Business Commons^™

Diversification Using International Exchange-Traded Funds, Alese K. Jones

Honors Theses

Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs) are diversified portfolios of assets which trade like stocks and track a benchmark index. This manuscript looks at the diversification and return benefits a U.S. investor would receive by investing in Emerging market (EEM) and Total World (DGT) ETFs over the period of June 2003 to July 2019. We use S&P 500 ETF IVV as a proxy for U.S. market. EEM had the highest absolute return but also the highest risk. However, the U.S. ETF IVV had the greatest risk-adjusted return and the lowest tracking error. International ETFs were also highly correlated with the S&P 500. Overall, …

Organizational Stressors As Predictors Of Burnout, Kristen Albritton

Dissertations

The purpose of this study is to determine if organizational stress, measured by role conflict and role ambiguity, predicts burnout among employees. A review of the related literature identified variables that demonstrate a relationship with burnout, supported by the Maslach (1998) theory of burnout and Katz and Kahn’s (1966) organizational role theory. The researcher also examined whether organizational level and demographic variables (gender, education level, and job tenure) moderate the relationships between role conflict, role ambiguity, and burnout.

The study follows a non-experimental, cross-sectional design using data collected from a survey. Results of linear regression analyses reveal role conflict and …

Impact Of Salt Deduction Cap On Individual Tax Liability, Mahum Chaudhry

Honors Theses

The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 placed a cap of $10,000 on the State and Local Tax deduction. A survey was carried out to compare individuals' tax liability in 2017 (before the cap) with their tax liability in 2018 (after the cap). The results suggest that fewer people itemized in 2018, and most belonged to the high-income group. Many individuals who itemized in 2018 also saw an increase in their federal tax liability. Most individuals with less than $100,000 yearly income opted for the standard deduction and saw a decrease in their federal tax liability in 2018 (in …

Impact Of Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, And Automation In Operations Management: An Analysis Of Healthcare, Manufacturing, And Retail Sectors, Jasmine N. Kelley

Honors Theses

In this thesis, we study the impacts of artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), and automation on operations management (OM). We specifically target the industries of healthcare, retail, and manufacturing in our analysis since each sector has distinct dynamics and concerns regarding the structural changes imposed by advancements in AI. We analyze 120 high-quality peer-reviewed journal articles to capture recent research trends in healthcare, retail, and manufacturing. Using respected business analytics reports, we compare academic efforts to industry initiatives. We find that growing interest in AI research in academia is consistent with growing research and development (R&D) investment and patent …

The Impact Of Big Data On Audit Evidence And The Level Of Assurance, Sachin Yadav

Honors Theses

This study seeks to establish the relationship between Big Data and its impact on the quality of audit evidence and the level of assurance perceived by the end-users. Currently, auditors rely on sampling to provide reasonable assurance that a company’s financial statements are materially in accordance with a country’s Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP). With Big Data, auditors can minimize the risk posed by sampling, and therefore, provide a reasonable level assurance. The present study examines financial statement users’ perceptions of the level of assurance when auditors present unqualified opinions using Big Data during the audit engagement. It observes this …

The Cultural Influence On Sharing Economy Services: The Case Of Airbnb, Lacey K. Wallace

Honors Theses

The sharing economy offers consumers an alternative to ownership by exchanging value through technology-based services. As sharing economy practices continue to emerge, business scholars have only recently begun to study how cultural differences impact the sharing economy. Specifically, few studies have examined individual cultural values. Therefore, this study explores whether differences in cultural values, using Hofstede’s cultural dimensions, account for consumers’ attitudes and participation in sharing economy services (SES). Utilizing a survey, data was gathered from a total of 276 consumers from Amazon’s Mechanical Turk (MTurk) who had previous experience with Airbnb, a popular peer-to-peer accommodation SES. Multiple regression was …

Using Buy And Rent Discrepancies To Predict Real Estate Bubbles, Jonathan K. Niehaus

Honors Theses

The cost of housing is one of the biggest recurring expenses Americans face. Real estate is also one of the largest asset classes of investments today. The decision of whether or not it is the right time to purchase a piece of residential real estate can be difficult for the everyday person as well as professionals. With the recent downturn of 2008, many people are reminded that the price of houses can spiral upward, and if one bought at the wrong time, their house could lose a tremendous portion of its value. This study focuses on looking at different economic …

Analysis Of True Risk Lab’S Price Prediction Algorithm In Relation To Market Results, Chris F. Hua

Honors Theses

The concept of beating the stock market is one of the main goals of financial investors and analysts. However, seasoned analysts and investors cannot perfectly predict the movements within the stock market. Machine learning (ML) is one prediction method that has intrigued the financial industry as a means of accurately predicting the market. Though the current prediction algorithms do not grasp every change in the stock markets, the models do provide a means of looking towards stock trends as a means to hedge an investor's or fund's portfolio against market declines by looking at the artificial intelligence (AI) results. This …

The Relationship Between The Perceived Value Of Professional Development, Job Satisfaction, And Intent To Leave, Wendy Marie Wells

Dissertations

Organizations striving to remain competitive compete in the war for talent in order to recruit and retain employees. Studies assessing intent to leave and turnover suggest numerous strategies to mitigate the revolving door of employees quitting jobs (Allen, 2008; Allen, Bryant, & Vardaman 2010; Lee, Hom, Eberly, & Li, 2018). This study assesses the relationship between the perceived value of professional development, job satisfaction, and intent to leave. Results of the study reveal as one finds professional development, valuable job satisfaction increases. In assessing the relationship between professional development and intent to leave, the results of the study suggest that …

Work-Life Balance: Perceived Differences Of Teleworkers And Non-Teleworkers, Christian Paul Lagarde

Dissertations

As the growth in the number of dual-career couples continues, couples attempt to balance the demands of career and family (Berlato & Corrêa, 2017). A healthy work environment potentially supports a positive work-life balance for employees. Supportive work environments increase morale, job satisfaction, job retention, productivity, as well as a fulfilling family life (Molla, 2015). Failure to assist employees with finding work-life balance risk the loss of a positive work environment for a company’s employees and the entire organization. Therefore, this human capital study seeks to build on the current research surrounding assisting organizations to find work-life balance for their …

An Analysis Of Dredge Efficiency For Surfclam And Ocean Quahog Commercial Dredges, Leanne Poussard

Master's Theses

Between 1997 and 2011, The National Marine Fisheries Service conducted 50 depletion experiments to estimate survey gear efficiency and stock density for Atlantic surfclam (Spisula solidissima) and ocean quahog (Arctica islandica) populations using commercial hydraulic dredges. The Patch Model was formulated to estimate gear efficiency and organism density from the data. The range of efficiencies estimated is substantial, leading to uncertainty in the application of these estimates in stock assessment. Analysis of depletion experiment simulations showed that uncertainty in the estimates of gear efficiency from depletion experiments was reduced by higher numbers of dredge tows per experiment, more tow overlap …