Digital Commons Network^™

Creating Jo, Jenna Olson

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

With the rise of technology, physical invitations have largely been replaced by digital invitations and e-cards. This change in invitation culture has led to less time and energy being spent on celebrating important life events. I created JO to help individuals elevate the important moments in their lives through intentional communication and beautiful designs. JO products seek to display effective, aesthetically pleasing, and meaningful messaging. This project documents my business, JO, through a written business plan and website.

A business plan aims to demonstrate a well-developed idea to gain support and investment. My business plan includes an executive summary, company …

Nato And The Ifrc: A Comparative Case Study, Abigail Kosiak

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

This research analyzes the North Atlantic Treaty Organization's (NATO) Multinational Telemedicine System (MnTS) Project and works to answer five main questions:

1) What challenges did the NATO MnTS Project face that are directly related to the fact that the project included members from different countries and worked to create a system that operates across national borders?

2) How do these challenges compare to those faced by a non-governmental organization (NGO) like the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC)?

3) What successes has the IFRC had with its current operational model?

4) In what ways could …

2018 Marketing Audit For Jump The Moon Foundation, Luke L. Flynn

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

Jump the Moon Foundation (JTM) was started in December of 2017 as a nonprofit organization under the vision and direction of Michael J. Bingham, an artist and teacher with 30 plus years of professional experience. During his art experiences in and outside the workforce and classroom, Michael noticed a gap in the nonprofit sector for an organization that helps "individuals of all abilities" take part in art. This intuition and vision soon lead to Michael's creation of JTM, "a vocational arts program dedicated to creating opportunities for artists with disabilities to make, market, and earn income from their original and …

An Investigation Of The Impact Of Changing Social Norms On Female Clothing Attire Pre And Post Ww Ii, Bailey Marie Burningham

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

Not only did World War II bring about changes to the economy and policy in the United States, it also changed women's fashion and, consequently, the way in which women's fashion was presented through marketing efforts. This study is an investigation of how changing social norms, as seen in various marketing material, may have impacted women's attire before and after World War II. The study will be conducted by analyzing various reports on how changes came to pass throughout this time, and how different factors may have instigated the change. Additionally, an analysis of marketing materials used pre and post …

The Nfl And Trump: Did Protesting Cause The Decline?, Jameson Osmond

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

This project is a study in econometric modeling of the effects of the protests of the national anthem in the NFL during the 2016-2017 seasons. The project is created to determine the accuracy or lack thereof of President Donald Trump's statement that the cause of the decline in viewership and ratings (and thus business) of NFL games was caused by protests that deterred US viewers.

Using viewership and rating data, along with various protest indexes created by collecting game-level protest data, an econometric model was constructed to allow for control over various endogenous and exogenous variables that surround NFL in-season …

Perceived Entitlement Among Amillenials Versus Baby Boomers: A Cross-Generational Examination, Eliza Comer

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

As the Millennial workforce grows, understanding how Millennials are viewed- specifically in terms of entitlement-is an issue that merits attention, since perceived entitlement could negatively impact the extent to which an individual's contributions are valued in the workplace. While prior research suggests that Millennials are entitled (Allen 2015; Fisk 2010; Myers 2010), it neglects how perceptions of entitlement may differ across generations. We aim to address this gap by examining whether Baby Boomers and Millennials differ in their perceptions of what constitutes entitled behavior. Specifically, we test whether an individual's age, together with situational factors, may influence the extent to …

Intergenerational Care: A Strategic Approach To Senior Care, Amanda Lundholm Stadel

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

Our society has become increasingly segregated between generations, specifically with senior adults. During the last years of a senior adult's life, he or she may often feel socially isolated which is closely correlated to depression, mental health challenges, and physical decline. These challenges may likely increase considering the number of adults age 65 and older is predicted to double within the next 25 years.

Intergenerational care is an innovative model that combines both child and senior care in a way that bridges the gap between generations. Studies have shown that implementing this model can benefit residents in ways that other …

The Opm Data Breach: Lessons Learned, Michael Wheat

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

In 2015 the federal government announced the largest data breach in United States government history. The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) was hacked, and the personal information of more than 25 million American people was lost to foreign attackers. This incident has spawned concern and outrage about the security of government data in the emerging digital age.

Moving forward from the breach questions remain about how this event happened. It's clear that there were weaknesses that were taken advantage of by malicious threats abroad, and investigations into the attack have yielded surprising results. Not only was the security in place …

Cultural Influences On Women In Leadership: An Extension Of The Hofstede And Globe Dimensions, Wendy Bosshardt

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

Technology has forever changed the face of business. Although in the past business markets have been limited to local geographic areas, the concept of outsourcing has opened a diverse spectrum of international markets. An increase in suppliers and consumers can improve business effectiveness and efficiency, but entering international markets can be detrimental if the business is unaware of the subtle differences the new market has in regard to leadership styles and cultural values. Hofstede's cultural dimension analysis has been the primary research study for many industry and academic professionals (Bond 2002; Hofstede 1997). However, many scholars are questioning whether Hofstede's …

The Affordable Care Act: Five Years Later, Andrew Dana Izatt

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

The challenges facing the American health care system are well known and manifold. The United States pays substantially more for its health care than any other developed, industrialized nation. Per capita health care spending in 2012 was $8,745, up from $356 in 1970 without marked improvements in life expectancy, quality of life, or outcomes. But despite all of our health spending, large portions of our population go without health insurance. Being uninsured carries real consequences. A report published in the American Journal of Public Health, by researchers at Harvard Medical School, using statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and …

Crony Chronicles Website Redesign, Lindsey Marie Mcbride

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

The policy team at the Charles Koch Institute is broken into different areas of research. During my summer internship, I was assigned to research crony capitalism with four other members of the policy team. Along with their research on crony capitalism, these team members maintained a website called cronychronicles.org. For a definition of crony capitalism, or cronyism, see Appendix C. The goal of the website was to be "the leading online resource for everything related to cronyism" (About Us). I was very interested in the research I was conducting on crony capitalism, and enjoyed contributing information to the Crony Chronicles …

Internship At Metalwest As A Market Researcher, Jolynn Marie Carr

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

I was accepted and worked as an intern for the company Metalwest. (They have since merged with another company and are now called O'Neal Industries.) My internship title was Market Researcher. As a market researcher, I was in charge of discovering vital information for future growth of the company. I participated in research in order to expand Metalwest's business into government agencies as well as discover possible customers outside of the government. I researched using the internet, books, and phone calls.

Ogden Valley Development Analysis And Plan, Alex Daines, Cooper Larsen, Nate Naegle, Chris Ransom

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

A team of four Huntsman Scholars undertook an intensive, semester-long project, analyzing how the Ogden Valley Planning Commission could best ensure sustainable, wise development in its pristine Valley, preventing unwise overdevelopment down the road. The final presentation, with analysis and recommendations, was made on May 6, 2014, in Ogden before the Ogden Valley Planning Commission and members of the public. The results were praised highly by Planning Commissioner Pen Hollist.

Agco Corporation Valuation, Sean Michael Miller

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

This paper will discuss the excellent growth potential that AGCO Corporation faces and the reason that this company's stock is rated as a hold position. AGCO has seen tremendous progress and is in an industry that shows that a growing world population will continue to need food and more efficient ways to create food. However, based on sensitivities of assumptions in the models presented herein and on a current share price that is already close to my assumed fair value I do not issue a buy recommendation.

Organizational Change: Models For Successfully Implementing Change, Ashley May Calder

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

Does it matter what change model is used to make a change in an organization? If so, why? Are certain models more effective than others based on the kind of change that is made (i.e. technology-based verses people-based)? What overlaps exist between these models? What is the strongest point of each model? What is the weakest point? Are any of the change models currently used in companies? This article defines three change models: ADIKAR, Lewin's Change Model and John Kotter's Eight Steps for Leading Organizational Change. Using 16 personal interviews with individuals from large and small companies, I will explain …

Observational Research In A Marketing Classroom: A Guidebook, Kristen Winterton

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

Qualitative research plays an integral part in marketing research (Denzin and Lincoln, 1998). In fact, a search of the website for the American Marketing Association for the term “qualitative research” reveals literally hundreds of documents (white papers, case studies, etc) discussing methods of conducting observational research, examples of observational research studies, and the importance of observational research in marketing. Interestingly, though qualitative methods are used frequently by practitioners, they receive very limited attention in marketing textbooks. This seems particularly true of observation research, which is among the least expensive and easily conducted qualitative methods (Mann, 2003). The purpose of this …

Social Business: Maximizing Economic Value To Create Social Value, Melody Alene Jensen

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

Throughout the world, there are problems threatening the lives and livelihood of humanity. Where there are problems, there are people who want to fix them. But charity has shown to be unsustainable and ineffective in creating positive change in the long run. Some companies have chosen to go beyond corporate philanthropy or "corporate social responsibility" by incorporating a social mission into the core of their businesses. The ideals and mission permeate through company goals and strategies. This new model of doing business seeks to sustainably create social value. But this undertaking would not be possible without creating economic value through …

Business Intelligence Tools In A Developmental Environment: An Academic Module, Landon M. Hemsley

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

Business Intelligence (BI), defined here as the creation and use of meaningful business information for management, has over the last 20 years shown over and over again its value to professional industry. The prevalence of BI has also demonstrated that a new brand of worker is needed to take advantage of the sophisticated tools available to modern industry. Evidence suggests modern universities have struggled to educate professionals on the tremendous impact BI can have on an organization if used properly. This work is a step in an endeavor to bridge that educational gap and generate an educational strategic advantage by …

How To Navigate Public Accounting Recruitment, Jill Heather Aoki

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

For many accounting graduates, public accounting is an excellent place to start a career. However, recruitment at accounting firms is highly competitive. The majority of personnel are hired through internships, and competition for these positions is fierce. The process usually spans over multiple years and involves participating in leadership seminars, attending social events, and much more in addition to interviewing. Successful placement requires not only exceptional academic achievements but also strong relationships with personnel at the firm. One primary differentiator among the numerous public accounting firms is their people and culture. Other factors include local clients and specializations. Thus, candidates …

Personal Intern Experience Assessment, Jacob Reed

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

I am a senior, finishing up the last accounting class for my undergraduate degree in accounting. I recently completed an internship with PwC in the McLean, Virginia office. At PwC, I was an assurance intern primarily responsible for assisting my engagement teams by performing tests around financial statement line items such as 'cash.' I learned quite a bit about the PWC process for auditing these items because I performed these same procedures on six different clients.

My role as an intern was to perform uniform tasks that needed to be done on each engagement, and when I was done I …

Evaluating Student Perceptions Of Value And Preferences For Online Programs In Skill-Based Learning: An Applied Exercise, Darcy Lynn Stewart

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

In an age where training and knowledge are easily accessible online, textbooks, lecture slides and other class materials have migrated to online programs. Online programs are becoming easier to maintain for professors and administrators and offer some convenience and efficiency that traditional classroom lectures do not. It is widely assumed that students who have grown up with cell phones, email accounts, social media, iPods, Google and laptops easily identify with internet based applications. This research studies a group of over 30 university students seeking to develop skill-­‐sets to prepare them for entering the workforce through participation in an online and …

The Temple Recommend: A Solution To The Free-Rider Problem, Austin Bowles

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

Temple worship and geographical boundaries are unique features of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). Our research uses economic theory to understand how the organizational benefits of the temple recommend system and the geographical ward boundaries may solve the market failures associated with religious organizations. These features of the LDS Church will be used to create a framework for understanding how the church limits free-riding and sub-optimal participation, which would result in increased efficiency and production of large religious benefits. Because the market failures faced by the church are the same as those faced by other …

The Relationship Between History, Culture, And Chinese Business Practices: Using Sociological Awareness To Avoid Common Faux Pas, Vikki A. Ballard

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

As the world continues to become more global, and as economies continue to develop, more emphasis is being placed on understanding the business environment of cultures around the world. There is perhaps no other nation or culture globally that has been discussed as much as China. This is because the United States is one of the largest foreign investors in China (Li, 2008). The importance of the Chinese market to the U.S. lies in its wealth of people and resources and the millions of new consumers joining the market every day. As a nation of 1.3 billion citizens, with a …

The Banco Itau Business Communications Course, Cohen Summers

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

In the ever changing business world, establishing a competitive advantage is essential in order to build and sustain the viability of a company. The global investment industry has developed dramatically over the past 20 years generating new opportunities for investors worldwide. One example is exhibited by the increasing global demand for Brazil securities ds well as others in various emerging markets. With this increasing demand by foreign investors in the Brazilian markets, firms are constantly attempting to identify the best, most efficient, cost-effective products and services. Because a majority of the products are relatively the same across the industry, companies …

Take Your Business Elsewhere: A Marketing Plan For The Usu College Of Business, Mckenzie Rae Anderson

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

The College of Business study abroad program began in the summer of 2007. The study abroad program promises to be a strong point in the scholastic career of any student that chooses to participate, as well as a key strategy to the future success of the College of Business as a whole.

The success of this program comes from overall national growth in the interest of studying abroad, as well as the trend in business of globalization. While there seems to be some competition for the College of Business study abroad program, the specialized needs that the program addresses provides …

Meanings Transferred Through The Consumption Of Jewelry In Romania, Meagan Call

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

In the past decade, there has been a vast expansion and globalization of markets. This "globalization demands that consumer researchers have experience and knowledge about individual countries and international conditions" (Arnould et al, 2002). The globalization of consumer research "demands that...researchers have experience and knowledge about individual countries and international conditions...meaningful synthesis and comparison demands not just proficiency in statistical methods and languages but insights into cultural differences" (Arnould et al, 2002). What is important for marketers to understand is the relationship between culture and product meanings. One important area of meanings involves personal meanings such as those high involvement …

Helping Cob Students Use Their Business Degree To Get Into Law School, Jon Jeffery Carlston

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

Getting into law school these days has become ultra-competitive. GPA's and LSAT scores that worked just a few years ago will not get a law school applicant into the same schools they will today. The economy as well as the attractiveness of a law degree (J.D.) have lead to record increases in the number of students applying for law school. Law schools have been forced to "raise the bar" in order to deal with the demand. Because this is the case, undergraduate students must find ways to distinguish themselves among applicants, stay on top of the application process, and achieve …

University - Industry Alliances: A Critical Review Of Corporate Partnerships And Sponsorships On University Campuses, Travis Craig Thorne

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

University-industry alliances are defined as arrangements between for-profit corporations and academic institutions in which something of value is exchanged.

Recreation, At A Glance, Michelle A. Wilkins

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

As Utah prepares to showcase its majestic landscapes worldwide during the 2002 Olympic Games, countless travelers continue to explore the state's splendor. Utah is famous for its land of many faces. From the red rock of Canyonland National Park to the snow-capped mountains along the Wasatch front, the state is rich in natural diversity. This diversity translates into a broad spectrum of recreational opportunities the state can offer. For instance, Utah's alpine and cross-country ski conditions are among the best in the world. In warm months, rigorous alpine and rock trails have earned Utah the reputation as the "bicycling capital …

Valuing Diversity In Business, Kimberly Nalder

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

The purpose of this project was to create, plan, and implement an original instructional module on the topic of valuing diversity in business. My areas of emphasis were gender, sex role issues, and communication.

My responsibilities included: coordination with the instructor in all stages of planning and implementation; researching appropriate learning models for such a course; identifying topics of greatest significance within diversity; preparing and presenting one complete day of instruction; adapting cases and worksheets for both the course introduction and the gender issues/ communication sections; conducting personal interviews with appropriate resource individuals; creating an original group project; arranging for …