Kathryn Ready - Academia.edu (original) (raw)
Papers by Kathryn Ready
International Journal of Business Administration, 2014
One way through which quality and overall effectiveness of higher educational institutions are me... more One way through which quality and overall effectiveness of higher educational institutions are measured is by student outcomes, such as student retention, attrition, and graduation rates. One such factor that affects student retention, attrition, and graduation rate is college students' satisfaction with the college experience. Although a number of studies have been conducted to examine the effect of student satisfaction on GPA, there are only few studies that have examined the effect of gender on college students' satisfaction and GPA, whose findings were inconsistent. This study replicates and extends the research on the effect of gender on different college outcomes such as students' satisfaction, ACT scores, and GPA at a midsized Midwestern public university. Selected demographic and attitudinal data were collected between 2001 and 2009 from a sample of 5223 senior students representing five colleges at the university. We find that gender has a significant effect on student's satisfaction, ACT scores, and GPA. However, the effect size of gender on satisfaction and ACT scores was minimal. Implications of these findings and future research directions are discussed.
SSRN Electronic Journal, 2010
This study replicates and extends the research on pre-employment predictors of attitudes toward l... more This study replicates and extends the research on pre-employment predictors of attitudes toward labor unions, which subsequently influence willingness to join a union. The impact of a number of factors including family socialization, parental union attitude, work beliefs (Marxist and humanistic), and college major (field of study) is assessed on college students' attitudes toward labor unions. Selected demographic and attitudinal data were collected from a sample of 402 students representing several majors at a midsized Midwestern public university. The findings of the study strongly support the belief that family socialization and personal work beliefs are the most important predictors of college students' attitudes toward labor unions. Unlike prior studies, the impact of race on college students' attitudes toward labor unions was also assessed. Implications of these findings for employers and future research directions are also discussed.
Revue Internationale des Sciences Administratives, 2014
Distribution électronique Cairn.info pour I.I.S.A.. © I.I.S.A.. Tous droits réservés pour tous pa... more Distribution électronique Cairn.info pour I.I.S.A.. © I.I.S.A.. Tous droits réservés pour tous pays. La reproduction ou représentation de cet article, notamment par photocopie, n'est autorisée que dans les limites des conditions générales d'utilisation du site ou, le cas échéant, des conditions générales de la licence souscrite par votre établissement. Toute autre reproduction ou représentation, en tout ou partie, sous quelque forme et de quelque manière que ce soit, est interdite sauf accord préalable et écrit de l'éditeur, en dehors des cas prévus par la législation en vigueur en France. Il est précisé que son stockage dans une base de données est également interdit.
International Review of Administrative Sciences, 2014
The study examines the effect employee background (gender, education level and affiliation to the... more The study examines the effect employee background (gender, education level and affiliation to the government) on organizational justice perceptions using the three-factor model (distributive, procedural and interactional justice). Selected demographic and attitudinal data were collected from a sample of 313 employees representing 10 public organizations. The findings of this study show that gender had a significant effect on distributive and interactional justice but not procedural justice; education level had a significant effect on distributive and procedural justice but not interactional justice; and affiliation to the government had a significant effect on all the three dimensions of justice. Managerial implications of these findings and future research directions are also discussed. Points for practitioners Gaining a better insight into the effects of demographic factors (gender, education level and affiliation to the government) on the three dimensions of organizational justic...
International Journal of Human Resources Development and Management, 2009
This study critically analyses the 'Eritrean HRD Project' (EHRDP), a major workforce development ... more This study critically analyses the 'Eritrean HRD Project' (EHRDP), a major workforce development project that was implemented in this eastern African country between 1998 and 2005. In this project, 674 Eritrean nationals were sent overseas to pursue higher education in various fields. The findings of the study indicate that 431 or 64% of the project trainees did not return home after graduating. To gain some insights into why this turned out to be the case, the study analysed the perceptions of the 'abscondee-graduates'. The study presents some policy implications of the brain drain as well as suggests frontiers for future research.
International Journal of Business and Globalisation, 2011
ABSTRACT As part of a cross-national study (using survey data), this paper analyses the perceptio... more ABSTRACT As part of a cross-national study (using survey data), this paper analyses the perceptions of college students regarding negotiation skills, styles and strategies across three countries: USA (n = 457), Vietnam (n = 391) and Malaysia (n = 347). This study presents and examines a number of hypotheses related to the negotiation process. The findings indicate that US students (from the West with an individualist culture) were found to have different negotiation perceptions from those of Malaysian and Vietnamese students (from Asian with a collectivist culture). The findings of this study support previous studies on cross-cultural negotiations. Managerial implications of the findings and an agenda for future research are discussed.
Information Resources Management Journal, 2003
A 2x2 factorial controlled experiment was conducted to examine the effects of agenda structure an... more A 2x2 factorial controlled experiment was conducted to examine the effects of agenda structure and facilitator style on participant satisfaction and output quality in meetings employing group support systems (GSS.) Participants were assigned to one of four conditions: (1) relationship style/relationship agenda; (2) task style/task agenda; (3) task style/relationship agenda; and (4) relationship style/task agenda. As expected, satisfaction with the agenda, process, and outcomes was higher in the matched style/agenda conditions (1) and (2.) Surprisingly, satisfaction with facilitation and task was higher in the relationship style conditions (1) and (4.) Two expert raters were used to judge the quality of group outputs. As predicted, groups in the matched conditions produced higher quality outputs than groups in the mismatched conditions. Implications of the study for practice and future research are provided. This study is part of an ongoing program of research into the effectiveness ...
International Journal Social Sciences and Education
This paper analyzes the effect of employee recognition, pay, and benefits on job satisfaction. In... more This paper analyzes the effect of employee recognition, pay, and benefits on job satisfaction. In this cross-sectional study, survey responses from university students in the U.S. (n = 457), Malaysia (n = 347) and Vietnam (n = 391) were analyzed. Employee recognition, pay, and benefits were found to have a significant impact on job satisfaction, regardless of home country income level (high, middle or low income) and culture (collectivist or individualist). However, the effect of benefits on job satisfaction was significantly more important for U.S. respondents than for respondents from Malaysia and Vietnam. The authors conclude that both financial and nonfinancial rewards have a role in influencing job satisfaction, which ultimately impacts employee performance. Theoretical and practical implications for developing effective recruitment and retention policies for employees are also discussed.
With the rapid growth of online programs, many higher educational institutions are considering of... more With the rapid growth of online programs, many higher educational institutions are considering offering online courses and programs to better serve students that have grown up in a technological era. Although many higher educational administrators recognize the value and flexibility of online education, research is needed concerning course design, assessment, and student's perceptions of online programs before allocating more resources for online programming. This study examines student's perceptions of online courses/programs and concludes that higher levels of experience with online learning lead to more favorable perceptions about online courses. Suggestions for higher education institutions considering the adoption of online courses/programs are provided.
Journal of Transportation Management
The authors develop a political economy framework to study the post- September 11th environmental... more The authors develop a political economy framework to study the post- September 11th environmental changes and firm responses in the owner/operator sector of the U.S. motorcoach industry. Based on a comprehensive analysis of both evolutionary and revolutionary changes in the competitive and regulatory environments faced by the firms in this industry, their policy and strategic responses to the terrorist acts of September 11, 2001, on U.S. soil are examined. The industry’s response is captured (i.e., collective action response) by surveying 163 firms operating and competing in the owner/operator sector of the U.S. motorcoach industry. Several descriptive statistics are synthesized and analyzed for a structured presentation of the survey findings. In conclusion, contributions and limitations of this study, as well as directions for future research, are outlined.
Journal of Diversity Management (JDM), 2011
Growth in international trade has had a profound effect on executives and managers in their need ... more Growth in international trade has had a profound effect on executives and managers in their need to better understand differences in effective cross-cultural negotiation skills. The recent opening up of trade with Vietnam points to a need to better understand how the Vietnamese negotiating style differs from the U.S. style as managers are called upon to recruit the best and brightest in an increasingly competitive labor market. In this paper, survey data, taken separately from university students in the U.S. and Vietnam, are used to examine differences in the negotiation process. The results confirmed that cultural differences lead to differences in perceptions and strategies employed in the negotiation process. Theoretical and practical implications for managers involved in negotiations with the Vietnamese as well as directions for future research are discussed.
International Business & Economics Research Journal (IBER), 2011
Little has been written about the motorcoach industry, an industry that is largely comprised of s... more Little has been written about the motorcoach industry, an industry that is largely comprised of small family-run businesses, and an industry that has witnessed a changed competitive environment during the late 1990s and early 2000s due to the impact of consolidation. In this paper, the author (an insider to the industry) discusses the motorcoach industry and the effect of consolidators. Using survey data drawn from163 motorcoach owner/operators from across the country in early 2002, the author discusses the rising insurance cost crisis as the major concern by many operators in the industry. The link between consolidation effects and insurance costs are examined. From this analysis, strategic considerations for motorcoach owner/operators to ensure future viability are provided.
Journal of College Teaching & Learning (TLC), 2011
The purpose of this paper is to develop an analytical framework to assess students’ general busin... more The purpose of this paper is to develop an analytical framework to assess students’ general business competencies, acquired in core and capstone courses, as learning outcomes. First, the rationale for the use of students’ general business competencies as outcomes assessment is provided. Second, the methodology for measuring these competencies is presented and explained. Third, the underlying concepts and influential factors relative to general business competencies of students are analyzed and discussed. Finally, the findings and practical implications of the proposed approach for faculty development are examined.
Journal of Transportation Law Logistics and Policy, 2005
Immediately following the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 (9/11), member companies of the... more Immediately following the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 (9/11), member companies of the American Bus Association (ABA) reported up to 80% cancellation rates in the form of cancelled student travel, airport shuttle services, tours to destinations (Washington D.C. and New York City, in particular), charters to sporting events, theaters, and other recreation activities that could be directly attributed rider apprehension. This study is based on the information gathered at the February 2002 annual meeting of the ABA. The owner/operators were asked to identify the immediate financial effects of 9/11 and how they intended to respond to the challenge posed by the uncertain operating environment in which they found themselves. The results of the survey showed that to recapture lost business and grpw new business, owners indicated that they would need to be more aggressive in their marketing efforts; marketing efforts must focus on providing information and developing relationships with customers; providing information by using user-friendly websites that would promote interest,answer questions and allay fears concerning the safety and security of bus travel.
Journal of Transportation Management, Mar 22, 2003
The authors develop a political economy framework to study the post-September 11th environmental ... more The authors develop a political economy framework to study the post-September 11th environmental changes and firm responses in the owner/operator sector of the U.S. motorcoach industry. Based on a comprehensive analysis of both evolutionary and revolutionary changes in the competitive and regulatory environments faced by the firms in this industry, their policy and strategic responses to the terrorist acts of September 11, 2001, on U.S. soil are examined. The industry's response is captured (i.e., collective action response) by surveying 163 firms operating and competing in the owner/operator sector of the U.S. motorcoach industry. Several descriptive statistics are synthesized and analyzed for a structured presentation of the survey findings. In conclusion, contributions and limitations of this study, as well as directions for future research, are outlined.
Journal of Higher Education Theory and Practice, Mar 1, 2013
This study replicates and extends the research on pre-employment predictors of attitudes toward l... more This study replicates and extends the research on pre-employment predictors of attitudes toward labor unions, which subsequently influence willingness to join a union. The impact of a number of factors including family socialization, parental union attitude, work beliefs (Marxist and humanistic), and college major (field of study) is assessed on college students' attitudes toward labor unions. Selected demographic and attitudinal data were collected from a sample of 402 students representing several majors at a midsized Midwestern public university. The findings of the study strongly support the belief that family socialization and personal work beliefs are the most important predictors of college students' attitudes toward labor unions. Unlike prior studies, the impact of race on college students' attitudes toward labor unions was also assessed. Implications of these findings for employers and future research directions are also discussed.
International Journal of Business Administration, 2014
One way through which quality and overall effectiveness of higher educational institutions are me... more One way through which quality and overall effectiveness of higher educational institutions are measured is by student outcomes, such as student retention, attrition, and graduation rates. One such factor that affects student retention, attrition, and graduation rate is college students' satisfaction with the college experience. Although a number of studies have been conducted to examine the effect of student satisfaction on GPA, there are only few studies that have examined the effect of gender on college students' satisfaction and GPA, whose findings were inconsistent. This study replicates and extends the research on the effect of gender on different college outcomes such as students' satisfaction, ACT scores, and GPA at a midsized Midwestern public university. Selected demographic and attitudinal data were collected between 2001 and 2009 from a sample of 5223 senior students representing five colleges at the university. We find that gender has a significant effect on student's satisfaction, ACT scores, and GPA. However, the effect size of gender on satisfaction and ACT scores was minimal. Implications of these findings and future research directions are discussed.
SSRN Electronic Journal, 2010
This study replicates and extends the research on pre-employment predictors of attitudes toward l... more This study replicates and extends the research on pre-employment predictors of attitudes toward labor unions, which subsequently influence willingness to join a union. The impact of a number of factors including family socialization, parental union attitude, work beliefs (Marxist and humanistic), and college major (field of study) is assessed on college students' attitudes toward labor unions. Selected demographic and attitudinal data were collected from a sample of 402 students representing several majors at a midsized Midwestern public university. The findings of the study strongly support the belief that family socialization and personal work beliefs are the most important predictors of college students' attitudes toward labor unions. Unlike prior studies, the impact of race on college students' attitudes toward labor unions was also assessed. Implications of these findings for employers and future research directions are also discussed.
Revue Internationale des Sciences Administratives, 2014
Distribution électronique Cairn.info pour I.I.S.A.. © I.I.S.A.. Tous droits réservés pour tous pa... more Distribution électronique Cairn.info pour I.I.S.A.. © I.I.S.A.. Tous droits réservés pour tous pays. La reproduction ou représentation de cet article, notamment par photocopie, n'est autorisée que dans les limites des conditions générales d'utilisation du site ou, le cas échéant, des conditions générales de la licence souscrite par votre établissement. Toute autre reproduction ou représentation, en tout ou partie, sous quelque forme et de quelque manière que ce soit, est interdite sauf accord préalable et écrit de l'éditeur, en dehors des cas prévus par la législation en vigueur en France. Il est précisé que son stockage dans une base de données est également interdit.
International Review of Administrative Sciences, 2014
The study examines the effect employee background (gender, education level and affiliation to the... more The study examines the effect employee background (gender, education level and affiliation to the government) on organizational justice perceptions using the three-factor model (distributive, procedural and interactional justice). Selected demographic and attitudinal data were collected from a sample of 313 employees representing 10 public organizations. The findings of this study show that gender had a significant effect on distributive and interactional justice but not procedural justice; education level had a significant effect on distributive and procedural justice but not interactional justice; and affiliation to the government had a significant effect on all the three dimensions of justice. Managerial implications of these findings and future research directions are also discussed. Points for practitioners Gaining a better insight into the effects of demographic factors (gender, education level and affiliation to the government) on the three dimensions of organizational justic...
International Journal of Human Resources Development and Management, 2009
This study critically analyses the 'Eritrean HRD Project' (EHRDP), a major workforce development ... more This study critically analyses the 'Eritrean HRD Project' (EHRDP), a major workforce development project that was implemented in this eastern African country between 1998 and 2005. In this project, 674 Eritrean nationals were sent overseas to pursue higher education in various fields. The findings of the study indicate that 431 or 64% of the project trainees did not return home after graduating. To gain some insights into why this turned out to be the case, the study analysed the perceptions of the 'abscondee-graduates'. The study presents some policy implications of the brain drain as well as suggests frontiers for future research.
International Journal of Business and Globalisation, 2011
ABSTRACT As part of a cross-national study (using survey data), this paper analyses the perceptio... more ABSTRACT As part of a cross-national study (using survey data), this paper analyses the perceptions of college students regarding negotiation skills, styles and strategies across three countries: USA (n = 457), Vietnam (n = 391) and Malaysia (n = 347). This study presents and examines a number of hypotheses related to the negotiation process. The findings indicate that US students (from the West with an individualist culture) were found to have different negotiation perceptions from those of Malaysian and Vietnamese students (from Asian with a collectivist culture). The findings of this study support previous studies on cross-cultural negotiations. Managerial implications of the findings and an agenda for future research are discussed.
Information Resources Management Journal, 2003
A 2x2 factorial controlled experiment was conducted to examine the effects of agenda structure an... more A 2x2 factorial controlled experiment was conducted to examine the effects of agenda structure and facilitator style on participant satisfaction and output quality in meetings employing group support systems (GSS.) Participants were assigned to one of four conditions: (1) relationship style/relationship agenda; (2) task style/task agenda; (3) task style/relationship agenda; and (4) relationship style/task agenda. As expected, satisfaction with the agenda, process, and outcomes was higher in the matched style/agenda conditions (1) and (2.) Surprisingly, satisfaction with facilitation and task was higher in the relationship style conditions (1) and (4.) Two expert raters were used to judge the quality of group outputs. As predicted, groups in the matched conditions produced higher quality outputs than groups in the mismatched conditions. Implications of the study for practice and future research are provided. This study is part of an ongoing program of research into the effectiveness ...
International Journal Social Sciences and Education
This paper analyzes the effect of employee recognition, pay, and benefits on job satisfaction. In... more This paper analyzes the effect of employee recognition, pay, and benefits on job satisfaction. In this cross-sectional study, survey responses from university students in the U.S. (n = 457), Malaysia (n = 347) and Vietnam (n = 391) were analyzed. Employee recognition, pay, and benefits were found to have a significant impact on job satisfaction, regardless of home country income level (high, middle or low income) and culture (collectivist or individualist). However, the effect of benefits on job satisfaction was significantly more important for U.S. respondents than for respondents from Malaysia and Vietnam. The authors conclude that both financial and nonfinancial rewards have a role in influencing job satisfaction, which ultimately impacts employee performance. Theoretical and practical implications for developing effective recruitment and retention policies for employees are also discussed.
With the rapid growth of online programs, many higher educational institutions are considering of... more With the rapid growth of online programs, many higher educational institutions are considering offering online courses and programs to better serve students that have grown up in a technological era. Although many higher educational administrators recognize the value and flexibility of online education, research is needed concerning course design, assessment, and student's perceptions of online programs before allocating more resources for online programming. This study examines student's perceptions of online courses/programs and concludes that higher levels of experience with online learning lead to more favorable perceptions about online courses. Suggestions for higher education institutions considering the adoption of online courses/programs are provided.
Journal of Transportation Management
The authors develop a political economy framework to study the post- September 11th environmental... more The authors develop a political economy framework to study the post- September 11th environmental changes and firm responses in the owner/operator sector of the U.S. motorcoach industry. Based on a comprehensive analysis of both evolutionary and revolutionary changes in the competitive and regulatory environments faced by the firms in this industry, their policy and strategic responses to the terrorist acts of September 11, 2001, on U.S. soil are examined. The industry’s response is captured (i.e., collective action response) by surveying 163 firms operating and competing in the owner/operator sector of the U.S. motorcoach industry. Several descriptive statistics are synthesized and analyzed for a structured presentation of the survey findings. In conclusion, contributions and limitations of this study, as well as directions for future research, are outlined.
Journal of Diversity Management (JDM), 2011
Growth in international trade has had a profound effect on executives and managers in their need ... more Growth in international trade has had a profound effect on executives and managers in their need to better understand differences in effective cross-cultural negotiation skills. The recent opening up of trade with Vietnam points to a need to better understand how the Vietnamese negotiating style differs from the U.S. style as managers are called upon to recruit the best and brightest in an increasingly competitive labor market. In this paper, survey data, taken separately from university students in the U.S. and Vietnam, are used to examine differences in the negotiation process. The results confirmed that cultural differences lead to differences in perceptions and strategies employed in the negotiation process. Theoretical and practical implications for managers involved in negotiations with the Vietnamese as well as directions for future research are discussed.
International Business & Economics Research Journal (IBER), 2011
Little has been written about the motorcoach industry, an industry that is largely comprised of s... more Little has been written about the motorcoach industry, an industry that is largely comprised of small family-run businesses, and an industry that has witnessed a changed competitive environment during the late 1990s and early 2000s due to the impact of consolidation. In this paper, the author (an insider to the industry) discusses the motorcoach industry and the effect of consolidators. Using survey data drawn from163 motorcoach owner/operators from across the country in early 2002, the author discusses the rising insurance cost crisis as the major concern by many operators in the industry. The link between consolidation effects and insurance costs are examined. From this analysis, strategic considerations for motorcoach owner/operators to ensure future viability are provided.
Journal of College Teaching & Learning (TLC), 2011
The purpose of this paper is to develop an analytical framework to assess students’ general busin... more The purpose of this paper is to develop an analytical framework to assess students’ general business competencies, acquired in core and capstone courses, as learning outcomes. First, the rationale for the use of students’ general business competencies as outcomes assessment is provided. Second, the methodology for measuring these competencies is presented and explained. Third, the underlying concepts and influential factors relative to general business competencies of students are analyzed and discussed. Finally, the findings and practical implications of the proposed approach for faculty development are examined.
Journal of Transportation Law Logistics and Policy, 2005
Immediately following the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 (9/11), member companies of the... more Immediately following the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 (9/11), member companies of the American Bus Association (ABA) reported up to 80% cancellation rates in the form of cancelled student travel, airport shuttle services, tours to destinations (Washington D.C. and New York City, in particular), charters to sporting events, theaters, and other recreation activities that could be directly attributed rider apprehension. This study is based on the information gathered at the February 2002 annual meeting of the ABA. The owner/operators were asked to identify the immediate financial effects of 9/11 and how they intended to respond to the challenge posed by the uncertain operating environment in which they found themselves. The results of the survey showed that to recapture lost business and grpw new business, owners indicated that they would need to be more aggressive in their marketing efforts; marketing efforts must focus on providing information and developing relationships with customers; providing information by using user-friendly websites that would promote interest,answer questions and allay fears concerning the safety and security of bus travel.
Journal of Transportation Management, Mar 22, 2003
The authors develop a political economy framework to study the post-September 11th environmental ... more The authors develop a political economy framework to study the post-September 11th environmental changes and firm responses in the owner/operator sector of the U.S. motorcoach industry. Based on a comprehensive analysis of both evolutionary and revolutionary changes in the competitive and regulatory environments faced by the firms in this industry, their policy and strategic responses to the terrorist acts of September 11, 2001, on U.S. soil are examined. The industry's response is captured (i.e., collective action response) by surveying 163 firms operating and competing in the owner/operator sector of the U.S. motorcoach industry. Several descriptive statistics are synthesized and analyzed for a structured presentation of the survey findings. In conclusion, contributions and limitations of this study, as well as directions for future research, are outlined.
Journal of Higher Education Theory and Practice, Mar 1, 2013
This study replicates and extends the research on pre-employment predictors of attitudes toward l... more This study replicates and extends the research on pre-employment predictors of attitudes toward labor unions, which subsequently influence willingness to join a union. The impact of a number of factors including family socialization, parental union attitude, work beliefs (Marxist and humanistic), and college major (field of study) is assessed on college students' attitudes toward labor unions. Selected demographic and attitudinal data were collected from a sample of 402 students representing several majors at a midsized Midwestern public university. The findings of the study strongly support the belief that family socialization and personal work beliefs are the most important predictors of college students' attitudes toward labor unions. Unlike prior studies, the impact of race on college students' attitudes toward labor unions was also assessed. Implications of these findings for employers and future research directions are also discussed.