Noon - 1:15 PM
Reynolds Small Dining Room

Strategic Decision Making in New Ventures: The Relationship between Decision Comprehensiveness and Growth in Differing Environments

Bradley George – Entrepreneurship

Strategic decision making is an integral part of a firm’s strategy as well as a key organizational process.  Strategic decisions concern the fundamental issues which shape the future and course of a firm.  While all firms must make strategic decisions, research examining the effects of the characteristics of the decision process on firm performance has largely ignored younger firms.  New firms have a number of important differences when compared to established companies that need to be considered when examining the relationship between strategic decision processes and growth.  Drawing on the dynamic capabilities perspective, this research examines the relationship between comprehensiveness in each of the decision phases and new venture growth.  These relationships are examined using a survey of 148 entrepreneurs from a variety of manufacturing industries across the U.S. 

Fairness Considerations in Allocation Mechanisms for Carrier Alliances

Lori Houghtalen – Mathematics and Science

In an alliance among cargo carriers, a key issue to resolve is the allocation of alliance benefit among participating members.  We first describe a basic mechanism by which we can allocate alliance revenue while encouraging members to act in a manner that is optimal for the alliance as a whole.  We then explore the notion of fairness in allocation, developing new approaches for determining and inducing fair profit allocations.  Our methods provide an alternative to traditional approaches which equate minimum acceptance requirements and satisfaction.  We propose and implement several measures of fairness, and examine their impact on the sustainability of the alliance.  Initial results lead to interesting practical insights regarding the compatibility of various types of carriers, as well as confirm the importance of pursuing the notion of fairness in allocation.

We look forward to your participation.  Refreshments will be provided by the BFRF. 
Pick up your lunch in Crossroads Café, Reynolds (before noon), sign the Chat list at the checkout, and join your colleagues in the Small Dining Room. 
For additional information, contact Kandice Hauf, x4337.