Digital Commons Network^™

“Make It Happen With Momentum”, Stavros Michailidis

Creativity and Change Leadership Graduate Student Master's Projects

The “Make it Happen with Momentum” workshop is a 90 minute interactive experience developed for the 11th Annual European Conference on Creativity and Innovation. It was first presented on October 29, 2009 in Brussels, Belgium by Stavros Michailidis and Donald M. Drost, Phd. The workshop was well received and selected amongst the best workshops of the conference.

The purpose of the workshop is to introduce participants to the Momentum Framework, developed by Stavros Michailidis to diagnose and nurture the successful implementation of creative works. Work to date includes a formula for momentum, a diagnostic tool for assessing momentum and basic …

Accelerated Internationalization In Born Globals: An Analysis Of Factors Influencing Their Rapid Internationalization, Leland G. Hoover

Regis University Student Publications (comprehensive collection)

Born Global (BG) firms are entrepreneurial ventures that internationalize at or near founding, overcoming the barriers that restrain most small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) from increased global trade. While research on SME barriers to internationalization is emerging, research on how BGs rapidly overcome these barriers remains under-explored. This study fills this void in the BG literature by analyzing factors influencing rapid internationalization. A survey was conducted of BGs and SMEs in the U.S. and U.K. This survey study found that BGs overcome information barriers more readily than other SMEs and a predictive factor is previous international experience. Additional research topics …

Data Mining With Multivariate Kernel Regression Using Information Complexity And The Genetic Algorithm, Dennis Jack Beal

Doctoral Dissertations

Kernel density estimation is a data smoothing technique that depends heavily on the bandwidth selection. The current literature has focused on optimal selectors for the univariate case that are primarily data driven. Plug-in and cross validation selectors have recently been extended to the general multivariate case.

This dissertation will introduce and develop new and novel techniques for data mining with multivariate kernel density regression using information complexity and the genetic algorithm as a heuristic optimizer to choose the optimal bandwidth and the best predictors in kernel regression models. Simulated and real data will be used to cross validate the optimal …

Differences In Computer Mediated Versus Face To Face Negotiation, Melissa Oates

Psychology and Child Development

Ninety Cal Poly students participated in a study to test the hypothesis that e-negotiators would be more likely than face-to-face (FTF) negotiators to employ unethical or competitive negotiation styles in a subsequent negotiation after being lied to in a previous negotiation. Sixty-four Cal Poly students were randomly assigned to partake in a computer mediated or FTF negotiation over the sale of a car. After the initial negotiation was completed, buyers in each condition were led to believe they had been lied to about the accident history of the car. Participants then completed The Incidents in Negotiation Questionnaire by Robinson, Lewicki, …

Layout And Evaluation Of Clavey Winery Facility, Ron Angold

BioResource and Agricultural Engineering

This senior project discusses the layout design and financial feasibility of constructing a wine facility for Clavey winery. The winery is initially designed to handle 2500 gallons and allows for expansion in the future. The facility features gravity flow which results in increased efficiency. A financial analysis compares having Clavey’s grapes custom crushed by an outside source or having a wine facility to make their wine themselves.

Nipomo Toys For Tots Drive Public Relations Campaign: To Gain Media Coverage For Holiday Toy Donations And The Third Annual Toys For Tots Benefit Golf Tournament, Jessa Squellati

Journalism

This research and documentation is an analysis and instructive guide for conducting a public relations campaign to promote the Nipomo Toys for Tots Drive. This campaign places emphasis on the importance of publicity to successfully gain toy donations and awareness for the Toys for Tots cause. With the recent downturn of the economy, the media will be instrumental in furthering the Toys for Tots mission and purpose to collect an estimated 3,000 toy donations for Nipomo children (newborns to 16 years of age). Although the 2008 Nipomo Toys for Tots Drive was successful without the presence of media coverage, the …

Ffa State Finals Committee Chairman Guide, Brian Fiorini

Dairy Science

No abstract provided.

Selecting, Marketing And Rebuilding A Herd Of Genetically Superior Animals, Katherine Rector

Dairy Science

No abstract provided.

Formation Of Cull Cow Program For The Artificial Insemination Class, Brian O. Medeiros

Dairy Science

Cal Poly’s “Learn by Doing” philosophy is one of the great traits that the University holds. However it is this philosophy that is also one of the most expensive and hardest to maintain. “Production agriculture majors use more dollars per unit than any other major in the entire college,” as Dr. Golden stated during his talks about herd cut backs. Never the less the College of Agriculture prides itself on supplying knowledgeable and experienced students to the industry that supports it so much. One of the amazing classes that are offered at the university is the Dairy Science Artificial Insemination …

Effectiveness Of Electronic Transfer Device On Passive Tag Readability, Michael Anthony Montero

Industrial Technology and Packaging

Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) has been around for roughly 40 years, yet the technology has not been widely implemented. Bar codes currently dominate supply chains as the main method for tracking asset, but RFID has the potential to completely remove the need for bar codes. While bar codes need to be individually scanned RFID tagging allows for instantaneous scanning of complete pallet loads. This drastically reduces the amount of time and labor needed to monitor and track assets throughout supply chains. Yet, at this time RFID tagging is unable to be adopted by the majority of manufacturers due to the …

Analysis Of The Effectiveness Of Hughson Nuts’ Marketing Strategies In India And China, Christopher Douglas Angle

Agribusiness

This analysis for this study was undertaken to determine if Hughson Nuts’ Marketing Strategies were effective in India and China. The study was also to assess Hughson Nut’s marketing mix internationally to China and India, to evaluate the marketing mix based on projection and comparisons, to assess potential improvements of the marketing mix, and to determine how Hughson Nuts sales to India and China compared to the rest of states sales. The report represents four techniques that make up the marketing mix; place, price, product, and promotion. The research involved getting data from the California Almond Board and making a …

Turning A Small Residential Farm Into A Non-Profit Educational Organization, Thomas John Anderson

Agribusiness

This study was undertaken to determine whether Felicity’s Farm could become a non-profit organization for education. In order to determine the feasibility of turning Felicity’s Farm into a non-profit organization, interviews were conducted and financial statements were collected. In addition, a Certificate of Incorporation was completed based on the interview and financial data. It was concluded that Felicity’s Farm could become a non-profit organization; however, better organization of finances, fund-raising and the use of volunteers was recommended.

Feasibility Of Establishing A Vineyard, Caitlin Adams

Agribusiness

The purpose of this project was to determine whether it would be feasible for Cal Poly to expand their vineyard from fifteen acres to eighteen acres. There are four major costs associated when establishing a vineyard: plant, vine, trellis system, and drip system. Two suppliers per major cost with the exception of labor were called to determine the best price. Once the costs were determined, they were entered into an Excel spreadsheet in the initial cost outlay of an Enterprise Budget. It has been concluded that expanding Cal Poly’s vineyard would be feasible. Both the lowest and highest bids of …

Terry Hoage Vineyard Re-Design, Sara Hamling

Art and Design

This document includes an introduction to the Terry Hoage Vineyard Re-Design project including the problem, the purpose and limitations of the study and a glossary of terms. It also includes an overview of the research found before the design process, a documentation of the design process and a summary with recommendations for students with similar projects. Images are referenced throughout the paper; these images can be found at the end of the paper.

A Pitch For Microfinance: Using An Animation To Promote An Economic Movement, Yelena Kozlova

Art and Design

Microfinance refers to the idea of providing financial services to low-income clients. The purpose of this project was to create an animation using Adobe Flash that could be published online to inform the public about microfinance and to encourage the viewers to take part in this movement.

The Malawi Project: From Conventional To Holistic Decision Making, Grace Wetmore

Animal Science

How the Cal Poly Malawi Appropriate Technologies Team, and other development groups, can use Holistic Management to aid developing countries in an effort towards a sustainable future.

Emotional Branding: Obama’S Bottom-Up Campaign, Genevieve Ann Munoz

Communication Studies

No abstract provided.

Sales Departments In The Graphic Communication Industry, Kendra Searle

Graphic Communication

The purpose of this study is to show how many different variables go into building a strong sales department and the effect it has on the overall success of a company and the graphic communication industry as a whole. This study will show what sales departments are doing to maintain their client base and reach their sales goals even in the midst of changes within the industry. It will also show the impact of the sustainability movement on sales and marketing efforts.

The study showed the most recent sales figures for two of the top companies in the print industry. …

Distribution Channels Used In Banking Sector, Arta Dana

Theses and Dissertations

After 10 years since the war ended, Kosovo is still in the beginning of its development, but is continues to be achieved in the area of financial and banking sector. At the end of the conflict, Kosovo’s financial system was in chaos and also financial intermediation in Kosovo was nonexistent and virtually all transactions were settled in cash. Although this is still largely the case, banking activity started in earnest in late 2001 and was spurred by the replacement of the deutsche mark by Euros in 2002.

As an emerging market, Kosovo does hold a number of advantages. Kosovo’s greatest …

Methods For Retaining And Monetizing Local Audiences Of An Online-Only News Organization, Lauren Rabaino

Journalism

Newspapers are at a crossroads in their existence. Traditionally, the printed giants were able to hold monopolies in their respective municipalities because the barrier to entry for printing was high and the operating costs were expensive. A study published in 1978 – a decade before the Internet came to fruition – reported that local newspaper monopolies existed in more than 97 percent of U.S. cities . But with the Web, that dynamic has vastly shifted. Widely accessible and affordable Web platforms eliminate both the barrier to entry and operating costs required to publish to a mass audience. As a result, …

The Impact Of Entrepreneurs’ Personal Wealth Allocations In Determining Their Firms’ Capital Structures, Tianning Li

Doctoral Dissertations

We study the effect of entrepreneurs’ wealth allocations on their firm level capital structure by using a sample of small privately owned firms from the 2003 Surveys of Small Business Finance. We find that financial leverage decreases as entrepreneurs allocate more wealth on their firm investments. We also find that wealth allocation only affects capital structure in limited liability firms. Lastly, we show that the effect of wealth allocation on capital structure does not disappear after adjusting for collateral and personal guarantees.

Will Retail Travel Agencies In Singapore Survive: Comparison Between Retail Travel Agencies And Online Reservation Services, Yan Xin Low

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Over the last two decades, the tourism industry has grown rapidly. But its evolution has been influenced by various factors such as culture and environmental changes including economic status and competition. Some of these factors, culture for instance, act as constants, providing some form of predictability to the evolution of the tourism industry within a specific society. While other factors, such as economic status and competition, act as variables that drive the industry to reach its potential. Hofstede defined “culture” as a collective programming of the human mind that distinguishes the members of one group or category of people from …

Bridging The Operational Divide: An Information-Processing Model Of Internal Supply Chain Integration, Ana Rosado Feger

All Dissertations

Supply Chain Management, the coordination of upstream and downstream flows of product, services, finances, and information from a source to a customer, has risen in prominence over the past fifteen years. The delivery of a product to the consumer is a complex process requiring action from several independent entities. An individual firm consists of multiple functional departments, each responsible for one aspect of customer service. In the traditional corporate structure of functional silos, there is little communication between Purchasing, Manufacturing, and Logistics, and yet these departments comprise three core supply chain processes of a firm. Ironically, managers report that it …

Interrupting The Workplace: Examining Stressors In An Information Technology Context, Pamela Galluch

All Dissertations

This dissertation focuses on the negative and positive outcomes of information and communication technology (ICT) in facilitating and reducing stress. The goals of this dissertation are twofold: 1) to deepen our understanding of how ICT-enabled interruptions influence individuals' episodic stress and 2) to examine whether ICTs may also be used to diminish stress evoked by ICT-enabled interruptions. Originating from psychology, the demands control model (Karasek, 1979) is used as an overarching theoretical lens to explain this technology-based duality, where technology serves as both a problem causing and a solution alleviating stress. The demands control model suggests that stressors have their …

Communication Within The Packaging Industry, Lauren K. Soares

Graphic Communication

The purpose of this study was to show the potential that strategic packaging communication could have on attracting a larger client base. Through revealing current packaging innovations and the psychology behind it, a business should be well informed on how to appeal to the maximum amount of customers.

The study consisted of elite and specialized interviewing of industry experts in order to get an inside look at packaging and how companies are using it to communicate to their target markets. The next step was to survey this targeted customer base and discover the psychology behind their purchases and what is …

Interactive Print - The Application Of Synergy To Restore And Enhance The Value Of Print, Amy Mcgiven, Jeanne Ngo

Graphic Communication

With the emergence and increasing role of technology in today’s society, many questions are raised about what is the future of print. This study set out to research the term “interactive print,” which, for the purposes of this study, includes Personalized Uniform Resource Locator (PURL), GossRSVP, Radio Frequency Identification (RFID), and other sources of technology that refer an end consumer to online sources via print.

This report was written in order to research the current trends and knowledge in the industry as it relates to interactive print technologies, as well as to foresee the role of interactive print in the …

New Color Management Technologies, Ashley Gerson

Graphic Communication

The purpose of this study was to inform people about new color management technologies. These people are consumers and creators within any industry; even though this paper focuses on graphic designers in the graphic communication industry. These technologies will allow consumers to break out of the color management shell. Now, there is no need to rely completely on color management specialists.

This study investigated the advantages of one particular device: the ColorMunki. In order to do this, the ColorMunki was given to graphic designers in San Luis Obispo, California. They were asked to use the ColorMunki for a week and …

Aaa Five Diamond Designation: Is It Worthwhile To Convert?, Jayme Elizabeth Deck Weight

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

There is very little literature that analyzes the benefits of travel industry ratings and the benefits of achieving a top designation. The purpose of this paper is to determine if it is beneficial to become a AAA Five Diamond property, specifically in Las Vegas, in relation to the cost associated with meeting the standards of the designation. The paper examines all aspects of the conversion to these Five Diamond standards including staffing, training, physical property, financial output, profit, ADR, employee attitude, customer attitude, and overall perception. It also looks at the time involved with the conversion from Four Diamond to …

Post-Katrina New Orleans: The Challenges, Milestones And Progress Of Small Business Owners And Entrepreneurs, Iona Lee

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

The US Small Business Association reports that 99.9% of all US business can be classified as small. Having less than 500 employees small businesses provide work for just over half of all US private sector workers (2009). Additionally, less than 2% of those businesses have between 100-499 employees (Headd & Kirchhoff, 2009), leaving approximately 97% of all US businesses employing 99 or fewer employees. Given this statistic, it would stand to reason that small businesses have a higher success rate than large ones; however, developing and opening a small business does not occur without risk. The SBA reports that only …

Bone Rattlers Bar & Grill Business Plan, Lovedy Ann Zie Carroll

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Independent restaurants are important in communities. Not only can restaurants provide the basic need of an enjoyable meal but restaurants also serve as gathering places for social and recreational purposes. People can celebrate special occasions, spend time with family or friends, and/or enjoy the atmosphere at restaurants. A restaurateur must have a solid business plan and understanding of what it means to run a restaurant business in both strong and weak economies. Lack of job security has many Americans leaving the corporate world to start their own businesses and make their own future (Cohn, 2009). According to the U.S. Small …