http://www.loc.gov/mods/v3 http://www.loc.gov/standards/mods/v3/mods-3-2.xsd
Interfirm comparison - a study with special emphasis on the commercial cattle feeding industry
Research was conducted to provide a general model for construction and implementation of interfirm comparisons to eliminate excessive costs and inefficiencies of previous efforts. The research techniques included an extensive literature review, interview with ultimate users, in-depth analysis of users' needs, testing for the availability of model input data and congruency between users' perceived needs and the model output. The research method included the initial development of an analytical conceptual framework using the abstraction approach, wherein the general interfirm comparison model was constructed. The output of the general model was constructed. The output of the general model was determined to be measures of profitability, asset utilization, costs, productivity and other significant aspects of the industry. As each relevant variable was structured in the model, its logical and mathematical relationships were depicted using a modified pyramid structure technique. The general model was applied to the specific commercial cattle feeding industry by applying the perceived needs of the ultimate users to the general model. The specific industry model was tested by selected members of the cattle feeding industry for congruence between the perceived needs of the ultimate users and the output of the model. The model was also tested for availability of input data generated by the accounting systems of the commercial cattle feeding industry.
Ph. D. in Business Administration Texas A & M University