Ramkhamhaeng University
Institute of International Studies
Ph.D. Course
Mgmt. Theories, Concepts, and Current Issues
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Professor
Dr. Scott Droege
Western Kentucky University—USA
scott.droege@wku.edu
www.scott-droege.com
Required Reading
A number of research articles are required. These are listed in the course outline below.
Grading
Grading is based on a satisfactory-unsatisfactory basis. A grade of satisfactory requires all of the following:
1. Attend and participate in each class session
2. Present a team-based session syntheses at the conclusion of each class.
3. Present an oral integration using PowerPoint of three research articles related to current issues in management theory.
4. Complete a written overview of each research article addressed in class (excluding articles from the first day of class).
5. Write and present a management theory research outline.
6. Peer review of the management theory research outline
7. Complete a final exam with a minimum score of at least 80%.
A few details of each of these are below. Additional details will be provided in class.
1. Attendance and Participation
Attendance is mandatory; however, the may be times when competing demands for your time may require short absences. Therefore the first one-half day (i.e., morning to lunch or lunch to the end of the afternoon session) is excused. Any additional absences may be made up by completing an additional management theory research outline (described below) for each one-half day missed.
2. Session Syntheses
Each day’s session (except the first day) will conclude with a small group synthesis of the literature discussed that day. The goal is to develop skills at integrating existing literature while recognizing gaps in the literature in which you might wish to conduct future research. Syntheses should include:
-Identification of 2 - 3 patterns among the readings
-Identification of 2 - 3 avenues for new research
-Explanation of how the sessions research articles are related to previous articles we have discussed
At the close of the session, each group will briefly present its synthesis. Evaluation is based on the extent to which the synthesis:
-Avoids superficiality
-Integrates the session’s articles with articles from previous sessions
-Identifies feasible future research
3. Integration of Research Articles
Each student should select three related management research articles (other than those assigned for this class) and use the following outline for a 15-20 minute PowerPoint presentation:
-The specific research questions addressed and answered by each of the the articles
-Similarities among the papers (for example, did they all use the same theoretical perspective, a similar sample, or were generalized to the same population?)
-Differences among the papers (for example, how did the research question and construct definitions provide different answers while using the same theoretical perspective?)
-Conclusion (the main point we can learn from these papers)
4. Overview of Research Articles
Students should submit a 1 page outline of each research article discussed in class. These are due at the beginning of the class in which the papers are scheduled to be discussed. (Late assignments may be made up by completing an additional management theory research outline (described below) for each article for which an outline is late).
Please use the following outline for each research article overview:
-Research question
-Theoretical logic used to derive hypotheses and specific hypotheses tested
-Sample and methods
-Results
-Main points from discussion and conclusion sections
Please turn in one copy at the beginning of each day’s session and keep one copy to use during the discussion.
5. Management Theory Research Outline
Each student will write a 5 page research outline. The outline must include the following sections:
-Title page (include your name and the title of your outline)
-Introduction including the gap in the literature and your specific research question (1 single-spaced page)
-Literature review, theory development, and hypotheses (3 single-spaced pages)
-Research methods and possible sample (1 single-spaced page)
Evaluation is based on:
-Conceptual innovativeness (the uniqueness of the idea)
-Theoretical rigor (incorporation of relevant literature and the logic leading to your hypotheses)
-Adequacy of proposed research methods
-Writing style, clarity, and coherence
Students will present their research proposal to the class near the end of the course in a 10-15 minute PowerPoint presentation.
7. Peer Review of Management Theory Research Outline
Each student will write a 1 page review of a peer’s management theory research outline.
7. Final Exam
Diligent completion of session syntheses (#2 above) and overviews of research articles (#3 above) are excellent ways to prepare for the final exam.
Course Outline
Day 1
Morning Session
-Student introductions
-Professor introduction
-Syllabus Overview and Course Requirements
-Team theory definition presentation preparation: Teams prepare a presentation addressing each of the following questions: (a) What is management? (b) What is theory? (c) What is management theory? In other words, how do you recognize a theory when you see one?
-Theory definition presentations
Lunch
Please read the following two short papers during the lunch break. We will discuss them when we return from lunch.
-Sutton, R. I. & Staw, B. M. 1995. What theory is not. Administrative Science Quarterly, 40:371-384.
-Weick, K.E. 1995. What theory is not, theorizing is. Administrative Science Quarterly, 40: 385-390.
Afternoon Session
-Sutton, R. I. & Staw, B. M. 1995. What theory is not. Administrative Science Quarterly, 40:371-384.
-Weick, K.E. 1995. What theory is not, theorizing is. Administrative Science Quarterly, 40: 385-390.
After discussing these two articles, teams will revise their answers from the morning session and present to the class the question: How do you recognize a theory when you see one?
At the conclusion of this session, we’ll revisit each assignment on the syllabus and have a question and answer session regarding course requirements.
Day 2
Morning Session
-Lecture: Main branches in management research
Topic: Organization behavior
-Ilies, R., Wilson, K.S. & Wagner, D.T. 2007. The spillover of daily job satisfaction onto employees’ family lives: The facilitating role of work-family integration. Academy of Management Journal, 52(1): 87-103.
-Hirst, G., van Kippenberg, D. and Zhou, J. 2009. A cross-level perspective on employee creativity: Goal orientation, team learning behavior, and individual creativity. Academy of Management Journal, 52(2): 280-293.
-West III, West, G.P. Collective cognition: When entrepreneurial teams, not individuals, make decisions. Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, 31(1): 77-102.
Afternoon Session
Topic: Innovation
-Lecture: Sustaining versus disruptive innovation
-Course Activity: Disruptive innovation prototype presentation (explained in class)
-Session synthesis
Day 3
Morning Session
Topic: Managerial Cognition and Decision Making
-Corbett, A.C. & Hmieleski, K.M. 2007. The conflicting cognitions of corporate entrepreneurs.
-Brigham, K.H., De Castro, J.O. & Shepherd, D.A. 2007. A person-organization fit model of owner-managers’ cognitive style and organizational demands. Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, 31(1): 29-52.
Topic: Entrepreneurship
-Krueger Jr., N.F. 2007. What lies beneath: The experiential essence of entrepreneurial thinking. Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, 31(1): 123-138.
-Fischer, E. & Reuber, R. 2007. The good, the bad, and the unfamiliar: The challenges of reputation formation facing new firms. Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, 31(1): 53-76.
-Chen, X., Yao, X. & Kotha, S. 2009. Entrepreneur passion and preparedness in business plan presentations: A persuasion analysis of venture capitalists’ funding decisions. Academy of Management,
Afternoon Session
Topic: Institutional Effects on Management
-Lecture: Introduction to agency and institutional theory
-Heugens, P. & Lander, M.W. 2009. Structure! Agency! (and other quarrels): A meta-analysis of institutional theories of organization. Academy of Management Journal, 52(1): 61-86.
-Green Jr., S.E., Li, Y. & Nohria, N. 2009. Suspended in self-spun webs of significance: A rhetorical model of institutionalization and institutionally-embedded agency. Academy of Management Journal, 52(1): 11-36.
Berrone, P. & Gomez-Mejia, L.R. 2009. Environmental performance and executive compensation: An integrated agency-institutional perspective. Academy of Management Journal, 52(1): 103-126.
-Session synthesis
Day 4
Morning Session
Topic: Strategic Management
-Lecture: An overview of strategy: Blending industrial organization with the resource-based view of the firm
-Yu, T., Subramaniam, M. & Canella, Jr., A.A. 2009. Rivalry deterrence in international markets: Contingencies governing the mutual forbearance hypothesis. Academy of Management Journal, 52(1): 127-147.
-Prince, J.T. & Simon, D.H. 2009. Multimarket contact and service quality: Evidence from on-time performance in the U.S. airline industry. Academy of Management Journal, 52(1): 336-354.
-Ozcan, P. & Eisenhardt, K. 2009. Origin of alliance portfolios: Entrepreneurs, network strategies, and firm performance. Academy of Management Journal, 52(2): 246-279.
Afternoon Session
Topic: Managing downsizing and employee turnover
-Love, E.G. & Kraatz, M. 2009. Character, conformity, or the bottom line: How and why downsizing affected corporate reputation. Academy of Management Journal, 52(2): 314-335.
-Siebert, W.S. & Zubanov, N. 2009. Searching for the optimal level of employee turnover: A study of a large U.K. retail organization. Academy of Management Journal, 52(2): 294-313.
Topic: Review for final exam
-Session synthesis
Day 5
-Peer review of management theory research outline
-Integration of research article presentations
Day 6
-Written management theory research outline due at beginning of class
-Management theory research outline presentations
Final exam