Digital Commons Network^™

Quality Of Work Life In The Hotel Industry, Gina Marie Santercole

Theses

This study provides hotel organizations with information that reveals the feelings, perceptions, and attitudes of it's employees. By examining an employee's quality of work life, an organization can determine how they are doing internally, from an employee's point of view, which ultimately effects their "moments of truth" externally, with their customers. A nine item, five point scale, Quality of Work Life Survey was administered to the employees and managers from four hotel properties. These properties, located in different geographical locations and each targeting a specific market segment, provided an interesting and diverse 292 person sample. Results revealed agreement and disagreement …

Evaluation Of The U.S. National Tourist Office Impact On The U.S. Travel And Tourism Industry, Mary Tack

Theses

In an effort to better meet the needs of its customers, the United States national tourist office, U.S. Travel and Tourism Administration (USTTA) , surveyed travel and tourism industry organizations to determine their awareness and usage levels for the numerous programs and services offered by USTTA, the value they placed on these programs and services, and where improvements can be made. This survey was especially critical to USTTA as it embarked upon the Total Quality Management philosophy (which focuses on knowing your customers and their needs in order to better serve them) . A secondary issue existed for USTTA to …

An Analysis Of National Average Car Rental Rates And Economic Indicators, Amy S. Peterson

Theses

Travel suppliers have depended largely on business travel as their main source of business and profit because it is less price conscious and finicky compared to the pleasure travel market. The past recession has caused corporations to scale-down by drastically reducing business related travel; therefore, it is understood, as a majority, that the condition of the economy usually dictates future business. Car rental companies are a significant part of the travel supplier industry and it is wondered if the fluctuations in car rental rates are a direct reflection of the rise and fall of the economy also. The study will …

Case Study Of Blackjack Dealers; Their Work Environment And Their Relationship With Management, Linda Anne Weintraub

Theses

Not listed.

Sexual Harassment: A Pilot Study In The Hotel Industry, Wen-Yi Tera Chung

Theses

Several studies have documented the existence of sexual harassment in workplaces in society-at-large. This pilot study seeks to determine whether sexual harassment is higher within the hotel industry than in workplaces in society-at-large, whether men and women react differently to sexual behaviors in the workplace, and whether those differences vary by department. In addition, the study seeks to determine hotel employees knowledge of the existence of policies and procedures on sexual harassment within one hotel property, to identify the initiators of sexually harassing behaviors, to suggest implications for management, and to provide a data base for future research. Sixty-nine employees …

An Evaluation To Determine If There Is A Communication Gap Between Campus Auxiliary Services And Their Student Customers, Marylynne Crocker

Theses

The purpose of this study was to find out what the student customers of Campus Auxiliary Services have as their perceptions of the services provided by the corporation, and also if there is a communication gap between the corporation and their student customers. The question of whether there is a gap between what the customers expect and what they receive was also studied. The population studied consisted of student customers, Resident Advisors, and the Salaried CAS/Dining Service employees. A ten item perception questionnaire was given to CAS /Dining Service employees and also to the SUNY Geneseo Resident Advisors. A twenty …

A Material Cost And Weight Comparison Of Shipping Containers Using Ect Versus Burst Strength For Room Air Conditioners, Anne Margaret Mcsweeney

Theses

This research compares the material cost and weight of using edge crush specifications for the selection of a Whirlpool Corporation room air conditioner shipping container verses Mullen burst strength specifications. For the purposes of this thesis, the air conditioner studied is referred to as Product "M". The following presumptions are made. The material cost of using an ECT performance specified container is lower than the material cost of a Mullen specified container. The material weight is less using an ECT specified shipping container rather than a Mullen specified shipping container. The data generated first are the strength of the product …

An Intelligent Tutoring System For The German Language, Kenneth E. Staffan

Theses

This thesis report describes the design and implementation of a prototype Intelligent Tutoring System (ITS), intended to assist students of the German language. Very early in the study of a foreign language, the student is faced with the difficulties of sentence construction. Not only are there numerous rules and combination to deal with, but it is difficult to verify attempts when the teacher is unavailable. Individual words can be looked up in a dictionary, but the student must often rely on stumbling across a sentence of similar construction in order to verify a trial sentence. A variety of Computer-Assisted Language …

An Approach To The Analysis And Deisgn Of An Intelligent Tutoring System Using An Object-Oriented Methodology, Jeanne C. Hiesel

Theses

A true Intelligent Tutoring System is difficult to produce in today's technological environment. This thesis reviews various theoretical methods and strategies that could be employed in performing the analysis and design of an Intelligent Tutoring System. An overview of the basic concepts of Object-Oriented Analysis and Design are provided in this thesis. The notation system provided by these concepts are utilized. The Object-Oriented Analysis and Design methods that are employed create a basis for an implementation of an Intelligent Tutoring System.

Application Of Sensors In An Experimental Investigation Of Mode Dampings, Richard Hiram Berg

Theses

The subject of this investigation is the method of calculating material damping of a cantilever beam. Damping is the mechanism by which the vibrational energy is gradually converted into heat or sound. The loss factor, otherwise known as the damping factor, is part of the global properties of a structure which can be identified from its frequency response measurements. Experimental frequency response measurements require three main components: a source of excitation, sensors, and analyzer. It is the objective of this thesis to investigate the effect of different types of exciters and sensors on the frequency response measurement of the cantilever …

How Cultural Values Affect Valuation, Joel Jon Forman

Theses

The purpose of this study is to describe the factors which affect numismatic appraisals, particularly from a valuation perspective. One of the most important considerations is the role culture played in helping determine value. Much of our knowledge of the ancient world (China, Babylon, Egypt, Israel, Greece, Rome, Persia, India and other civilizations) is derived from the surviving coinage. The coins from these bygone eras reveal the cultural, religious and moral values which played an incredible role in shaping our modern high technological society. Some of these ancient values are reflected in present day coinage.

This study will carefully examine …

Tales From Around The Kitchen Table, Nancy Jean Sabath Freeman

Theses

The introduction to this project, entitled "The Value of Writing," discusses the author's experience of writing, both in her personal life and her career as a writing teacher. The main focus is on writing that is done on a regular basis, as with keeping a journal or diary, and how that activity can lead to emotional, psychological and spiritual growth. Research includes opinions from many prominent writers and teachers of writing about the value of writing in general. The remainder of the project includes samples of the author's short stories, personal narratives and essays, and poetry, which she believes have …

Nonlinear System Identification And Prediction, Manu K. Mathew

Theses

Not provided.

Coping With Incurable Disease: Multiple Sclerosis, Frieda R. Faber

Theses

Research was conducted to determine if there was a correlation between the ability of persons with multiple sclerosis (MS) to cope with their disease and several other variables which could be related to coping skills. More than two-thirds of the 98 subjects in the sample regularly attended MS support groups . The ability to cope was measured by a scale developed by Brooks & Matson (1982). The independent variables were : self-esteem factors, vulnerability to stress, depression, severity of disability, general health factors, length of illness and age. Data was statistically analyzed £or the total sample and separately by female …

Research And Analysis Of A 19th Century Portrait Of George Washington, Marbeth A. Erickson

Theses

The subject of this research project is a half length portrait of George Washington, oil on canvas, 30" in length and 25" in width . The painting is owned by Mr. Maurice Silverman of Silverman Galleries, Alexandria, Virginia.

When Mr. Silverman acquired the painting in 1962, the canvas was damaged so a restorer cleaned it, relined it, and inpainted the bare spots . After the restoration, Mr. Silverman researched the painting to discover who painted the portrait . Mr. Silverman felt strongly that it might be an original painting by Gilbert Stuart as there was a painting very similar to …

The Self-Concept And Symbolic Consumption; Their Effect On Consumer Behavior, Cory L. Dobbs

Theses

A major issue confronting consumer researchers and other investigators of social-psychological phenomena is whether individuals are motivated to purchase products that symbolically are congruent with their self-concept.

This issue is of particular importance to consumer and marketing researchers, since much of their data and resulting actions depend on the decision processes leading up to the consumer's choice of product for consumption. Examining the relationship between the self and consumption through congruence of self-images and images of owned or desired products reveals that the consumer regards his or her consumed products as expressive of themselves.

Perception plays a critical role in …

Training Manual For The Long Term Care Facility Quality Assessment And Assurance Committee, Kris S. King

Theses

This thesis addresses the need for a training manual for the federally required long term care Quality Assessment and Assurance Committee. The training manual has been designed to provide guidance to the Committee members, recognizing that effective leadership is essential for a successful quality and compliance program in any facility.

There have been numerous publications devoted to quality assurance in the long term care setting; however, few provide simplistic and meaningful explanations for conducting quality assurance and improvement activities. This manual has adopted a unique approach by correlating federal requirements to specific quality assurance and improvement processes.

The training manual …

Do The Experiences Of Other Health Care Systems Identify Incentives For A Cost-Effective Universal Health Care System In The United States?, R. Daniel King

Theses

Each health system used various incentives to achieve lower cost and better utilization of services. In some cases there was evidence that particular incentives demonstrated considerable success with no negative side-effects, while others were effective but introduced new problems.

The results of this analysis did support that other universal health care systems contained examples of proven incentives that if incorporated would benefit a universal health care system in the United states.

Establishment Of A Program For The Education Of Cytotechnologists, Joan R. Kohrs

Theses

The Barnes Hospital School of Cytotechnology closed in 1977 as have many other programs tor the education of cytotechnologists. These programs were victims of hospital budgetary concerns, as well as a job market that had no demand tor new cytotechnologists.

Unfortunately with fewer and fewer graduates from accredited programs in the last 15-16 years there is, currently a shortage of these skilled laboratory professionals.

Faced with unfilled vacancies in the cytology laboratory many hospitals are considering re-evaluating the possibilities of sponsoring programs for the education of cytotechnologists.

Barnes Hospital, St. Louis, Missouri, long a leader in both health care· and …

The Effects Of Video-Based Sales Training Methods And Feedback On Field Sales Performance, Michael T. Simorka

Theses

This thesis focused on the effects of video-based sales training methods on field sales performance. The study also evaluated the effects of feedback systems on performance.

Research in the field of training methodology presents a positive review of "high technology" methods . Most of the studies focus on the benefits of easy administration , reduced cost or improved performance . However, most reviews are anecdotal . There is little empirical data which studies the use of these medium and their effects on field sales performance.

In reviewing the research on feedback systems, the studies have shown that feedback can have …

A Proposed New National Health Care Plan, Larry W. Pruett

Theses

Larry W. Pruett’s 1993 thesis, A Proposed New National Health Care Plan, explores the need for comprehensive reform of the U.S. health care system and outlines a detailed alternative model. Frustrated by inefficiencies, escalating costs, and limited access, Pruett evaluates the systems of Canada, Germany, and Japan, rating them on technology, public health, service, efficiency, and equity. He also reviews reform proposals from President Clinton, the American Medical Association, and the American Hospital Association.

Pruett’s plan shifts the primary point of care from hospitals to outpatient clinics, which would provide most non-emergency health services. Hospitals would retain a role …

Workplace Drug And Alcohol Testing: A Blueprint For Employee Acceptance And Success, Charles Edward Martin

Theses

Drug and alcohol testing in the workplace is a highly emotional and complex issue. Society's drug and alcohol abuse problem has become so pervasive that employers are obligated to act to protect themselves, their businesses and their employees .

Business costs have risen dramatically due to lost productivity resulting from drug and alcohol abuse. Employee Assistance Programs (EAP) and rehabilitation efforts have been somewhat successful but are extremely expensive.

Many businesses have chosen to protect themselves by implementing pre-employment drug screening. Some businesses drug test current employees randomly and "for cause". "For cause" has generally been defined as reasonable suspicion …

Image Is Reality, Sarah Louise Meininger

Theses

How individuals perceive a business is reality. It doesn't matter if these perceptions are true or false. This paper explores aspects of corporate image and identity and the importance of shaping an image for a company.

We will focus on the importance of research and how initial research should determine how people perceive a company in and outside the organization itself. We will also discuss the CEO' s impact and his/her role. The CEO oversees current perceptions, shapes and molds an image for the company, guides the image for the future and should also be a communicator within the company. …

Management By Objectives: A Cost/Benefits Analysis Toward Achieving Organizational Goals, John J. Mueller

Theses

This thesis will focus on the management process commonly known as Management by Objectives in an attempt to determine if this type of management is a viable option for companies to employ.

In its simplest form management by objectives has been around for hundreds of years. The modern day version of this management technique developed in the early 1950's due in large part to the writings of Peter Drucker . MBO's popularity grew slowly at first, but by the late 1960's and early seventies this management technique took hold in the United States and spread to corporations both large and …

Adding New Life To Years: A Senior Peer Exercise Program, Cynthia Lymm Pearl Nayer

Theses

The thesis "Adding New Life to Years: A Senior Peer Exercise Program" explores the development and impact of a peer-led exercise program aimed at improving physical, social, and emotional health among older adults. Recognizing the challenges associated with aging—such as decreased mobility, social isolation, and chronic health issues—the study focuses on engaging active seniors as volunteer leaders to conduct low-intensity exercise classes for frail elderly participants.

This program aims to foster mutual benefits: healthy senior volunteers experience enhanced self-worth, social engagement, and physical fitness, while the frail elderly improve in areas like blood pressure, mood, and perceived self-efficacy. Grounded in …

Condemnation And 'Just Compensation' For Business, Timothy F. Hogan

Theses

Since the beginning of time man has always searched for justification in the acquiring of private property to serve some public need. In this endeavor, three explanations for this justification have evolved. They are 'higher law', 'sovereignty' and 'eminent domain', and each of these explanations has been used to forcefully take land from private individuals.

In the beginning land was taken without compensation, and this was justified by the concept of 'divine rule' and the inherent power of the state. Later in man's development, compensation was a stipend paid to the owner of the land in accordance with the prevailing …

An Investigation Into The Design And Implementation Of A Policies And Procedures Manual For Collegiate Financial Aid, Pam Jones Williams

Theses

This expository study will focus on the development of a Policies and Procedures Manual for Collegiate Financial Aid.

Collegiate financial aid is a complex, ever-changing field. As such, there is a pressing need for financial aid offices to develop, and adhere to, a set of financial aid policies and procedures which can be uniformly applied and consistently referred to by all staff members.

The total dollars involved in the financial aid process can be staggering: each year billions of dollars are awarded to students in the form of federal, state, and institutional scholarships, grants, and loans. It is no wonder …

In Search Of A Miracle: A Journey Through Religious Addiction In America, William R. Leonard

Theses

This project examines the power of religious addiction and addiction in general. Statistics show that addiction, in some form, effects over 95% of the population and has silently become one of the largest and most pressing social dilemmas of our time.

The research of modern behavioral specialists like Diane Fassel and Sharon Wegscheider-Cruse supports this conclusion. Anne Wilson Schaef, a leading researcher into addiction and author of When Society Becomes An Addict, argues that the context of our society is the fact that the entire system in which we live is an "Addictive System." Schaef describes this deadly system as …

Scooping The Kid's Market: Writing For Children In The Nineties, Judith Collins

Theses

Many people think writing for kids is simple. After all, what parent, grandparent or teacher has not picked up A Little ABC Book book and thought, "I can do better than this ! "

However, even though writing for kids in the 1990s is possible, exciting and fulfilling it 's not as easy as it looks. In addition to knowing how to write well , writing for kids today takes more commitment, ambition, creativity, sensitivity and expertise because kids are much more sophisticated than they were ten or twenty years ago.

And, because global information systems and mass media have …

The Development Of A Project Management Handbook For St. John's Mercy Medical Center, Angela D. Matherne

Theses

The purpose of this study is the development of a project management handbook, as a guide for Information Systems (I.S.) projects at St. John's Mercy Medical Center. The need for this study was supported by inconsistencies in project management methods observed at St. John's.

A review of project management literature revealed that there has been very little empirical research in this area, and suggested that the nonspecific nature of project management literature may be contributing to the problem observed at St. John's. The literature review supported the view that a project management handbook should be developed, containing commonly accepted project …