Theses and Dissertations at Montana State University (MSU)
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Item A survey of businesses on the Fort Peck Indian Reservation to determine the degree of importance of entry-level skills of word processors/secretaries(Montana State University - Bozeman, College of Business, 1990) Kolstad, Sharon A.; Chairperson, Graduate Committee: Norman L. MillikinThe purpose of this study was to measure the perceptions of small businesses on the Fort Peck Indian Reservation in Montana on what skills they preferred an entry-level word processor/secretary possess. Those findings would then be used as the basis for establishing effective business and vocational education programs at Fort Peck Community College, Poplar, Montana. To assess the needs of the small businesses on the reservation, a questionnaire was mailed in August, 1989, to those small businesses employing entry-level office workers. The survey was comprehensive in nature, covering technical and nontechnical skills. Since one of the objectives of the College is to meet community needs, this assessment will aid in the formulation of effective business and vocational courses and serve as areas of emphasis in other courses that will give the graduate competencies for ready employment.Item Utilization of telecommunications technologies in small businesses(Montana State University - Bozeman, College of Business, 1997) Jacobson, Calvin S.; Chairperson, Graduate Committee: Norman L. MillikinTelecommunications technologies means the science of communication at a distance by electronic transmission. The types of telecommunications technologies being used in commerce by small businesses in Montana were analyzed by the creation of a sample questionairre. All businesses registered with the Montana Department of Commerce for listing in the Montana Manufacturers and Product Directory was the population of interest. A representative sample of nearly 25% of the population returned usable questionnaires. The majority of business people state they have computers for their business needs. The average user time spent daily on a computer is between one and four hours. Continuing education course availability is within driving distance for business owners and managers in most geographic areas. The most readily available courses are Accounting, Computer Technology, Management and Marketing. More than half the respondents state they have taken continuing business education courses since formally attending school. For businesses, the most sought after continuing education courses were in the areas of: * Marketing * Management * Accounting * Computer Technology * Salesmanship * Customer Services Communications Technologies, Legal & Compliance Issues, Business & Office Equipment and International Business were ranked as a lower priority. The largest sector (31%) of businesses report annual gross sales income of less than one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000.). The second largest sector (23%) reported annual gross sales income greater than one million ($1,000,000.). Two to five (2-5) employees is the predominant number of employees in fifty percent (50%) of the Montana businesses and over seventy-two percent (72%) of the respondents had some college experience or a college degree in place. The majority of respondents (48%) were self-employed for longer than ten (10) years. The majority of respondents (55%) had been with their company longer than ten (10) years. The majority of people in business had come from a business-related education background. Seventy-one percent (71 %) of the respondents were over forty years old. Sixty-six percent (66%) of the respondents were male. The preferred way to experience continuing course work was in person. When asked about actual use of telecommunications technologies, distance computing was picked most frequently. Almost half of the respondents stated that they were not sure if they would choose to use technology to further their education. The identified groups were owners and managers having taken continuing business education courses and those that had not, time spent daily on computers and company annual gross sales. There were no significant relationships found.Item The implementation of a National Small Business Training Network program at Miles Community College, Miles City, Montana(Montana State University - Bozeman, College of School of Business, 1983) Widdicombe, Ranna Reese; Chairperson, Graduate Committee: Norman L. MillikinMiles Community College was contacted by the National Small Business Training Network and encouraged to become part of the Network. There had been a variety of business training programs sponsored by many different institutions in Miles City. MCC needed to determine if there was a need for additional training. An Initial Needs Survey was undertaken in July of 1982. Four hundred forty businesses were contacted and questioned about their need for education in business related topics. A net response of one hundred seventy-three was attained by the response deadline of July 15, 1982. The responses were used to organize a schedule of eight Training Units as required by communities of the size if Miles City to receive NSBTN sanction. Responses on the survey were used to select the day of the week, the instructional format and the fee to be charged. When the schedule was set and speakers arranged, a brochure was printed and mailed to all businesses participating in the Initial Needs Survey. As each Training Unit was conducted, attendees were asked to complete a Training Unit Evaluation form. These forms were then tabulated and sent to the NSBTN headquarters as required. Evaluations of all Training Units were good with most attendees indicating their satisfaction with the training. Conclusions drawn from both the Initial Needs Survey and the Training Unit Evaluations warrant the continuation of the program. However, several recommendations can be made about the implementation of future NSBTN programs and reconstruction of both the Initial Needs Survey and the Training Unit Evaluation forms. It is also recommended that Miles Community College continue the Small Business Training Network sanction.Item A study of College of Business graduates from Montana State University, 1980-1989(Montana State University - Bozeman, College of Business, 1991) Ellis, Paul D.; Chairperson, Graduate Committee: Norman L. MillikinThe primary objective of this study was to determine the need for additional entrepreneurial/small business management education at Montana State University. This determination was based upon the responses of College of Business graduates that had graduated between the years 1980 and 1989. Information was collected from the graduates in two areas: (1) General Information, (2) Demographics. Questionnaires were mailed to 629 College of Business graduates, of which 55% or 348 usable responses were returned. The first mailing produced 231 usable responses making it necessary for a follow-up mailing, which provided 117 usable responses. The survey instrument was reviewed, by graduate students in the College of Business enrolled in Business Education 524, Research in Business Education and by other of the college's students and faculty. After suggestions, appropriate revisions were made to the survey questionnaire prior to the first mailing. The review of literature indicated that the trend toward increased entrepreneurial/small business management education has been noticed as early as 1977. This trend is also noticeable at a large number of post-secondary schools in Montana, and through out the United States. The conclusions of the study were: (1) That a majority of the students felt Professional Correspondence/Business Communication was the course most widely used in the work enviroment and was the most adequately taught. (2)The courses Small Business Management and Entrepreneurship rank low in the adequacy of the course coverage provided by the college. (3) These same two courses, as indicated by the respondents, were used the least among their work activities. A considerable number of graduates, 37.60%, do plan to own their own business. (4) The majority of the graduates are finding employment in their chosen fields. (5) A majority, 59.33%, of the graduates work for firms that have sales volume in excess of one million dollars in gross sales volume, and 32.31% of the student's firms employ in excess of 500 employees. (6) The College of Business appears to be preparing students adequately for their careers. (7) Graduates, in general, are satisfied with their chosen careers. (8) The College of Business has had the foresight to either expand or delete course curriculum when necessary. Demographic conclusions were a majority of students, 60.17%, must go out of state to find employment, with 50% prefering to remain in Montana. The recommendations were: (1) It is recommended that the College of Business increase or expand their emphasis in Computers, Internships, Business Communication, Entrepreneurship/Small Business Management, and Finance. (2) It is recommended that more attention be given to the entrepreneur/small business area in the courses already being taught. (3) That a small business accounting course be added to the courses available. (4) That this study be replicated after 5 years to continue to provide feedback to the College of Business. (5) It is recommended that the current track in Small Business Management, under the Management Option, be evaluated to determine its relevancy to the management option.Item Usage of business plans in the Montana business community(Montana State University - Bozeman, College of Business, 1993) Makris, George Christophis