Business Commons^™

Metro: Strategic Planning & Positioning, Olivia Gil-Guevara, Wendy Morris, Fred Speece, Meg Storer

Strategic Planning

(Methodist Effort to Reach Out) is an outreach agency of the United Methodist Church (UMC) which provides direct social services and supports community development. This strategic plan was developed by students of EDLD 511.

Investor Risk Aversion And The Weekend Effect: The Basics, Michael T. Young

All Faculty Scholarship for the College of Business

This paper provides an explanation of the continued persistence of the weekend effect. Using the 23 non-holiday Wednesday closings of 1968 as a benchmark, it is postulated that negative Monday returns can be explained by risk averse investors reacting to the arrival of new information.

Theoretical Analysis Of "Academic Credibility And The Hospitality Curriculum" : The Image Problem, Babs L. Cole

Hospitality Review

Social issues are assessed from different perspectives. The purpose here is to evaluate one short article in terms of interpretive social theory and then briefly assess it in terms of functionalism, conflic theory and critical theory.

Management Compensation As A Value-Added Competitive Method For Casual Theme Restaurants, Kevin S. Murphy, Robin B. Dipietro

Hospitality Review

The primary purpose of this study is to propose that the management compensation package at Outback Steakhouse is a value-adding competitive method. Specifically the research focused on a survey of general manager's altitudes in regards to their intentions to seek out new employment and the effect of the compensation plan provided by Outback Steakhouse on the managers' intentions. This research will provide insight into the use of compensation packages and programs as proactive, value-adding competitive methods in retaining good quality managers it casual theme restaurants.

Fresh Food Vending Trends And Practices, Ronald F. Cichy, Jeffery D. Elsworth, Larry M. Eils

Hospitality Review

Fresh food vending represents $1.5 billion in sales each year in the United States. The implications for a better understanding of fresh food vending are significant in terms of profitability and improved market share for vending operators. Of equal importance is a better understanding of the significance of the route driver on the overall fresh food vending operation. Developing a better understanding of this area of the food service industry will help vending operators increase profits and provide better product choices to consumers

Who Shook Big Mac?: Panera Bread Co., Kyuho Lee, Melih Madanoglu

Hospitality Review

The authors identify the firm-specific core competencies that Panera Bread has relied on to achieve a competitive advantage in its business domain. The study illustrates how the company scans the dynamically changing environments and tailors their products and services in accordance with these changes.

Strategic Approach To Smoking Bans: Delaware Gaming Industry, John W. O'Neill, Qu Xiao

Hospitality Review

A study of Delaware’s statewide smoking ban suggests that it may have had a significant negative economic impact on the state’s gaming industry. However, such impact may vary in different segments of the hospitality industry, and therefore, must be examined strategically and on a case-by-case basis. The specific market environment, including both demand and competition of each state or each municipality, should be carefully analyzed by both governmental decision makers and by hospitality operators who influence these decision makers.

Visitor At-Destination Search For Travel-Related Services, Robin B. Dipietro, Denver Severt, Paul Rompf, Peter Ricci

Hospitality Review

The phenomenon of at-destination search activity and decision processes utilized by visitors to a location is predominantly an academic unknown. As destinations and organizations increasingly compete for their share of the travel dollar, it is evident that more research need to be done regarding how consumers obtain information once they arrive at a destination. This study examined visitor referral recommendations provided by hotel and non-hotel ''locals" in a moderately-sized community for lodging, food service, and recreational and entertainment venues.

Impact Of Employee Management On Hospitality Innovation Success, Michael C. Ottenbacher, Michael Howley

Hospitality Review

The author report on a survey of 185 hospitality manager to examine which employee management practices are associated with success in hospitality innovations. The result suggest that successful new hospitality projects are guided by a strategic human resource management approach, have higher level of training, implement behavior- bared evaluation of their front-line staff and empower their employees.

A Multi-Criteria Decision-Making Approach To Compare And Contrast The Websites Of China-Based And U.S-Based Hotels, Rob Law, Kathy Liang

Hospitality Review

The improvement in living standards and the development of telecommunications have led to a large increase in the number of Internet users in China. It has been reported by China National Network Information Center that the number of Internet users in China has reached 33.7 million in 2001, ranting the country third in the world. This figure also shows that more and more Chinese residents have accepted the Internet and use it to obtain information and compete their travel planning. Milne and Ateljevic stated that the integration of computing and telecommunications would create a global information network based mostly on …

Model Of Service Quality: Customer Loyalty For Hotels, Brenda Mak, Janet Sim, David Jones

Hospitality Review

The authors investigate the relationship between loyalty and perceived service quality of hotel customers and discus managerial implications to develop strategies to enhance loyalty of hotel customers. A survey was conducted among customers in the San Francisco Bay Area. Results indicate that customer loyalty is dependent on perceived service quality which is observed in terms of timelines, facilities, and ambience.

How Do Tourist Guides Add Value To An Ecotour? Interpreting Interpretation In The State Of Amazonas, Brazil, Ester Periera

Hospitality Review

In Ecotourism, interpretation by a guide creates or shapes the experience for the tourist, differentiating one episode from another. As such, the guide S interpretation adds value to the tourism product and contributes to the visitor S experience. This paper discussed the role of interpretation by guides in the State of Amazonas, Brazil, finding in them patterns from which lessons may be drawn. Given the intangibility of the Ecotourism product, this paper argues that it is the guide who defines the quality of the product. The guide may draw the tourist toward or away from sustainable practices, and significantly contributes …

South Beach Wine And Food Festival - Why Participate?, Henrik Lilleheim, Reidar J. Mykletum, William J. Quain, Christer Engstom

Hospitality Review

This paper studies why restaurants, wineries, and other exhibiters participate in Wine & Food festivals. We hypothesized [hat the purpose was to acquire new customers thru promotional involvement in the festival. A secondary outcome was to ascertain if there were differences in motivation between the three groups. A survey was conducted of participating companies in one of the largest Food & Wine festivals. We found differences in what motivated winery participants from restaurants or other exhibitors. A discussion of these differences and how festival organizers may aid participants in achieving their goals is presented.

Economic Growth And Recession Time Periods: Their Effect Upon Pleasure Travelers Visiting Florida Theme Parks, Mark A. Bonn, H. Leslie Furr, Mo Dai

Hospitality Review

Two tourism-oriented travel samples were drawn from recent time periods that represented economic growth (expansion) and recession cycles in the O: S. economy. Analysis suggests that during the recession period, a greater percentage of theme park visitors chose to travel by air. Second, theme park travelers were more likely to visit friends or fami4 during the recession period. Third, recession theme park travelers were 10 years older, on the average, than their rapid growth counterparts. The average age difference of theme park visitors was found to be significantly different during cyclical economic periods. Research findings support the need for additional …

Beginning To Explore Dashboard Dining, David Walczak

Hospitality Review

It can be nutritious and healthy if done right. Fruits and vegetables, a granola bar, smoothie, or some fresh squeezed Florida orange juice would be good choices. On the other hand, it can poison you. Perishable protein and dairy products must be packed in a well- insulated cooler with plenty of ice and a refrigerator thermometer kept inside to en-sure the food stays below 40 degrees Fahrenheit. If you are not completely safe, it can kill you. According to Hagerty Insurance of Traverse City, Michigan, the top ten worst foods to consume are coffee, hot soups, tacos, chili, juicy hamburgers, …

An Analysis Of Information Technology Publications In Leading Hospitality Journals, Rosanna Leung, Rob Law

Hospitality Review

In response to the recent wide-scale applications of lnformation Technology (I/T) in the hospitality industry, this study analyzed articles in leading hospitality research journals, including the International Journal of Hospitality Management, Cornell Hotel and Restaurant Administration Quarterly, and the Journal of Hospitality & Tourism Research published in the period 1985 to 2004. A total of 1,896 full-length papers were published in these journals during the study period. Excluding book reviews, research notes, and comments from editors and readers, 130 full-length IT-related papers were identified. These papers were then grouped into six defined categories of IT. The findings revealed that during …

A Customer's Expectation And Perception Of Hotel Service Quality In Cyprus, Christou Loizos, Hadjiphanis Lycourgos

Hospitality Review

In recent years, hotels in Cyprus have encountered difficult economic times due to increasing customer demands and strong internal industry development competition. The hospitality industry’s main concern globally is to serve its customer S needs and desires, most of which are addressed through personal services. Hence, the hotel businesses that are able to provide quality services to its ever-demanding customers in a warm and efficient manner are those businesses which will be more likely to obtain a long term competitive advantage over their rivals. Ironically, the quality of services frequently cannot fully appreciated until something goes wrong, and then, the …

Financing America's Roads: The Past Is Prologue, Michael Gravier, M. Theodore Farris

Marketing Department Faculty Journal Articles

This article provides a historical perspective of American roadway financing. It explores revenue collection and expenditures at the federal, state, and local governmental levels. Accounting practices of the Highway Trust Fund are discussed including the enactment of the Truth in Budgeting Act to shift revenue collection closer to a direct-user tax. Factors affecting roadway tax revenues are identified and the impact of increasing taxes is discussed. Four key considerations which will continue to shape roadway revenue collection are identified.

Career Expectations Vs. Experiences: The Case Of Academic Women, Sonia Goltz

College of Business Publications

This qualitative study explored how women who filed complaints against their universities initially formed expectations when they joined their universities and how they later discovered their expectations were not met. Interviews suggested that as applicants the women assessed: 1) whether the university would provide an environment that would foster the achievement of their goals; 2) whether the university would reward their efforts and success; and 3) whether their individual characteristics matched the university's needs. They also assumed that the university would be fair. Upon entering their universities, the women expected to exchange their abilities and hard work for the organization's …

Some Evidence Concerning The Economic Value Of Software Portability: A Real Options Approach, Dean L. Johnson, Brent J. Levkin, James E. Northey

College of Business Publications

Software development typically involves a large capital outlay for an asset with a highly uncertain useful life. A reduction in the degree of uncertainty is likely to have a significant impact upon the expected value of an application. One method for reducing uncertainty is to incorporate modularity (e.g. a portability layer) when the application is first developed. The inclusion of such a layer involves an additional development cost. Using a real options approach we estimate the value of the flexibility that such portability confers. We use sensitivity analysis to examine the relationship between value of portability and changes in factors …

Maine Sea Grant Annual Report 2005, Maine Sea Grant

Maine Sea Grant Publications

This annual report summarizes the accomplishments and activities of the Maine Sea Grant Program from October 1, 2004 to September 30, 2005. We have organized the report by program areas: management, research, extension, education, and communications. The projects and activities in marine extension section are grouped according to our four theme areas: ecosystem health, coastal communities, fisheries, and aquaculture.

The Characteristics Of “Necessity” In A Work Place: A Replication Study, Chong W. Kim, Andrew Sikula Sr.

Management Faculty Research

As defined in our previous paper (Kim and Sikula, 2003), there could be three types of person and roles they play in the workplace: Necessity, Common and Parasite. A Necessity is the one who is an irreplaceable person. A Common is a worker of average ability and talent, and a Parasite is an employee free-loader who is a moocher more than a contributor.

The purpose of this paper is to replicate the first paper, and compare the results of two data sets. The data for the first paper collected from 34 undergraduate senior students in an Organizational Behavior (OB) class, …

Behavioral Factors In Strategic Alliances, Purnendu Mandal, Dale H. Shao, Chong W. Kim

Management Faculty Research

Recently, there has been a growing trend among information technology (IT) organizations to form strategic alliances to increase competitive advantages in the marketplace. For an organization to exploit the benefits of alliances, human factors and IT factors must be among the basic components of any strategic plan (Kemeny & Yanowitz, 2000). Despite the obvious need to consider human and IT factors when developing a long-term plan, many strategic plans developed in the past that led to alliances have failed to consider human aspects. Examples of failure in the implementation of IT systems due to the lack of consideration of human …

Annual Report 2004-2005, Imsa Fund

IMSA Fund Reports

The promise of the Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy® is now practice as visionary IMSA graduates forge new frontiers in Illinois and beyond in science, technology, engineering, mathematics and other fields, and as more and more students, educators and schools in our state, nation and world benefit from IMSA programs, products and services.

The Academy's reach, impact and success is due in no small part to the support it receives from the IMSA Fund for Advancement of Education - thanks to you.

You and other donors help in various ways, Annual gifts of all amounts provide essential operating support for …

La Alianza Cubano-Venezolana:¿”Neobolivarianismo Emancipador” O Expansión Del Totalitarismo?, Hernán Yánez

Institute for Cuban & Cuban-American Studies Occasional Papers

El estudio examina algunos de los antecedentes, así como los principales fundamentos ideológicos y de pragmatismo político que subyacen en la nueva alianza cubanovenezolana, incluido el eje político continental que Castro y Chávez intentan consolidar ahora en América Latina, según los lineamientos de un “nuevo mapa estratégico” y el financiamiento básicamente proveniente de la llamada diplomacia del petróleo de Hugo Chávez. Se subrayan ciertas coincidencias con el caso cubano, presentes en los métodos y secuencia para el ascenso al poder por Hugo Chávez, aportando además elementos de juicio sobre las etapas más tempranas de la colaboración del régimen de Castro …

The Cuba-Venezuela Alliance: “Emancipatory Neo-Bolivarismo” Or Totalitarian Expansion?, Hernán Yánez

Institute for Cuban & Cuban-American Studies Occasional Papers

This study examines the background as well as the ideological foundations underpinning the Cuba-Venezuela alliance. Castro and Chavez are now trying to consolidate a new political axis in Latin America, funded by Chavez’ oil diplomacy. Similarities with the Cuban experiment are highlighted, as well as Castro’s collaboration with the leadership of the Movimiento Revolucionario Bolivariano-MBR 200. The various dimensions of the cooperation between Venezuela and Cuba are explored, with emphasis on its political objectives and impact on each country. Following are some of the main conclusions of the study:

• Venezuela is providing in excess of 90,000 barrels of petroleum …

Garbage-In, Garbage-Out: Item Generation As A Threat To Construct Validity, Terri A. Scandura Phd, Lucy R. Ford

Management Faculty Articles and Papers

Item generation has received only cursory attention in the research literature, despite the fact that it seems obvious that poorly written items will result in poor psychometric properties of measures. In this paper, we review the literature on item generation, develop a typology of threats to construct validity, and evaluate five commonly used
organizational research measures with respect to typology. Our results demonstrate that the sampled measures have significant problems that may represent threats to construct validity. recommendations for improved item generation practice are offered.

Market-Orientation And The Multi-Factor Productivity Of Cherokee Indian Farmers Before Removal, Matthew T. Gregg

Business Faculty Publications

The efficiency of Cherokee Indian agriculture before removal has been debated since the early nineteenth century, yet no study has employed quantitative methods to estimate the multifactor productivity of these farmers. For this investigation I employed a unique census collected in 1835 to estimate Cherokee household-level technical efficiency and scale elasticities to determine which group (classified in terms of economic and racial characteristics) within this diverse Nation achieved the highest farm productivity. The analysis reveals that among non-slaveholding Cherokee!r--the majority of Cherokee households in the Southeast--market-oriented units that were unrelated to any particular household racial composition achieved the highest …

Development Forecast: The Fiscal Effects On Property Taxes And Occupational License Fees And The Social Costs And Benefits Of Urban Redevelopment In Lexington-Fayette County, Kentucky, Tony J. Stoeppel

MPA/MPP/MPFM Capstone Projects

Real estate development has effects on the publicly recorded property valuation of a parcel. The extent of the relationship in Lexington-Fayette County demands further analysis. Redevelopment also has unintended social costs the public may be forced to bear. This study presents estimates of the fiscal impact a redevelopment project has on the local tax revenues. The study population used for analysis includes redevelopment projects completed within the last six years in the downtown Lexington area. The research attempts to formalize a relationship among the incremental change in the publicly recorded value, the cost of redevelopment, and the distance the project …

Organizational Structures And State Departments Of Transportation, Candice Y. Wallace

MPA/MPP/MPFM Capstone Projects

No executive summary.