Business Commons^™

The Relationship Between Polychronicity And Social Networks: A Mixed-Methods Study Of Research And Development Professionals, Fabiola Bertolotti, Elisa Mattarelli, Janet Dukerich

Faculty Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activity

How do knowledge workers interact with their colleagues when organizations increasingly ask them to work on multiple activities, projects and working spheres simultaneously? Given the importance of social networks for individual and organizational success, in this study we explore the relationship between individual preferences for engaging in multiple tasks simultaneously (individual polychronicity), the perception of the organization’s demands in terms of engaging in multiple tasks simultaneously (organizational polychronicity), and centrality in instrumental networks. Adopting a mixed-methods approach, we collected data from knowledge professionals in a research and development (R&D) unit. Our results show that both individual and organizational polychronicity were …

Project Management In Libraries, Jennifer A. Bartlett

Library Faculty and Staff Publications

This issue's "New and Noteworthy" column focuses on several books, journal articles, and websites that will serve as an introduction to project management in library and information organization settings.

"We Just Treat Everyone The Same": Lgbtq Aquatic Management Strategies, Barriers And Implementation, Austin R. Anderson, Eric Knee, William D. Ramos, Tiffany Monique Quash

International Journal of Aquatic Research and Education

This study examined the management of aquatic venues in a number of areas (facilities, programming, human resource management, marketing, policies) as it pertains to LGBTQ participants and participation. The study utilized in-depth semi-structured interviews with 16 aquatic managers to examine steps that are currently being taken (or lack thereof) when it comes to creating environments that are perceived to be open, or closed, to LGBTQ participants. A grounded theory-based process of data collection and analysis resulted in emergent themes. These themes included: (a) gendered spaces, (b) non-aquatic initiatives, (c) staff knowledgeability, (d) departmental and organizational mission, (e) aquatic-specific programming and …

Leadership Development: A Study Of Elon Musk, Ryan H. Yauney

Marriott Student Review

As one of the most prolific businessmen of our time, Elon Musk is the epitome of a successful leader. Not only has Elon Musk succeeded in the entrepreneurial realm with his many profitable startups, but he has been able to guide these companies along their paths of massive growth and into the national spotlight. This article discovers which key attributes of Musk help him thrive, and how developing a company’s office culture can produce similar attributes in their own management.

Supervision In The Workplace (Clayton), Sheryne Southard, Christie Burton, Bryan Labrecque, Xueyu Cheng, Elnora Farmer

Computer Science and Information Technology Grants Collections

This Grants Collection for Supervision in the Workplace was created under a Round Ten ALG Textbook Transformation Grant.

Affordable Learning Georgia Grants Collections are intended to provide faculty with the frameworks to quickly implement or revise the same materials as a Textbook Transformation Grants team, along with the aims and lessons learned from project teams during the implementation process.

Documents are in .pdf format, with a separate .docx (Word) version available for download. Each collection contains the following materials:

• Linked Syllabus
• Initial Proposal
• Final Report

Making Matters Worse By Trying To Make Them Better? Exploring Vicious Circles Of Decision In Hybrid Partnerships, Paula Ungureanu, Fabiola Bertolotti, Elisa Mattarelli, Francesca Bellesia

Faculty Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activity

Our research is concerned with how and why vicious circles of decision occur in hybrid partnerships. The literature reports three types of decision dysfunctions that can alter the trajectory of multi-stakeholder collaborations: escalation of commitment, procrastination and indecision. While previous studies focused on one dysfunction at a time, we inquire about cases in which dysfunctions coexist and interact in the same partnership. Employing multiple sources of qualitative data, we conducted a longitudinal field study in a cross-sector partnership that co-created and managed a science park. We offer an in-depth account of ‘vicious circles of decision’ in which partners’ attempts to …

Practical Management Or Practical Magic: A Conversation With Lance Werner And Julene Jones. Managing Dysfunctional Environments, Julene L. Jones

Library Presentations

Presentation and discussion on the topic of working in or managing dysfunctional environments.

Immigrant Entrepreneurship: An Account Of The Korean Experience, Wallace T.F Taylor

Engaged Management ReView

This research account reports conclusions from a small group of interviews done with Korean-American entrepreneurs located in three ethnic enclaves near Atlanta, GA. The purpose of this research is to further knowledge in immigrant entrepreneurship. Methodology comprised seven one-hour interviews conducted with first generation business owners (one male and six female) in three enclaves in Atlanta. The research used qualitative design and focused on answering three important questions: How do Korean entrepreneurs discover and exploit opportunities to develop business, how does this sample describe their experiences in the studied enclaves, and how might espoused cultural traits and business skills affect …

Corporate Social Responsibility: Examining The Effects Of A Lean And Green Supply Chain On Bottom Line Costs And Market Valuation, Sharon Maskin

Senior Theses

This paper examines the link between a firm’s adoption of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) practices and the resulting monetary benefits. Specifically, it addresses four major areas of business operations that present great opportunities for supply chain cost reduction and a simultaneous decrease in environmental impact. These four areas include traditional/open-loop supply chains, product packaging waste, pollution at the manufacturing site, and logistics inefficiencies. The paper then identifies several business cases in which companies have addressed several environmental issues and driven down bottom-line costs in each of the four areas through innovation and increased resource productivity. Along with cost benefits, it …

The Value Of The Global Supply Chain & Operations Management Capstone Consulting Course On Graduates Careers, Ashley Kathleen Hannon

Senior Theses

The University of South Carolina’s Global Supply Chain & Operations Management [GSCOM] program in the Management Science Department has witnessed incredible growth and success throughout its first ten years as a major in the Darla Moore School of Business. The crown jewel of the GSCOM program is the Capstone project, a consulting course offered for program seniors. This thesis paper examines the value of the Capstone program through analysis of results from a graduate survey. The survey was administered to graduates from the 2013-2017 classes, and aims to capture the value that Capstone had on the first year of each …

Book Review: How Will You Measure Your Life? By Clayton M. Christensen, James Allworth, And Karen Dillon, Tanner Hafen

Marriott Student Review

No abstract provided.

Book Review - Drive: The Truth About What Motivates Us, Wyatt Pagano

Marriott Student Review

This is a book review of Drive: The Truth About What Motivates Us by Daniel Pink.

Book Review: Made To Stick, By Chip And Dan Heath, Danielle Adams

Marriott Student Review

This is a book review of Made to Stick: Why Some Ideas Survive and Others Die by Chip and Dan Heath.

Executive Spotlight: Jesse Barnes, Highvista Strategies, Victoria Beecroft

Marriott Student Review

No abstract provided.

Unpacking The Briefcase Of Business Aversion, Brooke Gledhill

Marriott Student Review

An editorial asserting that improved business skills across professions will lead to progress for individuals, organizations, and the global community.

Full Issue: Bridging The Gap (Vol. 2, Issue 1), Marianna Richardson

Marriott Student Review

A bridge brings together two pieces, which normally would not connect. Without the connecting link, those two sections would be separate. For example, a bridge between two landmasses gives travelers access to new locations, new vistas, and possibly even new opportunities. Bridging the gap can also be perilous if the bridge is not safe and secure. The connection needs to be maintained and inspected regularly for cracks, fissures, or signs of wear that should be fixed immediately. In this issue of Marriott Student Review, the authors have explored the bridges built in business and the importance of maintaining those connections.

The Opioid Epidemic In West Virginia, Nicholas Bowden, Rachel Merino, Sruthi Katamneni, Alberto Coustasse

Management Faculty Research

The rate of overdose-related to the use of licit and illicit opioids has drastically increased over the last decade in the U.S. The epicenter being West Virginia the highest rates of overdoses accounting for 41.5 deaths for 100,000 people among the 33,091 deaths in 2015. The number of people injecting drugs has increased from 36% in 2005 to 54% in 2015. The total U.S cost of prescription opioid abuse in 2011 has been estimated at $25 billion, and criminal-justice-system costs to $5.1 billion. The reasons for this opioid epidemic incidence in WV have been a combination of sociocultural factors, a …

A Strategic Audit Of Tesla, Inc.: Electrifying Our Future Or About To Run Out Of Energy?, Chloe Dana

Honors Theses

Tesla, Inc.’s stock had reached its peak during September of 2017. However, due to manufacturing delays of its new Model 3 sport sedan, cash flow issues, and a recent fatal autopilot accident, investors and consumers are questioning the firm’s long-term stability. Although Tesla has created technology that makes it easier for consumers to harness and utilize electricity to power their homes and vehicles, many wonder if the company’s stock price is about to figuratively run out of energy. The following will be a strategic analysis, illustrating the firm’s Current Strategy & Background Information, Situational Analysis & Issue Summary, Strategy Recommendations …

Corporate Prediction Markets For Business Decisions: New Applications, Challenges And Limitations, Jessica A. Zinger

2018

Prediction markets, introduced roughly 30 years ago, are a way to leverage market pricing for information aggregation. Research has shown the markets provide accurate (often superior) forecasts. To date, research has been predominately of an economic nature. Despite numerous articles on the application of prediction markets in businesses (Hewlett-Packard, Google) the management literature has largely ignored the topic. This dissertation follows a three-paper model to begin to address the perceived gap.

Paper one introduces a new application of the market, namely its use as a determinant of employee compensation packages. Employers often claim to utilize a pay-for-performance model. However, principle-agent …

Strategic Planning For Collegiate Athletics, R Henry Migliore

Migliore Collection

Aimed at developing a long term strategic plan for the athletic department. Strategic Planning for Collegiate Athletics offers a step-by-step approach, complete with worksheets and examples, to assist athletic administrations in developing their plans for collegiate athletics. You will discover how to manage issues such as high turnover rates, unclear goals among staff, working long hours and still being unable to keep up, and lack of team spirit. As a college, university, high school, or recreational athletic director, you will benefit from the theoretically sound decision-making material that can be applied toward these issues addressing such areas as creating purpose …

Planeación Y Directión Estratégica, R Henry Migliore

Migliore Collection

Un problema siempre presente en las organizaciones y empresas, es determinar su dirección estratégica, desarrollar un plan y, después, ad- ministrarlo. Las organizaciones pequeñas, particularmente aquellas dirigidas por un propietario/administrador/organizador, generalmente enfrentan este reto sin mayores problemas en los años iniciales. Pero cuando crecen, aumentando su personal, la expansión pronto se convierte de un simple problema en uno mucho más complejo. A no ser que la administración se mantenga totalmente alerta y activa, una organización podría estancarse, víctima de la pérdida de dirección.

Curvilinear Relationship Between Diversification And Performance: A Replication And Extension Of Previous Research, Phil Stetz, Elton Scifres

Faculty Publications

As argued in most strategic management textbooks, the relationship between diversification and performance is curvilinear and firms pursuing a related diversification strategy outperform those firms pursuing a dominant or an unrelated diversification strategy. Using SAS modeling techniques and controlling for industry, corporate and business unit effects new insights were gleaned with regards to the relationship between diversification and performance. The implications to performance (statistical significance), given the type and extent of diversification strategies, are discussed resulting in a deeper understanding of how the complex relationships between performance and diversification play out across the entire diversification spectrum.

Orchids Paper Company 2014-2015, John K. Masters, Pamela P. Rogers

Faculty Publications

This case captures Orchids Paper Company at a time of significant change internally and in its environment. It presents opportunities to examine the concept of fit between Strategy, Environment, and Resources to maximize profit potential. The nature of Orchids’ products and industry facilitate the case’s accessibility, since Orchids operates in an industry which is fairly simple to understand (paper manufacturing). The case is intended for use in business policy and strategy classes at the undergraduate or MBA level, but might be used in operations, supply chain, finance, accounting or marketing classes by focusing on specific questions facing the firm.

Management Communication Failures In Faculty Hiring Processes: A Case Study, Christopher J. Mckenna

Faculty Publications

While universities contribute directly to the future successes of students through the delivery of content knowledge and the development of key career skills, they might also reasonably be expected to model the “best practices” of industry professionals. However, based upon a three-year study of the communications between universities and graduate students applying to nearly two-hundred faculty positions, universities often fail the best practice test when interacting with job candidates. Ironically, they do so even when recruiting for faculty positions that target candidates specializing in the pedagogies and practices of effective communication.

Local County Hospital: A Review Of Challenges And Opportunities, Mary Fischer, Treba Marsh

Faculty Publications

There are multiple factors regarding current health care delivery in the U.S. These factors include the high-priced medical care, hospitals, equipment, and pharmaceutical charges, and the private system of health insurance. This discussion looks at these factors’ impact on Local County Hospital ranging from Obamacare to a host of other challenges. The hospital is going through difficult times as it struggles to make ends meet. Although it will take time to adjust to an inconsistent environment and changing health care industry, Local County Hospital continues to focus on the patients first and attempts to keep the region healthy.

The Performance Implication Of Obsessive Work Passion: Unpacking The Moderating And Mediating Mechanisms From A Conservation Of Resources Perspective, Dejun Tony Kong, Violet T. Ho

Management Faculty Publications

Work passion is an important determinant of work performance. While harmonious work passion (HWP) shows its consistent predictive value, obsessive work passion (OWP) appears to have a mixed relationship with work performance. To address this puzzle, we integrate research on OWP and emotional exhaustion with conservation of resources (COR) theory. Specifically, we argue that OWP determines emotional exhaustion, whose relationship with work performance is attenuated by leader-member exchange (LMX). By conducting a field study with a sample of 262 U.S. employees, we found supportive evidence, even when controlling for psychological detachment from work. The findings somewhat reconcile the inconsistent results …

How Applying Instrumental Stakeholder Theory Can Provide Sustainable Competitive Advantage, Thomas M. Jones, Jeffrey S. Harrison, Will Felps

Management Faculty Publications

Instrumental stakeholder theory considers the performance consequences for firms of highly ethical relationships with stakeholders, characterized by high levels of trust, cooperation, and information sharing. While research suggests performance benefits, an obvious question remains: If instrumental stakeholder theory-based stakeholder treatment is so valuable, why isn't it the dominant mode of relating to stakeholders? We argue that the existing instrumental stakeholder theory literature has three shortcomings that limit its ability to explain variance in performance. (1) Little theory exists around how instrumental stakeholder theory-based stakeholder management could provide sustainable competitive advantage. (2) The literature has largely neglected the potential downsides (i.e., …

It's A Dangerous World In There: Leadership Methods And Actions Of School Administrators During Emergency Situations And Times Of Crisis, James J. Drake

Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations

Over the past twenty years, shootings and other violent incidents, acts of terrorism such as the attacks of September 11, 2001, and natural disaster events such as hurricanes or floods have occurred with increasing frequency. Situations like these pose significant challenges for school administrators when a normally-peaceful educational environment is quickly transformed by significant acts of aggression from within, or by external threats that impact the educational domain with little or no advance warning.

Contingency-based, situational leadership has proven to be effective when used in both educational and non-educational settings during normal, non-emergency periods. The purpose of this study is …

Financial Literacy In Appalachian Kentucky With A National Comparison, Tanya Noah

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Financial literacy is a national problem; many studies confirmed that Americans have low levels of financial literacy. There is little to no research about financial literacy in Appalachia, and the level of financial literacy was unknown for Appalachian Kentucky. There is a problem deserving attention which can be seen by examination of the 3 key financial indicators. Many researchers found the Appalachian Kentucky region deficient regarding poverty rates, unemployment rates, and personal income rates. The purpose of this study was to develop a baseline level of financial literacy of Appalachian Kentuckians and to compare it to national levels. Becker's theory …

An Exploration Of The Causes Of Success And Failure Of Managed Change, Michael Moore

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Change management (CM) and organizational development are mature industries with decades of research and development. Yet, failure rates stated for organizational change initiatives remain high at 70%. This failure rate suggests that 30% of change initiatives were successful, but no reports of these successes were found in the literature. The overarching question considered the experiences of change leaders of successful CM initiatives. The conceptual framework for this research consisted of change models defined by Burke, Kotter, Schein, and others. The primary purpose of this study was to identify the strategies used by successful change leaders. 10 phone interviews with senior …