Digital Commons Network^™

Advising Communication In Finance, Jordan J. Schumann

Communication Studies

Communication is an important factor in relationships. When it comes to financial advising and the advisors’ relationship with their clients, it is no different. However, the driving factor of what makes a client choose one advisor over another remains in question. As such a question builds: what does an advisor do to maintain a client and promote gaining new ones? This study examines the experiences current advisors have had in their respective careers. To examine this topic, communication theories (Social Cognitive Theory, Source Credibility Theory, and Uncertainty Reduction Theory) are called upon to inform the outcomes of advisors' experiences. The …

Social Media And Marketing As A Means Of Planning And Promoting The 2022 Camp Polyhacks Hackathon, Amy Gillham, Olivia Gerraty, Elizabeth Anderson

Communication Studies

The recruitment of attendees and promotion of Camp PolyHacks, an annual Hackathon hosted by Cal Poly, required marketing strategies which were informed by relevant communication theories applied to event marketing campaign strategies. The theories utilized included Social Marketing Theory (SMT), Uncertainty Reduction Theory (URT), Consistency Theory (CT), and elements of persuasion and visual communication. The marketing strategies used by the Camp PolyHacks 2022 Marketing and Social Media team included social media marketing in the form of Instagram posts, stories, and direct messages, and external marketing in the form of presentations, emails, booths, and posters. This paper examines the utility of …

Informing The Creation Of A Financial Literacy Tool For Cal Poly Students, Kelly Michelle Carroll

Communication Studies

This research project examines the wants, needs, and desires of Cal Poly students to inform the creation of a financial literacy tool (tentatively named “MoneySmart”) to be created by another student. The methodologies used to gauge these metrics were a literature review and questionnaire. The literature review aids in understanding research regarding the current state of student financial literacy in the United States, including student attitudes toward the topic. Subsequent findings were used to create the questionnaire, which inquired about students’ financial stress, confidence in their abilities to manage their personal finances, specific interests for the design and contents of …

"The James Gang": Keys To The Success Of Tobin James Cellars, Natalie A. Fink

Communication Studies

This study looks at what motivates people to join and sustain membership with a particular wine club in the Paso Robles area. The four flows of organizational communication were applied to discover what allows wineries to be successful in the direct-to-consumer wine market. The study will uncover the research question: Using the four flows of organizational communication, why do individuals join and sustain membership with Tobin James Cellars as part of the “James Gang” wine club? Interviews were conducted with both wine club members and employees in order to collect data to answer the research question. Strong relations amongst employees …

The 2019 Communication Studies Career Symposium, Emily Beth Bernstein

Communication Studies

The Communication Studies Career Symposium is the annual networking and professional development event for the Communication Studies Department. This year, the goal was to inspire attendees toward career paths, provide internship and job opportunities, and further their professional development.

Taco Bell "Live Bién" Campaign, Briana Rubalcava

Communication Studies

No abstract provided.

Rock The Runway Event Proposal, Jamie R. Foxen, Hayley Silva

Communication Studies

EVENT OVERVIEW

We will host a fundraiser to raise money for the non-profit Do It for the Love, by putting on a concert and fashion show. The concert and fashion show not only represent our passions, but will be an effective way to raise as much money as possible while making it an enjoyable experience for our guests. We will have 15-20 silent auction items for guests to bid on. Additionally, we hope to generate funds from the sale of Sextant wine by the glass at the event. This event will be a perfect and unique way to bring together …

Effects Of Para-Social Presence On The Consumer Decision Journey, Ayda Tahmasbi

Communication Studies

Para-social presence is investigated in this research study to determine its effects on the consumer decision journey. Attachment styles are also taken into consideration as a possible influence on establishing para-social presence. This study specifically looks at an internet personality’s social media platforms, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube, and her social media marketing efforts for the release of her new book, Almost Adulting. This study found statistically significant relationships between increasing level of para-social presence across Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube. Further, the study found that para-social presence has a positive correlation with consumers’ initial consideration, purchase decision, and post-purchase experience. Finally, …

The Effects Of Time Spent On Rapport Building: A Predictive Analysis Of A Higher Education Call Center, Alyssa L. Crary

Communication Studies

The forming of a relational connection between a caller and prospective donor in telephone fundraising is a vital step in successful engagement of charitable participation. This study aimed to fill a gap in current fundraising research by analyzing the direct connection between time spent building rapport and fundraising success. Data from a higher education call center in the Western United States was used to conduct a standard linear regression analyses. The amount of time spent building rapport was found to significantly influence payment type and amount of a philanthropic donation. A greater amount of time spent building rapport lead to …

Nike Pulls Away: An Analysis Of Nike's "The Jogger" Advertisement And Other Marketing Strategies, Michael Sean Dingilian

Communication Studies

Over the course of the last 3 decades, Nike has been the most dominant sports company in the world. Rival companies like Reebok, Adidas, and Under Armour have all failed to equal to match Nike's popularity amongst athletes and the public. This project is an analysis of how Nike has remained on top for so many years through commercials like "The Jogger" and other marketing strategies.

The Big Short, Elizabeth Armon

Communication Studies

The Big Short (McKay, 2015), adapted from the non-fiction novel The Big Short: Inside the Doomsday Machine by Michael Lewis (2010), follows three separate but parallel stories leading up to the United States housing crisis of 2008. On a macro-level, the film brilliantly depicted the creation, and the ultimate burst, of the credit and housing market bubble. However, on a micro-level the audience is given an opportunity to realize and empathize with the internal struggle that many of the main characters faced as they grappled with the fact that their financial gain from shorting the market came with the caveat …

An Experiment: Instagram Marketing Techniques And Their Effectiveness, Ashley Ha

Communication Studies

Social media marketing has become the newest form of advertising for companies. The mobile-social platform, Instagram, has become an important tool for marketing. About two-thirds of big companies are already using Instagram to their advantage. There are no set guidelines on how companies should be advertising themselves on Instagram but there are patterns. The purpose of the study is to find out which Instagram marketing technique out of the three I’ve chosen can be the most successful when trying to achieve more followers, have a wider brand recognition, and increase sales. The marketing techniques I’ve chosen are Instagram posts showing …

A Close Reading Analysis Of Bud Light's Pacman Super Bowl Commercial, Sally Hurst

Communication Studies

This paper offers a close reading analysis of Bud Light's PacMan Super Bowl commercial to uncover what rhetorical strategies are employed to appeal to the millennial generation. It discusses three main strategies: creating a "real" experience, nostalgia marketing, and emphasis on the "experience."

The Iconic Blue Box: A Semiotic Analysis Of Tiffany & Company Advertisements, Lauren Drewniany

Communication Studies

No abstract provided.

A Feminist Exploration Of Gender And Communication In The Professional Sales Workplace, Chelsea Heil

Communication Studies

For many years, the sales profession has been largely male-dominated, however recently there has been more and more women are taking on this career choice (Dawson, 1997). In order to better understand the implications of this change, I propose to conduct a critical analysis that addresses the roles of women in the sales profession. Primarily, I will engage in a feminist exploration of gender and communication in the professional workplace with regards to the sales profession.

Drenched Fitness: Marketing Toward Men, Erin Sydni Abzug

Communication Studies

No abstract provided.

Analyzing Organizational Consulting As A Professional Practice: An Exploration Of The Theoretical And Attitudinal Assumptions, Kristina Rose Cosgrave

Communication Studies

This project (with both theoretical and applied portions) serves to enrich understanding about the vicissitudes of organizational consulting while simultaneously serving as preparation for working in this field. With such a wide spectrum of approaches and disciplines among professional consulting occupations, an important objective of this project is to explore underlying theoretical principles that generally influence the field of organizational consulting. In this project, theoretical insights from many pertinent organizational communication and persuasion concepts, especially Edgar Schein’s (1969, 1988, 2009) behavioral models of organizational consultation (purchase-of-expertise, doctor-patient, and process), are offered to accompany the professional correspondences with which they correspond. …

Use Of Peripheral Route Triggers To Test Buying Habits On Social Curating Sites, Kellie K. Brown

Communication Studies

Ecommerce has become an increasingly visual activity as images of product fill websites, social media, and social curation sites. The Elaboration Likelihood Model has often been used to examine and explain online purchasing behavior; however, this previous research barely touches on the use of peripheral cues. In analyzing the effect of peripheral cues on buying habits when searching social curation sites, statistical results from a survey conducted using women aged 18 to 34 in the San Luis Obispo area showed that these cues made no difference on the activity of a user. Regardless of their awareness to the visual cues, …

Sales Process And Training Overview, Thomas Holcomb

Communication Studies

Overview of the sales process as established by the National Collegiate Sales Competition (NCSC). This paper details Cal Poly's Sales Development Program and covers the ins and outs of what makes an effective salesperson. Would be beneficial for anyone who is considering sales as a career, looking to improve their sales abilities, or just searching for a senior project idea.

Poly Projects, Mary Carolyn Ward, Neal Patrick Donahue

Communication Studies

Poly Projects is an online network of Cal Poly students who are looking to collaborate on or search for a senior project, or work with other students on independent projects. For our senior project we wanted to bring Cal Poly students together who wish to work with other majors in interdisciplinary fields. For this to be possible, Cal Poly needs to implement a place where students can communicate in order to discover ways for how they can use their skills and knowledge with other students in different majors. Poly Projects’ goal is to bring Cal Poly students together to ensure …

Intergenerational Communication In An Organizational Setting, Claire Kister

Communication Studies

No abstract provided.

Communication Concepts Through Flavor Of Slo 2012, Quinn Nicole Thompson

Communication Studies

Flavor of SLO is an annual event that is put on through the non-profit organization, United Way. It is a fine wine and food event that the community participates in to raise money for United Way. This senior project focuses on the communication concepts that were applied thoughout the event planning process that includes small group communication, persuasion, and non-profit organizations.

Hiring And Recruitment As Rhetorical Strategies: An Analysis Of The Way Businesses Approach Graduating University Students And Influence Their Choices, Sean D. Gibson

Communication Studies

To answer the question, which rhetorical strategies are most persuasive to university graduates regarding hiring and recruitment, I surveyed three classrooms with a questionnaire that gauged university graduates attraction to three different types of rhetorical strategies. The rhetoric came from three major businesses that recruit university graduates: College Works Painting, Peace Corps, and Hewlett Packard.

Each one of these businesses uses a different type of strategy to recruit university graduates. College Works Painting uses an Experience Illusion strategy based on the premise that the company will help train university graduates to become managers and leaders in business. Peace Corps’ uses …

The Dimensions Of Source Credibility And Salesperson Persuasion, Eric Jaso

Communication Studies

No abstract provided.

8th Annual Cubesat Developers' Workshop 2011, Nicole Nathan, Helena Race, Brittany Roach

Communication Studies

No abstract provided.

Personal Branding For Professional Success (Brand Development For Communication Studies Students), Breeana J. Kelly-Slatten

Communication Studies

No abstract provided.

Find Oz And Lula Fundraising Event, Natalie Do, Rebecca Leong

Communication Studies

No abstract provided.

International Career Conference 2011, Candice Ryann Powell

Communication Studies

As marketing coordinator for the International Career Conference (ICC) 2011 I describe the steps I took to advertise for the event. This event had 10 workshops, 17 companies, and over 200 attendees.

Application Of Communication Concepts And Variables To Event Coordination: Flavor Of Slo, Sarah Hedayati

Communication Studies

No abstract provided.

Strategic Communications Planning For Non-Profit Organizations: A Data-Based Application Of A Seven Step Model, Christina Hoogendam

Communication Studies

Strategic communications planning is a vital part of numerous successful and efficient organizations, yet it is often times an avoided topic of discussion in other organizations. It is common for businesses to see communication planning as a task that will only be touched upon once immediate, more important jobs are completed and attended to, yet thinking strategically provides a strong framework for businesses to thrive upon. Whether an organization has been in business for twenty years or is just beginning to erect the first office-building wall, strategic communications planning should be seen as an essential building block for success.

From …