Digital Commons Network^™

Certified B Corps Within The Food Industry And Their Innovative Practices To Improve Environmental And Social Impact, Julie-Anne Finan

Dublin Gastronomy Symposium

: In this paper, I take an introspective look at the B Corp Certification to better understand why so many food companies have engaged with it as a means to improve their positive impact in an age where agricultural practices have a clear link to climate change and increasing social injustices across global food supply chains. The first part of the paper discusses the three stages involved in becoming a Certified B Corp - completing the B Impact Assessment, making a legal change to the company structure to consider all stakeholders and providing full transparency. The second part of the …

Digital Accessibility In The Hospitality And Tourism Industry: Legal And Ethical Considerations, Debra D. Burke, Kenneth J. Sanney, Dan Clapper

William & Mary Business Law Review

Federal law requires accessibility for public sector websites. What about the web pages and apps of hotels, restaurants, and tourism providers? The Americans with Disabilities Act may cover private sector websites if they are considered a place of public accommodation, but the law is unclear. This Article will provide an overview of the legal responsibilities of operators to provide accessibility to persons with disabilities, discuss the World Wide Web Consortium’s guidelines for web accessibility, and argue that the hospitality and tourism industry has a unique ethical obligation to fill in the gap where the legal system has failed this population.

Food Insecurity And Socially Responsible For-Profit Entities, Maison Dewalt

Honors Projects

This paper explores the viability of a for-profit entity being dedicated to addressing food insecurity. Through examination of challenges associated with food insecurity, as well as through review of current, effective for-profit food distributors in the U.S. food system, this paper identifies the need for an alternative approach to resolving food insecurity. The paper posits that such an approach may exist through business model integration in establishing a new, socially responsible for-profit entity.

A Tale Of Two Cities, Maybe Three A Look At Financial Literacy And Economic Development In Three Mississippi Cities: Fulton, Clarksdale, And Oxford, Kellie Reed Cleveland

Honors Theses

This paper explores the backbones of economic growth and how the backbones influence economic development in three cities in Mississippi. It further seeks to promote education in financial literacy throughout the state to create a base for individuals to further their financial education, create small businesses, or to simply be a knowledgeable citizen. The research sifts through backbones such as population health and small & big business influence, to explore how financial literacy influences daily life and the catalyst for businesses to start and grow. The Mississippi cities Fulton, Clarksdale, and Oxford are studied more in-depth through photos of the …

What Am I Tipping You For? Customer Response To Tipping Requests At Limited-Service Restaurants, Ismail Karabas, Marissa Orlowski, Sarah Lefebvre

Faculty & Staff Research and Creative Activity

Tipping within the foodservice industry has traditionally been reserved for full-service restaurants. However, there is a growing trend of tip requests at limited-service restaurants, where tipping occurs prior to consuming the product. This research aims to examine the effect of a point-of-sale tip request at limited-service restaurants on return intentions via customer irritation. It also aims to analyze the moderating effects of check amount and perceived deservingness.

The Impact Of Review Valence And Awareness Of Deceptive Practices On Consumers’ Responses To Online Product Ratings And Reviews, Ismail Karabas, Ioannis Kareklas, T. J. Weber, Darrel D. Muehling

Faculty & Staff Research and Creative Activity

Many online retailers and some manufacturers/service providers have recently been engaging in questionable practices, where product reviews are often fabricated and/or posted without sufficient clarity and objectivity. Across an exploratory study and two main studies, we empirically examine this phenomenon and observe a pattern of effects that suggests that review valence (i.e., the average number of rating-stars a product receives) influences product attitudes and intentions, but that these outcomes are significantly impacted by the extent to which consumers are aware of potentially deceptive online review practices. Awareness of deceptive practices was found to differentially influence attitudes and intentions, depending upon …

2020-May-04-1911 Society Inductees, University Marketing And Communication, East Tennessee State University

ETSU News

JOHNSON CITY – (May 4, 2020) Ten members of the Class of 2020 at East Tennessee State University have been inducted into the newly formed 1911 Society.  Named in commemoration of the year when ETSU was founded, the organization honors the university’s most notable graduates from undergraduate, graduate and professional programs. The 1911 Society recognizes students who have distinguished themselves among all graduates for academic excellence, service, and leadership.

ETSU President Dr. Brian Noland said, “For more than a century, ETSU has carried forth a mission to improve the quality of life for the people of this region.  That initiative …

Subcontracting And Sweatshops During Coronavirus – The Wake-Up Call Businesses Need?, Singapore Management University

Perspectives@SMU

Coronavirus continues to impact the already struggling retail sector. Wesfarmers, one of Australia's largest listed companies and the owner of bargain retailers Kmart and Target, recently announced the closure of some 75 Target stores, with another 90 to be converted to the more profitable Kmart outlets. Fears remain for some 1000 Target workers whose jobs are at risk.

Examining Farm Bill Expenditures Over The Last Decade, Bailey Riggs

Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness Undergraduate Honors Theses

The American Farm Bill is a bill that is passed by Congress every five to six years. This legislation is omnibus, meaning it covers a wide variety of topics such as nutrition, conservation, rural development, crop insurance, and much more. This thesis will study the effectiveness of the allocation of funding covered in the Farm Bill, specifically Farm Bills from the last 12 years. This bill has a significant impact on farmers who need support from the government to remain profitable and continue their operation. This thesis will examine how shifts in funding can affect farmers growing crops, raising beef …

The Political Preferences Of Arkansas Farmers And Ranchers, Rachel J. Barry

Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness Undergraduate Honors Theses

This research was conducted to evaluate where farmers and ranchers find political information and assess their political preferences. By conducting a survey of Arkansas farmers and ranchers we were able to determine that they prefer face to face interaction as a source of information by large margins. They typically consult friends, peers, and extension agents where appropriate. Depending on the type of political information they are seeking (information about candidates as opposed to information about policy topics), they often used other types of information sources such as the internet and broadcast media. We also ascertained that farmers and ranchers have …

Leadership Strategies: Developing Millennial Entrepreneurs For Start-Up Micro-Gyms, Esdeina Gonzalez

Leadership Education Capstones

The purpose for this study is to explore the experiences of small business owner’s best practice strategies leading to successful business operations. Learning about these experiences will permit the millennial generation to understand what is needed for their business to start up their micro-gym. This study may be used as an introduction to millennial entrepreneurs for the survival of their own micro-gym setting a priority of importance in leadership development since research have explored the lack of development in the leadership area.

Chefs' Perceptions Of Zero Waste Cooking In Restaurants, Josephine Reardon

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study is to examine chefs’ perceptions and practices relative to current and potentially future efforts to decrease food waste. Through qualitative inquiry, this research aims to identify food waste reduction practices in Northwest Arkansas restaurants; chef’s perceptions of these practices and zero waste cooking; the impact these practices have on successfully implementing sustainability; and the biggest challenges in reducing food waste in restaurants. The results of this study will assist chefs and restaurant owners by providing guidance on practices easily utilized in restaurants currently.

An interview protocol, with five sections, was conducted with ten chefs at …

Building Value Through Innovative Eucheuma Spp. Product Development: A Case Study With The Belize Women's Seaweed Farming Association, Bailey Moritz

All Theses And Dissertations

Seaweed aquaculture has been a successful supplemental livelihood in coastal communities worldwide, creating new income opportunities for women in particular. In most cases, raw or dried carrageenan-producing seaweed is sold into supply chains without local value addition taking place. Upgrading value chains can come in the form of new products, differentiation from existing products through marketing, or breaking into new markets. The research investigates the local market potential for value-added Belizean Eucheuma seaweed products and offers insights into a pathway forward for the Belize Women’s Seaweed Farming Association (BWSFA) to take advantage of these opportunities at an early stage of …

Asymmetric Exchange Rate Pass-Through In Southeast Asian Rice Trade, Taylor Wiseman

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Asian countries consume approximately 90% of the world’s rice supply. Between 2007 and 2014, Thailand, Vietnam, and India accounted for 60% of the world’s exports of rice. This paper estimates the impact of exchange rate fluctuations on bilateral trade flows in Southeast Asia. Because most Southeast Asian countries have state trading enterprises or agencies controlling rice trade, this analysis will provide insight as to whether these agencies respond to exchange rate fluctuations in a manner consistent with economic theory. Behavior inconsistent with economic theory could provide evidence of stabilizing domestic prices, market power, or export expansion policies. The analysis focuses …

What Are The Impacts Of Local Food Systems?, Jamie Chadwick

Hospitality Graduate Student Scholarship

Sourcing products locally is not just a trend, it is also an important step towards sustainable business practices. Sustainable business depends on balancing sales with the ability to maintain growth. Sustainability is a complex concept. In the charter for the UCLA Sustainability Committee, sustainability is defined as: “the physical development and institutional operating practices that meet the needs of present users without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs, particularly with regard to use and waste of natural resources. Sustainable practices support ecological, human, and economic health and vitality. Sustainability presumes that resources are finite and …

Arbor Day Foundation, Shoilee Rahman, Caleb Krohn, Kevin Woolworth, Kathryn Shehan, Nicholas Senior, Jairo Gamboa

Honors Program: Senior Projects (Public)

As consultants, our team’s goals are to provide the Arbor Day Foundation with ideas for future business lines and strengthen the company’s outlook moving forward. Our proposal strongly integrates the organization’s mission to inspire people to plant, nurture, and celebrate trees. Entering the birch sap water market will accomplish this task and create a plethora of opportunities for the Arbor Day Foundation. Our recommendation to ADF is to enter the birch sap market by creating licensing deals with birch sap water producers and distributors. ADF can assist these companies by offering its strong brand value, marketing expertise, and competitive advantages.

Exchange Rate Regimes And Economic Growth, Amandarae Matthew

Undergraduate Theses

This paper explores the relationship between economic growth and exchange rate regimes among countries of lower income, lower middle income, upper middle income, and high-income countries. Countries must make careful consideration when choosing an exchange rate regime because each regime can have different long-term effects. A cross section pooled time series data will be used for a sample of 42 countries over the period of 2000-2018. Multiple models will examine the various relationships between types of exchange rate regimes, changes in exchange rate regimes, and economic growth. The components of the models being tested include political stability, change in terms …

Nutrition And The Labor Market, Jesse Defalco

Showcase of Undergraduate Research and Creative Endeavors (SOURCE)

Do different income levels affect the foods people consume? It is commonly known that healthier foods are more expensive than unhealthy foods. Those with lower incomes tend to gravitate toward fast food and junk food, with those with higher incomes tend to gravitate toward fruits, vegetables, and healthier options, including having personal chefs and ordering proportioned meals delivered to their homes. Lower income people consuming unhealthy foods potentially leads to health issues such as malnutrition, high blood pressure, obesity, and diabetes. Not everyone is aware of the health side effects of their diets. It is shown that people who are …

Filling The Gap: Assessing Moral Permissibility Of Rejections In Dental Practices And Promoting Pro Bono Dental Work Through A Non-Profit Organization, Min Son

Richard T. Schellhase Essay Prize in Ethics

While the level of urgency in dentistry cannot compare to that in an emergency room, oral healthcare is a crucial part of overall health. Poor oral health can lead to systemic health conditions, such as heart and respiratory diseases, oral cancer, and diabetes. Therefore, the solution to health disparities may lie in addressing oral health disparities first. Nonetheless, most dentists are business owners of their own dental practices. Hence, they work in between business and patient care, sometimes facing associated conflicts. But they are obligated to make ethical decisions when the values between the two fields clash. The dental community …

Food Waste, Damon Cox

Research and Creativity Symposium

My project talks about the high amounts of food waste in America and around the word. It talks about problems that food waste causes, causes of food waste, and recommendations on how to slow down food waste.

An Examination Of How Environmental, Social, Governance (Esg) Investing Influences A Company's Stock Return, Sam Marty

Undergraduate Honors Thesis Projects

Using a random sample of 184 companies traded on the New York Stock Exchange in 2019, this paper investigates the impact of Environmental, Social, Governance (ESG) investing on a company’s stock return. The results show that ESG investing has a positive and statistically significant impact on a company’s stock return. An increase in one ESG rating leads to an increase between 0.4% and 3.6% in the return of a company’s stock. Additionally, the results show that individual ESG factors are each statistically insignificant. This indicates that the three ESG factors need to be viewed together rather than individually. Lastly, the …

Fundamentals Of Business - Introduction To Information Technology, Joy Goldschmidt

Honors Theses

This chapter will discuss the relevance and importance of information technology and its integration into several business models. The term Information Technology encompasses all types of technology used to create, store, exchange, and utilize data and information in all shapes and forms. This chapter will primarily focus on Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) technology, which refers to a type of software that organizations use to manage day-to-day busy-ness activities such as accounting, procurement, project management, risk management, and supply chain management. In more simpler terms, ERP systems tie together a variety of business operations, enabling a smooth flow of data and …

Evaluation Of A Drowning Prevention Campaign In A Vietnamese American Community, Linda Quan Md, Elena Shephard Md, Elizabeth Bennett Ches, Mph

International Journal of Aquatic Research and Education

To address Washington State’s high pediatric fatal drowning rates in Asian children, especially Vietnamese, we conducted and evaluated a community water safety campaign for Vietnamese American families. Working with community groups, parks departments and public health, we disseminated three messages (learn to swim, swim with a lifeguard, and wear a life jacket) in Vietnamese media and at events, increased access to free/low cost swim lessons and availability of lifeguarded settings and life jackets in the community. Parents completed 168 pre- and 230 post-intervention self-administered, bilingual surveys. Significantly more post-intervention compared to pre-intervention respondents had heard water safety advice …

Citizen Engagement In Aquatics Equity: The Case Of Winston Waterworks, Steven N. Waller Phd, James H. Bemiller Jd, Emliy J. Johnson, Chermaine D. Cole, Jason Scott Phd, Angela Wozencroft, Phd

International Journal of Aquatic Research and Education

Historically, swimming pools have been a source of inequity when it comes to the distribution of recreation services in the United States. Many of the problems that correlate with the inequitable allocation of recreation resources including public swimming pools began with ideas about race, geography, poor planning practices and faulty policymaking (Rothstein, 2017). Moreover, one of the primary outcomes of engaged, inclusive planning is equity in the provision of recreation programs and facilities. In this essay, we offer a summary of key legal cases that help address questions related resource allocation related to public swimming pools. Finally, we present a …

Aquatic Therapy Interventions And Disability: A Recreational Therapy Perspective, Jason Scott, Angela Wozencroft, Vincenzo Nocera, Kelsey Webb, Jodi Anderson, Avery Blankenburg, Darrien Watson, Sophie Lowe

International Journal of Aquatic Research and Education

Aquatic therapy interventions are critical for individuals with disabilities and the role of the therapist is just as critical for successful and effective interventions. The field of therapeutic recreation trains students to develop and implement evidence-based facilitation techniques including the use of aquatic therapy to assist in helping clients achieve a change in functional status. This review of the literature examined the impact of aquatic therapy interventions on a variety of disabilities including osteoarthritis, multiple sclerosis, Cerebral palsy, autism spectrum disorder, and mental health from a recreational therapy (RT) perspective. This review provides a variety of information on the positive …

Ways To Reduce Restaurant Industry Food Waste Costs, David Blum

International Journal of Applied Management and Technology

Food waste costs U.S. restaurant leaders billions of dollars per year. The purpose of this research was to provide restaurant leaders with processes and strategies to reduce food waste costs. The research method used was systematic literature review in addressing this research question: What processes and strategies are available to U.S. restaurant leaders to reduce food waste costs? This study addresses a gap in literature related to processes and strategies to reduce food waste costs. Six processes and seven strategies to reduce food waste costs were presented.

Ada News - 04/06/2020, American Dental Association, Publishing Division

ADA News

Established in 1970 as the official newspaper of the American Dental Association, the ADA News serves practicing dentists and others allied to the dental profession in the U.S. and internationally. It is the No. 1 source of news and information about the many benefits and services the ADA delivers to members daily as well as timely information on scientific, social, political and economic developments affecting dentistry and health care.

April 2020 Newsletter, Haworth College Of Business

Haworth College of Business News

• WMU researchers study food consumption behavior during COVID-19 pandemic
• From college to career
• Food marketing students clinch first place at national university case competition
• Students take first place at finance competition
• Sales students claim top spot at regional competition
• Startup that takes the tangle out of power strips wins Bronco Pitch Competition

Covid-19 And The Haworth College Of Business, Haworth College Of Business

Haworth College of Business News

• Supply chain alum helps drive GM's efforts to produce ventilators
• Leading through crisis
• Introducing the Jungle podcast
• Why are store shelves out of products like toilet paper?
• Distance education: You do you
• Getting career-ready during a pandemic
• Six steps to survive a financial crisis
• Serving the community through Meals on Wheels

Online Shoppers Spending On Fresh Produce; Do Those On Government Assistance Spend Less?, Wyatt Tucker Lucas

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

This study applies an Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) model to explain differences in the amount that online shoppers might spend per month on fresh produce, given specific consumer characteristics. It also uses a multinomial logit model to determine the relative probability of online shoppers spending more or less, given specific consumer characteristics. The independent variable of interest in both models is whether or not the respondent is a recipient of a government assistance food program. These analyses used data from a stratified random sample of 1,205 online shoppers residing in the southern region of the United States. “Online shoppers” in …