5th Annual Texas A&M University System Pathways to the Doctorate Student Research Symposium
November 2-3, 2007
Hosted by Tarleton State University

Abstracts of Student Presentations: Business and CIS

JOSE LUIS CAMACHO. "Business Strategy and Airplane Design"  *Second place award - Business and CIS Master's Degree student*
Faculty mentor: Dr. Sue Cullers

Boeing dominated and controlled the commercial planes’ market until its decision in 1945 to focus on designing and building military aircraft. Now, the industry is different. Airbus has recently surpassed Boeing as the world’s largest manufacturer of commercial aircraft using an open business strategy that has been and consistent for 25 years. According to Boeing’s CEO, the industry is likely to move away from hub-and-spoke networks towards more direct flights between smaller airports. He states “We feel very comfortable that we did not pick a big aircraft to be in competition whit Airbus.” Boeing’s most recent design, the 787, is fuel efficient and has a seating capacity from 290 up to 330. On the other hand, Airbus predicts that over the next 20 years, carriers will need at least 1, 500 more aircraft the size of the 777 or larger, which seats up to 440 people. The purpose of this study is to compare the planes that both companies are building in and to suggest what Boeing should do next.

BERKELEY DESRAVINES. "An Examination of Variables Affecting Teacher Intent to Stay in Secondary Schools"  *First place award - Business and CIS Masters Degree student*
Faculty mentor: Dr. Laura Matherly

School systems are under increasing pressure to be accountable to stakeholders and improve the performance of both teachers and students (Stewart & Carpenter-Hubin, 2001; Ruben, Lehr & DeAngelis, 2000; Ruben, 1999).  Developments in strategic scorecards, performance measurement and quality, e.g., Baldrige Award Criteria (2004), point out the pivotal role that employee commitment and performance play in predicting all other key strategic indicators.  The purpose of this paper is to extend spiritual leadership theory as a predictor of teacher commitment which is directly influenced by a teacher’s sense of membership, job satisfaction and calling to the profession, which in turn predicts teacher performance and intention to stay. 

Drawing from the emerging spiritual leadership paradigm (Fry, 2003), a causal model is tested to determine whether an educational system, which supports and cares about teachers can subsequently predict a teacher’s membership, which results in higher levels of commitment, that, ultimately, result in higher performance levels and intention to stay.

The path analysis results indicate support for the model and the implications of schools fostering higher levels of commitment to student performance and teacher turnover are discussed.  If turnover is reduced, the cost and time associated with turnover could be allocated to other programs that support learning activities of students and teacher development.


ELDON MARTIN. "Mission Statement Analysis: Impact of Employee Well-Being on Performance"
Faculty mentors: Dr. Laura Matherly, Dr. Mohammed A. El-Saidi

Developments in performance measurement and quality, e.g., Baldrige Award Criteria (2004), Kaplan & Norton (1992), Matherly (2004), point to the pivotal role that employee commitment and performance play in driving excellent organizational processes which in turn result in quality products and services (see Figure 1).  Further, quality outputs result in higher levels of customer satisfaction and subsequent financial performance.  At the strategic level, typically, the company mission begins the strategic planning process from which result the strategic direction and long term objectives of the organization.  When a strategic plan is fully integrated throughout the organization, objectives are established at all levels of the organization and from a balanced perspective, in areas beyond traditional financial performance metrics, to also include customer satisfaction, quality outputs, excellent internal processes and employee well-being and commitment.

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the relationship between an organization´s focus on employee commitment and well being and the subsequent impact on financial performance via its impact on organizational processes, outputs and customer satisfaction.  The model was tested with financial data from 75 US organizations in five industries by assessing leading strategic performance indicators as reflected by content analysis of the mission statements.  Content analysis allows comparisons on these key dimensions across companies and industries.  The results indicate support for the model in predicting financial performance.  This study provides evidence of the economic value as reflected in a firm´s profitability of a commitment to employee well-being as well as an understanding of the specific performance dimensions that are associated with superior performance excellence.