Business Commons^™

Defining Value Based Information Security Governance Objectives, Sushma Mishra

Theses and Dissertations

This research argues that the information security governance objectives should be grounded in the values of organizational members. Research literature in decision sciences suggest that individual values play an important role in developing decision objectives. Information security governance objectives, based on values of the stakeholders, are essential for a comprehensive security control program. The study uses Value Theory as a theoretical basis and value focused thinking as a methodology to develop 23 objectives for information security governance. A case study was conducted to reexamine and interpret the significance of the proposed objectives in an organizational context. The results suggest three …

Why Do People Use Or Not Use An Information Technology: An Interpretive Investigation On The Adoption And Use Of An Electronic Medical Records System, Li Long

Theses and Dissertations

In the literature of information technology acceptance, much empirical evidence exists that is inconsistent with Technology Acceptance (TA) Models. The purpose of this study is to find out why the extant TA models fail to predict in reality as they purport to in theory. This research argues that the extant literature has not been able to explain how individuals actually form their perceptions about using an information technology. Since past research attempting to do this has been unsuccessful or empirically refuted, this research uses an interpretive case study to investigate the experiences of professionals’ adoption and use of an information …

Work Is Fun: The Phenomenon Of Boys Enjoying Work In A Camp Setting, Zina Lenore Bennion

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine the perceived outcomes of participation in a summer camp that included physical work and service as a major component. A qualitative data analysis approach was used. A convenience sample of 10 male adolescents and 10 parents were selected. The data was analyzed using open, axial, and selective coding. Data analysis was used to ascertain perceived outcomes from the program from both boys and their parents. Analysis of the data showed the emergence of a core theme of boys learning to work and enjoying work. Enjoying work was the term chosen to represent …

The Smart Shopping Construct: Scale Development And Validation, Kelly Green Atkins

Doctoral Dissertations

This study was designed to gain a better understanding and conceptualization of the term smart shopping. The specific research objectives were to: (a) investigate consumers‟ perceptions of the term smart shopping; (b) develop a measure of smart shopping; and (c) validate the measure of smart shopping.

A comprehensive literature review was used to identify existing smart shopping theories and to identify opportunities for expanding on the existing meanings of the term. To obtain consumers‟ perceptions of the term smart shopping, two focus group interviews and fifteen face-to-face in-depth interviews were employed for initial item generation and instrument development. Scale development …

Relationships Between High School Students’ Perception Of Teacher Effectiveness, Attitudes Towards Hospitality And Intent To Select Hospitality As A Career, Eva Marie Smith

Doctoral Dissertations

The aspects of the learning environment have the potential to be an important influence in the career decision-making process of students. Teacher effectiveness was also a revealed as a component of student success. However, the connection between teachers’ effectiveness and student’s career development exhibited a gap in the literature. The idea that a teachers’ effectiveness in the classroom can have a direct impact on a students’ decision to choose a vocation, particularly hospitality, as a post secondary career path has not been thoroughly examined. The purpose of this study was to explore possible relationships between student perception of teacher effectiveness …

Exploring Relational Aspects Of Time-Based Competition In Supply Chains, Rodney Wayne Thomas

Doctoral Dissertations

In today’s evolving business environment, firms must increasingly focus on rapid adaptation, quick response, and time-based performance (Wisner et al., 2008; Eisenhardt and Martin, 2000; Barney et al., 2001). In order to remain competitive, firms are becoming time-based competitors because consumers have become more demanding. Firms now must quickly adapt, innovate, and implement new ways of serving the ever-changing preferences of customers (Dickson 1992). These changing consumer demands require firms to seek time-based sources of competitive advantage such as speed and flexibility in order to survive in hypercompetitive global markets (D'Aveni 1994; D'Aveni 1998).

Time-based competition (TBC) theory formally recognizes …

Multivariate Mixed Data Mining With Gifi System Using Genetic Algorithm And Information Complexity, Suman Katragadda

Doctoral Dissertations

Statistical analysis is very much dependent on the quality and type of a data set. There are three types of data - continuous, categorical and mixed. Of these three types, statistical modeling on a mixed data had been a challenging job for a long time. This is due to the fact that most of the traditional statistical techniques are defined either for purely continuous data or for purely categorical data but not mixed data. In reality, most of the data sets are neither continuous nor categorical in a pure sense but are in mixed form which makes the statistical analysis …

Workplace Spirituality And Buddhist Meditation, Pawinee Petchsawang

Doctoral Dissertations

Spirituality has received increased attention in the management field over the past few decades. However, there has been little empirical work supporting the benefits of bringing spirituality to the workplace. This dissertation aims to examine the effectiveness of an intervention (the Buddhist Mind Development Program (BMDP)) that is designed specifically to promote spiritual well-being in an Eastern context. First, workplace spirituality was defined to be grounded in the literature. Second, a workplace spirituality measurement was developed relying on conventional psychometric approaches. Third, a quasi experimental study—a pretest and a posttest with nonequivalent comparison groups design—was employed.

The data were collected …

Increasing The Effectiveness Of Central Public Administration In Republic Of Kosovo, Florina Mehaj Kosumi

Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

The Perceptions Of Superintendents Regarding The Need For Graduate Business Classes In Educational Leadership, Howard Leland Smith

Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to explore the comprehensiveness of educational leadership programs regarding the extent of appropriate business knowledge attained by public school administrators. Portions of the study included a discussion of current licensing practices, academic governance, basic business requirements for leadership and management, and basic financial literacy. A further purpose was to measure the perception of how the inclusion of specific business-oriented graduate education in the certification process might increase the initial success of administrators.

The literature review supported the concept that superintendents understand change management and fiscal responsibility. Survey respondents supported these concepts by indicating the …

Camping: A Positive Developmental Context For Youth With Disabilities/Serious Illness, Christopher T. Troxell

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

The paper will examine how elements of youth development can enhance the camp experience, so that new camps for youth with disabilities and/or serious illness, such as Flying Horse Farms, can start with a solid knowledge base of what works and why it works. Also, even though the paper is geared toward these specific types of camps, part of its recommendation could be modified to fit the purpose of any camp.

Managing Cultural Diversity In Hospitality Industry, Yi Gong

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Cultural diversity has become a major issue in the hospitality industry of the United States. This paper focuses on analyzing the change faces and current status of the cultural diversity in the hospitality workplaces, discussing the opportunities, benefits and challenges from the culturally diverse workforce, and providing practical recommendations that might help human resource managers to successfully dear with cultural diversity issues. Based on the analysis of cultural diversity, this paper creates a cultural diversity training module for a graduate human resource course or a hospitality company training program that aims at facilitating trainees to increase cultural diversity awareness and …

Rebranding: A Case Study Of A Business Hotel In Singapore, Guat Loo Ooi

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

This paper examined the process of service rebranding through various studies of corporate rebranding and service branding. This paper used exploratory case study to gain insight of an actual service rebranding of a business luxury class hotel, Royal Plaza on Scotts. Information from in-dept interviews with the Marketing and Brand Director was used to understand the various elements of the service rebranding process. The study showed that the actual service brand revitalisation of the hotel involved a combination of elements in the corporate rebranding and service branding processes. The study showed that the process of making changes to service brand …

Safety-Focused Altruism: Valuing The Lives Of Others, Kevin Lee Brady

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The value of statistical life is an estimate of the monetary benefits of preventing an anonymous death. Society's willingness to pay to eliminate private health risks determines agencies' value-of-statistical-life estimates. Most estimates ignore society's willingness to pay to eliminate others' health risks. There are two possible reasons. First, altruism does not exist: Peter is not willing to pay to save Paul's life. The second possible reason is a bit more complicated. Certain economists argue that increasing benefit estimates to account for altruism involves double-counting.

The purpose of this thesis is to evaluate these possibilities. Accounting for altruism, it turns out, …

Socio-Demographic And Financial Predictors Of Discharged Chapter 12 Bankruptcies For Utah, Idaho, And Wyoming, Jessica Johnson

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The purpose of this study was to examine the socio-demographic and financial characteristics that were associated with the likelihood of a discharge among Chapter 12 bankruptcy filers in Utah, Idaho, and Wyoming. Previous bankruptcy studies conducted in Utah have looked at the same associations in Chapter 7 and Chapter 13. This study contains individual filer-level data from 158 Chapter 12 bankruptcy cases filed in Utah, Idaho, and Wyoming between 1997 and 2005. These cases were accessed through the Web-PACER system, a database of imaged court documents filed in district bankruptcy courts. Free access to this system was given by the …

A Comparison Of The Economic Profitability Of Specified Risk Management Alternatives For Intermountain West Farmers, Cody D. Bingham

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The purpose of this research is to provide quantitative and limited qualitative analysis for the United States Intermountain West on the economic effectiveness of risk management alternatives in an agricultural operation. This research is not meant to be an exhaustive comparison of every potential combination of alternatives and risk scenarios. Instead, specific parameters such as farm size, crops grown, risk attitudes and risk management strategies are set to guide the research and offer a basis of comparison.

This research evaluates several levels of coverage using Multiple Peril Crop Insurance, Crop Revenue Coverage Insurance, Adjusted Gross Revenue – Lite Insurance and …

Downtown Revitalization: Consumers' And City Planners' Perceived Barriers To Integrating Large-Scale Retail Into The Downtown, Jennifer M. Donofrio

Master's Theses

Statement of Problem

Revitalization of downtowns across America continues to be challenged by the shift to the suburbs. The barriers to integrating large-scale retail in a small, medium, and large city downtown were examined.

Forces of Data

The System View Planning Theory (Taylor, 1998) guided the study of city planners’ and consumers’ perceived barriers to integrating large scale retail into the downtown. In order to ascertain the barriers to integrating large-scale retail into the downtown intercept-surveys with consumers (n=30, responded to the intercept survey in each city) and interviews with city planners were conducted.

Conclusion Reached

Some significant differences were …

Analyzing Leaders’ Perceptions To Enhance The Use Of An Employee Engagement Survey, Shelley A. Berg

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this evaluation study was to explore how a non-profit health insurance provider responds to the results of its annual employee engagement survey. According to most definitions, an engaged employee is a high-quality performer who takes personal responsibility to work toward the success of the organization. This study was designed to answer three questions: (1) What do leaders at HealthXYZ do with the data collected from the annual employee engagement survey? (2) How do leaders perceive the usefulness of the annual employee engagement survey? (3) What actions, if any, do leaders take as a result of the data …

Taxonomy Of Knowedge Management Research In Hospitality And Tourism, Henner Nehles

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

The hospitality industry is operating in an ever increasing knowledge-based economy, where hotels have to increase customer satisfaction and retention levels, lower employees turnover rates and operating expenses, maximize profits and strive to gain a sustainable competitive advantage. “Knowledge management caters to the critical issues of organizational adaptation, survival, and competence in the face of increasingly discontinuous environmental change. Essentially, it embodies organizational processes that seek synergistic combinations of data and information processing capacity of information technologies, and the creative and innovative capacity of human beings” (Civi, 2000, p.166). Knowledge Management (KM) is not a new concept. It has its …

An Observational Tool For Measuring The Dealer's Emotional Labor In A Casino, Alfred Sukwon Jang

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

The hotel industry has been interested in friendliness as a means of improving the relationships with customers. Upon how to operationally measure the employee’s friendliness, emerging studies have mentioned emotional labor at work. This study developed an observational tool for measuring the dealer's emotional labor in a casino by observing the smiling, eye contact, collecting in a gentle manner, greeting, thanking, and apologizing.

The Relationship Between High Risk Athletes Risk Perception Of Adventurous Activities, Their Travel Destinations And Their Vacation Travel Patterns, Tanir Magen

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Adventure tourism is a growing market segment in the US; the decision to participate in adventurous activities and the selection of risky destinations while on vacation involves ones risk perception about the physical risks that can lead to fatal results from these activities. Existing literature suggest that risk perception is a determinate in choosing a leisure activity and destination while on vacation and that level of tolerance to uncertainty can determine travel behavior (Floyd & Gibson, 2004; Fuchs & Reichel, 2006; Hofstede, 2001; Iso- Ahola, 1980, 1982; Money & Crotts, 2003; Reisinger & Mavondo, 2005). People who have high tolerance …

Road To The Green Seal, Milos Cerovic

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Green Seal is one of the most recognized non profit organizations that work closely with companies from all over the country to provide certification of environmentally friendly products used by employees. There are many reasons for product certification process. The most obvious one is to preserve the environment and energy efficiency. Another important reason is to reduce the cost and increase the profit by using products with higher durability and less expensive packaging. Of equal importance is participation in green initiatives which allows hotels and other organizations to capture additional businesses, media exposure etc. InterContinental Chicago is the largest and …

Contribution Of Family Leisure To Family Functioning Among Families With Adolescents In Mental Health Treatment, Jasmine Aileen Nutter

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between family leisure involvement and family functioning among families with an adolescent in mental health treatment. The sample (N=181) was obtained by sampling parents and adolescents enrolled in mental health treatment at Heritage Schools. Of the 181 participants, 52 cases consisted of matched parent and youth responses, 24 cases consisted of just parent responses, and 53 cases consisted of just adolescent responses. It was hypothesized that there would be a relationship between family leisure involvement and family functioning among families with youth in mental health treatment, and that when comparing …

An Attribute Model For Analyzing The Relative Value, Market Share And Yearly Shipments Of Newly Produced General Aviation Airplanes, Mitchell R. Cannon

Graduate Student Dissertations, Theses, Capstones, and Portfolios

The airplane manufacturing industry has evolved into a low production rate –high unit price environment. The ability of manufacturers to easily and quickly estimate airplane market value, market share and yearly shipments during the conceptual design phase of product development has become increasingly important. The purpose of this review was to explore the influence attributes affecting the value of newly produced general aviation airplanes utilizing attribute based product valuation, market share and yearly shipments regression models.

Conclusions derived from the critical analysis are: (1) product valuation models exist and are abundant, (2) many of the product valuation models are either …

Impact Of Offshore Outsourcing On Competitive Advantage Of U.S. Multinational Corporations, Yoram Benit

Graduate Student Dissertations, Theses, Capstones, and Portfolios

Offshore outsourcing became a common business practice by most U.S. and Western businesses after the Internet became viable. It is expected that by 2015 the U.S. market will outsource 3.3 million employment opportunities and will pay an estimated $136 billion in salaries to Asian countries (Hemphill, 2004). Outsourcing became a necessity for corporations to reduce cost and maintain competitiveness in the marketplace, but its effectiveness in achieving superior performance and competitive advantage needs to be explored.

The relationship among offshore outsourcing, market freedom, and competitive advantage is an important issue for multinational corporations to conduct business and gain competitive advantage. …

Lean Six Sigma As A Source Of Competitive Advantage, Alessandro Giorgio Cavallini

Theses and Dissertations

Anecdotal data affirms that companies applying Lean Six Sigma in their operations not only deliver higher quality products and services, but also obtain superior financial results. The goal of this research was to empirically verify anecdotal data. The study proposed to analyze a group of publicly traded manufacturing companies with the intent of verifying if a correlation exists between companies being lean and the attainment of superior returns on investments. The researcher performed a series of statistical tests comparing key Financial Performance Indicators (FPI) extracted from annual reports (10-K) from a large pool of companies. The outcome of this study …

A Balanced Scorecard Approach To Evaluate Enterprise Resource Planning Of Morehead State University, Milind Patil

Morehead State Theses and Dissertations

A thesis presented to the faculty of the College of Science and Technology at Morehead State University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Science by Milind Patil on November 10, 2008.

Protecting Investment, Profit, And Personnel: Corporations As Social Change Agents, Carole C. Fotino

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This paper describes a three-level toolkit - The Investment Sustainability Toolkit. The Toolkit assists firms in improving the efficacy of one segment of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative by creating at the first level, a strategy of conflict prevention. This strategy is followed by Common Elements of Conflict that Resolves/Becomes Violent, and Key Areas for Stabilization as Level II. The third and final level of the toolkit describes specific initiatives for increasing success, through The Screening Checklist.

The paper assesses through case study, the efforts of Firestone, Inc. in Liberia regarding regional development, stabilization, and economic development. This is done …

Proposing Additional Questions To Understand A Destination’S Image And Its Relationship With A Business Travelers’ Socio-Economic And Demographic Profile: Specifically, The Case Of Las Vegas, Yohan Lee

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Based on reviewed results of visitor profile reports from Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA) and other related literature, this study concentrated on developing additional and helpful questions to measure Las Vegas business travelers’ leisure needs and their perceived image of LVCVA. These questions mainly covered the areas, which were not covered by LVCVA survey questionnaire. Both quantitative and qualitative methods were utilized to create these additional questions. Thirty seven leisure attributes were used to measure business travelers’ general travel experiences. Thirty eight leisure attributes were used to measure business travelers’ perceived overall image of Las Vegas. Three open-ended …

Developing A Comprehensive Training Guide For Dealers In The Gaming Sector Of The Hospitality Industry In Las Vegas, David Lee

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Given that repeat business is at the core of profitable operations, particularly in the service industry, the purpose of this paper is to develop a comprehensive training guide for dealers in the gaming sector of the hospitality industry in Las Vegas. The comprehensive training guide will focus on customer service satisfaction to increase loyalty and add value to the Service Profit Chain (SPC). The efforts to develop and then implement this comprehensive training manual is to produce higher rates of repeat business, reflected in higher returns and overall profits. Therefore upon implementation, this comprehensive training manual will be the cornerstone …