Business Commons^™

When Do Political Ideologies Affect Brand Extension Evaluation? The Role Of Analytic Versus Holistic Mindsets, Cristobal Barra

Theses and Dissertations

Political ideologies are becoming an important focus of attention in the marketing literature. This research examines the impact of political ideologies on consumers’ evaluation of brand extensions. In a series of six studies, this work shows how, and under what conditions, liberals evaluate brand extensions differently than conservatives. Because liberals are more open to new experiences, and tend to seek novelty, while conservatives show stronger preferences for order, structure, and conventional things, liberals are expected to react more favorably to new stimuli, as in the case of dissimilar brand extensions. However, the effects of political ideologies are dependent on some …

Determinants Of Product Upgrading In The Argentine Wine Industry, Lucas Marc Cyr

Theses and Dissertations

In this thesis, I examine the impact that a firm's connections and internal resources has on the firm's ability to develop new products. The capability to make improvements to products is crucial to the long term success and growth of a firm. By using structural equation modeling, I take a different approach to network analysis to analyze data from the Argentine wine industry. While I did not find strong evidence to support the hypothesis that the combination of external networks and internal knowledge are key drivers to product upgrading, there was strong evidence to support each individual determinant’s impact on …

Success With Social Responsibility Local Retailers' Perspectives, Danielle Marie Razalan

Theses and Dissertations

This research examines a specific sect of small business—the local retailer—in order to gauge owners’ understanding and implementation of corporate social responsibility (CSR). Guided by the Enlightened Self-Interest Model (ESIM), the purpose of this study is to gain further insight into how local retailers in Columbia determine what is socially responsible, and what CSR practices they are utilizing. Additionally, this research aims to understand why local retailers are motivated to act in a socially responsible way and the benefits they perceive from CSR. Results reveal that owners of local retailers are motivated to act in a socially responsible way by …

Product And Consumer Characteristics As Moderators Of Consumer Response To Sustainable Products, Kealy Carter

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation consists of two essays. In both, product sustainability is broadly focused on the environmental and social performance (Luchs et al. 2010) of a product. The first essay explores the role of firm sustainability reputation in behavioral intentions for sustainable products. Additionally, this essay applies construal level theory (Liberman and Trope 1998; Vallacher and Wegner 1985, 1987) and addresses the situation that exists wherein sales of sustainable products produced by firms founded under sustainability principles are more stable than those produced by traditional firms (Clifford and Martin 2011). The second essay introduces a measure of consumer perceived product sustainability …

Revisiting Gender Constraints And Benefits In Leisure Tourism: Man-Up, It’S Time To Travel Like A Woman, Holly L. Rabin

Theses and Dissertations

Historically and culturally, women’s leisure has been constrained through time, activity, and experience, as it is intricately woven with elements of freedom and choice, and thus empowerment (Khan, 2011; Henderson, et al., 1989). Previous research of constraints in leisure tourism appears to follow a pattern of inequalities between men and women (Wearing & Wearing, 1988). Women are feeling more independent and selfconfident then ever before in their leisure time and travel (Wilson & Harris, 2006). The purpose of this study is to determine if previous research, statistics, and case studies are still relevant in Millennial females and their solo leisure …

Content Analysis: Structure And Compostion Of The Board Of Directors In Aquatic Sports National Governing Bodies Between South Korea And The United States Of America, Yoojung Rhee

Theses and Dissertations

This paper attempts to explain some elements of the different structures and systems of aquatic sports national governing bodies between South Korea and the United States of America. In order to examine the differences between two countries, the paper investigates the history of both countries at the Olympic Games and aquatic sports governing bodies in two nations. Content analysis was conducted to compare the two countries and analyze compositions of members’ backgrounds on the Board of Directors in each aquatic sport governing bodies.

Two Essays On Time Perceptions And Patience, Frank May

Theses and Dissertations

My dissertation examines how the properties inherent to time can affect perception of wait time and, consequently, patience. Patience, or the willingness to forgo a smaller reward in the present in order to obtain a larger reward in the future, is an important construct in the consumer behavior literature. I focus on how consumers perceive wait time when faced with an intertemporal choice between a smaller-sooner option and a larger-later one (e.g., receive less money earlier vs. more money later). In this type of situation, wait time is standing between the individual and a better option. I argue that the …

Three Essays On Consumer Product Returns, Guangzhi Shang

Theses and Dissertations

Return policies (aka. money-back-guarantee policies) are frequently offered by retailers such that consumers can bring back the purchased products that do not fit their needs. On the benefit side, consumers perceive these policies as a risk-mitigation service and are willing to pay more for an otherwise identical product. All else being equal, being lenient in its return policy should allow a retailer to enjoy higher sales, which leads to increased revenue. On the cost side, a generous return policy will induce more returns and possibly also late returns. In 2007 alone, U.S. manufacturers and retailers paid more than $100 billion …

Virtual And Hybrid Meetings: A Three Generational Perspective, Carole B. Sox

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this dissertation is to provide a focused research stream with regard to virtual and hybrid meetings from a generational perspective. By utilizing a meta-analysis research methodology, an applied research approach, and a theoretical research approach, this three-article manuscript-style dissertation addresses numerous topics pertinent to both academics and industry professionals. The state of current literature pertaining to virtual and hybrid meetings is assessed and gaps are identified, including the need for further research from a generational perspective.

Current best practices, opportunities and barriers for planning and managing virtual and hybrid meetings for Baby Boomers, Generation X, and Generation …

Executive Compensation In The Banking Industry And Systemic Risk, Seungho Choi

Theses and Dissertations

In this paper, I investigate empirically whether executive compensation structure contributes to the entire systemic risk among 92 firms that highly contribute to systemic risk from 2000 to 2012. Based on Brownlees and Engle (2011) and Acharya, Pedersen, Philippon, and Richardson (2010), I use SRISK and MES as systemic risk measures. Firstly, I find that the ratio of stock options has a positively significant influence on systemic risk. Also, I find weak evidence that the ratio of cash bonus in compensation structure positively related to systemic risk. However, I find no significant evidence that the ratio of stock grants has …

Mannequin Size On Consumers' Perception Of Self And Satisfaction With Fit, Amanda Cohen

Theses and Dissertations

This study examined the influencing factors that affect female's perceptions towards mannequins in retail environments. Data was collected using an online survey through the use of a snowball convenience technique. A total of 316 respondents were included. Using Pearson's r, the results indicated that the use of idealized mannequins in retail stores have a significant impact on social comparison, body dissatisfaction, and satisfaction of fit among female consumers. These results suggest that female consumers compare their bodies to those of mannequins and the larger the discrepancy between the size of the mannequin and the woman the more dissatisfied the woman …

The Effects Of Sharing The Consequences Of Tax Evasion And Regret Salience On Taxpayer Compliance, William Douglas Brink

Theses and Dissertations

This study examines whether sharing the potential tax savings and risk of penalties associated with tax evasion with another individual and the anticipation of potential regret from an adverse IRS audit affect an individual decision maker's propensity to evade taxes. Research on risky decision making suggests that individuals will be less likely to evade taxes when the benefits and costs of evasion are shared, while research on ethical decision making suggests that individuals will be more likely to evade taxes when the benefits of evasion are shared with another individual. Using experimental data obtained from 147 experienced taxpayers throughout the …

Understanding Destination Choice From A Cultural Distance Perspective, Hongbo Liu

Theses and Dissertations

National cultural distance is an important factor of tourists' destination choice, yet the specific role it plays in destination decision process is not well understood. This paper attempts to fill this gap. Taking potential Chinese outbound tourists as a case, this study tries to explore the impact of perceived cultural distance on tourists' international destination choice through a conditional logit model. Familiarity, geographical distance, past international travel experience and novelty-seeking tendency were examined as moderators of the relationship between perceived cultural distance and destination choice. Results show that tourist are more likely to choose culturally similar countries as destinations; geographical …

An Analysis Of Convertible Bond Issuance: Design Features, Market Conditions And Private Placement, Ashleigh Poindexter

Theses and Dissertations

DISS_abstract> Over the last two decades convertible debt issues have been steadily increasing in both frequency and magnitude and several high volume issuance periods. Although convertible debt issuance is inherently influenced by debt and equity market volatilities, the convertible market has been shown to have an independent presence in terms of issuance volume, issue design and market participants.Are concerns of asset substitution, risk uncertainty, or asymmetric information the primary factors in convertible debt design, timing and placement? This paper aims to examine how the design of convertible bonds and the characteristics of convertible issuers shift over time and under different …

An Experimental Investigation Of Reciprocity And Formal Controls With Labor Market Competition, Michael John Majerczyk

Theses and Dissertations

DISS_abstract> Most experimental research related to agency settings, such as participative budgeting, has examined how formal controls, such as audits and reviews, influence the behavior of managers. Alternatively, a growing literature in managerial accounting examines the effects of using informal social controls. Some of these studies have examined the ability of the gift-exchange model from economics, founded on reciprocity, to function as a suitable control. Within the social context of an experimental labor market, I examine the relationship between the type of control employers implement (i.e., reviews, a formal control versus reciprocity, an informal control) and the amount of budget …