes in customer behaviour, changing demands and technological achievements. Volumes are shifting from letters to packets, and so far, courier companies have taken market share from posts. Jacob Johnsen looks at the current changes and gives some guidelines on how to set up pointers for an ever-changing direction.

Salesforce Compensation Plans Incorporating Multidimensional Sales Effort And Salesperson Efficiency, Sunil Erevelles, Indranil Dutta, Carolyn Galantine

Carolyn A Galantine CPA., PhD

Sales force compensation models are often constrained by the assumption that salesperson effort is unidimensional. Some models have extended this scenario to multiple products but retain the "single-effort" assumption. In addition, salesperson efficiency has been ignored. As selling is clearly multidimensional, we present a formulation of an agency model (MIPAM) that incorporates multidimensional sales effort as well as salesperson efficiency. Using the model, we also show that under certain assumptions, we can build the second-order condition of the agent's maximization into the principal-agent problem, instead of assuming it, as has been done in the past.

Leadership And Crisis Management In Modern Organizations, Chris D. Bellamy

Dr. Chris D. Bellamy

Leadership in modern organizations is complex. This research identifies how leaders in modern organizations can effectively deliver results through crisis management, while maintaining organizational culture. The author addresses leadership through organizational culture, the actions leaders must take, corporate policies and practices. In addition, this research directly contributes to leading organizations through crisis management and maintaining organizational culture today.

Launching And Maintaining A Wedding Photography Business, Shelley D. Owens

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

With the popularity of the wedding industry in America perpetuated by social media, blogs, and other networking sites, thousands of self-employed photographers have set out to make a living documenting the most important day of some people’s lives. Digital photography appeals to many for its convenience, but having a camera does not make one a professional photographer. What separates the hobbyists from the professionals is the development of skills and creative vision and the proper legal and business licensing to make a profit off of their wedding photography. Shelley Owens provides her own experiences as a professional wedding photographer as …

7 Tips To Grow Your Rural Business With Purpose And Meaning, Connie I. Reimers-Hild, Alyssa Dye

Community Vitality Initiative Collections

No one can predict the future; however, rural entrepreneurs and business owners can use a future-focused leadership approach, which includes examining megatrends, to shape the future of their businesses. Megatrends are global shifts that influence society, the economy and the environment. The purpose of this article is to help rural entrepreneurs discover ways to grow their businesses with Living with Purpose and Meaning Megatrend.

Mochtar Riady [Indonesia, Banker], Mochtar Riady

Digital Narratives of Asia

Founder and Chairman of Lippo Group, Mochtar Riady gained the moniker "Magic Man of Banking" because of his ability to turn around and grow several of Indonesia's private banks, the most notable being Bank Central Asia (BCA). But his 15 years in BCA wasn't all smooth sailing. He speaks to DNA about his challenges in BCA, which saw him dealing with sensitive relationships with the Suharto government, as well as the firing of his own son for Forex speculation.

How To Grow Your Rural Business With Purpose And Meaning, Connie I. Reimers-Hild, Alyssa Dye

Community Vitality Initiative Collections

No one can predict the future; however, rural entrepreneurs and business owners can use a future-focused leadership approach, which includes examining megatrends, to shape the future of their businesses. Megatrends are global shifts that influence society, the economy and the environment. The purpose of this article is to help rural entrepreneurs discover ways to grow their businesses with Living with Purpose and Meaning Megatrend.

Labor Force Commute Mode Preferences And The Natural Environment, Brandon Killen

Accounting Undergraduate Honors Theses

In commuting to work, commuters select from a limited variety of transportation modes, including alternative modes like cycling and walking, based on needs and preferences. Understanding these needs and preferences, and how the conditions of the immediate environment can influence them can benefit both businesses and local governments in their efforts to accommodate the commute needs of their workers and better serve their communities. Though the body of commute preference research has grown significantly over recent decades, the study of the effects of the natural environment has remained mostly overlooked. In my research, I examined the relationships between selected weather …

Become A Future-Focused Leader: Use Three Megatrends To Grow Your Rural Business, Connie Reimers-Hild, Alyssa Dye

Community Vitality Initiative Collections

No one can predict the future; however, rural entrepreneurs and business owners can use a future-focused leadership approach, which includes examining megatrends, to shape the future of their businesses. Megatrends are global shifts that influence society, the economy and the environment. This article discusses three megatrends shaping the future of rural businesses:

1) The Rise of the #GigEconomy

2) Living with Purpose and Meaning

3) The Decentralized Marketplace

The article also provides coaching tips for rural entrepreneurs on how to use megatrends to grow their businesses.

While many companies are struggling to keep up with the rapid rate of change, …

The Balanced Scorecard: The Key To Effective Strategic Management, Josiah D. Grimm

Senior Honors Theses

The intent of this paper is to define the importance of the balanced scorecard in the strategic management process. The need for the balanced scorecard will be established by explaining the roles of demand shifters, traditional management accounting, Senge’s concept of a learning organization, and the strategic management process. This will involve detailing the stages of the strategic management process and connecting them to the various aspects of creating a balanced scorecard. Ultimately, the goal of the balanced scorecard is to translate the overarching strategy into specific actions that can be implemented throughout the organization. Lastly, other strategic applications of …

Barriers To International Business, Chris D. Bellamy

Dr. Chris D. Bellamy

There are many barriers that companies face when attempting to expand operations on a global scale. This paper identifies four barriers businesses must overcome, and the strategies they can deploy to overcome these barriers. The author justifies support for these strategies with current research for each barrier. The paper also identifies and applies current research which document the strategic impact for the four barriers.

Connecting With Others Brings Business Success: Are You Engaged? A Guide To Effective Networking For Small Business Owners., Glenn Muske, Connie Hancock, Connie Reimers-Hild, Alyssa Dye

Community Vitality Initiative Collections

Finding answers to your questions often starts with knowing who to call. And knowing who to call is made easier by building and maintaining an effective network.

Glenn Muske, small business specialist for North Dakota State University Extension, outlines effective ways to build your network online and in-person. Check out the Glenn’s small business guide to networking, "Effective Networking: A Key Business Success Factor," and add it to small business game plan for success!

Effective Networking: A Key Success Factor For Small Business Owners, Glenn Muske, Connie Hancock, Connie Reimers-Hild, Alyssa Dye

Community Vitality Initiative Collections

Finding answers to your questions often starts with knowing who to call. And knowing who to call is made easier by building and maintaining an effective network.

Glenn Muske, small business specialist for North Dakota State University Extension, outlines effective ways to build your network online and in-person. Check out the Glenn’s small business guide to networking, "Effective Networking: A Key Business Success Factor," and add it to small business game plan for success!

The Soul Of Our Work (Speech), C. William Pollard

C. William Pollard Papers

In this edited version of a speech delivered at the Faith at Work Summit, Pollard speaks of how Christians can be "ambassadors for Christ" in their work by adopting people-focused leadership strategies.

When Does Six Sigma Reduce Defects And Increase Efficiencies?, Richard Jay Sands

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

A field research-based statistical study was used to investigate successes and failures of Six Sigma methodologies based projects. Six Sigma methodologies require that projects be designed, planned, and implemented using techniques specifically designed to achieve desired benefits that are based on the method's key drivers for project success. This study addressed an identified gap in the literature that Six Sigma projects do not fail because of Six Sigma methodologies, but that the projects can fail because of deficient support processes. Six Sigma projects that do not achieve the desired benefits are often labeled as "fads". Research questions related to management …

Transformational Leadership Principles Within Small Businesses, Tiffany Suzanne Mckinnon-Russell

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Small businesses in the United States experience a high rate of failure. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to identify and explore consistent strategies small business owners in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania used to lead successful companies. Transformational leadership theory formed the conceptual framework for this study. A mixed purposive sample of 20 small business owners participated in semistructured face- to-face and telephone interviews. Each of the participants possessed a minimum of 3 years of successful business operation and employed fewer than 500 individuals. Using Moustakas' modified van Kaam analyses, 6 main themes emerged: characteristics and experiences, leadership behaviors, managing operations, …

Success Factors For Women Of Color Information Technology Leaders In Corporate America, Annette Skervin

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The 2013 United States Census data documents the significant underrepresentation of women of color in the information technology (IT) field. Women of color (Black, Hispanic, Asian or self-classified as non-White) represent an untapped resource in an industry with a low unemployment rate, high starting salaries, and a projected 18% growth rate by the year 2022. Prior researchers have studied White women in IT and have not provided a voice to women of color leaders. The specific problem addressed was the under-representation of women of color IT leaders in corporate America. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to investigate the …

Social Disorder And Level Of Engagement Of Small Business Owners In The Virgin Islands, Saul Santiago

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The U.S. Virgin Islands is experiencing an economic recession, manifested through social disorders such as abandoned and vandalized houses. Research points to social disorders and lack of community engagement as key factors inhibiting community development efforts. In order to strengthen these struggling communities, research has highlighted the need for public-private partnerships. Guided by Ajzen's theory of planned behavior, which posits that attitudes can predict behaviors, this study examined the relationship between social disorder and engagement of small business owners in community development. Small business owners in the U.S. Virgin Islands received an Internet or paper survey; a total of 79 …

Propuesta De Retención Estudiantil Con El Fin De Disminuir La Deserción Académica En El Programa De Administración De Empresas En La Universidad De La Salle Bogotá, Nicolás David Tunjo Arboleda

Administración de Empresas

La deserción estudiantil en la Universidad de la Salle es un tema de importancia debido al incremento de estudiantes que por múltiples causas no han terminado sus estudios de pregrado en el programa de administración de empresas en los últimos años. En este contexto la deserción implica consecuencias socioeconómicas para el país, ya que es un problema generalizado que atraviesa todo el sistema de educación nacional a nivel de pregrado donde uno de los factores significativos es el económico. Existen estudios que demuestran las altas tasas de deserción nacional, afirmando que de cada dos estudiantes que ingresan a cursar su …

The Ceo Branding Mix, Marc Fetscherin

Faculty Publications

What do Donald Trump, Mark Zuckerberg, Oprah Winfrey, Richard Branson and Jeff Bezos have in common? They are not only CEOs and living icons of the brands they created but also brands themselves. There are many reasons why CEOs today get more attention than in the past. When the media are looking for a business story they often turn to CEOs or founders. Some companies are larger than countries in terms of number of citizens or employees or in revenue. For example, Walmart has about 2.2 million employees, comparable to the population of Qatar, Namibia, or Slovenia, and its revenues …