APPLYING THE DEL TECHNIQUE TO THE ANALYSIS OF CROSS-CLASSIFICATION DATA - A TEST OF CEO SUCCESSION AND TOP MANAGEMENT TEAM DEVELOPMENT

This article introduces to the organizational sciences a relatively ne w cross-classification analysis technique based on a statistic called Hilde-brand's del. Del is shown to be superior to the other means avai lable for analyzing cross-classification data for several reasons. Its most notable features are that it allows a researcher to develop and test explicit a priori predictions where other procedures do not, prov ides a strength-of-association measure, and is independent of sample s ize. The del procedure is compared to traditional approaches to analyz ing cross-classification data by testing a theory of chief executive s uccession and top management team development in technology-based new ventures.