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Browsing by Author "McCambridge, James A., committee member"

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    Organizational longevity as a predictor of organizational learning, organizational identity, organizational innovation, and fiscal conservatism
    (Colorado State University. Libraries, 2014) Weitzman, Felix, author; Chermack, Thomas J., advisor; Glick, Margaret B., advisor; Nimon, Kim F., committee member; McCambridge, James A., committee member
    The purpose of this study was to investigate the claims in the literature that some organizations have developed mechanisms that have increased their chances of surviving in a changing environment. The literature claimed that organizations are living entities that could learn and adapt to their business environment, have their own identities, be innovative, and exercise fiscal conservatism. The literature claimed that the organizations that could best employ these four mechanisms increased their chances of surviving the changes in the business environment that might otherwise spell their demise (Cefis & Marsili, 2005; de Geus, 2002; Elsbach & Kramer, 1996; Musso & Schiavo, 2008). This research intended to uncover whether long-lived organizations exhibit higher levels of the four factors described above, and in addition, provide analysis and synthesis of the results in the hope of helping companies live longer. This researcher hoped that a confirmation that these four factors were more pronounced in long-lived organizations than in short-lived organizations would provide both scholars and practitioners with methods to help organizations live longer. To investigate these claims, a survey instrument was designed that combined a short version of the Dimensions of the Learning Organization Questionnaire-A (Yang, 2003), the organizational identity questionnaire part designed by Albert, Ashforth, and Dutton (2000), and innovation inventory questions. Fiscal conservatism was measured by analyzing publically available data on current ratios and long-term debt. The study focused on 703 companies that were publically traded and were listed in Fortune Magazine's top 1,000 lists as of 2012. The survey was sent by e-mail to 3,900 directors and senior managers who worked in these 703 Fortune 1,000 companies. Five research hypotheses were tested to understand the relationships between organizational longevity, organizational learning, organizational identity, innovation, and fiscal conservatism. The lack of statistically significant findings, and nonresponse bias analysis, indicated that the claims that are made in the literature should be considered with caution. Until empirical evidence is found, acting on these claims, although they may have some face validity, could have serious unintended implications. The study offered some alternatives that could better predict organizational learning, organizational identity, innovation, and fiscal conservatism.
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    State funding and enrollment analysis of the Colorado Community College System: prior to and after the implementation of the Colorado College Opportunity Fund (COF)
    (Colorado State University. Libraries, 2011) Ash, Kyoung (Kay) Heui, author; Kuk, Linda, 1950-, advisor; Gloeckner, Gene W., committee member; McCambridge, James A., committee member; Quick, Donald G., committee member
    In fiscal year 2005-2006, the state of Colorado implemented the Colorado College Opportunity Fund (COF) that was initiated in Senate Bill 04 -189. The COF is a unique post-secondary education state funding mechanism that provides direct funding-to-students (stipends). This new funding approach was implemented to give community colleges more flexibility with state funding under TABOR (1992), to enhance more educational opportunities for low-income and other under-represented students, and to increase the operational efficiency in postsecondary education. The purpose of this study was to explore the question: "Did the Colorado Opportunity Fund (COF) achieve the desired outcomes of policy makers for community colleges in the state of Colorado?" The study analyzed the Colorado Community College System's enrollment data and compared enrollment trends before and after the COF was implemented to determine if there were any significant changes in enrollment trends and to evaluate the efficacy of the COF's underlying policy, accessibility with affordability. The study used Cross-Tabulation (crosstabs) and Chi-Square analyses to determine whether or not the COF had a significant impact on enrollment trends at community colleges. The enrollment data from fiscal years 1998 to 2010 was randomly selected from 13 community colleges. The changes in community college enrollment trends since the inception of the COF were: (a) no change in overall male and female trends); (b) increased enrollment of traditional age students, especially within the age group 19-24; (c) increased enrollment of underrepresented student groups, specifically Black and Hispanic males; (d) increased male enrollment representing an underrepresented student group within community colleges; and (e) increased enrollment trends of new and first time students.