<p> The belief that business students are ready for work in the real world is mostly false (Fabris, 2015). Fabris found just 24% of employers believed college graduates were ready to start their careers. Research has shown that 61% of business decision-makers and 63% of corporate recruiters indicated a real problem with how well college graduates were prepared for their first job. Colleges and universities are increasingly under criticism for using outdated pedagogy and not preparing students for the future. To that end, business simulations have now become mainstream as an instructional tool at universities worldwide. Simulations provide experiences similar to those in the real business world. Through simulations students learn how their business decisions affect revenues, net income, market share, and stock prices. Since the 1970s business simulations have been studied from many perspectives to determine which factors relate to successfully competing in the workplace. One such perspective is that a student&rsquo;s previous academic performance is an indication of how well the student will navigate the simulation. Previous research is dated and of mixed findings. Further, the factors of leadership, commitment and teamwork in business simulations have only begun to be studied. This dissertation used the GLO-BUS business simulation to determine to what extent a student&rsquo;s previous academic performance (indicated by the student&rsquo;s GPA and grades on prerequisite courses), and the concepts of leadership, commitment, and teamwork predict the team composite score earned on the business simulation. A regression analysis of the data was performed for all factors. The average team grade in the Marketing course and the Commitment factor were the only two factors providing any predictive ability of the team&rsquo;s performance on the simulation.</p>

<p> Leaders of corporations existing in this global economy endure and face complexities of uncharted precedents and leadership is foundational to the success and sustainability of this navigational process. Transformational leadership and self-efficacy are primary constructs, which profile successful leadership, and executive coaching is instrumental in defining the development of these constructs. This research project added empirical data to the inventory of knowledge of these three constructs transformational leadership, self-efficacy, and executive coaching through a quantitative study with a descriptive correlational design. The relationship was studied between transformational leadership, self-efficacy, and the propensity to pursue executive coaching. One-hundred and eighty-six respondents were surveyed with 110 respondents completing the survey. The MLQ5x and the NGSES assessment tools were utilized to assess and have respondents self-rate their transformational leadership and self-efficacy. Four research questions and alternative hypotheses were formulated to ascertain the relationships and links between the independent variables, transformational leadership and self-efficacy, and the dependent variable, executive coaching. The results demonstrated relationships between transformational leadership and self-efficacy, and transformational leadership and executive coaching. Evidence was produced to support further research into these variables and their correlated relationships. Finally, the results produced original information and knowledge into understanding the variables on the propensity to pursue executive coaching. Recommendations for continued research based on this foundational study were provided.</p>

<p> Over 35 years of gross economic mismanagement and business failures led Liberia&rsquo;s gross domestic product to collapse by 90% in less than two decades. As a result of a general lack of business skills, up to 80% of Liberian small-business entrepreneurs fail in business beyond the first year. Based on the theory of constraints, the purpose of this exploratory multiple case study was to explore the business skills that Liberian small-business entrepreneurs used to succeed in business beyond the first year. Data came from semistructured face-to-face interviews with 5 central regional Liberian small-business entrepreneurs who had succeeded in business beyond the first year. Participant observation, the use of company documents, and the use of member checking allowed for methodological triangulation and verification of the themes. Analysis of data involved using pattern-matching technique and date coding to evaluate, organize, code, and analyze the raw data. There were 3 prominent themes that emerged among entrepreneurs during data analysis: business knowledge, bookkeeping, and pricing skills. The data from the results indicated, within this particular context, Liberian small-business entrepreneurs used business skills for knowledge, finance, and marketing. Focusing on these practices may lead to increased profit and business success beyond the first year for other Liberian small-business entrepreneurs. The findings from the study could provide mechanisms for social change by giving Liberian small-business entrepreneurs additional ideas for using their business skills in their businesses. Furthermore, the findings may aid the Liberian communities to create training programs and curriculums for numerous Liberian colleges and institutions for future Liberian small-business owners. </p>

Thesis (M.B.A.)--Boston University / PLEASE NOTE: Boston University Libraries did not receive an Authorization To Manage form for this thesis or dissertation. It is therefore not openly accessible, though it may be available by request. If you are the author or principal advisor of this work and would like to request open access for it, please contact us at open-help@bu.edu. Thank you. / 2031-01-01

Thesis (M.B.A.)--Boston University. Missing page 83

Businesses in the United States endured approximately $300 billion in annual performance losses resulting from ineffective leadership behaviors. Small business leaders' ineffective leadership characteristics diminish performance and stifle economic growth. As primary drivers of economic wealth, small business leaders rely on effective leadership behaviors to sustain the performance of small organizations. The purpose of this case study was to explore virtuous leadership strategies that small business leaders and employees use to increase business growth. The conceptual framework for this study was the virtuous leadership theory (VLT). The sample size consisted of 3 leaders and 7 employees from a small business located in the greater Houston metropolitan area. Study participants had at least 1 year of experience working in a small business that practices virtuous leadership as outlined in the authorized representative's organizational letter of intent. The qualitative research method was used to collect semistructured interviews and the small business's mission and goal statement. Data analysis included collecting and coding data, identifying and congregating analogous themes, interpreting thematic inferences, and methodological triangulation for interpretation accuracy. Six themes emerged including continuous communication, employee knowledge and training, the use of virtuous tenets, transference of wisdom, modeling justice, and teambuilding. The findings from this study may contribute to the body of knowledge regarding the best practices for virtuous leadership that leaders may use to increase business growth. Small business leaders may use the results identified in this study to increase economic viability and employment through increased business growth.

Thesis (doctoral)--Universität WItten/Herdecke, 2005. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 175-187).

Business development or to develop the business, sounds quite obvious what it is all about; to take it to the next level. But to take the business one step further can be done in many different ways and with this in mind the purpose of the study is to examine and increase the understanding of the phenomena business development. This was done by carrying out a qualitative study, and more specifically an exploratory one, to see what is behind the title of people working with business development. What do they do and how do they do it? The study shows a number of focus areas that are common among these business developers, mainly to find and exploit new opportunities. This lead them towards the main goal with their positions and what they do, namely to increase profitability and growth. What also got obvious during this study is that even though they carry similar titles, they have very different responsibilities. A pattern appears among the sample, that the bigger organizations seems to have a harder focus on business development while the smaller companies have more divers work tasks that goes beyond the scope of business development.

Abstract There are more than 140,000 Small-Medium Business in Taiwan, especially the CEO is always the decision-maker of the entire enterprise. This research is major through the model of ¡uTheory of Planned Behavior, TPB¡v to study the CEO¡¦s intention to e-business in Small-Medium Business. On the other hand, to understand CEO¡¦s intention to e-business is meant to understand the reason of e-business for Small-Medium Business. This research method is in accordance with an exploratory case study, then investigate by verifiable questionnaires. Through 3 internal variables and external variables of TPB model, such as ¡uAttitude toward the Internet-Adoption Behavior¡v,¡uSubjective Norms concerning the Internet-Adoption Behavior¡v , and ¡uPerceived Behavior Control concerning the Internet-Adoption Behavior¡v to understand CEO¡¦s intention to use Internet. Because of the connection between behavioral intention and actual behavior is very closed, it is to use behavioral intention in place of actual behavior to measure actual behavior in TPB model. According to the result of this study, the 3 external variables ¡uImproving Internal Information Sharer¡v,¡uPromoting the Relation with Customers¡v, and ¡uthe Past Successful Experiences¡vis the most important variables to influence¡uAttitude toward the Internet-Adoption Behavior¡v, and the most substantial is¡uthe Past Successful Experiences¡v. Furthermore, the 3 internal variables also connect with ¡uIntention toward the Internet-Adoption Behavior¡v, and the most influence among these variables is ¡uSubjective Norms concerning the Internet-Adoption Behavior¡v. Meanwhile, among 7 significant others, the major connection is between the staff of CEO and ¡uIntention toward the Internet-Adoption Behavior¡v, secondary is customer. Through the conclusion of this research, we expect to offer this data for Small-Medium Business to consult and help them to accomplish in e-business.

Thesis (Ph.D.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2009. / Full text also available online. Scroll down for electronic link.