INTEGRATING STUDENTS, FACULTY AND INDUSTRY EXECUTIVES

Abstract: The authors describe a program which has been devised for students at the University of Georgia. The program allows students and faculty to interact with industry leaders. As the authors point out, the same type of program could be implemented at other universities. This article describes the project for which the authors received the 1996 Les Strickler Innovation in Instruction Award, given at the 1996 annual meeting of the American Risk and Insurance Association.     

Asset Funding in der betrieblichen Altersversorgung

In Germany, the most widespread funding method for occupational pension schemes is self-funding via book reserve. The term “asset funding” applies to situations when the company sets aside separate assets to fund these liabilities. This is a significant factor for a company’s risk management. International accounting standards and the requirements of Basel II are helping to make asset funding of book reserves more and more attractive. This article represents a first step towards a full-scale scientific analysis of this complex of issues. In particular, it provides a systematic classification of the various methods of asset funding and presents corresponding investment strategies.     

The fragility of a discipline when a model has monopoly status

We consider the consequences of a scientific literature with only one model of an important phenomenon. The falsification of the model would mean falsification of the science. Scientists who would prefer not to have their discipline falsified will be tempted to find ad hoc explanations to excuse the failure. To test this hypothesis we propose a study of the economic forecasts of the comparative Soviet and American growth rates in the years before a public choice model of central planning was a viable alternative to the public interest model. JEL Code A11, B23 Earlier versions of the paper were presented at the University of Manitoba Economics Department Retreat in October 2005 and at the Center for Study of Public Choice Wednesday Seminar in November 2005. We thank the participants for their suggestions. All the remaining errors are our responsibility.     

Determinants of environmental innovation adoption in the printing industry: the importance of task environment

In this paper, we investigate the impact that the task environment has on the adoption of environmental innovations by firms. Specifically, we investigate the impact of two dimensions of a firm's external context – munificence and dynamism. We investigate both of these factors by drawing on the relevant literatures, developing hypotheses and testing our hypotheses with data drawn from the US printing industry. Our major findings are that firms in highly dynamic environments, as well as firms that have adopted other productive innovations, are more likely to adopt a greater number of environmental innovations. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment.     

An Exploratory Examination of Serious Surfers: Implications for the Surf Tourism Industry

Surf tourism is a multibillion dollar industry expected to continue expanding. Despite such economic significance, the surf tourism literature has gaps related to surf tourism segments. In response, this study applied the serious leisure framework to profile serious surfers and contrast their sociodemographic composition and travel behaviors. Although more serious surfers are more avid travelers in the quest for the perfect wave as compared with less serious surfers, preference for local attractions and conveniences did not vary between groups. In addition to contributing the scholarship of serious leisure and surf tourism, this study provides insights for the surf tourism industry. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

An analysis of the impact of adopting IFRS 8 on the segment disclosures of European blue chip companies

Amidst the IASB's post-implementation review of IFRS 8, we examine how the standard's adoption changed the reporting of segments by European blue chips (i.e. companies comprising the top tier index of 14 European stock exchanges). We focus on anticipated benefits articulated in the IASB's Basis for Conclusions and concerns expressed by IFRS 8 opponents.In addition to convergence with U.S. GAAP, IFRS 8 results in the reporting of significantly more operating segments on average. However, most companies report the same number or fewer segments. Refuting claims regarding the loss of geographic data at the entity-wide level, we identify an improvement in the fineness of disclosures and a significant increase in the disclosure of geographic groupings. We do not identify an improvement in consistency of segment disclosures with other sections of the annual report, which is due to the consistency already achieved under IAS 14R.IFRS 8 results in a significant decline in the number of reportable segment information items (notably liabilities) and a significant decline in the reporting of capital expenditures at the entity-wide level. Furthermore, adoption of the standard produces a lack of comparability in segment profitability measures and extensive reporting of non-IFRS measures. However, almost all companies report a measure of segment profitability tied to a number on the consolidated income statement or reconciled to the income statement.     

GRAMPIES: A new breed of consumers comes of age

The aging of the world's population, and the qualities those people bring to the over-60 market, have created a new breed. GRAMPIES, Growing Retired Active Monied People In an Excellent State, no longer constitute a dull and destitute gerontocracy, but an exciting target and challenge for the world's marketers.     

A change management perspective on public sector cutback management: towards a framework for analysis

The financial crisis forces public managers to implement cutbacks within their organization. We argue that adopting a change management perspective contributes to our understanding of cutback management by adding a focus on managerial behaviour regarding cutback-related organizational changes. Relying on change management literature, this paper develops a framework for the analysis of cutback management connecting the context, content, process, outcomes and leadership of cutback-related change. From this it follows that managers can be positioned at the intersection of various imperatives, both externally and internally, such as their political leaders and their own subordinates. A research agenda is proposed.