Karen Strandholm

The moderating effect of national culture on the relationship between entrepreneurial orientation and strategic alliance portfolio extensiveness

This study examines the influence that national culture has on the relationship between entrepreneurial orientation and strategic alliance formation. Using a sample of small- to medium-sized enterprises located in Finland, Greece, Indonesia, Mexico, the Netherlands, and Sweden, we find that firms with higher levels of entrepreneurial orientation will use strategic alliances more extensively (i.e., use a greater number of agreements) than those firms with a weaker entrepreneurial orientation. Moreover, this relationship is strengthened in those countries that demonstrate either feminine or collective characteristics.

Examining the interrelationships among perceived environmental change, strategic response, managerial characteristics, and organizational performance

Abstract This study attempts to integrate compatible, yet fragmented research streams, related to the association among environmental change, managerial characteristics, strategic orientation, and organizational performance. By combining a variety of theoretical perspectives, an integrated framework is developed that examines these interrelationships. The results show that managerial perception of environmental change influences the strategic adaptive response of the organization and the selection of top managers. Further, it was found that organizations that are able to achieve the alignment among perceived environmental change–strategic adaptive response–managerial characteristics exhibit superior performance in terms of a variety of performance outcomes as compared to organizations where such alignment is lacking.

Market and efficiency-based strategic responses to environmental changes in the health care industry.

This study examined the linkages between perceived environmental changes in the health care industry, corresponding strategic adaptations, and their impact on select performance measures as reported by managers. Results from a sample of 187 hospitals indicate that efficiency-oriented strategy is chosen more often by organizations that perceive their industry environment to be relatively stable and certain while market-focused strategies are chosen more often by organizations that perceive greater environmental instability and uncertainty.

The role of organizational competencies in the market‐orientation‐performance relationship: An empirical analysis

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine the specific ways in which market orientation of an organization contributes to the creation of organizational competencies that lead to superior performance.Design/methodology/approach – Survey data from 159 acute care hospitals were statistically analyzed to test the research hypotheses.Findings – Market orientation makes a significant contribution to the creation of a number of organizational competencies which, in turn, lead to superior performance in the areas of cost containment, growth in revenue, success in retaining patients, and success of new services.Originality/value – Given the changing competitive landscape in the health care industry, managers of these organizations are increasingly being forced to recognize organizational competencies so that they can leverage them for market success. A set of competencies leads to the organization becoming market orientated. Market orientation, in turn, leads to organizational success in a variety of areas.

Developing an Undergraduate Assessment Test: A Mechanism for Faculty Feedback About Retention

A regional business school chose to self develop an assessment test of the fundamental concepts of the undergraduate business core. Above and beyond the demands of AACSB accreditation, faculty identified feedback from such a test as an essential precursor to changing both overall curriculum and individual class content. The authors describe the methodology used to construct this instrument. Internal consistencies and validities of the resulting test compared favorably with those of commercially constructed tests. The authors discuss the methodology and results of the test validation process as well.

American Business Education—Effect on the Ethical Orientation of Foreign Students

Abstract In this study, the authors examined the association between American business education and changes in the ethical orientations of foreign business students. Significant differences in ethical orientation were found between newly arrived foreign students and foreign students who had spent considerable time studying in the United States (older foreign students). The authors compared the ethical orientations of older foreign students with those of American students to examine the degree of convergence in their approach to ethical issues. Results suggest that, after spending considerable time studying in U.S. business schools, foreign students modified their ethical orientations to include the values and beliefs of the new social environment.

An educational option for those facing lay-off: a human capital perspective

This research assesses factors that affect the choice of an educational support severance package when an employee is offered an array of severance packages that also includes a lump-sum buyout and a retirement package. Hypotheses developed from human capital theory were tested using multinomial logistic regression. The sample comprised 446 current and former employees of a large unionized manufacturing firm. This sample is of interest because the jobs held by these individuals, manufacturing jobs with high wages and benefits, are rapidly disappearing. Results indicated that women were more likely to accept the educational option, as were younger and single respondents. Two groups who were not eligible for retirement were of particular interest in this study. Those who accepted the educational option and those who chose the lump-sum payment did not differ on educational attainment or tenure, but differed on age, partnered status, gender and salary.