Business Commons^™

The Doctoral Learning Journey And Outcomes For Business Leaders And Corporate Managers, Barry Elsey

Journal of Executive Education

International education is big business in Australia and the University of South Australia (UniSA) is a leading player, particularly in the Asia Pacific region (Ciccarelli, 2007). Forced by government to generate income beyond public subsidy Australian universities have had little choice but to enter the competitive private sector marketplace offshore to attract international students. In the case of UniSA special attention has been paid to marketing offshore ‘executive’ doctoral programs for those in leadership roles in business and corporate affairs. These business and corporate leaders drawn to these doctoral programs is the subject of this paper.

Harnessing The Power Of Passion In Optimizing Business Performance, Randy Ross

Journal of Executive Education

No abstract is currently available.

Strategic Responses Arising From Divergent Foreign Policy And Trade Perspectives, Patricia L. Nemetz-Mills

Journal of Executive Education

This article examines the underlying theoretical rationale for different perspectives of foreign policy: Marxism, Wilsonian Idealism, neoconservative idealism, national interest, nationalism, isolationism, and theocracy. Various forms of trade policy are also examined as a function of foreign policy. A technique is suggested for analyzing actionable strategic responses based on foreign policy risks and resource availability. Several strategic responses are presented.

Enhancing Global Sales Skills In Executive Education Programs, Scott Widmier, Joseph F. Hair

Journal of Executive Education

The purpose of this article is to examine the need for executive education training in culture, suggest a method for clarifying situations where cultural training is needed, and provide guidelines on the content of executive education training programs for companies pursuing global opportunities.

Executive Education: Mired In A Leadership Theory Jungle, William R. Mcnay

Journal of Executive Education

The purpose of this paper is to briefly scan the intent and content of executive education in the twentieth century, identify the major changes that took place in the business world in the 1970s, and describe their impact on the work of executives in the highly competitive, turbulent environment of the new century. The thesis of this paper is that executive education is being impacted by a “leadership theory jungle”, resulting in confusion as to the right content and context of leadership and how to teach it.

A Report Card On Innovation: How Companies And Business Schools Are Dealing With It, Harry Vardis, Gary L. Selden

Journal of Executive Education

This study focused on the state of innovation in today’s businesses. We found that Innovation-driven companies observe certain practices. These were CEO involvement, supportive cultures of innovation, rewards for innovation, communication, metrics, hiring practices that support innovation, budget allocations for innovation, and an innovative vision. In addition, it supported the notion that innovation-driven companies practiced systemic innovation as opposed to innovation-shy companies. Open communication appears to contribute to systemic innovation by reducing fear of risk taking.

It is critical to point out that, fear, the major obstacle in the pursuit of innovation, can be eliminated with the right communication among …

An Exploratory Analysis Of The Impact Of Price On The Search And Selection Process For Executive Mba Programs, Francis Petit

Journal of Executive Education

The purpose of this research is to determine the role of price (tuition costs) and its impact for prospective students during the Executive MBA search and selection process. To determine this information, a survey was recently distributed and completed by current Executive MBA students enrolled in programs in the Northeast United States in which the students were asked to rate various attributes, in terms of importance, while they were searching and selecting a program. The main findings of this study indicate that price took on an increasingly important role during the program selection process, as opposed to the search process, …

Leading In A Gen Y World - A Corporate Essay, Deborah S. Levine

Journal of Executive Education

The purpose of this paper is to describe the leadership challenges in a Gen Y world and propose changes needed to capitalize on the new realities of this important element of the workforce. The summary information and propositions described in this paper are based on over 140 interviews collected as part of a research project led by Deborah S. Levine at AGL Resources, a Fortune 1000 energy-based company located in Atlanta, Georgia. The interview data includes Gen Y individuals currently employed by AGL Resources, as well as students in Louisiana, Georgia and Ohio at post-secondary schools.

The Forgotten Topic: Teaching Plant Closing To Executives And Graduate Students, Kelly C. Woodford, Treena Gillespie Finney, Alan F. Chow, Nancy J. Lambe

Journal of Executive Education

Executive education programs and graduate-level business programs generally devote substantial time and resources to training professionals to open businesses, generate business growth, and manage on-going operations. Few programs, however, devote any time to a topic that many executives will one day be forced to confront: plant closings. Because relatively few managers have actually gone through the plant closing process, there are rarely “experts” available to guide a company through the practical day-to-day aspects of shutting down a facility. This paper addresses the key topics needed for an advanced level program dealing with the operational aspects of closing a facility. Such …

Executive Education For New Leadership Roles: A Clinical Approach, William R. Mcnay

Journal of Executive Education

Major changes in the business environment in the 1980s brought new emphasis on the work of executives; executives are now expected to take an active leadership role in all major organizational programs. However, executives are not fulfilling their anticipated leadership roles in many situations. This paper looks at the reasons why the problem exists and offers a unique approach to provide them with the needed learning.

Cultural Strategies In M&As: Investigating Ten Case Studies, Steven H. Appelbaum, Jessie Roberts, Barabara T. Shapiro

Journal of Executive Education

This article discusses and contrasts the cultural fit, cultural potential, communication, direction, and leadership in the success and failures of mergers and acquisitions. The focus of the article is to determine independent variables that influence the success or failure of a merger or acquisition using existing empirical literature, while comparing and contrasting the information found in ten selected case studies of successful and failed M&As. According to one study cited, eighty-three percent of mergers and acquisitions fail to create their intended value. The ten case studies reveal that communication is a necessity, drastically improving the success of a merger, and …

Educating Executives For Managing Public And Non-Profit Organizations, Patrick J. Montana, Francis Petit

Journal of Executive Education

The purpose of this research is to determine the extent to which AACSB (The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business) Accredited Business Schools focus on preparing current and future leaders within the public and nonprofit sectors. To determine this information, a survey questionnaire recently was distributed to AACSB Accredited institutions in which they were asked a series of questions regarding programs and course offerings within the public and nonprofit areas. The main findings of this study indicated that ninety two (92%) of institutions offering coursework in the management of nonprofit organizations have seen a consistent, continuing and even an …

Teaching Strategy Through Projects: A Bridge From Academia To Strategy Practice, Ravi Chinta

Journal of Executive Education

In line with Schmidt-Wilk’s (2007) call for promoting the scholarship of teaching and learning, this paper outlines the design, implementation and evaluation of an innovative teaching approach emphasizing the practice of strategy through strategy projects. Learning-by-doing is accomplished in this course by employing directed learning by and across teams. Learning outcomes for this applied course are presented from the perspectives of the students, instructor, and an outside observer who is expert in the subject matter. Problems faced during the implementation of this teaching method are also discussed. We find that work in strategy projects provides the students a richer learning …

Influencing The Effectiveness Of Executive Coaching, Donald G. Lang

Journal of Executive Education

No abstract is currently available.

Creating The Marketing Executive Of The Future Using Key Deming Principles, Francis Petit

Journal of Executive Education

The academic literature is robust in terms of how organizations can improve its innovation, sales and new product development processes as well as its marketing management program. Yet very little has been written on the methods in which organizations can cultivate and develop future marketing leaders. With this as a background, the purpose of this research is twofold. It will first link the overlap that exists between the Deming Philosophy of Management with specific marketing management frameworks within the literature. It will then analyze principles within Deming’s 14 Points and how essential they are in creating future marketing executives. The …

Executive Mba’S Accounting Skill Acquisition: An Accounting Boot-Camp Approach, Ernest A. Capozzoli

Journal of Executive Education

Executive MBA programs have grown in popularity in the United States as well as in many other countries. These programs accept students from a broad range of professional backgrounds: corporate executives, entrepreneurs, physicians, nurses, accountants and engineers to name a few. These individuals also come from many sectors and organizations: the public sector, the private sector, for profit organizations, non-profit organizations, and more. Given the diversity of backgrounds and work experience of these individuals, it is a difficult task ensuring minimum business skill levels necessary to be successful in an EMBA program. This paper will examine the results of using …

Executive Mba Capstone Projects At Rit Saunders College Of Business: An Enriching Experience For All, Robert Boehner, Brian O’Neil

Journal of Executive Education

Education of managers in academic programs such as Executive MBA programs presents a unique challenge to college administrators and faculty. Executive students are more demanding and critical and value experiential education more than students in undergraduate or MBA programs. Also compared to regular MBA students, executive students want to understand management in a more holistic way. They want to see the linkages between subject matter taught by different academic disciplines and understand how experienced managers can sort through the details, see the big picture, and make effective decisions. Over the years Executive MBA programs have used a variety of innovative …

Beyond Problems And Cases: Discussion Materials For Accounting In Executive Programs Business School, Sharon M. Bruns, William J. Bruns

Journal of Executive Education

Selection or development of classroom materials for an accounting class in an executive program is complicated by the fact that some students enter the program with a substantial knowledge of accounting while others may have no background at all. Furthermore, general management programs do not usually focus on making all students equally knowledgeable about what accountants do and how to use the information that accounting provides. Problems and cases are sometimes not successful as discussion materials in the mixed audience class because some students are not challenged while others are overwhelmed because of their lack of exposure to the methods …

The Effects Of Computer Mediated Communication On Computer-Based Training, Mark A. Revels

Journal of Executive Education

Student performance using computer-based training (CBT) may be related to the degree of interaction that occurs between students and the instructor, or between students and each other. This is significant in that the individualized nature of CBT (and perhaps Web-based training) is contrary to the social interaction needs of students. Using relevant pedagogical and social communication theories as a basis, this study employed empirical research methods on undergraduate participants to achieve the following objectives: to explore the use of computer mediated communication (CMC) as a surrogate for face-to-face interaction with CBT students, and to provide research-based recommendations for human resource …

Crisis Leadership For The New Reality Ahead, Barbara S. Gainey

Journal of Executive Education

It is too easy, according to business consultant Laurence Barton, Ph.D., for businesses to operate on cruise control, sure of the familiarity of the road and without the protection of a current crisis response plan that could offer some protection for the bumps and hazards to come. Numerous researchers, however, are sounding the alarm. Without the sense of urgency of a 9/11-scale crisis, the number of organizations without current crisis plans in place is slowly decreasing, according to a 2005 American Management Association study. Yet the warning signs of uncharted territory ahead are everywhere. Organizations must prepare for new crises …

The New Reality: Holding On And Letting Go, Matthew Valle, Kevin J. O’Mara

Journal of Executive Education

make the case for a strategic imperative (innovation) which demands that organizations simultaneously exploit current capabilities (“hold on”) and explore future possibilities (“let go”). We present a model for executive development that emphasizes the unique roles and contributions of traditional business education and executive education providers in developing the knowledge and skills necessary to pursue this ambidextrous adaptive strategy. Our model describes the unique perspective and limitations of both education providers and details how each contributes to building leadership capacities for exploitation and the necessary personal and organizational capabilities for exploration. The increasingly dynamic and competitive global environment (Barreto, 2010) …

Executive Education For A New Reality: The Stakeholder Theory Comes Of Age, William R. Mcnay

Journal of Executive Education

The common practice in business organizations during the past century has been for executives to make decisions based primarily on what was in the best interests of owners and shareholders. This practice is being challenged. The new reality is that executive decisions must be based on the interests of both shareholders and employee-stakeholders if the firm is to be successful in the new century.

Genetic Algorithm Based Model In Text Steganography, Christine K. Mulunda, Peter W. Wagacha, Alfayo O. Adede

The African Journal of Information Systems

Steganography is an ancient art. It is used for security in open systems. It focuses on hiding secret messages inside a cover medium. The most important property of a cover medium is the amount of data that can be stored inside it without changing its noticeable properties. There are many sophisticated techniques with which to hide, analyze, and recover that hidden information. This paper discusses an exploration in the use of Genetic Algorithm operators on the cover medium. We worked with text as the cover medium with the aim of increasing robustness and capacity of hidden data. Elitism is used …

Read Poster - Eli Arnold, Information Librarian, Amy Thompson

Library Marketing Materials

READ Poster, featuring Eli Arnold, Information Librarian for the Horace W. Sturgis Library.

Book: Hero, by Perry Moore. New York: Hyperion, 2007.

A Summary Of Ten Years Of Pcaob Research: What Have We Learned, John Abernathy, Michael Barnes, Chad Stefaniak

Faculty Articles

For the past 10 years, the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB) has operated as an independent overseer of public company audits. Over 70 percent of PCAOB studies have been published since 2010, evidencing the increasing relevance of PCAOB-related research in recent years. Our paper reviews the existing literature on the PCAOB's four primary functions – registration, standard-setting, inspections, and enforcement. In particular, we examine PCAOB registration trends and evaluate the effects of PCAOB registration requirements on the issuer audit market, as well as discuss the relative costs and benefits (e.g., auditor behavior changes, improvements in audit quality, auditor perceptions) …

Read Poster - Rita Spisak, Super Sturgis Librarian, Amy Thompson

Library Marketing Materials

READ Poster, featuring Rita Spisak, Access Services Librarian.

Book: This Book is Overdue!: How Librarians and Cybrarians Can Save Us All, by Marilyn Johnson. New York: Harper, 2010.

Africa’S Contributions To Information Systems, Richard T. Watson

The African Journal of Information Systems

Africans created the world’s first major information systems, gesturing and language. Now days, Africa is once again showing leadership in the area of frugal IS.

Understanding The Determinants Of Corporate Social Disclosure Strategies: An Examination Of Firms' Use Of Gri Guidelines, James Michael Simmons Jr.

Dissertations, Theses and Capstone Projects

With the evolution of CSR reporting practices and the introduction and widespread adoption of the GRI Guidelines, this research sought to understand the factors that determine a company’s CSR disclosure strategy. It examined the relationship between a four-dimensional model of reporting determinants and a firm’s CSR disclosure strategy. The proposed model drew from legitimacy, institutional and stakeholder theories and included the following constructs: non-financial corporate characteristics, the firm’s financial performance, the involvement of the firm’s stakeholders and environmental turbulence. The firm’s CSR disclosure strategy was represented by the GRI application level chosen by the firm and the presence or absence …

Cross-Generational Perspectives On Work-Life Balance And Its Impact, D. Roebuck, D. N. Smith, T. El Haddaoui

Faculty Articles

This qualitative study focuses on how women of three different generations, Generation Y, Generation X and Baby Boomers, view the concept of work-life balance and what relationship these views have to their attainment of workplace leadership positions. Work-life balance was defined differently across the three generations, but the generational lines faded as most women reported struggling with finding a balance. Some women conveyed choosing not to pursue high-level leadership positions as the personal cost was too high. Those who had obtained high-level leadership positions shared what types of support were most effective in helping them juggle personal and professional obligations. …

Sign- Owlspace, Amy Thompson

Library Marketing Materials

Sign for OwlSpace, student study area in the Horace. W. Sturgis Library.