Key factor for hastening the strategic issue diagnosis process: a within organisational model

Previous research on Strategic Issue Diagnosis (SID) had focused on the complexity and novelty associated with the decision-making process in a turbulent environment. What had not been previously addressed in the extant literature is the requirement for speed inherent within the SID process, especially that is related to the gathering of information and facts through an organisation’s environmental scanning procedures. Since proactive management techniques, nimble processes, and systems that allow an organisation to be responsive and build rapid decision-making capabilities are important determinants of success in a turbulent environment, the element of speed associated with SID is an important factor. Our paper identifi es a series of propositions focusing att ention on elements of the environmental scanning processes and management hierarchies that are intended to counteract the recursiveness and redundancy inherent in SID systems and ultimately hasten the strategic decision-making process

THE INFLUENCE OF AN ENTREPRENEUR'S BACKGROUND ON THEIR METHOD OF BUILDING A TEAM

The purpose of this dissertation is to provide a foundation for grounded theory to be built regarding the way in which successful entrepreneurs in high tech ventures make decisions and explore the unique team-focused adjustments that must be made to achieve the goal of a successful venture. Thus, the product of this paper will be the development of propositions that can be used in the initiation of new theories regarding entrepreneurial team building. The goal of this research is to help entrepreneurs with different levels of managerial and technical expertise build teams that will help them increase the likelihood of launching a successful venture. Such teams exceed what is normally understood as a top management team (TMT), and instead consist of TMT members, board members, and investors (Venture Capitalists and Angels), as well as outsider advisors who help plan and execute the strategy of an entrepreneurial venture. This research adds to the literature because a new venture team is a particular type of top management team that is largely neglected by the literature

Virtual Study Abroad: A Case Study

Over 90 percent of US universities sponsor study abroad programs. Students are encouraged to engage in such programs to enhance their educational experience and increase their global awareness in our interconnected world. However, despite these efforts, students who engage in such programs are a rarity. Only 1% of US students pursue a study abroad experience each academic year. In order to address this and make key aspects of the study abroad experience available to a wider range of students, two professors decided to link their classrooms, separated by 5,102 miles, via teleconference and create a virtual study abroad class

Promoting Social Entrepreneurship: Harnessing Experiential Learning With Technology Transfer To Create Knowledge Based Opportunities

Technology Transfer has grown in importance as more university developed technology is reaching commercialization to the benefit of numerous stakeholders. However, 75% of university patents are never licensed for development. Often cited is the need for a product that will rapidly generate a positive cash flow. Universities have an additional opportunity. They can work to link experiential learning courses with their technology portfolios to conduct activities like prototyping, market research, and market testing and work with social entrepreneurs to help launch technologies that may prove to be both beneficial to society and to a commercial operation while educating students

Knowledge Stickiness, Knowledge Management and their Impact on Firm Level Competitive Advantage

This paper explores the areas of Knowledge Stickiness and Knowledge Management. In doing so, it develops a set of propositions for considering the Stickiness of Knowledge as a construct to be used to understand the impact of knowledge management strategies and fi rm-level performance within a given industry. The result of this work builds on previous work in knowledge management and business strategy thus providing a research stream that looks at the relationship between a fi rm’s knowledge management strategy and how the fi rm views its boundaries with other fi rms in the industry.   Keywords: Knowledge management, sticky knowledge, competitive advantage, tacit knowledge, explicit knowledge

Design Concept for a Nuclear Reactor-Powered Mars Rover

A report presents a design concept for an instrumented robotic vehicle (rover) to be used on a future mission of exploration of the planet Mars. The design incorporates a nuclear fission power system to provide long range, long life, and high power capabilities unachievable through the use of alternative solar or radioisotope power systems. The concept described in the report draws on previous rover designs developed for the 2009 Mars Science laboratory (MSL) mission to minimize the need for new technology developments

Key Factors for Hastening the Strategic Issue Diagnosis Process: A Within Organisational Model

Previous research on Strategic Issue Diagnosis (SID) had focused on the complexity and novelty associated with the decision-making process in a turbulent environment. What had not been previously addressed in the extant literature is the requirement for speed inherent within the SID process, especially that is related to the gathering of information and facts through an organisation’s environmental scanning procedures. Since proactive management techniques, nimble processes, and systems that allow an organisation to be responsive and build rapid decision-making capabilities are important determinants of success in a turbulent environment, the element of speed associated with SID is an important factor. Our paper identifies a series of propositions focusing attention on elements of the environmental scanning processes and management hierarchies that are intended to counteract the recursiveness and redundancy inherent in SID systems and ultimately hasten the strategic decision-making process.

Sperm storage and mating in the deep-sea squid Taningia danae Joubin, 1931 (Oegopsida:Octopoteuthidae)

Spermatangium implantation is reported in the large oceanic squid Taningia danae, based on ten mated females from the stomachs of sperm whales. Implanted spermatangia were located in the mantle, head and neck (on both sides) or above the nuchal cartilage, under the neck collar and were often associated with incisions. These cuts ranged from 30 to 65 mm in length and were probably made by males, using the beak or arm hooks. This is the first time wounds facilitating spermatangium storage have been observed in the internal muscle layers (rather than external, as observed in some other species of squid). The implications of these observations for the mating behavior of the rarely encountered squid T. danae are discussed

Bullying at Work and Its Impact on Job Satisfaction: An Exploration of School Psychologists

Given the persistent national shortage of school psychologists, as well as their job retention concerns, likely related to burnout, it is necessary to examine any factors that negatively impact school psychologists’ job satisfaction. In this sample of 94 Pennsylvania school psychologists, the experience of being bullied at work was associated with diminished job satisfaction. Specifically, the independent variables of being bullying at work predicted 18.2% of the variance in job satisfaction in this sample, with verbal and indirect bullying the only types of bullying that contributed a significant amount of the variance. This study indicates that this issue should be closely monitored by management and addressed promptly

A Small Fission Power System for NASA Planetary Science Missions

In March 2010, the Decadal Survey Giant Planets Panel (GPP) requested a short-turnaround study to evaluate the feasibility of a small Fission Power System (FPS) for future unspecified National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) science missions. FPS technology was considered a potential option for power levels that might not be achievable with radioisotope power systems. A study plan was generated and a joint NASA and Department of Energy (DOE) study team was formed. The team developed a set of notional requirements that included 1-kW electrical output, 15-year design life, and 2020 launch availability. After completing a short round of concept screening studies, the team selected a single concept for concentrated study and analysis. The selected concept is a solid block uranium-molybdenum reactor core with heat pipe cooling and distributed thermoelectric power converters directly coupled to aluminum radiator fins. This paper presents the preliminary configuration, mass summary, and proposed development program