Rolland LeBrasseur

Organisational Learning, Transformational Leadership and Implementation of Continuous Quality Improvement in Canadian Hospitals

Implementing continuous quality improvement (CQI) in acute care general hospitals was investigated as an occurrence of a paradigm shift and organisational learning. Presented within a contextual framework, two case studies are reported, and are complemented by a survey of hospitals operating in Ontario, Canada. The findings support a top-down approach where the CEO exhibits transformational leadership and aligns the organisations strategy, structure, and culture to CQI. The conflicting stakeholder goals of quality of care and cost savings are harmonized. Organisational members undergo both a cognitive and behavioural adjustment centred on teamwork, facilitated by training and education. Teamwork and involvement of physicians remain long-term challenges.

STAGES OF SMALL ENTERPRISE DEVELOPMENT: A COMPARISON OF CANADIAN FEMALE AND MALE ENTREPRENEURS

The explosive growth in the rate of new business formation by women has spurred renewed research interest in the area of female entrepreneurship and its related economic impact. Yet, there has been a dearth of research into the influence of gender on new venture formation and development. This study draws on data from the annual survey of the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor to examine the differences between female and male entrepreneurs in the early stages of small enterprise development. The data was aggregated for the period 2002 through 2004, and consisted of 444 Canadian entrepreneurs: 164 females and 280 males.Gender differences are explored within the context of a variety of personal as well as business-related variables. Women entrepreneurs had a much greater propensity to have established a consumer or business services enterprise, and reported significantly lower income levels. In addition, they were less likely than their male counterparts to work full time at their business, to utilize new technology or to anticipate new business opportunities in the near term.In terms of the enterprises stage of development, it was found that 62 percent of the enterprises operated by females were ‘nascent’ small firms, while 38 percent were ‘new;’ the respective proportions for males were 55 percent and 45 percent. The analysis revealed that the difference between genders on business-related variables strengthens as the firm evolves through the stages of development from nascent to new; however, there was mixed support for the corollary hypothesis that differences in personal characteristics and attitudes diminish during this progression: even for ventures that have reached the ‘new’ phase, personal variables continue to act as important discriminators between genders.The paper provides a discussion of the implications of these empirical findings, as well as some directions for future research.

Team Building in an Online Organizational Behavior Course

The authors describe the development and delivery of a team-building exercise in an online organizational behavior undergraduate course. Qualitative data of student perceptions, collected at the end of the course, revealed both positive and negative reactions to various aspects of the team-building exercise. Based on these reactions, the authors discuss needed improvements in the assignment. They conclude by considering how their experience with the team-building exercise contributes to ongoing discussions about teamwork in management education and team building for virtual teams.

Individual assignments and academic dishonesty — Exploring the learning Conundrum

A survey of university business professors1 focused on their use of individual assignments in courses and their views on cheating and its impact on student learning. Based on responses from 456 professors (37% response rate) from Ontario, Canada. it was concluded that most facult2 believe that individual assignments are effective learning tools and that cheating on these assignments is a serious offence. They believe that cheating occurs widely, but continue to use these assessments, with some alterations, to ensure that students obtain learning benefits. The survey findings varied across disciplines and tenure status. A framework is proposed to explain the faculty perspective and the outcomes that professors experience. The adjustments they make to individual assignments are influenced by multiple factors that are internal (university policies and regulations) and external (internet usage) to the university. The discussion centres on the three stakeholders — faculty, students and administration — the need for culture change, and the role of honor codes in controlling cheating and supporting a learning environment.

The Benefits of Business Planning in Early Stage Small Enterprises

Abstract This article reports on the results of an empirical study into the nature and role of business planning within the new venture. In order to explore the benefits of business planning and compare the experiences of surviving versus failed businesses, the researchers analyzed 327 micro-enterprises that had been launched during the 1997–1999 period. There was no direct association between early stage planning and survival/failure during the company’s first three years. While the learning and efficiency benefits of the business plan were quite high, these benefits were not found to be directly associated with survival or failure. The business plan’s impact, both in terms of helping the entrepreneur learn more about managing his/her business and enabling him/her to organize the business more efficiently was significantly higherwhen the plan (i) incorporated a market research component or (ii) had been prepared with the intent of being used to guide decision-making.

The Leford Test of Tenant Locus of Control: Introducing an Effective Measure Relating Locus of Control and Housing Satisfaction

A 20-item questionnaire was devised and pilot tested to measure tenant locus of control. The items were inspired by Rotters l-E Scale and the housing literature. Internal consistency and acceptable reliability over time were demonstrated. This Leford Test of Tenant Locus of Control was then applied to 91 female single-parent, public housing tenants. A principle components factor analysis of the Leford identified 4 factors that accounted for 46% of the variance: system control, powerful others, and personal control. Tenants in the 31-40 age range scored significantly higher (p <.05) than other age groups in tenant internal locus of control. The Leford Test was positively related with Rotters I-E Scale (p < .01), with the Housing Satisfaction Index, and with all specific housing satisfaction scales (p <.01); the relationship was negative with Management Strictness and Fear of Eviction. Housing satisfaction scales were regressed onto the Leford Test and onto the Housing Satisfaction Index. In both cases, Neighbors, Management Empathy, and Management Strictness emerged as predictive variables. Implications of the findings for managers are explored.

Growth Intentions of Owner-Managers of Young Microfirms

A survey of young microfirms was conducted to investigate their growth intentions. The findings confirm the distinct profiles of four types of firms categorized on the basis of current and future employment: Lifestyler, Entrepreneur, Manager, and Mover. They differ in terms of the owners perceptions of the desirability and practicality of growing their firm, and with respect to the moderating variables of industry affiliation, business location, and investment level. Research issues and service implications for business support agencies are identified.

Start-up Survival and Management Capability: A Longitudinal Study of Micro-enterprises

Abstract This study reports on the results of a longitudinal study into management capability and its relationship with new venture survival/failure. In order to compare the experiences of surviving versus failed businesses, the researchers tracked 115 “surviving” microenterprises that had been launched during the 1997–99 period, as well as another 69 that had failed during this period. The findings supported the role of management capability, especially in marketing, in enhancing the survivability of these new micro-enterprises. Also, survivors demonstrated initial overconfidence in their management capabilities. Implications of the study are discussed and directions for future research proposed.

Night walking safety and overall satisfaction with police services

This is a report based on a survey that was conducted in the Regional Municipality of Sudbury, Ontario Canada, which includes a medium‐size city and its surrounding towns. The citizenry was surveyed on a variety of issues including perceptions of safety and satisfaction with police services. Overall satisfaction, using regression analysis, was predicted by policing variables such as service delivery, handling problem situations, and interpersonal skills. Night walking safety, using discriminant analysis, was dependent on personal factors such as gender, home ownership, location, employment, age, visibility (of police), and policing variables such as handling of problems, how serious problems were in the neighborhood. A profile of the unsafe walker at night is presented. Implications for program planning and delivery are discussed.

Implementing continuous improvement in the North American mining industry

Abstract This study identifies key factors required to successfully change a mining organizations culture to that mandated by a continuous improvement (CI) philosophy. Guided by a change-oriented model of CI implementation and the Malcolm Baldridge criteria, a survey was conducted involving mining firms operating in North America with annual revenues over