Business Commons^™

How Awareness Levels Of Environmental And Ethical Risks Affect Consumer's Perceptions Of Fast Fashion, Antonina Stragapede

Honors Theses

The fast fashion industry is known for its low prices, quick inventory, and its ability to keep up with runway styles. Yet, the amount of risk that comes along with their processes has been kept hidden. The lenient policies in international countries have given the fast fashion industry leverage to create tons of dangerous carbon emissions, as well as keep labor at an inhumane level. The point of our study was to try to create awareness of both ethical and environmental risks through a randomly distributed intervention. Participants were also encouraged to take part in our longitudinal study to determine …

Tesla Energy Division Strategic Audit, Kaleb Strawhecker

Honors Theses

Tesla’s electric vehicle manufacturing operation is the major revenue source for the company. Tesla has established itself as a significant player amongst other automotive manufacturers, specifically in the electric vehicle sector. Many trends are favoring Tesla’s expansion. This audit takes a look at trends and changes through a PESTEL analysis along with Porter’s Five Forces. Both provide an in-depth look into what the environment around Tesla is like. Then, these are used to evaluate Tesla’s major strategies, competitive advantages, and resources it has at its disposal. Finally, the audit will address how the factors allow Tesla to take advantage of …

Union Pacific Strategic Audit, Maureen O'Hara

Honors Theses

Union Pacific is the largest domestic railroad in the United States, responsible for nearly all of the rail-based shipping in the 23 states making up the Western two-thirds of the country. The company provides a crucial link in the global supply chain. By utilizing internal and external analysis tools, this report seeks to understand how Union Pacific’s business model and strategies have led them to create and sustain competitive advantages against other big competitors in the transportation industry. The analysis utilizes tools such as PESTLE, Porter’s Five Forces, and SWOT analyses. Following the application of the analysis, strategic recommendations are …

Case Studies: A Study Of Accounting Practices And Concepts, Anna Brock

Honors Theses

This accounting thesis includes multiple case studies on the topics of accounting principles, uses, and concepts. Throughout two semesters, research and contemplation have been conducted on various topics relating to accountancy. Case studies were conducted using different methods. Some were completed within a group, and the others were completed on their own. The methods were to reflect and enhance group work and conversation, as the accounting profession is a very social career.

The topics range from ethical decisions to a multiple-week case study performed with peers. The case study took place in the second semester, and I worked on a …

Accounting Case Studies, Jack Mcinnis

Honors Theses

Accounting Case Studies is a compilation of independent case studies performed during the Honors Accounting 420 class. The case studies consisted of multiple performed individually, and a case competition with an assigned group. The case studies I performed individually consist of an assessment between the two cities I was interested in beginning my career in, a case study about the presidential debate in 2020, an evaluation of the optimal corporate tax, a mentorship interview, and an analysis of the 2008 housing crisis in the United States. My group for the case study included my fellow classmates; Francena Sekul, Caitlyn Henry, …

Case Studies In Accountancy, Michael Keene

Honors Theses

Case Studies in Accountancy is a compilation of case studies completed in fulfillment of ACCY 420. My cases are titled as followed: A Tale of Two Cities, Financial Statements, Presidential Debate, Tax Cuts and Job Act and Taxodus, Professional Interview, Financial Crisis, Case Competition Amazon Overview, Case Competition Amazon Audit Analyst, Case Competition Amazon Tax Advisor, Case Competition Amazon Advisory Consultant and Case Competition Amazon’s Equity Position. These cases covered a variety of topics in the world of accountancy as well as touching on our personal lives. In the first semester of the course, cases were typically individual before moving …

The Democratization Of Finance Through The Banking Revolution And Financial Technologies In Brazil, Joao Rodrigues

Honors Theses

Every nation requires an adequate financial system to support the flow of funds between savers and borrowers, providing a safe and effective payment system. The Brazilian National Financial System (Sistema Financeiro Nacional - SFN) is recognized as one of the backbones of Brazilian development throughout the years, one of the explicit drivers of the ten largest world economies. Interestingly, institutions that established the country's financial system are vulnerable to structural change driven by continuous development created through new ideas, new challenges, and new opportunities.

Could Sox Be Better? : Exploring The Advantages And Shortfalls Of Sarbanes-Oxley, Christopher Clark

Honors Theses

The Sarbanes-Oxley Act was ratified in 2002 to mixed reviews. Over the past 18 years, many researchers have come to different conclusions about the effectiveness of SOX. This paper proposes amendments to make SOX as effective as possible without increasing compliance costs and as cost effective as possible without decreasing efficacy.

Fundamental Principles Of Accounting: A Series Of Case Analyses, Bridget Mcmillan

Honors Theses

Over the past four years at the University of Mississippi, I acquired knowledge about the accounting profession and the application of accounting principles that have arisen throughout the evolution of modern professional accounting. For the thesis requirement in accordance with the standards set by the Patterson School of Accountancy and the Sally McDonnell Barksdale Honors College, I completed a series of case studies covering a variety of topics related to the study of accounting. Under the direction of Victoria Dickinson, I completed these cases over the 2019-2020 academic year. Each case introduces a unique topic and presents findings about various …

Arbor Day Foundation Programs: Analysis And Recommendations, Justin Myers, Emily Alston, Cameron Claborn, Charles Erker, Braelyn Isernhagen, Jonathan Jameson

Honors Theses

We are proposing the enhancement of the current Tree City USA program to include a special recognition program for high-achieving communities. These “Golden Oak” tree cities will be recognized each year based on a variety of metrics detailed in a new and more comprehensive program application. Recommendations:

● Updated application to include more information about both quantitative and qualitative insights

● Special recognition program awarding “Golden Oak” status to communities in village, town, city, and metropolis categories based on either percentile or benchmarking system

● A cumulative “Golden Oak” award given to the State that achieves the highest percentage of …

A Tale Of Two Companies: The Importance Of Public Relations Amidst The Shift Towards Corporate Activism, Olivia Schwab

Honors Theses

By comparing the controversies that stemmed from Papa John’s John Schnatter and CrossFit’s Greg Glassman, some obvious public relations strategies stand out, including but not limited to understanding an audience, adapting to a changing environment, establishing a crisis communications plan, and taking controversial stands on issues close to the audience’s hearts. Most importantly though, if companies preach messages of social change, they must follow up on their stances with corrective action to do their best to help facilitate it in society.

While examining the history of corporate activism, it is clear why and how some corporations become the victims of …

The Impact Of Wine Nutrition And Ingredient Labeling On Consumers’ Attitudes And Purchase Intentions, Kara Tate

Honors Theses

Current TTB regulations do not require that US wine producers display nutrition and ingredient labeling on their wine labels. However, recent attempts at passing legislation to mandate that such information be provided on labels in the EU suggests that US policy makers will soon follow suit. Research on how this addition would impact consumers has been scarce and has been primarily conducted in Europe, but what is available suggests that consumers are unaware of the nutritional values in a glass of wine and many do not look at the back label when selecting a bottle to purchase. We conducted a …

A Comprehensive Analysis Of The Accounting Environment And Procedures Through A Series Of Case Studies, Ryan Mccarty

Honors Theses

The following thesis is a culmination of twelve case studies completed throughout the academic year of 2018-2019 under the direction of Dr. Victoria Dickinson, as a requirement of the Sally McDonnell Barksdale Honors College and completion of the ACCY 420 course. Each case study is independent of the next, and is an in-depth response to questions and theories that are found outside of this document. Each analysis is accomplished by myself alone and through the studies of Financial, Managerial, and Cost accounting courses in my career at the University of Mississippi. The thesis is intended to analyze accounting procedures and …

Case Analyses In Financial Accounting, Jordan Watts

Honors Theses

The following thesis explores topics in the profession of public accounting, a diverse and ever-evolving field. As the global business environment and economy develop, so must accounting standards and ideas in order to protect the interests of the masses who invest and take part in the larger economy. The following cases expound on important concepts in the field of accountancy and provide careful consideration of standards utilized and debated worldwide. Each case is explored within the context of a different company or situation, allowing for a diverse palette of research topics from which to view the business world through an …

Mutually Exclusive: A Survey Of Ethical Decision Making In Technology, Connor Mcpherson

Honors Theses

People make hundreds of decisions every day. Developers, security consultants, operations engineers, designers, and engineers all make small decisions that affect the final product. The values people choose to promote and ignore appear in the constraints and biases of the products they craft. This paper discusses the process of developing, distributing, and analyzing a values survey to computer professionals and students in East Tennessee. I use advanced calculations of significance and beta for chi-squared tests to determine significance and discuss the ethical conclusions from the survey’s data.

The Green Rush, Alexis N. Stein

Honors Theses

Hemp, Cannabis, Weed, Marijuana, Pot, Bud, Reefer, Grass…the nicknames go on and on, but how did a plant that was once widely accepted become a Schedule I substance according to the United States Federal Government? In order to fully understand this question, we must first look at the history of hemp from its origins in 8,000 BCE to present day. This information will allow us to better understand the history of cannabis and how it has shaped the landscape for the growing cannabis industry today.

Cartel Practices And Policies In The World War Ii Era, Caleb Yoken

Honors Theses

The goal of this thesis is to examine cartels in the World War II era: how and why they operated, why they existed, and any assistance they may or may not have received from their respective governments. This thesis, in particular, will focus on three countries, the United States, Germany, and Britain. Cartels are typically defined through the lens of monopolized business activity that can deal with anything from petroleum and steel to pharmaceuticals, and take actions to restrict output and raise prices to eliminate their competition. The research finds that cartels that operated in Europe during this era were …

A Strategic Audit Of Tesla, John J. Stobbe Jr.

Honors Theses

This paper examines in depth one of the most innovative companies in recent years: Tesla. Redefining what it means to be an electric car, Tesla has produced impressive cars year after year. However, they’ve run into tremendous production issues and have still yet to make any significant profits. This strategic audit analyzes Tesla’s current place in the market and considers many perspectives to come to a proposed recommendation. This recommendation is to secure its market share and resolve production issues. This could be accomplished through sticking to only a few Tesla car models, then iterating year after year, and then …

Stakeholder Theory In Ethical Business Decisions: The Case Of Nestle, Mckayla Marcola

Honors Theses

The traditional view of business is that executives have an obligation to base all decisions around increasing the value of the business. But what happens when those decisions infringe on the surrounding environment? In 2017, Nestlé proposed a water withdrawal increase at their Evart, MI water bottling plant from 250 gallons per minute, to 400 gallons per minute. During April 2018, the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality approved the new withdrawal proposal; this caused an up roar in the environmental community. From local citizens, to public interest groups, many have expressed their opposition for this increase stating that this increase …

Do Environmentally Friendly Companies Outperform Environmentally Unfriendly Companies In Financial Markets? An Analysis Of Financial Performance & Corporate Social Responsibility, Katherine E. Quinlan

Honors Theses

Over the last century, the ideology regarding the relationship between humans and the natural world has shifted from a period of major exploitation to a time of conservation and appreciation. Recent catastrophic events such as Hurricane Katrina in 2005, a result of sea level rise and wetland degradation, have really opened the public's eyes to the negative impacts that humans have on the environment, and what will come if we do not change our ways. Implementing sustainability practices has become a norm, if not a necessity, in the corporate world if companies wish to prosper. Using cross-sectional data from Newsweek's …

The Sustainable Future Of The Modern Fashion Industry, Zhanna Kutsenkova

Honors Theses

Sustainable fashion is a recent movement within the fashion industry that aims to reduce textile waste and environmental depletion while increasing ethical treatment of workers; the goal is to slow down the global production and consumption process in order to form an industry that will be more sustainable in the long run. Along with the development of more socially and eco-conscious production and marketing practices, there is still room for the sustainable fashion movement to grow beyond its current scope. With the support of growing information networks and brand transparency consumers will be better equipped than ever before to make …

Protecting The Whistleblower: An Evolving Understanding Of The Role Of The Whistleblower, Alan Harrington

Honors Theses

This thesis will provide a background for whistleblower protection policies and explore the evolution of whistleblower protection policies in the United States in relation to publicly traded companies.

What The Sarbanes-Oxley Act Does Not Include: An Examination Of The Importance Of Audit Firm Rotation, Audit Firm Credibility And Tone At The Top, Nicole Damaschi

Honors Theses

This thesis is an examination of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (SOX) that was passed in response to a wave of accounting frauds, including Enron and WorldCom. Paul Sarbanes and Michael Oxley established SOX in an attempt to restore investors' confidence in the financial statements of publicly traded companies. However, there are critical elements of financial reporting that it fails to address, like audit firm rotation, audit firm credibility and management's tone at the top. Mandatory audit firm rotation and credible audit firms are believed to result in high-quality audits while management's tone at the top is reflected through the honesty and …

A Comparative Analysis Of Human Rights Laws In The United States And Australia, Emily F. Chalifoux

Honors Theses

Discrimination does not make good business sense; it causes tension and a decrease in productivity. Even though human rights laws vary from country to country, conforming with these laws makes business more cohesive and productive. Some of the many benefits include:

• Increase the pool of potential employees and, therefore, the chances of getting the best person for the job,

• Build morale and productivity of employees

• Minimize complaints, disruptions and legal wrangles, leaving employees to focus on their work, and

• Add to the bottom line and build the company's reputation in the community.

The purpose of this paper is to analyze …

The Effects Of Perceived Consequences On Ethical Decisions, Eldean Gwen Cornish

Honors Theses

Increasing public awareness of ethics in business, or a lack thereof, has inspired an abundance of study, research and a variety of theories regarding ethics and has encouraged many firms and associations to establish corporate and professional codes of ethics. This thesis begins with a literature review surrounding the definition of ethics and ethical decision-making behavior. The Theory of Reasoned Action model designed by Fishbein and Ajzen (1975) proposed a linkage of external variables and an individual's behavioral intention (Randall, 1989), the theory being that change is ultimately a result of changes in beliefs. Tests to predict behavior suffer from …