Mark Fichman

Role of Individual Attachments in the Dissolution of Interorganizational Relationships

In this study, we propose that changes affecting the resource fit between organizations exchanging resources provide an impetus for the dissolution of their relationships, whereas the individual an...

Multiple Imputation for Missing Data: Making the most of What you Know

Missing data are a common problem in organizational research. Missing data can occur due to attrition in a longitudinal study or nonresponse to questionnaire items in a laboratory or field setting. Improper treatments of missing data (e.g., listwise deletion, mean imputation) can lead to biased statistical inference using complete case analysis statistical techniques. This article presents a simulation and data analysis case study using a method for dealing with missing data, multiple imputation, that allows for valid statistical inference with complete case statistical analysis. Software for implementing multiple imputation under a multivariate normal model is freely and widely available (e.g., NORM, SAS, SOLAS). It should be routinely considered for imputing missing data. The authors illustrate the application of this technique using data from the HomeNet project.

To centralize or not to centralize: The effects of uncertainty and threat on group structure and performance

Abstract The effects of uncertainty and threat upon the centralization of group communication structures were investigated in a laboratory study. The performance of these groups was also analyzed. Uncertainty was manipulated by varying stimulus ambiguity; threat was manipulated by varying the possibility of loss and the use of time reminders. Results indicate that group structures became differentiated over time with groups in the high uncertainty, low threat condition showing the greatest degree of centralization. Centralization appeared to be associated with the experience of tension: subjects in the high uncertainty, low threat condition reported the highest degree of tension. Uncertainty had a negative effect on performance. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.

Trust Across Borders: Buyer-Supplier Trust in Global Business-to-Business E-Commerce

This study focuses on trust formation and development in global buyer-supplier relationships. Trust affects all business relationships, especially global business-to-business (B2B) transactions due to the distances between buyers and suppliers. We use information signaling theory to examine how information indices and signals affect buyers’ trust in suppliers in global B2B commerce. Specifically, we examine how buyers’ trust is affected by (1) their perceptions of the national integrity and legal structure of suppliers’ country, and (2) third-party verifications of suppliers on B2B exchanges. Because buyer-supplier relationships usually evolve over time, we study how the effects of indices and signals change as the number of transactions between the partners increases. A survey of global organizational buyers finds that perceptions of national integrity, legal structure, and supplier verifications are all positively related to buyers’ trust. However, the number of prior transactions between buyers and suppliers moderates the impact of perceived legal structure on buyers’ trust.

When threats and encouragements are effective in bargaining: The case of credit collectors

We hypothesise that the effectiveness of threats and encouragements is contingent on the intended recipients level of negative affect, as evidenced by his/her negative affective display. Therefore, bargainers can be more effective if, as they make offers, they condition any threats or encouragements on the recipients affective display. We test this hypothesis using 5561 verbal exchanges that occurred during 192 telephone conversations between credit collectors and debtors. Collectors were most effective in motivating debtors to discuss terms to resolve their debt if they: (1) threatened recipients who were nonresponsive and did not show any negative affect; and (2) encouraged recipients who displayed negative affect. This result suggests that making threats and encouragements contingent on a recipients displays of negative affect may be an important but frequently overlooked component of bargaining.

Three point shooting and efficient mixed strategies: A portfolio management approach

Using mean/variance investment theory, we identify the efficient mixed shot type strategy for National Basketball Association (NBA) teams. The proportion of 3-point shots in this mixed strategy closely tracks risk and the change in expected points from 1979–2014. We then extend this approach to an individual team level for both offense and defense. This measures both the risk associated with implementing a mixed strategy (for and against an individual team) and the implied shot type efficiency for offense and defense. It is the latter, shot type efficiency, which predicts winning and winning point differential.

Software reuse and competition: Consumer preferences in a software component market

Research on software reuse has traditionally focused on reuse among employees within the same organization. In contrast, our research investigates consumer preferences in a software component market with multiple producers and consumers of software components. We propose that empirically studying competition in software component markets is crucial to discovering success factors for improving software reuse. To facilitate such research, we have developed an experimental market laboratory called SofTrade; we report here the results of two empirical studies made possible by this environment. Our results support some existing reuse maxims, such as the concept that consumers prefer to reuse components that are general and flexible. Other established reuse beliefs are not supported by our results, such as the expectation that consumers will prefer objects with unique, complex features. Overall, the research reported here strongly supports the claim that the practice of exploring software reuse activity within real or artificial software component markets produces unique insights into how we can improve software reuse.

Examining animated algorithms: the role of problem domain experience and problem representation in rule development

One of the key activities in designing software is developing explicit rules or theories about the problem domain. We investigated two factors expected to influence rule development the designer’s level of prior experience in the problem domain and the designer’s problem representation. Our experimental results indicate that higher problem domain experience enhances subjects’ ability to effectively consider multiple problem domain constraints and improves the likelihood of writing correct rules. Alternative problem representations focused subjects’ attention toward or away fmm tractable units of analysis for writing rules. However, our problem representation manipulation did not affect the success rate for writing correct rules.