Business Commons^™

Thinking Of Leading? Think About Winning First!, Knowledge@Smu

Knowledge@SMU

A successful leader is not one who wins the most votes, but rather, someone who lives by a “winning mindset”. A leader who instils this “winning mindset” within his or her organisation can make all the difference between running a profitable business or a floundering one. In a recent talk at Singapore Management University, Pradeed Pant, President of Kraft Foods Asia Pacific, distils his take on the “winning mindset”, following more than three decades of experiences in the FMCG arena.

Bridging Service Gaps: Is The Road To Service Excellence Paved With Disasters?, Knowledge@Smu

Knowledge@SMU

It sometimes seems as if companies are not willing to take feedback seriously – not unless complaints escalate into a public relations disaster, with letters reproduced in the press and comments circulating amongst blogs, tweets and other digital platforms. By then, the organisation's reputation, along with its share price, would be at stake. But does it have to come to that? Why do organisations only seem to care when they are put on an uncomfortable public spot. More importantly, are they simply putting up a front? Great service, according to service expert Robert Johnson, starts with humility.

Drucker’S Centennial: Celebrating His Legacy And Dissecting His Relevance, Knowledge@Smu

Knowledge@SMU

Peter Drucker passed away in 2005. So far, despite the proliferation of management consultancy and education, there has yet been a bigger name than his. This is not surprising, for Drucker is the man who created this field. Today, the term which Drucker coined, the “knowledge worker”, remains more relevant than before. Robert Swaim, Drucker’s disciple and colleague, distils the guru’s key thoughts and ideas, identifies certain gaps into the book, The Strategic Drucker: Growth strategies and marketing insights from the works of Peter Drucker.

Measure For Measure? Navigating Judgment And Taboos In Teaching And Research, Sally Riad, Michael Elmes

Organization Management Journal

No abstract provided.

Our Biggest Issue Yet, William P. Ferris

Organization Management Journal

No abstract provided.

Negative Judgments: Reflections On Teaching Reflective Practice, Steven S. Taylor

Organization Management Journal

Teaching reflective practice places difficult demands on the teacher as it seems to inevitably highlight the teacher’s own ability, or lack thereof, to be a reflective practitioner. In this article, I reflect upon a time when I was teaching reflective practice online and a student and I made negative judgments about each other. I found that my negative judgments were primarily based in a tacit assumption that I am right (and the student was wrong) and a fear of failing as a teacher. By being tacit, they are hidden from possible inquiry. An important aspect of my own defensive behavior …

Two To The Power Of Three: An Exploration Of Metaphor For Sense Making In (Women’S) Collaborative Inquiry, Louise Grisoni, Margaret Page

Organization Management Journal

This paper explores how working with metaphors provides a way to explore under the surface dynamics embedded in the practice and processes of collaborative inquiry. We argue that metaphors are a form of presentational knowing and provide a bridge between experiential knowing and propositional knowing. We have surfaced an exploration of horizontal (sibling) and vertical relations using retrospective inquiry. This paper demonstrates the reality, messiness and politics of collaborative research inquiry processes, which tend to be understudied and under-theorized. We are concerned to affirm the value of collaborative inquiry, and at the same time, break some taboos and myths concerning …

Introduction To The Teaching & Learning Section, Steven Meisel

Organization Management Journal

No abstract provided.

Starting With Howard Gardner’S Five Minds, Adding Elliott Jaques’S Responsibility Time Span: Implications For Undergraduate Management Education, Diana Stork, Jill Woodilla, Stephen M. Brown, John Ogilvie, Regina Rutter, Mary Trefry

Organization Management Journal

This article offers a perspective on management education derived from Howard Gardner’s five minds framework and Elliott Jaques’s responsibility time span. We describe the five minds (disciplined, synthesizing, creating, respectful, and ethical) and discuss some of the criticisms raised about Gardner’s approach. We introduce Jaques’s time span concept and suggest its applicability to the structuring of roles in a school of management. Putting Jacques together with Gardner allows us to explore questions about the five minds that could be addressed by deans, department chairs, and faculty members, each with a different responsibility time span.

Introduction To Research Of Note Section, Kristin Backhaus

Organization Management Journal

No abstract provided.

‘‘Is The Socially Responsible Corporation A Myth? The Good, The Bad, And The Ugly Of Corporate Social Responsibility’’ By Timothy M. Devinney In Academy Of Management Perspectives, May 2009, Kathleen R. Johnson

Organization Management Journal

The following review provides a summary of and comment on Timothy M. Devinney’s article entitled ‘‘Is the Socially Responsible Corporation a Myth? The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly of Corporate Social Responsibility.’’ I argue that Devinney provides a convincing explanation for the failure of corporate social responsibility (CSR) in current predatory, oligopolistic business practices. His exposition provides an initial and necessary first step towards addressing the inequitable systems of organization that contribute to our social and environmental problems.

Consumers And Benefits Of Genetically Modified Vegetables, Megan Carter Judge

Master's Theses

With the adoption of biotechnology in many agricultural products with first-generation biotechnology traits such as increased pest resistance, greater herbicide resistance, and increased yields the growers have accepted them. The next wave of biotech crops have second-generation traits, such as improved nutrient content, extended shelf life, reduced pesticide and herbicide application (a consumer demanded trait), and better taste. Will these consumer benefits offset any concern that the consumer has regarding biotechnology? What are those benefits and how should the information be communicated to the consumer?

Three focus groups give insight to the proposed questions. The focus groups were done in …

Channel Selection And Coordination In Dual-Channel Supply Chains, Gangshu (George) Cai

Information Systems and Analytics

This paper investigates the influence of channel structures and channel coordination on the supplier, the retailer, and the entire supply chain in the context of two single-channel and two dual-channel supply chains. We extensively study two Pareto zone concepts: channel-adding Pareto zone and contract-implementing Pareto zone. In the channel-adding Pareto zone, both the supplier and the retailer benefit from adding a new channel to the traditional single-channel supply chain. In the contract-implementing Pareto zone, it is mutually beneficial for the supplier and the retailer to utilize the proposed contract coordination policy. The analysis suggests the preference lists of the supplier …

Ada News - 03/01/2010, American Dental Association, Publishing Division

ADA News

Established in 1970 as the official newspaper of the American Dental Association, the ADA News serves practicing dentists and others allied to the dental profession in the U.S. and internationally. It is the No. 1 source of news and information about the many benefits and services the ADA delivers to members daily as well as timely information on scientific, social, political and economic developments affecting dentistry and health care.

Beyond Watches And Reishi: Jannie Tay’S Approach To Business, Knowledge@Smu

Knowledge@SMU

Having built The Hour Glass into one of the largest luxury watch retailers in this region, Jannie Tay has in recent years turned her attention into another pursuit: oxygen regeneration and reishi-based wellness products. For Tay, successful businesses need to move beyond a bottom line focus. She believes that when too much attention is placed on profits, greed triumphs over passion, integrity, and care for the well-being of people and external environment.

Rewriting The World Order: China's Footprint On The Credit Crisis And International Affairs, Knowledge@Smu

Knowledge@SMU

Tired of reading conventional theories to what caused the recent financial crisis? How about a theory that places the blame on China, for a change? Giles Chance, author of “China and the Credit Crisis”, dances between the fine lines as he gives a fresh spin on the crisis, blind Western policymakers, a global currency and the world order that is to come as the "China effect" dominates familiar Western models of capitalism, politics and diplomacy.

Integrated Conflict Management Systems As Cure And Cause: How Leaders Address Cultural Change And Conflict In Their Organizations, Brian S. Beck

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Organizations experience the bottom line impact of internal conflicts daily. Conflicts between employees simply drain organizational resources. The idea of Integrated Conflict Management Systems (ICMS) has been introduced to help minimize the impact of these conflicts. ICMS, through the development of policies and procedures to address conflicts, are actually attempting to change the organization's culture, and when organizations attempt cultural changes, conflicts are likely to occur. The primary component of cultural change is the organizational leader.

The study interviews organizational leaders about the conflicts that occur when organizations change cultures and the methods that leaders use to work through those …

Introduction To Linking Theory & Practice Section, Alvin Hwang

Organization Management Journal

No abstract provided.

Strategic Transformation Process: Toward Purpose, People, Process And Power, Elizabeth B. Davis, James Kee, Kathryn Newcomer

Organization Management Journal

Across the world, public and non-profit sector leaders face an extremely turbulent socio-political-economic environment. This environment creates additional risks and uncertainties for organizations and may hinder a leader’s ability to act strategically. Addressing these complex, constantly evolving conditions requires leaders to develop processes that involve the organization’s stakeholders and that create organizational conditions for self-generation, creativity, resilience and action planning. In this paper we provide an organizational-level, integrative framework for the strategic transformation of public and non-profit organizations to assist leaders who are committed to effective stewardship of their organizations. The Strategic Transformation Process involves an intense dialogue among organizational …

A Review Of Research On Online And Blended Learning In The Management Disciplines: 1994–2009, Jb Arbaugh, Ashay Desai, Barbara Rau, Balakuntalam S. Sridhar

Organization Management Journal

This paper reviews studies of online and blended learning in managementoriented disciplines and management-related topics. The review shows that over the last decade, this emerging field has seen dramatic conceptual, methodological, and analytical advances. However, these advances have progressed within the particular disciplines at uneven rates. Studies examining courses in Organizational Behavior and Strategic Management have seen the most progress, with courses in Human Resources, Operations Management, and International Management receiving lesser attention. To date, studies of courses in Entrepreneurship are next to non-existent. Our review suggests that although several multi-course studies have been published, there is ample opportunity for …

Think Global, Act Local: A Methodology For Investigating International Business Curriculum Priorities Using Stakeholder Feedback, Jeanie M. Forray, Janelle E. Goodnight

Organization Management Journal

Business schools are engaged increasingly in the development and improvement of international business programs at both undergraduate and graduate levels. Often, such efforts are based on ‘‘how to’’ recommendations from experts in the field or ‘‘best practices’’ from other institutions. In an effort to better address the specific needs of individual institutions, this article suggests an evidence-based methodology for curricular design and describes one study of local constituency needs used to inform improvement efforts of an existing undergraduate international business program at a small, private college in the Northeast. Based on the findings, the authors describe changes in their school’s …

Analysis Of Function Drink Brand Recognition, Natasja Kashani

Agribusiness

The beverage industry has been rapidly expanding over the last century, and currently includes a variety of smaller beverage markets. Functional Beverages have been the newest addition to the beverage industry and Function Drinks is only one of the major companies operating in this market segment. The objective of this study is to assess the current level of brand recognition for Function Drinks among college consumers. The main focus behind this research is to assist the company increase the level of consumer’s brand identification for their company and products through various forms of marketing, advertising, and promotional strategies. It is …

Measures Of Weight Distribution Of Dairy Cows To Detect Lameness And The Presence Of Hoof Lesions, M. Pastell, L. Hänninen, A. M. De Passillé, J. Rushen

Farm Animal Welfare Collection

There is increasing interest in automated methods of detecting lame cows. Hoof lesion data and measures of weight distribution from 61 lactating cows were examined in this study. Lame cows were identified with different numerical rating scores (NRS) used as thresholds (NRS >3 and NRS ≥3.5) for lameness. The ratio of weight applied to a pair of legs (LWR) when the cow was standing was calculated using a special weigh scale, and the cows were gait scored using a 1 to 5 NRS. Hoof lesions were scored and the cows placed into 1 of 4 mutually exclusive categories of hoof …

Assessment Of Lameness Prevalence And Associated Risk Factors In Dairy Herds In England And Wales, Z. E. Barker, K. A. Leach, H. R. Whay, N. J. Bell, D. C. J. Main

Farm Animal Welfare Collection

Visits were made to 205 dairy farms in England and Wales between October 2006 and May 2007 by 1 or more of 4 researchers. At each visit, all milking cows were locomotion scored (lameness scored) using a 4-point scale (0 = sound locomotion, 1 = imperfect locomotion, 2 = lame, 3 = severely lame). The mean prevalence of lameness (scores 2 and 3) across the study farms was 36.8% (range = 0–79.2%). On each farm, the presence within the housing and grazing environments of commonly reported risks for increased lameness was recorded. Each farmer was interviewed to gauge the ability …

Perceptions Of American Wines In The United Kingdom And Uk Trend Analysis, Jordan Sauvain

Agribusiness

No abstract provided.

Budget Analysis For A Napa County Vineyard, Christopher Jan Hyde

Agribusiness

This study was undertaken to determine whether farming premium wine grapes can generate profit on a 10 acre site in Napa County, and if farming wine grapes can be a profitable long term investment.

The report utilizes two techniques for analysis of the data. The break-even analysis will be used to determine whether the operation is potentially profitable. Vineyard establishment costs were outlined in and production costs (from year 3 forward) defined. Production costs and grape revenues are weighed to determine net revenues above total costs. Monthly per acre break down of costs demonstrates how vineyard production costs fluctuate during …

Thoroughbreds: European Roots, Jennifer Elaine Skidmore

Agribusiness

No abstract provided.

A Marketing Plan For Main Street Small Animal Hospital In Templeton, Ca, Lisa Karcher

Agribusiness

A marketing plan was developed for Main Street Small Animal Hospital in Templeton, CA using client survey research. The surveys determined the possible marketing avenues to improve the current marketing status of Main Street.

A Study On The Feasibility Of Implementing A Replacement Heifer Enterprise, Spencer Bradley Winton

Agribusiness

No abstract provided.

Analysis Of Wine Label Design Aesthetics And The Correlation To Price, Vince Bonafede

Agribusiness

A study determining if there is a correlation between art and design characteristics on wine labels and if it determines the price points of the wine.