Business Commons^™

A Marketing Analysis Of Mid-American Conference Universities, Charles Donald Borus

Senior Honors Theses and Projects

Across the country, millions of high school seniors make the decision on where to attend college, basing these decisions on a variety of factors. For a high school student living in the Midwestern United States, they are starved for choice. Larger universities in this region come with an established reputation of academic prowess. Smaller institutions such as those that are a part of the Mid-American Conference (MAC) offer all the same experiences-just with a smaller student population. With competition from larger universities in the area, how can universities in the MAC attract and retain students? How can this information be …

A Profitability Analysis Of Products And Services In The Biotechnology Industry, Olivia Halverson

Senior Honors Theses and Projects

This paper will discuss the various ways to address profitability within firms and compare the profitability of three firms within the same industry. It will also touch upon rebranding within firms, the differences between brand and reputation, and how companies decide to use these leverages. Within, the paper dives into one successful account of a rebranding and its positive or negative effects in the long run. This will mainly be reflected in the literary review. In the profitability review, I will review three comparable companies within the biotechnology industry, including two public companies and one owned by a private equity …

Coming Around: A Cost-Benefit Analysis Of The Vegas Loop, Adriana Alejandra Henriquez Mora

Senior Honors Theses and Projects

An ex-ante cost benefit analysis of the Vegas Loop was executed, where the possible costs and benefits of implementing the entirety of the project were quantified in monetary terms to measure the consequences of it on all members of society. The Boring Company’s Vegas Loop is a tunnel system which utilizes human-controlled Tesla Model X and Y vehicles to move passengers around the city of Las Vegas, directly to their destination without additional stops. For this analysis, the considered benefits were: fares, reduced travel times, reduced emissions, and bolstering of tourism. Conversely, the considered costs included: the implementation cost, the …

Marketing Approaches Between Millennials And Gen-Zs In The Fashion And Beauty Industries, Mariana Gutierrez Chora

Senior Honors Theses and Projects

This Honors College Undergraduate Senior Thesis analyzes the marketing practices with respect to Gen-Zs and Millennials’ behavior in regard to the beauty and fashion industries. In order to do so, a survey among Gen-Z and Millennial adults from diverse backgrounds was conducted to gather important data. The survey consists of twenty-three questions, some focusing on the participant demographics and cultural backgrounds and the rest focusing on behaviors they have had with various forms of paid advertising through social- media practices. Additionally, this thesis includes insights regarding some of the literature review topics and includes results that enforce some of the …

Overview Of U.S. Foreign Language Education Policy, Karin P. Hartmaier

Senior Honors Theses and Projects

Foreign language education policy has been a topic of concern in the USA since the time of the founding fathers. A paradox of American society is that it is a nation formed from a “melting pot” of immigrants, while the pressure to assimilate to a uniform American culture has resulted in a dominantly monolingual population. With changes in immigration rates and shifts in the national origins of immigrants, the attitudes and perspectives of the general public toward foreigners and foreign languages have also adjusted over time. This literature review will give an overview of how current events and public opinion …

The Impacts Of Covid-19 On Audit Practices, Morise Adio-Moses

Senior Honors Theses and Projects

No abstract provided.

With Regard To Programmatic Advertising, Are Lewis' Findings On Cultural Dimensions Still Valid For Millennials In The 21st Century?, Robert Niemi

Senior Honors Theses and Projects

This bachelor thesis discusses new forms of advertising with respect to cultural communication. Specifically, it analyzes whether the Lewis Model of Cross-Cultural Communication needs to be updated with regard to programmatic advertising and millennials in the 21st century. In order to do so, a survey among internationals in various countries from different cultures was conducted to gather information. The survey consisted of 24 different questions on the participant's cultural background and their perception of programmatic advertising. Finally, this paper had to conclude that there was not sufficient evidence present in the survey to actually update the Lewis Model of Cross-Cultural …

Student-Athlete? An In-Depth Look At The Past, Present, And Future, Kyle Elliott Fluker

Senior Honors Theses and Projects

The NCAA began in the early 1900s as a way to regulate the wild west that was intercollegiate athletics. Over time, the organization has grown from its 62 member beginnings to three divisions with 1,281 members. In 2017, for the first time in its history, the NCAA brought in over one billion dollars in total revenue (Kirshner 2018). The NCAA has been able to achieve this feat by its insistence on the "amateurism" of its participants. This business model has allowed the organization to keep the financial benefits associated with the playing of high-level sports on college campuses. Participants in …

Diversity, Inclusion, Access, & Equity: An Analysis Of Otherness In Cultural Organizations, Cheyanne Jeffries

Senior Honors Theses and Projects

In an American society that is increasingly more multicultural and divers�� every day, diversity in cultural organizations has been the subject of much research dedicated to ensuring our cultural institutions and their boards, employees and overall organizational structure meet the rising demand for inclusion and equity in our nation. The American Alliance of Museums completed a national report in 2017 in which they found that "museum directors and board chairs believe board diversity and inclusion are important to advance their missions, but have failed to prioritize action steps to achieve it", among other key findings that identified a complete lack …

Why Employees And Managers Engage In Unethical Practices, Megan Shea Kopicko

Senior Honors Theses and Projects

The scope of this paper is to investigate the reasons as to why employees and managers in the workplace engage willingly in unethical practices. The paper begins by exploring the concept of ethics in the corporate world. It further highlights the different forms of unethical practices in the various companies in the contemporary world. The various theories that explore the issue of unethical practices in the workplace are highlighted and how they relate to the occurrence of unethical demeanor. The social contract theory and the psychological theories are highlighted in the paper. The study further delves in exploring the various …

The Impact Of Green Businesses On The Building Of Sustainable Communities, Emily L. Plummer

Senior Honors Theses and Projects

Instilling a sense of community within businesses, the basis of our society, may strengthen community building and therefore our path towards sustainable communities. Thus, through a literature review, buyer behavior, green businesses, sustainable communities, and community building have been defined in order to further research regarding whether green businesses have a more significant impact on the well-being of a community. Additionally, six case studies of local Ypsilanti businesses were conducted through applying the Green America Green Business five-part criteria, sustainable community building criteria, and analogical reasoning to analyze whether a business could be classified as a green company and whether …

Managing Suppy Chain Risk Through Collaboration, Alyssa Rollins

Senior Honors Theses and Projects

In an increasingly uncertain, complex, and global supply chain environment, supply chains face a greater multitude of risks. Information sharing and collaboration between supply chain players can reduce risk within the supply chain. This project discusses emerging supply chain risk management (SCRM) strategies pertaining to the distribution of products and how purchasing and logistics departments can work to build a resilient and agile supply chain.

An International Analysis Of Csr Rankings And A Country's Culture, Victoria Fisher

Senior Honors Theses and Projects

As globalization has increased, so too has the number of companies practicing corporate social responsibility (CSR) around the world. Social and environmental issues like global warming has been an underlying factor in this growing importance (Peng, 2012). Increasingly, companies are communicating their activities through CSR reports that outline corporate initiatives to access and take responsibility for the company's effects on the global environment and impact on social welfare. In this paper, we will expand on previous results found in "A Study of a How CSR Rankings Are Affected in a Globalized Economy", which is published in McNair Scholars Research Journal, …

"Stereotypisch Deutsch": An Examination Of Stereotypes Of Germans And The Effects In The Business Environment, Alicia Marvinetz

Senior Honors Theses and Projects

Stereotypes can be seen as a tool to understand why a person or group of people behave the way they do. These stereotypes adapt over time as culture and cultural perceptions change. The purpose of this research is to analyze what stereotypes Americans have held of Germans over the years, starting in 1940, a couple years before the United States entered World War II, then the Cold War Era between 1947 and 1990, through today. The purpose of these time frames is to see how Americans viewed Germans just prior to entering the war, how the war may have changed …

Death Spiral Convertible Bonds, Austin Dwyer

Senior Honors Theses and Projects

Death spiral convertibles, are a type of loan lenders give to a firm in exchange for a right to convert into equity at below market prices. This differs from traditional convertibles because there is no fixed conversion price. Instead, the price can be reset lower if the firm's stock price falls below the conversion price at the time of issuance. As the process repeats itself the stock's price spirals downwards. This process benefits the bondholders at the cost of the shareholders. Based on a hand collected sample of 23 companies issuing a total of I 97 floating price convertibles, the …

Canton Gymnastics Academy, Melani Kieling

Senior Honors Theses and Projects

Canton Gymnastics Academy (CGA) will offer many different programs for athletes looking to enter a cheerleading or gymnastics program. The focus will be on providing professional, knowledgeable advice and training to all athletes who enter the doors. As with any sport, CGA will ensure that athletes know correct techniques to execute skills they are learning. This will help ensure that they suffer less bodily injuries throughout their career and they'll have less issues as adults. CGA will be registered as a Limited Liability Company (LLC) with the state of Michigan.

Specifically, CGA will provide two program areas, each with different …

Ethics At Eastern Michigan University And The College Of Business: A Study Of Academic Dishonesty And Professionalism, Ashley Shahan

Senior Honors Theses and Projects

No abstract provided.

How Culture Makes A Difference In Management: Applying Geert Hofstede's Cultural Dimensions To Management In Germany And China, Brock Foster

Senior Honors Theses and Projects

Culture has been defined by many different individuals in a variety of fields with wide ranging definitions. The following paper will define culture and give the reader a framework at how to look at differences in cultures abroad. It will elaborate upon some cultural concepts of German and Chinese individuals and then go on to use Geert Hofstede's Cultural Dimensions Theory to diagnose some of the issues that may arise when working with individuals identifying as German or Chinese. For the purpose of this paper, the individuals being referred to are the citizens in both the German and Chinese mainland. …

Social Media Strategy: The Keys To Successfully Penetrating Online Communities, Joshua Patrick Conroy

Senior Honors Theses and Projects

The proliferation of social media usage has made engagement with social networks a marketing imperative. The effectiveness of any marketing effort is largely dependent on the quality and implementation of its strategy. Social media generates an intense amount of interest as a marketing platform because of its low cost and wide reach. However, this study finds that leveraging social media may be far more effective as a public relations asset than as an advertising platform. This study in no way deals with the effects of paid advertising on social media, but focuses instead on utilizing social media for unpaid marketing …

R&D Performance Business Plan, Daniel R. Wiacek

Senior Honors Theses and Projects

No abstract provided.

The Role Of American Culture In The Convergence Process Of International And United States Financial Accounting Principles, Umarbek U. Rabbimov

Senior Honors Theses and Projects

The aim of this study is to analyze the role of American culture in the process of the International Financial Reporting Standards and U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles convergence.

Research Of The Sustainability Of U.S. Public Debt And The Influence For Chinese Economy And Finance, Zikun Xu

Senior Honors Theses and Projects

In the summer of 2010, the U.S. debt ceiling dispute attracted the attention of the world, and financial markets were shocked when Standard & Poor's finally cut the United States AAA rating. But with the increase of the debt ceiling as well as the European sovereign debt crisis intensified, the U.S. national debt problem was temporarily covered up. It must be noted, however, that the U.S. national debt has ballooned to the highest level since World War II, the ratio of national debt to GDP has reached to nearly 100%, coupled with the long-term U.S. fiscal deficit and the continuing …

Buddy Up Program Evaluation: Creating An Overall Lifestyle Change, Kathryn Hansen

Senior Honors Theses and Projects

No abstract provided.

The Value Of A College Degree: What Price Is Society Willing To Pay?, Olu Osuntuyi

Senior Honors Theses and Projects

The economic value that accrues from those who earn four-year university degrees and graduate degrees will be the focus of this paper. Higher education influences economic well-being in other ways as well. The economic impacts of expenditures by institutions, their employees and their students already have been well documented buy others. The benefits of knowledge creation - research and development- at universities will be examined and compared.

Education provides a variety of benefits to students including enhanced social skills, greater awareness of human achievement and an appreciation for cultural diversity. IN this time period that we live in, education is …

Social Media Impact On Virtual Shopping, Tarah Soltis

Senior Honors Theses and Projects

The following senior honors thesis project was developed to look at the connections between the topics of social media and virtual shopping. The domains of technology and e-commerce have created a fast-paced and fluctuating retail environment. Both social media and virtual shopping are increasing in popularity and use across the country and are influential in how consumers shop virtually and in real time. The research on social media and virtual shopping informs how the topics impact one another and the larger retail market. Research that looks at the connection between social media and virtual shopping can help companies prepare to …

Fuel Cost Hedging In The U.S. Airline Industry, Kun Lu

Senior Honors Theses and Projects

No abstract provided.

Rfid Technology And Its Impact On The Supply Chain, Trina A. Nash

Senior Honors Theses and Projects

As a supply chain major, I am constantly learning about what makes an organization leaner and how to provide better customer service. I have also learned that technology is constantly evolving and businesses are taking advantage of these opportunities more than ever. Technology is providing companies with ways to become faster and more efficient in all areas of the supply chain, from the original equipment manufacturer down to the end consumer. The purpose of this research paper is to explore one technology that has made a great impact on the supply chain and is increasingly becoming more popular. RFID Technology …

Standards, Training, And Guests' Perceptions In Luxury Hotels, Sarah Peterhans

Senior Honors Theses and Projects

Very few hotels are able to consider themselves to be truly luxury. These hotels hold a certain mystique that invites their guests to continually return, no matter what the cost is. While luxury is providing something exclusive that is not found everywhere, it is also becoming more about the experience (Allcock, 2007). Today, luxury hotels are aiming for ultra-luxury, and to do this, service and people factors make a huge difference (Tungate, 2009). The luxury concept includes being exclusive, sophisticated, and indulging your guests (Allcock, 2007). It is crucial that the design and service follow these concepts (Gunter, 2005). These …

U.S. Business And Global Barriers To Entry, Caitlin Long

Senior Honors Theses and Projects

An exploratory view of barriers to entry in countries of significance to U.S. companies, this thesis provides a comprehensive overview of prevalent business strategies of U.S. trading partners as well as a forecast of their international business policies. Diverse macro-environmental variables, such as economy, culture, and regulations result in varying barriers to entry for U.S. based firms to conduct business in U.S trading partners’ countries. This thesis will determine how these macro-environmental factors foster or stunt growth and strategies governments employ to attract businesses.

Equipment Leasing: Analysis Of Industry Practices Emphasizing Lessors' Risks And Returns, Ravi Vijay Beedkar

Senior Honors Theses and Projects

The purpose of this thesis is to examine the leasing industry from the lessor’s perspective and the factors that contribute to its growth. An analysis of the industry is performed to evaluate trends and practices. Aspects such as the role of the FASB & IRS as governing bodies, propensities to lease based on a lessee’s industry, size, years in operation and geographical location, and risks based on equipment type and lessee’s capital equipment requirements are discussed. To determine a lessor’s activities in relation to leasing equipment, a business process of leasing is developed. In relation to the business process of …