| This study examined location as it influenced practice performance in veterinary hospitals. The major research issues were: (a) investigation of commonalities used by veterinarians in the location decision process, (b) determination of how veterinarians analyzed the expected influence of an array of fifteen location variables, (c) the influence of other location related variables, than the fifteen described in this study, which veterinarians determined to be an important influence on veterinary hospital performance, (d) measurement of how veterinarians analyzed expected influence of an array of fifteen location variables on the veterinary hospital performance, when these location variables were looked at together, and (e) the development of mathematical models to assist veterinarians in minimizing risk during the veterinary entrepreneurial decision process in the establishment of a new veterinary firm.;Information to answer the research issues was developed from a survey of veterinarians. Two hundred survey instruments were handed out to veterinarians attending the American Veterinary Medical Association Convention held in San Francisco in May 1994. One hundred two completed survey instruments were returned, representing a 51 percent response rate. The respondents were differentiated, based on type of speciality and years of experience. Data were coded, entered, and developed into Microsoft Excel and SPSS for Windows files for analysis. Data were entered and all tests were conducted in Microsoft Excel (.xls) and SPSS for Windows (.sav) formats.;The major findings were: (a) no commonalities were identified that veterinarians used in the location decision process, (b) there was a significant difference in how veterinarians analyzed the expected influence of the array of the fifteen location variables, (c) and, other location related variables, than the fifteen described in this study, were determined by veterinarians to be an important influence on veterinary hospital performance.;The second phase presented mathematical formulas to aid veterinarians in minimizing risk during the veterinary entrepreneurial decision process in the establishment of a new veterinary firm. |
