Business Administration, Management, and Operations Commons^™

Public Dollar Private Owners; Tax Subsidies For New Stadiums In Professional Sports, Grant J. Bunnage

CMC Senior Theses

The growing popularity of North American professional sports over the last twenty years directly coincides with the recent trend of urban communities using tax dollars to publically subsidize professional football, baseball, and basketball stadiums. Communities across North America invest substantial amount of public tax dollars in private facilities in light of a consensus among policy analysts that the economic impact of the new stadium is greatly exaggerated. The economic impact of new stadiums has been extensively researched, the focus  of this paper rather, is to examine the impact publically subsidized facilities built in the last twenty years have on the …

Quality Costing Knowledge, Attitudes, And Perceptions In A Small Manufacturing Company, Adam M. Benner

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The purpose of this research was to identify and assess employee knowledge, attitude, and perception of quality costing in a manufacturing company. The company selected for this research was a small manufacturer of agricultural processing equipment with an undeveloped quality management program. A quality costs questionnaire was discovered from a review of the literature and was slightly modified to gather data from a sample of company employees. The following information was collected from employees: knowledge of common quality costing terminology, attitude towards quality and non-quality concepts, and perception of departments associated with quality costs and the scale of quality costs …

Diversity And Job Satisfaction: Reconciling Conflicting Theories And Findings, Douglas Campbell

International Journal of Applied Management and Technology

This is a multidisciplinary study on reconciling the conflicting theories and research concerning whether a person’s gender, race, or ethnicity affects his or her overall job satisfaction or degree of satisfaction with any element of the job. A disciplined baseline survey was performed. Statistical techniques, including a stepwise regression, were used to identify significant relationships. The findings and observations resolve what had appeared to be conflicting theories and research findings. The author concludes that in some instances, a legitimate correlation between gender, race, or ethnicity and job satisfaction or the degree of satisfaction with a particular job element may be …

Tropical Salvage: From Recession To Expansion, Scott Marshall, Lisa Peifer, Erin Ferrigno

Business Faculty Publications and Presentations

Tim O’Brien, founder of Tropical Salvage, was preparing for another warehouse clearance sale of his unique, handcrafted hardwood furniture. It had been an enormously challenging year and it was important to reduce inventory before the next container arrived from Indonesia. The market for fine furniture had begun to decline steadily in early 2008 following the stock market crash of the prior September. The company survived a difficult period, but not without suffering a decline in sales. O’Brien had spent ten years building a sustainable business model based on environmental stewardship, worker empowerment and unique, high quality product. As the economy …

An Examination Of Compressed Natural Gas For Use In Municipal Fleets: Would Cng Work For Lexington, Ky?, Robert Kahne

MPA/MPP/MPFM Capstone Projects

Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) is an alternative fuel source which could replace diesel as a fuel for municipal fleets. This paper seeks to examine the viability of CNG and its potential to power Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government’s fleet of waste removal trucks. This paper takes into account financial and environmental factors in determining CNG’s potential, but gives priority to financial considerations. The results of this analysis are mixed—under some future scenarios, compressed natural gas would be a favorable option for the fleet, but given other future scenarios, CNG would not be viable. In terms of environmental benefits, a switch to …

Corporate Governance And The 2008-09 Financial Crisis, Martin Conyon, William Q. Judge, Michael Useem

Management Faculty Publications

The financial crisis of the late 2000s resulted in enormous costs to the economies of many countries and the fortunes of millions of families, and it challenged a host of our conceptions and theories of corporate governance. The governing boards of many financial-services firms seemed unable to prevent the risky and ill-fated decisions that jeopardized their firms, devastated their investors, and helped precipitate a financial meltdown that morphed into global recession. Company boards were also directly responsible through their compensation committees and consultant advisors for a sharp rise in executive compensation during the 2000s that may have contributed to undue …

Why They Stay: Individual Factors Predicting Career Commitment For Woman Engineers, Kathleen R. Buse

Student Scholarship

Women remain underrepresented in the engineering profession comprising only 10% of the employed engineers in 2009 while in that same year− according to the US Bureau of Labor statistics − women exceeded more than half of those employed in professional, managerial and related occupations. While others have studied the reasons women leave engineering careers, this study focused uniquely on women who persist in a career in engineering. A quantitative research study was conducted which surveyed 495 women ages 21 to 60 with engineering degrees to develop a model of the individual factors that lead women to commit to a career …

Managing (Detecting, Preventing, And Mitigating) The Unexpected: How Banks Managed The Financal Meltdown, Ronald W. Eastburn

Student Scholarship

Managing the unexpected is relevant for all organizations and banks experienced this bitterly during the financial crisis of 2007-2009. In this study we argue that the organizational mindset driving unexpected results within the banking sector stemmed from an inability to anticipate and detect the early warning signals. The goal of this study was to gain insights into how successful banks are continuously "adaptive" in that banks with higher levels of absorptive capacity (ACAP) - the mechanisms used for sensing and experimentation of knowledge- are more likely to screen and acquire, assimilate, transform and exploit knowledge to positively influence performance. We …

Nonprofit Performance During The Great Recession: Damned If You Do And Damned If You Don't - Mission-Defensive Paradox, Kathleen Roche

Student Scholarship

During the recent Great Recession and its aftermath, from 2007 - 2010, nonprofit organizations had to carry out their charitable missions to larger and needier constituencies despite endowment erosion, dwindling contributions, reduced staff, and severe funding cuts. Findings from our qualitative research guided this quantitative study, which used PLS to analyze results from 351 online surveys to discern how executive nonprofit leaders and their boards influenced organizational resiliency during this critical period, by employing protective / anticipatory measures and defensive / containment practices, as well as coping strategies. In this exploratory study, leaders' previous experience and external task focus, and …

School Leadership, Collective Mindfulness And Mathematices Achievement In Kenya, Renson Muchiri Mwangi

Student Scholarship

In spite of the long instituted government initiatives to improve mathematics performance in Kenyan secondary schools, students’ performance in the subject at the secondary school level in Kenya continues to be poor. Studies on mathematics achievement in Kenya have primarily focused on teachers’ classroom practices neglecting the potential influence of school leadership. Using data collected from 273 schools involving 607 mathematics teachers we examined how school leadership could impact schools’ mathematics performance in Kenyan public secondary schools. We found school leadership behaviors – principal’s visibility, inspiration and influence – to have weak but significant indirect effect on mathematics achievement through …

Identification Of Patterns In Genetic-Algorithm-Based Solutions For Optimization Of Process-Planning Problems Using A Data Mining Tool, Dowluru Sreeramulu

International Journal of Applied Management and Technology

This paper presents a novel use of data mining algorithms for extraction of knowledge from a set of process plans. The purpose of this paper is to apply data mining methodologies to explore the patterns in data generated by genetic-algorithm-generating process plans and to develop a rule set planner, which helps to make decisions in odd circumstances. Genetic algorithms are random-search algorithms based on the mechanics of genetics and natural selection. Because of genetic inheritance, the characteristics of the survivors after several generations should be similar. The solutions of a genetic algorithms for process planning consists of the operation sequence …

Stakeholder Orientation, Managerial Discretion And Nexus Rents, Robert A. Phillips, Shawn L. Berman, Heather Elms, Mechael E. Johnson-Cramer

Management Faculty Publications

A firm's orientation toward its stakeholders determines how it will use the discretion accorded to it by external and internal circumstances. The interaction between these two factors affects a firm's ability to create value in the short term and influences the level of discretion available to the firm in the long term. We argue that the interplay of discretion and orientation create a vicious (or virtuous) cycle, in which the firm either creates or destroys goodwill with stakeholders, thereby making it more or less likely that stakeholders will grant discretion in the future. This argument suggests an account of stakeholder …

The Ronald Reagan Paradigm, Taylor Evenson

Whittier Scholars Program

This project is centered on the Ronald Reagan Paradigm, a pervasive ideology that has dominated politics and the U.S. Government for approximately the last 30 years. The pervasive ideology is a neoliberal agenda aimed at increasing the power of corporations within the United States. The ideology is legitimized by Ronald Reagan's Presidency. Furthermore, the ideology is legitimized by think-tanks and few educational institutions. The ideas are disseminated through publications and media outlets. This paper highlights the author’s understanding of this ideology and its creation.

The C.A.L.M. Method Of Mass Product Distribution: An Update & Comparative Analysis, Marvin Lovett, Irma S. Jones

Marketing Faculty Publications

This paper updates the evaluation of the C.A.L.M. Method: The Consignment Auction Liquidation Marketing Method of Mass Product Distribution as well as provides a limited comparison of eBay as a form of auction product distribution. Originally developed and initiated in 1993 in response to the common need business organizations have for product liquidation outlets, the C.A.L.M method targets audiences contemplating the distribution of products, including manufacturers, wholesalers, retailers, and other entrepreneurs. General merchandise is distributed via consignment auction outlets located throughout the United States. Building on a previously published ten-year time span evaluation on the effectiveness of the C.A.L.M. method, …

The Implementation Of Web-Based Project Management Systems By The General Contractor: Transferring From Hard-Copy To Digital Format., Jason A. Miller

Purdue Polytechnic Directed Projects

Abstract

The construction industry is undergoing a transition from being paper based to a digital one.  This transition puts a document management challenge on all members of the construction team, but most specifically the general contractor which has to ensure that the appropriate information reaches the intended party in a usable format.  The submittal process has historically been very paper intensive with multiple copies begin distributed to various parties.  Transitioning to a digital format will decrease the amount of paper copies, but presents challenges to the general contractor.  The first is the traditional method of noting documents will not be …

The Role Of Organizational Climate And Culture In Service Encounters, Beth Ann Heyart

Wayne State University Dissertations

This study explored the link between culture and climate with respect to customer service ratings. Two hospital units, one with high customer service ratings and one with low customer service ratings, were identified for analysis. A mixed-method design was implemented to assess climate and culture on each unit. Climate was assessed with a survey that combined elements of Schneider, White, and Paul's (1998) Assessment of Service Climate Instrument and Litwin and Stringer's (1968) Organizational Climate Questionnaire. An ethnographic approach using observation, interviews and archival data analysis was completed to understand each unit's culture. Findings indicate high customer service environments rated …

A Mediated Model Of Trust And Its Antecedents In The Client-Consultant Relationship, William L. Solomonson

Wayne State University Dissertations

This study seeks to improve the contributions of performance consultants, instructional design consultants, and training consultants by explaining the effect that several variables have on trust as a mediator to relationship commitment within the context of the client-consultant relationship. The participants were 521 college students from two 4-year universities. Participants were randomly assigned to one of eight scenario-based questionnaires which measured the effect of three manipulated variables - perceived level of expertise, shared values, and sharing of meaningful information - on trust as a mediator to relationship commitment. The ability to trust, the comparison level of the alternative, and dependence …

Examining The Effects Of Realistic Recruitment On Work-Family Conflict: A Test Of The Mediating Role Of Expectations., Russell Clayton

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This research considered how the realistic recruitment practices of Realistic Job Preview (RJP) and Expectation Lowering Procedure (ELP) may assist employees in reducing perceptions of Work-Family Conflict (WFC). This relationship was theorized as indirect, with Met Expectations mediating the relationship between realistic recruitment and WFC. As such, the current research sheds new light on a protective antecedent of WFC. Furthermore, the disposition of work-family centrality was tested also hypothesized to moderate the relationship between realistic recruitment and Met Expectations. Three studies were conducted in order to empirically test the hypothesized relationships. Study 1 was a cross-sectional survey utilizing a broad …

Strategic Global Human Resource Management: An Analysis Of Liability-Of-Foreignness Issues Associated With Inpatriate Managers, Miriam Moeller

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Essay 1: This manuscript addresses the strategic role of an inpatriate staffing approach in the development of a global mindset within global organizations. The premise lies in the development of the liability-of-foreignness concept from the individual level of analysis in the context of global assignments. I first provide arguments relative to the utility of inpatriate managers in global organizations by advocating what appears to be a shift to a strategic global human resource management paradigm. Drawing upon reference point theory, the manuscript highlights potential hardships faced through an analysis of managerial and contextual liability-of-foreignness as may be perceived by inpatriate …

Improving The Cme Accreditation And Implementation Process Through “Lean” Methodology, Karen Craig, Jane M. Grube

Department of Education

No abstract provided.

Decoupling Of Standard Implementation From Certification: Does Quality Of Iso 14001 Implementation Affect Facilities’ Environmental Performance?, Deepa Aravind, Petra Christmann

Publications and Research

The literature on certifiable management standards has not paid sufficient attention to implementation of standard requirements in certified firms. Firms that obtain standard certification to achieve the legitimacy benefits of certification may not implement standard requirements sufficiently to realize the standard’s intended performance outcomes. We argue that such decoupling of implementation from certification threatens the effectiveness of certifiable standards as governance mechanisms for firms’ environmental conduct because standard certification may not accurately signal firms’ superior environmental performance to external stakeholders. Empirical findings based on the ISO 14001 standard at the facility level support this view: Quality of standard implementation affects …

“Choice Of Service, Choice Of Cost”- A Transformational Change Program In It - The Case Of A Global Consumer Products Company: Case Study, Barbara M. Tarasovich, Bridget Lyons

WCBT Faculty Publications

This paper presents a framework for development of a transformational change management program (Flamholtz and Randle, 2008) in an information technology (IT) organization of a global Fortune 200 consumer products company. The goal of the transformation was to build leading edge global IT service offerings, to internal and ultimately external customers. The program played a pivotal role in the company’s "Path to Growth" Strategy. This strategy included very specific targets for sales, margins and earnings growth over a five-year period. The case illustrates how a well conceived change program, integrated with an organization’s overall strategic plan, is a competitive advantage.

Problem-Based Learning Leadership Development Program In A Multi-National Company, Stephen M. Brown, Petra Garnjost, Stefan Heilmann

WCBT Faculty Publications

This paper reports on the development and implementation of a team leadership training program in a multi-national company. The European Engineering Company (EEC Group) had grown and expanded into many countries in a relatively short time frame as a result of increased demand for the company's products and services in newly developing countries. The EEC Group and the training program had additional issues of culture and basic institutional knowledge. The paper reports on the program, the conceptual framework of the International Leadership Development Program (ILDP), results, and lessons learned. The authors advocate use of a Problem-based Learning (PBL) methodology to …

Narrative Approach To Corporate Strategy: Empirical Foundations, Michael S. Carriger

WCBT Faculty Publications

Purpose - This paper aims to present theoretical and empirical foundations for the use of a particular type of narrative skillfully deployed by senior leaders in an organization as an effective tool for creating, disseminating and executing corporate strategy. Design/methodology/approach - The paper presents original research on the effectiveness of the use of a "springboard story" as a leadership tool. Findings - Data are presented to substantiate that a "springboard story" presentation of corporate strategy and competitive advantage is more effective at producing a consistent and confident choice of competitive advantage among an audience than a presentation of corporate strategy …

The Power Of “We”: Effects Of Psychological Collectivism On Team Performance Over Time, James Belohlav, Erich Dierdorff, Suzanne Bell

College of Business Faculty and Staff Works

No abstract provided.

Anchoring Change In Higher Education : Narratives From Senior Executives At Malcolm Baldrige Award-Winning Institutions, Cheryl H. Kisunzu

Dissertations

Purpose. The purpose of this study is to explore Kotter’s (1996) eighth stage for leading change. Specifically, it is to identify strategies for anchoring planned change in institutions of higher education.

Design. This is a qualitative multiple case study. Each of the participating organizations is an institution of higher education uniquely distinguished as a recipient of the United State’s highest recognition for progressive excellence—the Malcolm Baldrige Award. A narrative design is used to conduct in-depth exploration of leading planned change, specifically anchoring this planned change into the culture of academic institutions of higher learning. Purposeful sampling was used to identify …

The Shift In Coaching Dynamics During Long-Term Business Coaching Relationships, Axel Meierhoefer

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

The focus of this dissertation was on the changes in long-term external business coaching relationships (defined as more than 4 months). The current study intended to answer two questions: (a) how does the relationship between a coach and a coachee change in long-term coaching engagements? and (b) how do these changes impact the coaching process dynamics and results? The phenomenon that was discovered through this research is called the shift moment. It exemplifies the transition from skill or problem oriented issues, which often represent the original cause of the coaching relationship, to the holistic transformation of the coachee. A qualitative …

Three Essays On Immigrant Entrepreneurs, Carole Louise Cangioni

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

The association between entrepreneurial activity and economic growth appears to be robust: the source of half of job creation emanates from new ventures which, in addition, are a source of technical and market innovation as well as higher labor productivity (Gartner, Shaver, Carter, & Reynolds, 2004). Also, there is a growing percentage of ethnic entrepreneurship in immigrant receiving metropolitan areas, and marginal economic conditions, often experienced by immigrants, increase self-employment. According to the U.S. Census Bureau: "By 2010, Hispanics will be the largest minority group in the U.S with more than 20% of the nation's population" and "minorities, now roughly …

Forecasting Empty Container Volumes, Rafael Diaz, Wayne Talley, Mandar Tulpule

Economics Faculty Publications

The accumulation and repositioning of empty containers have become acute problems for container ports and are expected to intensify in the future given the expected growth in trade imbalances among trading nations. These problems are major costs and operational challenges for container ports. More accurate forecasting of volumes of port empty containers will enable container ports to develop more cost efficient plans for the repositioning of empty containers. This paper compares the Tioga Group, United Nations and Winters method (utilizing empty container volumes of three U.S. container ports) in forecasting volumes of port empty containers. The Winters method is found …

Talking Circles: The Art Of Communication For Physician Leaders, Erica T. Mahady Ma, Jody Millard Ma, Jarret R. Patton Md

Administration & Leadership

No abstract provided.