Business Commons^™

A Comparison Of The Classification Accuracy Of Linear And Quadratic Statistical Discriminant Models Versus Linear And Quadratic Programming Discriminant Models, Jerry William Ferry

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this research was to compare the classification accuracy of two mathematical programming models versus traditional statistical discriminant analysis. Monte Carlo techniques were used to compute population 1, population 2, and average misclassification rates for the linear discriminant function (LDF), the quadratic discriminant function (QDF), a linear programming discriminant model (LPDM), and a quadratic programming discriminant model (QPDM) for specific values of several parameters which affect discriminant analysis. This study was restricted to the two group, two variable discriminant problem.

The Firm's Decision To Issue Debt Privately: Motivations And Costs, David William Blackwell

Doctoral Dissertations

This dissertation examines the issue cost of public utility debt sold publicly and privately from June 1979 to December 1983 and determines: (1) whether private and public debt have the same issue cost for firms who substitute between private placements and public sales (switch hitters), ceteris paribus; (2) whether issue cost differences between public issues and private placements by switch hitters vary with the degree of market uncertainty; (3) whether firms who do not substitute between private placements and public sales (non-switch hitters) choose to issue debt privately because the agency costs of debt can be resolved less expensively in …

Essays On Investment And Financing Decisions, George P. Tsetsekos

Doctoral Dissertations

This dissertation contains three essays in the area of Business Finance which are related to the literature of asymmetric information and agency. Our purpose is to demonstrate that the presence of asymmetric information creates possible costly effects that adversely influence the performance and profitability of the firm.

The first essay deals with the value of slack (excess liquidity) and the investment decision under asymmetric information. It is shown that when managers and shareholders hold different information sets with respect to the quality of an investment opportunity, an optimum amount of slack can partially resolve an underinvestment problem. The employed framework …

Emergency Stop Devices And The Human Factors Of Response, Robert Paul Guinter

Theses

The manual emergency stop Was recognized as an im- portant aspect of machine control very early during the history of powered mechanical systems. The purpose, of course, was to allow machinery to be quickly stepped during emergencies to minimize equipment damage and/or personal injury. Today, however, the emphasis of control is being shifted more and more toward totally automatic systems. Often, the importance of manual emergency stopping and override of these systems is lost in the zeal to perfect automatic controls. The problem that evolves is how and when to provide an efficient human-machine interface to allow a manual emergency …

A Research Study To Determine The Characteristics And Attitudes Shared By Entrepreneurs And Intrapreneurs And The Similarities And Differences Between Them, Miguel A. Vargas

Theses

The United States of America has been the mecca of many ventures for people with vision, goals and perseverance. The prosperity of our nation has been paved by individuals with great ambition, determination and insight, who have dared to take on a risk in owning a business enterprise.

This research study was conducted to determine the characteristics and attitudes of both entrepreneurs and intrapreneurs, as well as the similarities and differences between them.

For this study, a survey of entrepreneurs.was conducted through the use of questionnaires distributed to business owners located in the counties of Essex, Passaic and Hudson, in …

How To Organize A New Bank In The State Of Virginia, Andrew J. Callahan

Master's Theses

The purpos'E of comprehensive, this paper is to provide the user with a step-by-step procedures manual for the organization and opening of a state-chartered, Federal Reserve member community bank in the Commonwealth of Virginia 1 • This paper is written under the assumption that the organizers of a new bank have limited experience in the processes of organizing an effective Board of Directors, assembling a management team, selling stock in a new venture, gaining regulatory approval and opening the doors of a new commercial bank. This manual will attempt to address the strategic issues such as market analysis and financial …

Urban Economic Development And Small Business In Virginia, Muriel Johnson Murray

Master's Theses

This study explores, by a survey of available published materials, the role of city economies in the national economy, the role of entrepreneurial small business in the economy of the city in which it is located, and the means available for promotion of small business in urban economic development initiatives undertaken by government and private sector organizations. In addition to a survey of the literature, investigation included interviews with key personnel concerning efforts being made, both in the past and in the present, in the private sector and by various local, state, and federal government instrumentalities to foster the development …

Perception Of Effectiveness As A Factor In Schedule Management System Usage In Industries Involved In Department Of Defense Development Programs, Lyle Adelbert Wolcott

Dissertations

The extent to which a schedule management system is used in day-to-day program management operations may depend upon how useful the individual manager perceives the system to be. This study attempts to identify system-manager relationships that impact their usage by management personnel.

The study had two purposes. The first objective was to isolate attributes of the company schedule system and determine the significance of their relationship with manager opinion of the system. The second objective of the study was to investigate selected operational conditions that may impact the schedule management system and determine the significance of their relationship with manager …

A Justification For Implementing A Monetary Incentive Plan For All Salaried Employees, Peter N. Pastore Jr.

Master's Theses

The current organizational status of the hunan resource has undergone significant changes. Recent technological advances and increased global competition are causing a shift from labor intensive to capital intensive production in the industrialized nations, with an accompanying emphasis on product quality. Concomitantly, (1) the quality of the machinery depends on the hunan variable in the producing company; and (2) while machines can be sped up to increase the quantity produced, the calibration of that equipment, for example, is left up to the human factor. Since these technological advances are projected to continue, more and more emphasis will be placed on …

A Strategic Plan For Mis At James River Corporation Of Virginia, Kent C. Bowling

Master's Theses

The objectives of this paper are (1) to present a methodology for developing an M.I.S. strategic plan, and (2) to recommend a M.I.S. organizational structure for James River Corporation of Virginia. The paper begins by describing the five businesses of James River and then describes a process for developing a strategic plan for a M.I.S. function. The next two sections define a desired future state for M.I.S. in James River and present guidelines for implementing this future state. The fifth section defines a method of implementing the strategy across the five diverse businesses of the corporation.

Preliminary Urban Land Use Planning, Robert H. Harris Jr.

Master's Theses

The purpose of this report is to create a primer of basic real estate development principles and practices pertaining to preliminary urban land use planning. The report is directed toward the decision maker who is oftentimes not a sophisticated real estate professional. Normally, the decision maker is the owner of the property or a small developer who selects the land use based upon his limited experience.

A methodology is developed for performing a preliminary site plan analysis, and rules of thumb for development are embodied in a use compatibility analysis to aid the decision maker in seiecting the feasible alternatives …

The Assessment And Application Of Patient Satisfaction Variables In Marketing A Psychiatric Practice, Donald E. Christensen

Master's Theses

As the health care industry becomes increasingly more competitive, marketing functions will take en increasingly more importance. At the core of the marketing concept is the pursuit of customer satisfaction, or, for medical services, patient satisfaction. This study reports en the administration of a 33- item patient satisfactien questionnaire to the consumers of services in four outpatient offices of a large, group private psychiatric practice. Data are analyzed descriptively and recommendations are made for improvements of service delivery based on the findings of the survey.

An Empirical Investigation Of The Perceptions Of The Successful Woman In Management, John P. Gavin

Master's Theses

This research paper is an empirical study of the perceptual differences of male management and the female professional employee population at Philip Morris U.S.A. Operations. The female professional employee population has been further categorized into two groups, "successful" (grade 10 and above) and all other exempt females (those who have yet to attain the stated level to be considered successful).

The perceptual differences between the three groups was determined by responses to a survey administered to a statistically valid representative sample of the male management and female populations (2).

The data from the survey was examined for significant differences from …

An Evaluation Of The Examination Process Of State Chartered Credit Unions In Virginia, George H. Latham

Master's Theses

State chartered credit unions in Virginia are by Statute incorporated and regulated by the State Corporation Commission of the Commonwealth. Part of the regulatory process is a periodic examination of the books and records of each credit union to determine compliance with applicable laws and regulations as well as the safety and soundness of depositors' funds. The quality and effectiveness of this examination process has never been measured, nor has it been empirically evaluated to determine its strengths and weaknesses. This study identifies areas of the examination report which can be improved in order to make it a more useful …