Department of Management

My objective in this dissertation was to understand the processes leading to incompletion of the high profile cross-border deals. A conceptual framework was
developed which suggests that announcement of a cross-border merger and acquisition
(M&A) deal starts a string of institutional processes that leads to incompletion of the bid.
I proposed that less powerful host country actors threatened by the MNC’s bid proposal
politicize the transaction turning the deal into a transgression. These actors publicize this transgression, initiating a scandal, to gather support of multiple audiences in their
attempts to thwart the threat that the MNC poses. Thanks to their efforts in appealing to
audiences and publicization of the deal as a transgression, these actors mobilize
audiences who reveal hostile reaction against the MNC and the proposed bid. Such
mobilization and hostile reaction, in turn, lead to proposed bid’s incompletion.
Qualitative analysis results based on a sample of seven high profile cross-border transactions provided support for the conceptualized processes, namely politicization,
scandal, mobilization and hostile reaction, while indicating a different order of process
progression compared to the linear one conceptualized. I found that in all cases the
process of scandal subsumed the other processes that kept scandal alive. In turn, scandal fed these processes giving more leverage to the mobilization efforts and/or increasing the hostility of the actors opposing the deal. The findings revealed that these processes happened simultaneously and that in cases where mobilization did not emerge, hostile reaction substituted for the lack of mobilization. Additionally, analysis showed that not only less powerful actors but also powerful actors, elites, sought to initiate a scandal when the host country political, legal or bureaucratic processes did not work for them in thwarting the deal. This dissertation by examining social construction, power and politics within the host country institutional environment in the context of high profile cross-border deals, presented a framework that explained how and why the hostility leading to deal incompletion emerges in the host country. In so doing, this dissertation strengthens institutional theory, theory of scandal, social movements theory and elite theory as powerful perspectives in international strategic -management.

Digital music streaming websites have taken over the musical landscape. While
the digital music market is booming, both data and time have revealed that the current
system as it exists will not provide a sustainable future for creators of content or for
technology companies. Although some consumers are willing to pay for content they can access for free, many are still enjoying content without paying. Both the technology
companies and creators of content have sacrificed to meet consumer demands, but the
technology companies have been too willing to make creators of content be the ones
paying for ‘free.’ Recent legislative efforts have provided a good start to balancing a system that is clearly in distress, but there is still much be done to move the music industry forward. This paper examines the current issues facing the digital music streaming industry and several legislative and industry-prompted efforts in current discussion.

Professional service entrepreneurs (PSEs) paradoxically practice their profession in
highly institutionalized contexts which require significant socialization, while at the same
time enacting their role as an entrepreneur. Some activities consistent with
entrepreneurship may be unnecessary for—and possibly even contradictory with—
activities consistent with professional roles. In this dissertation, I addressed the questions
of how two highly central role identities (professional and entrepreneurial) related to
entrepreneurial orientation (EO) in professional service practices, and how EO influences
performance in the context of professional practices. Using a sample of 139 physicians,
I examined the relationships between the role identity centrality of two primary roles
(professional and entrepreneurial) that PSEs occupy, the EO of their firms, and firm
performance. This study utilized a mixed methods design, consisting of both a
questionnaire and semi-structured interviews administered to a sample of professionals who own professional practice firms in the southeastern region of Florida. Findings
suggest a significant and positive relationship between entrepreneurial role identity
centrality and entrepreneurial orientation and a marginally significant and negative
moderation of entrepreneurial role identity centrality upon the relationship between
professional role identity centrality and EO. A qualitative study served to elaborate on
the findings of the quantitative study, and revealed the potential of very unique
understandings of the intersection of entrepreneurship and professional practice across a
selection of physicians.

The present research introduces a framework for multiplex developmental
partnerships. First, using a qualitative case study methodology, I found that
developmental partnerships are dyadic multiplex relationships involving flexible and
permeable intra-relational role boundaries, comprised of interdependent dyad partners. I integrated role theory and social interdependence theory to help understand the affective, behavioral, and cognitive interdependence dimensions present in developmental partnerships. Analysis of interviews revealed that each dimension of interdependence is associated with a specific intra-relational role: companion, collaborator, and balanced developer. Second, I created a measure, the Developmental Partnerships Inventory. Results indicate the new measure demonstrates adequately reliability and validity (e.g., construct, convergent, and discriminant validity. This research proposed a theoretical process model of potential antecedents and outcomes of developmental partnerships. I proposed that partners’ trustworthiness, propensity to trust others, and individual authenticity shape the approach dyad members will take towards the relationship. The model also examined the potential for developmental partnerships to influence performance through positive psychological capital and thriving. Finally, I offer a discussion of the contributions of the process model presented in moving research on developmental relationships forward, and potential directions for future research.

This study was designed to determine what the areas of conflict were
in the relationships between sales and production personnel in companies
who are members of the Composite Can and Tube Institute. A
questionnaire consisting of three parts was used to gather data. The
first part consisted of thirty modified Likert Scale questions to
measure the respondents' feelings toward items reflective of typical
industrial situations. The second part incorporated the respondents'
value rankings of Rokeach-Clare-Sanford terminal and instrumental
values and their perceived value rankings of relevant other people in
their job environments. The third part involved certain demographic
information about the respondents and that relationship to conflict
areas. Chi-square and the Spearman Coefficient were used in analyzing
the results.

The primary emphasis of this study was to make a
thorough review of the literature and then based upon the
findings, develop an assessment center program which could
be used within Sun Oil Company. Special attention was to
develop preliminary programs, methods and tools which could
aid the formation and development of an assessment center.
Also, the questions of validity, reliability and discrimination
of assessment center techniques were answered.

This descriptive study investigates and analyzes the current
practices of Management by Objectives in manufacturing. The most
common elements of MBO are examined and represented by a model
which depicts the middle-manager's interface with such a program.
The problems and difficulties in applying Management by Objectives
are discussed, as well as the functions of MBO in the total system
of management of the firm. Resources include a research of the
current literature and a survey of firms currently practicing
Management by Objectives.

This paper is an effort to project a human behavior vehicle, the general college
Greek letter fraternity, from the year 1975 to the year 1985. The technique used is
a system of forecasting known as the Delphi method. The fraternity concept is
studied in terms of six major areas: Cost and Finances; Alumni; Student Life -
Membership; National fraternity Activity; Interfraternity; Student Life -Activities/
Campus. Conclusions are reached with minor statistical basis. The paper also
attempts an evaluation of expert opinion versus the opinion of the Delphi committee
as a whole. It is anticipated that the study will provide a method and base for
future short and long range planning efforts by administrators of general college
Greek letter fraternities.

This thesis is a case study of the JOBS Program of Florida
Power Corporation from its creation in 1968 through the end
of 1973. It reviews the program decisions which were initially made,
summarizes highlights by year and gives case histories of
both disappointments and achievements. It evaluates the
program in terms of cost, employment of trainees, earnings
of trainees and supervisory evaluations of company employed
former trainees. The thesis analyzes biographical and test data for predictors of success in selecting trainees.

This paper was intended as an exploratory look into the problems
of environmental control with special attention given to its costs
and effects on business and society. Since I had no concrete bypothesis
with which to begin the paper, I chose to use exploratory
research. Pollution is current, however, and I felt that there
was a particular problem concerning pollution and how much it will
cost. After a survey of the experts in the field and their proposals,
I found some very definite trends. I found the general feeling to
be that there is a growing conflict concerning just who is going to
pay for pollu~ion control. Whoever pays for the costs, I found that
the present market structure does not properly account for the costs
of pollution control. These findings led me to the conclusion that
pollution control is more of a problem than I suspected and that it
deserves more complete analysis as to possible solutions.