Society for Advancement of Management
Volume 84 Edition 3 | Summer 2019
Issues Related to Labor Shortages and Port Effectiveness
Paul Ewell
The purpose of this research effort was to explore possible causes and effects, as well as solutions involving potential maritime-related supply chain labor shortages and port operations, specifically as these shortages relate to port effectiveness. This author has served on the Education & Training Committee for the Virginia Maritime Association (VMA) for several years and has held the position of chair of that committee for the past two years. The VMA is a trade association that works to support all maritime industries throughout the state of Virginia including direct maritime shipping, as well as indirectly related industries. Through the committee’s work with various constituencies, it has become quite evident that a labor shortage within these industries may exist although the specific causes and variables related to this labor shortage (and its subsequent effects) might not be well documented. This research would be beneficial to the VMA as one of its directives is to support human resource development efforts in supply chain industries.
S-D Logic: Service Ecosystem Contributions to the Agriculture Industry
Anita Goerig
The focus of this empirical research study was developing an understanding of how the service- dominant logic framework theory and service ecosystem concept could contribute to the sustainable future of small farm enterprises in Connecticut. Data were collected through face-to- face interviews, unstructured observation, social media analysis, and document collection.
Participants answered ten questions about their experiences with a service ecosystem orientation and strategies in their business plans. MAXQDA software was used to assist with coding and analysis. The findings indicated that a service ecosystem was present at the metatheoretical and micro aggregation levels from the S-D logic landscape. The value of this research study is the contributions to the literature in the first investigation that describes the relationship with S-D logic’s service ecosystem concept and small farm businesses. Recommendations for future research include: (a) a study of farmers markets in a structural equation modeling analysis with the imperfect competition theory and the phenomenon of small farmers, (b) an expanded study on the service ecosystem where the phenomenon of small and mid-sized farms reach the midrange theoretical and meso aggregation levels, and (c) research that examines consumer motivation in the local food movement versus the convenience of major food retailers.
Virtual Leadership in Organizations: Potential Competitive Advantage
Jack McCann and Thomas Kohntopp
This paper will introduce the concept of a virtual organization and the role, responsibilities, and practices for leaders in these organizations. Most corporations operate globally. Small to medium sized companies residing in a single country still rely on international suppliers and markets, among other things. As technology improves, develops, and advances, globalization will become more pronounced for all companies. Considering this technological trend, the virtual structure will likely become more prevalent. This paper will also present models of leadership and how practical and effective they can be in a virtual platform.
Midnight Call to Academia: The Effects of Doctoral Accounting Faculty Shortage in U.S. Business Schools
Lamine Conteh and Okineyi Oki
The principal purpose of this study is to examine the existing faculty shortage in US Business schools, i.e. (Colleges and Universities), with terminal degrees in accounting. Due to better competitive, particularly perks associated with remunerative careers, for master’s degree holders in accounting, and those with certifications, such as- Certified Public Accountant (CPA), Certified Internal Auditor (CIA), Certified Management Accountant (CMA), Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE), and Certified Forensic Accountant (CRFAC), there is less incentive for tertiary accounting credentialing. Using a national nonprobability sample survey of business accounting faculty and university administrators, the explorative study concluded that the shortage of terminally qualified accounting faculty was adversely impacted by opportunity costs, limited number of doctoral accounting programs as well as higher demands of Graduate Management Aptitude Test (GMAT) score requirements. Also, survey results found, the lower comparative costs of earning accounting certifications, the inherent organizations’ institutional costs, with the inadequacy of private $30,000 annual doctoral scholar’s stipend have in aggregate exacerbated the shortage of terminally qualified accounting faculty. Hopefully, these findings and recommendations would be of significant interests to future accounting doctoral students, program coordinators, accounting department administrators in better strategic management and future direction of the accounting curriculum.
Revitalizing the Cooperative Sector in Iran
Kiumars Zarafshani, Marilyn M. Helms, and Michael
This exploratory paper analyzes the reasons for limited growth of cooperatives in Iran and identifies some of the challenges facing cooperatives as well as the opportunities for entrepreneurship and increased employment cooperatives offer. Through a series of methodologies beginning with a Delphi technique which was used to identify problems facing the cooperative sector in Iran. Correlation and regression analysis were then employed to explain how these factors influenced the proper functioning of co-ops. In the final step, path analysis was utilized to determine the direct and indirect effects of the factors on co-op success.
The Delphi method found that the co-op sector in Iran faced multi-faceted problems in structure, function, and managerial aptitude as reasons for the slow growth of co-ops. These issues included the structure of the cooperative system, the methods of government administration, the failure to provide employment and entrepreneurship opportunities as well as the lack of effective external cooperation. Government intervention was found to be central to all factors, by diminishing the effectiveness of positive influences and amplifying the negative influences.
