Karen L. Middleton

Are N+1 heads better than one?: The case of mutual fund managers

Abstract Recent studies find that mutual funds exhibit differential and persistent performance which is frequently attributed to superior managerial decision making. We extend the literature by examining the impact of the fund’s management structure on performance outcomes. Specifically, we examine directly whether superior outcomes, in terms of risk-adjusted returns, may be explained by behavioral decision making theory that asserts that teams make better decisions than individuals. Empirical results are consistent with the classical decision making theory and the efficient market hypothesis.

An Empirical Investigation of Sexual Harassers: Toward a Perpetrator Typology

This study used published arbitration decisions as a data source to explore identifiable behavioral patterns of sexual harassment perpetrators. The results of the multi-method analysis generally supported the need to distinguish between different types of perpetrators and provided the basis for a new typology of sexual harassers. Two dominant themes emerged around the number of targets and the nature of the harassing behavior. Some harassers appear to target a small number of victims persistently, while others appeared to harass any and all targets whenever possible. Whereas some harassers engaged in very sexualized behaviors, others seem to prefer aggressive actions. A discussion of research and managerial implications focuses on the importance of distinguishing between different types of sexual harassers.

Information and communications technology adoption and use in small and medium businesses

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine the influence of Hispanic ethnicity on the adoption and use of information and communication technology (ICT) tools by small‐ and medium‐sized enterprises (SMEs) in a southwestern renewal community (RC).Design/methodology/approach – The paper investigates the influence of ethnicity on the adoption and use of information and communications technologies in small and medium enterprises using a sample from the RC of a large southwestern metroplex.Findings – Results point to a continuing digital divide among Hispanic and non‐Hispanic SME owners. Non‐Hispanic SME owners were found to be much more likely to adopt a wider range of ICTs and to use them for both administrative and analytical purposes. Hispanic SME owners not only failed to adopt a full range of ICTs but also they were less likely to use ICTs for long‐term strategic analyses.Originality/value – The differences presented in this paper suggest that Hispanic SME owners may not be exploiting ICTs in orde...

Are N+1 heads better than one? The timing and selectivity of Australian-managed investment funds

Many studies find that mutual funds exhibit differential and persistent performance. This differential performance could arise from superior managerial decisions regarding security selection, market timing, or both. We directly test security selection and market timing ability using opposing decision-making models, the classical and behavioural decision-making theories. Empirical results are consistent with the classical decision-making theory and Ž.

Assurance of Learning and the MFT: Closing the Loops With an Online Review

The authors describe the four stages of the closing the loop process undertaken by a college of business (COB) over a 6-year period. The COB developed and offered an online, noncredit review course to help students prepare for the Major Field Test in Business (MFT). Early results demonstrated the efficacy of the course as student scores rose from the 40th percentile to the 65th percentile. The authors analyze stage 4 data to determine the relationship between the online review and MFT performance. Results suggest the impact of the online review course diminishes as overall performance increases. Assessment outcomes may be influenced by the number of Hispanic and international students taking the MFT.

Globalization and women’s and girls’ health in 192 UN-member countries

Purpose - – The purpose of this paper is to explore the relationship between the ratification of the United Nations’ (UN’s) Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) and women’s and girls’ health outcomes using a unique longitudinal data set of 192 UN-member countries that encompasses the years from 1980 to 2011. Design/methodology/approach - – The authors focus on the impact of CEDAW ratification, number of reports submitted after ratification, years passed since ratification, and the dynamic impact of CEDAW ratification by utilizing ordinary least squares (OLS) and panel fixed effects methods. The study investigates the following women’s and girls’ health outcomes: total fertility rate, adolescent fertility rate, infant mortality rate, maternal mortality ratio, neonatal mortality rate, female life expectancy at birth (FLEB), and female to male life expectancy at birth. Findings - – The OLS and panel country and year fixed effects models provide evidence that the impact of CEDAW ratification on women’s and girls’ health outcomes varies by global regions. While the authors find no significant gains in health outcomes in European and North-American countries, the countries in the Northern Africa, sub-Saharan Africa, Southern Africa, Caribbean and Central America, South America, Middle-East, Eastern Asia, and Oceania regions experienced the biggest gains from CEDAW ratification, exhibiting reductions in total fertility, adolescent fertility, infant mortality, maternal mortality, and neonatal mortality while also showing improvements in FLEB. The results provide evidence that both early commitment to CEDAW as measured by the total number of years of engagement after the UN’s 1980 ratification and the timely submission of mandatory CEDAW reports have positive impacts on women’ and girls’ health outcomes. Several sensitivity tests confirm the robustness of main findings. Originality/value - – This study is the first comprehensive attempt to explore the multifaceted relationships between CEDAW ratification and female health outcomes. The study significantly expands on the methods of earlier research and presents novel methods and findings on the relationship between CEDAW ratification and women’s health outcomes. The findings suggest that the impact of CEDAW ratification significantly depends on the country’s region. Furthermore, stronger engagement with CEDAW (as indicated by the total number of years following country ratification) and the submission of the required CEDAW reports (as outlined in the Convention’s guidelines) have positive impacts on women’s and girls’ health outcomes.