H. Joseph Murphy

TEST-RETEST RELIABILITY AND CONSTRUCT VALIDITY OF THE COGNITIVE STYLE INDEX FOR BUSINESS UNDERGRADUATES

The Cognitive Style Index was administered to 89 business undergraduates. Cronbach alpha and test-retest indicate reliabilities of scores for this group. The significant difference between mens and womens scores supports the construct validity of the Cognitive Style Index. Hypotheses regarding differences in scores across seniority in the business program and across areas of study were not supported.

Management Self-Development and Small Business Exploring Emergent Issues

Based on in-depth interviews with eight owners/managers, this paper examines the nature of management self-development in the small business sector. In comparison to management self-development in medium and large businesses, management self-development in small business tends to be accidental, highly interpersonal, and informal. Purveyors of management education and training should understand the nature of learning in small business. They should also consider helping small business owners/managers create, maintain and develop their own personal and professional networks.

Ridge contour related to esthetics and function

Maxillary anterior fixed prostheses may be compromised when pontics are adapted to deficient residual alveolar ridges. This study determined the effect of ridge contour on esthetics and function. Thirteen men and 17 women, 23 to 75 years of age, who had received maxillary anterior fixed prostheses during the period 1976 to 1986 participated. A six-item structured interview was conducted for each subject to determine causes of satisfaction or dissatisfaction with esthetics and function. Pontic esthetics were also determined by examination using a 12-point esthetic index that was developed and pretested for this study. Residual ridge contour was classified according to Siebert as being deficient buccolingually (I), deficient apicocoronally (II), or deficient in both areas in combination (III). The results showed that patients with class I ridges had a higher subjective level of satisfaction with their prosthesis than did those with class II or III ridges. Esthetic index scores were significantly higher (p less than 0.05) for type I (10) than for type II (7.4) or III (7.3) using a post hoc Scheffé comparison. These results suggest that consideration be given to ridge augmentation prior to construction of maxillary anterior fixed prostheses, particularly when class II or III defects are present.

SCORES ON THE GROUP EMBEDDED FIGURES TEST BY UNDERGRADUATES IN INFORMATION MANAGEMENT

The Group Embedded Figures Test was administered to 63 undergraduates in a program for a Bachelor of Applied Arts in Information Management. Distribution characteristics, sex differences, reliability, and internal consistency measures for this sample were compared with those for Witkins original sample. In addition, item difficulty and discrimination coefficients are provided. Scores for this group show desirable measurement characteristics.

OWNERS OF SMALL BUSINESSES: LEARNING STANCES AND SELF-DEVELOPMENT OF MANAGEMENT SKILLS '

The notion of taking a stance on learning within the broader process of self-development of management skills by small business owners was explored. Learning stance is defined as an individuals attitude toward learning and is an important but little-explored component of the “who” within the process of management self-development. Four different learning stances based on prior work of Miles and Snow, prospector, analyzer, defender, and reactor, were identified and their relationships to self-development of management discussed.

SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS/MANAGERS: TESTING THE FIT OF A MODEL FOR MANAGEMENT SELF DEVELOPMENT

ABSTRACT A model of management self development developed from the literature is presented. Based on in-depth interviews with eight owners/managers this paper examines the fit between the model and management self development in the small business sector. Results suggest a “loose” fit between the model and reality. The model has something to offer small business owners/managers in their development, but it may also be appropriate to develop a management self development model that better represents the small business sector.