Business Commons^™

Assessing The Effectiveness Of A Chatbot Workshop As Experiential Teaching And Learning Tool To Engage Undergraduate Students, Kyong Jin Shim, Thomas Menkhoff, Ying Qian Teo, Clement Shi Qi Ong

Research Collection School Of Computing and Information Systems

In this paper, we empirically examine and assess the effectiveness of a chatbot workshop as experiential teaching and learning tool to engage undergraduate students enrolled in an elective course “Doing Business with A.I.” in the Lee Kong Chian School of Business (LKCSB) at Singapore Management University. The chatbot workshop provides non-STEM students with an opportunity to acquire basic skills to build a chatbot prototype using the ‘Dialogflow’ program. The workshop and the experiential learning activity are designed to impart conversation and user-centric design know how and know why to students. A key didactical aspect which informs the design and flow …

Asset-Rich And Cash-Poor: Which Older Adults Value Reverse Mortgages?, Joelle H. Fong, Olivia S. Mitchell, Benedict S. K. Koh

Research Collection Lee Kong Chian School Of Business

Home equity represents a substantial share of retirement wealth for many older persons, particularly in Asia where national housing policies have encouraged home-ownership. This paper explored the potential for reverse mortgages to help 'asset-rich and cash-poor' older Singaporeans unlock their home equity while ageing in place. The empirical analysis was based on a nationally representative survey of home-owners age 50+ in the 2018 Singapore Life Panel (N = 6,258). Our analyses showed that the average older home-owner holds some 60 per cent of total net wealth in housing equity, suggestive of high demand potential for reverse mortgage products. Nevertheless, actual …

The Mutual Constitution Of Culture And Psyche: The Bidirectional Relationship Between Individuals’ Perceived Control And Cultural Tightness-Looseness, Anyi Ma, Krishna Savani, Fangzhou Liu, Kenneth Tai, Aaron C. Kay

Research Collection Lee Kong Chian School Of Business

According to the theory of mutual constitution of culture and psyche, just as culture shapes people, individuals’ psychological states can influence culture. We build on compensatory control theory, which suggests that low personal control can lead people to prefer societal systems that impose order, to examine the mutual constitution of personal control and cultural tightness. Specifically, we tested whether individuals’ lack of personal control increases their preference for tighter cultures as a means of restoring order and predictability, and whether tighter cultures in turn reduce people’s feelings of personal control. Seven studies (five preregistered) with participants from the United States, …

The Persuasive Design Of Ai-Synthesized Voices, Hannah H. Chang, Anirban. Mukherjee

Research Collection Lee Kong Chian School Of Business

We investigate the impact of AI-based, machine-synthesized narrating voices on consumer cognitions and behavior in media-rich environment. Across four studies (plus pretests), we show that the design of AI voices systematically and predictably affects consumer cognition and behavior. Specifically, the designs of AI voices have differential effects in early versus later stages of consumer purchase journey. In situations where the consumers’ attention is already directed to the message, we find that marcomm with more AI voices generates a smaller proportion of favorable thoughts, which leads to a lower purchase likelihood. These results support our conceptualization that hearing more AI voices …

Social Acceptance Vital To Success Of Novel Food Technologies, Mark Chong, Mark Chong

Research Collection Lee Kong Chian School Of Business

In a joint commentary, SMU Associate Professor of Communication Management (Practice) Mark Chong and Andrew Powell , CEO of Asia BioBusiness Pte Ltd, discussed how social acceptance is vital to the success of novel food technologies. They also explained how companies should be guided by the science of risk perception and behavioural science, and why a risk communication and engagement strategy is an essential component of risk management.

An Exponential Cone Programming Approach For Managing Electric Vehicle Charging, Li Chen, Long He, Yangfang (Helen) Zhou

Research Collection Lee Kong Chian School Of Business

To support the rapid growth in global electric vehicle adoption, public charging of electric vehicles is crucial. We study the problem of an electric vehicle charging service provider, which faces (1) stochastic arrival of customers with distinctive arrival and departure times, and energy requirements as well as (2) a total electricity cost including demand charges, costs related to the highest per-period electricity used in a finite horizon. We formulate its problem of scheduling vehicle charging to minimize the expected total cost as a stochastic program (SP). As this SP is large-scale, we solve it using exponential cone program (ECP) approximations. …

The More The Merrier: How Psychological Standing And Work Group Size Explain Managers' Willingness To Communicate About Unethical Conduct In Their Work Group, Burak Oc, Maryam Kouchaki

Research Collection Lee Kong Chian School Of Business

Business ethics research has long examined the dichotomy between remaining silent or reporting ethical misconduct to a third party. Little is known, however, about ethical conversations within a work group after observing misconduct. Specifically, we do not know how many members of their work group individuals choose to communicate with. These conversations could have important implications for creating an ethical workplace. We propose that psychological standing is an important driver of individuals' decisions not to remain silent and to instead raise moral concerns with a greater number of others in their work group. In addition, integrating existing work on structural …

Smart Vending Machines: The Minimarts In The Near Future?, Ramaswami, S.

Research Collection Lee Kong Chian School Of Business

In a commentary, SMU Associate Professor of Marketing (Education) Seshan Ramaswami discussed how the vending machine has stood the test of time even as e-commerce shook the retail industry. He noted the advantages of the vending machine and how it could be an alternative to a brick-and-mortar store and become the minimart of the future. Assoc Prof Ramaswami believes vending machines could get smarter and better as companies have begun using artificial intelligence to build smart vending machines to provide more personalised and interactive features for customers.

Determinants Of Cloud Computing Integration And Its Impact On Sustainable Performance In Smes: An Empirical Investigation Using The Sem-Ann Approach, Mohammed A. Al-Sharafi, Mohammad Iranmanesh, Mostafa Al-Emran, Ahmed I. Alzahrani, Fadi Herzallah, Norziana Jamil

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Although extant literature has thoroughly investigated the incorporation of cloud computing services, examining their influence on sustainable performance, particularly at the organizational level, is insufficient. Consequently, the present research aims to assess the factors that impact the integration of cloud computing within small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and its subsequent effects on environmental, financial, and social performance. The data were collected from 415 SMEs and were analyzed using a hybrid SEM-ANN approach. PLS-SEM results indicate that relative advantage, complexity, compatibility, top management support, cost reduction, and government support significantly affect cloud computing integration. This study also empirically demonstrated that SMEs …

Equity Fund Monthly Report, May 2023, Bryant University, Archway Investment Fund

Archway Investment Fund

No abstract provided.

The Role Of Blockchain Technology In The Transition Toward The Circular Economy: Findings From A Systematic Literature Review, Abderahman Rejeb, Andrea Appolloni, Karim Rejeb, Horst Treiblmaier, Mohammad Iranmanesh, John G. Keogh

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

The circular economy (CE) has emerged as a paradigm to protect the environment and the well-being of future generations. In parallel, Blockchain technology (BC) has emerged as a critical enabler for accelerating the transition toward a CE. In order to understand and summarize prior research on the role of BC in the CE, we conducted a systematic literature review (SLR) of 70 seminal articles published before July 2022. Six main themes emerged: a) CE approaches and practices, b) BC and the integration of the Internet of Things (IoT), c) sustainable supply chain management, d) BC and the CE in the …

Peers And The Choice Of Irrigation Practices In The Arkansas Delta, Kent Kovacs, Christopher Henry, Qiuqiong Huang, Larry Jason Krutz

Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness Faculty Publications and Presentations

There are a range of demographic, climatic, and economic factors that influence the use of irrigation practices, along with the effect of peers and Extension agents on agricultural technologies. This research was conducted to determine how a peer's use of multiple irrigation practices influences the use of common irrigation practices in the Delta region of Arkansas. Using data from a producer survey conducted by telephone in 2015, we identify the determinants of the use and the share of an irrigated farm with five common irrigation practices in the Arkansas Delta. The role of peers for irrigation practice use depends on …

Just Following Up: My Experience As A Summer Student Administrator For Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt Llp, Bridget Leslie

SASAH 4th Year Capstone and Other Projects: Publications

In this paper, I reflect on my experience as a Summer Student Administrator for Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP where I acquired skills such as proficiency in various software and data analysis as well as professional communication, confidence, and organization. I applied these skills daily to produce quality work, and I am still applying these skills to my academic and personal life almost a year later. The culminating experience of the summer was presenting my own data analysis to a group of executives, which helped me improve my presentation skills and foster confidence in my own abilities. In addition to …

Lindenwood University Spring Fashion Show And Market (April 29, 2023), Lindenwood University

Fashion Show Event Programs & Related Items

Program for the Lindenwood University Spring Fashion Show and Market (April 29, 2023).

The Meme Stock Frenzy: Origins And Implications, Dhruv Aggarwal, Albert H. Choi, Yoon-Ho Alex Lee

Law & Economics Working Papers

In 2021, several publicly traded companies, such as GameStop and AMC, became “meme stocks,” experiencing a sharp rise in their stock prices through a dramatic influx of retail investors into their shareholder base. Analyses of the meme stock surge and its implications for corporate governance have focused on the idiosyncratic creation of online communities around particular stocks during the COVID-19 pandemic. In this Article, we argue that the emergence of meme stocks is part of longer-running digital transformations in trading, investing, and governance. On the trading front, the sudden abolition of commissions by major online brokerages in 2019 reduced entry …

Love Is Blind: The Ironic Effect Of Fans’ Experience On Taste Perception, Jennifer L. Stoner, Maria A. Rodas

Marketing Faculty Publications

Many consumers may proclaim a love for a certain sensory experience (e.g., the taste of chocolate for “chocoholics”). These fans may have a wealth of experience consuming the product they love. In three studies, we find that these fans’ love actually blinds them in their ability to report nuances about the products they consume because of the use of top-down information processing. However, when presented with novel brand information, fans switch to a more bottom-up approach which allows greater discernment of the consumption experience. Prompting mindful consumption can also impact a fan’s ability to report a product’s nuances more accurately.

Do Automated Market Makers In Defi Ecosystem Exhibit Time-Varying Connectedness During Stressed Events?, Bikramaditya Ghosh, Hayfa Kazouz, Zaghum Umar

All Works

We investigate the connectedness of automated market makers (AMM) that play a pivotal role in liquidity and ease of operations in the decentralized exchange (DEX). By applying the TVP-VAR model, our findings show higher level of connectivity during periods of turmoil (such as Delta, Omicron variants of SARS-Covid, and the Russia Ukraine conflict). Furthermore, risk transmission/reception is found to be independent of the platform on which they typically run (Ethereum based AMMs were both emitters as well as receivers). Pancake (a Binance based AMM) and Perpetual Protocol (Ethereum based AMM) emerged as moderate to high receivers of risk transmission, whereas …

Portland State University Spring Symposium Report, Stephen Percy, Amy Mulkerin, Anna Ruby, Andria Johnson, Rowanna L. Carpenter, Jill Emery, Jennifer H. Allen, Kevin Neely, Lindsey Wilkinson, Cara Meyer, Michelle Janke, Jen Gray-O'Connor, Brad Simmons, Kelly Fry

Office of the President Publications and Presentations

The 2023 Spring Symposium arose in response to a request to PSU administrators in a Faculty Senate Resolution. That resolution noted the high level of interest by the Faculty Senate in both understanding and engaging in the university’s budgeting processes.

The Symposium offered an opportunity for all PSU employees to come together to identify priorities and shared purpose regarding the university’s approach to long term financial planning. The recommendations created during the symposium are being shared with incoming president Ann Cudd to inform her thinking as PSU pursues a path toward financial sustainability.

Table of Contents

04 Statement from President …

Times Are Changing: The Case Of Movado Group, Phuong Anh Nguyen, Wenting Pan

School of Economics and Business Administration Faculty Works

No abstract provided.

Career Interests, Sarah Stepanek, Megan Paul

Umbrella Summaries

Career interests reflect individuals’ “trait-like preferences for activities, environments, and outcomes that motivate goal strivings and achievement” (Jones et al., 2020). Simply put, interests are a series of likes and dislikes that develop alongside one’s cognitive abilities and personality to shape human behavior (Jones et al., 2020; Low et al., 2005). Interests, thus, drive the amount of time and effort individuals spend acquiring knowledge and abilities within a certain domain and their pursuit of educational and career goals (Jones et al., 2020). According to vocational choice theory, individuals tend to seek work that aligns with their interests, and when this …

Benjamin Family Social Media Fellows, Katie Barton, Jenna Cobb, Kayli Fagan, Myles Forgue, Ryan Hanewich, Jenny Lynch, Santiago Najarro Cano, Tess Sanchioni, Lily Zgurzynski

School of Business Student Scholarship

Katie Barton ’24, Major: Marketing, Minor: Communications

Jenna Cobb ’24, Majors: Management and Marketing

Kayli Fagan ’23, Majors: Business Management and Studio Art

Myles Forgue ’24, Majors: Marketing and Theology

Ryan Hanewich ’23, Major: Marketing, Minor: Film/Video

Jenny Lynch ’23, Major: Marketing, Minor: Finance

Santiago (Santi) Najarro Cano ’24, Major: Marketing, Minor: Theatre

Tess Sanchioni ’23, Major: Marketing, Minor: Finance

Lily Zgurzynski ’25, Major: Computer Science, Minor: Marketing

Mentor: Liz Kay, Marketing and Communications

A generous endowment gift from Class of 1991 alumni Meg and Adam Benjamin led to the creation of the annual Benjamin Family Social Media Fellowship in …

Corn Grain Marketing Strategy Unbiasing For 2023, Matt Stockton, Shannon Sand

Cornhusker Economics

Discusses cognitive biasing errors that may be employed--in the context of corn market strategizing--such as the Dunning-Krueger effect, availability or distancing bias, gambler's fallacy, and anchoring bias.

Air Force Support For The Joint Military Environment: A Nato Allied Command Operations Headquarters Case Study, James R. Hamilton

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The nature of joint and international military service is built on a foundation of multiple service components sending their best officers to support, develop, and strategize for operational impact. If leaders fail to support sending or training their officers in a joint context, then military defense may become myopic, stemming from an internal focus on air or land functionality instead of an external focus on joint air and land functionality. While several studies have highlighted the need for greater support in the joint officer community, there seemed to be other factors that contribute to senior leaders guiding absence of deliberate …

Gender Dysphoria: A Qualitative Study, Courtney Stevenson

Student Research Design & Innovation Symposium

This qualitative research study investigates gender-neutral language and the impact that it could have on the mental health of transgender non-binary (TNB) individuals. The study considers gendered terms and explores how their continued use may affect this community. This kind of qualitative research is some of the first of its kind, as only recent years have shown an increase in the awareness of this part of the LGBTQIA+ community and providing resources for young TNB individuals. The included literature review synthesizes theoretical frameworks and outlines previous research conducted in related studies. These studies examined the use of gender-affirming language and …

Major Impacts Of Covid-19 On The Traditional Office: How Does It Work?, Faye Brandow

Student Research Design & Innovation Symposium

The COVID-19 pandemic upended lives around the world and invariably changed the way that workplaces operate. As managers look toward the future and begin inviting employees to return to the office, they must first recognize and understand the changes they will face before they do so. This paper discusses the two biggest changes to future workplaces: increased availability of hybrid or remote scheduling, and an increased focus and commitment to diversity, equity and inclusivity (DEI) efforts following the Black Lives Matter movement. Many working Americans had not worked from home prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, but they were quickly able …

The Role Of Spiritual Fitness On Burnout And Organizational Commitment In High-Stress Environments, Amy Mcdonald Stevens

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This quantitative study examined the relationships between burnout, spiritual fitness, and organizational commitment in National Guard servicemembers. Recent deployments and chronic stressors have resulted in an emergence of mental health concerns, burnout, and turnover intentions in this population. Research has indicated that elements of spirituality address these concerns and suggest that more spiritual individuals are more resilient, less susceptible to burnout, and find positive meaning in work. This study examined these variables using the Maslach Burnout Inventory (Maslach & Jackson, 1981), the Organizational Commitment Scale (Meyer & Allen, 1997), and the SOCOM Spiritual Fitness Scale (Alexander et al., 2020). Correlations …

Astroworld: Crowd Surge And Communication Errors, Scott Arrington, Caroline Shea, Gillian Adduci

Student Research Design & Innovation Symposium

Understanding crowd management is one of the most important components to consider for a safe and successful event. Professionals need to develop, implement, and manage crowd management policies and procedures that will ensure a safe environment and event. This case study examines the AstroWorld Festival, an annual music festival run by Travis Scott, an American rapper, and held in Houston, Texas. During the third annual festival in November of 2021, tragedy struck and ten lives were lost. An influx of sudden motion or, a crowd surge, began causing concert-goers to panic. This case study examines the factors that led to …

Collaboration Between Cfit And The College Of Engineering And Design, Elizabeth Broder, Tanner Glawe, Elizabeth Rall, Alliana Fennelly

Student Research Design & Innovation Symposium

In the Chef-Driven Contemporary Casual Concepts lab, culinary students were divided into teams to create a restaurant concept. This team of four chose developed The Hottenany, a concept and menu that best represented Lincoln, Nebraska. Students met weekly and to outline the project and delegate tasks. After developing the concept for their menu and logos, the team collaborated with graphic design students. Working as an interdisciplinary team resulted in a richer experience. It provided the opportunity for culinary students to see how their vision was interpreted in design, reinforcing the need for focus and clarity on the concept. It also …

From Pitch To Performance: Making Of A Musical, Jacob Olsen

Student Research Design & Innovation Symposium

Johnson & Wales University’s drama club, the JWU Players, produces a musical annually. Each production is led entirely by undergraduate students from a variety of the university’s colleges. During the 2021-2022 academic year, the Players produced Bright Star, a bluegrass story about love, loss, and family. Bright Star generated new funds for the club and met several of the objectives set forth by the production team. Once a production team is elected in December, they immediately begin the planning for show weekend. The weekend of performances is slated for mid-April, giving the production team four months to create a show. …

Tech In Hospitality, Tin Yeung Lau

Student Research Design & Innovation Symposium

The purpose of this project was to research the impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) on customer service, decision making, internet of things, events, and food and beverage. This technology has benefited the hospitality industry value chain construction, from the supplier to the service delivery. Through the use of AI-powered chatbots and other related technologies, hospitality businesses can automate repetitive tasks that require little human intervention. Its ability to automate labor-intensive processes can reduce labor costs while also improving quality and reducing potential management risks from un-trained employees. Hotel software automation also has the ability to support short-staffed teams and streamline …