Business Commons^™

An Exploration Of Financial And Accounting Principles And Methods, Stephanie Green

Honors Theses

This collection of case studies and text is a culmination of the twelve case studies assigned by Dr. Victoria Dickinson over the course of the Professional Research and Development Research Program. This program that is unique to Sally McDonnell Barksdale Honors College accounting students at the University of Mississippi, and it encourages the student to engage with the topic matter of accounting, taking a holistic view of what they are simultaneously learning in other courses. Each case examined a different issue or accounting method that ultimately expanded students’ knowledge and better prepared them for their future careers. The case study …

An Analysis On Applications Of Contemporary Financial Accounting Topics, Audrey M. Dames

Honors Theses

This thesis is composed of twelve independent case studies, each focusing on a different topic in financial accounting. These cases were completed over the course of a year under the instruction of Dr. Dickinson through the Honors Accountancy Independent Study course. To develop this thesis, I examined the information provided in every case study and performed independent research to analyze each unique accounting topic. In addition to independent analysis, the cases were reviewed in collaboration with other students in the Independent Study course, promoting discussion of varying opinions on contemporary accounting theories. The subject matter of the cases ranged from …

The Data Revolution: An Examination Of The Use Of Scouting And Analytics In Major League Baseball Front Offices, Eleanor Weller

Honors Theses

The area of study for this thesis is the use and optimization of the sub-departments within the larger baseball operations department in Major League Baseball front offices. The research is divided into the history of the two major units—scouting and analytics. This background is followed by an investigation of the balance between them. Information for this analysis was obtained through secondary research, primarily articles for online journals and previously conducted interviews with front office personnel. I have also included some of my own work, which was completed during the summer of 2019. The findings of the analysis are that the …

The 2017 Tax Cuts And Jobs Act: Analyzing Its Financial Impact On Division I Universities, Judge Nash Mcwithey

Honors Theses

The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act has had a substantial impact in the United States since its inception in 2017. This tax code overhaul has had a profound effect on the way Division I universities operate their athletic department operations and fundraising efforts. By creating new channels of federal tax revenues and eliminating deductions, such as the “80/20” premium seating deduction that has been used by universities, athletic programs have already begun to see a shift in how they must operate. This modification is done in order to avoid any major repercussions from the new tax code. This thesis discusses …

Cooperating For Charity: The Effect Of Decentralization On French Associations, Ragan Ketrow

Honors Theses

This thesis explored the relationship between the decentralization laws of 1982 and 1983 in France and French associations as well as the resulting lack of exceptionalism in the French nonprofit sector. This thesis explores the claims of the French nonprofit scholar Edith Archambault as she argues that the steep rise in associations in France in the 1980s is due to the legal changes that occured during that same decade. In order to evaluate these claims, I used regression tests to compare the relationship between the growth of associations and other variants including economic growth, disposable income, and government expenditure. In …

A Comprehensive Analysis Of Concepts And Methodologies In Public Accounting, Lauren Eickholz

Honors Theses

The following thesis is comprised of twelve case studies pertaining to various accounting concepts and methodologies that are currently impacting the public accounting industry. In conjunction with the topics learned in financial accounting courses, the cases focuses on various individual areas of financial reporting, often through application to specific companies and real-world situations. In addition, two individual cases evaluate specific career paths in the public accounting industry, focusing specifically on the campus recruiting process and evaluating potential cities to complete internships and start a full-time career. Combined, these cases display a comprehensive understanding of accounting principles, financial statement preparation and …

An Analysis Of Accounting Principles As Seen Through Case Studies, Brooke Baumgardner

Honors Theses

This document represents the work done over the course of a year under the direction of Dr. Victoria Dickinson in Professional Research and Development Thesis Program at the University of Mississippi. The purpose of this program is to allow students who plan to work in a professional field to complete a thesis which is more applicable to their future endeavors than a traditional thesis. The twelve case studies that are completed and represented within this thesis were chosen to cover a variety of accounting topics that are similar to what students entering this field will see on a day-to-day basis. …

An Analysis Of Accounting Concepts Through A Comprehensive Series Of Case Studies, Colin Baker

Honors Theses

This thesis is a compilation of 10 case studies completed under the direction of Dr. Victoria Dickinson during the ACCY 420 course over two semesters to satisfy the requirements of the Sally McDonnell Barksdale Honors College. Each case guides the study of different accounting standards. These include topics such as contingent liabilities, retirement obligations, non-GAAP financial reporting, financial statement analysis, and more. The case topics often coincided with subjects that were being covered in intermediate, audit, and tax accounting. These cases provided an opportunity to learn how to do independent accounting research in FASB codification. Each case exposed me to …

Financial Accounting Principles: A Collection Of Case Studies, Jamison Payne

Honors Theses

This research paper was developed over the course of two semesters under the instruction of Dr. Victoria Dickinson in the honors course ACCY 420. Each week for twelve weeks, we received a case study with various research topics and questions that we were to answer during the course of the week. Each study required us to research a different accounting topic, such as the Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), internships, and financial statements, that helped further our knowledge on the subjects involved. During this course, and in the creation of this research paper, my knowledge of accounting topics grew to …

Brand Translation And Country Of Origin Advertising In The Jeans Market In Latin America, Elson Stewart

Honors Theses

As more firms decide to operate globally as a means of survival and growth, they must be prepared to understand the language and culture of their new target markets. This study aims to examine why firms may or may not translate their brand name and use country of origin advertising. Furthermore, this study aims to explain if economic and demographic factors have any effect on whether or not American firms may use certain marketing strategies. Findings in this study suggest that American firms are likely to be more active in Latin American countries with higher GDP PPP per capita, English …

Accounting Issues: An Examination Of Professional And Academic Accounting Topics Through Case Studies, Reynolds Spencer

Honors Theses

The following thesis investigates prevalent topics to the accounting profession and academia. The thesis is comprised of twelve case studies performed over the course of eight months related to problems facing the accounting profession, things to consider when entering the profession, and analysis of existing and fictitious companies. The backgrounds for case studies two, six, seven, eight, nine, ten, and twelve were provided by Cases in Financial Reporting by Michael Drake, Ellen Engel, Eric Hurst, and Mary Lea McAnally, as presented in the works cited page. Case study four’s background was provided by Dr. Brett W Cantrell. All other case …

Producing Thacker Jr. A Guidebook To Production & Reflections Of A Student Director, Ava Street

Honors Theses

This narrative documents a student’s preparation and execution of the children’s music and literature program entitled, Thacker Jr. Radio Hour. The author documents and analyzes experiences over the course of two academic years preparing and producing the program. The author describes the process of production including content creation, marketing, budgeting, fundraising, and casting. The author recounts and reflects upon her experience in the role of Thacker Jr. Executive Director and her desire to create student-centric arts programming. Finally, the author evaluates the immediate impact of the program on the LOU community and predicts how her experience will shape her …

Utilizing The Product Development Process To Bring An Idea From Concept To Production, Sydney Ferguson, Jackson Sneed

Honors Theses

The purpose of this thesis is to document and discuss the five-stage product development process starting with defining a problem and resulting in manufacturing a final product for sale as it was implemented in the Portable Fire Pit Center for Manufacturing Excellence Senior Capstone Project. This project was carried out over the course of the Fall 2019 and Spring 2020 semesters by a team consisting of three Undergraduate Mechanical Engineering majors and two Undergraduate Accountancy majors. The ultimate goal of the project was to carry out a full production run of the Portable Fire Pit outputting fifteen units meeting retail …

The Future’S So Bright: A Business Plan And Market Research Analysis Of Fraze, Elizabeth Lanford

Honors Theses

This thesis is an overview of the creation and operation of Lindy and Liz, LLC dba Fraze. Fraze is an online boutique specializing in custom, beaded sunglasses. This thesis contains details of the founding, operation, and future of the business. The following business plan will give insights to marketing strategies, target audience demographics, and sourcing procedures.

Accompanying this business plan is market research relevant to the target market of Fraze. Part I details secondary research about the effects of social media on this target market and their consumption habits. It also contains insights about the products and marketing techniques most …

Product Realization Capstone: Element Proof Safety Steps For Willie Price Lab School, Catherine Thomas, Allan Heuerman, Jared Mumme

Honors Theses

The purpose of this document is to describe the process we took to complete our capstone which paired the Center for Manufacturing Excellence with the Willie Price Lab School. The goal of the capstone was to remake step stools for the students of Willie Price, as the last stools failed to withstand weather damage. However, with the COVID-19 pandemic, plans were hindered, shifting the goal from actually producing the steps to creating instructions so that a younger Center for Manufacturing class could complete the production at a later date. Standardized Work Instructions, a detailed production plan, and engineering drawings were …

‘How Has Art Refocused Consumers’ Attention Within A Visual World Through The Exploration Of Package Design?’, Frances Hackney

Honors Theses

The art of design has refocused the attention of consumers as they have entered into a visually demanding world. While this concept is complex and perplexing, stemming from endless influencing factors, the elements of design can be broken down into areas of focus to dissect the visual world of marketing. A simple way to communicate the influence of design on the consumers is to unveil the answers through the study of art.

In this thesis, the study will turn to the world of art to learn more about consumerism. The goal is to understand how visual images and the ongoing …

Accounting Research And Professional Development, Ragan Riley

Honors Theses

This paper is a compilation of various accounting studies assigned by Dr. Victoria Dickinson throughout a yearlong professional development course for accounting. During each of the twelve cases, the student was required to identify accounting principle problems within the cases, research proper accounting practices, and critically think through how these situations should have been handled in order for these companies to be in accordance with GAAP. There were also cases that facilitated decision making for students in their future career such as location decisions and articles regarding current accounting problems. This course allowed students to network with peers and accounting …

A Tale Of Two Cities, Maybe Three A Look At Financial Literacy And Economic Development In Three Mississippi Cities: Fulton, Clarksdale, And Oxford, Kellie Reed Cleveland

Honors Theses

This paper explores the backbones of economic growth and how the backbones influence economic development in three cities in Mississippi. It further seeks to promote education in financial literacy throughout the state to create a base for individuals to further their financial education, create small businesses, or to simply be a knowledgeable citizen. The research sifts through backbones such as population health and small & big business influence, to explore how financial literacy influences daily life and the catalyst for businesses to start and grow. The Mississippi cities Fulton, Clarksdale, and Oxford are studied more in-depth through photos of the …

Green Delivery: An Arbor Day Foundation Partnership Program, David Petersen

Honors Theses

The Arbor Day Foundation (ADF) will partner with online retailers to create a ‘Green-Delivery’ option wherein customers can opt to delay the shipment of their order by a day in exchange for a tree being planted in their name. Each partner would fulfill their donation obligation to the ADF by allocating a portion of the cost savings generated by shipping their orders via a slower service.

Imitators To Creators: The Emergence Of A Confident National Identity In Contemporary Korea As Observed Through K-Pop And Masculinity, Kaitlyn Diane Read

Honors Theses

South Korea’s national narrative has evolved from one familiar with destruction and outside control to one that can now afford to be more challenging and confrontational. Korea’s ascent to both economic and political prominence on the international landscape in record time is well established. The rapid transformation currently impacts Korean society with the country choosing to concentrate on strengthening its soft power and nation brand exporting. This thesis aims to reveal how Korea’s recently acquired position of significance on the global stage permits the Korean national identity to be assured and stimulating, in contrast with a derivative narrative once perceived …

A Study Of The Product Development Process For The Transparent Kitchen Knife Block, Benjamin Payne

Honors Theses

The purpose of this document is to summarize the research and planning, design, market evaluation, cost analysis, and production process for a kitchen knife block. The team began by researching multiple knife block designs and evaluating what strengths and weaknesses existed with the basic models that are currently offered in different marketplaces. After collecting data on material costs and discussing different design features, the team created a survey in order to gauge consumer preferences and gain a better understanding as to what features and price point the average customer would consider purchasing. The resulting information was used to create an …

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 …

Job Crafting: Who And Where?, Mia Myers

Honors Theses

Job crafting, a type of employee-initiated job design concerned with job tasks, relationships, and mindsets about the job, is a relatively new concept that workplaces should be looking into. Job crafting has implications for how work is conducted and in what fashion, but little research has examined what external and internal factors could influence an individual’s inclination to job craft. Using a qualitative and quantitative approach, this study examines the possible relationships among task crafting, relational crafting, organizational culture, affect, and emotional stability. This study finds that organizational culture, affect, and emotional stability do impact how much an employee feels …

Mutually Exclusive: A Survey Of Ethical Decision Making In Technology, Connor Mcpherson

Honors Theses

People make hundreds of decisions every day. Developers, security consultants, operations engineers, designers, and engineers all make small decisions that affect the final product. The values people choose to promote and ignore appear in the constraints and biases of the products they craft. This paper discusses the process of developing, distributing, and analyzing a values survey to computer professionals and students in East Tennessee. I use advanced calculations of significance and beta for chi-squared tests to determine significance and discuss the ethical conclusions from the survey’s data.

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 …

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 …

Green Delivery: An Arbor Day Foundation Partnership Program, Vincent Malene, Sarah Schilling, David Petersen, Anthony Hare, Cassandra Arritt, Ross Grieb

Honors Theses

No abstract provided.

Arbor Day Foundation Consultation, Frances Munro, Drew Spadaro, Trevor Lockard, Mason Smalley, Leigh Hanson, Demi Van Reeuwijk

Honors Theses

Over the past 4 months, our team at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Business Honors Academy has been working directly with Nebraska’s own, Arbor Day Foundation, or Arbor Day, in hopes of applying our skill sets and mindsets to solve a pressing problem Arbor Day currently faces. We have been tasked with the challenge of identifying creative, scalable, and profitable new business ventures for Arbor Day that will aid the generation of new revenue sources. With these sources of revenue, Arbor Day desires to further inspire people to plant, nurture, and celebrate trees and in turn solve some of the …

The Arbor Day Foundation Employee Carbon Neutralization Program, Justin Mccall, Maya Mercer, Grant Biggs, Ray Anderson, Bret Klabunde, Colleen Doyle, Brady Conant

Honors Theses

Our College of Business Honors Academy Capstone Project aims to identify a new business opportunity for the Arbor Day Foundation that will allow ADF to further their mission while creating $1-2 million in revenue. Through research, analysis, and ideation, our team is proposing the Employee Carbon Neutralization Program (ECNP.)

Arbor Day Foundation Consulting Project Mngt 475l, Trevor Lockard, Demi Vanreeuwijk, Drew Spadaro, Frances Munro, Leigh Hanson, Mason Smalley

Honors Theses

Over the past 4 months, our team at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Business Honors Academy has been working directly with Nebraska’s own, Arbor Day Foundation, or Arbor Day, in hopes of applying our skill sets and mindsets to solve a pressing problem Arbor Day currently faces. We have been tasked with the challenge of identifying creative, scalable, and profitable new business ventures for Arbor Day that will aid the generation of new revenue sources. With these sources of revenue, Arbor Day desires to further inspire people to plant, nurture, and celebrate trees and in turn solve some of the …