Business Commons^™

An Evaluation Of Environmental, Social, And Governance Standards On Fund Performance: Comparison Of Esg Funds In The United States And The European Union, Gracie V. Del Real

Honors Program Projects

The growing importance of environmental, social and governance (ESG) policies in global industries has attracted special attention from investors seeking to evaluate companies beyond traditional financial metrics. Given the evolving social climate, investors are seeking ways to utilize their money not only for financial success but for societal change. ESG offers the opportunity to retain money in the market while being responsible concerning the environmental and societal impact companies are having on the communities in which they operate. Being a responsible investor can go beyond making strong returns. This study aims to determine if there is a statistically significant difference …

Effects Of The Tax Cuts And Jobs Act Of 2017 On Nonprofits’ Charitable Contributions, Megan J. Drenth

ELAIA

Background The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA), passed in 2017, significantly altered individuals’ taxes for all filing statuses, notably increasing the standard deduction. By nearly doubling the standard deduction, it considerably decreased those individuals choosing the itemized deduction. Due to this, it may impact charitable contributions, a major source of nonprofits’ revenues. Prior studies projected a variety of stances regarding changes in giving levels due to the TCJA. This study attempted to determine the overall effect of the TCJA on nonprofits, as well as within the National Taxonomy of Exempt Entities (NTEE) major groups Education, Health, Human Services, Public …

Enactus Presentation, Lynda Allen

Scholar Week 2016 - present

Students in Enactus will present the outcomes of our work with entrepreneurs and non-profits in our community this academic year in a 12-minute professional presentation with time for questions from the audience.

A Self-Study Of Frn Olivet: A Student-Led Food Recovery Model On A University Campus, Madeira Sherwood

ELAIA

An alarming amount of unserved food, which emits carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, is thrown away daily on university campuses. In those same college communities, there is likely a large food insecure population that is going to bed hungry every night. The Food Recovery Network (FRN) is a network of colleges and universities across the United States that seeks to bridge this gap. The FRN chapter at Olivet Nazarene University, established in October 2017, encountered challenges in its first couple years of operation because there were not yet many resources that laid out best practices for a food recovery program …

Effects Of The Tax Cuts And Jobs Act Of 2017 On Nonprofits’ Charitable Contributions, Megan Drenth

Honors Program Projects

Background

The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA), passed in 2017, significantly altered individual’s taxes for all filing statuses, notably increasing the standard deduction. By nearly doubling the standard deduction, it considerably decreased those individuals choosing the itemized deduction. Due to this, it may impact charitable contributions, a major source of nonprofits’ revenues. Prior studies projected a variety of stances regarding changes in giving levels due to the TCJA. This study attempted to determine the overall effect of the TCJA on nonprofits, as well as within the National Taxonomy of Exempt Entities (NTEE) major groups Education, Health, Human Services, Public …

Correlational Study Exploring The Relationship Between The Teaching Of Ethics In Business Schools And The Ethical Behavior Of College Students In Those Schools, Jeffrey P. Horwitz

Ed.D. Dissertations

The purpose of this quantitative, correlational study was to discover how colleges and universities impact the moral development of their undergraduate school of business students through the method by which they teach ethics in their curricula. To address the stated problem of understanding the impact of ethics and its effect on the moral development of students, the research question that drove this study involved discovering if there was a relationship between the ethical decisions undergraduate college business students make (like deciding whether to cheat on exams and/or assignments) and the way ethics content was delivered. In answering the research question, …

A Self-Study Of Frn Olivet: A Student-Led Food Recovery Model On A University Campus, Madeira Sherwood

Honors Program Projects

An alarming amount of unserved food, which emits carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, is thrown away daily on university campuses. In those same college communities, there is likely a large food insecure population that is going to bed hungry every night. The Food Recovery Network (FRN) is a network of colleges/universities across the United States that seeks to bridge this gap. The FRN chapter at Olivet Nazarene University, established in October 2017, encountered challenges in its first couple years of operation because there were not yet many resources that laid out best practices for a food recovery program on a …

Multigenerational Perceptions Of The Law Enforcement Work Environment, William K. Akin

Ed.D. Dissertations

Leaders struggle to address shifting characteristics between generational cohorts in a multigenerational workforce. Research has shown that law enforcement culture supports an antiquated approach to leadership and that popular generational stereotypes are not consistent with behaviors in the workplace. This research was designed to help the law enforcement community understand generational values, beliefs, and work ethics, and to recommend ways to reduce generational stereotypes, address employee shortages, and improve the overall connection to their communities. The Copenhagen Psychosocial Questionnaire II was used in an online survey to anonymously collect data from 441 law enforcement participants within the Baby Boomer, Generation …

The Impact Of Sports Nutrition Knowledge On The Physical Effects Of Low Energy Availability In Female Cross Country Runners., Abby Olcott, Catherine Anstrom

Student Scholarship – Family and Consumer Science

Learning Outcome

To understand the impact sports nutrition knowledge has on the risk for developing LEA in Female Cross Country Runners.

Background

The International Olympic Committee introduced the concept of Relative Energy Deficiency in Sports (RED-S) to accurately encompass the condition previously known as the Female Athlete Triad. LEA is the root cause of RED-S. (Mountjoy et al., 2014). The purpose of this study was to measure sports nutrition knowledge and the impact knowledge level has on the susceptibility to develop LEA in female cross country runners.

Methods

A quantitative design was used. Participants included the women’s cross country team …

The Relationship Between Audit Committee And New Chief Financial Officer Charcteristics In Publicly Traded Healthcare Companies, John Workman

Ed.D. Dissertations

The Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 established the role of the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) over financial reporting in public companies. Prior research had demonstrated that the CFO of a company who was a CPA, female, had industry experience, or had prior CFO experience had implications on the quality of the company’s financial reporting. This quantitative study examined the relationship of these characteristics between a newly-hired CFO (N = 93) and the audit committee members (N = 331) in public healthcare companies. The extent to which audit committee members’ characteristics may have influenced a newly-hired CFO to have had the characteristics …

C3: Christ Centered Coaching, Utilizing Faith To Impact Athletes, David B. Holstein

Publications Related to EdD Dissertations

Imagine a more disciplined, balanced, stress-relieving way to impact your athletes for good. In an environment that is highly emotional and sometimes volatile, it’s critical to have core principles that promote centering yourself for balance, leading through intrapersonal skill development, and recognizing what your athletes are looking for in a coach. C3: Christ Centered Coaching presents just these principles, drawing from the Christian way of life and sport.

21st Century Church Leadership And Pastor Preparation, Veronica Abney

Scholar Week 2016 - present

This study examined 21st-century American churches and the pastors who lead them to determine whether those pastors who attended seminaries, traditional universities, or denominational institutions were more academically prepared to grow church membership, increase weekly attendance, retain members, manage high-impact leadership teams, and engage in local church formation than were pastors who did not attend or complete any academic institution. The researcher examined the academic completion levels, leadership and church growth characteristics, and professional training of the participating pastors from six broadly defined categories: (a) pastors who participated in the 2014-2015 Outreach/LifeWay magazine survey; (b) pastors who participated in …

A Descriptive Study Investigating Accounting Students' Job Selection Preferences, Richard Wesley

Scholar Week 2016 - present

Many accounting students are selecting accounting audit firms without exhausting a thorough research about the firms or getting an idea of the firms’ expectation. Moreover, accounting firms are hiring students without getting a clear understanding of the students’ job selection preference. As a result, both the students and employers are finding a cultural mismatch. Often employers and students have different perspectives about the nature of the professional skills that are required for a successful accounting career. Once hired, many students soon leave because they become disillusioned with job-related realities. The value of this research adds to the body of research …

Emotional Intelligence: The Effect On Social Media Use, Interpersonal Violence, And Gender, Gail Grabczynski

Scholar Week 2016 - present

This study investigated the relationship between Emotional Intelligence (EI), social media use, interpersonal violence and gender. EI is a relatively new topic of research that has been of interest to many organizations due to the proposition that EI assists in the development of individuals. With the proliferation of social media, interpersonal violence and women in the workforce, a determination of a relationship between EI and those variables was warranted. The study was conducted at a small private Christian university. An online survey was administered to 123 sophomores. This study was a cross-sectional quantitative design, that utilized three established instruments to …

Top Social Media Marketing Trends 2018, Gabrielle L. Murphy, Garin D. Harris, Demetri J. Morris

Scholar Week 2016 - present

Our compiled data and research, concluding with our forecast for the Top Social Media Marketing trends for 2018. Focusing on both macro and microinfluencers.

Comparison Of Illinois Individual Income Tax Amounts With Surrounding States--Who Wins, Who Loses?, Mark R. Williams

Scholar Week 2016 - present

In July 2017 the Illinois General Assembly essentially made permanent the 66 2/3% tax rate increase which was originally enacted in January 2011 but which had sunset after 2014. Since Illinois is a flat tax state, there were some who argued that the Illinois tax rate, even after the increase in 2011 and again in 2017, was lower than surrounding states implying that Illinois taxpayers were still relatively better off than residents of surrounding states. This study provides a brief history of the Illinois individual income tax. This study also compares the individual income tax amounts for Illinois and six …

Financial Analysis Of Cdw Corporation, Sydney Harris, Nicholas Rumke, Jacob Flynn, Quinton Ranzau, Herbi Miller

Scholar Week 2016 - present

CDW Corporation, based in Lincolnshire, Illinois, has been in business for the past 30 years. Over the past five years, the company has gone public and acquired a United Kingdom-based company to expand its international commerce. As an IT re-seller and solution provider to small-, medium-, and large-sized businesses, CDW is able to create comparative advantages against its competition and increase market share. However, the increase in both scale and scope of its operations has come with a worrisome cost, added debt. As a result of our financial analysis for the suitability of an investment, our recommendation is to hold …

Evaluation And Revision Of Bsri Trait Selection, Valerie Seehafer

Scholar Week 2016 - present

The Bem Sex-Role Inventory (BSRI) is a tool created by Sandra Bem in the 1970’s aimed at measuring individual’s androgyny. Critiques concerning the theoretical and methodological framework suggest that it may be in need of an update. The purpose of my research was to determine if and what adjustments were needed for the BSRI. An adjusted version of the short form of the BSRI was distributed to undergraduate students on a small Christian university campus in the Midwest. Respondents rated traits from the BSRI in regards to social desirability, personal desirability, and gendered connotation. The results exhibited that three traits, …

Saving Olivet Money With Creation Care, Nicholas Boros

Scholar Week 2016 - present

Universities throughout the United States are searching for ways to reduce overhead costs, to help combat rises in tuition costs. Typically, one would think that installing solar panels on campus to help generate electricity would cost Olivet money, especially since the University is located in the Midwest. While such an undertaking would require an upfront investment, we will discuss how solar panels could save the University as much as $500,000 to $800,000 per year after an approximate 10 year break even point. We will also briefly discuss how similar approaches could be applied to other businesses and homes for a …

The Relationship Between Leadership Style And Volunteer Intention To Staymark, Mark E. Smith

Scholar Week 2016 - present

Cohort XI

The Effectiveness Of A Customer Loyalty Program Within A Small College Retail Store, Nikos S. Kellepouris

Scholar Week 2016 - present

Ethical Leadership Colloquium

Members of the Ed.D. Class of 2016-17, Cohort XII

Gender Diversity In Business Schools: Examining The Learning Differences Between Traditional Undergraduate Male And Female Students, Lisa A. Wallentine

Scholar Week 2016 - present

Ethical Leadership Colloquium

Members of the Ed.D. Class of 2016-17, Cohort XII

Current & Future Economic Value Of Kankakee River To Indiana, R. Derek Bjonback

Kankakee River Watershed Conference

Author Keywords:

economic trends, watershed, water uses, recreation water use, drainage, irrigation, industrial water use

The Economics Of The Political Parties: A Comparison Of Economic Performance Under Conservatives And Liberals, Austin Fischer

Honors Program Projects

A topic that has long been a subject of debate is which party in America’s two-party political system has better economic policies. Democrats tout strong economic records, boasting of their tried and true Keynesian principles. Republicans point to the accomplishments of recent presidents in combating recessions with supply-side ideals. This project attempts to look at the actual performance of the economy under Republican and Democratic presidents since 1950, and come to an unbiased conclusion on whose policies really do work better.

This project looks at GDP growth, inflation, unemployment, disposable income, and budget deficits to determine which party’s policies help …

Teaching And Non-Teaching Staff Job Satisfaction, Jason Curl

Ed.D. Dissertations

This study focuses on the problem of attrition of teacher in the modern educational system, and the effect job satisfaction has on teacher attrition. Job satisfaction was examined for teaching and non-teaching staff in a high school setting to determine is difference between the employees using the Minnesota Satisfaction Survey Short Form. Analytical methodology was implemented utilizing a MANOVA to examine difference between teaching and non-teaching groups. Results indicated that there was a significant higher level for teaching staff for overall and intrinsic job satisfaction. Extrinsic job satisfaction yielded no significant difference between the groups. Furthermore, Dimensional statistics were employed …

Examining African American And Caucasian Female Proteges' Perspectives About The Relationship Of Their Mentors' Performance Of Mentoring Functions And Race, Lisa D. Summerour

Ed.D. Dissertations

This researcher examined the perspectives of African American and Caucasian female protégés regarding the five career development mentoring functions of sponsoring, coaching, protecting, challenging, and exposing; and the six psychosocial mentoring functions of role modeling, acceptance, counseling, friendship, socializing, and parenting to examine African American and Caucasian female protégés’ perspectives on their mentors’ mentoring behaviors. The researcher also examined the perspectives of African American and Caucasian female protégés regarding the importance of race in their mentoring dyads. The results indicated that no statistically significant differences existed between the African American and Caucasian female protégés within the five career development mentoring …

The Leader-Follower Relationship And How It Relates To Employees' Perception Of Their Own Leadership, Pamela A. Payne

Ed.D. Dissertations

Organizations are dealing with many challenges in this rapidly changing

complex environment that impedes upon their abilities to sustain and maintain a

competitive advantage. These organizations have come to understand that

excellent leadership is imperative to their existence in an ever changing and

unpredictable world. This study is to assist in providing strategies for institutions

to address the leadership crisis by developing the next generations of leaders

within the organization. This quantitative correlational study was designed to

determine if the leader-follower relationship has an affect on the development of

leadership qualities in the follower, as well exploring the follower’s leadership …

Nazarene Universities: Effective Boards And The Church-School Relationship, Daniel D. Rexroth

Ed.D. Dissertations

While the world of higher education is rapidly changing, the trustee selection process and resultant board composition in Nazarene liberal arts schools has remained largely the same for the past 60 years. Trustee selection has been primarily a function of the church, disconnected often times from the needs of the schools. This study examined trustee effectiveness in Nazarene liberal arts higher education, as well as the church-school relationship. Trustees at three schools and top administrators at all eight Nazarene institutions were surveyed to identify gaps in trustee competency and also to assess the church-school relationship. Of the 139 trustees in …

Scholar Week, James Upchurch

Scholar Week Archives (2011-2015)

ONU's Scholar Week #5.

Attaining Sustainability: The American Evolution Of Socially Responsible Business Practices, Lauren M. Beatty

Alumni Scholarship

The focus of this thesis is on the evolution of socially responsible business practices (SRBPs); the historical progression of commercial philanthropy; the current market trends that drive corporate actions; and the projected rise of social responsibility integration within organizational cultures. The purpose of this paper is to provide evidence for how SRBPs contribute to, rather than detract from, the strength and success of American consumer goods companies because of their strategic integration in organizational cultures. In addition to providing a brief historical overview of the evolution of SRBPs, the thesis will highlight how the objectives of SRBPs have continuously advanced …