Return to AMJ Contents

Messages From the Management Past: Classic Writers and Contemporary Problems

Is management theory little more than a conglomeration of contradictory fads?  Are there enduring truths, or is management theory balancing on the edge of New Age mysticism?  Past years have seen a rash of theories, but, in the end, theories only survive if they can be successfully practiced.  A review of two classic management theory pioneers, Lyndall Urwick and Mary Parker Follett, finds that the issues discussed decades ago have changed very little, and solutions offered up by theorists are often transitory because all situations are dynamic and evolving, confounded by the "cussedness of human nature."
Thomas R. Miller and Beverly J. Vaughan

Competitive Intelligence Activity Among Small Firms

In today's highly competitive world, small companies as well as large should stay current on their competitor's strategy and progress.  This knowledge is an important ingredient in the strategic management process.  Unfortunately a survey shows that small retail professional service, and nonprofit organizations tend not to gather competitive intelligence - a perfectly legal and ethical activity. Reasons may include satisfaction with their existing knowledge of competitors or lack of resources to process and assess such intelligence.
Jeremy R. Groom and Fred R. David

The Journey to Cyberspace: 
Reflections From Three Online Business Professors

Although two of the three professors were Web neophytes and had never taught online, they designed and taught courses in that new medium and "lived to tell the tale."  In fact, they enjoyed it.  The ten lessons they learned could help others venture into this form of off-site education.  Among the lessons: change your thinking from teacher-centered to learner-centered; learn the supporting technology; make your Web site interesting and fun; personalize your course and build a sense of community; be creative with online testing ; and "chunk" the work and establish deadlines.
Jane Whitney Gibson, Dana V. Tesone, and Charles W. Blackwell

Language Learning and International Business

In this rapidly shrinking world of international business, the ability to speak the language of your business partners and clients can provide a competitive edge.  Surveys show that poor language skills are especially damaging for expatriot employees.  Nevertheless, Americans rank poorly in the world of languages, and even multi-national companies seldom require such skills.  As evidence mounts of the benefits of language learning, however, managers and companies are increasing efforts in this area, using courses in schools, Internet-based education, or establishing in-house programs.
Darla Domke-Damonte

Electronic MBAs: The Future is Here

Alvin Toffler has written that "knowledge substitutes for the once-high cost of change in the production process," and that the amount of knowledge may not be as crucial as "the speed with which it is continually renewed..."  To prepare students for this new world, business schools must harness technology to acquire and disseminate knowledge and control their own costs.  In this spirit, online MBA programs may be one way to efficiently use technology, as illustrated by the University of Texas System program.  UT offers high-quality, content-rich Web-based courses that meet AACSB accreditation standard.
Linda McCallister and Linda Mathews