VICTOR E. SOWER, Ph.D., C.Q.E.

 

Professor of Management

2005 Piper Professor

Department of Management & Marketing

College of Business Administration

Sam Houston State University

Huntsville, Texas 77341

Office:  (936) 294‑1272

e-mail:  sowerv@shsu.edu

Home Page:  http://www.shsu.edu/~mgt_ves

 

Education:

 

            Ph.D.               University of North Texas, Production and Operations Management, 1990.

            M.B.A.            Auburn University, Management, 1980.

            B.S.                 Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Chemistry, 1968.

 

Certification:

 

            American Society for Quality (A.S.Q.) Certified Quality Engineer (C.Q.E.)--Cert. No. 30187

 

Academic Experience:

 

            Professor of Management (2001-present) Associate Professor (1996-2001), Assistant Professor (1990-1996), Sam Houston State University.  Courses taught:  Operations Management (Gr. & UG), Quality Assurance Management (Gr. & UG), Purchasing & Materials Management (UG), Small Business Management (Gr. & UG), International Business (Gr. & UG), Management of Innovation & Technology (Gr.), Global Supply Chain Management (Gr. & UG), Principles of Management (UG), Quantitative Tools for Business (Gr.), Operations Management for Educational Administrators (Gr.).  Taught in 1997 & 1998 SHSU Summer Program in Puebla Mexico.

 

            Lecturer (1989-1990), Teaching Fellow (1988-1989), University of North Texas.  Courses taught:  Purchasing & Materials Management (UG), Production/Operations Management (UG), Principles of Management (UG).

 

Research:

 

            Publications‑‑Refereed Journals

 

Green, K., P. Zelbst, P., V. Sower.  “A Commentary on Carter, Sanders, & Dong’s ‘Paradigms, Revolutions, and Tipping Points:  The Need for Using Multiple Methodologies within the Field of Supply Chain Management’.”  Accepted for publication as a commentary with the original article in Journal of Operations Management. 

 

Zelbst, P., V. Sower, & K. Green.  “An Experiential Approach to Develop Understanding of RFID Technology.”  Accepted for publication in International Journal of Management in Education.

 

Sower, V.  “Benchmarking in Hospitals:  When You Need More than a Scorecard.”  Quality Progress, vol. 40, no. 8, August 2007, 58-60.

 

Sower, V., R. Quarles, & E. Broussard.  “Cost of Quality Usage and Its Relationship to Quality System Maturity.”  International Journal of Quality and Reliability Management, vol. 24, no. 2, 2007, 121-140. 

 

Sower, V, & J. Sower.  “Moderator Variables in Cultural Values and Business Ethics Research:  Important to External Validity.”  Southwest Business and Economics Journal, vol. 13, 2004-2005, 1-18.

 

Sower, V., & F. Fair.  “There is More to Quality than Continuous Improvement:  Listening to Plato.”  Quality Management Journal, vol. 12, no. 1, 2005, 8-20.

 

Spencer, J., V. Sower, & M. Muehsam.  “Differences in the Ethical Orientations of Upper Level U.S. and Mexican Business Students.”  Journal of Behavioral and Applied Management, vol. 4, no. 2, Winter 2003, 107-121. (http://www.jbam.org/pubs/jbam/articles/vol4/vol4_no2.htm)

 

            Sower, V., & R. Abshire.  "Successful Implementation of Advanced Manufacturing Technology:  A Cross Sectional Study." International Journal of Computer Applications in Technology, vol. 16, no. 1, 2003, 12-20.  (Actually published in June 2002).

 

Motwani, J., V. Sower, & D. Mirchandani.  “User Perception of the Benefits of Implementing an ERP System:  A Case Study.”  Journal of International Information Management, vol. 10, no, 2, Fall 2001, 1-12. (Actually published in Dec. 2002).

 

            Sower, V., J. Duffy, W. Kilbourne, G. Kohers, & P. Jones.  “The Dimensions of Service Quality for Hospitals:   Development of the KQCAH Scale.”  Health Care Management Review, vol. 26, no. 2, Spring 2001, 47-59.

 

Sower, V., R. Abshire, & N. Shankman.  “A Cross-Cultural Study of the Ethical Orientations of Senior-Level Business Students.”  Teaching Business Ethics, vol. 1, no.4, 1998, 379-397.

 

Michael, R., V. Sower, & J. Motwani.  “A Comprehensive Model for Implementing Total Quality Management in Higher Education.” Benchmarking for Quality Management & Technology, vol. 4, no. 2, 1997, 104-120.

           

            Sower, V.  "A Table-Top Flexible Manufacturing Cell for Use in the Production/Operations Management Classroom." Journal of Management Education, vol. 21, no. 2, May 1997, 200-208.

 

            Sower, V., J. Motwani, & M. Savoie.  "Classics in Production and Operations Management."  International Journal of Operations & Production Management, vol. 17, no. 1, January 1997, 15-28.  Recipient of ANBAR Citation of Highest Quality Rating in recognition of “outstanding contribution to the literature and body of knowledge.”

           

            Brashier, L., V. Sower, J. Motwani, & M. Savoie.  "Implementation of TQM/CQI in the Health-Care Industry:  A Comprehensive Model."  Benchmarking for Quality Management & Technology, vol. 3, no. 2, 1996, 31-50.

 

            Motwani, J., V. Sower, & L. Brashier.  "Implementing TQM in the Healthcare Sector:  Current Efforts and Future Research Directions."  Health Care Management Review, vol. 21, no. 1, Winter 1996, 73-82.

 

            Sower, V., J. Motwani, &  M. Savoie.  "Delta Charts for Short Run SPC."  International Journal of Quality and Reliability Management, vol. 11, no. 6, 1994, 50-56.

 

            Sower, V., M. Savoie, & J. Motwani.  "The Use of Simulation for Determining Optimum Levels of Buffer Inventories in a JIT Environment:  A New Perspective on Implementation of JIT." International Journal of Management and Systems, vol. 9, no. 3, September‑December 1993, 287‑299.

 

            Motwani, J.G., V. Sower, & M.E. Rosenfeldt.  "Adapting Deming's Philosophy:  An Evaluative Model."  Industrial Management & Data Systems, vol. 93, no. 8, 1993, 3-7.

 

            Sower, V., J. Motwani, & M. Savoie.  "Are Acceptance Sampling and Statistical Process Control Complementary or Incompatible?"  Quality Progress, vol. 26, no. 9, September 1993, 85‑89.  Also reprinted in Dowdey, D., B. Jones, & K. Pannell, TR5:  To Research, To Read, To Reason, To Write, To Report.  An Introduction to Research Writing (1998), Simon & Schuster, 515-516.

 

            Sower, V.  "The Effects of SPC Implementation on the Plastics Molding Industry in Texas."  Production and Inventory Management Journal, vol. 34, no. 1, First Quarter 1993, 41‑45.

 

Sower, V., & P. Foster.  "Implementing and Evaluating Advanced Technologies:  A Case Study."  Production and Inventory Management Journal, vol. 31, no. 4, Fourth Quarter 1990, 44‑48.

 

           


Publications—Presentations in Refereed Proceedings

 

Sower, V., J. Duffy, & G. Kohers.  “Critical to Quality Characteristics of Excellent Hospitals:  A Case Study Approach.”  Southwest Academy of Management Proceedings of the 50th Annual Meeting (2008), 1-14.

 

Sower, V., J. Duffy, & G. Kohers.  “Perceptions of Emergency Room Care:  The Elderly versus Younger Patients:  An Exploratory Study.”  Southwest Academy of Management Proceedings (2005), 328-333.

 

Sower, V.  “Estimating External Failure Costs:  a Key Difficulty in COQ Systems.”  Proceedings of the American Society for Quality's 58th Annual Quality Congress (2004), 547-551.  (Invited by Nick Shepherd).

 

Sower, V., J. Duffy, & G. Kohers.  “Integrating Patient Feedback into the Continuous Improvement Process in Hospitals:  A Tale of Three Hospitals.”  Southwest Academy of Management Proceedings (2004), 540-548.

 

Sower, V., & R. Quarles.  “Cost of Quality:  Why More Organizations Do Not Use it Effectively.”  Proceedings of the American Society for Quality's 57th Annual Quality Congress (2003), 625-637.  (Invited by John Shottmiller).

 

Sower, V., R. Quarles, & S. Cooper.  “Cost of Quality Distribution and Quality System Maturity:  An Exploratory Study."  Proceedings of the American Society for Quality's 56th Annual Quality Congress (2002), 343-354.  (Invited by John Shottmiller).

 

Sower, V.  “Web-Based Instruction and the Big Picture:  A Case Study.”   Decision Sciences Institute Southwest Region Proceedings (2002), 50-52.   Recognized with the 2002 Alpha Iota Delta Innovative Education Paper Award from Decision Sciences Institute Southwest Region.

 

            Spencer, J., V. Sower, & M. Muehsam.  “Ethical Orientations of Upper Level American and Mexican Business Students in Secular and Catholic Universities.”  Southwest Academy of Management Proceedings (2000), 130-134.  Selected as the Best Paper for the Gender/Social/Legal Track.

 

            Sower, V, & J. Sower.  “Important Considerations for Conducting Cross-Cultural Ethics Research:  The Case of Israel.”   Southwest Academy of Management Proceedings (2000), 207-211.  Selected as the Best Paper for the International/Research Methods Track.

 

            Sower, V., J. Duffy, W. Kilbourne, & P. Jones.  “The Dimensions of Service Quality for Hospitals:  Development of the KQCAH Scale.”  Proceedings of the 5th International Conference of the Decision Sciences Institute in Athens, Greece (1999), 692-694.

 

            Sower, V., & R. Lovell.  "Quality Circles in the University Classroom:  An Evolutionary Study."  American Society of Business & Behavioral Sciences--Proceedings of the Third Annual Meeting (1996), 1-7.

 

            Sower, V., J. Motwani, & M. Savoie.  "Classics in Production and Operations Management."  1995 Proceedings, Decision Sciences Institute (1995), 1203-1205.

 

            Sower, V.  "Experiential Learning in Operations Management Education."  Proceedings of the APICS E & R Foundation Conference on Teaching & Implementing New Manufacturing Technologies (July 1995), 68-72. (Invited by Michael Lythgoe).

 

            Sower, V.  "SPC Implementation in the Plastic Molding Industry in Texas:  Base Line for a Planned Four-Year Longitudinal Study."  Southwest Academy of Management Proceedings (1995), 240-244.

 

            Sower, V., R. Lovell, & G. Walker.  "A Table‑top Flexible Manufacturing Cell for Use in the Quality Assurance Management Classroom."  Proceedings, The Tenth International Conference of the Israel Society for Quality (1994), 667-672.  (Invited by Zvi Avraham).

 

            Savoie, M., J. Motwani, & V. Sower.  "Insights into Implementing ISO 9000."  Midwest Business Administration Association Conference POM Proceedings (1994), 65‑68.

 

            Sower, V., N. Thornton, & G. Walker.  "Trade Agreement with Mexico:  Goals, Strategies, Payoffs for Constituent Groups."  Globalization and Diversity:  Managing in a Changing World‑‑Proceedings, 7th Annual Texas Conference on Organizations (1992), 53‑58.

           

            Ferrer-Westrop, S., R. Abshire, & V. Sower.  "The Relationship Between the Human Elements of JIT and Service Sector Sales Professionals' Customer Orientation and Job Satisfaction."  1991 Proceedings Decision Sciences Institute (1991), 1692‑1694.

 

            Sower, V., J. Motwani, & M. Savoie.  "Difference Control Charts for Short Run SPC."  45th Annual ASQC Quality Conference Transactions (1991), 528‑532.

 

            Sower, V., & G. Walker.  "The Decline of U.S. Manufactured Goods in the World Market."  Proceedings, The 1991 Conference on International Competitiveness, 321‑332.

           

            Motwani, J., R. Subramanaian, M. Kassaee, V. Sower, & M. Savoie.  "Integrating Computer Integrated Manufacturing:  A Systems Approach."  1991 Southwest Division, The Academy of Management Proceedings, 184‑187.

           

            Savoie, M., V. Sower, & J. Motwani.  "80/20 ‑‑ Quality of Design in Systems Development."  44th Annual ASQC Quality Congress Transactions (1990), 297‑302.

 

            Savoie, M., V. Sower, & J. Motwani.  "The Impact of Quality on U.S. Manufacturers:  A Study of Malcolm Baldridge Award Winners."  International Academy of Management and Marketing 1990 Proceedings, 122‑128.

 

            Sower, V., J. Motwani, & M. Savoie.  "The Case for Internal Consultants in Multi‑plant Manufacturing Companies."  1990 Southwest Division, The Academy of Management Proceedings, 99‑101.

 

            Motwani, J., V. Sower, & M. Rosenfeldt.  "Operationalizing the Process of Quality Improvement:  An Exploratory Field Study of a Company Quality Profile."  1989 Southern Management Association Proceedings, 384‑386.

             

            Books, Manuals, Chapters, Cases:

 

Sower, V., J. Duffy, & G. Kohers.  Benchmarking in Hospitals:  Achieving Best-In-Class Performance without Having to Reinvent the Wheel (2008).  American Society for Quality--Quality Press—ISBN 978-0-87389-722-8.

 

            Sower, V.  “Custom Cabinets, Inc.”  A case included in the 9th edition of Stevenson, W., Operations Management (2006), Irwin-McGraw-Hill, pp. 308-309.

 

            Sower, V.  “Hi-Ho Yo-Yo, Inc. Number 4.”  A case included in the 9th edition of Stevenson, W., Operations Management (2006), Irwin-McGraw-Hill, p. 758.

 

            Warner, L., J. Sower, V. Sower, & C. Simpson.  Instructor’s Resource Manual with Transparency Masters for Educating Young Children from Preschool through Primary Grades (2005), Allyn & Bacon.        

 

            Sower, V.  "Analog Cell Phone, Inc."  A case included in the 7th and 8th editions of Heizer, J., & B. Render, Operations Management (2004; 2006), Prentice-Hall.

 

            Sower, V.  "Custom Cabinets."  A case included in the 6th edition of Heizer, J., & B. Render, Production & Operations Management (2001), Prentice-Hall.

 

            Sower, V., M. Savoie, & S. Renick.  An Introduction to Quality Management and Engineering (1999), Prentice Hall —ISBN 0-13-936841-8.

 

            Sower, V.  “The Writing and Publication Process for ‘Are Acceptance Sampling & Statistical Process Control Complementary or Incompatible?’”  An essay included in the text, Dowdey, D., B. Jones, & K. Pannell, TR5:  To Research, To Read, To Reason, To Write, To Report.  An Introduction to Research Writing (1998), Simon & Schuster, 515-516.

 

            Sower, V., J. Motwani, & M. Savoie.  Classic Readings in Operations Management (1995), Dryden Press—ISBN 0-534-51085-X.

 

Sower, V.  "Mexicana Wire Works."  A case included in the 4th edition of Heizer, J., & B. Render, Production & Operations Management (1996), Prentice-Hall, 278-280.  Also reprinted in the 6-10th editions of Render, B. & R. Stair, Quantitative Analysis for Management (1997-2008), Prentice-Hall, 335-336.  Also included in the 2nd edition of Balakrishnan, Render, & Stair, Managerial Decision Modeling with Spreadsheets (2006), Pearson Education.

           

            Sower, V.  "Westover Electrical, Inc."  A case included in the 4th  edition of Heizer, J., & B. Render, Production & Operations Management (1996), Prentice-Hall, 101-103.  (also in 5th, 6th, and 7th editions).  Also reprinted in Heizer, J., & J. Nathan, Cases in Total Quality Management (1997), South Western College Publishing. 

 

            Sower, V.  "c-Charts for Quick Multiple Choice Examination Item Analysis."  An exercise included in the 4th edition of Kvanli, A., C. Guynes, & R. Pavur, Introduction to Business Statistics (1996), West, 512-513.

           

            Sower, V.  Time Study for the Small Business.  A small business assistance manual published by Auburn University, 1979.

 

            Refereed Presentations:

 

Zelbst, P., G. Frazier, & V. Sower.  “Cluster Concentrations:  A Typology Developed and Tested from the Macro Perspective.”  Presented at the Decision Sciences Institute 2007 National Conference in Phoenix, AZ 16-18 November 2007.

 

            Zelbst, P., K. Green, & V. Sower.  “Hands on Approach with RFID in the Classroom.”  Presented at RFID:  Integrated Supply Chains Symposium at Baylor University, Waco, Texas, September 28, 2007.

 

            Kohers, G., J. Duffy, & V. Sower.  “Do Health Care Service Delivery Systems Need to be Differentiated?”  Presented at the 2006 meeting of the Decision Sciences Institute, San Antonio, TX, November 20, 2006.

 

            Sower, V.  “Experiential Exercises in Graduate Management Classes.”  Presented at the 2006 Southwest Academy of Management Conference, Oklahoma, City, OK, March 3, 2006.

 

            Wirth, S., J. Kavanaugh, & V. Sower.  “The Radial Bearing Team (A).”  Presented as an embryo case at the 2002 Conference of the North American Case Research Association, Banff, Alberta, Canada, October 3-5, 2002.

 

            Lovell, R., V. Sower, & G. Ruiz.  "The Effect of Economic and Cultural Factors on Small Business Strategies in Mexico:  A Case Study."  Presentation at the 1999 National Conference of the Academy of Business Administration, Reno, NV, April 13-18, 1999.

 

            Duffy, J., J. Gilmore, R. Lewis, V. Sower, M. Muehsam, & C. Capps.  “Scaling the Mountain: AACSB Accreditation.”  Presented as a symposium at the 1999 meeting of the Southwest Academy of Management in Houston, TX, 12 March 1999.

 

            Lovell, R., V. Sower, & G. Ruiz.  "Small Business Strategies in Mexico:  A Case Study."  Presentation at the 1998 Annual Meeting of the American Society of Business & Behavioral Sciences, Las Vegas, NV, February 23, 1998.

 

            Walker, G., V. Sower, G. Kohers, & J. Duffy.  "Electronic Technology in the Classroom."  Symposium presented at the 1996 Southern Management Association Conference, New Orleans, LA, November 7, 1996.

           

            Lovell, R., & V. Sower.  "Quality Circles in the University Classroom."  Presentation at the fifth annual meeting of The International Academy of Business Disciplines, New Orleans, LA, April 8‑11, 1993.

 

            Motwani, J., Y. Kathawala, V. Sower, & M. Savoie.  "World Class Manufacturing Practices of Midwest Manufacturing Organizations:  An Exploratory Empirical Study."  Presented at the 1992 meeting of the Decision Sciences Institute, San Francisco, CA, November 1992.

 

            Sower, V., M. Savoie, & J. Motwani.  "The Use of Simulation for Determining Optimum Levels of Buffer Inventories in a JIT Environment."  Presented at POM‑91, the second annual meeting of the Production and Operations Management Society, New York, N.Y., November 1991.

 

            Motwani, J., M. Savoie, & V. Sower.  "Robots in Manufacturing: An Integrative Perspective." Presented at POM‑91, the second annual meeting of the Production and Operations Management Society, New York, N.Y., November 1991.

           

            Motwani, J., M. Savoie, V. Sower.  "Global Manufacturing Strategies:  The Case of Maquiladora."  Presented at POM‑91, the second annual meeting of the Production and Operations Management Society, New York, N.Y., November 1991.

           

            Sower, V., J. Motwani, & M. Savoie.  "The Role of Acceptance Sampling in an SPC Environment."  Presented at POM‑90, the first annual meeting of the Production and Operations Management Society, Washington, D.C., October 1990.

           

            Motwani, J., V. Sower, & M. Savoie.  "Evaluating Quality Assurance Concepts:  An Exploratory Field Study."  Presented at POM‑90, the first annual meeting of the Production and Operations Management Society, Washington, D.C., October 1990.

 

Editor-Reviewed and Non‑Refereed Publications:

 

Sower, V.,  J. Duffy, & G. Kohers.  “Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children:  Ferrari’s Formula One Handovers and Handovers from Surgery to Intensive Care.”  ASQ Healthcare Update, July 2008.

 

Zelbst, P., V. Sower, & K. Green.  “An Experiential Approach to Develop Understanding of RFID Technology.”  SHSU Center for Business & Economic Development Working Paper No. 07-05MGT, November 2007.

 

Sower, V.  “Benchmarking in Hospitals:  When You Need More than a Scorecard.”  SHSU Center for Business & Economic Development Working Paper No. 06-15M, October 2006.

 

Motwani, J., and V. Sower.  “Guest Editorial—Benchmarking in Services.”  Benchmarking – An International Journal, vol. 13, no. 3, 2006, 229-231.

 

Sower, V., G. Kohers, & J. Duffy.  “Perceptions of Emergency Department Care by the Elderly.”  SHSU Center for Business & Economic Development Working Paper No. 06-03M, January 2006.

 

Sower, V., & F. Fair.  “There is More to Quality than Continuous Improvement:  Listening to Plato.”  SHSU Center for Business & Economic Development Working Paper No. 03-05Mg, December 2003.

 

Sower, V., J. Duffy, & G. Kohers.  “Integrating Patient Feedback into the Continuous Improvement Process in Hospitals:  A Tale of Three Hospitals.”  SHSU Center for Business & Economic Development Working Paper No. 03-04Mg, October 2003.

 

Sower, V. & R. Quarles.  “Cost of Quality:  Why More Organizations Do Not Use It Effectively.”  SHSU Center for Business & Economic Development Working Paper No. 03-02Mg, March 2003.

 

Sower, V., R. Quarles, & E. Broussard.  “Cost of Quality Usage and Its Relationship to Quality System Maturity.”  SHSU Center for Business & Economic Development Working Paper No. 02-10Mg, November 2002.

 

Sower, V., R. Quarles, & S. Cooper.  “Cost of Quality Distribution and Quality System Maturity:  An Exploratory Study.”  SHSU Center for Business & Economic Development Working Paper No. 02-01Mg, May 2002.

 

Grant, D., & V. Sower.  “Using Manufacturing Techniques to Improve Scheduling and Resource Allocation for Repetitive Projects.”  SHSU Center for Business & Economic Development Working Paper No. 01-02Mg, April 2001. 

 

Sower, V.  “Student Learning in a Web-Based Course Compared with a Traditional Classroom-Based Course:  A Quasi-Experiment.”  SHSU Center for Business and Economic Development Working Paper No. 00-02INST DEV, July 2000.

 

            Sower, V, & J. Sower.  “Important Considerations for Conducting Cross-Cultural Ethics Research:  The Case of Israel.”   SHSU Center for Business and Economic Development Working Paper No. 99-03Mg, September 1999.

           

            Spencer, J., V. Sower, & M. Muehsam.  “Ethical Orientations of Upper Level United States and Mexican Business Students in Secular and Catholic Universities.”  SHSU Center for Business and Economic Development Working Paper No. 99-01Mg, June 1999.

 

            Sower, V., J. Duffy, W. Kilbourne, G. Kohers, & P. Jones.  “The Dimensions of Service Quality for Hospitals:  Development and Use of the KQCAH Scale”  SHSU Center for Business and Economic Development Working Paper No. 98-03Mg, October 1998.

 

            Lovell, R., V. Sower, & G. Ruiz.  “Industria Electrica de Puebla S.A. de C.V.:  Small Business Strategies in Mexico:  A Case Study.” SHSU Center for Business and Economic Development Working Paper No. 98-01INST DEV, June 1998.

           

            Schrader, R. & V. Sower.  “DRP and Contract Logistics:  Alternatives for Distribution Efficiency.” SHSU Center for Business and Economic Development Working Paper No. 97-01Mg, February 1997.

           

            Sower, V.  “Coming up with a Good Idea is Often the Easiest Part of the Improvement Process.”  SHSU Across-the-University Writing Program Newsletter, Vol. 15, December 1996, 6-8.

 

            Sower, V., R. Abshire, & N. Shankman.  "A Cross-Cultural Study of the Ethical Orientations of Potential Retail Managers."  SHSU Center for Business and Economic Development Working Paper No. 96-01M, June 1996.

           

            Sower, V., & R. Lovell.  "Quality Circles in the University Classroom:  An Evolutionary Study."  SHSU Center for Business and Economic Development Working Paper No. 95-18Mg, September 1995.

           

            Sower, V., & R. Abshire.  "Effects of Advanced Manufacturing Technology Implementation on Product Value:  A Cross Sectional Survey."  SHSU Center for Business and Economic Development Working Paper No. 95-01Mg, January 1995.