Business Commons^™

The Rhetoric Of Corporate Identity: Corporate Social Responsibility, Creating Shared Value, And Globalization, Carolyn Day

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

In today's global political and media climate, the stakes are high for corporations, local or otherwise, to create and maintain an `ethical' perception of not only their daily business activities and how they can benefit society or protect the environment, but also their enduring characteristics or `corporate identity' (Conrad, 2011) for numerous, sometimes conflicting stakeholder audiences (Cheney, 1983). This dissertation examines how such forms of `socially responsible' corporate identities are created and maintained through the use of persuasive language. In particular it examines the role and implications of rhetoric within the contexts of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), as well as …

2014-06-05, Morehead State Board Of Regents

Morehead State Board of Regents Agenda Books and Meeting Minutes

No abstract provided.

Essays On Corporate Finance, Hari Prasad Adhikari

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

We compare acquisition activity, method of payment choice, and the long-run value implications of acquisitions by newly public single-class and dual-class US companies. Our results show that dual-class IPO firms make relatively more acquisitions in innovative industries and are less likely to pay with stock as compared to single-class IPO firms. We provide evidence that the reluctance of dual-class firms to pay with stock is not related to the insiders' cash-flow rights but it is significantly positively related to the insiders' voting rights and wedge between the insiders' voting rights and cash-flow rights. We also find that acquiring dual-class IPOs …

The Magic Of (A)Ffective Management, Ryan Weir

Charleston Library Conference

(A)ffective management is a people-first approach to managing employees. After all, employees and supervisors are people first. No matter how hard any individual may try, inevitably the stress and strain of life outside of work can and will bleed through into the work environment. The (A)ffective and effective manager understands this and incorporates this understanding into how he/she interacts with superiors and subordinates in the work environment on a daily basis. This article offers strategies on how to be an (A)ffective manager.

Corporate Governance In Microfinance Institutions: Board Composition And The Ability To Face Institutional Voids, Subrata Chakrabarty, A. Erin Bass

Marketing and Management Faculty Publications

Manuscript Type: Empirical

Research Question/Issue: We utilize institutional theory to examine corporate governance in microfinance institutions (MFIs). Many MFIs operate at the bottom of the economic pyramid (BOP), which is usually agrarian, impoverished, and plagued with institutional voids. We investigate the link between the composition of the boards of MFIs and the ability of the MFIs to face institutional voids to ensure organizational viability.

Research Findings/Insights: We find that MFIs with boards that have more socio-economic expertise and female representation are better able to lower the MFI’s costs of operating at the BOP. However, this relationship weakens when the effectiveness …

The Relentless Pursuit Of Construct Validity In The Design Of Employment Interviews, Maria Riaz Hamdani, Sorin Valcea, M. R. Buckley

Business Faculty Publications

The construct validity of employment interviews is the greatest challenge faced by employment interview researchers. In this paper, we discuss the theoretical and methodological issues which have an influence upon the construct validity ofemployment interviews.Wepay special attention to issues that emerge at the conceptual development and design stage of interviews. So far, the structuring of employment interviews has been the primary method of improving construct validity. We argue that construct validity can be further improved by bringing theoretical rigor in the design of interviews. For this purpose, we propose steps to reframe the interview dimensions in theoretical frameworks of job …

How Hackers Think: Understanding The Mental Models And Cognitive Patterns Of High-Tech Wizards, Timothy C. Summers

Student Scholarship

Hackers seek out weaknesses in computers and networks that can be used to steal data or impact the functionality of the Internet. In the general sense, a hacker is a technologist with a love for computers and a "hack" is an inventive solution executed through non-obvious means. Hackers speak the language of code which propels the evolution of our information technology. This makes hackers the solvers of our largest, most complex issues facing technological systems. In consequence, they are experts at solving poorly understood and challenging technical problems in a variety of settings requiring deep understanding of technical detail and …

Electronic Student-Form Management System, Donia I. Alsayed

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

The development of technology has made the world a smaller place where communicating instantaneously irrespective of the geographical location is a way of life. Electronic Forms (E-FORMS) are an easy way to communicate efficiently with students. At present, universities are still using old systems for communication where efforts to improve the system is a lethargic process. As most of these universities are still using student forms manually, the introduction of E-FORMS will speed up the whole process and positively impact in communicating efficiency. In addition, the inconvenience of making numerous visits to the university is sometimes seen as a hassle …

Fragmentação Do Conhecimento Científico Em Administração: Uma Análise Crítica, Jane Siegler, Cristiane Biazzin, Aline Rodrigues Fernandes

Scholarship and Professional Work - Business

This study aims to rescue the discussion of science fragmentation, exploring how this phenomenon manifests itself in Management Science and Business Administration and what its implications for the advancement of scientific knowledge. As an illustrative case, we used the interface between Operations Management and Human Resources Management fields. The methodology adopted was a bibliometric research through a structured mapping of the scientific production of these two major areas. The results indicated that both evolved independently, with little synergy, given the paucity of works found in two decades of research. The study highlights some factors that can enhance the fragmentation: epistemological …

Economic Trends Report, Prepared For The Town Of Winthrop, Edward J. Collins, Jr. Center For Public Management, University Of Massachusetts Boston

Edward J. Collins Center for Public Management Publications

This Economic Trends report provides a multi-decade look at the economy of the Town of Winthrop. It is hoped that the report will serve as a reference guide for residents, business persons, and policy makers seeking to grow the local economy, using facts and data to help identify strategies and goals for the future.

The report contains information on change in resident population, since residents oftentimes are a natural market for the goods and services provided by businesses within the community; they can also serve as a ready workforce for those businesses. It also looks at the number and type …

Patient Safety Culture And High Reliability Organizations, Jared D. Padgett

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

A 1999 evaluation of case studies performed by staff from the Institute of Medicine found that between 40,000 and 98,000 patients died from preventable errors, while 43,598 individuals died in car accidents that year. A 2011 report increased that estimate nearly 10 times. Widespread preventable patient harm still occurs despite an increase in healthcare regulations. High-reliability organization theory has contributed to improved safety and may potentially reverse this trend. This explorative single case study explored how the perceptions and experiences of nursing and respiratory staff affected the successful transition of a healthcare organization into a reliability-seeking organization. Fourteen participants from …

Assessing Customer Service In Airports – Models From The Uae, Aman Gupta, Mohammed Arif, Phillip A. Richardson

International Journal of Aviation, Aeronautics, and Aerospace

Customer service at airports has become a key priority for airport operators given the high degree of competitions. This paper uses an airport customer service model to analyze three examples from the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Passenger interviews, statistical information, customer feedback and other forms of information have been utilized to learn more about the customer view on the quality of service offered at these three airports. Detailed qualitative analysis of these case studies has highlighted some key issues in the area of customer service and identifies some opportunities for improvement.

Follower Perceptions Deserve A Closer Look, Peter D. Harms, Seth M. Spain

P. D. Harms Publications

On the whole, we embrace the wisdom of Lord and Dinh’s suggestion that leadership researchers need to refocus our attention on the distinction between leadership perception and effectiveness. That said, we hope that the field can move one step further by recognizing the need to treat perceptual biases as more than systematic errors to be controlled for. As encoded in Lord and Dinh’s first two principles, followers are active participants in the construction of leadership phenomena, so the perceptual “baggage” that they bring into the leader–follower system is an important building block in that construction. We believe that by accounting …

Smarter Teamwork: System For Management, Assessment, Research, Training, Education, And Remediation For Teamwork, Matthew W. Ohland, Richard A. Layton, Daniel Michael Ferguson, Misty L. Loughry, Hal R. Pomeranz

Management: Faculty Publications

The rapid adoption of Team-Maker and the Comprehensive Assessment of Team Member Effectiveness (CATME), tools for team formation and peer evaluation, make it possible to extend their success to have a significant impact on the development of team skills in higher education. The web-based systems are used by over 700 faculty at over 200 institutions internationally.

This paper and its accompanying poster will describe strategies for broadening the scope of those tools into a complete system for the management of teamwork in undergraduate education. The System for the Management, Assessment, Research, Training, Education, and Remediation of Teamwork (SMARTER Teamwork) has …

Business As A Calling / Profit As A Virtue, C. William Pollard

C. William Pollard Papers

This speech was delivered at a Symposium on Corporations, Capitalism, and Christianity sponsored by The Center for Lifelong Learning at Windsor Park Retirement Community in Carol Stream, IL. In it Pollard considers the integration of business and faith, focusing primarily on how leaders must cultivate the humanity of their employees while simultaneously maximizing profit.

Corporate Social Responsibility: A Case Study On Carlsberg, Anne Sofie Brusendorff

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

In today’s business environment corporate social responsibility (CSR) and sustainability are extremely influential in a firm’s competitiveness. A literature review will provide an analysis of past cases illustrating the importance of CSR, considering both positive and negative impacts CSR strategy can have on business success. Furthermore, important definitions and terminology critical to understanding CSR will be highlighted. This paper explores the evolution of CSR and provides a general overview of the effects CSR can have on a company’s reputation. The way a company can effectively utilize a CSR-strategy as a competitive advantage is also examined, along with scholarly views both …

Appropriation Or Participation Of The Individual In Knowledge Management, Isabel D. W. Rechberg, Jawad Syed

Publications and Research

Purpose- This review paper examines whether there is a tendency towards appropriation or participation of the individual in the literature of knowledge management (KM).

Design/methodology/approach- This is a literature review paper. In terms of approach, appropriation in this paper is referred to as the KM tasks assigned to individual employees by the management whereas participation is referred to as KM tasks determined jointly by individuals and management.

Findings- The review suggests that while the participation of individuals is seen as important for KM, the KM discourse and practice is visibly oriented towards the appropriation of individual employees and their knowledge …

Functional Space Management In The Hospitality Industry And Its Future Outlook, Katherine Dail

Senior Theses

In recent years, profit made from ancillary revenues has become more vital to the success of service companies. This phenomenon is very pronounced in the airline industry, but is also beginning to become more relevant to hotels as it is applied to functional space and meetings. Most of these ancillary revenues, including meetings, are typically not considered an important source of revenue for hotels, but rather as tools to draw in primary activities. This thesis seeks to delve into the importance of the meetings industry to the economy and to the hospitality industry by considering underutilized functional space and customer …

Parallel Sessions (Advertising): Growth Of Business Schools On Social Media: A Comparative Analysis With Focus On Iba Karachi A Case Study, Erum Hafeez

International Conference on Marketing

When the Institute of Business Administration Karachi established a presence on various social media platforms in 2009, its audience and followers grew dramatically. Face book, Twitter, YouTube and LinkedIn all proved to be useful tools to disseminate information for its target audience including prospective and current students, faculty, staff, alumni, parents and industry. By 2012, however, social media activity became somewhat stagnant, as it was observed that content on various interfaces, although informative, lacked engagement and interaction with the audience. After several months of close monitoring, a number of issues were identified; for example, content only consisted of program and …

2014-05-02 General Education Council Meeting Minutes, Morehead State University. Faculty Senate., General Education Council.

Faculty Senate Records

General Education Council meeting minutes from May 2, 2014.

Impact Of The Ceo Effect On Premiums In Mergers And Acquisitions, Caitlin Duncan

Honors Scholar Theses

The rationale behind a merger or acquisition is to improve the financial performance of the acquiring firm. Many factors go into the the valuation of a company and consequently the premium paid.

This paper will examine what impact upper management, specifically the CEO, has on the valuation of a company during mergers and acquisitions. This impact, called the CEO effect, will be central to the paper. Different valuation methods of this effect, as well as firm valuations, will be analyzed and considered. Specifically, how the CEO effect affects the premium paid by the acquiring firm will be the main focus. …

The Business Of Beds: An Exploration Of Hotel And Hostel Business Strategy, Robert B. Bunda

Honors Scholar Theses

At their cores, hotels and hostels are similar in that they provide a place for travelers to stay. Despite this core similarity, the structures of the two industries are radically different. The hotel industry began in the Middle Ages and has given rise to massive multinational companies, many managing more than four thousand hotels. In stark contrast, the hostel industry began in 1909 and is mostly comprised of independently owned and operated guesthouses, with the largest global chain comprising of less than twenty properties. This study first defines the hotel and hostel industries and examines the different experiences they offer …

Building Change Readiness Practices For Information Technology Support Staff, Dianna Joseph Perkins

Dissertations

With the turbulent economic conditions of the healthcare market, organizational leaders are faced with significant factors driving unprecedented change. Healthcare organizations are challenged with reimbursement reductions, high costs, modification of government regulations, and demanding healthcare consumers. Survival for healthcare organizations in this volatile climate requires successful implementation of rapid change. Healthcare leaders recognize a correlation between competitive advantage and the implementation of advanced information technology. Unfortunately, despite the efforts of healthcare leaders, many change initiatives fail. This study explores the effects communication, leadership, and culture strategies have on individual change readiness as perceived by IT support staff in a not-for-profit …

Workforce Incentives That Increase The Efficiency Of Organizations' Workforce, Daniel G. Schoon

Honors Capstones

Capstone submitted as a graduation requirement for the BSU Honors Program.

Nebraska Monthly Economic Indicators: May 16, 2014, Eric Thompson, William Walstad, Shannon Mcclure, Mihdi Vahedi

Leading Economic Indicator Reports

The Leading Economic Indicator – Nebraska (LEI-N) rose by 1.89% during April 2014. The rise in the LEI-N, which predicts economic growth in the state six months in the future, suggests solid growth in the Nebraska economy in the second half of 2014. Among the growing components of the leading economic indicator, there was a sharp drop in initial unemployent claims, suggesting solid improvement in labor market conditions. There also was solid improvement in business expectations. Specifically, respondents to the Survey of Nebraska Business predicted an increase in sales and employment at their business over the next six month. At …

The Perceived Relevance Of Training In Industrial/Organizational Psychology At The Terminal Master's Level, Seth A. Kline

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

The purpose of this study was to replicate and expand upon the survey research by Erffmeyer and Mendel (1990) on the perceived relevance of graduate training in industrial-organizational (I-O) psychology at the terminal master’s level. A review of the literature discussed core competencies, as well as the advantages of internship experiences and thesis requirements. Results indicated that graduates view their training as well targeted towards knowledge and skills they regard as useful at their internship, first job, and current position. Results also indicated that graduates viewed their internship experiences as highly beneficial and worthwhile experiences, regardless of their supervisor. Results …

An Inventory Management Readiness Assessment Model, Joseph J. Castrodale

Industrial Engineering Undergraduate Honors Theses

Within the realm of today's business world, cutting costs is extremely important. One of the largest contributors to the total cost of a business is related to inventory. Even though it is known by business persons that inventory is a major component to cost, not every company realizes how well they are managing their inventory. While inventory management is a valued part of any business, it is not always evident how well an organization is performing in this area. This research has resulted in the development of an Inventory Management Readiness Assessment Tool for use by supply chain professionals. The …

The Arms Race In College Athletics:Facility Spending And Its Relationship To College Athletics And University Communities, Haley Roane Prewett

Accounting Undergraduate Honors Theses

The arms race in collegiate athletic facilities continues to advance and involves more and more money all the time. Large athletic departments continue to spend money on new, large, state-of-the-art facilities for their programs in order to give them the ability to attract big name coaches, players, and donors. College athletics is a major interest to many people in this country and the fact that these programs have become more and more of a business makes major facility expenditures an interesting and relevant topic to most of the general public. This leads to the question of what factors within the …

Difference In Degrees: Ceo Characteristics And Firm Environmental Disclosure, Ben W. Lewis, Judith L. Walls, Glen W. S. Dowell

Faculty Publications

We contribute to the literature on firms’ responses to institutional pressures and environmental information disclosure. We hypothesize that CEO characteristics such as education and tenure will influence firms’ likelihood to voluntarily disclose environmental information. We test our hypotheses by examining firms’ responses to the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) and find that firms led by newly appointed CEOs and CEOs with MBA degrees are more likely to respond to the CDP, while those led by lawyers are less likely to respond. Our results have implications for research on strategic responses to institutional pressures and corporate environmental performance.

The Horsemen Of The Apocalypse: Predictors Of Recessions, Sarah-Margaret Pittman

Finance Undergraduate Honors Theses

For decades, many financial economists have suspected that an inverted yield curve predicts recession. This paper explores the accuracy of this belief by testing multiple variables and seeing if they result in a recession. The dependent variable tested is probability of a recession; independent variables tested are: three-month Treasury-bill minus ten-year Treasury note; controls include: three-month Treasury-bill yield to maturity, ten-year Treasury-note yield to maturity, number of months since last recession, equal-weighted return on the S&P 500, value-weighted return minus equal-weighted return, return on the S&P 500, rate of inflation, and the interaction between the difference between the three-month Treasury-bill …