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Text And Image Frames Affect Message's Sharing And Acceptance Of Social Media Users, Xin Sa

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No abstract provided.

Building International Business Competencies, Human Capital, And Service Capabilities: A Study Of Emerging Market Professional Service Small-And-Medium-Sized Enterprises, Nicholas Mathew

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Prior research has shown that a firm’s intangible resources are an important source of sustainable competitive advantage. This dissertation focuses on the intangible resources of Professional Service Firms that are Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (PSF SMEs) from an emerging market (namely India). PSF SMEs from emerging markets (such as India) are expanding globally and are attempting to compete with developed country market firms. This research study examines the factors that allow these PSF SMEs to compete successfully in the global marketplace. Examining these factors will enable developed country market firms as well as other emerging market firms to better understand …

Factors Influencing The Ethical Decisions Of Small Business Owners And Managers In Emerging Markets: The Case Of India, La Toya M. Russell

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For decades, research has shown the importance of ethics in the business environment. With the increased internationalization of corporations, the need for a focus on international business ethics has also increased. To date, research has predominantly focused on business ethics in large firms and the factors that affect the ethical decision-making processes of the managers and executives in these firms. What appears to be limited in literature is ethics and ethical decision-making as it relates to small businesses. With the economic importance of small businesses, this area of research needs to be explored especially from a cross-cultural basis. This dissertation …

Factors Influencing Efficacy Of Celebrity Endorsement In Saudi Arabia, Ibrahim Qabur

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The study investigates factors that influence the efficacy of celebrity endorsement on social media in Saudi Arabia. The study builds upon the findings of research done primarily in East Asia and in the U.S. This research studied how celebrity endorsement via social media influences celebrity followers on brand recognition, purchase decision, support a cause, and overall, celebrity influence. This study’s 911 respondents were selected through the snowball method of sampling. Data was conducted using online survey with Saudi nationals, both in Saudi Arabia and in the United States, on their attitudes towards the credibility of celebrities and their influence. This …

International New Venture Performance: Role Of International Entrepreneurial Culture, Marketing And Positional Advantage, Dominic Buccieri

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Over the past two decades, the growth of international new ventures has stimulated a great deal of interest among international entrepreneurship scholars to understand how these entrepreneurial start-ups internationalize given their resource deficiencies. However, the literature exhibits considerable gaps related to how international new ventures, can overcome their asset-constrained positions to enhance performance. Employing the concept of international entrepreneurship culture, which provides a holistic operationalization of international entrepreneurship, this dissertation develops and tests a conceptual framework to better understand how international new ventures' entrepreneurial culture and entrepreneurial marketing actions of opportunity-based discovery and –exploitation impact their performance in global markets. …

The Impact Of Individual Learning On Electronic Health Record Routinization: An Empirical Study, Michele Lynn Heath

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Since the passage of the HITECH Act, adoption of electronic health records (EHR) has increased significantly EHR refers to an electronic version of a patient’s medical history. The adoption of EHR has potential to reduce medical errors, duplication of testing, and delays in treatment. However, current literature indicates that implementation of EHR is not resulting in the automatic routinization of EHR. Routinization refers to the notion that truly successful technological innovations are no longer perceived as being new or out-of-the-ordinary. The complexity of EHRs allow individual users to use these systems at different levels of sophistication. Research shows that healthcare …

Three Essays On The Effects Of The Exchange Act Rule 12h-6 On Cross-Listings Of Foreign Firms In The U.S. Market, Pratanphorn Piriyakul-Frye

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The 2007 Exchange Act Rule 12h-6 relaxes the deregistration requirements for the U.S.-listed foreign firms to leave the U.S. market, opening an opportunity to examine the benefit and costs of listing in the U.S market for foreign firms. Using a sample of all U.S.-exchange cross-listing events during 1998-2012, the results document that the U.S. exchanges are more likely to attract a larger pool of foreign listing activities in the post-Rule 12h-6 period. This increased attractiveness of the U.S market, however, is worrisome as the post-Rule 12h-6 listings appear to be more pronounced among firms from countries with weaker investor protection. …

The Role Of Place Image In Business Location Decisions, Candice Marie Clouse

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The location where businesses choose to locate or re-locate their businesses, also known as site selection, is an important policy matter for economic development practitioners and academics since significant amount of resources are spent in this area. As places spend a great deal of public dollars marketing their city, region, and state to potential investors and businesses, private sector dollars from business invest a significant amount on land, labor, and capital to get these new facilities and sites up and running. To date, most of the literature as it relates to place image and business site selection decisions examine traditional …

The Influence Of National Stereotypes On Country Image And Product Country Image: A Social Identity And Consumer Culture Theory Approach, Terence Motsi

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Multinational companies often make use of country stereotypes in their marketing efforts. Volkswagen used the tagline “That’s the power of German engineering” to utilize the positive stereotype of German efficiency as well as its positive country image. Academic research has recognized the importance of the country of origin cue (COO) in consumer decision making but research addressing the use national stereotypes as an antecedent to COO evaluation is relatively sparse.

The stereotype content model (SCM) contends that national stereotypes describe traits associated with a group of people through the dimensions of competence and warmth. Existing research on the antecedents of …

How Can Business Analytics Induce Creativity: The Performance Effects Of User Interaction With Business Analytics, Tarek Soukieh

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Most organizations today use business analytics systems mainly for efficiency; reducing cost by contacting the right customer, generating revenue by reducing churn, etc. Nevertheless, business analytics holds promise in generating insights and in making users more creative in their decision making process.

Analytics technology is becoming sophisticated with very advanced technical capabilities. However, behavioral aspects (i.e. user interaction) of using business analytics software have not reached the same level of sophistication. Very little research in this field discusses how to implement analytical systems and what outcomes will it produce.

We are looking at conditions that can enhance user interaction with …

Decision Models In Supply Chain Management: A Social Responsibility Perspective, Swathi Reddy Baddam

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Recent events in emerging countries concerning supplier unethical practices and the resulting fatalities have stressed the need for social responsibility in supply chains. Rising consumer awareness regarding such events and their negative impact pose a challenge in supply management decisions for firms. This research integrates the risk of supplier irresponsibility and the impact of such events from the consumer perspective in developing supply management decision models for maximizing economic performance of firms. Two important issues in supply management: supplier selection and supplier development are addressed through stylized modeling approach.First, a supplier selection decision model is analyzed that will aid a …

The Role Of Cognitive Effort In Decision Performance Using Data Representations :;A Cognitive Fit Perspective, Dinko Bacic

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A major goal of Decision Support (DSS) and Business Intelligence (BI) systems is to aid decision makers in their decision performance by reducing effort. One critical part of those systems is their data representation component of visually intensive applications such as dashboards and data visualization. The existing research led to a number of theoretical approaches that explain decision performance through data representation's impact on users' cognitive effort, with Cognitive Fit Theory (CFT) being the most influential theoretical lens. However, available CFT-based literature findings are inconclusive and there is a lack of research that actually attempts to measure cognitive effort, the …

Examining The Impact Of Disruption, Supplier Quality And Knowledge Transfer: Recommended Strategies For Meeting Demand And Supplier Development, Rebecca E. Clemons

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I investigate the effect of supply-chain disruption on a firm's decisions on investment in quality, and on ordering decisions, when there is a choice between suppliers, and a variable rate of knowledge transfer. I find that supply-chain disruption has a negative effect on profit, which can be mitigated by appropriate policies for order allocation and supplier development. When the probability of disruption is high, the firm should seek alternative sources of supply (even if they have lower levels of quality). Under certain conditions, the firm can improve its profit by investing in quality improvement efforts at the alternative supplier. I …

An Empirical Examination Of Relational Governance And Service Capabilities On The Success Of Professional Service Firms Offshore Outscoring The Client Perspective, Renee M. Castrigano

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Professional services, such as accounting, finance, engineering and management consulting, are significant contributors to the U.S. economy accounting for the largest value added industry within the private sector. Knowledge-intensive professional services reached this level of economic prominence by responding to heightened competition, managing rising costs, utilizing key resources, and re-directing their focus to internal core competencies through the strategic decision to engage in offshore outsourcing relationships. By 2015, the Congressional Research Study report predicts 3.4 million, or 13.7 of professional service jobs will be offshore outsourced. Offshore outsourcing is a firm level strategic decision to relocate business activities to an …

The Impact Of User Involvement On Information System Projects, Bradford Reese Eichhorn

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Information systems (IS) development has been studied from many perspectives. Information systems are being viewed as a service as the economy shifts from being industrial-based to service-based. This shift is motivating the business user to become more involved with the development of the system. The once clear roles of user-as-specifier and IT professional-as-developer are blurring. This research addresses three objectives. First, we survey the actual business users themselves for their perception of activities and satisfaction with the completed system. Second, we analyze the separation of business requirements into two constructs representing the functional and presentation dimensions of these requirements to …

An Inquiry Into The Antecedents Of Consumer Purchase Of Non-Deceptive Counterfeit Goods: Theory, Practice And Problems, Heather L. Kirkwood-Mazik

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With counterfeit good consumption growing at alarming rates each year, this topic is increasingly demanding attention of marketing academics. This dissertation examines two sets of factors that influence consumer attitude toward counterfeits: sociocultural influences and psychological influences. Based on a review of the literature, two constructs, namely information susceptibility and normative susceptibility are combined to form a group of sociocultural influences expected to influence consumer attitude toward counterfeits. In addition, five constructs are combined to represent psychological influences, namely value consciousness, self-identity, integrity, materialism and perceived risk. Data was collected through a web-based survey and features a cross-sectional design. Utilizing …

Order Acceptance To Increase Shop-Floor Profitability, Salil Menon

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Managers of manufacturing and service facilities often face situations where incoming demand exceeds available capacity. In such situations a firm can accept, reject or renegotiate the order in order to match the demand and supply. Order acceptance research studies this decision, both at the firm and supply chain level, in order to help the firm select orders that meet their business objectives. Prior research has focused on developing order acceptance models for diverse business situations. This thesis builds upon prior research by incorporating rejection techniques in the development of order acceptance models. A tunable two-step order acceptance model consisting of …

Three Essays On Pricing And Volume Distributions Of Cross-Listed Stocks, Jing Wang

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This dissertation provides empirical evidences in global cross-listed stocks trading volume and pricing. The first essay documents the global trading volume distribution of cross-listed stocks and examines factors that make a host market competitive in attracting order flows from the counterpart domestic market. The results show that host markets are more successful in attracting trading volume when they have a higher information factor, have lower bid-ask spreads, provide better investor protection and information disclosure, share the common language or legal origin with the counterpart home markets and locate closer to the home market. The second essay investigates the market competitiveness …

Exploring The Influence Of Collaborative Capabilities On Focal Firm Product Outcomes ;The Mediating Role Of Supplier Capabilities, Kenneth D. Hall

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As markets become more turbulent, dynamic, and competitive, and as customers become more sophisticated and demanding, the scope of capabilities and resources needed to meet customer needs, wants, and desires are less likely to be found in any one firm. Instead, firms must develop strong collaborative capabilities. Though the benefits of interfirm collaboration for focal firms (the firms responsible for the final offering) and suppliers are reasonably well understood, effectiveness and efficiency in collaboration remain elusive for many firms. It is likely that the collaborative capabilities of both focal firms and key suppliers contribute to effective collaboration, and that the …

Investigations Into The Robustness Of Sustainable Real Estate Premiums And Commercial Real Estate Econometrics, Spenser J. Robinson

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This dissertation consists of three papers, all using CoStar Group, Inc. Commercial Real Estate (CRE) data. The rst two papers explore Sustainable Real Estate (Energy STAR and LEED building) rental premiums. The third paper develops and tests a new method for the empirical testing of CRE. Paper number one, Managing Well by Managing Good, is the rst paper to argue against the existence of sustainable real estate premiums. It demonstrates that some of the Sustainable Real Estate rent premiums previously shown in the literature are neither theoretically nor empirically supported. In addition to presenting theoretical arguments against the premiums, the …

Towards A Theory Of Services Supply Chain Management, John D. Smith

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Much research has been performed to develop the supply chain management construct for manufacturing goods producing firms. However, the service sector continues to grow its dominance in the percentage of GDP in high, middle and low income countries, and with it, a corresponding growth in the percentage of purchasing spend across the globe. While research continues in the manufacturing supply chain arena, much work is yet to be done to understand the differences for services. The objectives of this research project were threefold: 1) to analyze the services supply chain management construct in order to determine how it differs from …

The Impact Of Regulation And Governance On The Risk Profile Of Banks, Giovanna M. Carrillo

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The impact of regulation and corporate governance on banks' risk profiles has gained greater importance with the passage of new legislations starting late 1990s and the recent global turmoil in the financial services industry. The extant literature indicates that the effects of corporate governance mechanisms differ between financial and non-financial firms. Yet, the effects on risk-taking have been less conclusive for financial firms primarily because of changing regulations impacting incentives and risk-taking patterns of banks. While the objective of regulation in the banking industry is to preserve the stability of the financial sector and the economic system, corporate governance mechanisms …

Governance Methods Used In Externalizing Information Technology, Steven King-Lun Chan

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Information technology (IT) is the largest capital expenditure in many firms and is an integral part of many organizations' strategies. However, the benefits that each company receives from its IT investments vary. One study by Weill (2004) found that the top performer in the sample was estimated to have as high as a 40 greater return on its IT investment than its competitors. To expedite the progress toward getting better value from IT investments, along with the need to deal with the increasing complexity and expense of IT, a growing number of companies are turning to outside service providers to …

Delight, Satisfaction, And Behavioral Intentions In A Hospital Setting;The Role Of Environmental And Interpersonal Services, Gary J. Robinson

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This study is one of few on customer satisfaction, delight, and behavioral intentions and the first in a hospital setting. Data, collected through phone interviews with 250 patients discharged from a hospital, support that: (1) patient delight and satisfaction have positive influences on behavioral intentions (2) environmental and interpersonal service quality have positive influences on patient satisfaction and patient delight however, (3) patient satisfaction mediates the relationship between environmental and interpersonal service quality and patient delight

Three Essays On Financing And Investment Decisions In Small U.S. Firms, F. Blaise Roncagli

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This dissertation consists of three essays related to the financing and investment decisions of small U.S. firms. Each of the essays presents interesting and original empirical research questions, with hypotheses well-grounded in finance and economic theories. The empirical methodology, data and models that are used to test the hypotheses are presented for each essay. The three empirical questions addressed are (1) Why don't small firms take every trade credit discount offered to them? (2) What determines the cash holdings of small firms? and (3) Why do small firms make investments unrelated to their core business? This dissertation answers these questions …

Decision-Making Uncertainty, Need For Cognitive Closure, And Supply Chain Performance, Yeonyeob Lee

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Most firms must acquire materials or services from their suppliers. They use these materials or services, add value to them, and sell them to others. Supply disruptions, commonly known as the bullwhip effect, have been a major challenge facing supply chain firms. Although previous research of operational or structural causes of supply disruptions or supply disruption risk created by situational factors and buyer perceptions and associated impacts on supply chain performance has been conducted, it has not linked the relationship of decision-making uncertainty and need for cognitive closure (NFCC) with impacts on SCP. This study identifies and enhances the current …

Effectiveness And Efficiency Of Knowledge Transfer In Supplier Development: Key Antecedents And Buyer-Supplier Outcomes, Chanda M. Sichinsambwe

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There is strong evidence that U.S. organizations are increasingly implementing supplier development programs to help their suppliers improve quality, enhance delivery performance, reduce costs, and in turn improve their own supply chain performance. However, many of these supplier development programs are not successful. This study argues that an understanding of the knowledge transfer process should play a central role in understanding improvements in buyer-supplier performance resulting from supplier development activities. Building on the extant supplier development literature and relevant knowledge transfer literature, this study investigates key antecedents and performance outcomes of knowledge transfer in a supplier development context. Specifically, the …

Application Of Multiple Intelligence Theory To An E-Learning Technology Acceptance Model, Alfred J. Degennaro

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With the speed of doing business on the rise, employees must learn to adapt to new technologies and improved performance expectations without losing productivity or time on task. Students looking to enter the workforce must understand that education does not end with graduation rather the expectation is that everyone will be life long learners. To meet the challenge, education providers are looking for alternative ways to bring education to the student and enhance the learning experience. With e-learning, students enjoy flexible scheduling, businesses can realize improvements in workforce skills while reducing education expenditures (i.e. improved Return On Investment, ROI) and …

Information Disclosure And Banking Sector Performance And Stability, Perihan Iren

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Over the last decade, financial and capital markets have grown very rapidly and the markets have become more complex as a result of increased used of derivative securities. The recent subprime crisis has intensified the debate regarding the need for greater transparency. The purpose of this study is to contribute to this debate by examining the relationship between the quantity and quality of information disclosure regarding a bank's securitization and credit derivative activities and the subsequent impact on bank performance and stability. The results show a significant relationship between the quality/quantity of disclosure and bank performance/stability. When information on securitization …

Business Intelligence And Learning, Drivers Of Quality And Competitive Performance, Joseph M. Woodside

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Purpose: As healthcare organizations expand the scope of their operations with an eye towards cost reductions, quality improvements, sustainability, increased stakeholder satisfaction and increased performance, they are increasingly investing significant resources into information systems in general and Business Intelligence Systems (BIS) in particular to provide the necessary operational and decision support information. This paper seeks to model the relationships between BIS, learning, quality organization and competitive performance, as well as measure the influence BIS has on end-user perceptions of quality and competitive performance from a learning point of view. Methods: Qualitative and quantitative methods including survey, interview, and case study …