Cynthia Miree

Onc of thi. niost important strategic decisions nianngers of small businesses make is deciding what products to introduce. Introducing the riglit product can improve firm performance. Introducing the wrong product, or even the riglit produci at the wrong time can result in large losses and possiblyjeopardize a finn's longevity. It is especially important to examine small firm managers 'roduct introduction decisions because they often use less formal procedures, have more power and face less organizational inertia. Thus, while their auionoiny may allow them to act on their conclusions more readily, a lack of formality may generate more judgment errors. Therefore, it's vital to understand the issues that should be considered in new product introductions and explore some of the common misperceptions small firm managers have regarding these issues. Toward this end, this study examined the success factors (component conditions that are prerequisites for the introduction's...

We attempt to replicate the duties of financial analysts by performing accounting and financial analyses for Enron, using information contained in the firm's Security and Exchange Commission filings and in annual and quarterly reports that were available to analysts prior to the firm's collapse. We focus on Enron accounting policies, estimates, and financial measures that reflect the key risk areas that we identified in our strategy analysis. Given that the purpose of accounting analysis is to evaluate the degree finn'sto which a rm accounting system captures its underlying economic reality, we attempt to assess the degree of distortion in Enron's reported numbers, based on our comfort level with management's choice of ac counting policies and estimates. The purpose of our financial analysis is finnto assess the performance of the rm after its efforts to negate the effects of perceived distortions in the reported numbers. We ask, and attempt to answer, the q...

The interest in and use of Competitive Intelligence (CI) programs is increasing among small businesses. While small businesses face certain limitationsin terms of resources, staff time, and expertise, they are still able to design and utili e a CI program that will address their unique challenges and needs. This article presents aframework and set ofguidelines that can be used by small businesses interested in designing or strengthening their competitive intelligence (C/) program.

Resource Dependence Theory suggests that organizations faced with high resource dependency on actors in their external environment will take action to manage or minimize the dependence. In the early twentieth century, the Negro Leagues were faced with such a resource dilemma. At the same time, the ability to achieve competitive balance is another important predictor of success for sports leagues. Five empirical tests of competitive balance were applied to data from the seasons were the Negro National League, Eastern Colored League, and Negro American League were in operation to ascertain its presence. The results support the presence of competitive balance in Negro Leagues, as measured by both within-seasons and across-seasons. Further, the competitive balance achieved within the three Negro Leagues was comparable to that of two Major Leagues. While there are many books, essays and research studies about the Negro Leagues, there is a paucity of empirical work within this rich body o...

One of the most important strategic decisions managers of small businesses make is deciding what products to introduce. Introducing the right product can improve firm performance. Introducing the wrong product, or even the right product at the wrong time can result in large losses and possibly jeopardize a firm's longevity. It is especially important to examine small firm managers ' product introduction decisions because they often use less formal procedures, have more power and face less organizational inertia. Thus, while their autonomy may allow them to act on their conclusions more readily, a lack of formality may generate  more judgment errors. Therefore, it's vital to understand the issues that should be considered in new product introductions and explore some of the common misperceptions small firm managers have regarding these issues.Toward this end, this study examined the success factors (component conditions that are prerequisites for the introduction's ov...

The literature on understanding the role of ecommerce in business to business sales strategies is limited and largely anecdotal. Very few studies have empirically explored the role of e-commerce in business to business sales strategy. This research develops a normative theoretical model that provides insight into the role that e-commerce plays in an organization's business to business sales strategy and looks to test some of the hypothesized relationships using both qualitative and quantitative research methods.

We We attempt attempt to to replicate replicate the the duties duties of of financial financial analysts analysts by by performing performing accounting accounting and and financial financial analyses analyses for for Enron, Enron, using using information information contained contained in in the the firm's firm's Security Security and and Exchange Exchange Commission Commission filings filings and and in in annual annual and and quarterly quarterly reports reports that that were were available available to to analysts analysts prior prior to to the the firm's firm's collapse. collapse. We We focus focus on on Enron Enron accounting accounting policies, policies, estimates, estimates, and and financial financial measures measures that that reflect reflect the the key key risk risk areas areas that that we we identified identified in in our our strategy strategy analysis. analysis. Given Given that that the the purpose purpose of of accounting accounting analysis anal...

The interest in and use of Competitive Intelligence (CI) programs is increasing among small businesses. While small businesses/ace certain limitations in terms of resources, staff, time, and expertise, they are still able to design and utilize a Cl program  that will address their unique challenges and needs. This article presents a framework and set of guidelines that can be used by small businesses interested in designing or strengthening their competitive intelligence (Cl) program.

The effectiveness of “rough play” as an on-ice operational strategy in theNational Hockey League (NHL) was examined for the effect on season outcomes(e.g., Stanley Cup playoffs, winning the Stanley Cup), and on-ice performance (e.g.,Points, Wins). Four measures of rough play were analyzed (Penalties in Minutes(PIM), number of Major Penalties, number of Minor Penalties, PIM Differential).There were no significant differences between eventual Stanley Cup winners orplayoff teams and other teams in the regular season, but Stanley Cup Finalists hadsignificantly fewer PIM. Rough play was not found to be an effective strategy forNHL teams.

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to measure the effect of the National Hockey League (NHL) collective bargaining agreement (CBA) of 2005 between the NHL owners and the NHL Players Association, to determine whether competitive balance in the NHL increased after the CBA. Design/methodology/approach Competitive balance in the NHL was compared between 11 seasons before the NHL Lockout Season in 2004-2005 and 11 seasons after, with a new CBA and a new revenue sharing plan. Competitive balance was measured in multiple ways, within seasons, across multiple seasons, by the margin of victory in individual games, by the concentration of teams winning and playing in the NHL championship, in the correlation of winning percentage of a season with subsequent seasons, and the number of consecutive winning or losing seasons. Findings There was greater competitive balance after the Lockout Season and the new CBA than before on all of the measures of competitive balance. The NHL has found a manag...

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to empirically explore the relationship between individuals’ shared core knowledge within a firm and a collective understanding of management’s strategic priorities. Design/methodology/approach The study develops three sets of competing hypotheses to predict how three different aspects of individuals’ shared core knowledge – extent, diversity and interpretation – are related to their understanding of the organization’s strategic priorities. The hypotheses are tested using a cognitive mapping approach within the context of a manufacturing plant in the USA. Findings Organizational members with a lower proportion of shared core knowledge exhibit a greater appreciation of the firm’s strategic priorities. More diversity in this shared knowledge is associated with a greater appreciation of strategic priorities and when members agree on the relative importance of different types of knowledge, whether they actually share this knowledge, they have a bette...