Business Commons^™

Sarbanes Oxley Act Of 2002: Will It Be Effective In Preventing Another Enron Scandal?, Scott W. Eichar

Senior Honors Theses

The Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (SOX) was introduced to Congress as a result of the deceit and fraud taking place at Enron in December of 2001. The three factors that led to the scandal were Enron’s weak internal control, misleading off-balance sheet entities, and conflicting interests between Enron’s employees and their chief auditor, Arthur Andersen. The provisions of SOX were established, in part, to strengthen internal control, require proper disclosure for special purpose entities, and eliminate conflicts of interests between a firm and its auditors. The purpose of this paper is to measure the effectiveness of these implementations to prevent …

Rebuilding The Foundation: Reestablishing Ethics In The Accounting Professsion, Chad P. Laughlin

Senior Honors Theses

Today’s business world has become increasingly diverse in its view of ethics. This lack of objective decision-making has been made clear through the scandals and questionable accounting methods in recent years. In light of these instances, the accounting profession has taken steps to regain and ensure the public’s trust, which the profession relies on. In the absence of ethical practices, the profession loses its trustworthiness and reliability. This paper will discuss the key role of ethics in accounting and the efforts that have been made in the past and are being made currently to ensure that this vital component is …

A Strategic Analysis Of Foot Locker, Inc., Richard A. Sweeney

Senior Honors Theses

During the past couple of years, Foot Locker, Inc. has underperformed the public’s expectations. This has been evidenced by the rapid slide of its share price. The current economical situation has further weighted down on the company’s ability to provide shareholder value. This paper will describe the problems associated with Foot Locker, Inc.’s underperformance in the marketplace. These problems must be remedied if the company is to earn an attractive rate of return for its investors. Using secondary research, these problem areas will be identified by analyzing the current internal and external situation surrounding Foot Locker, Inc., determining the intensity …

The Greatest Commandment: The Foundation For Biblical Servant Leadership, David Duby

Faculty Publications and Presentations

No abstract provided.

Global Marketing Strategies And Implications For Us Based Firms, Rebecca Larson

Faculty Publications and Presentations

Global market strategies are essential for global market success. Much research has been done that denotes a direct correlation between profitability success and global market strategy success. There are several types of global market strategies by definition, but the conclusion of this author is that three possibilities surface: standardization, a form of adaptive or customized strategy, and the relatively new Global Market Strategy, or GMS. With the resulting review of each strategy, the US firm entry into the global marketing environment is reviewed.

Martha Stewart And Insider Trading, Kevin L. Rawls

Faculty Publications and Presentations

No abstract provided.

The Rise Of Viral Marketing Through The New Media Of Social Media, Rebecca J. Larson

Faculty Publications and Presentations

This paper fully addresses the rationale of the need for corporate presence in social media, the value that can be derived from a well-developed viral marketing campaign, strategies for entry into this developing new media segment, and an analysis of why entry into social media is crucial for corporate success and brand management. There are marked advantages to the embracing of new formats for consumer interaction: “brands increase consumer loyalty by involving their customers in their decision-making processes, and the research provides substantial profiling intelligence as a basis for sales and marketing decisions” (Online communities, 2009, p. 13). Social media …

The Future Of Customer Relationship Management, Rebecca Larson

Faculty Publications and Presentations

Customer Relationship Management is no longer considered a business trend, but an industry standard that is required to secure and maintain competitive advantage. CRM, when correctly and effectively utilized, results in increased profitability and greater customer loyalty, two key needs for any organization. This paper will address the future of CRM, and will support assumptions for future CRM value based on effective examples of modern day success. The internet can be effectively utilized for CRM, and one company that is an example of customer loyalty success is Harrah’s Casino. Furthermore, multi-channel approaches are essential for future CRM success, as shown …

Office Depot Environmental Steward Case Analysis, Rebecca Larson

Faculty Publications and Presentations

This paper will address the case study focused on the environmental stewardship viewpoint and the guiding principles of paper procurement at Office Depot. An analysis of the case will be presented, additional topics addressed, and conclusion with recommendations provided.

Marketing Strategy And Alliances Analysis Of Starbucks Corporation, Rebecca Lingley

Faculty Publications and Presentations

The Starbucks Corporation significantly utilizes alliances to expand market reach, improve product image, and develop greater company profitability. Starbucks, due to their market position and attributes, applies a Differentiation Focus strategy as defined by Porter’s Generic Market Theory. A review of Starbucks Corporation’s marketing strategies and alliance strategies proves that the company is being highly successful within this market scope.

The Viability Of The Fair Tax, Jonathan M. Clark

Senior Honors Theses

This thesis begins by investigating the current system of federal taxation in the United States and examining the flaws within the system. It will then deal with a proposal put forth to reform the current tax system, namely the Fair Tax. The Fair Tax will be examined in great depth and all aspects of it will be explained. The objective of this paper is to determine if the Fair Tax is a viable solution for fundamental tax reform in America. Both advantages and disadvantages of the Fair Tax will objectively be pointed out and an educated opinion will be given …

Volume 6, Liberty University

Liberty Business Review

No abstract provided.

Economic Value Added, Michael D. Houle

Senior Honors Theses

Economic Value Added (EVA), when applied properly in a company, impacts all departments and decisions. The equation for EVA as well as the adjustments that must be made to current accounting practices is the basis for an understanding of EVA. The success of EVA is displayed as companies that have implemented EVA to varying degrees are compared with companies that have not implemented EVA. Once the argument for the overall superiority of EVA is made, traditional performance measures and current accounting practices are evaluated. Then, the importance of creating value within corporations becomes apparent. Finally, a detailed example of the …

An Analysis Of Economic Value Added, Mike Rago

Senior Honors Theses

The purpose of this paper is to provide an overview and analysis of the Economic Value Added metric. Several large, well known companies have begun to use EVA in recent years as an internal measure of performance, and one may speculate that its popularity will only continue. This paper shows what the EVA metric is and highlights some advantages and disadvantages from its proponents and critics.

An Analysis Of The Obstacles Of Culture, Government, And Lack Of Support For International Accounting Standards, Bethany Theodore

Senior Honors Theses

With the prevalence of international markets comes the need for universal accounting standards. The International Accounting Standards Board has created a set of these standards, but unfortunately some skeptics have found that the obstacles of culture, government, and lack of support would make these standards impossible to implement. Since the globalization of international standards is inevitable, there must be a way to get past the present obstacles. Through an analysis of the countries of China, India, and Australia, it has been found that it is possible to have the same accounting standards among diverse countries. International accounting standards will become …

Volume 5, Liberty University

Liberty Business Review

No abstract provided.

Adult Retraining Programs And Reemployment For Dislocated Workers, Tony J. Perry

Faculty Dissertations

A variety of government sponsored programs provide retraining and income assistance to dislocated workers, yet it is unclear whether these initiatives are effective in providing workers the essential skills needed for new careers. Using Mezirow’s transformational learning theory, this study was designed to evaluate programs in selected counties in the states of Virginia and North Carolina. Using self-administered surveys, data were gathered from college instructors, dislocated workers, and local business owners. Data were analyzed with descriptive statistics and related to each research question. Results showed that instructors were effectively using adult training methods, the majority of students perceived their retraining …

Volume 4, Liberty University

Liberty Business Review

No abstract provided.

A Descriptive Study Of The Marketing Mix Strategies Utilized By North American Christian Schools, David D. Horner

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Educators often misunderstand marketing. Frequently it is viewed as simply advertising or selling. Marketing is far more encompassing. A closer look at the components of marketing reveals an involvement in virtually all aspects of private school operations. Other than miracles or providential guidance, a solid business plan, based on the “marketing mix,” might contribute most to the overall growth and customer satisfaction within a Christian school. This dissertation is a qualitative study designed to research the marketing mix strategies of private, Christian schools throughout America and Canada. This research effort was designed to collect both descriptive and historical data. A …

An Analysis Of The Sports Equipment Industry And One Of Its Leading Companies, Head, N.V., Priit Pihl

Senior Honors Theses

Sports equipment manufacturing is an estimated $13.5 billion industry that is continually growing worldwide. Head, N.V. (N.V. stands for Naamloze Vennootschap which is the Dutch terminology for a public limited liability corporation) is one of the leading manufacturers and marketers in the sports equipment industry focused on developing and producing innovative, high quality and technologically advanced Alpine skiing and snowboarding equipment, racquet sports equipment and diving equipment. The following thesis will provide an analysis of the sports equipment industry, including a competition analysis, and a discussion of the driving economic forces and key success factors in the industry. This is …

Volume 3, Liberty University

Liberty Business Review

No abstract provided.

Teenage Consumerism: The Rationale And Results Of Media Marketing, Kristi Wollbrink

Senior Honors Theses

Media marketing is growing in proportion with the advance of many forms of technology and the increase of advertising. Magazines, television, the internet and other media sources have become strong sources of information in a teenager's life. Finding it profitable, companies effectively target adolescents because of four common characteristics: their mass consumption of media, their spending habits, their trendsetting ability, and the vulnerability associated with youth. The effects that marketing institutes during adolescence include an increase in materialism as well as a commitment to brand loyalty. Although parents and peers lay the groundwork for the values that teenagers hold, media …

Punishment: Benefits, Risks, And Alternatives In A Business Setting, Chris Vaden

Senior Honors Theses

Punishment is utilized in many settings in the world today, but it is continually getting more negative responses for its use in the workplace. Punishment's main use is to decrease the occurrence of a behavior that is undesirable. In a business setting, this would most likely be a behavior that is a violation of policy or unsatisfactory work performance. A comparison of the positive aspects of punishment with its negative features, by utilizing information provided by scholarly journals and websites along with a survey of 31 employees, has yielded the results that there may be a better alternative to punishment.

Volume 2, Liberty University

Liberty Business Review

No abstract provided.

Volume 1, Liberty University

Liberty Business Review

No abstract provided.

Managerial Accountants, The Equity Theory, Job Satisfaction, And Intent To Leave, Philip N. Gilmore

Faculty Dissertations

This research measures the relationships among variables of equity, job satisfaction, and intent to leave for managerial accountants. An accountant may be comparing the equity of his/her situation with that of another (referent) or simply measuring his/her outcome (such as pay, etc.) to his/her own input (such as effort, etc.) on the job. Two hypotheses are supported. First, the correlation between managerial accountants' job satisfaction and job equity is positive. Second, the correlation between managerial accountants' job satisfaction and intent to leave the job is not positive. Employers of accountants are encouraged to review their personnel policies to ensure that …

Evaluating Employee Performance: Insights From The Churches In Revelation 2-3, Gregory A. Smith

Faculty Publications and Presentations

One of the most significant biblical passages bearing on the issue of evaluation is Revelation 2-3, where the risen Christ assesses the spiritual performance of the churches of Asia. It is the purpose of this article to discuss four principles of evaluation that are clearly visible in Christ’s letters to these churches.

• Effective evaluation is based on accurate information

• Effective evaluation recognizes both positive and negative performance

• Effective evaluation increases awareness of accountability

• Effective evaluation provides incentives for improved performance

Pastors and church administrators would do well to observe these guidelines when assessing their subordinates’ performance.

An International Cross-Cultural Study Of The Role Of Chief Informational Officers In Healthcare, Wallace Saunders

Faculty Dissertations

The introduction and utilization of Information Systems (IS) in the hospital environment has had a significant and lasting impact on the practice of medicine. The development of this dissertation will attempt to explore a widely overlooked area: The comparison of Chief Information Officers (CIOs) in the United States and the United Kingdom.

Aspects of CIO experiences relating to assumed roles, CIO challenges, skills, frustrations, success, failure, leadership, management, involvement and perceptions about the role of Information Technology (IT) in healthcare are discussed with a comparative global model. This study investigates the managerial roles of the Chief Information Officer based on …

Trends In Gospel Music Publishing: 1940 To 1960, Vernon M. Whaley

Faculty Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to compile a historical survey of gospel music publishing from 1940 to 1960. Elements for investigation included the stated objectives, decisions, and marketing strategies employed by gospel music publishers to expand their markets from 1940 to 1960 and factors contributing to the growth in the gospel music publishing industry from 1940 to 1960.

The information for the study was collected through oral history methodology consisting of interviews with seven leaders in the industry including: Billy Ray Hearn, Chuck Fromm, Ralph Carmichael, John W. Peterson, Robert R. MacKenzie, Jessy Dixon, and Bill Gaither. Personal interviews …