Phd Program Visit Report
PhD Program Visit Report
March 20, 2009 – April 24, 2009
Produced by Visitor: Paata Brekashvili
Visiting Scholar
Faculty Member/Department of Management
Caucasus School of Business/Caucasus University
PhD Program Scholar Visit was arranged by Professor Bijan Fazlollahi, the American Project Director and is planned to be conducted from December 31, 2008 – June 3, 2009 (Spring Semester, 2009). The purpose is to participate in doctoral seminars and methodology courses at RCB, audit the available MBA courses as the methodology prerequisites, and establish collaboration with faculty members of the department as well as with other PhD program students.
Objectives:
Subsequent with my current objectives on Management Department at RCB, at this stage, I was able to fully enroll in classes; I have established collaboration with faculty and students.
The cornerstones of my current activities are seminars and methodology classes which I am taking during this semester. Below is a description of activities undertaken in classes and additional benefits for the given time period.
Classes:
1. Activities at doctoral seminar in Macro HR Management - MGS 9310 SEM/MACRO HR MANAGEMENT, instructor: Professor Hyeon J. Park
At this stage we have finished second Macro part of the course; I gained a thorough understanding of the current research in traditional functional areas of HRM such as HIGH PERFORMANCE/HIGH COMMITMENT WORK SYSTEMS, HR AND SOCIAL CAPITAL, and MEASUREMENT ISSUES IN SHRM RESEARCH. I finalized the research idea (How to Sustain Competitive Advantage through Human Capital? Time Frame for Make or Buy Decision (Employment Internalization vs. Externalization - the Scenario of First/Second Mover Firms)) I was working on. I presented the paper to class, which gained very positive appraisal. In addition, I have reviewed the manuscript (The Human Equation under the Microscope) submitted to the Journal of Strategic Management. Below is a list of articles which I have read through this time period:
Arthur, J.B. 1992. The link between business strategy and industrial relations systems in American steel mills. Industrial and Labor Relations Review, 45: 488-506.
Batt, Rosemary. 2002. Managing customer services: Human resource practices, quit rates, and sales growth. Academy of Management Journal, 45: 587-597.
Becker, B. E., & Huselid, M. A., 1998. High performance work systems and firm performance: A synthesis of research and managerial implications. Research in Personnel and Human Resources Management, 53-101.
MacDuffie, J. P. (1995). Human resource bundles and manufacturing performance: Organizational logic and flexible production systems in the world auto industry. Industrial and Labor Relations Review, 48(2): 197-221.
Datta, D. K., Guthrie, J. P., & Wright, P.M. (2005). Human resource management and labor productivity: Does industry matter? Academy of Management Journal, 48, 135-145.
Sun, L., Aryee, S., Law, K. E. (2007). High performance human resource practices, citizenship behavior, and organizational performance: A relational perspective. Academy of Management Journal, 50: 558-577.
Takeuchi, R., Lepak, D. P., Wang, H., Takeuchi, K. (2007). An empirical examination of the mechanisms mediating between high-performance work systems and the performance of Japanese organizations. Journal of Applied Psychology, 92(4), 1069.
Brass, D. (1995). A social network perspective on human resource management. In G. R. Ferris (Ed.), Research in Personnel and Human Resources Management (pp. 39-79). Greenwich, CT: JAI.
Leana, C. R., & van Buren, H. J. 1999. Organizational social capital and employment practices. Academy of Management Review, 24, 538-555.
Collins, C. J., & Clark, K. D. 2003. Strategic human resource practices, top management team social networks, and firm performance: The role of human resource practices in creating organizational competitive advantage. Academy of Management Journal, 46: 740–751.
Williamson, I. O., & Cable, D. M. (2003). Organizational hiring patterns, interfirm network ties and interorganizational imitation. Academy of Management Journal, 46: 349-358.
Kang, S. C., Morris, S., & Snell, S. A. (2007). Relational archetypes, organizational learning, and value creation: Extending the human resources architecture. Academy of Management Review, 32: 236-256.
Gant, J., Ichniowski, C., & Shaw, K. (2002). Social capital and organizational change in high-involvement and traditional work organizations. Journal of Economics & Management Strategy, 11: 289-328.
Wright, P. M., Gardner, T. M., Moynihan, L. M., & Allen, M. R. (2005). The relationship between hr practices and firm performance: Examining causal order. Personnel Psychology, 58(2), 409-446.
Schneider, B., Hanges, P. J., Smith, D. B., Salvaggio, A. N. (2003). Which comes first: Employee attitudes or organizational financial and market performance? Journal of Applied Psychology, 88: 836-851.
Wright, P. M., Gardner, T. M., Moynihan, L. M., Park, H. J., Gerhart, B., & Delery, J. E. (2001). Measurement error in research on human resources and firm performance: Additional data and suggestions for future research. Personnel Psychology, 54(4), 875-901.
Huselid, M. A., & Becker, B. E. (2000). Comment on "measurement error in research on human resources and firm performance: How much error is there and how does it influence effect size estimates?" By Gerhart, Wright, McMahan, and Snell. Personnel Psychology, 53(4), 835-854.
Gerhart, B., Wright, P. M., McMahan. G. C. (2000). Measurement error in research on the human resources and firm performance relationship: Further evidence and analysis. Personnel Psychology, 53(4), 855-872.
Huselid, M. A., & Becker, B. E. (1996). Methodological issues in cross-sectional and panel estimates of the human resource-firm performance link. Industrial Relations, 35(3), 400-22.
2. Activities at methodology course in Regression Analysis - MGS 9950 REGRESSION ANALYSIS, instructor: Professor Edward E. Rigdon
At this stage we were already gone through the topics such as: bivariate regression, confidence intervals, hypothesis testing and power, theory from 1 predictor to 2 predictors, estimation, standard errors, confidence intervals and hypothesis testing within the multiple predictor model, data graphical evaluation, hierarchical regression, predictors, polynomials, transformations, Interaction; regression plane; simple regression line; centering and collinearity; effects of reliability and research design on power to detect interactions. Significance of simple slopes; why this significance is equation-dependent; cautions on using standardized estimates; ordinal Vs disordinal interactions; finding the crossing point; higher order interactions; interactions with sets of predictors. non-continuous (categorical or nominal) predictors. Dummy codes; reference group; interpreting dummy code B, R and R square; standardization and nominal predictors; power and nominal predictors; "dummy-like" codes. Unweighted effects codes; weighted effects codes; base group; contrast codes; choosing a coding system. We proceeded in following topics: categorical variables, nominal interactions, balanced Vs unbalanced designs, collinearity, Outliers; leverage; hat values; discrepancy; internally studentized residuals (SRESID); externally studentized residuals (SDRESID); influence; DFFITSi; DFBETASi; clumps; index plots; tolerance; variance inflation factor (VIF); condition number; respecification; ridge regression; principal components regression, logistic regression, Linear probability model; probability Vs odds Vs log(odds) or probit; odds ratio; deviance; maximum likelihood; log likelihood, Pseudo R square; Cox-Snell; Nagelkerke; score test; Wald test; base rate.
With the working group established in the class I finalized the group project (The Study of factors influencing organizational citizenship behaviors) and presented to the overall class.
3. Activities at methodology course in Global Competitive Strategy - MBA 8820 GLOBAL COMPETITIVE STRAT, instructor: Professor Pamela S. Barr
At this stage we were through the following topics: the work of general managers, those who have responsibility for entire firms or the business segments of multibusiness firms. I also, acquired an appreciation for the dynamic nature of business enterprises. In addition to aforementioned specific topics already covered are: Industry Analysis, Competitor Analysis, Resources and Capabilities, Competitive Advantage, Technology Dynamics and Mature Markets. In addition we took over the topics such as: International strategy, organizing for international competitiveness, diversification and mergers and acquisitions.
I have finished group project report, where with the group I analyzed the industry of motion picture production and strategic competitive audit of “World Disney Pictures”. The results have been presented to the class and report has been submitted to the instructor.
4. Activities at methodology course in Negotiation - MGS 8430 NEGOTIATION, instructor: Professor Edward W. Miles
In this class we are having intense case discussion on different topic and business scenarios, as well as pear to pear negotiation sessions. Particular topics of discussion where: Value dividing in negotiation, what is the resistant point, what is the target point and how the initial offer should be made. Subsequent to that following topic has been discussed: Planning and preparation skills, knowledge of subject matter, ability to analyze issues and think rationally, ability to express oneself verbally and maintaining effective listening. In addition to all above mention this time we were concentrated on two party and especially three party negotiation sessions.
As I have already planned, Dr Miles has agreed and during the May semester I am looking forward to work personally with him deeply in Negotiation field.
In addition to classes, during this time period I had a chance to attend and get knowledge how the dissertation defense is conducted. Specifically, I have attended the final oral dissertation defense of Changha Jin, on the topic of The Impact of Local Media Pessimism on Residential Real Estate Markets.