Business Commons^™

Age-Specific Posting: Tailoring Social Media Post To Audience Age, Owen Bridges

Undergraduate Research Journal

With social media becoming the best way to get the word out about something, advertisers have been trying to break the code on how to market their products successfully. The hard part about social media marketing is figuring out what the target audience is for said product. In this study, women’s fashion brands are examined to see if big companies are taking advantage of age targeting through their social media posts. After doing some research, a study like this couldn’t be found. The hypothesis for this study was that each brand would tailor all of their posts towards different social …

Call For Papers

Mountain Plains Journal of Business and Technology

No abstract provided.

Mike Ettore, Trust-Based Leadership: Marine Corps Leadership Concepts For Today's Business Leaders, Noel F. Palmer

Mountain Plains Journal of Business and Technology

Mike Ettore, Trust-Based Leadership: Marine Corps Leadership Concepts for Today's Business Leaders (Fidelis Press, 2019), 576 pages, $30 paperback.

An opportunity to read about trust and its importance in leadership piqued my interest in this book. I expected content in the manner of Dirks & Ferrin’s (2002) seminal work on trust in leadership, or follow-on work by Colquitt, Scott, & LePine (2007) who examine trust and the influence of leaders as trust referents. Yet, the book is less about trust-based leadership and more about “Marine Corps leadership concepts.”

Carson Sublett, Bosses Are Hired…Leadership Is Earned, Susan Jensen

Mountain Plains Journal of Business and Technology

Carson Sublett, Bosses are Hired…Leadership is Earned (Silver Tree Publishing, 2019), 223 pages, $19.95 paperback.

This compilation of instructive stories offers helpful lessons about everything from how to handle a crisis, navigate office politics, and diagnose organizational culture.

With extensive leadership experience in the textile and pharmaceutical industries to draw from, Carson Sublett uses the storytelling method to share what he has found to be the foundation for effective leadership. Those beliefs are centered around the need for a leader to “walk the talk” and consistently demonstrate integrity, view feedback as a gift, and create an environment that fosters creativity. …

Daphne Scott, Waking Up A Leader: Five Relationships Of Success, Susan Jensen

Mountain Plains Journal of Business and Technology

Daphne Scott, Waking Up a Leader: Five Relationships of Success (Lioncrest, 2019), 280 pages, $15 paperback.

Daphne Scott’s engaging self-help book argues that effective leaders operate from a position of trust rather than fear and offers practical exercises to enhance mindfulness.

Scott describes her own ‘awakening’ that radically shifted her perspective, enhanced her quality of life, and strengthened her ability to connect with and inspire others. Drawing largely from her personal experiences, Scott asserts the key to effective leadership is mindfully addressing key relationships with time, money, ourselves, friends, and the unknown. She argues that mindfulness is a core leadership …

Leadership After A Tornado Strike: Supply Chain Management Triage, Gregory Benson, Susan Jensen

Mountain Plains Journal of Business and Technology

An F2 tornado had tracked less than 100 feet from the Caldwin manufacturing plant, the largest producer of an essential engine value train component in the United States. Bob, Materials Manager at the plant and a member of the senior management team, was at home when the evening storm hit. Bob immediately headed to the plant when he received word of the emergency situation. On his way to the factory a rush of questions nearly overwhelmed him. How bad was the situation? How prepared was his team of employees to handle the situation? What should customers and suppliers be told …

Halliburton Whistleblower Tony Menendez - An Accountant With Moral Courage, David S. Christensen, Gerald Calvasina

Mountain Plains Journal of Business and Technology

This case describes the experience of accounting whistleblower Tony Menendez. It is both inspiring and cautionary. This case is most appropriate for use in graduate and undergraduate courses in ethics and management accounting. Students apply the IMA Statement of Ethical Professional Practice (SEPP) and advice from ethics gurus Gentile and Badaracco to analyze Tony’s experience to learn how to blow the whistle. They also identify character traits that helped Tony report the suspected fraud and fight retaliation from Halliburton. This case empowers students with a roadmap that illustrates how to blow the whistle and identifies potential roadblocks. Teaching notes are …

Managing Millennial Turnover In The It Industry: Leading With An “Inside-Outfluence” Approach, Travis J. Hollman, Kyle W. Luthans

Mountain Plains Journal of Business and Technology

This paper proposes a new perspective and approach for leaders to strategically manage millennial turnover problems in the Information Technology (IT) industry. Using a combination of interviews from experienced IT managers and existing literature, our goal was to identify and synthesize the problems and best practices for managing and retaining millennial IT talent. Based upon qualitative data, emergent themes were identified and then reviewed against the existing body of literature covering millennial employees’ retention and turnover in the IT industry. Areas of common ground were integrated to develop a new hybrid approach that we call the “Inside-Outfluence” model. In particular, …

Leadership On The Plains: Vignettes From Nebraska, Douglas A. Kristensen

Mountain Plains Journal of Business and Technology

Leadership is a popular topic. It is often viewed as a mechanism with which to blame someone when matters don’t go their way. Others see it as just positions of power and self-promotion. Leadership to me is an essential skill that is developed by experience. Leadership is not a mathematical calculation with a correct answer nor a science with a data-driven set of principles. Leadership is a responsibility taken on to achieve an agreed-upon mission of a group. The membership and description of a mission varies with each group. Thus, leadership is not monolithic; some groups are very quiet while …

Letter From The Editors, Srivatsa Seshadri, Larry Carstenson

Mountain Plains Journal of Business and Technology

No abstract provided.

Letter From The Dean, Tim Jares

Mountain Plains Journal of Business and Technology

No abstract provided.

Table Of Contents

Mountain Plains Journal of Business and Technology

No abstract provided.

Editors And Reviewers

Mountain Plains Journal of Business and Technology

No abstract provided.

Students’ Expectations Within A Nontraditional College Of Business Classroom, Angela Patrick, Rick Simmons, Russell Calk

Mountain Plains Journal of Business and Technology

Students in a college of business classroom have various expectations regarding the faculty member and the course. If the faculty member fails to meet those expectations, the resulting misalignment can cause misunderstandings and other issues. This study attempts to understand the expectations of nontraditional students to assist faculty in identifying the potential areas of misalignment. Using a series of modified questions from Schmitt, Larsen, Miller, Badawy, Dougherty, Sharma & Benson (2013), this study reports the results of a survey of 152 upper-division undergraduate and graduate students from the college of business at a regional university with a teaching mission. The …

Payday Loans: The Good, The Bad, And The Ugly, Kelsey Sloup

Undergraduate Research Journal

Numerous industries face the problem of reaching a delicate balance between satisfying industry interests and consumer interests. Frequently, one question that emerges is; how can an industry profit while still promoting the interests of consumers? This question is extremely relevant to the payday loan industry. This comprehensive analysis of payday lending is based on the acts of distinguishing characteristics of payday loans, identifying lenders and borrowers, clarifying evolving legal requirements, and analyzing reasons of support and opposition for payday lending. Based on this comprehensive analysis, recommendations for the future of the payday lending industry are presented and additional research topics …

Small Business Management: Using Assessment To Help Millennials Bridge The Gap Between The Classroom And Reality, Thomas W. Gainey, Jonathan R. Anderson

Mountain Plains Journal of Business and Technology

The purpose of this paper is to explore students’ perceptions of entrepreneurship as a career path and match those perceptions with academic program assessment in an effort to help academic departments better prepare students for careers in small business management. As this is exploratory research, this paper employs methods that capture a broad perspective, collecting data from multiple sources over the last decade. Data obtained from multiple sources allows for a meaningful and thought-provoking discussion on methods academic departments can use to help prepare students for success. Additionally, the data, analysis, and discussion help inform academic professionals charged with making …

Comparing The Urgent Needs Of Nebraska Small Business Owners Since The Great Recession, Abbey Rhodes

Undergraduate Research Journal

The Center for Rural Affairs is a Nebraskan nonprofit organization whose mission is to establish strong rural communities while engaging local citizens in the decisions affecting their quality of life and the future of their communities (Bailey, Preston, & Beck, 2014). Established in 1973, the Center’s research shows that rural communities in Nebraska and the Great Plains suffered economic and social declines in the late 1980s and early 1990s due to a diminishing population and decreased demand for products and services. The REAP program was funded by the Small Business Administration in 1992 to address these challenges and to help …

Exploring The Validity Of Covenants-Not-To-Compete In Nebraska, Rachel Leigh

Undergraduate Research Journal

Covenants-not-to-compete have been an issue between employers and employees for centuries. Within the last century, it has been common for these disputes to end up in the courtroom; Nebraska is no exception. The following paper will analyze what the Nebraska Supreme Court expects from a covenant-not-to-compete in order for it to be enforceable. The three components that the courts need present in a covenant will be explained and linked with past Nebraska cases. These cases paint a clear picture for employers on what must be included in a covenant-not-to-compete for it to be upheld in court.

The Value Of Shareholder Litigation Evaluated Through The Lens Of Real Options, Ansley Chua, Bruce Haslem

Mountain Plains Journal of Business and Technology

Studies looking at the impact of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act have found a mixed market reaction to the law at key events during its passage. We suggest that this is due to focusing on firms within a few industries and their quality of governance, rather than incorporating the real option aspect of securities litigation.When using a framework that is based on potential option payoffs instead, there was a very negative response to the passage of the law across all industries for firms with the highest potential payoffs, even after controlling for other factors such as governance and industry.Governance …

Nautilus, Inc.: Dealing With A Lone Wolf In The Sales Team, Ronald W. Pimentel, Rachael A. Pickett, Claire Thackeray

Mountain Plains Journal of Business and Technology

Headquartered in Vancouver, Washington, Nautilus Inc. is a global fitness products company providing innovative, quality solutions to help people achieve a healthy lifestyle. With a brand portfolio including Nautilus®, Bowflex®, Schwinn®, and Universal®, Nautilus markets innovative fitness products through direct and retail channels (Bean 2013).”

Nautilus, Inc. has a strong sales organization with remarkably low turnover of salespeople. They take a consultative approach to sales. Among the group, however, is a “lone wolf” who generally makes transactional sales rather than being consultative and focuses on her individual results rather than the objectives of the company. At the same time, she …

James F. Alderson: White-Hat Accountant With Moral Courage, David Christensen, Robin Boneck

Mountain Plains Journal of Business and Technology

The objective of this case study is to increase resolve to have moral courage by studying the whistleblowing experience of James Alderson. After a brief introduction about Alderson, whistleblowing, and moral courage, accounting students read a detailed description of Alderson’s experience in “HeBlewtheWhistleand HealthGiants Quaked” (Eichenwald 1998). They then identify essential elements of moral courage, explore how to blow the whistle, and identify character traits that may have contributed to Alderson’s success. Accounting students are inspired by Alderson’s experience, and report an increased resolve to have moral courage. Instructor notes about the case objective, suggestions for implementation and assessment, and …

Estimating Social Costs Of Rail Transportation In Japan, Arisa Ito

Undergraduate Research Journal

In this study, I examine several factors that are related to the social costs of rail transportation in Japan by using a constructed Japanese dataset and regression analysis. Unlike previous studies, the components of the social costs in this study focus on current environmental matters such as global warming and air pollution. Also, the regression analysis controls for population, revenue per passenger, passenger density, rail length, and gas emission. This study may help to improve technology and services, and minimize losses in the future of the rail industry.

Thoughts On Teaching The Senior Research Seminar In A Four-Year College: Suggested Protocols, Neal E. Duffy

Mountain Plains Journal of Business and Technology

This is an experiential and philosophical account of teaching the senior research seminar to economics and finance students. This article covers issues involving grading, resources, project selection, accountability, assessment, and class structure as well as the culture shock felt by both students and teacher in an independent study environment. One major point is that greater communication and minimal structure are more effective in creating the atmosphere of a true seminar. Instead of wasting time on research methods and over-assessment, the active exchange of ideas and learning-by-doing should be the focus of the senior seminar.

Conducting A Fraud Examination On Your Fraud Examination Students, Robert J. Dosch

Mountain Plains Journal of Business and Technology

The purpose of this paper is to discuss a fraud examination that occurred during a fraud examination course. The examination was not what one would first imagine. It was not an examination conducted by the students as part of the course requirements. Instead, it was an examination performed by the instructor on his students.

This paper will note how the investigation of the students relates to common components of frauds, attributes of the perpetrators, investigation methods utilized, the final resolution of this investigation, and what I might do different in future investigations.

Perceptions Of Fully Asynchronous Web-Based Courses: Marketing Implications, Srivatsa Seshadri, Greg Broekemier, Joshua Tolin

Mountain Plains Journal of Business and Technology

While there is a considerable body of literature addressing fully asynchronous online web-based teaching in institutions of higher education, none have delved into perceptions and expectations of online classes among those who have never experienced them first hand, either as students or as full-time faculty. As online courses have become ubiquitous, it has become imperative that academic institutions understand what faculty and students think about them. This study attempts to address this gap in extant literature. The similarities and differences in the perceptions about asynchronous online courses (1) among students and (2) between students and full-time faculty are addressed. Marketing …

The Essay Industry, Stephanie Owings, Jennifer Nelson

Mountain Plains Journal of Business and Technology

This paper considers the essay industry. The essay industry is an Internet-based collection of firms that provide students with papers, written by others, which satisfy their coursework assignments. We find that the industry is thriving. The firm failure rate is low, profits are high and revenues are, at a minimum, $100 million. Although there are laws in many states prohibiting the sale of essays, we find that these laws are not generally enforced. We review the pricing structure of the industry and the typical compensation rates of their employees. We consider anti-plagiarism software and conclude that it has limited effectiveness …

Sucker Rumination: How Aversive Self-Directed Cognitions Affect Purchase Intentions, Tyler F. Stillman, Gregory S. Pruess

Mountain Plains Journal of Business and Technology

If there is a silver lining to having been tricked in an economic context, perhaps it is that one can be wiser for the experience. Presumably, people are able to learn from such transactions and avoid them in the future. The current study employed an experimental design in which some participants were assigned to a control condition and others were told that they had recently been duped. Results indicated that among those who felt duped, people high in sucker rumination were subsequently less likely to avoid the source of deception. That is, people with a tendency to blame themselves harshly …

Creating A Pipeline For Business Student Recruitment: Using A Collegiate Deca Chapter For Recruiting High School Students, Ronald W. Pimentel

Mountain Plains Journal of Business and Technology

The College Choice Model and the Theory of Planned Behavior are used to examine recruitment of students to university business programs. These concepts are applied in the context of a Collegiate DECA chapter on campus, which is presented as a method of facilitating progress of high school students through the stages of predisposition to attend college, search for information, and choice of institution of higher education. A survey of 84 high school students who attended events hosted by a Collegiate DECA chapter on a university campus suggests that the collegiate chapter can favorably affect predisposition about higher education, assist with …

Simplified Method For Teaching Cash Flow Statement Construction To Entrepreneurship And Non-Accounting Majors, Dale T. Eesley

Mountain Plains Journal of Business and Technology

It is a common mantra of entrepreneurs that cash is king, and educators in entrepreneurship have stressed the need to make the understanding of cash flows a central theme early in a student’s education (Leauby and Wentzel, 2012; Pearl, 1986; Wouters, 2008). However, the ability to teach entrepreneurship students how to develop a statement of cash flows is viewed by many as a difficult task for educators. Many students struggle to understand the indirect method of modeling cash flows (Vent and Cocco, 1996) because the method of constructing the cash flow statement is not intuitive (Hodder, Hopkins, and Wood, 2008). …

The Importance Of Culture Change And Change Management In Successful Implementation Of Sap Enterprise Resource Planning Systems, William S. Thomas, Danielle Babb, John E. Spillan

Mountain Plains Journal of Business and Technology

"Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) has enabled organizations to connect vendors, the organization, and customers in an almost seamless manner with real-time accurate communication and information. In an increasingly competitive environment, businesses are looking for ways to become more competitive within their marketplace. Many are turning to ERP solutions to facilitate multiple competitive priorities to stand above competing businesses or to create a new competitive advantage. Critical success factors and change management are the primary vehicles for the achievement of success in the adoption of these systems. This research studies how change management becomes a significant link to successful ERP implementation. …