Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Karen A. Blotnicky Author-Name: Amy Thurlow Title: THE INFLUENCE OF PUBLIC RELATIONS AND COMMUNICATION FUNCTIONS ON PERCEPTIONS OF ORGANIZATIONAL SUCCESS, INNOVATION AND REPUTATION Abstract: Drawing on survey data gathered from senior public relations officers within Canadian organizations, this paper explores the extent to which the integration of the public relations function in strategic decisionmaking impacts the achievement of positive organizational outcomes. Three measures of organizational performance were used to investigate these relationships: practitioners’ perceptions of organizational success, innovativeness, and external reputation. This research reveals that a strategic public relations / communications management focus by senior organizational management has a positive influence on an organization’s innovativeness. Classification-JEL: L20, M19, M31 Keywords: Public Relations, Strategic Decision-Making, Organization Success, Organizational Innovation, Reputation Management Journal: International Journal of Management and Marketing Research Pages: 1-17 Volume: 14 Issue: 1 Year: 2021 File-URL: http://www.theibfr2.com/RePEc/ibf/ijmmre/ijmmr-v14n1-2021/IJMMR-V14N1-2021-1.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf Handle: RePEc:ibf:ijmmre:v:14:y:2021:i:1:p:1-17 Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Maury R. Randall Author-Name: David Y. Suk Author-Name: Kristin McCarthy Title: U.S. HEALTH CARE: TOO MUCH OF A GOOD THING? Abstract: This paper provides a critique of the U.S. Health Care system compared to other OECD (Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development) nations and extends the work of previous research in four ways. First, we identify which OECD countries have better longevity outcomes than other OECD nations while devoting a smaller percentage of their GDP (Gross National Product) to generating those results. Second, we examine whether increased levels of government healthcare funding are associated with longer life expectancy. Third, we discuss the question of whether healthcare spending is not being properly measured and the consequences if that is the case. Fourth, we consider the possibility that there might be too much total spending on healthcare in the U.S. and whether such excess spending might be having a negative effect on life expectancy. We conclude that there are many opportunities to successfully improve the U.S. system, lower costs and improve healthcare outcomes. Classification-JEL:J1, I12, I18 Keywords: Health Care Expenditure, Life Expectancy, OECD Journal: International Journal of Management and Marketing Research Pages: 19-33 Volume: 14 Issue: 1 Year: 2021 File-URL: http://www.theibfr2.com/RePEc/ibf/ijmmre/ijmmr-v14n1-2021/IJMMR-V14N1-2021-2.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf Handle: RePEc:ibf:ijmmre:v:14:y:2021:i:1:p:19-33 Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Benedict E. DeDominicis Title: THE COMMON AGRICULTURAL POLICY OF THE EUROPEAN UNION AND BULGARIA: CRITIQUING THE NEW YORK TIMES 2019 EXPOSÉ OF CORRUPTION IN THE COMMON AGRICULTURAL POLICY Abstract: This paper critiques the portrayal of the utilization of CAP funds as forms of corruption in eastern Europe. This study analyzes the CAP from the perspective of its role in supporting European integration as a strategy for peace promotion focusing on post-Communist Europe. This New York Times investigative report illustrates certain biases regarding US politically prevailing normative assumptions regarding political economy. Despite the Trump phenomenon, they underestimate the significance of intense and increasingly salient post-Communist political polarization in Bulgaria and Eastern Europe in general. EU regional and sectoral economic cohesion policies including the CAP are vehicles to incentivize political elite network creation and cooptation to undercut potentials for militant nationalism. The rise of conservative populist nationalism in Europe and globally illustrates the intensified political challenges to peaceful integration and globalization. A consequence includes greater cultural diversification regarding the definition of private versus public interest, i.e., the nature of the state. Analysis of the challenge of corruption in Bulgaria from the CAP point of view provides an opportunity to explore deeply the onceptualization of the state as a control system. The concept of the rule of law and what it means in Bulgaria will be explored from this EU CAP perspective. Classification-JEL:D73, F02, F36, F52, F53, F54, H83, M16, O19 Keywords: Bulgaria, Common Agricultural Policy, European Union, Nomenklatura, Policy Network, Post-communism Journal: International Journal of Management and Marketing Research Pages: 35-61 Volume: 14 Issue: 1 Year: 2021 File-URL: http://www.theibfr2.com/RePEc/ibf/ijmmre/ijmmr-v14n1-2021/IJMMR-V14N1-2021-3.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf Handle: RePEc:ibf:ijmmre:v:14:y:2021:i:1:p:35-61 Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Rufina Georgina Hernandez Contreras Author-Name: Jose Francisco Tenorio Martinez Author-Name: Gabriel Montiel Morales Author-Name: Mario Aceves Mejia Author-Name: Hector Barrientos Rodriguez Title: UNDERGRADUATE STUDENT ASSESSMENT OF THEIR INSTITUTION’S SMES BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION AND MANAGEMENT PROGRAM Abstract: This paper evaluates the progress of the Administration and Management of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) undergraduate program (ADPymes) at Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla. We survey a sample of undergraduate students who are halfway into this academic program. The goals is to determine the level of critical factors for success (FSC), Independence and Formation, that students have acquired when they are half-way into their academic program. We also seek to evaluate their perception regarding becoming entrepreneur, and their ability to develop strategies to create a path forward focused and oriented to local needs. Through a qualitatively and quantitative analysis, we determine students’ interest, challenges and critical factors for success (CFS). We offer strategies to support students in acquiring skills and knowledge in the ADPymes program. Classification-JEL: M13, J23, I21 Keywords: Higher Education, Undergraduate Students, Assessment Program, SMEs Journal: International Journal of Management and Marketing Research Pages: 63-76 Volume: 14 Issue: 1 Year: 2021 File-URL: http://www.theibfr2.com/RePEc/ibf/ijmmre/ijmmr-v14n1-2021/IJMMR-V14N1-2021-4.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf Handle: RePEc:ibf:ijmmre:v:14:y:2021:i:1:p:63-76