Structural equation modeling is used to examine the nomological relationships between the five latent constructs that comprise the Student Instructional Rating System (SIRS), a widely used student evaluation of instructor form. Our results indicate that input factors, that is, course organization and student-instructor interaction, influence the endogenous factors, that is, instructor involvement and student interest, in a positive manner. However, the factor—course demands affects these endogenous factors in a negative manner. In addition, course demands is also negatively associated with the other two input factors. Despite their apparent intuitive appeal, users of student evaluation forms often ignore these relationships. The authors hope that users of student evaluation forms take these relationships between the latent constructs into account when using the results.

IN BRIEF In today's Total Quality Management environment, the purchasing function is not only responsible for securing vital production and facilitating resources for its organization, it is also charged with providing quality service to its internal customers. To date, the purchasing profession does not have a widely accepted instrument to measure the dimensions of service quality within a purchasing context. This research attempts to address this void by applying SERVQUAL, an instrument that has traditionally been used to assess retail consumer perceptions of service quality, to purchasing performance within a service organization. Initial results indicate that SERVQUAL does provide the purchasing function with a useful method for obtaining feedback from its internal customers.

No abstract

This study integrates thoughts related with electronic communication systems, labeled as Intra, Extra and Internet, with the core concepts of network theory and proposes a conceptual model for business-tobusiness firms. The context used for this model development is franchise systems. During this process, advantages and disadvantages associated with viewing franchise systems as network organizations as well as incorporating electronic communication systems as a catalyst of movement towards network organization are discussed. We hope that this study forms a basis for future investigation of franchise systems from a network perspective (rather than just a dyadic perspective), with the Intra, Extra, and Internet as a catalyst.