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This paper proposes a modification of McCormick's (2001) self-regulatory leadership confidence model by including an intervening variable referred to as the Ambiguity Tolerance Interface (ATI). After a review of theoretical [...]

Three quantitative techniques are cited by educators and practitioners as essential for a proper foundation in operations research. These are math programming, statistics and simulation. These three techniques are singled out in the latestsurvey of members of the Operations Research Society of America. The survey results also show that operations research practitioners also recommend the useof a more diverse set of techniques than do educators.

Presents an integrated model for the design or redesign of curricula (the Masters of Business Administration curricula in this case). The model integrates input from three major interest groups--the university, business and industry, and students. The model requires both curriculum-related responses and job-related responses. (CT)

The broad range of computer literacy among students causes problems in the development of a computer-based curriculum. This article discusses the procedures used by the College of Business and Economics at West Virginia University to implement an integrated approach to curriculum design for computer education. (JOW)

Energy consumption, the associated green house emissions has now caught the attention of mainstream organizations. Soon organizations will be required by legislation in many modern economies to report their contribution to green house emissions through their energy consumption. Office computing is a significant contributor to greenhouse emissions through electricity energy consumption. Until recently little thought has been given to making office computing more energy efficient. Organizations and individuals have become complacent in using computers, turning them on first thing in the morning and leaving them on all day. The time it takes to load up modern operating systems has reinforced this inefficient behaviour. In this paper we outline the energy inefficiencies of office computing and outline recent advances in energy efficient technologies. We focus on two emerging technologies: smart power blocks and splash top which have potential to drastically cut the energy consumption of office computing. We believe that our initial evaluation of these energy efficient technologies shows tremendous promise for reducing the energy consumption and greenhouse emissions of office computing. In future work we plan to conduct live experiments in modern office complexes to evaluate the actual energy savings and the fit of these technologies with current work practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

At a time when the IT industry in general and the IT academy in particular face major challenges, some accuse universities of producing graduates with poor or inappropriate skills. This qualitative study, based on interviews with fifteen senior IT executives and managers in the Australian financial services industry, examines what employers seek when they recruit new graduates. We find that employers now expect much more from IT graduates. They require a blend of technical, business and people skills combined with the right attitude. Furthermore, requirements are highly mediated by contextual factors such as company size and corporate culture. We also find that universities are not perceived as negatively as some would have it. Universities face a significant challenge in producing graduates with much wider skill sets. Although this study was conducted in Australia, we are of the opinion that the issues discussed are relevant in the wider international context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The emergence of the Internet has made many institutions involved in the delivery of distance education programs re-evaluate the course delivery framework. A variety of models and techniques co-exist in an often uneasy alliance at many such institutions. These range from the traditional distance learning model, which remains paper-based, to the purely online model. Recently, hybrid models have emerged which apparently attempt to forge elements taken from several models into a unified whole. Many of these hybrid models seek to eliminate paper-based materials from the tuition process. While many arguments are put forward about the efficacy of purely electronic delivery mechanisms, cost containment is often the driving motivation. This study explores student perceptions of the various delivery mechanisms for distance learning materials. In particular, it seeks to determine what value students place on paper-based delivery mechanisms. The study surveys a group of undergraduate students and a group of graduate students enrolled in the Faculty of Business at a large regional Australian university. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The career paths of students are influenced and shaped by the subject choices that are made in the final years of secondary schooling. This paper presents the findings of an empirical study that identified the key factors influencing the decision of rural / regional Australian students to choose or not choose to study Information Processing and Technology. The findings revealed that career oriented, extrinsic factors play an important role in motivating the selection of I.P.T. at school and, by implication, information technology at university. There are few apparent gender differences but there is limited evidence to suggest that males may be more influenced by extrinsic motivators and females by intrinsic motivators. Although the factors used in the study were initially identified largely via informal processes, they all appear to influence the decision to take I.P.T. The focus on career-related factors and the instrumentality of taking I.P.T. could explain the drop-off in students taking the subject. This has potentially significant implications as regards the future supply of good information technology professionals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study of 155 organizations, the relationship between management development programs, managerial level, and organizational strategy was examined. Limited support was established for Katz's theory about shill requirements for managers (1974). Greater emphasis was placed on technical skills at lower management levels and on entrepreneurial skills at senior management levels. A relationship between corporate strategy and the focus of management development programs also was found. Although organizations with growth strategies focused on many management development areas to a greater extent than did organizations with stability or retrenchment strategies, there were no differences in the focus on ethical decision making or technical-skills training between the three strategies. Implications for management and for future research are also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]