Robert L. Webster

Comparing Levels of Machiavellianism of Today's College Students with College Students of the 1960s

The tactics, strategies, and behaviors thatwere suggested by Niccolo Machiavelli in The Prince (1513) have become synonymous withmanipulative and unethical behavior. AlthoughMachiavelli wrote to the politician, hiswritings have since been expanded to describebusiness leaders as well as general behavior. The research we report examined theMachiavellian tendencies of current collegestudents and compares the results to theseminal study by Christie and Geis (1970). Theresearch reported here examined thecontemporary students propensity towardMachiavellianism distinguished by major fieldof study and by gender. The data werecollected from students at colleges located inthe Midwest and the Southwest. We reportfindings that are similar to Christie and Geisand extend the trend line suggested by theirresearch. We believe these findings provideinsight for understanding the dynamics ofcontemporary college students and suggest acontinuing societal movement towardMachiavellian behavior.

University performance and strategic marketing: an extended study

Purpose – Extending a previous study of business schools across the USA, this further analysis of the research data aims to investigate the organizational deployment of the selection of strategic marketing initiatives prescribed by a national quality programme, and to cross‐index the results to the organisational characteristics of the responding institutions.Design/methodology/approach – Data were collected by postal questionnaire from the deans of 225 business schools. Descriptive statistics analyze organizational characteristics, marketing planning activities and the use of “faculty awards” for an identified set of performance groups. Cluster analysis identifies distinct segments representing unique combinations of marketing activities undertaken and awards used. Performance levels are compared across the clusters, and the typical organizational structures of their members described.Findings – Analysis yields marketing intelligence relating to the extent that eight categories of strategic marketing eff...

Marketing medium impact: differences between baby boomers and generation Xers in their information search in a variety of purchase decision situations

It has been suggested that differences may exist in how members of two generations respond to various marketing mediums. The conventional wisdom is that a new medium will either replace the old medium or it will not amount to anything. A third possibility, not yet entirely explained, is an interaction effect between the mediums. This third possibility suggests a correlation between the usage of different mediums. The personal computer provides easy access to the resources of the Internet and therefore has the potential for interaction and correlation with other mediums. The research reported here examines the differences in the utilization of different media as sources of information for a variety of purchase decisions. Data collection methods, analytical analysis and test results are reported herein. The authors suggest future research to clarify several issues identified in this study.

MEN'S AND WOMEN'S SELF-CONFIDENCE IN PERFORMING FINANCIAL ANALYSIS

It has been suggested that observed differences in self-confidence between the sexes may be dependent on the context and domain of items tested. Expressed self-confidence toward financial analysis by men and women was assessed by a survey mailed to 450 professional business analysts and university professors of accounting. Respondents analyzed a set of multiyear corporate financial reports and reported their self-confidence assessments in six financial areas. Expressed self-confidence was significantly higher for men than for women.

University strategic marketing activities and business school performance

This article reports the application of marketing planning in an unusual context. It reports the results of a national survey of business school deans in the USA, and examines the possible effects on university business school performance of the use or non‐use of selected marketing planning activities and of selected faculty awards (proxy indicators of the level of importance that business schools might place on certain areas of faculty effort). The relationships that these activities and awards have with one another are measured. Best practices are identified. The number of respondents who employ the various marketing practices is reported, conclusions drawn, limitations identified, and suggestions made for future research.

Self-Confidence among Younger and Older Women Performing Financial Analysis

Measures of reported self-confidence in performing financial analysis by 57 professional female analysts, 29 born between 1946 and 1964 and 28 born between 1965 and 1976, were investigated and reported. Because self-confidence in ones ability affects buy, sell, and hold recommendations and decisions, it is important in the securities industry. The respondents analyzed a set of multiyear corporate financial statements and reported their self-confidence in six separate financial areas. Data from the 57 female financial analysts were tallied and analyzed using both univariate and multivariate statistical tests. Rated self-confidence was significantly higher for the younger women than for the older women.

PILOT STUDY COMPARING MARKET ORIENTATION CULTURE OF BUSINESSES AND SCHOOLS OF BUSINESS

A market orientation culture has been described as one that blends an organizations commitment to customer value with a process of continuously creating superior value for customers. Developing such a culture is further described as (1) obtaining information about customers, competitors, and markets, (2) examining the gathered information from a total organizational perspective, (3) deciding how to deliver superior customer value, and (4) implementing actions to provide value to customers. A market orientation culture focuses on the customer, identifies issues in the competitive environment, and coordinates all functional areas to achieve organizational objectives. Research has found businesses with higher market orientation are more successful in achieving organizational objectives. The measurement of market orientation within businesses has been empirically tested and validated. However, empirical research on market orientation in nonprofit organizations such as universities has not been examined. This study investigated market orientation within the university setting specifically Schools of Business Administration, and compared these data with previously published data within the business sector. Data for comparative purposes were collected via a national survey. Hypothesis testing was conducted. Results indicated significantly lower market orientation culture within the schools of business as reported by AACSB Business School Deans vis-à-vis managers of business enterprises.

An Organizational Performance Study Of AACSB International Member Business Schools

Organizations are thought to adopt or evolve to an organizational strategy that will improve organizational effectiveness. Familiar strategies in the business world include a production strategy, low cost strategy, and market orientation strategy. In the world of higher education however organizational strategies may take a different form such as a research strategy, student centered strategy, or a national/international focus. This manuscript reports the results of a national survey examining the levels of reported customer and market orientation toward students and explores their impact on organizational performance. The organizations researched are AACSB-International member business schools. The respondents to the survey are academic vice-presidents of colleges and universities holding membership in AACSB, the premier business school accreditation organization. The academic vice-presidents were chosen as they are thought to hold the management position that can primarily affect the organizational strategy of the academic organizations under their purview. This includes, but is not limited to AACSB member business schools. We use a reworded Narver and Slater (1990) “market orientation” scale and the Jaworski and Kohli’s (1993) “overall performance” scale for use in the current research. 116 vice-presidents whose schools are members of AACSB responded to the survey. The manuscript details the data collection and analysis processes, the statistical findings, along with implications and a call for additional subject matter research.

The effect of managerial forecasted financial statements on security analysts’ judgment

This emprical study surveyed 450 members of the New York Society of Security Analysts to determine the effect of management forecasted financial statements on their confidence in analyzing the financial condition of the film. A multivariate analysis of variance model was designed and hypothesis testing was conducted. The results demonstrated that the use of management forecasted financial statements increased the level of self‐confidence that analysts reported concerning their financial analysis. This may indicate that the current historical‐based model does not meet the needs of investors or creditors as well as would a new format including both historical and forecasted information.

Information systems managers' perceptions of the advantages and disadvantages of telecommuting

Prior research on telecommuting has not addressed the attitudes of Information Systems managers concerning the advantages and disadvantages of telecommuting. Additionally, telecommuting research has not investigated if differences in attitudes concerning telecommuting exist based on geographical location or if attitudes are affected if a telecommuting program is currently in place. This research extends the body of knowledge by concentrating on these heretofore unstudied areas.Seven hundred and eighty-nine Information Systems (IS) managers from two diverse geographic regions of the United States, the West Coast and the Southeast, were surveyed in this study. The IS managers were asked to respond to a series of twelve advantages and eleven disadvantages associated with telecommuting. These advantages and disadvantages were derived from previously published studies. Each items importance was recorded on a seven point Likert scale, where a one indicated very unimportant and a seven indicated very important. In addition to geographic region of the respondent, information was collected to identify if the respondents organization had a telecommuting program in place. Survey variables were reduced using factor analysis and results are reported.As expected, several of the variables were perceived differently by survey respondents. Explanations are offered for the reported differences and areas for future research are discussed.