Business Commons^™

Bank Of America: Is Bigger Always Better?, Marty Gillenwater

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Bank of America is the largest bank in the world for now. The case is an attempt to see how the bank got to the point where it is today. It was interesting to follow the flow from two small banks through their histories and how they became one large institution. Now, acting as the one entity, Bank of America, there are many pressing issues facing it. The firm has many internal problems before even addressing the external environment. This is not only the competitors in the market but also the environment itself. The case addresses some of them and …

The Innovative Success That Is Apple, Inc., Katherine Johnson, Yang Li, Hang Phan, Jason Singer, Hoang Trinh

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Apple, Inc. has been a successful company for years now. However, the company faces issues just like any other company. How Apple responds to these issues is in conjunction to the strengths and weaknesses of the firm. The business-level strategy of Apple also has much to do with how the company approaches various situations. The diversity and organization of the firm itself helps to address any issues that may arise. Competing in high level competitive industries also requires Apple Inc. changing day by day in order to overcome its competitors.

2011-2012 Morehead State University Audit Report, Morehead State University. Accounting And Financial Services Office.

Morehead State University Audit Reports

2011-2012 Audit Report for Morehead State University.

Sustainability As A Small Business Competitive Strategy, Abbas Nadim, Robert N. Lussier

Management Faculty Publications

In our global village, sustainability has been an important topic for all countries, and small businesses can create a competitive advantage through developing sustainability strategies. This conceptual article extends the current literature by presenting the case for small businesses to become integrated in the surrounding community and to make sustainability a strategic long-term competitive advantage and a critical co-producer of its long-term success. Implications and the need for further research are discussed.

Conceptual Operations Issue Within The International Context, Jooh Lee

Rohrer College of Business Departmental Research

No abstract provided.

Exploring The Temporal Nature Of Sociomateriality From A Work System Perspective, Steven Alter

Business Analytics and Information Systems

This paper uses work system theory (WST) to explore the temporal nature of sociomateriality. It summarizes concepts related to WST and sociomateriality, and notes sociomaterial aspects of WST. It uses static and dynamic views of a work system toexamine six examples that can be classified in one of three time frames, minutes-to-hours, days-to-weeks, and months-to years. The result is a straightforward interpretation of systems and related events across all of the time frames, which exhibit different types of phenomena related to adaptations, workarounds, emergence of informal work patterns, and sequences of formal projects. After approaching sociomateriality from a perspective not …

The Impacts Of Personality Traits And Goal Commitment On Employees' Job Satisfaction, Wai Kwan (Elaine) Lau

Accounting Faculty Research

The present research investigates the effects of personality traits, such as self-efficacy and locus of control, on job satisfaction. It also examines the mediating impact of goal commitment on relationships between personality and job satisfaction. The results indicate that both self-efficacy and locus of control are positively associated with goal commitment. In addition, locus of control is found positively related to job satisfaction. However, self-efficacy does not have the same positive relationship with job satisfaction. The study further confirms the mediating effect of goal commitment on relationships between personality traits and job satisfaction.

Reducing Recidivism Through Entrepreneurship Programmes In Prisons, Thomas Cooney

Articles

Prison systems are facing significant challenges from overcrowding and a ‘revolving door’ routine. Reducing recidivism would help alleviate both these problems and would also assist in breaking the cycle of career criminality. However, one of the primary causes of recidivism is a lack of employment opportunities for people who have spent time in prison, thereby causing them to return to crime. Given the dearth of entrepreneurship research on ex-prisoners, this paper examines a ‘Start Your Own Business’ programme delivered inside a prison. Based on interviews with the participants, the author examines whether such programmes offer a realistic opportunity for reducing …

Using The Work System Method With Freshman Information System Students, Steven Alter

Business Analytics and Information Systems

To date, the use of the work system method in information systems curricula has demonstrated that postgraduate students can benefit from this approach when examining a business situation involving an information system. To contrast the experiences of post-graduate students with work experiences, in this paper we report on use of a simplified version of the Work System Method in a freshman Information Systems course and study how students without work or technical knowl-edge performed when analyzing IT-reliant work systems in business settings. We reflect on an introductory information systems course that included a work system analysis assignment, and we examine …

Challenges For Service Science, Steven Alter

Business Analytics and Information Systems

Service science is still in a formative stage, with many basic ideas still in flux and significant disagreements about definitions and implications of basic concepts. This paper suggests directions for progress in relation to eight problematic areas within service science. It uses five typical medical services to question typical definitions of service and service system. It suggests that service science should not privilege servitizing over productizing; that a series of design dimensions whose end-points are often associated with products or with services are more useful than yes/no distinctions between products and services; that the concept of "the customer" should be …

Forensic Disciplines For Objective Global Strategic Analysis, Dale H. Shao, Lawrence P. Shao, Ralph E. Mckinney Jr.

Management Faculty Research

The global nature of investing requires a thorough analysis of the firm to determine the strategic viability of the firm for investment purposes. In addition, businesses are being held more accountable for the statements they make and the actions they take concerning their business. Several forensic disciplines have recently emerged that may supply subjective and objective data that can assist investors in making their final investment decisions and determining if ongoing businesses are truly doing what is in the best interest of their shareholders. Another factor influencing the increase forensic analyses of national and multinational corporations is the increase in …

Organization’S Top Management And Other System Users’ Perceptions Towards Data Quality Performance And Expectations, Hongjiang Xu

Scholarship and Professional Work - Business

Across all levels in an organization, from CEO, executives, middle management to day-to-day operators, everyone relies on high quality information for decision making. This paper proposes frameworks for testing the alignment of organization's top management and other system users' perceptions towards and data quality for for ensuring the effectiveness and efficiency of data quality management. The frameworks not only have contributions to the theory but also have implications for organization's top management and practitioners in the fields.

Survivors’ Perspectives Of Organizational Downsizing On Knowledge Sharing In A Downsized Environment, Michelle Hall

Walden Faculty and Staff Publications

Organizational workforce reductions can negatively affect a company’s ability to preserve its knowledge base. The problem researched in this study was the perceived effect of downsizing on knowledge sharing among surviving employees. The purpose of this study was to determine the perceived effect of downsizing on knowledge sharing. Survivors’ knowledge sharing behavior was examined in relation to (a) survivor syndrome, (b) attitude towards knowledge sharing, and (c) perceived loss of knowledge power. A quantitative correlation research design was used to investigate the relationship between downsizing and knowledge sharing. A web-based survey was used to collect data. The convenience sample consisted …

A Polyphonic Approach To The 'Dark Side' Of Making Video Games, Johanna Weststar, Amanda Pettica-Harris, Steve Mckenna

Management and Organizational Studies Publications

This paper considers the video game industry and how it is represented through social media blogs and tweets. It aims to disentangle the polyphony of voices communicating through different stories about what it means to work in the gaming industry. The multiple voices found within the blogs and tweets weave a complex and contested narrative about the carnivalesque way in which video games are made, poignantly illustrating the good, the bad, and the ugly. Using the work of the Russian literary theorist and philosopher, Mikhail Bakhtin (1984, 1993), and particularly his notions of monologic and dialogic stories and narratives (McKenna, …

The Information Technology Workforce: A Comparision Of Critical Skills Of Clients And Service Providers, Stephen Hawk, Kate M. Kaiser, Tim Goles, Christine V. Bullen

Business Faculty Publications

In this article the authors explore similarities and differences in skill needs of IT service providers and the firms that providers service (clients). The results show that providers and clients are more similar than different with regard to desired skills. Client firms emphasize technical skills for new hires more than providers do despite saying that these are the skills they would outsource to providers. The results have implications for organizations’ recruiting and retention, for individuals’ career development, and for educational programs.

Consumer Xenocentrism And Consumer Cosmopolitanism: The De-Velopment And Validation Of Scales Of Constructs Influencing Attitudes Towards Foreign Product Consumption, Steven James Lawrence

Wayne State University Dissertations

Like many other attributes, consumers exhibit varying degrees of preference with regard to foreign and domestic products. Some consumers have preferences for domestic products while other, seemingly similar, consumers prefer the foreign counterpart. Product quality differences aside, we aim to investigate the attitudinal constructs behind the varying preferences among consumers as they relate to foreign and domestic products.

The author created two new scales for the measurement of the consumer xenocentrism and consumer cosmopolitanism constructs. The consumer xenocentrism scale is intended to measure consumers' favorable orientations to products from outside their membership group. The consumer cosmopolitanism scale is designed to …

A Systematic Method For Discovering Effective Patterns Of Virtual Project Management, Deepak Khazanchi, Ilze Zigurs

Information Systems and Quantitative Analysis Faculty Publications

The effective management of virtual projects within global organizations is an inherently collaborative activity as well as an increasingly critical issue. The concept of patterns provides a useful theoretical framework by which we can study the design of effective practices for the management of virtual projects. However, a number of significant gaps exist in our knowledge of this area and one of the most important is the need for a systematic method for discovering effective patterns. We propose such a systematic method and provide a detailed example of the use of our proposed pattern discovery method.

U.S. Manufacturing Unemployment In The Recession: The Impact Of Offshoring And Unauthorized Resident Populations, Tyechia Paul, Leslie West, Ziette Hayes

College of Business and Economics

Employment in the manufacturing industry has declined. The year 2010 was the first time in over a decade that jobs were added in industry. The manufacturing sector is comprised of establishments engaged in the mechanical or chemical transformation of materials or components into new products. Given the high levels of U.S. manufacturing unemployment since the onset of the most recent recession, it has been argued that the high unemployment rate is due to offshoring and unauthorized residents. This study supports the argument that the high levels of U.S. manufacturing unemployment is due to offshoring and refutes the argument that the …

A Middle Management Perspective On Strategy Implementation, Ahmad Salih

Presidential Alumni Research Dissemination Award

Strategic management researchers have established the key role middle managers play in the implementation of organizational strategies. However, there is little information regarding middle managers' views and perceptions of strategy implementation and the challenges associated with implementing organizational strategies. Drawing from activity theory and inspired by the strategy-as-practice perspective, the purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to understand the views and perceptions of 12 middle managers and 3 management consultants on the factors influencing organizational strategy implementation. The research questions addressed in this study included the views of middle managers on: (a) the key challenges associated with strategy implementation, …

2011-2012 Financial Summary, Morehead State University. Budget & Financial Planning Office.

Morehead State University Financial Summaries Archive

2011-2012 Financial Summary of Morehead State University.

2012-2013 Operating Budget, Morehead State University. Budget & Financial Planning Office.

Morehead State University Operating Budgets Archive

2012-2013 Operating Budget of Morehead State University.

Measuring The Impact Of A Comprehensive Health And Wellness Initiative, Patrick R. Rooney

CMC Senior Theses

As healthcare costs continue to rise across the country more companies are beginning to look for new strategies to cut costs. The evolving health and wellness industry has been shown to reduce expenditures from costly medical services by improving long term healthy behaviors in the work force, aiming to impact the demand and supply sides of healthcare. This paper looks at the history behind the health and wellness movement and specifically evaluates Healthy Incentives, King County's own health and wellness initiative and the impact such a program has on direct medical expenditures as well as key health risk factors that …

American Well: A Viral Solution, Rebecca Browning, Rodrigo Camargo, Thaisa Camargo, Basma Memon, Gary Salyers, Brent Spencer

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

The case presents an overall look at American Well, its position within the telehealth market, and a look at the market and market affecting factors. The following analysis will be conducted using the information presented in the case and will identify strengths, weakness, strategies and provide discussions of special topics.

Annual Report 2011-2012, Houston Academy Of Medicine-Texas Medical Center Library

Annual Reports: 1943 - Present

This file contains the Annual Report for the library from 2011-2012.

Paying The Irs Whistleblower: A Critical Analysis Of Collected Proceeds, Karie Davis-Nozemack, Sarah J. Webber

Accounting Faculty Publications

Congressional changes to the IRS Whistleblower Program were intended to induce more participation in the program by allowing larger incentives and greater certainty that whistleblowers would be paid. Since the Program was amended, tax whistleblower tips have increased 76 percent1 and revenue collected due to whistleblowers has increased 79 percent.2 Despite a rise in tips and revenue collected, whistleblower payments have not increased. In fact, the number of tax whistleblower awards paid has decreased 44 percent.3 We hypothesize that this trend is due to the administration of the program but also to the interpretation of “collected proceeds.” Collected proceeds are …

Antecedents And Outcomes Associated With The Individual Stress Response, Matthew Blake Hargrove

Management Dissertations - Archive

This dissertation explores the antecedents and outcomes associated with the individual stress response. It begins with an extensive literature review of three conceptualizations of stress in organizations. Next, the construct psychological capital is explored as a potential moderator of the stressor-stress response relationship. A review of the psychological capital literature is presented including the potential and limitations of current interventions designed to develop psychological capital. A synthetic model for organizational stress is developed and presented. Hypotheses are formulated based on this model. In order to test hypotheses, two tools are developed. First, Psychological Capital Training (PCT), a multimodal intervention designed …

The Road Less Traveled: The Moderating Effects Of Relational Coordination On The Relationships Among Human Capital, Employee Behaviors And Performance, Alankrita Pandey

Management Dissertations - Archive

This dissertation studies the micro-foundations of Strategic Human Resource Management by examining the relationships between human capital, employee behaviors, relational coordination, and performance among individuals within a firm. Multilevel modeling is used to empirically investigate and find evidence for the mediated relationship among human capital, in-role and extra-role behaviors and performance for a sample of 126 registered nurses from a large surgical care hospital in the southwestern United States. To the Strategic Human Resource Management framework, this dissertation also introduces an element of social capital, role-coordination among the registered nurses and others performing the same job, in the same work …

Cultural Context And Its Affect On Management Practices In Organizations - A Special Focus Of Compensation Practices, Shandana Shuaib

Business Review

Management practices are carried out in organizations which operate in some sort of environment. The environment is basically divided into two types: internal environment and external environment. In both these environments culture constitutes the main part. Thus, in order to fully comprehend the management practices in organizations it is utmost necessary to understand the cultural context of that society in which it operates. Many management practices if enforced without taking into consideration its cultural context may not yield the expected results. Similarly a management practice which might be very effective in one culture may not be so in another cultural …

Problems Of Maintaining Adequate Accounting Records For A Non-Profit Organization In Sub-Saharan Africa, John R. Ledgerwood, Stephen N. Morgan

Publications

This paper looks at the accounting challenges faced by a small-scale non-profit organization operating in sub-Saharan Africa. We will look at the case of Enright Flight Ministries, Inc., a 501(c)3 non-profit organization based in Florida that carries out evangelical and humanitarian aid projects in Zambia. Building upon field interviews with administrative staff and project managers, we analyze the various problems facing the organization in maintaining adequate accounting records. After looking at both external and internal problems, we investigate the solutions employed by Enright Flight Ministries to maintain the integrity of accounting systems to derive best practices for the small-scale international …

The Moderating Effect Of Instrumental Job Attributes On The Relationship Between A Firm's Perceived Value Of Diversity And Its Organizational Attractiveness, Jason R. Lambert

Management Dissertations - Archive

Increasingly more firms are targeting both racial and sexual minorities in recruitment ads to attain a diverse work climate. However, the challenge remains of recruiting job seekers without alienating qualified others. Expectancy theory and social identity theory are used to investigate how employee recruitment statements regarding employment-at-will and pay moderate the effect that diversity-supportive recruitment statements have on job seekers' job pursuit intentions and attraction towards a firm. A model is tested that demonstrates an interaction effect between perceived instrumental job attributes and perceived symbolic attributes on the organizational attractiveness of a firm. Implications from the results are discussed, including …