Business Law, Public Responsibility, and Ethics Commons^™

Fast Fashion From A Buddhist Perspective, Elizabeth Mclaughlin

HON499 projects

The connection between Buddhism and fast fashion is not immediately apparent, nor is it a particularly well-researched area. However, the topic of consumption underlies both topics, relating to each in markedly different ways. Buddhist precepts outline practices of mindful and sustainable consumption within limited means; fast fashion fosters consumption on a massive, global scale. The work of Ernst Friedrich Schumacher, a man with a career in economics that was aided by great concern for the survival and success of humankind, offers clarity to the conversation about Buddhism and fast fashion. He pioneered the field of Buddhist economics, which seeks to …

A Close Look At Audit Standards And Best Practices How To Validate The Existence Of An Asset, Luis Lebron

Economic Crime Forensics Capstones

A comparative analysis will be conducted seeking to identify how to obtain sufficient evidence to determine the existence of an asset within an organization during an independent audit. The external auditor is often regarded as the “gatekeeper” of the financial markets which has a fiduciary duty to its clients. (Choy, Fields, & King, 2008) Accounting firms are required by operation of law to act in an ethical manner and have a social responsibility to protect the interest of the public. However, there exists an ongoing issue in the performance of audits by larger firms. In a recent study conducted by …

X-Inefficiency In Monopolies, Emily Nowlan

HON499 projects

This paper takes a case study approach to studying the efficiency and causes of decline for monopoly firms. The focus of the analysis will be on two firms: IBM, and Xerox. The main causes of failure studied will be financial issues, mismanagement, and regulatory cases. One theory is that, as monopolies operate, one begins to see a differential between growth of profits and expenditures. Thus, the firms become “fat and slow.” The company may also become bogged down with overhead, attempting to maintain unsustainable and unnecessary levels of employment. Compounding this issue, many managers fail to accurately predict the movement …

Hawala: How Extralegal Compliance Helps Bank The Unbanked, Morgan Henry

Economic Crime Forensics Capstones

Informal value transfer systems (IVTS') predate not only traditional banking systems, but the entire Western European civilization as well. Used as a reliable method to transfer value from one geographic region to another through a close-knit network of trusted individuals, IVTS' serve as an invaluable facilitator for the movement of billions of dollars across international borders without ever leaving a paper trail. The term “hawala”, which is Arabic for “transfer” or “trust”, is an IVTS that serves as a parallel banking system for those wishing to send value (often in the form of currency) overseas. Hawala has historically thrived as …

How Mortgage Fraud Helped Facilitate The 2008 Housing Crisis, Darlene B. Freeman

Economic Crime Forensics Capstones

There has been much debate about what caused the housing meltdown that occurred from 2008 through 2010. One aspect that has not been debated; mortgage fraud was at the center of this historically difficult time in our nation’s history, and played a major role in causing millions of homes to go into foreclosure. For this Capstone Project, I will analyze the devastation mortgage fraud caused in the lives of people that were displaced from their homes, workers that lost their jobs and the continued devastation that still remains due to a shrinking housing market. I will also examine the lasting …

Analyzing Proactive Fraud Detection Software Tools And The Push For Quicker Solutions, Kerri Aiken

Economic Crime Forensics Capstones

This paper focuses on proactive fraud detection software tools and how these tools can help detect and prevent possible fraudulent schemes. In addition to relying on routine audits, companies are designing proactive methods that involve the inclusion of software tools to detect and deter instances of fraud and abuse. This paper discusses examples of companies using ACL and SAS software programs and how the software tools have positively changed their auditing systems.

Novelis Inc., an aluminum and recycling company, implemented ACL into their internal audit software system. Competitive Health Analytics (Division of Humana) implemented SAS in order to improve their …

Electronic Validation In The Pharmaceutical Industry, Victor Decouto, S Singh

Mathematics and Computer Science Capstones

The authors investigate whether or not companies within the pharmaceutical industry still have a hard time effectively designing and following an electronic validation system. With increased data integrity issues from electronic systems, the FDA introduced 21 CFR Part 11 in 1997 to allow for the use of electronic signature and records for processes within the pharmaceutical industry. This regulation also required that the computer and electronic systems be available for audits and inspections by the FDA. In order to comply with 21 CFR Part 11 and adapt to new technology, companies must have an electronic validation system. The electronic validation …