bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Pain, stress and depression: Psychoneurophysiology and therapy
Authors: Shealy C. Norman , Cady Roger K. , Cox Richard H.
Published: May 2007

Depression is probably the most common illness in the world, and it is much maligned by patients and physicians as well as the insurance industry. We have found that all patients with depression have one or more chemical and neurochemical abnormalities. More importantly, we have found that 85 per cent of patients can be brought out of depression within 2 weeks without drug therapy. The therapy program consists of education, cranial electrical stimulation, music, photostimulation, insight meditation and magnesium supplments. Interestingly, videotaped education is more effective than live lectures.
Psychotherapeutic perspectives in urethral syndrome
Authors: Baldoni Franco , Baldaro Bruno , Trombini Giancarlo
Published: May 2007

Urethral syndrome (urinary symptoms and pain without organic lesions) is a frequent female pathology but its aetiology is obscure and its treatment undetermined. A number of studies have highlighted emotional disturbances in these patients. To assess the efficacy of psychotherapy in the treatment of this syndrome, the authors studied 36 patients diagnosed with urethral syndrome. Of these, 13 were randomly selected for short‐term dynamic psychotherapy. The remaining 23 patients were treated with traditional urological therapies and used as the control group. After the medical diagnosis and during follow‐up at 6 months and 4 years, one psychological questionnaire (SQ) was administered together with a specially prepared clinical questionnaire. The urinary symptomatology and pain disappeared completely in over 70 per cent of the patients who had completed the psychotherapy. For the remaining patients, at the termination of the treatment the symptomatology had improved to the point that it was no longer a problem. These results proved stable in time and were associated with a general improvement in psychic status, particularly for the depression, anxiety and hostility levels. In the controls, on the other hand, no significant improvement was noted in the parameters examined.
The stress profile: A psychosocial approach to measuring stress
Authors: Setterlind Sven , Larsson Gerry
Published: May 2007

The Stress Profile is a psychosocial instrument for measuring stress in life in general and at work at the levels of the individual, the group and the organization. It has been tested and standardized on more than 4000 men and women. The present article outlines the design and the developmental stages of the Profile. It also describes its use at individual and company levels. The impact of the scientific development of behavioural medicine has greatly improved and extended the application of behavioural methods. The Stress Profile is based on this methodological and scientific development. It is a questionnaire consisting of 224 questions, 20 of which concern background variables and ten criteria. The remaining questions map a number of areas derived from current stress research. The data are computer processed and a graphic profile is produced. This presentation includes illustrations of results from Swedish companies, where the Stress Profile has been used.
Chinese version of the OSI: A study of reliability and factor structures
Authors: Lu Luo , Cooper Cary L. , Chen Yen Ching , Hsu Chia Ho , Li Chi Hua , Wu Hung Luan , Shih Jian Bin
Published: May 2007

This article examines the reliability of the Occupational Stress Indicator (OSI) in its Chinese version as well as factor structures for three of its scales–stressors, coping and job satisfaction. Estimates of reliability obtained by item‐total correlation coefficients and Cronbach's alphas are quite acceptable. Factor analyses using the principal components technique have also found psychologically meaningful structures.
Occupational stress in female and male graduate managers — A comparative study
Authors: Davidson Marilyn J. , Cooper Cary L. , Baldini Vãne
Published: May 2007

Levels of occupational stress were examined using an adapted version of the occupational Stress Indicator (OSI) in 126 female graduate managers and 220 male graduate managers occupying a range of managerial jobs throughout the UK. In comparison with the most recently established normative group of white‐collar workers, management graduates reported greater pressure with regard to career and achievement, higher Type A behaviour pattern scores, higher levels of job satisfaction and higher mental ill‐health scores. When comparing the male and female graduates on OSI variables, female graduate managers scored significantly higher pressure scores on all seven ‘sources of pressure’ subscales, including the added gender factor related to discrimination and prejudice. While females were more likely than males to adopt positive coping strategies, they had lower overall job satisfaction scores and were more at risk of mental and physical ill‐health (particularly those in junior and middle management positions). Multivariate analyses disclosed that predictors of physical ill‐health, mental health and job dissatisfaction were often quite dissimilar for male and females. The research implications of the findings are discussed with special emphasis on organizational and policy change strategies required in the 1990s.
Love and hate: Their many guises and stressful effects
Authors: Morse Donald R.
Published: May 2007

A discussion of the terms ‘love’ and ‘hate’ is given. This is followed by tabular summaries of the contrasting word associations ofloveandhate. Then a review is given of the scientific studies and hypotheses relative to the different stressful, psychological, physiological, pathological and sociological outcomes from the practice oflove,hateand associated emotions.
Top management team group factors, consensus, and firm performance
Authors: Priem Richard L.
Published: May 2007

The results of recent consensus‐performance research have been equivocal. Substantive and methodological issues are examined to suggest reasons for this equivocality. Top management team composition, structure, and decision processes are proposed as antecedents to the consensus‐performance relationship. An argument is developed for a curvilinear aggregate consensus‐performance relationship, moderated by environmental dynamism. A model and associated propositions are advanced to further descriptive and normative theory.
The contribution of formal planning to decisions
Authors: Sinha Deepak K.
Published: May 2007

This paper presents results from a study of the contribution of formal strategic planning to 1087 decisions made by 129 of the Fortune 500 companies during the years 1982–86. Multivariate analysis of covariance revealed that the characteristics of decisions account for over 15 percent of the variance in data and should therefore be regarded as important determinants of the contribution planning makes to decision‐making. The planning systems studied contributed more to decisions that were considered important and risky, and also to those that were either global in nature or related to divestments.
Transaction costs and networks
Authors: Blois Keith J.
Published: May 2007

The study of networks is attracting considerable attention. One of the difficulties of such studies is that techniques of analysis, concepts, and models developed in a variety of disciplines are used. The dangers of using the work of other disciplines are illustrated by considering the way in which the concept of transaction costs has been used.
Different roles for subsidiaries: The case of multinational corporations in spain
Authors: Jarillo J. Carlos , Martíanez Jon I.
Published: May 2007

A framework is proposed to characterize the different roles that subsidiaries of multinational corporations (MNCs) can play within the firm's overall strategy. The framework is then applied to a sample of 50 Spanish subsidiaries of MNCs. These are found to be pursuing strategies consistent with the framework. At the same time, a strategic evolution is detected towards a closer integration of the subsidiaries with their parent group. It is hypothesized that changes in the Spanish sociopolitical context, especially the country's entry into the European Economic Community, are fueling that process of strategic change.
Post‐acquisition financial performance and executive compensation
Authors: Schmidt Dennis R. , Fowler Karen L.
Published: May 2007

This study reports the results of an empirical analysis of post‐acquisition financial performance and changes in executive compensation. A model of the determinants of cash compensation is presented and tested. Firm size, form of acquisition, executive motivation, and financial performance are analyzed for two groups of acquiring firms. Results are compared to a group of non‐acquiring firms. The financial performance measures include accounting and capital market data for a 4‐year period both preceding and following acquisition activity. The results indicate that, on average, firms which engaged in a major acquisition performed poorly in the post‐acquisition period. Top executives of those firms, on average, experienced significant increases in cash compensation. After controlling for size effects, financial performance related strongly to changes in executive compensation for the non‐acquiring firms, but generally did not relate to changes in executive compensation for the acquiring firms.
The link between resources and type of diversification: Theory and evidence
Authors: Chatterjee Sayan , Wernerfelt Birger
Published: May 2007

In this paper we theoretically and empirically investigate the idea that firms diversify in part to utilize productive resources which are surplus to current operations. Knowledge of these resources allows us to make predictions about the direction of a firm's expansion. In particular, we suggest that excess physical resources, most knowledge‐based resources, and external financial resources are associated with more related diversification, while internal financial resources are associated with more unrelated diversification.
The intentional use of chapter XI: Lingering versus immediate filing
Authors: Flynn David M. , Farid Mamdouh
Published: May 2007

This paper focuses on the timing, i.e. delay or accelerate, of the declaration of Chapter XI prior to financial insolvency. Chapter XI can be declared by firms who believe that the firm can emerge from bankruptcy protection as a re‐vitalized organization. The timing of its selection is proposed to be a function of the level of environmental adversity and organizational attributes, especially slack resources. Recent developments in the bankruptcy code and its usage by firms, suggest the increasing use of managerial prerogative in the selection of Chapter XI prior to financial insolvency. Chapter XI protection can allow firms the necessary time for effective reorganization if managerial intervention is exercised. As a result of a more precise timing of selection and a proactive reorganization, there will be a higher probability of re‐emerging from bankruptcy as a revitalized organization.
Dual clocks: Entry order influences on incumbent and newcomer market share and survival when specialized assets retain their value
Authors: Mitchell Will
Published: May 2007

Entry order analysis often shows that early entrants to an industry or technical subfield of an industry outperform laggards. Some studies, though, have found that late entrants prevail. This paper tests dual‐clock hypotheses of entry order effects on performance, measured both as market share and survival. One entry clock records the entry of all entrants to a new technical subfield within an industry, while a second clock records the entry of industry incumbents. Relative to the appropriate clock, early entrants are predicted to outperform laggards, but when entry is measured on only one clock, the estimated influences may be inaccurate. Error will be particularly likely if a study contains a survivor bias. The study, which finds entry timing trade‐offs between market share and survival, is generalizable to cases in which a plausible set of conditions is found.
The emerging forum for business policy scholars
Authors: Macmillan Ian C.
Published: May 2007

This note is a follow‐up on two others, published in 1987 and 1989. A sample of tenured business policy scholars, with significant track records in publishing, rated key management journals with respect to their appropriateness as outlets for scholarly research in the business policy field. The results of the survey are reported.
How much does industry matter?
Authors: Rumelt Richard P.
Published: May 2007

This study partitions the total variance in rate of return among FTC Line of Business reporting units into industry factors (whatever their nature), time factors, factors associated with the corporate parent, and business‐specific factors. Whereas Schmalensee (1985) reported that industry factors were the strongest, corporate and market share effects being extremely weak, this study distinguishes between stable and fluctuating effects and reaches markedly different conclusions. The data reveal negligible corporate effects, small stable industry effects, and very large stable business‐unit effects. These results imply that the most important sources of economic rents are business‐specific; industry membership is a much less important source and corporate parentage is quite unimportant.
A longitudinal study of the cause and consequences of changes in diversification in the U.S. pharmaceutical industry 1977–1986
Authors: Hill Charles W. L. , Hansen Gary S.
Published: May 2007

The paper hypothesizes that diversification by firms based in the pharmaceutical industry during the 1977‐86 time period was primarily undertaken to reduce the risks associated with being dependent upon a technologically dynamic environment. Consistent with this non‐efficiency motive for diversification, declining economic performance is predicted. A longitudinal empirical analysis provides support for these propositions.
Self‐serving attributions, managerial cognition, and company performance
Authors: Clapham Stephen E. , Schwenk Charles R.
Published: May 2007

Past research using managers' attributions for good and poor performance in annual reports has repeatedly demonstrated that management takes credit for good outcomes. However, there is disagreement about whether this pattern of attributions reflects attempts to manage impressions in stakeholders or biased perceptions on the part of management, and whether it is associated with increases or decreases in future performance. In this study, attributions in letters to shareholders in the annual reports of public utilities were analyzed. The results showed the same general pattern of attributions as was found in previous studies. However, the relationship between this pattern of attributions and performance (earnings per share growth) was generally negative. Implications of these results for future research are discussed.
Organizational fit and acquisition performance: Effects of post‐acquisition integration
Authors: Datta Deepak K.
Published: May 2007

Based on 173 acquisitions in the U.S. manufacturing industry, this study examines the impact of organizational differences between acquiring and acquired firms on post‐acquisition performance. The findings indicate that differences in top management styles have a negative impact on performance in acquisitions characterized by both high and low levels of post‐acquisition integration. However, no such relationship was observed between differences in the reward and evaluation systems and post‐acquisition performance in either the high or low integration subgroups. Implications of the findings, along with directions for future research, have been discussed in the concluding section of this paper.
Profitability and market share: A reflection on the functional relationship
Authors: Schwalbach Joachim
Published: May 2007

The paper analyzes the functional relationship between profitability and market share for type of businesses in the PIMS data base. Although a linear relationship has been imposed in other studies, our result shows that empirically it seems a poor representation of the data. In addition, three observations seem to be most evident. First, small‐share businesses were not per se less successful than larger business units. In the service market and the market for raw or semi‐finished materials small‐share businesses were just as profitable or even more profitable than larger business units. Second, some businesses were ‘stuck in the middle’, which was most evident in the service market but also in the retail and wholesale markets. Third, very large‐share businesses were often less profitable. A critical market share was identified as between 65 and 70 percent. Beyond that level the ROI decreased.
Strategic decision models: Integrating different perspectives
Authors: Hitt Michael A. , Tyler Beverly B.
Published: May 2007

Different perspectives of strategic decision‐making and outcomes have been advanced in the literature. Among those are the rational normative, external control, and strategic choice models. The current research examined hypothesized effects of factors associated with these three perspectives on strategic acquisition decisions. Strong support was found for the rational/analytical normative choice perspective with objective criteria explaining the greatest amount of total explained variance in evaluation of target firms. However, industry and executive characteristics also produced main effects on target firm evaluations. Furthermore, the strategic decision models were found to vary by industry and executive characteristics of age, educational degree type, amount and type of work experience, and level (CEO and below). The results suggest that strategic decision models are quite complex with significant implications for future research and for strategic decision‐making.
Loop‐based strategic decision support systems
Authors: Merten Peter P.
Published: May 2007

This paper gives an introduction to a recently developed strategic decision support methodology, which makes it possible to represent rule‐setting and rule‐fulfilling decision‐making processes in companies with their structural and behavioral differences. This new methodology also allows us to simulate evolutionary processes in company systems based on these two forms of decision‐making. The new strategic decision support methodology combines the continuous feedback loop concept of system dynamics with discontinuous logical loops, which we call spiral loops. The spiral loop concept, which is based on new developments in evolutionary theory and in the field of artificial intelligence, is used to represent the rule‐setting strategic decisions, which generate qualitative change and evolution. The continuous feedback loop concept is used to model the rule‐fulfilling policy decisions of companies, which can generate quantitative changes in interaction processes. In order to demonstrate how loop‐based strategic decision support systems work in principle we show the ‘portfolio simulation model,’ which helps us to explain and to design the evolution of multibusiness firms in duopoly markets.
Joint ventures vs. Non‐joint ventures: An empirical investigation
Authors: Kent David H.
Published: May 2007

This paper describes a longitudinal empirical study comparing joint ventures and non‐joint ventures in the petroleum industry as they compete for oil and gas leases. Results indicate that, while enjoying a significant advantage in market power, joint ventures do not perform any better than non‐joint ventures at identifying potentially productive leases. Because of the higher payments made for these leases, the overall performance of joint ventures is significantly lower than that of non‐joint ventures.
Toward a theory of competitive market signaling: A research agenda
Authors: Heil Oliver , Robertson Thomas S.
Published: May 2007

Competitive market signals are conceptualized as announcements or previews of potential actions intended to convey or to gain information from competitors. This paper develops a set of propositions based on research in economics, social psychology, and marketing on the risk/reward trade‐off in signaling, the receiver's signal interpretation, and the receiver's reaction alternatives. The overall objective is to develop a research agenda toward a theory of competitive market signaling.
Country—specific advantage and international cooperation
Authors: Shan Weijian , Hamilton William
Published: May 2007

This paper tests the hypothesis that country‐specific advantage embedded in firms of a particular nationality is a motivation for international interfirm cooperation. A sample of domestic and international cooperative relationships formed by Japanese firms in the commercialization of biotechnology is used to identify factors which differentiate domestic from foreign partners. The findings support our hypothesis that country‐specific advantage is a significant variable in explaining differences between cooperative relationships with partners of different countries. The results of this study indicate that interfirm cooperation has implications for the international competitiveness of both firms and nations in high technology industries.
Identifying mobility barriers
Authors: Caves Richard E. , Ghemawat Pankaj
Published: May 2007

This paper uses a new (PIMS) research data base to identify the mobility barriers–the factors associated with sustained intraindustry profit differentials–in a cross‐section of industries. The exercise suggests that differentiation‐related factors play more of a role in generating intraindustry profit differentials than do cost‐related ones. It also indicates that differentiation‐related advantages tend to be absorbed into fatter margins and (in some instances) larger maket shares, while cost‐related advantages are taken primarily in the form of increases in market share.
The diffusion of technological innovation in the commercial banking industry
Authors: Pennings Johannes M. , Harianto Farid
Published: May 2007

This paper examines the propensity of organizations to adopt technological innovations. Technological innovations evolve from the stock of skills which organizations have accumulated over time. Linkages with extramural sources of technology are presumed to be important as well. Hypotheses are tested on a sample of commercial banks. Findings show that prior experience in information technology, in tandem with a variety of interfirm linkages, will affect the banks' decision to adopt this innovation.
Organizational alignment as competitive advantage
Authors: Powell Thomas C.
Published: May 2007

In explaining financial performance variance, strategic management researchers and industrial organization economists have emphasized industry factors, market share, generic strategy, and strategic group membership, whereas organizational contingency theorists have emphasized alignments involving environment and internal structure. This study integrates these perspectives, testing the financial performance consequences of organizational alignments, in context with the effects of industry, market share, and strategy. In an empirical study in two manufacturing industries, it is shown that some organizational alignments do produce supernormal profits, independent of the profits produced by traditional industry and strategy variables. The results are consistent with the resource view of the firm: to the extent that alignments result from skill rather than luck, it is reasonable to regard alignment skill as a strategic resource capable of generating economic rents. The article suggests that, by focusing on industry and competitive strategy variables, contemporary industrial organization and strategy research has understated the role of organizational factors in producing sustainable competitive advantage.
Buyer‐supplier relations in the UK ‐ automotive industry: Strategic implications of the Japanese manufacturing model
Authors: Turnbull Peter , Oliver Nick , Wilkinson Barry
Published: May 2007

This paper documents the adoption of the Japanese model of manufacturing in the U.K. motor industry. Internal developments by the vehicle assemblers and their suppliers are examined. It is argued that the Japanese model involves very high intra‐ and interorganizational dependencies. Although this does not cause problems in Japan due to the structure of the Japanese motor industry, the structure of the UK vehicle industry presents severe obstacles to the successful use of Japanese methods. Pursuit of the pure Japanese model within the existing industry structure appears to be fraught with problems. Moreover, such an exercise risks sweeping away potential strengths of the existing structure.
Cultural differences and shareholder value in related mergers: Linking equity and human capital
Authors: Chatterjee Sayan , Lubatkin Michael H. , Schweiger David M. , Weber Yaakov
Published: May 2007

Merger literature suggests that the relationship between shareholder gains and the relatedness of merging firms is contingent upon the compatibility of the two firms' top management cultures. This hypothesis is tested by surveying the perceptions of cultural differences of top management teams of recently acquired firms, and then relating these perceptions to related stock market gains to the buying firms. The findings suggest a strong inverse relationship between perceptions of cultural differences and shareholder gains, after controlling for perceptions of the buying firm's tolerance for multiculturalism and the relative size of the merging firms.
Strategic momentum: The effects of repetitive, positional, and contextual momentum on merger activity
Authors: Amburgey Terry L. , Miner Anne S.
Published: May 2007

This paper defines and examines three types of strategic momentum. Repetitive momentum occurs when organizations repeat previous strategic actions. Postitional momentum occurs when organizations take actions that sustain or extend existing strategic positions. Contextual momentum occurs when general traits, such as organizational structure, shape strategic action in a consistent fashion. Event‐history analysis of 262 large firms over a 29‐year period indicates that: (1) the occurrence of mergers tends to increase the rate of mergers of the same type (repetitive momentum), and (2) organizational decentralization increases the rate of diversifying mergers (contextual momentum). Product market diversification was found to increase the probability of product extension mergers but not conglomerate mergers, only partly confirming positional momentum. The results indicate that internal momentum can affect merger activity, and suggest the importance of continuing research on the role of inertia in organizational adaptation.
A taxonomy of business‐level strategies in global industries
Authors: Morrison Allen J. , Roth Kendall
Published: May 2007

This study presents a taxonomy of business‐level strategies in global industries. Empirical data suggest there are four broad strategies: domestic product niche, exporting high quality offerings, international product innovation, and quasi‐global combination. A discussion of the characteristics and performance differentials of each strategy type is provided as well.
Spin‐off performance: A case of overstated expectations?
Authors: Woo Carolyn Y. , Willard Gary E. , Daellenbach Urs. S.
Published: May 2007

While the impact of divestitures on parent firms has been extensively studied, little attention has been given to the performance of the divested units. Previous research has found that spin‐offs and sell‐offs were associated with significant positive cumulative abnormal returns. However, these studies have not identified whether these benefits were expected to accrue to the divesting firm, the divested unit, or both. Specifically, this study examined the performance as autonomous firms of a sample of 51 voluntary spin‐offs by nonfinancial firms across a 6‐year period. Three accounting and financial market measures were tracked from 2 years prior to divestiture through the first three years of independence. No change in pre‐ and post‐spin‐off performances was observed except for the decline in profitability return on assets (ROA). The effect of relatedness between the parent company and the spinoff was also examined. Divested units which were unrelated to their parents prior to spinoff reported deterioration in performance. Implications for divestiture and restructuring programs are developed.
The three faces of corporate renewal: Institution, revolution, and evolution
Authors: Mezias Stephen J. , Glynn Mary Ann
Published: May 2007

We examine corporate renewal by taking a structural approach and focusing on the routines and rules that are part of large, established, bureaucratic organizations. We characterize approaches to the management of innovation in terms of three different themes–institutional, revolutional, and evolutional strategies. The first two approaches involve intentional efforts to encourage innovation, either within the current organizational paradigm (institutionalizing innovation) or moving away from it (revolutionary innovation), while the evolutional approach involves less conscious efforts to manage what is viewed as a random, probabilistic process. This paper uses simulation methodology to explore the effectiveness of these strategies on organizational innovation, performance, and resources. The behavior of the simulated organizational units is guided by assumptions of a learning model. Results indicate that innovation strategies sometimes have unintended effects that are both positive and negative in nature. Several lessons on managing innovation are offered.
Strategic groups: A cognitive perspective
Authors: Reger Rhonda K. , Huff Anne Sigismund
Published: May 2007

The strategic group concept provides an attractive middle ground between firm and industry for both theory development and empirical analysis. To date, this concept has been defined by researchers in terms of secondary accounting and financial data, and a number of critics have questioned the validity of this work. Our research shows that industry participants share perceptions about strategic commonalities among firms, and that participants cluster competitors in subtle ways not reflected in extant academic research on strategic groups. Decision makers' perceptions and cognitions are phenomena that can be expected to influence industry evolution. They are of research interest as an additional source of data on firm commonalities which helps address concerns about previous strategic group research.
Bankruptcy as a deliberate strategy: Theoretical considerations and empirical evidence
Authors: Moulton Wilbur N. , Thomas Howard
Published: May 2007

Bankruptcy and bankruptcy reorganizations have been identified as remedies for financial distress, but there is little agreement on their value to firms, managers, and the general economy. This paper provides a brief review of proposed bankruptcy strategies and some alternative views about their costs and benefits followed by an empirical study of the outcomes of 73 bankruptcies and subsequent reorganization efforts. The evidence suggests that there are few successful reorganizations, bankruptcy is a costly response to financial distress, and managerial choice in bankrupt firms is highly constrained by forces external to the firm. The diversity of stakeholder interests limits the value of global judgements about success or failure of bankruptcy strategies. Firm size dominates all other factors in predicting success in completing the reorganization process. Delayed filings primarily reflect failed efforts to avoid bankruptcy, not deliberate strategies. Reasons for the use of bankruptcy in spite of its high costs are discussed.
Entrepreneurship and the concept of fit: A model and empirical tests
Authors: Naman John L , Slevin Dennis P.
Published: May 2007

This paper reports the results of a study designed to investigate entrepreneurship and ‘fit’ in small and medium sized high technology manufacturing firms. A normative model of fit has been developed, which including the variables of entrepreneurial style, organizational structure, and mission strategy, determines a measure of the firm's fit with its environment. The normative model of fit proposed here is based on variables and relationships found to be important in previous empirical studies. Data on environmental turbulence, entrepreneurial style, organization structure, mission strategy, and financial performance were collected from 82 manufacturing firms. A measure of fit was calculated for each firm. Findings indicate that performance among firms was positively related to the measurement of fit. In short, fit is an important construct for firm success. Implications include prescriptive guidance to assist practitioners in diagnosing and correcting ‘misfit’ for individual firms.
Technology's varying impact on the success of strategic business units within the miles and snow typology
Authors: Dvir Dov , Segev Eli , Shenhar Aaron
Published: May 2007

The high‐tech industry is usually treated as an homogeneous entity, without differentiating between organizations according to the relative importance of technology in their business strategy. This paper investigates the varying impact of technology on the success of strategic business units within the Miles and Snow typology. Although common wisdom might lead to the conclusion that prospectors are more dependent on technological progress than the other strategic types, the results show rather that the influence is greater and more fruitful for the defenders both in the short and the long term.
Multiple scenario development: Its conceptual and behavioral foundation
Authors: Schoemaker Paul J. H.
Published: May 2007

This paper examines the multiple scenario approach as an important corporate innovation in strategic planning. Using a participant/observer perspective, I examine how scenario planning tries to meet certain methodological, organizational and psychological challenges facing today's senior managers. Three prime characteristics are identified as setting the scenario approach apart from more traditional planning tools: (1) the script or narrative approach, (2) uncertainty across rather than within models, and (3) the decomposition of a complex future into discrete states. After exploring the intellectual roots of scenario planning, I examine such organizational aspects as the need for diversity of views and the importance of simplicity and manageability. Both benefits and obstacles to using scenarios in organizations are identified. Cognitive biases are examined as well, especially the well‐known biases of overconfidence and the conjunction fallacy. Two experiments test the impact of scenarios on people's subjective confidence ranges. Another two experiments test the internal coherence of subjects' beliefs. The psychological benefit of scenario planning appears to tie in the exploitation of one set of biases (e.g., conjunction fallacies) to counteract another (such as overconfidence).
Changing competitive dynamics in network industries: An exploration of sun microsystems' open systems strategy
Authors: Garud Raghu , Kumaraswamy Arun
Published: May 2007

An integral part of competition is to deny rivals access to proprietary technical knowledge. Yet, Sun Microsystems provides rivals easy access to its technical knowledge and encourages them to enter its workstation market. This paper employs theoretical insights on technological systems and network externalities to understand Sun's open systems strategy. The paper also explores the changing nature of competition in network industries–industries characterized by network externalities and built around technological systems.
Environment‐strategy relationship and its performance implications: An empirical study of the chinese electronics industry
Authors: Justin Tan J. , Litsschert Robert J.
Published: May 2007

This study examined the strategy‐environment‐performance paradigm in a centrally plannedeconomy (People's Republic of China) in transition to a more market‐driven economy. Based on a survey of top Chinese managers in the electronics industry, it was found that during this course of transformation, firms exhibited distinctive strategies despite a long tradition of central planning, and these strategies were signijcantly related to perceived environmental uncertainty. Specifically, managers perceptions of increased environmental uncertainty were found to be negatively related to proactive strategies and positively related to defensive strategies. Defensive strategies were also linked to higher performance.
New venture strategies: Theory development with an empirical base
Authors: Carter Nancy M. , Stearns Timothy M. , Reynolds Paul D. , Miller Brenda A.
Published: May 2007

The strategy focus of over 2500 new ventures across six different industries was examined to identify what dimensions coalesce into distinct configurations. The supposition that traditional strategy typologies are inadequate to describe the breadth of differentiation exhibited among new ventures was supported. Factor and cluster analysis revealed six generic new venture strategy archetypes that can be distinguished along two dimensions; scope of segmentation, and product vs. marketing emphasis. The extent to which the archetypes tend to dominate in different industries was found to vary according to the industry's position on the industry supply chain. Strategies with a narrow scope of segmentation tended to prevail in industries near the end of the supply chain, whereas those that adopted a broad approach tended to predominate in industries near the beginning or middle of the supply chain.
Competitive attack, retaliation and performance: An expectancy‐valence framework
Authors: Chen Ming‐Jer , Miller Danny
Published: May 2007

This research examines how competitive attacks can best reduce the chances of retaliation. An expectancy–valence model is developed that views retaliation as a function of the subtlety of an attack: that is, its visibility, the difficulty rivals might have in responding to it in kind, and the importance or ‘centrality’ to rivals of the market under siege. Motivational theories suggest that all three of these independent variables need to be in place in order to elicit a response—or conversely, that low visibility, substantial response difficulty, or minimal centrality would each by itself be enough to prevent retaliation. This notion was not supported. Each one of the independent variables could serve as the ‘weak link of the chain,’ increasing the chances of retaliation. However, as predicted by expectancy theory, these variables selectively demonstrated some interactions that compound the threat of retaliation. In combination, high visibility and low levels of difficulty were especially likely to evoke responses from rivals. Finally, there appears to be a real incentive to avoid retaliation given its negative associations with performance.
Goal configuration in a global industry context
Authors: Roth Kendall , Ricks David A.
Published: May 2007

This study analyzes the goal configuration of 126 firms, based in Japan, U.K. and U.S., competing in global industries. The results indicate that firm nationality and internationalization do not affect the firm's goal configuration. The breadth of the firm's reward system was found to be related positively to a dispersed goal configuration and, within global and multifocal industry segments, a congruence between goal configuration and industry position was found to be associated positively with performance.
A methodological note on diversity measurement
Authors: Hall Ernest H. , St. John Caron H.
Published: May 2007

This research addresses the question, do categorical and continuous measures capture the same construct of diversity? Using analysis of variance, cluster analysis, and discriminant analysis, we investigated whether continuous measures (entropy and product count) differentiate between diversification categories, whether continuous measures converted to categories and subjectively assigned categories classified companies similarly, and whether continuous and categorical measures predicted similar diversity–performance relationships. We concluded that the techniques were associated but did not yield the same performance predictions. For researchers investigating diversity–performance relationships, choice of measurement technique will influence research results. Our research results suggest that attempts to combine categorical and continuous techniques as a way to overcome the limitations of both methods is not appropriate.
Strategy as moral philosophy
Authors: Singer Alan E.
Published: May 2007

A conceptual framework of ‘Strategy as Moral Philosophy’ is developed, with the corporation cast as a Moral Agent. This framework represents a counterpart, at the level of strategic management, to an emerging integration of economics with ethics at the aggregate level. Several implications are traced out for strategic management theories, practices, problems and pedagogy.
Choice situation, strategy, and performance: A reexamination
Authors: Marlin Dan , Lamont Bruce T. , Hoffman James J.
Published: May 2007

This study further examines strategy and performance relationships between and within situations of varying strategic choice and environmental determinism. Contrary to Lawless and Finch's (1989) previous test of Hrebiniak and Joyce's (1985) dynamic, interactive view of organizational adaptation, the results are more in line with the theory. Some discrepancies are found, however, suggesting useful issues and hypotheses for future research.
The effects of board size and diversity on strategic change
Authors: Goodstein Jerry , Gautam Kanak , Boeker Warren
Published: May 2007

This study examines an important potential conflict between the institutional, governance, and strategic functions of boards. We specifically test how higher levels of board size and diversity, traditionally associated with optimal institutional and governance performance of boards, affect the boards ability to initiate strategic changes during periods of environmental turbulence. Our findings suggest that board diversity, in particular, may be a significant constraint on strategic change.
Exploring strategic judgment: Methods for testing the assumptions of prescriptive contingency theories
Authors: Priem Richard L. , Harrison David A.
Published: May 2007

Several generally untested assumptions about strategic judgment and choice exist in strategic management theories. Direct examination of these assumptions is necessary for sound theory building, and for sound prescription based on current theory. This paper presents techniques for eliciting and analyzing the strategic judgments of strategy makers, and discusses the potential of these techniques for increasing the internal validity and practical relevance of strategy research. We argue that incorporating managerial judgment more directly into the mainstream of strategy research will lead to both new theory and the extension of existing theory.
Board control and ceo compensation
Authors: Boyd Brian K.
Published: May 2007

The board of directors has been identified as a key internal control mechanism for setting CEO compensation. Theory suggests that CEOs will attempt to circumvent board control in an effort to maximize salary. This hypothesis was tested using a sample of 193 firms in a cross‐section of industries. Corporate governance literature was reviewed to develop a multiple indicator measure of board control. Although, as hypothesized, CEO salaries were greater in firms with lower levels of control, CEO compensation was not significantly related to firm size or profitability.
Regulatory change, constraints on adaptation and organizational failure: An empirical analysis of acute care hospitals
Authors: Gruca Thomas S. , Nath Deepika
Published: May 2007

The advent of the Medicare prospective payment system (PPS) in 1983 affected individual general hospitals in varying degrees based on their revenue and cost structures. These same factors served to constrain a hospital's ability to adapt to the post‐PPS environment. The three constraints are based on the proportion of the hospital's private‐pay (non‐Medicare/Medicaid) patients, economies of scale and economies of scope among medical services. We test the relationship between these constraints and organizational failure in the Chicago area. Hospitals selected out of the new environment (1986‐91) were at a significant relative disadvantage with respect to the proposed constraints.
Transformative capacity: Continual structuring by intertemporal technology transfer
Authors: Garud Raghu , Nayyar Praveen R.
Published: May 2007

The ability to maintain internally developed technology over time is important for corporate vitality. We label this ability transformative capacity and suggest that it depends on how well a firm accomplishes three tasks, These tasks are: the choice of technologies, their maintenance over time, and their reactivation and synthesis when required. To establish the need for transformative capacity, we first discuss time lags in the development of technologies and markets to suggest that not all technologies developed by firms can be utilized immediately. We then examine dimensions of technological knowledge that affect knowledge transfer over time. Next, we build on the resource‐based view of the firm to discuss how firms can create transformative capacity. The concluding discussion focuses on the implications of transformative capacity for the analysis and management of technological investments as a way to maintain corporate vitality.
Retrenchment: Cause of turnaround or consequence of decline?
Authors: Barker Vincent L. , Mone Mark A.
Published: May 2007

In a recent investigation of the turnaround attempts of 32 U.S. textile firms, Robbins and Pearce (1992) concluded that retrenchment is an integral component of successful recovery from decline. In this note we critique, replicate and provide an alternative explanation for their findings using data from the same sample of firms attempting turnarounds. Based on our analyses, we find that little evidence exists to support the assertion that retrenchment is integral to turnaround. We conclude by offering several recommendations for turnaround researchers.
Stock market reactions to customer service changes
Authors: Nayyar Praveen R.
Published: May 2007

Stock market reactions to a sample of customer service changes reported during 1981‐91 were investigated. Customer service increases (decreases) were positively (negatively) valued. Stock market reactions varied depending on specific customer service actions and, therefore, on the four customer service objectives pursued.
Cost reductions or reputation enhancement as motives for mergers: The logic of multihospital systems
Authors: Dranove David , Shanley Mark
Published: May 2007

This paper examines two motives for the formation of local multihospital systems: cost reduction and reputation enhancement. Systems may reduce costs by eliminating redundancies and reducing administrative costs. Integration may also lower costs for consumers seeking consistently high qualiiy. We hypothesize that if systems achieve either cost or reputation benefits, then member hospitals will ‘look’ different from random collections of hospitals. We find that local systems do not appear to have lower costs but do appear to enjoy reputation benefits over nonsystem hospitals. Our findings challenge the assumptions behind popular health reform initiatives.