Robert F. Scherer

Role Model Performance Effects on Development of Entrepreneurial Career Preference

Critics of the trait approach to the study of entrepreneurship have called for adaptation of theory from other disciplines to explain entrepreneurial behavior. This study responds by focusing on the first step in the process by which entrepreneurial career preference is developed. Social Learning Theory was used to investigate the link between a parent role model and development of preference for an entrepreneurial career. Results indicated that presence of a parent entrepreneurial role model was associated with increased education and training aspirations, task self-efficacy, and expectancy for an entrepreneurial career. Two dimensions of entrepreneurial career preference, entrepreneurial preparedness and expectancy, were identified.

An Analysis of the Predictive Validity of the New Ecological Paradigm Scale

Abstract The widely used New Environmental Paradigm (NEP) scale was recently revised to address concerns about its dimensionality and validity. As an ever larger number of researchers from an increasing variety of disciplines incorporate environmental issues into their research, the need for environmental concern measures such as the NEP will broaden. The authors evaluated the predictive validity of the original and revised versions of the NEP scale, some abbreviated NEP-derived scales, and a non-NEP environmental attitudes scale. All of these scales explained a significant amount of the variance in a measure of intention to engage in proenvi-ronmental behavior. Based on the results, the authors suggest how researchers should use these scales in their research.

DIMENSIONALITY OF COPING: FACTOR STABILITY USING THE WAYS OF COPING QUESTIONNAIRE

This study presents convergent support for the use of five empirically constructed factors from the “Ways of Coping Questionnaire.” Five coping factors were congruent with the factors reported in a study conducted by Folkman and Lazarus in 1985. The results support a concept of coping as defined by the factors, for student populations. Researchers need to explore different coping contexts to facilitate research and increase our knowledge of coping processes.

A Cross-Cultural Assessment of Three Theories of Pro-Environmental Behavior: A Comparison Between Business Students of Chile and the United States

We surveyed business students in the United States (n = 256) and Chile (n = 310) to compare three theories of pro-environmental behavior.We examined Ajzen and Fishbein’s theory of reasoned action, Schawartz’s norm activation theory, and the values-beliefs-norms theory created by Stern, Dietz, Abel, Guagnano, and Kalof. We produced reliable measures for both samples. Each theory explained a significant amount of the variance in behavioral intention, although no theory clearly dominated for either the United States or Chile. However, among the variables included among these theories, the norms variable consistently produced the strongest relationship with behavioral intention. We discuss avenues of future research focusing on norms and more parsimonious combinations of the variables across these three theories.

Developing Entrepreneurial Behaviours: A Social Learning Theory Perspective

Research on entrepreneurial behaviour has been largely descriptive in nature. Critics of the field have called for an interdisciplinary approach to build theory. A social learning theory framework is proposed for explanation and prediction of entrepreneurial development. Research questions are posed and a model developed to guide future enquiry.

The Enron Scandal and the Neglect of Management Integrity Capacity

The nature, value, and neglect of integrity capacity by managers and the adverse impacts that Enron executive practices have had on a range of stakeholders are delineated. An explanation is given on how moral competence in management practice is addressed by each dimension of the management integrity capacity construct (process, judgment, development, and system) and how Enron executive practices eroded each dimension. Specifically addressed is how behavioral and moral complexity can be utilized to balance the competing values of management and ethics theories to reduce the likelihood of future Enron‐like managerial malpractice. Finally, three positive action steps are recommended to improve managerial integrity capacity and remedies are proposed for victimized Enron stakeholders.

Understanding Cultural Differences in the Antecedents of Pro-Environmental Behavior: A Comparative Analysis of Business Students in the United States and Chile

We surveyed business students in the U. S. (n = 256) and Chile (n = 310). The survey included measures drawn from studies of pro-environmental behavior using Schwartzs norm activation theory (Schwartz, 1977), the theory of reasoned action (Ajzen & Fishbein, 1980), and a values-beliefs-norms model created by Stern, Dietz, Abel, Guagnano, and Kalof (1999). Our results show Chilean business students are more altruistic than business students in the United States and Chilean students felt stronger pressures from their peers to engage in pro-environmental behaviors. Chilean business students also expressed higher levels of awareness of environmental problems, a greater sense of obligation to protect the environment, a stronger willingness to limit property rights, and stronger intentions to engage in pro-environmental behavior.

Natural Capitalists: Increasing Business Students’ Environmental Sensitivity

Recently, management educators have proposed that colleges of business should enrich their curricula with environmental topics. However, there has been little research assessing how environmental materials affect business students. In this study, the authors examine the effect of a required course using six different measures of environmental concern. They found that business students expressed greater levels of environmental concern on each of the six measures at the end of this course. The authors discuss these results given the proposals to include environmental topics in business courses and suggest how to incorporate environmental materials into these courses.

A Global Comparison of Business Journal Ranking Systems

The authors compared business journal ranking systems from 6 countries. Results revealed a low degree of agreement among the systems, and a low to moderate relationship between pairs of systems. In addition, the French and United Kingdom ranking systems were different from each other and from the systems in Australia, Germany, Hong Kong, and the United States. The authors discuss results from a cultural embeddedness perspective. They provide conceptual implications and managerial implications for business schools.

Exploring Social Institutions Through the Films of Frederick Wiseman

Using film in the management classroom is a pedagogical technique that has been broadly employed to illustrate, for example, leadership, power, and influence tactics. The approach has the ability to provide stimuli to encourage observational learning by capturing the attention of students. The authors have developed an entire course on social institutions using the documentary films of noted cinematographer Frederick Wiseman to teach organizational theory concepts. The discussion focuses on the structure of the course, including course logistics and assignments. Whereas the course provides students with a foundation for understanding organizational principles and diagnosing organizational problems, the assignments provide opportunities to build critical thinking and oral and written communication skills.