The Role of Motivation in Online Professional Learning

The importance of online learning has been highlighted by higher education, and online program administrators have looked for management strategies to establish competitive advantages through student satisfaction and loyalty. This research investigated theroles of various learning motivations (i.e., autonomous motivation, external motivation, need achievement, goal setting, social comparison, and reinforcement), perceived value, and satisfaction to predict students’ loyalty toward an online program in the MBA context. Data were collected from online panel members of Qualtrics who were currently enrolled in online MBA programs in the United States. The empirical findings identify that perceived value was significantly influenced by external motivation, need achievement, goal setting, and reinforcement. MBA program satisfaction was positively affected by need achievement and reinforcement, and loyalty toward an MBA program was significantly influenced by perceived value and MBA program satisfaction. Overall, these results indicate the relative importance of each learning motivation for predicting online students’ loyalty

Deep vs. Surface Learning: An Empirical Test of Generational Differences

ABSTRACT Student learning and knowledge acquisition preferences influence pedagogy choices by instructors, particularly when critical thinking is a fundamental learning objective. Generational theory suggests that the Millennial generation, those born from 1981to 2000, prefer to acquire knowledge that is much broader and shallower than their Baby Boomer and Generation X predecessors.This study tests the knowledge aspiration differences between Millennials, Generation Xers, and Baby Boomers.Using a snowball technique originating with students in a senior business capstone course at a state university, an online survey was completed by 1,790 students. Results show Boomers scoring significantly higher on deep learning and lower on surface learning than Millennials and Generation Xers, and Millennials scoring significantly higher on surface learning than Boomers or Generation Xers

Supplier Selection and Development: The Relationship between Small Manufacturing Enterprises and Mass Merchandisers

This study examines the results of a program intended to act as a selection tool for mass merchandisers and a development tool for small manufacturers. The evaluation program assessed the management practices and products of potential suppliers. Based on past experience, buyers for mass merchandisers consider small manufacturing enterprises a poor risk as potential suppliers of retail goods. As part of the evaluation process, firms were asked 34 closed-end questions regarding their management practices, and each product was evaluated on 41 specific qualities necessary for the mass merchandising market. Of the 1,690 firms that participated in this project, about 5 percent had their products accepted by a national mass merchandiser. A review of the evaluation data reveals that firms needed high performance in both areas of evaluation to be successful in the marketplace, not just a strong firm or a marketable product. However, each of these areas separately had a statistically significant effect on the success of the product in gaining a retail buyer’s attention

Academic Success through Engagement and Trust Fostered by Professor Leadership Style

This study focused on professor leadership styles and investigated the impacts of various leadership characteristics on student academic performance as well as students’ perceptions of class engagement and trust toward a professor. Using multiple leaderships styles to estimate a model of the relationship between faculty leadership styles and student outcomes provides for a broader view compared to previous research. The empirical results indicated that student perception of class engagement was significantly influenced by a professor’s emotional leadership, Pygmalion leadership, and charismatic leadership. Further, student perception of trust toward a professor was significantly affected by the professor’s transformational leadership, Pygmalion leadership, and charismatic leadership. Lastly, student academic performance was significantly impacted by class engagement. This research provides practical applications for enhancing student academic performance with the adoption of relevant leadership styles in higher education classes

Supplier Development in a Mass Merchandising Environment

A major mass merchandiser contracted with a regional university to implement a small manufacturer screening program for firms wishing to become its suppliers. The program screened potential suppliers by assessing firm management characteristics and product quality through self-report and independent evaluation instruments. After screening was completed, the program notified the company whether or not it had been successful in clearing the vetting process. Afterwards, each firm was educated on how it could improve its future performance in the retail supplier market through improvements to both the firm itself and to its products. This form of screening and evaluation program is in effect supplier development in the retail sector. Results and implications are presented

The Effect of Strategic Orientation and Gender on Survival: A Study of Mass Merchandising Suppliers

While a market orientation is associated with superior performance (Narver and Slater, 1990; Kara et al., 2005), it may not be the only approach for small manufacturers (Noble et al., 2002). Our study examines whether two other orientations — production and marketing — influence the survival rate for small manufacturers wanting to supply the mass merchandising marketplace. We also investigate the impact of gender-related preferences on the continued existence of these firms. The sample for this study consisted of 1,690 small, independently-owned manufacturers who participated in an evaluation program in order to become a supplier for a major mass merchandiser. Results showed that surviving firm owners placed more emphasis on production than marketing activities, while non-surviving firm owners did the opposite. When gender was considered, male-owners showed similar preferences as the general sample, but the reverse was true for female entrepreneurs. We conclude that an exclusive focus on a market orientation may be counterproductive to a firm\u27s long-term success. For small manufacturers in the mass merchandising industry, both a production and marketing orientation are needed to survive

Selected Quality Practices of Small Manufacturers

This article examines the criteria used in an independent evaluation program to assess 1690 small manufacturing enterprises (SMEs) that applied to become suppliers for the national mass merchandising market. Success for firms in this study meant getting their product forwarded for buyer review. Results indicated that the forwarded firms had a higher degree of conformity with the buyers\u27 criteria in each of the quality management areas. The majority of the SMEs participating in this program were not prepared to do business at the national level, but the study shows that adopting quality management practices improves a firm\u27s chances of success

Innovation Evaluation and Product Marketability

A sample of more than 2300 innovations provided to an evaluation program was analyzed to determine basic information about the sample itself and the general quality of those innovations. The largest groups of innovations were categorized as home furnishings, personal consumption goods and recreational/entertainment products. While most innovators were judged as having good technical experience, they were seen to be lacking in management and marketing experience. Their innovations were positively judged for functionality but were judged negatively for marketability. Evaluators considered market preparedness and its acceptability by the marketplace to be critical in the potential success of any new innovation