Business Commons^™

The Impact Of Market Focus On Operations Practices, Tritos Laosirihongthong, Keah Choon Tan, Vijay R. Kannan

Management Faculty Publications

A key element of successful organisations is the alignment of their strategy and tactics. This study explores the relationship between a firm’s competitive strategy and its operations practices in the context of a developing economy. Two competitive strategies are examined; a niche market strategy characterised by targeting specific market segments, and a broad market strategy characterised by serving a wide range of market segments. Three sets of operations practices consistent with the adoption of lean manufacturing, Total Quality Management, and relationship development in a supply chain context, are explored. Using survey data from senior managers in Thailand, results show that …

Economic Feasibility Of Solar Photovoltaic Irrigation System Use In Great Basin Forage Production, Kynda R. Curtis

All Current Publications

This publication evaluates the potential economic feasibility of using solar PV systems for irrigated forage production in the Great Basin.

How Advertisers Mess With Our Minds And Wallets, Ann House

All Current Publications

This publication provides insight on how marketers gain consumers' interest and trust and what rights consumers are entitled to.

The Temple Recommend: A Solution To The Free-Rider Problem, Austin Bowles

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

Temple worship and geographical boundaries are unique features of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). Our research uses economic theory to understand how the organizational benefits of the temple recommend system and the geographical ward boundaries may solve the market failures associated with religious organizations. These features of the LDS Church will be used to create a framework for understanding how the church limits free-riding and sub-optimal participation, which would result in increased efficiency and production of large religious benefits. Because the market failures faced by the church are the same as those faced by other …

Huntsman Alumni Magazine, Spring 2010, Usu Jon M. Huntsman School Of Business

Huntsman Business Magazine

Alumni magazine for the Jon M. Huntsman School of Business at Utah State University.

The Relationship Between History, Culture, And Chinese Business Practices: Using Sociological Awareness To Avoid Common Faux Pas, Vikki A. Ballard

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

As the world continues to become more global, and as economies continue to develop, more emphasis is being placed on understanding the business environment of cultures around the world. There is perhaps no other nation or culture globally that has been discussed as much as China. This is because the United States is one of the largest foreign investors in China (Li, 2008). The importance of the Chinese market to the U.S. lies in its wealth of people and resources and the millions of new consumers joining the market every day. As a nation of 1.3 billion citizens, with a …

Family-Owned Businesses: Determinants Of Business Success And Profitability, Jeffrey S. Wallace

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The purpose of this study was to examine many factors associated with family-owned businesses that lead to business success and profitability. The panel data used in this study came from the 1997 and 2000 waves of the National Family Business Study (NFBS). Many independent variables from the 1997 wave (e.g., age, gender, managerial activities, business size, home-based, business problems) were tested to predict business success and profitability (dependent variables), which were variables from the 2000 wave.

Some of the descriptive analyses indicated that, compared to female managers, male managers perceived less business success, participated more in managerial activities, managed older …

The Impact Of Virtual Private Network (Vpn) On A Company's Network, J. Myles Powell

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

Virtual private networks (VPN) are used by remote clients to securely connect to company networks. This research discusses the performance of two different VPN configurations to determine their impact on a company's data communication network. The network configurations for this model are typical real-world networks complete with geographically diverse business office locations, a company headquarter, and a separate data warehouse location.

The effects of the two VPN configurations are then tested using the academic version of OPNET IT Guru network simulation software. Analysis of the data collected from the simulations show the different network performance that results from the use …

An Examination Of Integrated Rural Tourism Development In The Goris Region Of Armenia, Luke Alan Petersen

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Rural tourism is a popular development tool in both developed and developing countries. However, rural economic development can be problematic when considering the diversity of resources and stakeholder groups. In the Republic of Armenia the current system of tourism development is not benefiting rural communities in the regions. This study seeks to provide a deeper understanding of community dynamics in the rural region of Goris through the study of tourism integration. A novel assessment tool is implemented which provides a systematic qualitative evaluation of stakeholder perceptions through which strengths and weaknesses of the local tourism sector are derived. Data extracted …

Service Undone: A Grounded Theory Of Strategically Constructed Silos And Their Impact On Customer-Company Interactions From The Perspective Of Retail Employees, Kelley A. O'Reilly

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

This work elaborates the impacts of strategically constructed silos that are not byproducts of flagging cross-departmental cooperation or the cumulative effect of decades of decentralized command and control. Rather, these silos are strategically intended structures within organizations. Most significantly, the substantive theory of strategically constructed silos and their impact on customer service contributes to the field by illustrating the presence and consequence of silos occurring in suboptimal conditions. The existence of silos has implications that extend far beyond the retail area.

A key take-away from this research is that contrary to how most customer service processes are designed, not all …

Financial Management Practices And Conflict Management Styles Of Couples In Great Marriages, Amanda Marie Horrocks

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

This study presents findings on the financial management practices and degrees of conflict of couples in great marriages. Qualitative data from a national sample of couples in great marriages were collected using a 31-page questionnaire. Of the 81 couples who responded, 40 fit the criteria for this study in that they discussed their level of agreement about financial issues in marriage. Their responses were coded to discover which financial topics are pervasive and whether or not couples agreed over these topics. Responses about conflict were also analyzed to determine the degree of agreement between spouses in different categories. Findings from …

Innovative Reflection Tools For Hrd Training, Development, And Education, Susan R. Madsen, Katherine A. Tunheim

Marketing and Strategy Faculty Publications

The English word reflection is derived from reflectere, “to bend back” – as a mirror bends back the light, making apparent what is otherwise hidden or mysterious (Johnson, 2006). Reflection bends the light of our experiences back into our minds, to consider what the experience was about and what it meant. Reflection is also a critical element in transformational learning opportunities that should be part of effective training, development, and educational experiences (e.g., courses, workshops, programs). Since developing people is seeded in learning, HRD educators, scholars, and/or practitioners continuously work to understand the most effective methods and techniques to …

Chinese Women Developing Leadership: Case Studies In Higher Education, Susan R. Madsen

Marketing and Strategy Faculty Publications

Organizational leaders in various sectors (public, private, and social) across the globe often acknowledge the importance of preparing both men and women for strong, competent leadership. To assist these organizations, researchers (e.g., Bass, 1990; Bennis, 1989) have been conducting leadership studies for decades in various disciplines (e.g., education, management, psychology) to better understand this complex phenomenon. Kowske and Anthony (2007), Ardichvili and Manderscheid (2008), and Madsen (2009) have also highlighted the importance of studying leadership development within the human resource development (HRD) arena in the U.S. and beyond. Yet, studies in these disciplines on developing women leaders are just emerging …

Supply Chain Integration: Cluster Analysis Of The Impact Of Span Of Integration, Vijay R. Kannan, Keah Choon Tan

Management Faculty Publications

Purpose

This paper aims to explore whether firms that integrate only with partners adjacent to them in the supply chain exhibit different patterns of supply chain practice and performance than those that also integrate with partners more distant in the supply chain.

Design/methodology/approach

Cluster analysis of survey data is used to partition firms based on the span of the supply chain involved in their integration efforts.

Findings

Firms with a broad span of integration have a greater focus on alignment with suppliers and customers, and have more of a supply chain focus than those with a narrow span. They also …

Supply Chain Information And Relational Alignments: Mediators Of Edi On Firm Performance, Keah Choon Tan, Vijay R. Kannan, Chin-Chun Hsu, G. Keong Leong

Management Faculty Publications

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to examine the effects of inter-organization information exchange on supply chain information and relational alignment. Drawing on literature on information systems, supply chain management, and logistics, the paper aims to present a multidimensional framework for considering electronic data interchange (EDI) adoption in supplier management and its effect on information and relational alignment. Design/methodology/approach: Theories drawn from resource-dependent and transaction cost economics, and the resource-based view of the firm were used to establish hypotheses. Structural equation modeling using survey data of manufacturing firms was used to test the hypotheses and research model. Findings: Results …

Huntsman Alumni Magazine, Fall 2009, Usu Jon M. Huntsman School Of Business

Huntsman Business Magazine

Alumni Magazine for the Jon M. Huntsman School of Business at Utah State University.

Information Retrieval Using The Constructivist's Approach To Get The Most Out Of The Internet, Ishani Shukla

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The constructivist's theory and its application to information retrieval from the Internet was reviewed. The main aim of the study was to devise and test an approach with which the most relevant information could be easily and efficiently extracted from the Internet. The impact of a judicious choice of the keywords to retrieve information, according to the particular approach to be implemented as well as the importance of speed reading as an additional technique to improve information retrieval, was compared and critically analyzed. The study was based on information retrieval from www.google.com and www.images.google.com and focused on real-life examples and …

Defining And Meeting The Demand For Agricultural Machinery In China: A Case Study Of John Deere, Garrett W. Davis

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

There has been little research conducted regarding the agricultural machinery market in China. However, current data suggest that this demand is dramatically increasing. This dissertation endeavors to generally define the current demand of the agricultural machinery market in China. There has been research conducted on multiple factors of the agricultural machinery market in China, such as land tenure rights, rural migration, government agricultural policies, and others. Through the use of limited quantitative data, market demand is analyzed and defined. By means of a qualitative case study of a successful multinational corporation, Deere & Co., how the demand is being met …

Ethics In Higher Education, Susan R. Madsen

Marketing and Strategy Faculty Publications

This presentation focuses on the following Robinson and Moulton quote found in the book "Ethical Problems in Higher Education": The myth that institutions of higher education are sheltered from the struggles and conflicts of the “real world” is widely accepted even by people who ought to know better—those of us in academic settings who confront, struggle with, bemoan, or try to ignore the serious ethical issues that arise. People outside academia may tease us about the ivory tower world and our innocence and naiveté. With a twinge of guilt, we in academia accept their teasing because the myth tells us …

The Experiences Of Arab Women Leaders In Learning To Lead, Susan R. Madsen

Marketing and Strategy Faculty Publications

To consider designing and developing leadership programs for women in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), it is important to understand how current leaders have learned to lead throughout their lives. In-depth, qualitative interviews were conducted with Arab women leaders (government and business) to investigate their lifetime experiences in developing leadership.

Innovative Reflection Tools For Developing Leadership For Transformation, Susan R. Madsen, Katherine A. Tunheim

Marketing and Strategy Faculty Publications

Since developing leadership is seeded in learning, there is a continuous effort to understand the most effective methods and techniques to assist individuals in becoming leaders. The purpose of this engaging workshop is to offer a variety of innovative tools that both academics and practitioners can use with adult learners in various settings to help them further develop leadership knowledge, competencies, and skills through enhanced reflection experiences.

We cannot help create leaders who transform without helping them first be transformed by their own learning experiences. Learning that transforms individuals is learning that changes individuals. Since developing leadership is a transforming …

Wise Charitable Giving, Ann House, Janet Andersen

All Current Publications

This publication provides ten tips to smart, charitable giving.

Faculty Ethics Unveiled: Scholarship—Et Tu, Brute?, Susan R. Madsen, James H. Davis

Marketing and Strategy Faculty Publications

Little actual research has been conducted to explore the ethics of the faculty of higher education. A review of the literature has discovered four primary categories of faculty ethics, which include scholarship, teaching, service, and professional (e.g., consulting, treatment of colleagues and peers). This paper will focus on the scholarship category and includes research (e.g., authorship, conflicts of interest, plagiarism/citing-including self-plagiarism, ethical approval, research design, redundant publications, misconduct, accuracy, personal criticism of others) and review of other's work as a reviewer or editor (e.g., unbiased, speed/timeliness, accuracy, responsibility, objectivity, confidentiality, conflicts of interest). The purpose of this paper is to …

The First Steps Toward Developing Leadership Programs For Women In The United Arab Emirates: A Survey Study Exploring The Transformation Of Emirati College Students, Susan R. Madsen

Marketing and Strategy Faculty Publications

Developing effective leaders has become one of the most critical challenges for many organizations today, as strong, competent leadership often separates high-performing, successful organizations from less effective ones. In many countries research is being conducted to assist practitioners in designing successful leadership development programs for both men and women. However, in some countries, such as the United Arab Emirates (UAE), these efforts are only in their infancy, and leadership development for women is a new concept. Needless to say, there is no evidence of existing research on the development of women leaders in that country, and only a few indications …

Feminism, Globalism, And Leadership: How Women Make A "Worldly" World, Scott C. Hammond, Susan R. Madsen, Jory Jensen

Marketing and Strategy Faculty Publications

The influx of women into leadership, management, and idea leader roles is clearly one of the significant aspects of globalization over the last 50 years. While women are still underrepresented in global business and politics, their influence on reconceptualizing leadership models is undeniable. While it would be difficult to precisely determine a “feminist” perspective on leadership, idea leaders such as Follett, Kanter, and Wheatley have influenced the concept and practice of leadership beyond any gender construct. The unique themes within their work are present in the global dialogue that is reframing how we think about leadership. This paper will discuss …

Huntsman Alumni Magazine, Spring 2009, Usu Jon M. Huntsman School Of Business

Huntsman Business Magazine

Alumni magazine for the Jon M. Huntsman School of Business at Utah State University.

The Banco Itau Business Communications Course, Cohen Summers

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

In the ever changing business world, establishing a competitive advantage is essential in order to build and sustain the viability of a company. The global investment industry has developed dramatically over the past 20 years generating new opportunities for investors worldwide. One example is exhibited by the increasing global demand for Brazil securities ds well as others in various emerging markets. With this increasing demand by foreign investors in the Brazilian markets, firms are constantly attempting to identify the best, most efficient, cost-effective products and services. Because a majority of the products are relatively the same across the industry, companies …

Charity Fraud, Ann House

All Current Publications

This publication provides tips on how to protect yourself from scams and fraud.

Credit Scores - More Important Now Than Ever, M. J. Bouck, Ann House, Al Bingham

All Current Publications

This publication puts an emphasis on the importance of credit scores.

The Recruitment And Retention Of Nonprofit Employees, Susan R. Madsen, Melissa Swasey

Marketing and Strategy Faculty Publications

Although I do not have a full scholarly paper completed for this submission, I have written a detailed report on this research study. The report was based upon a community-based research project with students and after the research was complete the report was distributed to the nonprofit community. The nonprofit community has absolute loved and utilized the findings of this study in their practices and future plans, but I have never presented the results at an academic conference or published in a refereed journal.