Dan Marlin

Configurations of slack and their performance implications: an examination of high‐tech IPOs

Purpose – This study aims to improve the understanding of the relationship between organizational slack and firm performance for high technology initial public offerings (IPOs).Design/methodology/approach – Using cluster analysis the paper investigates configurations of slack and their associated performance implications.Findings – The findings indicate the existence of distinct configurations of slack resources and associated performance differences among the configurations. Implications of the findings for managerial practice and future research are discussed.Originality/value – The purpose of this study is to extend slack measurement research by examining the slack and performance relationship in high‐technology IPOs from a configurational perspective.

Strategic groups and performance in the nursing home industry: A reexamination

This study further examines the relationship between strategic group membership and performance in the nursing home industry. The results indicate seven strategic groups in the industry with significant between-group differences in operating margin, average profit per patient day, catheterization rate, health deficiencies, life and safety deficiencies, and efficiency in the provision of services. The authors did not, however, find significant between-group differences in pressure sore rate, the use of restraints, or in the percentage of patients with significant unplanned weight changes. The group with the highest private-pay utilization combined with high Medicare utilization generally performed the best along all indicators. Results also suggest that strategic group membership and rural/urban location have a greater impact on performance than do ownership, chain membership, or possession of a dedicated specialty care unit.

Team Culture and Business Strategy Simulation Performance

Many capstone strategic management courses use computer-based simulations as core pedagogical tools. Simulations are touted as assisting students in developing much-valued skills in strategy formation, implementation, and team management in the pursuit of superior strategic performance. However, despite their rich nature, little is known regarding the relationship between team-level attributes and simulation performance. This research reports the findings of a multiyear study that uncovered a clear link between specific team cultural values, as measured by the Competing Values Framework, and simulation performance. It then explores how these findings may influence the pedagogical use of simulations in the strategy classroom in areas ranging from using culture as a performance tool to diagnosis and training.

The organizational slack and performance relationship: a configurational approach

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to contribute to the organizational literature and improve the understanding of the slack and performance link by: examining the slack and performance relationship using a configurational approach and by considering equifinality and its possible effects on this relationship. Design/methodology/approach – Using cluster analysis, ANCOVA, and means comparisons this study identifies different configurations of slack and their associated performance implications. Findings – The results show that configurations with higher levels of slack outperform those with lower levels of slack suggesting a positive relationship between slack and firm performance. The findings also demonstrate that alternative configurations of slack can result in similar levels of performance suggesting the existence of equifinality in this relationship. Research limitations/implications – This study contributes to prior research by moving beyond traditional linear and contingency views of slack and c...

A typology of students based on academic entitlement.

ABSTRACT Two hundred ninety-three university business students were surveyed using an academic entitlement (AE) scale updated to include new technologies. Using factor analysis, three components of AE were identified: grade entitlement, behavioral entitlement, and service entitlement. A k-means clustering procedure was then applied to identify four groups based on the relative strength of the AE components: the model student, under the radar, instructor as servant, and the privileged. These groups were further characterized by additional demographic (i.e., parental income) and classroom variables (i.e., instructor response times). Findings can help business educators gain better insight into the AE construct and devise more effective instructional strategies.