Business Commons^™

Dairy Revenue Protection: Choice Determinants And Performance Assessment, Wyatt A. Haley

Masters Theses

Dairy Revenue Protection (Dairy-RP) is an insurance protection plan that started in 2018 and was developed to insure revenue for a given quarter. When purchasing Dairy-RP policies producers are faced with five decisions, where the most important is their pricing option as they can lock in future prices on either class option pricing or component option pricing. The other remaining producer-selected terms are the quarter of the year they wish to cover, how much milk they would like to insure as well as coverage level and a protection factor. Within the past five years of this policy being active there …

Money, Family, Happiness: Financial Beliefs And Relational Satisfaction In Parent-Young Adult Children Relationships, Keely M. Algya

Masters Theses

This study is framed through the lens of communication accommodation theory and examined the effects of accommodative and nonaccommodative communication on relational satisfaction and identity gaps when discussing finances in young-adult child (YAC)-parent relationships. The sample consisted of 276 young-adult college students who completed a self-report survey about how their parent communicates with them about finances. The cross-sectional survey results provided support for two forms of (non)accommodative communication as being significantly associated with relational satisfaction and identity gaps. Respecting divergent values was one type of accommodative communication that was positively associated with relational satisfaction and negatively associated with personal-relational identity …

Corporate Social Responsibility In Sport: The Illustrative Case Of The German Men’S Bundesliga, Denise Morawek

Masters Theses

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) has become a pivotal aspect for companies and governments, exceeding mere risk management to create opportunities and enhance overall performance. While the concept of CSR in sports

is relatively recent, its significance is growing, especially in Germany’s sport industry. The Bundesliga, one of the world’s top football leagues, showcases a unique CSR landscape shaped by societal, economic, and political drivers. Societal motives reinforce regional identity, economic strategies target customer retention, and political actions, including governmental programs and football governing bodies’ initiatives, shape CSR endeavors. Germany’s distinctive 50+1 rule, albeit with exceptions, highlights the fan-centric model. The …

The Causes And Implications Of Burnout Among Graduate Assistants, Katherine Mary Kuka

Masters Theses

Introduction & Background

Acting as both a student and staff member of a university, the unique role of graduate assistants can often become a catalyst of burnout and stress. Recent studies found 60% of graduate assistants met the criteria for burnout (Park et al., 2021) and 43% of graduate students claim to be experiencing more stress than they can handle (Allen et al., 2021). In this case, burnout is defined as, “A state of emotional, physical, and mental exhaustion caused by excessive and prolonged stress” (Parker & Tavella, 2022). Graduate assistants are a subpopulation of graduate students that is growing …

Understanding Missing National Agriculutral Statistics Survey Yields, William Hence Duncan

Masters Theses

This thesis consists of two chapters that explore factors that impact a corn and soybean yield is not reported by United States Department of Agricultural National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS). These yields are important to several stakeholders for decision making and government program payments. The objective of the first chapter is to determine factors that impact the likelihood of a NASS corn or soybean yield are reported at the county-level. Factors such as county land coverage as well as average farm size are observed. The second chapter specifically compares NASS yields to alternative yield data across Tennessee. A spatial analysis …

Examining The Impact Of Sports Influencer Advertising On Consumer Behavior In The Us And Saudi Arabia On Instagram., Mohammed Samer Alassaf

Masters Theses

This paper discusses the influence of sports influencers on the buying pattern of fans in the United States and Saudi Arabia. Sports are a crucial part of life in both countries, with numerous athletes being considered celebrities. Sports influencers have a tremendous impact on the audience, who often imitate their behavior and buy the products they advertise. The sports market is huge in both countries, with businesses utilizing sports influencers to promote their brands. Instagram is a popular platform for businesses to gain young fans and customers. The research and development of the sports industry have enabled considerable growth of …

Drought And Excess Moisture Crop Insurance Indemnities To Tennessee Corn Producers, Jordan Peterson

Masters Theses

The Federal Crop Insurance Program has grown to become the primary agricultural safety net for corn [Zea mays L.] producers. In 2020, insured liabilities totaled $43.98 billion in the United States (U.S.). Crop insurance provides corn producers in the U.S. with in-season protection against declines in revenue or production, below the revenue or production guarantee, due to an insured cause of loss. Crop insurance has evolved over time with significant changes occurring through Farm Bills and Ad Hoc legislation. This thesis is divided into two chapters. Chapter 1 discusses the legislative history of the crop insurance program, basics …

The Impact Of Guilt And Empathy Appeals On Green Advertisement Purchase Intent Among Green Consumers, Jasmine C. Fehr

Masters Theses

The purpose of the study was to examine whether guilt appeals or empathy appeals were more effective at promoting purchase intention among green consumers for green products. This purpose was achieved through studying the effect of using an empathy appeal versus a guilt appeal in a hypothetical green advertisement. To test this objective, participants completed a survey that assessed the relationship between the message condition they were exposed to—either guilt, empathy, or neutral—and their subsequent purchase intent of the advertised product. It was hypothesized that the empathy appeal would lead to higher purchase intention than the guilt appeal, but the …

Optimal Stocker Production Strategies For Spring And Fall Calving Cow Herds, Cora Beth Key

Masters Theses

This thesis consists of two chapters discussing the economics of raising stocker beef cattle in the southeast United States. The objective of the first chapter is to estimate supplemental feed cost for spring-calving cows, spring-born stockers, cows calving in the fall, and fall-born stockers, while considering the seasonality of forage production and nutritional needs. The chapter explores ways producers can lower their feed costs and demonstrates the importance of managing hay expenses for cattle producers to control cost. The objective of chapter two is to determine the profit-maximizing stocker period in an integrated cow-calf and stocker operation with both fall- …

Financial Feasibility And Factors That Lead To Profitability For Small-Scale Farmers In Rwanda., Saheed Adeniyi Orimadegun

Masters Theses

This study will analyze small-scale poultry farming in the Musanze district of Rwanda. Poultry farming offers a source of protein and economic subsistence for households in this region but studies suggest that the smallholder farmers need training for effective production of broiler for these purposes. To this end, a project - Feed the Future Tworore Inkoko, Twunguke (TI) - funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the African Sustainable Agriculture Project (ASAP) Foundation, and led by the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture (UTIA) and Zamura Feeds Ltd., was initiated to help the smallholder broiler farmers …

The Effect Of Inputs On Poultry Production Output, Ty M. Wolaver

Masters Theses

To combat poverty and malnutrition, Feed the Future Tworore Inkoko, Twunguke (TI) has set out to teach Rwandan farmers how to grow broilers as additional income for the farmers and an additional protein source within the community to combat malnutrition. Throughout this program, the inputs and outputs of the farmers were recorded, and the goal is to determine an efficiency score for each flock raised and use that information to determine what factors contributed to a higher flock efficiency. A data envelopment analysis (DEA) is used to determine the efficiency score of each flock. Using these efficiency scores, a regression …

The Role Of Athletic Trainers In The Mental Health Care Of Student-Athletes, Dominic J. Palumbo

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study was to examine the role of athletic trainers (ATs) in the mental health care of NCAA Division I student-athletes. Previous research has explored the current experiences of both student-athletes and ATs, along with the current models of care that are prevalent in Division I athletic training rooms. Research described the student-athlete population as unique. According to Beauchemin (2014) the life of a student-athlete “presents challenges and stressors related to athletic status that can lead to a compromised well-being.” This compromised well-being could potentially lead to mental health diagnoses among the student-athlete population. Along with student-athletes, …

Determining The Location Of A Milk Condensing Plant In Tennessee, David Frederick Mendez

Masters Theses

Given the increasing popularity of local foods and the desire to reduce shipping costs and carbon footprint, Tennessee-based dairy product producers are showing interest in sourcing fluid milk locally. Based on dairy farmer surveys, discussions with industry leaders, shipping distances, and transportation costs estimates, a mixed integer linear programming model is used to determine the optimal location of an in-state milk condensing plant. The objective is to minimize the total transportation costs of shipments of fluid milk from farms to the condensing plant plus the transportation cost of shipments of condensing plant products to further in-state processing. Twelve scenarios of …

A Cost-Differential Analysis Of Local Soybean Processing In East Tennessee: Roast Or Crush?, Rachel Lauren Eatherly

Masters Theses

East Tennessee soybean producers currently have limited local markets and processing options. Most soybeans produced in the region are transported for processing or export to Guntersville or Decatur, Alabama. High transportation costs cut into profit margins and limit local economic impact. With the demand for processed soybeans from the local beef and dairy industries, local processing technology options ought to be investigated. This study will assist soybean farmers in decision-making between hauling to current processing plants or seeking out alternative local processing. Local processing points could allow local beef and dairy farmers additional options of including processed soybeans in least-cost …

Tennessee Beef Producers' Willingness To Participate In A Tennessee Branded Beef Program, Elizabeth Mae Mcleod

Masters Theses

Tennessee beef industry participants have expressed a growing interest in producing cattle to be harvested locally to capture additional value. This study measures Tennessee cattle producer willingness to supply cattle to a federally inspected slaughter (FIS) facility and a Tennessee branded beef (TBB) program. Data from a 2016 survey of Tennessee beef cattle producers were used to estimate interest in participating in the FIS program and TBB program as well as the live cattle weight that interested producers would supply. Of those who responded, 76.6 percent were interested in participating in the FIS program and 70.5 percent were interested in …

A Neural Network For Collaborative Forecasting, Abdulrahman M. Enani

Masters Theses

As the supply chain activities’ backbone, demand forecasting must be accurate. This paper proposes an artificial neural network forecasting model, which integrates and synchronizes shared information, such as sales or consumption rate among different partners, to improve the forecasting’s accuracy. This information sharing is part of the collaborative planning, forecasting and replenishment (CPFR) model, which is a supply chain model aiming to enhance the supply chain’s efficiency by jointly planning and forecasting between two or more supply chain partners that will be used as the base for production and replenishment activities. The model is validated using a tuna product sales …

An Economic Evaluation Of A Biofuel Supply Chain Utilizing Multiple Feedstocks, Huaqi Zhang

Masters Theses

Biomass is considered as one potential feedstock for biofuel production. However, the high cost of biomass-to-biofuel supply chain, attributed to biomass’s low bulk density and resulting harvest, storage, and transportation challenges, has been a major hindrance to the success of biomass-based biofuel industry. In addition, the issue of dry matter losses during storage for a feedstock has affected biomass quantity and quality if the feedstock is stored for several months after a single harvest in a year. One potential way to improve the economics of biomass supply chain is to reduce storage need and enhance the utilization of harvest equipment …

A Mixed Integer Linear Programming Approach For Developing Salary Administration Systems, Taner Cokyasar

Masters Theses

Determining salary increases of executive personnel is a challenging decision process for many companies. Salary administration policies that aid in the determination of salary increases and other compensation benefits have a wide variety of advantages for both a company and its employees. This thesis develops a mathematical programming approach to create a salary administration system that recognizes the importance of performance and potential of employees for future promotions as major components of a salary increase policy for executive personnel. A number of companies all over the world use salary administration systems that integrate work performance and potential for advancement to …

A Simulation Model Of The “Bio-Depot” Concept In The Context Of Components Of Variance And The “Taguchi Loss Function”, Maximilian Platzer

Masters Theses

The research focuses on the simulation, statistical evaluation, costs, and continuous improvement of supply chains for bio-based materials. A significant challenge of using cellulosic feedstocks for biofuel or bioenergy production is the high per unit costs of final products, e.g., biofuels. The goal of the research is to provide practitioners with useful statistical methods and a simulation Excel template for evaluating the variance and costs associated with the supply chain of bio-based products. Statistical Process Control (SPC), components of variance, Taguchi Loss Function, and reliability block diagrams (RBD) are used in this thesis for the evaluation of the supply chain …

Cell Phone Ethnography: Mixed Methods And The Brand Consumer Relationship, Robert Nathaniel Dove

Masters Theses

Overall, the goal of this study is to identify and differentiate the various motivations and cultural influences that can be used to explain consumer behavior. In doing so, this study hopes to facilitate the development of new and innovative marketing strategies, providing a new research design for the ethnographer’s toolkit. More importantly, this model can give shape to new constructs and new variables for further empirical testing in the field through quantitative and qualitative methods. By blending the two approaches, using qualitative interpretive anthropological analysis by field study with quantitative sentiment analysis adapted from market researcher Jeffery Breen’s (2012) methodology, …

Analyzing The Risk And Returns For A Spring- And Fall-Calving Beef Herd In Tennessee, Gavin William Henry

Masters Theses

There is limited research on the profitability and risk of spring- and fall-calving beef seasons grazing tall fescue in the southeast. The objective of this research is to evaluate the profitability and risk of spring- and fall-calving seasons in Tennessee while considering the seasonality of cattle and feed prices for various feeding rations. Two commonly used rations and two least-cost feed rations meeting the nutritional requirements of a spring- and fall-calving cow with two weaning dates in Tennessee were developed. Enterprise budgets were established for each calving-season, two weaning dates per calving season, and feed ration. Net returns were simulated …

Effects Of Optical Sensing And Variable Rate Technology On Nitrogen Fertilizer Use, Lint Yields, And Profitability In Cotton Production, Melissa Reynolds Stefanini

Masters Theses

Nitrogen (N) fertilizer is expensive and can be harmful to the environment. Precision agriculture (PA) has the capability to reduce the amount of excess N from crop production released into the environment, increase net returns to the grower, and reduce the risk of profit loss due to spatial and temporal variability. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the profitability, risk management potential, and N use efficiency of using real-time optical sensing with variable-rate technologies (VRT) to manage spatial variability in cotton production. Data collected from 29 field trials in Tennessee, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Missouri from 2011 to 2014 …

The Lived Experience Of The Collegiate Female Student-Athlete, Kelsie Ann Patricia Saxe

Masters Theses

This study explores the lived experience of the collegiate female student-athlete. This population makes up approximately half of the 463,000 student-athletes competing in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) (Irick, 2013). Previous research has explored the benefits and drawbacks of women’s participation in sport and specific experiences within the female student-athlete experience. While research heavily encourages the adolescent girl’s participation in sports, there is conflicting research regarding the impact sport has on the experiences of female student-athletes at an elite level. LaFountaine (2007) found that female student-athletes are not thriving in relation to various aspects of holistic wellness. However, McLester, …

Consumer Perceptions Of A Brand's Social Media Marketing, Taylor Michelle Smith

Masters Theses

This project seeks to inform corporate marketing efforts, as well as add to the growing body of literature on social media marketing. The purpose of this project is to assess consumer perceptions of a brand’s social media marketing. Participants were obtained from the PetSafe® brand Facebook fan page, and a total of 195 respondents completed all measures and were included in the study. The results show that brands must be actively engaging their consumers via social media in order to compete in a competitive marketplace. Engagement can be promoted through entertaining and interactive posts, useful and relevant content, word of …

Managing The Brand: Administrative Structure Of The Hidden Profession Of Collegiate Trademark Licensing, Katrina M. Phelps

Masters Theses

This study analyzes the current state of collegiate trademark licensing departments through first-hand accounts from current or past licensing professionals. Semi-structured interviews were conducted to understand current issues that are facing the licensing industry, particularly focusing on internal organizational structure of collegiate trademark licensing departments at institutes of higher education. Eleven participants, including licensing agents, licensees, licensing directors, and licensing experts were interviewed and the following themes emerged. Trademark licensing is a hidden profession, with little education available about the industry. Programs have greatly evolved over recent decades, but institutional infrastructure still lags in the appropriate assets and resources to …

Urban Economics Of The Ideal City, William Taylor Brantley

Masters Theses

Infrastructure influences both depictions of the ideal city and economic models predicting urban growth. As the common variable, infrastructure investments could promote ideal city values within free market economies.

To preserve the countryside and natural lands infrastructure investments must encourage concentrated growth in cities. The city and countryside are codependent. An abstraction between the two zones will lead to the demise of both the city and the countryside. New urban infrastructure should relate to public spaces creating economic, cultural, and social value in dense development. This value is achieved by generating a multiplicity of connections, program, and places within the …

A Lean Information Management Model For Efficient Operations Of An Educational Entity At The University Of Tennessee, Harshitha Muppaneni

Masters Theses

A software based Management Information System (MIS) is designed and implemented in the Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering at University of Tennessee to handle different types of data requests that are currently processed through multiple steps. This thesis addresses the current resource intensive data management model in educational institutions and proposes a decentralized and customized solution. The proposed software based data management system provides information to authorized sources in the requested format with minimal or no time consumption. The quantification of the new systems’ impact is done by comparing it with current data management process using Graph Theoretic Approach …

Three Justifications For Support Of Female Student Affairs Professionals, Anna Filipek Adams

Masters Theses

Female student affairs professionals have experienced much advancement in the field. Yet we still suffer gender discrimination in our career paths, salaries, and work experiences. Unfortunately, this issue is not seen as important by decision makers, due to the acceptance of slow change, the past reluctances to begin this discussion, and the arguments of critics. In order to reinvigorate our growth and advancement in the field, I argue that there is value in supporting female student affairs professionals.

I justify the value of supporting of female student affairs professionals from student affairs, human resources, and cultural studies perspectives. From a …

Text Size Impact Of Responsibility Messages In Magazine Alcohol Advertisements Among College Students, Sumin Shin

Masters Theses

Although warning labels on products and in advertising have been much studied and discussed in the past several decades, the effect of text size on recall of these messages has been largely ignored, particularly with regard to alcohol advertising. Guided by the bottom-up model of visual attention processing, this study hypothesizes that a responsibility message with larger text attracts more consumer attention and creates greater message recall. One hundred twenty three magazine alcohol ads were collected in preliminary research, and the average size of their responsibility messages was found to be approximately 6 points. An experimental survey of college students …

Marketing Opportunities For Small-Scale Organic Wine Producers In Slovenia: Proposing A Wine Cluster Model, Maja Djorcev

Masters Theses

The organic wine sector provides high quality artisan products as well as public goods and services and is gaining an importance in a global context. As such, this approach to wine production is seen as a potentially significant source of economic development and an initiator of change in local, rural areas. However, despite recent growing public and scientific interest in alternative approaches farming, organic wine production is still poorly researched.

This thesis focuses on examining the characteristics, challenges, and goals of the organic wine sector in Slovenia through the eyes of ten participant winemakers. Each participant winemaker is a small-scale …