Business Commons^™

Is Portfolio Performance Related To Whether A Manager Has An Ivy League Education?, Jonathan Janos

Business/Business Administration

No abstract provided.

Performance Attribution: Are Sector Fund Managers Superior Stock Selectors?, Nicholas Scala

Business/Business Administration

Abstract:

Do equity sector fund managers outperform diversified equity fund managers? This paper examines this question during 2000-2009 by formulating simulated portfolios of Fidelity Select Sector Funds with weights similar to the sector weightings of actual multi-sector equity fund portfolios. The returns of the simulated portfolios were then netted against the actual portfolios to determine which outperforms. The results indicate that Sector Fund managers have superior stock selection ability, with one notable exception: the small-cap value investment style. Small-cap value multi-sector equity fund managers outperformed the simulated portfolios, indicating superior stock selection ability by fund managers in that category. Although …

Do Hedged Mutual Funds Hedge?, Steven Newton

Business/Business Administration

Mutual funds using hedge fund strategies, known as “hedged mutual funds,” have experienced rapid growth in recent years. In theory, these funds should provide a source of diversification for retail investors however the 2008 credit crisis negated the expected benefits of many equity diversifiers. Between 2004 and 2009, hedged mutual funds underperform hedge funds using similar strategies. In contrast, hedged mutual funds outperform the S&P 500 although funds with a market neutral strategy underperform the risk-free rate. These findings suggest that, when compared to a long-only equity strategy, hedged mutual funds offer retail investors improved performance in bear markets.

Investigating Efficiencies Of Long And Inverse Etf Pairs, Daren Pon

Business/Business Administration

No abstract provided.

The Financial Crisis 2010: The Role Of The Shadow Banking System, John Grogan

Business/Business Administration

The financial crisis of 2008 was the result of a number of factors affecting the global economy. Although the problems originated with subprime borrowers and the fear of loan defaults, several other factors contributed to the crisis. The Federal Reserve, rating agencies and the shadow banking system played significant roles in the 2008 collapse. The shadow banking in particular affected the financial crisis in unprecedented ways that magnified the problem and created a global credit crisis. The government sponsored entities Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac made loan guarantees and involved themselves in other questionable practices that the American taxpayers have …

Towards A Deeper Understanding Of The Use And Effectiveness Of Human Resource Dashboards, Roopa Shashikant Bhopale

Business/Business Administration

The goal of this thesis is to examine the factors which influence the effectiveness of human resource (HR) dashboards and the antecedents which motivate employees to use them. To do this, I have examined research on executive information systems (EIS) and dashboards and have developed models of the factors which lead to HR dashboard use and success. Looking to this idea that a dashboard is a relative of executive information systems, EIS literature was used to provide the factors in the models of dashboard use and success. In hopes of being able to develop more used and more effective dashboards, …

Bank Liquidity Management, Brendan Van Der Vossen

Business/Business Administration

No abstract provided.

Applying Trait And Situational Leadership Approaches To Assess Theoretical Antecedents Of Managers' Work-Life Supportive Behaviors, Sue A. Epstein

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Managers' work-life supportive behaviors positively impact the usage of work-life programs, help reduce work-life conflict, and improve additional organizational and individual outcomes (e.g., job satisfaction, turnover intentions) (Foley, Linnehan, Greenhaus, & Weer, 2006). These behaviors include helping their subordinates rearrange their work schedules and encouraging subordinates' use of organizational work-life policies (e.g., flextime, job sharing, leave programs) (Mesmer-Magnus & Viswesvaran, 2006). While the benefits of such targeted leadership have been well studied, the predictors of managerial work-life supportive behaviors have received little attention. In this research, the trait and situational approaches to effective leadership are used as the basis for …

Power In The Corporate Boardroom : Development Of Board Power And Ceo Power Indexes, David Gavin

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

This study focused on the development of two new measures: one of board of director power and one of CEO power. The first goal was to develop a new measure of board power. While there have been many studies on the individual elements of board power, the empirical results have been inconsistent and mixed. The underlying position of this paper is that no single element adequately explains the relationship between board power and outcome variables such as firm financial performance. In this study, the new board power measure was composed of multiple elements and an index was created.

Organizational Ambidexterity And Synergistic Effects Of Plural Organizational Forms : A Search For Balance Between Standardization And Innovation, Jaeyoung Kang

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

This dissertation was motivated to answer the following questions: (1) Why are the plural organizational forms (company-owned units and franchised units) used in a chain, what is the effect of the plural organizational form on chain performance, and what factors influence the optimal combination of the plural organizational forms? Drawing on the organizational ambidexterity theory, I argue the plural organizational forms enable chains to maintain standardization across multiple units and facilitate innovation for the adaptation to changing environment simultaneously. Thus, the plural organizational forms can contribute to chain performance by reconciling and harnessing these conflicting demands. I suggest that there …

Supplier Partnerships : Dimensions, Antecedents, And Outcomes, Dewan Rezaul Karim

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Firm vertical relationships have received considerable attention in recent years in the relational and embeddedness approaches, yet pervasive confusion and uncertainty exist over the conception, conditions, and the benefits accrued from such linkages. The research is also known to be too diverse and scattered to provide any definitive explanations. Drawing on across the board literature reviews and extensive conversation with supply managers, I develop a conceptual model to study the concept of close ties between the manufacturers and their first-tier suppliers, identify their antecedent conditions and outcomes. I also investigate the variables that best predict the relationship formation and firm …

Bankruptcy As A Corporate Strategy : Implications For Turnover In The Top Management Team And Board Of Directors, Cynthia Lane Krom

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

This paper examines Chapter 11 bankruptcy as a corporate strategy, segregating filings for corporate reorganization in the U.S. from 1998 through 2007 into those due to financial distress (FDB) and those believed to be for risk-management purposes (RMB). Twenty-seven RMB and 199 FDB firms were compared to each other, and to 226 matched non-bankrupt firms. Altman's Z-score clearly differed between the RMB and FDB firms, suggesting that the two are separate constructs financially as well as legally. A subset of 81 firms (the 27 RMB matched to 27 non-bankrupt and 27 FDB) were studied for turnover among the members of …

How Management Level And Environmental Dynamism Are Related To Change Behavior And Unit Performance, Eric C. T. E. Larsen

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

A survey study was conducted to determine how management level and environmental dynamism affect change leadership by managers and its impact on work unit performance. An on-line survey was used to obtain data from subordinates of the managers in many different organizations. The results showed that change-oriented behavior was used more by high level managers than by low level managers, and when the environment was dynamic rather than relatively stable. Management level enhanced the effects of a manager's change behavior on unit performance, and the enhancing effect of dynamism was marginally significant. The results are consistent with theories about the …

A Quantitative And Qualitative Analysis Identifying Antecedents Of Work Ethic Beliefs And The Relationship Between Work Ethic Beliefs And In-Role And Extra-Role Work Behavior : New Work Ethic Dimensions And Scale Introduced, Melissa Janine Mann

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

This study developed a comprehensive instrument for assessing contemporary work ethic and used the instrument to investigate antecedents of the formation of work ethic beliefs. In addition, the study investigated whether work ethic beliefs correlated with in-role and extra-role job performance. The study reviewed the literature on work ethic beginning with Weber's (1904-05) construal of the Protestant Work Ethic as the underpinning of early capitalism. The review traced the evolution of the Protestant Work Ethic construct to its contemporary, secular formulations. At issue is whether the dimensions of work ethic identified by Weber 100 years ago remain relevant for understanding …