<p> Although they represent 99.7% of all employers in the American domestic workforce, the annual failure rate of small businesses is alarming. Given this high failure rate, research is needed to better understand the characteristics of leaders who create and sustain success in small businesses. The two-part purpose of this sequential, explanatory mixed-methods study was to (a) measure the emotional intelligence of small business leaders in Southern California and (b) explore the leaders&rsquo; perceptions of the effect and value of EI in the workplace. Following the collection of quantitative data using an online version of the Wong and Law Emotional Intelligence Scale (WLEIS) to measure small business leaders&rsquo; EI, qualitative data was collected through semi-structured interviews with the study&rsquo;s 12 survey respondents. The interviews were designed to explore the leaders&rsquo; perceptions of the effect and value of EI in the workplace. Analysis of the quantitative survey data showed that 75.0% of the leaders rated in the high EI category for the EI total score, and five correlational tendencies (<i>p</i> &lt; .15) were found: higher total EI with having had more leadership positions, self-emotion appraisal score was higher for women and for those with a social sciences background, and older respondents had higher others&rsquo; emotion appraisal and regulation of emotion scores. Results from the qualitative analysis suggested that male participants&rsquo; EI affects the workplace to a greater extent than that of female participants. Additionally, older participants had higher rates of association between EI workplace effect and others&rsquo; emotion appraisal and regulation of emotion. Moreover, those participants who held a higher number of small business leadership positions had greater associations between leader value of EI in the workplace and all four WLEIS scales than those who held fewer leadership positions. Recommendations for future research included comparative studies of different types of professional development programs designed to enhance small business leaders&rsquo; EI and further research to better understand how gender moderates the relationship between EI and specific performance outcomes that are known to contribute to overall business success.</p>

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The benefit of mentoring as a strategy to improve workplace learning has been proclaimed in business and educational research literature for the past two decades. This study focused on the characteristics ascribed by proteges to their workplace mentors. This topic has received little serious attention despite the proliferation of research on mentoring. Data were collected from 1,771 Canadians, most of whom were from Vancouver, British Columbia. Initially, 1,011 people encountered in public places, such as markets and shopping centres, completed a pen-and-paper questionnaire in which they were asked to write three words to describe their mentors. One hundred of these words were put into a second questionnaire. This was administered to 760 people in various work settings and training venues. Data were factor analyzed resulting in eight factors: Authenticity, Volatility, Nurturance, Approachability, Competence, Inspiration, Conscientiousness and Hard Working. Standardized scale scores were then calculated from the factors and used to test for differences among various socio-demographic variables. Finally, individual, faceto- face interviews were conducted with 16 proteges in order to explore how these key mentoring characteristics manifested themselves in day-to-day work settings. Irrespective of age, gender or status within their organizations, two-thirds of the respondents reported having mentors. Mentors were most often older than their proteges and more than half reported that their mentors were also their bosses. Three-fifths of these mentors were men. Statistical tests of differences on various socio-demographic variables and the Dimensions Of Mentoring Inventory (DOMI) highlighted differences between the perceptions of women and men proteges about their mentors. Women proteges attributed higher Nurturance scores to mentors than did men, whereas men attributed higher Competence scores to mentors than did women. Most proteges were in single-gender relationships, however the 178 (one-fifth) of respondents in cross-gender relationships showed no differences in characteristics from single-gender relationships. Proteges in management positions attributed higher Competence scores to mentors than those in nonmanagement positions. Mentoring relationships with bosses were reportedly of longer duration, with more bosses aware of their mentoring role than non bosses. Mentor/protege conflict was infrequent, but when it occurred, the mentors were characterized as Volatile and Hard Working. Interviews with 16 proteges yielded vignettes of their mentors as they recounted memorable incidents. Five themes were uluminated through interviews with proteges. The mentors' belief in their protege's capabilities; a desire on the part of proteges to be mentored; timing of the relationship; reciprocity; and affinity. This was a study of mentor characteristics as seen from proteges' points of view. Further studies utilizing confirmatory factor analysis are needed to verify the factor structure of mentor characteristics and to test alternative models. Further investigation into characteristics of mentors, particularly those in the dual role of mentor and boss, and differences in perceptions between women and men are advisable.

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Competitive success for a Contract Research Organization (CRO) entails unlimited process improvement to sustain excellence. Chapter One describes the generic business environment CROs operated in which customers dictate the pace of competition through asking for higher standards of quality, speedy delivery, reliability, and lower prices, as markets are becoming increasingly saturated. Opportunities for market growth and maintaining market share, are testing experiences for all CROs. This imposes the tenets of theories and models on CROs so as to understand the critical factors that have a statistically significant effect on their bottom-line figures. CROs need to take note of causal factors drivin g time and costs, even at the height of their success. Therefore, Chapters Two and Three present informative writings on the tenets of best-practices and activity-based management, because best-in-class principles must be reviewed to contemplate which risks to take; which new ideas to implement; which critical factors will drive success, and which will challenge the myths distinctive to the contract research environment. Informative writings, documented as background information, were used to evaluate the results presented in Chapter Five. During the construction of a model for a CRO in the final Chapter, an attempt is made to explain phenomena experienced in everyday life and to discern aspects necessary to sustain competitive success in contract research. For the purpose of this research a model is defined as a set of statements that make explanatory or causal claims about reality, statements that aim to represent everyday phenomena as accurately as possible, and simplify our understanding of the CRO business environment. This research is aimed at developing a management model to explain the particular phenomena applicable to a pharmaceutical CRO and can be classified as an empirical study, analyzing existing primary and numerical data, gathered from a case study. Although management models are well described in literature, this research adds value to an aspect still to be researched, i.e. a management model comprising the most applicable best-practices for a pharmaceutical CRO. Because throughput time is of utmost importance in clinical drug research programs and because time consequently generates costs, an activity-based methodology is considered the best-in-class information tool to gather the necessary data for the calculation of time and cost factors for a CRO. The results presented in Chapter Five, analyzed with a statistical linear regression model using univariate and multivariate analyses to discern which variables have a statistically relevant effect on time and cost factors, were used to formulate the management model in Chapter Six. The productivity model presented shows that if the productivity of the operational divisions imitates the output of the most productive division, the profit can almost be doubled, or conversely, the same profit can be maintained but, with a reduction in the number of full time employees. This holds win-win benefits for the company and the customer, especially if cost can be used as leverage in a competitive market. Pricing is a complex instrument because of the two-sided conflict and competitive nature of the buyer -seller relationship where the oneâs gains are the otherâs loss. The researcher evaluated time, costs and pricing to make pricing a win-win element through which improved throughput efficacy can provide greater customer value and higher profits to the shareholder. Secrecy agreements are signed between CROs and sponsoring companies and therefore project information is the intellectual property of the sponsoring company. This limiting factor inevitably made a case study approach for this research project a necessity. Research information should preferably have been included from different CROs worldwide, and a case study approach may be regarded as not meeting minimal design requirements for comparison. However, a single, well-designed case study can provide a major challenge to informative writings and theory. It can provide new insight into traditional concepts and figments of the imagination, and identify statistically significant cost drivers to sustain the knowledge base to make recommendations on the optimization of resource utilization. As CROs enter foreign markets, global harmonization of clinical trial standards serve to provide uniformity in processes in trial execution. Guidelines reach beyond the sponsoring country to regulate quality and ensure uniformity of trials globally. Thus, the results obtained from FARMOVS-PAREXEL case studies can be extrapolated to other CROs and the model formulated, as a result of global uniformity enforced by regulations universally applicable to CROs. The project was important because in the quest for developing new drugs, CROs compete inter alia as providers of choice on timelines and price. The interpretation of the results emphasized that factors traditionally perceived as cost drivers, may not have statistically significant effect on time or cost factors. The synergy between techniques applied from the theoretical fields of accounting and project management, i.e. to quantify and optimize resource ut ilization, provided the information to formulate a unique management model for a CRO. The lack of outcome based research results, from a management perspective, on resource consumption during the execution of bioavailability studies, emphasizes the importance of this research project. The research results indisputably prove that concepts and traditions need to be tested with a statistical linear regression and productivity model as the core logic of a management model for a CRO. The results conclusively indicate that a management model with a customer focus for a pharmaceutical CRO is a necessity to align financial performance measures, which are pivotal in the alliance with the customer and shareholder.

Performance measures in the past primarily focused on production and were aimed at attaining increased short-term operational efficiency in terms of financial indicators. This type of measurement is too narrowly focused as it ignores critical measurement indicators that makes or breaks the company such as human capital, processes, customer interface, etc. In this regard most African countries are finding it extremely difficult to compete in the dynamic and changing global business environment. This study aims to assess to what extent Eritrean manufacturing enterprises use integrated performance measures, extent of its utilization and perceived relevance related to their actual financial results. In this regard an integrated model such as the balanced scorecard approach (financial, customer satisfaction, internal process/operational and employee satisfaction measures) was selected as reference for the study. A survey was done to gather data. Qualitative and quantitative techniques were employed for analyzing the data. The specific methods of data analysis include descriptive statistics such as tabulation, cross tabulation, computations of frequencies, and computations of percentages as well as correlation and regression analysis. The relative importance of financial as well as non-financial measures in relation to the performance evaluation process in the context of manufacturing enterprises was investigated. The result of the analysis indicated that the majority of respondent enterprises primarily focus on financial measures, using historical data, accounting profits and financial ratios which are compared with industrial trends. The financial measures are considered as having great importance in the respondent enterprises. Despite the fact that the non-financial measures are as important as the financial measures - little or no attention is being paid to non-financial dimensions. The result of the analysis revealed that there is a clear and strong relation between the financial performance and the non-financial performance measures (customer satisfaction, internal process/operational and employee satisfaction). In addition, empirical findings suggested that the non-financial measures are significant explanatory factors of financial performance. More importantly, findings show that manufacturing plants that consistently employed both financial and non-financial measures performed better than those that do not. Based on the results of the study important policy recommendations are outlined. Manufacturing enterprises have to invest in re-training employees to get motivated and competent people to produce customer perceived product quality as well as continuous improvement of operational processes, which may help the enterprises to compete in todayâs dynamic business environment. Generally the study has collected essential numerical evidence for the future development of manufacturing enterprises. Knowledge and understanding of the critical factors underpinning enterprisesâ performance can lead to further improvements. In turn this will help the overall development of the national economy.

This research study advocates that radio stations in Lesotho should make full use of the benefits offered by marketing both as a philosophy and a business function. The research study also recommends that the radio stations in Lesotho use the strategic marketing planning steps and approach that have been prescribed throughout this project, that is, the development of a mission statement, corporate objectives, situation analysis, competitor analysis, and marketing objectives.

Die hoofdoel van die studie is om vas te stel of die verhoudingsvoorneme van motorkopers in die Vrystaat as basis vir marksegmentering gebruik kan word ten einde te bepaal of klante ân positiewe verhoudingsvoorneme toon en derhalwe in ân verhouding met die onderneming wil verbind (sien afdeling 1.7). Die sekondêre doelwitte om hierin te slaag was om: ô Die bedryfsinisiatiewe binne die verhoudingsbemarkingkonteks van die Suid- Afrikaanse motorbedryf te ondersoek. ân Literatuurstudie is onderneem en die resultate word in hoofstuk 1 bespreek. Die bevindinge uit hoofstuk 1 is toegepas op die aanbevelings van verhoudingsvoorneme van kopers van nuwe motors in die Vrystaat; ô Verhoudingsbemarking te definieer en die ontstaan, ontwikkeling en rasionaal daarvan te ondersoek. ân Literatuurstudie is onderneem en die resultate is in hoofstuk 2 bespreek. Die bevindinge uit Hoofstuk 2 is toegepas op die aanbevelings van verhoudingsvoorneme van kopers van nuwe motors in die Vrystaat; ô Die dimensies van verhoudingsvoorneme te ondersoek. ân Literatuurstudie is onderneem en elke dimensie van verhoudingsvoorneme (betrokkenheid, verwagtinge, vergewensgesindheid, terugvoer en risiko vir verhoudingsverlies) is bespreek. Die resultate wat uit die literatuurstudie verkry is, is in hoofstuk 3 bespreek en is gebruik in die ontwikkeling van die vraelys wat klante se verhoudingsvoorneme meet; ô Marksegmentering en teikenbemarking te ondersoek en verhoudingsvoorneme as Å nuwe basis vir marksegmentering voor te stel. ân Literatuurstudie is onderneem en al die beginsels van marksegmentering is ondersoek. Die resultate is in Hoofstuk 4 bespreek. Die verskillende segmenteringsbasisse, wat ook verhoudingsvoorneme en winsgewendheid insluit, is bespreek. Die bevindinge uit hierdie hoofstuk is gebruik in die ontwikkeling van die vraelys wat ten doel gehad het om ân profiel van klante met ân verhoudingsvoorneme te bepaal; ô Om die verhoudingsvoorneme van kopers van nuwe motors in die Vrystaat te ondersoek en aanbevelings aan die Suid-Afrikaanse motorbedryf te maak ter verbetering van aksies. ân Aangepaste vraelys is ontwikkel om die verhoudingsvoorneme van kopers van nuwe motors in die Vrystaat te bepaal. Hierdie vraelys is gebruik tydens ân opname onder kopers van nuwe motors in die Vrystaat. Die navorsingsmetodologie en empiriese resultate is in Hoofstuk 5 bespreek. In Hoofstuk 6 is gevolgtrekkings en aanbevelings afgelei vanuit die resultate in Hoofstuk 5. Hierdie navorsing het dus suksesvol verloop en bogenoemde doelwitte is bereik.

The study of bankruptcy is becoming more relevant and important as even large companies are failing that cause economic and social problems to the society. Using financial distress models to predict failure in advance is for most businesses absolutely essential in their decision making process. Hence, this study involves a critical investigation in the applicability of the Altman (1968) and Springate (1978) z-score models in predicting financial distress in IT and Services companies of South Africa. The Altman and Springate models were however developed in a different economic environment, time horizon, industry and country. Testing these models in the South African context is important to determine the practical applicability and relevance of the models. The main objective of the study is to test the Altman and Springate models in determining practical predictive ability of failure in selected South African IT and services companies listed on the Johannesburg Security Exchange and to comment on the models applicability according to the empirical results. The study is designed into three sections. The first section will discuss the theoretical aspects of the study. The second part will be the discussion of the research results, and finally the conclusion and recommendations of the study will be presented. The first sample companies was 24 failed and 46 nonfailed information technology and services companies listed on the Johannesburg Security Exchange from 1999 to 2003. The failed companies were matched to two nonfailed companies in the same sector according to their turnover size. Additional nonfailed real estate and information technology companies were added to evaluate the prediction ability of the models in these sectors using substantial samples, as the first sample results were inconsistent, especially on the nonfailed companies. Therefore, the final sample of the study is composed of 86 (24 failed and 62 nonfailed) services and information technology companies. The study employed an analysis of financial statements and derived the z-score of the sampled companies to test the predictive ability of the models in forecasting bankruptcy. The analysis utilized ratios, which are related to the models in the study. The results reported in the empirical study for total failed and nonfailed sample companies show these models fail to predict failure and non-failure amongst South African service and information technology sample companies. The study is also extended to predict failure and non-failure to investigate if the models are more applicable to predict failure in some sub-sectors of the sampled services and information technology companies. The results are not consistent as the models predicted failure but not nonfailure, or vice versa. Therefore, the models are not successful to predict any sub-sector correctly. It is generally assumed bankruptcy prediction models are useful regardless of industry, time horizon, and country. The findings reported in the study for each model indicated that the overall accuracy of the Altman and Springate z-scores models accuracy rate were reduced when used on the South African service and information technology sample, which is different from those companies used to develop the original models. Therefore, the study concluded that the Altman and Springate bankruptcy prediction models are not justifiable to be applied to predict bankruptcy in the South African service and information technology. Hence, it is not advisable to use these models in predicting failure in the non-manufacturing firms, especially in South African services and information technology companies. Important recommendations were outlined based on the results of the study. Some of the recommendations are the development of practically applicable bankruptcy prediction models in the IT and services companies of South Africa to elevate inappropriate financial decisions, incorporation of other important indicators of financial well-being during bankruptcy prediction process, checking the practical applicability of prediction models after some period of time. The future research work based on this study is also suggested as developing models to the database in the study, developing new bankruptcy prediction model to the services and information technology companies of South Africa, testing the Altman and/or Springate models on the South African manufacturing and retailing companies, and testing bankruptcy prediction models to the non-listed relatively smaller turnover sized firms where the incidence of business failure is greater than larger corporations.