http://smartech.gatech.edu/handle/1853/5984 Original work by students of College of Management Search the Channel search http://smartech.gatech.edu/simple-search http://smartech.gatech.edu/handle/1853/31754 Title: Predicting two types of proactive socialization tactics: the roles of context, experience, and age <br/> <br/>Authors: Walker, Wendy Jackson <br/> <br/>Abstract: Proactive socialization tactics, measures that organizational newcomers take to facilitate their own adjustment, have been shown to predict adjustment and more distal work-related outcomes, such as organizational commitment and intent to remain with the organization. Several cognitions and behaviors are considered to be types of proactive socialization tactics, but research has yet to distinguish between different types. Also, several individual dispositions have been identified as antecedents of proactive socialization tactics, but there has been little focus on identifying contextual or non-dispositional individual difference antecedents. The purpose of this research was to propose a dual-mode conceptualization of proactive socialization tactics and to distinguish between tactics directed toward changing oneself and those directed toward changing one's environment. This research also examined the role of contextual factors, the newcomer's age, and the newcomer's work experience as antecedents of proactive socialization tactics. The results of this research suggest that job and workgroup characteristics do indeed play a role in predicting proactive socialization tactics. Age and work experience were predictors as well, but not as strong as expected. Both self-directed and environment-directed proactive socialization tactics predicted desirable adjustment outcomes, but self-directed tactics were clearly stronger predictors of these outcomes. There was some evidence to suggest that newcomers' early fit perceptions moderated relationships between antecedents, such as workgroup characteristics, and proactive socialization tactics. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed. Mon, 14 Sep 2009 22:58:59 GMT http://smartech.gatech.edu/handle/1853/31661 Title: Essays on the economics of electronic commerce <br/> <br/>Authors: Luo, Jifeng <br/> <br/>Abstract: This dissertation examines the innovations in electronic commerce and their managerial impacts. In the first essay, we investigate the importance of product and retailer uncertainty in a customer's online purchase decision as well as the uncertainty-reduction effects of retailer characteristics. In the second essay, we examine online pricing strategies of B2C retailers, with an aim to understand whether and how the driving factors of price dispersion evolve over time. Based on the theories of resource-based view (RBV), IT business value, and competitive dynamics, the third essay examines the factors that affect cross-channel capabilities and competitive actions in the apparel industry in the U.S. Tue, 19 Aug 2008 22:58:59 GMT http://smartech.gatech.edu/handle/1853/31655 Title: Essays on operations strategies <br/> <br/>Authors: Jacobs, Brian W. <br/> <br/>Abstract: Operations strategies, whether prompted by competitive or regulatory forces, can greatly impact firm performance. While operations strategies cover a wide spectrum of issues - supply chain management, technology choice, capacity allocation, etc. - this dissertation focuses on two such issues, namely, sustainability and product development. The thesis comprises three essays. The first essay (Chapter 2) examines a regulatory aspect of sustainability strategy, product take-back, a form of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR). With a stylized model, we analyze the trade-offs between assigning full responsibility for product recovery to a single echelon in a multi-echelon supply chain versus sharing responsibility between echelons. We demonstrate how the sharing of EPR program costs between the echelons can move the supply chain closer to the coordinated profit benchmark. The second essay (Chapter 3) examines a voluntary aspect of sustainability from an empirical perspective. We investigate the impact from various types of corporate environmental initiatives and environmental awards and certifications on the market value of the firm. We find that the market is selective in reacting to environmental performance, with certain types of initiatives and awards even valued negatively. The third essay (Chapter 4) is an empirical examination of the shareholder value effects that result from the restructuring of firms' product development activities. We find that, on average, the stock market reacts positively to product development restructuring, and that the reaction is dependent on the firm's prior financial performance, restructuring objective, R&D expenditures, and size. Mon, 14 Sep 2009 22:58:59 GMT http://smartech.gatech.edu/handle/1853/31058 Title: The value of pre-engineering tests in predicting freshman scholastic success in an engineering curriculum <br/> <br/>Authors: Sweeney, James William Thu, 29 Jul 1948 22:58:59 GMT