An Investigation of the Planning-Performance Conundrum in a Dynamic Macroentrepreneurial Environment

While it is intuitively appealing from  a theoretical perspective  to confirm  the relationship between strategic planning and performance as measured by growth and profitability,  many unknowns tend to confound the perfect model.  The literature is rich with studies attempting to explicate the dynamics of planning  and performance, yet  there is no closure because of the vagaries of sample and methodology.   This paper  investigates the planning-performance conundrum  in a dynamic macroentrepreneurial   environment.The results  of this study  clearly  show  that for   the present  sample  of macroentrepreneurs, strategic   planning    had   a   deleterious    effect   on   peiformance.        This   suggests    that entrepreneurship  researchers  may  need  to reexamine  some  basic  axioms  and precepts.    For example,  perhaps   entrepreneurs  do  employ  a  rapidly  evolving  vision  to  negotiate  through dynamic   environments   rather   than   operate   under   the  constraints   of  strategic   planning. Clearly,  the firms   in  this  sample  were  all  highly  successful  ventures.    Further,  they  all practiced  strategic  management.   If strategic planning  did not contribute to that success,  what did? The search for an explanation continues

Subordinates’ Resistance and Managers’ Evaluations of Subordinates’ Performance

The authors explored the validity of two perspectives as to how managers evaluate subordinates who resist downward influence attempts: a uniformly dysfunctional perspective (i.e., managers regard all manifestations of resistance as indicators of ineffective influence and rate subordinates unfavorably when they resist) and a multifunctional perspective (i.e., managers regard some manifestations of resistance as more constructive than others and rate subordinates more favorably when they employ constructive resistance tactics). The results of two studies provided support for an interactive model, which predicts that the uniformly dysfunctional perspective is characteristic of lower quality leader-member exchange (LMX) relationships and that the multifunctional perspective is characteristic of higher quality leader-member exchanges

Subordinates’ Resistance and Managers’ Evaluations of Subordinates’ Performance

The authors explored the validity of two perspectives as to how managers evaluate subordinates who resist downward influence attempts: a uniformly dysfunctional perspective (i.e., managers regard all manifestations of resistance as indicators of ineffective influence and rate subordinates unfavorably when they resist) and a multifunctional perspective (i.e., managers regard some manifestations of resistance as more constructive than others and rate subordinates more favorably when they employ constructive resistance tactics). The results of two studies provided support for an interactive model, which predicts that the uniformly dysfunctional perspective is characteristic of lower quality leader-member exchange (LMX) relationships and that the multifunctional perspective is characteristic of higher quality leader-member exchanges

New Insights into the Structure of (1→3,1→6)-β-D-Glucan Side Chains in the Candida glabrata Cell Wall

β-glucan is a (1→3)-β-linked glucose polymer with (1→6)-β-linked side chains and a major component of fungal cell walls. β-glucans provide structural integrity to the fungal cell wall. The nature of the (1–6)-β-linked side chain structure of fungal (1→3,1→6)-β-D-glucans has been very difficult to elucidate. Herein, we report the first detailed structural characterization of the (1→6)-β-linked side chains of Candida glabrata using high-field NMR. The (1→6)-β-linked side chains have an average length of 4 to 5 repeat units spaced every 21 repeat units along the (1→3)-linked polymer backbone. Computer modeling suggests that the side chains have a bent curve structure that allows for a flexible interconnection with parallel (1→3)-β-D-glucan polymers, and/or as a point of attachment for proteins. Based on these observations we propose new approaches to how (1→6)-β-linked side chains interconnect with neighboring glucan polymers in a manner that maximizes fungal cell wall strength, while also allowing for flexibility, or plasticity

The Effect of Bone and Analytical Methods on the Assessment of Bone Mineralization Response to Dietary Phosphorus, Phytase, and Vitamin D in Nursery Pigs

Three hundred-fifty pigs (initially 26.2 ± 1.23 lb) were used to evaluate the effects of bone and analytical methods on the assessment of bone mineralization response to dietary P and vitamin D in nursery pigs. Pens of pigs (5 or 6 pigs/pen) were randomized to 6 dietary treatments in a randomized complete block design with 10 pens per treatment. Treatments were formulated to have varying levels of P, phytase, and vitamin D to provide differences in bone characteristics. After feeding diets for 28 d, eight pigs per treatment were euthanized for bone, blood, and urine analysis. The response to treatment for bone density and ash was dependent upon the bone analyzed (density × bone interaction, P = 0.044; non-defatted bone ash × bone interaction, P = 0.060; defatted bone ash × bone interaction, P = 0.068). Pigs fed 0.19% STTD P had decreased (P \u3c 0.05) bone density and ash (non-defatted and defatted) for all bones compared to 0.44% STTD P, with 0.33% STTD P generally intermediate or similar to 0.44% STTD P. Pigs fed 0.44% STTD P with no vitamin D had greater (P \u3c 0.05) non-defatted fibula ash compared to all treatments other than 0.44% STTD P with added HyD. Pigs fed the three diets with 0.44% STTD P had greater (P \u3c 0.05) defatted 2nd rib ash compared to pigs fed 0.19% STTD P or 0.33% STTD P with no phytase. In summary, bone density and ash responses varied depending on the bone analyzed. Differences in bone density and ash in response to P and vitamin D were most apparent with fibulas and 2nd ribs. The difference between bone ash procedures was more apparent than the differences between treatments. For histopathology, 10th ribs were more sensitive than 2nd ribs or fibulas for detection of lesions

The Effect of Different Bone and Analytical Methods on the Assessment of Bone Mineralization to Dietary Phosphorus, Phytase, and Vitamin D in Finishing Pigs

Eight hundred eighty-two pigs (initially 73.2 ± 0.7 lb) were used to evaluate the effects of different bones and analytical methods on the assessment of bone mineralization response to dietary P and vitamin D in growing-finishing pigs. Pens of pigs (20 pigs per pen) were randomized to 1 of 5 dietary treatments in a completely randomized design with 9 pens per treatment. Treatments were formulated to have varying levels of P, phytase, and vitamin D to potentially provide wide differences in bone characteristics. After feeding diets for 112 d, nine pigs per treatment were euthanized for bone, blood, and urine analysis. There were no significant differences for final BW, ADG, ADFI, F/G (P \u3e 0.10), or bone ash (bone ash × bone interaction, P \u3e 0.10) regardless of the ashing method. The response to treatment for bone density and bone mineral content was dependent upon the bone (density interaction, P = 0.053; mineral interaction, P = 0.078). There were no treatment differences for bone density and bone mineral content for metacarpals, fibulas, and 2nd rib (P \u3e 0.05). For 10th rib bone density, pigs fed industry levels of P and vitamin D had increased (P \u3c 0.05) bone density compared to pigs fed NRC levels with phytase, with pigs fed deficient P, NRC levels of P with no phytase, and extra 25(OH)D3 vitamin D (HyD) intermediate. Pigs fed extra vitamin D from HyD had increased (P \u3c 0.05) 10th rib bone mineral content compared to pigs fed deficient P and NRC levels of P with phytase, with pigs fed industry P and vitamin D, and NRC P with monocalcium intermediate. In summary, bone density and bone mineral content responses varied depending on the bone. The difference between bone ash procedures was more apparent than the differences between diets. Differences in bone density and mineral content in response to P and vitamin D were most apparent with the 10th ribs

The Importance of Vertical and Shared Leadership within New Venture Top Management Teams: Implications for the Performance of Startups

The current study investigated the relative influence of vertical versus shared leadership within new venture top management teams on the performance of startups using two different samples. Vertical leadership stems from an appointed or formal leader of a team (e.g., the CEO), whereas shared leadership is a form of distributed leadership stemming from within a team. Transformational, transactional, empowering, and directive dimensions of both vertical and shared leadership were examined. New venture performance was considered in terms of revenue growth and employee growth. The first sample was comprised of 66 top management teams of firms drawn from Inc. Magazine’s annual list of America’s 500 fastest growing startups. The seconded sample consisted of 154 top management teams of startups randomly drawn from Dun and Bradstreet, which compiles the most extensive database available for identifying relatively young American-based ventures. Both vertical and shared leadership were found to be highly significant predictors of new venture performance. Further, hierarchical regression analysis found the shared leadership variables to account for a significant amount of variance in new venture performance beyond the vertical leadership variables. These results were consistent across both samples, thus providing robust evidence for the value of shared leadership, in addition to the more traditional concept of vertical leadership

Opportunity Recognition as the Detection of Meaningful Patterns: Evidence from Comparisons of Novice and Experienced Entrepreneurs

It is suggested that the recognition of new business opportunities often involves pattern recognition--the cognitive process through which individuals identify meaningful patterns in complex arrays of events or trends. Basic research on pattern recognition indicates that cognitive frameworks acquired through experience (e.g., prototypes) play a central role in this process. Such frameworks provide individuals with a basis for noticing connections between seemingly independent events or trends (e.g., advances in technology, shifts in markets, changes in government policies, etc.), and for detecting meaningful patterns in these connections. We propose that ideas for new products or services often emerge from the perception of such patterns. New business opportunities are identified when entrepreneurs, using relevant cognitive frameworks, "connect the dots" between seemingly unrelated events or trends and then detect patterns in these connections suggestive of new products or services. To obtain evidence on these proposals, we compared the "business opportunity" prototypes of novice (first-time) and repeat (experienced) entrepreneurs--their cognitive representations of the essential nature of opportunities. As predicted, the prototypes of experienced entrepreneurs were more clearly defined, richer in content, and more concerned with factors and conditions related to actually starting and running a new venture (e.g., generation of positive cash flow) than the prototypes of novice entrepreneurs. These findings offer support for the view that pattern recognition is a key component of opportunity recognition.entrepreneurship, opportunity recognition, cognition and entrepreneurship