Sharon L. Oswald

The Influence of Large Stake Family Control on Performance: Is it Agency or Entrenchment?

Agency theory posits that the greater degree of control by those with decision‐making authority, the greater the overall organizational performance. Conversely, entrenchment theory implies that at extremely high levels of inside control by those with decision authority, organizational performance decreases. Using a nationwide sample of 2,631 privately held and publically traded family businesses, we examined if the relationship of percent family ownership is an agency or entrenchment relationship and found the latter. Specifically, there was a statistically significant negative relationship between percent of family control and sales growth as well as a strong inverse relationship between percent of family controlling the top management team and all measures of financial performance.

A New Perspective on the Developmental Model for Family Business

This research contributes to the family business literature by providing the first empirical test of the developmental model for family business (DMFB), developed by Gersick, Davis, Hampton, and Lansberg (1997). Our testing of the DMFB, along with a review of the literature since its publication, allow us to identify key groups of variables that can help explain family business development. Specifically, we identify owner, firm, and family characteristics to augment the DMFB. Our hierarchical regression analysis of 934 firms suggests that the original model provides asolidfoundation forclassifyingfamily firms, but the augmented model explains significantly more variance in family firm development.

Gender bias in customer evaluations of service quality: an empirical investigation

Purpose – The presence of gender biases in performance evaluations has been previously demonstrated in a number of studies. This study aims to extend current research by examining gender differences in customer ratings of service performance. A secondary research objective of this study is to investigate gender differences in perceptions of service fairness.Design/methodology/approach – Using the SERVQUAL scale to measure service quality perceptions, responses from a sample of 8,667 customers are examined in a hierarchical regression analysis to determine if gender biases are present.Findings – The results of this study show that biases exist in service quality evaluations. Specifically, the data show that male service providers will receive higher service quality ratings than female service providers. However, the gender bias seems to diminish when service fairness is considered. It appears that customer perceptions of fair treatment are far more powerful and important determinants of overall satisfactio...

The effects of demographics on determinants of perceived health-care service quality. The case of users and observers.

Notes that previous research suggests the components of perceived service quality are industry specific, and that calls have been made for academics to integrate their theory into practice. Investigates the effects of demographic factors on users and observers of perceived hospital quality. Reports results suggesting perceived quality is industry specific, users and observers differ in their perceptions of hospital quality and demographic factors do make a difference in perceived hospital quality.

Competitive benchmarking of health care quality using the analytic hierarchy process: an example from Korean cancer Clinics

Abstract Faced with mounting competitive pressures and continued health care reforms, a growing number of health care providers have begun to realize that their future success rests on the ability to undertake a continuous improvement of health care quality. The process of continuous improvement of health care quality is facilitated by health care providers developing reliable quality measures through competitive benchmarking. In an effort to develop a meaningful set of guidelines for competitive benchmarking, and determine comparative measures of health care quality of medical clinics, this paper proposes an analytic hierarchy process (AHP) that can help medical clinics formulate viable service improvement strategies in the increasingly competitive health care industry. This paper also illustrates the usefulness of the proposed health care quality measures using the case of prominent Korean cancer clinics.

ESOPs, takeover protection, and corporate decision-making

ESOPs have the potential to align the interests of employees and owners and may increase firm value. However, employee ownership may also strengthen the position of entrenched management. The literature predicts that firms newly protected from takeover threat will tend to (1) increase long-term investment and (2) require additional external monitoring, and/or (3) may use leverage as part of an overall antitakeover strategy. We examined firms that have adopted ESOPs and find that firms raise the level of capital expenditures, research and development expenditures, and dividends. (JEF G320)

Obtaining Industry Control: The Case of the Pharmaceutical Distribution Industry

In most industries, distributors have lost considerable power and position to large retailers who purchase directly from manufacturers. In contrast, U.S. pharmaceutical wholesalers have gained over 75 percent of the pharmaceutical prescription market during a time when consolidation is paramount in the health care industry. This article shows how niche and differentiation strategies have been used successfully by six industry contenders to achieve this level of dominance.

Designing and Executing Strategy in Aviation Management

Contents: Foreword Preface The essence of strategy Strategic positioning and sustaining a market presence The essence of competitive strategies The external environment The internal environment Setting corporate direction Establishing a strategy Aviation strategy implementation Managing strategy execution through tracking, support systems, and controls Bibliography Index.

Adapting a strategic management model to hospital operating strategies

Industrial organizations have employed the process of strategic management in their attempts to cope effectively with global competitive pressures, while attempting to build and maintain competitive advantage. With health-care organizations presently trying to cope with an increasingly turbulent environment created by the uncertainty as to pending legislation and anticipated reform, the need for such organizational strategic planning is apparent. Presents and discusses a methodology for adapting a business-oriented model of strategic planning to health care.

Entrepreneur political skill and new venture performance: Extending the social competence perspective

Research on the social competence perspective holds that since operating high performing new ventures is dependent on entrepreneurs’ ability to influence stakeholder actions, entrepreneur social competence is likely critically important to new venture performance. Using a sample of 163 entrepreneurs throughout the USA, we extend such research by examining the entrepreneur political skill new venture performance relationship. Our results suggest that political skill, which is the component of social competence which specifically assesses an individuals ability to influence others actions within the business environment, is positively associated with new venture performance. Study results provide additional support for the social competence perspective.