Business Commons^™

Effects Of Terrorism On The U.S. Stock Market: Evidence From High Frequency Data, Kyla Scanlon

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

This paper investigates the effects that terrorist attacks and mass shootings had on the U.S. stock market, using high frequency intraday data to identify stock price and variability reactions in the hours after the attack. The impact that terrorist attacks had on price level variability was examined using the generalized autoregressive conditional heteroskedasticity (GARCH) model. The market reaction to domestic versus foreign attacks was examined to measure a potential for contagion across financial markets. The potential for flight-to-safety/quality and capital reallocation in response to terrorist attacks were measured using ordinary least squares (OLS) model, measuring the respective betas of small …

Clarity For Due Diligence In 401(K) Qualified Retirement Plans, Erin O'Reilly

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

My focus for this project is to educate myself and my peers on the process of analyzing a 401(k) plan, specifically the due diligence that should be performed when analyzing a retirement plan. Specific aspects of this project will involve: (1) explaining the different roles needed to administer a 401(k) plan; (2) discussing an advisor's role in a 401(k) plan; (3) analyzing fiduciary duty levels; (4) reviewing the appropriate types of investments to include in a 401(k) plan; (5) providing suggestions for financial wellness programs; and (6) discerning the appropriate level of fees for each service. I seek to provide …

The Retainer-Based Model Of Financial Planning, Savannah Stone

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

Through attending my classes and working part-time at a financial planning firm, I have learned about many different types of compensation for financial planners, the most common being commissions and fees. Western Kentucky University allowed me to travel to San Diego in January of 2017 to attend the TD Ameritrade LINC 2017 conference, and it was there that I was introduced to the concept of a monthly retainer model of compensation. This grabbed my attention because it was a relatively new and unusual form of payment for financial planning services. Through curiosity, this topic encouraged my study of the past, …

Tipping The Scales: Is Right-To-Work Legislation On The Path To Prosperity?, Jessica Canada

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

With West Virginia having just become the twenty-sixth state to pass right-to-work (RTW) legislation, the U.S. labor relations movement is at a tipping point. Other policy makers are closely watching the recent revival of RTW laws that has occurred over the last five years and are analyzing relevant studies to determine whether passing legislation that would outlaw union shops in their states might be worth a second look.

With this paper I intend to examine one of the dominant arguments against enacting RTW legislation in a state, which is that this legislation results in a greater degree of state-level income …

Just-In-Time Management In Healthcare Operations, Jinglin Li

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

Reducing costs and improving quality are two of the most important goals in managing healthcare operations. In this study, we explore how to improve healthcare operations by integrating Just-in-Time (JIT) management system. We first introduce the JIT management system, and then discuss how it can generate benefits in healthcare operations. We investigate implications for healthcare practice, which include how JIT techniques can be applied to healthcare operations, how hospitals and general practices can use JIT techniques, how JIT can help the patient throughput rate, and how technological advances can speed up healthcare processes. Implications for management and directions for future …

Financial Literacy In Retirement Planning, Jennifer Potts

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

Studying finance, I have been exposed to the retirement plan options and how they work in most of my classes. But when I would talk to my family and friends about what I was learning, I quickly discovered that many people simply had no interest or understanding about the subject. I believe everyone needs to have a basic understanding of where income will come from once they retire. This realization pushed me to study the level of financial literacy about retirement and plan options of adults in the working world and determine how I could bring information about this topic …

Walt Disney Company: The 1984 Attempted Takeover And The Recovery Plan Devised By Michael Eisner, Pamela Howell

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

Beginning with a brief history of the 1984 attempted takeover of the Walt Disney Company, this study provides a financial analysis of the then-targeted company. What follows is a discussion of Michael Eisner's management techniques for rejuvenating Disney and a financial analysis of the company in 1996 to show the progress the company has made under Eisner's leadership.

Financial Statements With Environmental Concerns: An Exploratory Study Of The Impact On The Auditor's Role And Responsibilities, Lori Burton

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

No abstract provided.

Benefits Of Using Team Choice For Windows As A Multi-Criteria Decision Making Group Decision Support System, Eddie Goggans

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

Various experiments have been conducted over the past ten years using several different types of group decision support systems (GDSSs). Many previous GDSS designs have had success in these experiments with brainstorming but have been limited in providing judgment and choice support. TeamChoice for Windows is a multi-criteria decision making GDSS that is currently under development in an effort to overcome the limitations of previous systems and to significantly advance the capabilities of GDSSs. This paper discusses some of the general aspects of GDSSs, existing limitations, and explains the developments and use of TeamChoice for Windows as a multi-criteria decision …

Corporate Charitable Contributions: Is Philanthropy An Appropriate Use Of Funds, David Sparks

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

No abstract provided.