Justin Davis, Associate Professor of Strategic Management

Which classes do you teach online?

Venture Development and Strategic Management & Policy Formulation

What do you want students to learn in your classes? What is the expected outcome?

For the Venture Development course, I want students to see beyond the surface-level of viewing entrepreneurship as purely a small business startup. With Venture Development, we look at how house innovation at a personal and organizational level leads to new venture creation within companies and/or as individuals. Emphasis is placed on understanding the traits that lead to innovative thinking, identification and exploitation of opportunity, and actions taken for moving from concept to reality.

I have one major goal for the Strategic Management course: for students to leave the course thinking differently about business than the day they began the course. Strategic thinking requires students to draw on the knowledge they have gained from all of their other coursework and to then explore how each of these areas intersect at the hub of a company. At this level, we explore how decision-making is nested within the various organizational units inside a company and how to make long-term decisions for a company when considering all stakeholders and constraints.

Why did you start teaching?

I began teaching by total accident! I initially went back to school to get my Ph.D. with the goal of finishing school, starting a business and then one day using my degree to go back and teach at the collegiate level. However, I fell in love with research and teaching while pursuing my degree. After finishing, I decided to go ahead and stay in a university setting for a bit. Now, with the 2018-19 year being my 16th year of teaching at the collegiate level, I enjoy it too much to ever leave!

What's the best advice that you have ever received?

The (former) president of the university I received my bachelor's from–Dallas Baptist University—was an incredible man named Dr. Gary Cook. Dr. Cook emphasized the importance of living as a servant leader, and he demonstrated this on a daily basis. Servant leadership involves focusing one’s efforts toward the growth and well-being of others around them, above the pursuit of self. Dr. Cook's advice to live life as a servant leader was the best, and most influential advice I have ever received.

What's the best advice you could give to online students?

Don't. Get. Behind! The online setting places an extreme amount of responsibility on each individual student to be self-motivated and organized. Getting behind on the small assignments is the easiest way to get into trouble. Stay ahead!

What qualities make someone particularly successful in business?

Success in small business requires communication, trustworthiness, being genuine, networking, hard work and professionalism.

What do you think is the biggest challenge that people in business face today?

Patience. The culture of our business society has created such a dynamic atmosphere that it is difficult for many individuals to value consistent hard work, longevity and the rewards that come as a result. I often have students finishing their undergraduate degree thinking they deserve to graduate and become a manager somewhere! It always makes me think of cousin Eddie from the movie Christmas Vacation who was "holding out for a management position." Hard work will always pay off. Having the patience to wait for the payoff can be extremely tough.

What is the one book you think everyone should read?

The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg

Tell us something interesting about yourself that your students might not know about you.

One thing most people don't know about me is that I once did the running of the bulls in Pamplona, Spain.

Once was enough.