Theses and Dissertations at Montana State University (MSU)
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Item Survey of the 1988-1992 office administration graduates of Lakeland College, Vermilion Campus(Montana State University - Bozeman, College of Business, 1993) Henry, Blanche Marie; Chairperson, Graduate Committee: Norman L. MillikinA follow-up study was made of the 1988-92 graduates of the Office Administration program at Lakeland College, Vermilion Campus, to complete a program evaluation that would facilitate curriculum development and improvement. Surveys were sent to the 115 graduates of the Office Administration program. Of the 77 surveys returned, only 69 or 60 percent were usable. The main conclusions are: (1) Office Administration programs at the postsecondary level continue to offer viable programs. (2) The high priority placed on computer applications in the Lakeland College Office Administration program has proven to be well founded. (3) Word processing is the most widely used software application followed by DOS, spreadsheets, databases, graphics, and Windows. (4) Demand for shorthand or fast notetaking continues to decline. (5) Machine transcription is not widely used in the workplace. (6) Graduates from the Lakeland College Office Administration program tended to rate the instructors and course material very highly. The main recommendations of the study are: (1) Lakeland College should continue to support the Office Administration Department in its efforts to keep pace with changes in technology and business practices. This support should include budget dollars to purchase equipment and software that students will encounter in the workplace. (2) The Office Administration Advisory Committee should review this study to assist the Office Administration Department with possible further curriculum revisions. (3) Increase the course hours devoted to word processing. (4) Implement a new computer course that would introduce students to graphics software. (5) Professional Notetaking be dropped as a compulsory course of the Office Administration program. (6) For a period of one year, Professional Notetaking be offered on a trial basis as an option to assess its demand. (7) Before implementing a two-year Office Administration program at Lakeland College that further study be done.Item A follow-up study for business education at Bozeman Senior High School(Montana State University - Bozeman, College of Business, 1987) Ross, Margaret Saxman; Chairperson, Graduate Committee: Norman L. MillikinThe purpose of this study was to evaluate the business education program at Bozeman Senior High School, Bozeman, Montana by conducting a follow-up study of graduates from the classes of the past five years--1981 through 1985. Graduates were asked to answer questions in four major areas: (1) appropriateness of course content, (2) necessary standards of performance, (3) adequacy of preparation for entry-level positions, and (4) ranking of overall business education program. At the high school level, we wanted to determine the adequacy of instruction as it related to the goals of the high school graduates, the appropriateness of course content and instructional equipment, the nature of the entry jobs of graduates, and choices of graduates in post-high school education.Item Reasons for increased suspensions and probations in the department of business education and office systems(Montana State University - Bozeman, College of Business, 1986) Sulgrove, John Lyall; Chairperson, Graduate Committee: Norman L. MillikinThe purpose of this study was to investigate possible reasons for increased student suspensions from the Department of Business Education and Office Systems in the College of Business at Montana State University. The sources of data for this study were obtained from student records on file at the College of Business, Montana State University. Additional student record data and information was obtained from the Montana State University Office of Admissions and from Montana State University Testing Services. When all information had been gathered, the findings were compiled and analyzed. The results were then set up in tables for clarity. A written description and an analysis of the data supplement the tables. The conclusions were (1) the Department of Business Education and Office System's main concern over suspensions should be with the Administrative Assistant Program as evidenced by the large-majority (67 percent), of suspended students in that program, (2) below average stanine scores (less than 4) should immediately be an indicator that a student may have problems, (3) the university calculated high school grade point average for the students and the student's rank in high school class are strong indicators of future performance, (4) of the total number of suspended students, over half, 51 percent, were on probation from 2 to 3 quarters, (5) students enrolled in the Department, knowing they must meet minimum requirements in a pre-requisite type program as freshmen and sophomores in order to advance into the main program as juniors and seniors, will be less likely to encounter academic problems, and (6) the accounting course, BUAC 224, Principles of Accounting, remains the single largest stumbling block for students enrolled in the Department of Business Education and Office Systems. Some of the recommendations were (1) review any unique environmental and institutional factors so as to enhance capabilities for retaining students who may encounter academic problems, (2) prediction profiles should be developed and tested for freshmen as soon as a working profile is completed, and (3) since an overwhelming majority of the suspended students were enrolled in the Administrative Assistant program, a preparation program unique to students enrolled in this area should be instituted.Item Software applications on microcomputers in secondary marketing education programs(Montana State University - Bozeman, College of Business, 1985) Painter, John E.; Chairperson, Graduate Committee: Norman L. MillikinThe purpose of the study was to identify the ways that secondary Marketing/Distributive Education Programs are using computers and the specific software employed. The survey instrument was mailed to 180 National DECA member Marketing/DE Programs which represented 50% of the member programs in the states of MI, ND, SD, WA, VA, and OR. Ninety usable returns were received on which sixty-six instructors indicated that they were utilizing computers in some way. These replies were tabulated and analyzed. From this data and a review of literature it was concluded that computers are a very new part of the majority of Marketing/DE programs in the states surveyed. The amount of time that most students use a computer for Marketing classes was reported as less than one hour per week. The most common computers in Marketing are the Apple II series (II, II+, IIe, and IIc ) and the software designed to run on these machines. Word Processors, spreadsheets, and simulations are the most common types of software being utilized. The following programs were the most frequently mentioned by name as being used successfully: Appleworks and Applewriter by Apple, the DECA contest series, Enterprise Sandwich Shops from Gregg/McGraw-Hill, Gadgetronics from Southwestern, Jeans Factory from Phillips Petroleum Company, the CDEX training programs, and Free Enterprise from SRA Software. The recommendations made by the researcher include the following: that provision be made for students to have more hands-on-time, machine purchases for Marketing should reflect the ownership patterns of the local busines community and not be based solely on what a school district has or on price, a national clearinghouse should be established to exchange information about computers and software in Marketing, and the types of usage should be expanded. It is also recommended that additional studies be conducted to establish if there is a correlation between usage of computers and enrollment in Marketing classes.Item The image of business education at Havre High School as perceived by students, teachers, counselors and administrators(Montana State University - Bozeman, College of Business, 1985) Hedstrom, Janie Barkus; Chairperson, Graduate Committee: Norman L. MillikinThe positive image of a program is essential if it is to be viewed by students, teachers, counselors, administrators, and community as an important curriculum to be studied. This study was conducted in order to review the image of the business education department at Havre High School as it is perceived by students, teachers, counselors and administrators. The researcher surveyed respondents at Havre High School as to their perception of the business education department, using a five point Likert scale for indication of responses. The responses were divided into sub-categories of business programs, business teachers and business students for ease in basing conclusions and recommendations. Though many of the statements were positive, it was noted that there were some areas of concern. Business educators should familiarize all segments of Havre High School and its surrounding community of it's offerings through good public relation efforts. Students should be proud to be enrolled in business education and can be assured of quality education received. The business education programs at Havre High School must continue to be up-dated and revised to keep current with trends being developed. It is imperative that program standards be set so goals can be established to meet high expectations. The business education teachers should continue to become professionally aware of trends and innovations in the constantly changing business environment. This will provide marketable students and give college-bound students a more complete and current background in business. It is recommended by this researcher that the conclusions and recommendations of this study be reviewed and ideas implemented into the business education program at Havre High School, Havre, Montana.Item A comparison of student achievement when taught by individualized instruction and traditional instruction(Montana State University - Bozeman, College of Professional Schools, 1973) Franks, Harvey GarretPurpose: To determine whether students achieve more when individualized instruction is utilized in the classroom or when taught by a traditional approach. Method and Sources: a. The study involved five general business classes and one consumer education class at Havre High School. There were from 90 to 120 students involved in the individualized instruction in general business, and 21 students in the traditionally taught consumer education class. The study also involved two teachers. b. All general business courses were taught under the individualized instruction approach, while the consumer education class was taught under what could be termed the traditional instruction approach. c. Questionnaires, student progress reports, and examinations were used to evaluate student achievement in both approaches. Summary of Findings: a. Some students achieve more under individualized instruction and some achieve better under a traditional instruction program. b. Both the individualized instruction approach and the traditional instruction approach have their place in education. c. Even though the objective of individualized instruction is to meet the needs of all students, it fails to do so as does the traditional instruction approach. d. It is wrong for a school or a department within a school to lock itself in to one instruction approach or the other. Individualized instruction should be viewed as a teaching tool to be used by teachers to fit the needs of their students, and not as a program in itself.Item Guidance and selection procedures in distributive education(Montana State University - Bozeman, College of School of Business, 1976) Richard, Cyril Kirk; Chairperson, Graduate Committee: Norman L. MillikinIn this paper, "Guidance and Selection Procedures in Distributive Education," the researcher was trying to find out if distributive education teacher-coordinators in the states of Montana and Wyoming were in agreement with the opinions of the leaders in distributive education concerning guidance and selection of students. This researcher, through the use of the sign test, found out that the distributive education coordinators agreed with the opinions of the leaders in distributive education but to a significant level did not practice what they thought was to be the ideal guidance and selection procedures as stated by the leaders.Item Management policies concerning the employment of distributive education students in retail grocery, specialty, and department stores in Billings, Montana(Montana State University - Bozeman, College of Professional Schools, 1974) Miller, John Leo; Chairperson, Graduate Committee: Norman L. MillikinThe problem of this study is to determine if cooperative distributive education programs are being utilized in retail grocery, specialty, and department stores in Billings, Montana, to the maximum benefit of these stores, the students, the schools, and the community. The purpose of this study is to determine answers to the following questions: 1. How many of the retail stores that are presently participating in the cooperative distributive education program plan to continue this policy? 2. If these types of stores are not presently involved in the cooperative distributive education program, would they be interested in participating in the program? 3. If they express a willingness to participate in the program, in which of the areas of distribution would they be willing to assist in the training of these students? 4. If a business indicates that it is not interested in participating in the cooperative distributive education program, why does management have this attitude towards the program? This study is needed for the students, the school, the retail businesses, and the community if the result of this program is to be employable workers adjusted to the world of business.Item An evaluation of the business curriculum at Helena Vocational-Technical Center as determined by a survey of former students(Montana State University - Bozeman, College of Professional Schools, 1974) Harding, Jay; Chairperson, Graduate Committee: Daniel G. HertzThe purpose of this research is to determine the relevancy of the present business curriculum at the Helena Vocational-Technical Center. The present course offerings will be evaluated in light of the student respones, and as they compare with other business curriculums throughout Montana and the United States.Item A study to examine the current secondary business education offerings in the southcentral region of Alaska, specifically the Anchorage Borough, Kenai Borough and the Matanuska-Susitna Borough school systems(Montana State University - Bozeman, College of Business, 1989) Nye, Sam Arnold; Chairperson, Graduate Committee: Norman L. MillikinThis study was needed to determine current secondary Business Education offerings and to assess the strengths and weaknesses of Business Education programs in southcentral Alaska. Results of this study will help individual schools as well as the subject school districts to compare current offerings to national trends in Business Education curricula. This study also identifies schools that currently do or do not offer Business Education programs. This will assist individuals considering seeking business teaching positions in the southcentral area of Alaska.