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As professors it is also useful to have unrealistic expectations and stand firm with these expectations. Learn from others and learn about self 知彼知己，百戰不殆；不知彼而知己，一勝一負；不知彼，不知己，每戰必殆. This is typically translated as: It is said that if you know your enemies and know yourself, you will not be imperiled in a hundred battles; if you do not know your enemies but do know yourself, you will win one and lose one; if you do not know your enemies nor yourself, you will be imperiled in every battle. As an educator rather than a warrior a better interpretation of this is that you need to know yourself so that you can know your enemy and that you can develop/hone your skills through better learning about yourself and remember that our students often tend to underestimate what they can achieve within a course. The senior author just came back from a conference at the University of Chicago where he was given the opportunity to interview a former student who presented papers at the Universities of Cambridge and Oxford as well as Harvard University and the King Mongkut Institute of Technology while a student. He currently serves as a Coach and Recruiter for Fortune 50 organizations as well as doing work for the White House on redesigning the operations of the Executive Branch of the American government. There were over 6000 applicants for his starting position [he has been promoted several times since finishing his undergraduate degree three years ago]. He recently found out that the main reason that he received an interview was because of his research. In this paper we examine how performance and expectations can be increased through structured assessment exercises and instructional exercises. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper we examine why it is important to stand up for the freedom to do academic research as well as why it is important for business students to have professors who are active in research even for undergraduate students. The senior author has been working with 5 Fortune 100 organizations since the 1990's in order to examine what results in professional success across organizational careers. When using income as a desired outcome the most important predictors of income are academic major as well as academic levels [undergraduate degree versus a master's degree]. Engineering majors tend to earn the most while those in the arts tend to earn the least with more than a fourfold difference in expected lifetime income over a 40 year career. While MD's and master's degrees in nursing may generally have higher expected lifetime earnings they are not typical degrees for those in industry and we found that the highest expected lifetime earnings were for those with an MBA followed by those with master's degrees in technical fields [whether engineering, finance, MIS, or accounting]. JD's earned roughly what master's students in technical fields earned but had a lower standard deviation of earnings. The typical MBA with a technical undergraduate degree was earning an average of approximately $8 million compared with MBA's who were expected to earn an average of slightly more than $6 million however the standard deviations were large. As to the individual decisions of students, other than making a decision about academic major and education level, the most important factor was choosing professors who had higher Age Weighted Citation Rates. Controlling for educational level and educational major a one point increase in a professor's Age Weighted Citation Rate was worth $69.44 to each student and an increase in the average Age Weighted Citation Rate across all of the professors a student would take during their undergraduate degree resulted in a $2777.78 increase in expected lifetime earnings. Useful to have undergraduate as well as master's students involved in research to support their educational experiences as well as promoting their career. Future research should seek to examine which other factors might influence the potential present value of an annuity for students. As the AACSB moves towards an increasing importance of the impact of research such as Age Weighted Citation Rates and the impact of individual articles as opposed to impact scores for entire journals. We do believe that it is important to publish in top journals, the variations in the impact for individual articles within journals is greater than that between journals. Alexander von Humboldt's ideas should be used more widely in educational circles. Having published for over 30 years we have seen dramatic changes to conferences and publications such as the changing nature of proceedings over the years with vivid memories of early on including as much of papers within proceedings which often led to the removal of references while currently many journal editors desire that full papers NOT be included in proceedings to be published but that abstracts and the works cited within the paper may be included in proceedings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper we examine why it is useful to have undergraduate as well as master's students involved in research to support their educational experiences as well as promoting their career. In a 2016 interview with Hasan Pirkul, the Dean of the School of Management at the University of Texas at Dallas he indicated that research supports both learning as well as extraordinary leadership. The senior author of this paper has had students involved in writing their own research papers since 1994 and have had over 200 students coauthor papers presented at Harvard, Oxford, and Cambridge Universities. By interviewing over 200 previous students who had had papers presented at these universities it was found that the median present value of an annuity for presenting papers at Oxford or Cambridge was $560,000 and it was $280,000 for presenting a paper at Harvard University. Additional research was performed that examined the present value of an annuity for presenting papers at Allied Academy conferences and it was found that depending on the major and academy chosen that the median present value of an annuity for those presenting papers at Allied Academy conferences varied from $25,000 to over $100,000 which is similar in value to presenting papers at the Academy of Management, Academy of Marketing Sciences, the American Accounting Association, the Financial Management Association, and Informs as well as having a peer reviewed journal article published. Those who had not used the presentations to market themselves had a present value of an annuity of $0. Interestingly the present value of annuity was not found to have changed over time so whether one presented a paper in the early 1990's or 2016 the median present value of an annuity was similar for students who had not entered academic careers. Future research should seek to examine factors which might influence the potential present value of an annuity for students such as the number of presentations, student's majors, and the number of authors on papers. It is expected that the present value of an annuity would be substantially different for academics than for students or for students who eventually move in to academia. As the AACSB moves towards an increasing importance of the impact of research such as Age Weighted Citation Rates and the impact of individual articles as opposed to impact scores for entire journals. We do believe that it is important to publish in top journals, the variations in the impact for individual articles within journals is greater than that between journals. Alexander von Humboldt's ideas should be used more widely in educational circles. Having published for over 30 years we have seen dramatic changes to conferences and publications such as the changing nature of proceedings over the years with vivid memories of early on including as much of papers within proceedings which often led to the removal of references while currently many journal editors desire that full papers NOT be included in proceedings to be published. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the current paper we examine methods used to instruct students on ethical entrepreneurship and how to use differences in Hofstede's Cultural Dimensions in order to better educate students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the current paper we examine differences in the meaning of working between accountants in China, Chile, Germany, Israel, and South Korea. The first of the Work Norms is the concept of Work Centrality (Lawler and Hall 1970; MOW international work team 1987; Zedeck 1992). Work centrality is the general belief about the importance of working within one's life. It can be thought of as the degree to which work is seen as the most important variable for developing one's self-concept or self-image (Super 1953, 1957, Super et al. 1967). The second work norm is the view of work as an Obligation to one's employer, society, and/or family - with the obverse of this being work as an entitlement (Erickson and Vallas 1990, Etzioni 1961, Kohlberg 1963, Piaget 1965, Zedeck 1992). An individual with this work norm believes that he or she works because they ought to contribute to society (or the employer, or the family, etc.) through work. In essence, the obligation to work norm represents an individual's belief that he or she has a responsibility or duty to contribute to social units. The third work norm is intrinsic satisfaction (basically being interested in the work itself) or expected intrinsic rewards from working (Hall 1986, McGregor 1960). It has been reported that across countries and cultures (with the sole exception of the Far East), next to providing economic support, perceived intrinsic rewards are seen as the most important reasons for working. The fourth work norm is the interpersonal or Social work norm (Hall 1986; McBride, Mendoza, and Carraher 1993). Humans tend to be social beings and therefore many work in order to have increased opportunities to interact with others. The final major work norm to be explored in this work, which may seem obvious, is that work is performed to produce income necessary for survival (Hall 1986, Maslow 1954, Zedeck 1992) - which we call the Importance of Pay work norm. A study examining the levels of importance placed on the basic functions of work has found that across eight culturally diverse countries over 60% of all individuals identify this as the most important reason for working (MOW international work team 1987). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the current study I examine the turnover intentions of 198 nurses looking at Pay Satisfaction, 4 measures of performance, absenteeism, ease of turnover, and Voluntary transfer requests. All together the variables were able to explain 42.9% of the variance in turnover intentions with the most powerful variable being absenteeism. The more one is absent the more one is to desire to turnover. None of the performance measures were statistically significant at the .05 level. Intererstingly the Ease of Turnover was negatively related to Turnover Intentions. Suggestions for future research are provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the current paper we examine the dimensional nature of the 11-item Social Entrepreneurship scale of Carraher (2012) with modifications as suggested by Dick (2012). Using a sample of 276 health care professionals we find that the 11-item scale has a coefficient alpha reliability estimate of .94 which is better than the .89 found for the original 6-item version. We find that the better individuals gets along with those who they work with the stronger their social entrepreneurship for the organization. Suggestions for future research are included. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the current paper we examine the importance of Rokeach's Values Survey and its relationship with leadership, customer service orientation, and time as an expatriate for 264 expatriate entrepreneurs from the MiddleEast. The Coefficient of Determinations vary from .317 (Leadership) to .519 (Time as An Expatriate) when using Rokeach's value inventory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The dimensionality of Porter's Industry Analysis was examined by using a sample of 373 businesses. A principal component analysis using promax rotation with a Kaiser normalization was used to assess which factors were most significant in each of Porter's 5-Forces. Each specific force loaded with its own significant factor showing a main question that was significant to each factor. We found support for a six dimensional solution rather than a 5 dimensional solution with each of the traditional five dimensions having its own primary dimension but several dimensions had overlapping items. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Customer service is important to entrepreneurs because it is the core to a successful business. More and more businesses are realizing this importance and adapting their business strategies to accomplish this. As international business becomes more popular, it is vital that organizations are current on the definition of customer service within different geographical regions of the world. The study identified several models used to evaluate customer satisfaction in these geographical areas and gives insight on how service firms can provide the highest level of customer satisfaction to consumers of different cultural backgrounds. In our findings, companies are sharing their accomplishments with quality customer service and stressing the imperativeness of customer service in a growing company. Strengths and weaknesses are shared which guide other businesses to the help they are seeking. This paper is original because of the subjective content as well as contribution and confirmation of ideas through several other professional authors (Carraher et al. and Carland et al.). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We examine the importance of customer service and it's measurement using data from 177 entrepreneurs in eastern Europe. Because "businesses, large or small, industrial or retail, new or established, can't survive without customers." And having good customer service is essential for small businesses in gaining those customers. Also discussed will be the need for small businesses to create life-time customers opposed to one-time customers. No matter how trendy, efficient, or useful your product or service is, you will go nowhere if your customers are not satisfied. There are significant differences in results based upon who is doing the ratings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An entrepreneur is an innovator, someone who creates new combinations of resources in order to invent new products (Schumpeter, 1942). Schumpeter saw the entrepreneurial process as "creative destruction" because resources were reallocated from their previous uses to create new products and technologies. Kirzner (1973), on the other hand, defined entrepreneurship as the discovery of opportunities that had been previously unnoticed. An entrepreneur has the characteristics of an innovator, risk taker, and resource allocator (Kaiser, 1990). No matter how one defines the entrepreneur, entrepreneurs catalyze change. The change can be in the form of new products and technologies, new uses for the same resources, or new methods of production. Therefore, it is easy to see how entrepreneurial activity creates new jobs, new wealth, and areas for further growth in the economy. The level of entrepreneurship influences the development and growth of the economy. Public policy can influence or discourage entrepreneurship. If public policy desires to foster economic growth and encourage the development of the economy, policy makers should seek to understand the effects those policies have on entrepreneurial spirit and incentives. Public policy should aim to be supportive of entrepreneurship as entrepreneurial endeavors grow and develop the economy. It is important for policy makers to recognize that excess government intervention and poorly made public policy might distort the decisions made by entrepreneurs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Financial statements are prepared so that the financial information can be used by stakeholders to better understand and mange the firm. An important aspect of using financial statements is to help make better decisions, especially as related to the financial impact of the decisions. Effective interpretation and use of financial statements is important because poor financial capitalization is a leading cause for small firm failure (Coleman, 2000 and Carter and Van Auken, 2005). Because poor decisions can lead to financial stress and failure, the role of financial statements is central to maintaining firm competitiveness and solvency (Coleman, 2000; Wiklund and Shepherd, 2005). In this paper we examined factors associated with whether SME owners: (1) use financial statements and (2) comfort with their ability to interpret financial statements. Both issues are important to examine because of the importance of financial statements among all stakeholders. The vast majority of the research on the use of financial information and financial statements has been focused on large firms. There appears to be few papers on how SMEs use financial statements in making decisions (Shields, 2010). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper is written to explore the many aspects of financing new business ventures and projects in customer service management organizations. New business financing can take many forms at different stages. The stages of a new business venture can include research and development, demonstration, early commercialization, and demand-driven commercialization. The various financial instruments that help ventures through these stages include Government finance, International funding Mechanisms, Private-sector finance, and Micro-credit and community-based financing (Chaurey, Gueye, & Babu 2004). Not all new business ventures go through these stages of development and financing. This report will also explore other new business venture financing and the entrepreneurial qualities that attract it. Different people and areas get more business financing than others. This report will try to look in to any regional, gender, or national bias when organizations or individuals finance new business ventures. Another aspect of financing new business ventures and entrepreneurial individuals are the changes these entities and people make in their communities. This report will look at the social and economic changes affected by financing. Extensive legal advice and services may be needed for different ventures. This report will also explore some of the need for experienced counsel when seeking creative financing solutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Customer Service is important for any business. It helps build the reputation of the firm and serves as a building block for the firm. A much under researched area is internal customer service as opposed to customer service with external customers. With internal customer service you need to understand what the customer is trying to communicate to you. Since customer service is a valued characteristic of most organizations, it is certainly conceivable that customer service is a value that should permeate throughout the organization. Even in the accounting department, the rules of good customer service should prevail. After all, the tentacles of the accounting department reach to insiders and outsiders; and this extensive reach could stress the entire organization if handled improperly. So regardless of whether the customer service area of accounting is communicating with board members, management, coworkers, vendors, creditors, government agencies or even the final consumer--good customer service should prevail. These customers of the accounting department have predetermined ideas regarding the treatment they expect from accounting customer services. These expectations include a staff of competent individuals that exhibit a willingness to understand and the ability to listen to their customer's needs. In addition, these users of the accounting customer services usually seek relevant data to enhance decision-making, which could ultimately create a greater need for the existing accounting department. Ultimately, the accounting department could find itself in a very favorable situation by simply merging its customer service with a value-added data mining operation, which would better serve inside and outside customers of accounting information. In effect, accounting managers should recognize that their departments must become more service oriented to survive. In the current study we examine customer service among 245 accounting department personnel from three mid-western organizations. The results indicate that personality significantly influences internal customer service performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The medical device industry has been steadily growing for several decades. Following globalization trends, the industry has increasingly looked to enter foreign markets. A number of factors, however, affect the conditions of entry into foreign medical device markets. Five primary categories of factors unique to medical device markets were identified and include: market, scientific seeds, commercialization/ venture capital, regulatory/ policy, and sociopolitical context. The elements of these factors are delineated and discussed in terms of their pull, push, or drag effects. Finally, a discussion of possible modifications to these factors and the subsequent effects that these changes would create is undertaken. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Every year companies spend millions or even billions of dollars to replace employees due to absenteeism and turnover. Companies end up paying for time lost, recruitment and training. Since companies have lost tons of money, research are trying to figure out which individual and organizational behaviors prompt these behaviors and associate them with psychological factors (Albion, Fogarty, Machin, Patrick, Australian Health Review 2008). Absenteeism and turnover are the most extreme factors associated with withdrawal. Researchers are trying to come up with models to see if they can come up with a solution to reduce the costly out come (Albion, Fogarty, Machin, Patrick, Australian Health Review 2008). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this research paper is to discuss the correlation between Customer Relationship Management systems and Employee Selection Processes within healthcare organizations. Recruiting employees who have personality traits consistent with customer-orientated behavior positively contributes to the successful implementation of Customer Relationship Management System. Traditional methods are also useful when conducting interviews to identify the best candidate for the job. Knowing what you need, asking the right questions, assessing your management style, setting expectations clearly or offering competitive compensation benefits and rewards. Peer interviewing is an innovative method of selecting employees during the hiring process. This method incorporates involving employees with the same skill set conducting interviews with the inclusion of their management. Implementing a collaborative environment can contribute constructively to the success of any organization. Creating a win-win scenario where both sides find agreeable outcomes, concepts and solutions that go beyond the interest of the individual involved can advance rather than decline the success of the implementation of any Customer Relationship Management system and Employee selection process within the healthcare field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reviews the concept of strategic customer service, and the underlying skills and techniques necessary to master this concept. This is especially true in genetic markets whose products are basically the same and the only differentiating feature is customer service. The level of customer service that an organization provides is at the core of its business strategy and is supported by employee knowledge and service skills. Understanding customer's needs and wants, allows an organization to design/build its business strategy around its customers and provide customer driven excellence. Through the strategic use of customer relationship management, organizations are able to perform quality assurance, measure customer complaints and satisfaction as well as maximize responsiveness to their customers. This paper also addresses the need of employees to be actively engaged and empowered in the organization. They need to be given a certain level of authority that allows them to make decisions. In order for an organization to provide excellent customer service, they need to hire and be able to retain the right type of employee capable of buying into the philosophy of customer service. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Scientists are creating new and amazing materials by manipulating molecules at the ultra-small scale of 0.1 to 100 nanometers. Nanosize super-particles demonstrate powerful and unprecedented electrical, chemical, and mechanical properties. This study examines how nanotechnology, as the multidisciplinary engineering of these novel nanomaterials into atomically precise products, is expected to disrupt most industries. Past industrial revolutions, driven by water power, internal combustion power, electrical power, and computer power, have greatly impacted our economy and forever changed the course of society. Nanotechnology represents more potential power than all previous technologies combined. The primary methodology of this study involved comparing the current literature on developments in nanotechnology to the historical development of electricity to assess if the nanotech revolution is reaching a true "critical mass" based on acceleration of technological change today and at other times in history. As a follow-up to our earlier Chamber of Commerce survey on nanotechnology data was collected through nonintrusive observation by the second author from small to medium sized cities throughout the five regions of Oklahoma (NE, SE, SW, SE, and Central) in order to allow a comparison of how entrepreneurs are dealing with potential changes due to the advent of nanotechnology. It was found that the five regions of the state were responding differently to the advent of nanotechnology. Business leaders in the Central and NE were the most accepting of the needed strategic changes and embraced them openly. At the other end of the spectrum, while having some of the leading high technology businesses in the state, SW Oklahoma had received a large amount of money in order to study needed technological and strategic changes but no changes had taken place. These results were consistently found even with multiple repeat visits and assessments with test-retest reliability estimates made at 2, 3, 4, 14, 30, 60, and 90 day intervals. Suggestions are made as to how entrepreneurship educations can use knowledge about innovation management in order to prepare students and business leaders in order to take a leadership role in this new industrial revolution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Globalization has redefined small business and has been studied by small firms and international firms alike. International entrepreneurship involves a combination of innovative, proactive, and risk-seeking behaviors that crosses country borders, and is supposed to create value in organizations. International entrepreneurship uses technological and regulatory advances to improve the flow of information, transportation and resources across global borders. International entrepreneurship may involve the discovery, enactment, evaluation, and exploitation of opportunities- across country borders- in order to create goods and services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Entrepreneurship has an important role in a country's economy, contributing decisively for the creation of new businesses or business opportunities in companies that already exist, according to the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM, 2007). It seems that during the worst economic times some of the biggest, well known companies were born. This also gives room for many small companies to grow and become stronger due to the larger companies fall in the market. It is known that many different leadership styles and values can make up just one entrepreneur but there are still a lot of unknown theories that might influence each other in regards to this topic specifically. This paper gives a great deal of information on the different styles of both leadership and values found among entrepreneurs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the current paper we examine customer service management systems among a sample of 771 entrepreneurial accountants. In order to be successful private accountant the customers have to have a reason to continue utilizing the services of the organization. In some cases good service can be more important the the product itself as if customers do not feel that they are treated well they shall likely go to your competition. While the typical dissatisfied customer in retail establishments tell an average of 8 other individuals in the private accounting field current research indicates that they tell between 11 to 12 others. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many people would like to be their own boss, have people work for them or be able to work flexible hours. Today, it is much easier for one to launch a new business because of the ease at which information can be obtained from the Internet. What are some of the characteristics necessary to be a successful entrepreneur, especially a technological entrepreneur? This paper examines these issues. We discuss the personality characteristics necessary for a successful technological entrepreneur using the big five personality factors and a data set of technological entrepreneurs. We find that Emotional Stability, Conscientiousness, Extraversion, and Agreeableness are all important factors for someone developing in to a successful technological entrepreneur. This is quite surprising as most previous research has not found support for the importance of Emotional Stability while in the current sample it was the most powerful indicator. The paper also addresses how individuals are able to develop these personality traits more fully so that they can be more successful. Suggestions for future research are provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research is a broad view of social entrepreneurship and what social entrepreneurship is within the medical field. This paper addresses the meaning of social entrepreneurship and how it can lead to increases in sustainable innovations within the medical field. Discussed are the academics involved, different structures a social entrepreneur may consider when organizing their venture, and struggles with financing. Special attention is paid to for-profit social entrepreneurs in the hopes of eliminating doubts that profit and a social mission cannot be combined. Data from expatriate health care professionals/social entrepreneurs (Carraher, Sullivan, & Crocitto, 2008) is examined and suggestions for future research are provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Technology is only one of a few sources nonprofit organizations use to operate a successful organization. Technological advances such as the use of internet to promote the organizations' mission, email usage and online tools for fundraising and marketing, and the management of daily financial and management operations of the organization are all useful tools. Technology has been used over the past twenty years as and advantage for nonprofits when seeking funding but it the issue with funding is on the rise due to the economic status of America. With America in a recession more and more nonprofit groups are looking at possibly loosing funding sources and even possibly closing its doors of providing social services to the community. There are several funding sources nonprofits can look into such as business venture, corporate capital, government grants, and local community donors however with the financial distress nonprofits may need to seek other avenues. The past decades there has been an increase for businesses and corporations as well as the community to fund nonprofit groups but what happens when there is no money to give to charities? We look at not only how technology has helped shape nonprofits success but also the different avenues nonprofit organizations can utilize to fund their programs. We also look at different possibilities such as collaboration of services and depletion of programs for the survival of nonprofit organizations. In the next coming years it will be important for nonprofit communities to not to only be successful but to survive during such a tough recession. Today nonprofit communities are suffering as a result from the direct impact of our economical financial status. Nonprofits are no stranger to our society in fact most of the leading nonprofit organizations began over a hundred years ago by social entrepreneur leaders. These social entrepreneur leaders paved the way our society looks to build a better tomorrow. It was only over twenty years ago when nonprofit organizations integrated technology to expand their organizations advocacy efforts and created a more effective management support system. Today, technology has become a successful tool utilized by nonprofits however it has resulted in an increasing number of nonprofit organizations serving society. We examine a sample of NPO's and examine the influence that technology is having on their ability to raise funds. It is found that customer service and technology both play a part in raising capital. Implications of the current work and suggestions for future research are provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Entrepreneurs create innovative products or services with the intention or goal motivated by success, achievement, recognition, family obligation, and/or money. In contrast, our society operates as a capitalist economy where profit is the driver for business transactions. Due to the lack of compensation in the capitalist economy, workers become entrepreneurs and overcome obstacles in order to gain success. In the current study we use the Motivation for Working (Carraher & Whitely, 1998; Carraher, Carraher & Whitely, 2003) in order to compare the motivations for working of entrepreneurs in the USA and China. We will begin to understand the difference of the capitalist and entrepreneur then determine factors of success or failures that the entrepreneur undergoes such as the importance for good customer service. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates the degree of marketing implementation of Six Sigma, its meaning and importance, in the service industry. We will define elements of Six Sigma, how it can improve the service industry, the methodologies used, and then we'll conduct a case study using what we have learned. Six Sigma is used to improve processes in the manufacturing industry but has been used to reduce costs, improve cycle times, eliminate customer complaints and improve the service industry overall (Chiodo, 2004). We'll use DMAIC (Define-Measure-Analyze-Improve-Control) as a roadmap and strive for Six Sigma in the customer service environment. Data from over 800 North American social entrepreneurs shows the importance of quality management techniques and personality at improving customer service. In the current sample adding Six Sigma processes were able to increase organizational productivity by 35%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Learning more about the impact of customer service can enhance the profits of both small business owners and global entrepreneurs by gathering pertinent business and marketing information with a goal of applying them towards a real life situation. Service design should be a high emphasis in businesses because more is needed to reflect its key role in modern day economics. Not too many people can recall when superior customer service was experienced firsthand. Services are delivered from firms selling products and services to consumers, government agencies, non-profits, and other businesses. The operations in these organizations varies widely, but common elements allow us to study the process used in service organizations in seeing what can be done to improve customer service. The service process design is essential to better service delivery, and this report expands the discussion into dimensions of customer service like customer contact and domains of service product offerings, service guarantees, and key roles played by employees in customer service delivery being made by various organizations (Schroeder, 2008). In the present research we examine customer service among healthcare entrepreneurs operating in Poland, Russia, and the USA. It is found that personality impacts customer service levels the most in the USA (R2 = .299, N =873) followed closely by Russia (R2 = .265, N = 282), and then Poland (R2 = .257, N = 201). Suggestions for future research are provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The field of entrepreneurship is best recognized by Shakespeare's words concerning the importance of success and recognizing opportunities and acting upon opportunities (Baron 2006). The solution in seeking opportunities, whether domestically or globally, is to realize and take advantage of situations that will give the organization the greatest advantage to earn a profit while keeping cost at a minimum (Hsieh, Nickerson, & Zenger 2007). The organization must first build a relationship with the country to where they are going to do business abroad (Norris 1971), and have the ability to initiate new products in to the foreign markets (Davidon, Harrigan 1977). Quality managers believe that a high focus for quality offers a way to position the firm by its aspect of quality importance for the customer and by conforming to improving on design specifications. Being customer driven is difficult to deny and there are major concerns regarding customer - driven philosophy that must exist. The three major stages of which an organization must pass in order to become genuine customer driven are pleasure, responsiveness, and dedication. In order to be a part of either one of these stages, an organization must put in place programs that constantly place the customer first - not just say they are customer-driven. In the current paper we examine the influence that personality can have on the customer service oriented behaviors of entrepreneurs. We compare the results from samples from Sweden, Norway, and the United States. The Big Five personality factors were able to explain 34.0% of the variance in customer service in the Swedish sample (N = 280), 25.4% in the Norwegian sample (N = 309), but only 20.3% of the variance in the USA (N = 863). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this paper is to examine how basic accounting knowledge and customer service can be beneficial to the technological entrepreneur. The paper discusses how basic accounting knowledge can help the technological entrepreneur analyze their business and make sound decisions based on useful accounting information. The paper also discusses how basic knowledge of the internal controls framework, accounting information systems, and accounting technology can help technological entrepreneurs meet goals, achieve their objectives effectively and efficiently, and steer their business towards long term success and prosperity. Additionally the influence of customer service is examined for the technical entrepreneur. Using a sample of 320 North American businesses we find that going through a short course in accounting was able to increase the income of the businesses an average of 7.8%. A median split of businesses on customer service showed a difference of 21.1% in profits while looking at the extreme 10% of businesses (highest and lowest customer service) resulted in a difference of 212.9% in profits with those higher in customer service earning more. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using a sample of 205 we examine the relationship between the entrepreneurs' Need for Achievement and organizational profitability. Using a median split of the data organizations created (and lead) by an individual with higher need for achievement averaged 61.1% greater net profit indicating that it can be important to study Need for Achievement in Accounting and Entrepreneurship. Suggestions for future research are provided. Some of the main factors that can influence achievement motivation are also examined in this paper. These items will include social and cultural differences, as well as how differing job functions can contribute to a change in the need for achievement. It is important to understand how many different factors can contribute to changes in ones motivation since entrepreneurial activity is such a vital part of a healthy economy. Finally the implications of this research as well as areas that need to be considered for future research are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Surgeon-innovators have long been an integral part of the modernization and improvement of healthcare. Despite their historical participation in innovation, the number of and funding for surgeon-driven innovations is decreasing. Although the literature on surgical innovation is increasing, little exists concerning surgeon-specific barriers to innovation. This paper seeks to clarify the expected benefits and possible disadvantages of surgeon-driven innovation. Additionally, it will briefly discuss the typical models and processes utilized by surgeon-innovators. As theses are more fully understood, this paper will seek to elucidate the potential surgeon-specific barriers (individual and collective) to the innovation process. With a better understanding of these potential barriers, measures may be constructed and implemented to both eliminate these barriers and promote increased surgeon participation in the innovation process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper will analyze the subject area of superior customer value, and its importance in the business arena. Superior customer value has become increasingly critical as companies become more competitive and enter global markets. It is also intriguing to discover the underlying impact that this executed strategy could have on the organization's overall position within the marketplace. Our objective is to substantiate the correlations between superior customer value and market strength. This objective is met through empirical research in 10 Caribbean countries that reveals some of the corporate strategies employed, management styles/leadership abilities, supply chain management, global implications, and any resulting significant trends. However, based on general industry trends and the momentous success that most of these firms experience, this leads one to ponder: Is a company doomed without the delivery superior customer value? [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this paper is to analyze the present Customer Relationship Management (CRM) strategies utilized by RBC Royal Bank of Canada (Bahamas) and to propose improvements that can lead to increased success. The paper shows that although RBC uses CRM as a strategy and not a solution, there are still inadequacies with respect to the implementation of said strategies that impedes RBC's goal of achieving customer loyalty. The opinions of 70 customers from 10 branches as well as employees were examined to ascertain how effectively the CRM strategies are being translated from policy to customer. Recommendations to the existing CRM strategies were proposed which should negate the implementation problems that currently exist thus enabling RBC to achieve customer loyalty. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Excellent customer service is the ability of an organization to consistently exceed the customers' expectations. In order for employees to give superior customer service, the right skills, attitudes, and personality traits must be in place. It is imperative for recruiters to select the best talent to fit each job requirement. If an organization is to strategically compete in today's global village, they have to differentiate themselves from their competitors, and this important factor starts with the quality of their employee selection. Organizations have to recognize that every aspect of their business has an impact on customer service, even the recruitment exercise. The purpose of this paper is to not only to define the Big Five Personality Factors (extroversion, openness to experience, agreeableness, neuroticism and conscientiousness), but to show how they correlate and impact the delivery of an organization's Customer Services within two samples of entrepreneurs. We examine the relationship between the Big Five Personality Factors and their impact on customer service among 284 entrepreneurs in the USA and for 164 in Switzerland. Suggestions for future research are provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Top managers and executives are a strategically important group whose compensation warrants special attention because of their significant ability to influence organization performance. The problem seems to be that in some companies, top executive pay is high regardless of profitability or stock market performance. One study found that CEO pay changes $3.25 for every $1000 change in shareholder wealth. Although this relationship was interpreted to mean that "the compensation of top executives is virtually independent of corporate performance, later work suggest this is not the case in most companies. This paper explores the types of executive compensation; ethical implication; performance and regulations in terms of Jaques' equity theory among a group of 163 CEO/Entrepreneurs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this paper is to identify the importance of having effective marketing strategies and diligent customer service. This paper will identify and analyze business practices in differing cultures that have exemplary marketing strategies and customer service. We use statistical data collected from consumers and potential customers about service in the tourism sector, the food stores, government agencies and banks in the Bahamas, as well as samples of entrepreneurs from China, the United States and The Bahamas, and compare their demographic makeup and business orientation in an effort to show the entrepreneurial trends that exist. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The global aging population leaves much to be considered when determining how a generation that has contributed so much leave their respective industries. The term "Baby Boomers" has become synonymous with speculation on how this generation's departure will affect the economy, the workforce, and the country. We analyze the effects that baby boomer exodus will have on United States. Additionally, the Bahamas' National Insurance Plan, which is the nation's equivalent to the United States' Social Security plan, is presented. Finally, a comparative study between the American and Japanese baby boomers is presented. The data examined examines the financial burden, benefits, social and health care issues, and other negative implications on retirement plans. This information leaves the question to be answered, "What will happen if we fail to accommodate the massive baby boomer departure from the workforce?" [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper is an examination of literature concerning customer loyalty. Customer loyalty programs are instituted by organizations in attempt to maintain long lasting repeat purchasing relationships with customers. However, when organizations fail to evaluate target markets, missuse of loyalty programs occurs, resulting in frustration. First, a comprehensive model detailing factors such as customer perceptions, expectations, and values is developed. The model describes the relationship of the aforementioned factors to create customer value. Second, customer loyalty management and the use of customer relationship management techniques are discussed. Third, customer frustrations arising from loyalty management practices are identified. There is a lot of data concerning the importance of building and maintaining customer loyalty through loyalty programs as well as ineffectiveness of loyalty programs. However, recent research conducted identified there is little data concerning customer dissatisfaction of loyalty programs resulting in frustration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this research is to examine the impact of Customer Value and Total Quality Management on organizational performance as viable strategies towards effectively and efficiently satisfying customer's demands whilst achieving organizational goals. The constructs of Customer Value and Total Quality Management will be defined and developed followed by an examination of the relational nature and theoretical differences between them. Each construct's impact on organizational performance will also be examined followed by an empirical analysis of a sample population. The samples were drawn from Vietnam and the Philippines Suggestions for future follow-up work to be carried out with local business owners and consumers in the Bahamas to determine the relative worth of Superior Quality and Customer Value, towards satisfying customer's demands and achieving organizational goals is suggested. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An abstract of the article "It's All in the Blood: The Battle Between David & Goliath in the Blood Testing Market," by Charles E. Carraher, Shawn M. Carraher, and Whitney Loftesnes is presented.

An abstract of the article "International Meaning of Working: Level & Occupational Differences," by Stetson Sannes and colleagues is presented.

An abstract of the article "Managing Strategic Sustainability in Healthcare Entrepreneurship: Innovations in Pharmaceutical Development," by Shawn Carraher and Charles Carraher is presented.

Information about several papers discussed at the Allied Academies International Conference held from April 2-4, 2008 in Tunica, Mississippi is presented. A case study which follows the development of the idea of entrepreneurship and leadership training from face-to-face interactions to Internet-based education is discussed. The case is claimed useful in teaching faculty how to teach on-line and takes learners through the process of designing experiential exercises.