Judy C. Nixon

Exploring SWOT analysis – where are we now?

Purpose – The purpose of this study is to examine the use of the strategic management tool, Strengths‐Weaknesses‐Opportunities‐Threats or SWOT analysis, and to assess how the methodology has been used as well as changes to the methodology. The findings both for and against SWOT analysis should lead to a balanced view of the technique as well as yield ideas for needed theory building.Design/methodology/approach – Using the ABInform Global® database, academic peer‐reviewed articles were compiled indicating SWOT as one of the articles key index and search words.Findings – The use of SWOT analysis continues to permeate the academic peer‐reviewed literature. Research supports SWOT analysis as a tool for planning purposes. Over the past decade, SWOT research has focused on analyzing organizations for recommended strategic actions. As a methodology for strategic positioning, SWOT analysis has been extended beyond companies to countries and industries and is used in virtually every published business case positi...

Corporate universities vs higher education institutions

Corporate universities are not new, but have experienced tremendous growth during the last ten years. Predictions are that corporate universities will outnumber traditional colleges and universities within the next ten years. Reasons for the rapid growth are profiled in this article along with implications and challenges for both corporations and traditional universities. As an illustrative case, a partnering example between a corporate university and a traditional university is profiled. Costs and issues to consider in planning a corporate university are included. Changes underway at traditional universities and future implications conclude the article.

TQM Principles and Their Relevance to Higher Education: The Question of Tenure and Post-Tenure Review.

Total quality management (TQM) programs have been popularized for changing the culture and performance of service and manufacturing firms. These ubiquitous techniques have also been applied to educational settings to improve administrative processes but have found little success in improving the quality of faculty teaching, research, and service. Some colleges and universities have faced difficulties implementing TQM in these areas because of strong tenure systems in place. This article will review the history of tenure and post‐tenure review, the theory of TQM, the role of TQM in higher education, and finally how TQM can be implemented and even supported by tenure and post‐tenure programs. The article concludes with suggestions and changes educational institutions can adopt so tenure, post‐tenure review and TQM can work compatibly together.

Reason for cross‐cultural communication training

In this article, we examine the demographic changes in the American population and look at communication and culture to make cross‐cultural communications more effective by resolving the problems that occur when communicating between co‐cultures. Therefore, for comparison purposes, we will look at the three major co‐cultures (African American, Asian American, and Hispanic American) as they relate to communication and what is considered the majority culture, European American, and their respective communication patterns. Finally, the authors present guidelines for training programs.

Developing the “virtual” classroom: a business school example

Distance education and the concept of the virtual classroom is an area of considerable interest to educators and trainers alike. Charts the develop‐ment of a distance learning provision in an undergraduate School of Business Administration and discusses how the new teaching and learning strategies are now firmly part of the school. Discusses the mix of traditional teaching and distance learning and provides suggestions on how to use the technology in a broader context of training and professional development. Concludes with a discussion of the ways to overcome the barrier that students are taught rather than helped to learn. By relying almost exclusively on the case method of instruction, students or participants are forced to move from dependency to engage in problem solving, critical thinking, and experiential group exercises that will help them make decisions not only in the classroom session but also in business settings.

Intercultural Preparation for Managers Going to Japan

Today’s manager must be knowledgeable of the Japanese culture. Understanding the differences between the Japanese and American cultures’ non verbal communication systems is necessary for successful friendships and thus successful business transactions. Americans must learn how to comprehend the significance of important Japanese traditions; e.g., the bow, business card exchange, different meanings of eye contact, facial expressions, typical body gestures, tactile aspects, and time concepts.

WAYS TO ENCOURAGE ETHICAL CONDUCT AMONG MARKETING PROFESSIONALS

Presents a case for a written code of ethics and shows how this can be instituted in a company. Discusses implementation, communication and enforcement of a code.

Selected Data about Business Communication Courses in AACSB Schools.

We surveyed business communication instructors to gain more information about selected trends in business communication. We selected business communication instructors in American Assembly of Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) to gain insights to improve instruction in our courses. Because of the emphasis on quality education at the collegiate level, many schools seek to be accredited by AACSB. Since 1980, one requirement has been to include international topics. Therefore, we wondered

Integrating team‐teaching, technology and distance learning in MBA programmes: a case study

Chronicles the evolution to an integrated MBA at the University of Tennessee and relates a view of the team teaching experience and integration of technology. The cross‐functional teaching experiences illustrate the issues in working in a team while later sections summarize suggestions for duplication and implementation in other MBA programmes. Explores problems, issues, and barriers are along with grading and evaluation suggestions. Finally, compares student and faculty benefits and stresses the importance of administrative support to facilitate implementation.

An Evaluation of Business Communication and Business Policy/Strategic Planning Textbooks: Readability Measures.

business communication course and a capstone business policy/strategic planning course. Business Communication. The communication course is typically one of the first business courses students take, because it requires no other business prerequisites at most colleges and universities. This course concentrates on effective letter writing, report preparation and presentation, and other written and oral skills commonly used in business transactions and day-to-day work activities. Business communication also teaches students principles of writing, grammar, diction, and rhetoric as applied to business communication, mechanics, and psychology of business letters and long reports. This course should lead to success in other business