Business Commons^™

Integrating Big Data Analytics With U.S. Sec Financial Statement Datasets And The Critical Examination Of The Altman Z’-Score Model, Shiva Krishna Sadula

Masters

The main aim of this thesis is to document the process of developing Big Data analytical applications and their integration with financial statement datasets. These datasets are publicly available on the U.S. SEC (Security and Exchange Commission) website which contains the annual and quarterly reports of approximately 8000 companies. Through its Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval (EDGAR) system, the SEC receives several terabytes of data in the mandatory filings from its registrants. This vast amount of data can potentially provide a valuable resource for those parties (such as investors, analysts, regulators and researchers) who are interested in assessing the …

The Parisian Immigrant Cook: Who Are You?, Siobhán Gough

Masters

This research focuses on the working conditions, professional lives and identities of immigrant cooks working in Paris with a view to improving, through a better understanding of these aspects, their accessibility to the workforce and potential career paths. France is the home of the restaurant and is historically a country of welcome and refuge for migrants. In the past ten years the rhetoric surrounding immigration and migrants has changed and there is growing negativity surrounding this population group despite the many studies pointing to migrant workers’ positive contributions to societies and economies. The culinary industry relies on, and will continue …

A Corporate Ethical Compass Tool To Measure Public Relations Decision Making, Lian Qing Luo

Masters

Corporate Public Relations (PR) Ethics is always a top research topic in theory and practice as PR practitioners often have numerous ethical choices to make when addressing controversial issues. However, how to quantify or measure the ethical alternatives of PR decision making and help public relations practitioners make more ethically correct decisions is an open problem. To address this problem, this thesis proposes the PR "Ethical Compass" as a measuring tool or technique to help corporations justify and evaluate the consequences of their ethical public relations decision making. To investigate the advantages and disadvantages of the Ethical Compass technique, qualitative …

A Comparative Study Of Performance Management Practice In The Republic Of Ireland, As Influenced By Its Expansion From The Private Sector To Its Public Equivalent., Kevin Paul Corbett

Masters

This is a study of performance management (PM) that examines its comparative practice in the Republic of Ireland, as influenced by its expansion from the private sector to the public equivalent. The research objectives of this study are to establish the level of incidence of PM practice in both sectors, to consider how PM is practised, including the mechanisms employed, to determine the objectives of the PM processes for these organisations and to ascertain the comparative perceived impact and effectiveness of PM. It was established that there was a gap of nine years since the last quantitative analysis of the …

Analysing The Promotional Effects That Open Source Software Has For Paid Editions: A Dual Mediation Hypothesis Approach For An Emerging Software Business Model, Ernesto Ongaro

Masters

Attracting new leads to use a software product can be costly for a software vendor. One way to secure more leads is to offer trials and unpaid editions, but their use should not be arbitrary. The emerging business model of commercial open source allows a vendor to promote its software for free while converting some of the users to paid; but does the free community edition actually serve as promotion for the commercial edition? This promotional effect is measured through the user’s attitudes and cognitions towards the advertisement and their subsequent purchase intentions. Survey results from 134 users of a …

Economically Rational Trading Between The All Island Single Electricity Market And Great Britain; Theory Vs Practice, Aoife Wilson

Masters

Economic trading across electricity interconnectors is considered to be a key factor in delivering the economic welfare benefits of an integrated European electricity market. This research examines this assumption as it applies to the interconnection between the electricity markets in Ireland, Northern Ireland and Great Britain. In doing so it reviews the assumption of economically rational trading behaviour by participants in the market. This assumption underpinned the cost benefit studies justifying construction of the East-West interconnector. Actual patterns of trading that have arisen post commissioning are compared with projected rational behaviour.

The research also considers the consequences of these behavioural …

Dialogue And Roles In A Strategy Workshop: Discovering Patterns Through Discourse Analysis, Martin Duffy

Masters

Strategy workshops are frequently used by Executive management teams to discuss and formulate strategy but are under-researched and under-reported in the academic literature. This study uses Discourse Analysis to discover participant roles and dialogic patterns in an Executive management team’s strategy workshop, together with their effect on the workshop’s operation and outcome. The study shows how the workshop participants adopt different roles through their language and content. It then identifies a dialogic pattern in the workshop discourse, with the emphasis on achieving shared understanding rather than winning the debate. The workshop facilitator’s role is shown to bring discussion as a …

Electronic Tendering: Recognising A More Effective Use Of Information Communications Technology In The Irish Construction Industry, Larry O'Connell

Masters

When undertaking a traditional tender in Ireland, computer applications are heavily relied upon. Documents, from drawings to Bills of Quantities, are created with an array of computer applications. These documents are subsequently exchanged from surveying firms to a number of main contractors and, additionally, from the main contractors to subcontractors. However, even though the documents have originated in an electronic
form, the majority of the documents are communicated in a paper format. Therefore, with each new communication between the parties more paperwork is created. This system of communication is inefficient and process gains can be made through the utilization of …

The Parent Child Purchase Relationship, Catriona Nash

Masters

This is an interpretive inquiry into the ‘parent-child purchase relationship’. This study aims to understand the parent-child purchase relationship from the consumer perspective, rather than the much reported ‘vested interest’ perspective, in order to enhance and inform an understanding of the phenomenon. Commencing with an overview of current literature, specifically that of the pester power phenomenon, to contextualise the theoretical framework, the extant construct of pester power is examined along with detailed arguments from vested interest parties supported by international studies. The child consumer is examined from a cognitive and socialisation perspective, but more pertinently in relation to their influencers; …

Role Of The Sales Manager And Its Intersection With Sales Technology, Stephen Kennelly

Masters

The area of sales management and technology is an expanding and dynamic field of research. Examining the impact and facets of technology in the arena of sales management has been steadily increasing over the past few decades as sales managers and industry seek to benefit from the multiple uses of technology. Large scale quantitative sales research itself in Ireland has been limited over the past 15 years and not since De Burca and Lambkin (1991) performed an analysis of the industry has there been any wide scale research in Ireland. This body of work seeks to follow on from De …

An Examination Of Indicators Of Sustainable Development For Tourism, June Phelan

Masters

Sustainable tourism development has been recognised as the dominant paradigm for developing the tourism industry in the twenty first century. This concept gained importance in response to increasing environmental awareness and unease at the rapid use and depletion of natural resources. The United National World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) identifies sustainable tourism development as a preferred means for the future development of the industry. Indicators are an established means of achieving and measuring progress achieved towards sustainable tourism development. Consequently, indicators of sustainable development for tourism have been proposed as the building blocks for sustainable tourism development. Information derived from indicators …

The Entrepreneurial Process: An Assessment Of A Real Life Case Study And A Theoretical Model, Kevin Neary

Masters

The purpose of this work is to record and document the development cycle of an entrepreneur focusing specifically on the point of start up of the entrepreneurs business through to a key juncture when the entrepreneur sells a portion of his business. The work then examines the Klofsten Business Platform Model, a model that might be described as a self diagnostic tool for new start up ventures by entrepreneurs. The entrepreneur then analyses his business development in light of Klofstens’ Model and comments on how he feels his real life experience fits into the proposed model. After a period of …

Strategic Development In Professional Associations: A Study Of The Strategic Development Of An Irish Professional Association, Imelda Graham

Masters

The purpose of this thesis is to examine the process of strategic development in professional associations. The thesis will apply the generic model as developed by Johnson and Scholes [1999] ton one professional association and seek to understand the process of strategic development within that association. According to Johnson and Scholes ‘the strategic development of organisations is better understood typically in terms of continuity or momentum of strategy; once an organisation has adopted a particular strategy, it tends to develop from and within that strategy, rather than fundamentally changing direction’ [Johnson and Scholes, 1999:45]. The thesis conducts a literature review …

The National Game And Irish Society: The Gaa As A Cultural Brand, Aine Carroll

Masters

The link between brands and culture is well documented (McCracken, 1986; Ritson and Elliott, 1999). However the purposeful creation of brands related to culture is less evident (Vincent, 2002; Holt, 2004). It is this lack of theoretical understanding of cultural brands that drives this study. The objective of this study is to investigate the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) as an iconic brand within the socio-economic context of Ireland. The literature has been divided into two chapters, the first is an overview of consumer culture as the context within which brands have taken on great importance, in the construction of self …

The Strategic Use Of Geographic Information Systems In The Irish Insurance Industry, Stephen Willis

Masters

The motivation for the research arose from the significant increase in flooding events that have occurred in Ireland and other countries over the last decade. These floods can cause major damage to properties and have resulted in significant losses for insurance companies. There was an expression of interest from within the Irish insurance industry to utilise Geographic Information Systems (GIS) for enhancing the value of their customer data and with the recent losses they began considering using GIS for mapping flood prone areas. Anecdotal evidence suggested that the availability of accurate, up to date and relevant data to support a …

Subsidiary Entrepreneurship: An Exploratory Study, Enda Carolan

Masters

This is a study of subsidiary entrepreneurship. In recent years entrepreneurship has been promoted by academics, practitioners and governmental agencies as a panacea for subsidiary managers as they attempt to sustain and grow their subsidiaries. The research question that underpins this works relates to the transposition of the concept of entrepreneurship into large nature business units of multinational corporations (MNC). Drawing on four case studies of subsidiary managers who invoke the discourse of entrepreneurship to make sense of their managerial behaviour, this study examines the difference between entrepreneurship and subsidiary entrepreneurship. There are two key findings. Firstly subsidiary entrepreneurship is …

A Study Into Developing Strategies For Internationally Competitive Irish-Owned Consumer Brands, Aidan O'Curry

Masters

The objectives of this study centre on researching the complexities inherent within the development of Irish owned consumer brands. This is with particular emphasis on the international development of Irish brands and the ways by which International success can be realized. There has been a notable lack of Irish successes in International markets since that achieved by brands such as Guiness, Bailey’s, and Kerrygold. Through examinination of the literature on branding and contextualization of the study considering the Irish business environment, the research aims to explore ways in which indigenous Irish brands can grow and achieve international success. The first …

A Study Of Training And Development (T&D) In The Irish Financial Services Sector, Colin Hughes

Masters

The proliferation of reports on ‘lifelong learning’ in recent years has brought to the fore the importance of workplace learning. In the present knowledge economy companies with highly knowledgeable and skilled employees have a competitive edge and organisational competitiveness has a direct effect on national competitiveness. The findings of recent reports (McIvor 2004; Chisholm et al 2004; NCPP 2005) suggest that the Republic of Ireland ranks poorly in relation to her European neighbours when it comes to adult participation in lifelong learning. Additionally, out of 15 EU countries, learning in the workplace is least popular in Ireland (Chisholm et al …

An Exploration Of Enterprise Level Partnership And The Influences Informing Private Sector Organisations' Choice Of This Model In The Republic Of Ireland, Kevin O'Leary

Masters

The research follows the strategic choice of Partnership and seeks to gain an understanding of the processes and practices which define this concept and the political, economic and historical influences which have shaped it's evolution. The primary focus of this study is to explore the factors which have shaped the decision of private sector einployers to engage with or to reject Partnership as an appropriate model. The literature and the surveys consulted suggest that Partnership has not become an established or mainstream activity and reflects singularly low levels of uptake despite being actively promoted by Government and it's social partners. …

Rebranding: A Case Study Approach, Maria Size

Masters

The primary objective of this study is to explore how and why companies implement rebranding campaigns. The study stemmed from a realisation by the author that the area of rebranding is very much under-researched academically although anecdotal evidence indicates and increase in the occurrence of the phenomenon in recent years. Therefore the purpose of this research is to add to the insufficient body of literature on rebranding through exploring it from a corporate perspective. The two chapters of the literature review examine the available literature on the topic of rebranding it is holistic sense, and subsequently the possible effects of …

An Exploration Of The Internationalisation Process Of Irish Indigenous Software Smes, Kathy Keeney

Masters

From meagre beginnings in the 1970s, the Irish software industry has emerged as one of the most interesting, exciting and successful Irish internationally traded service industries. Some thirty years later, the industry is still characterised by high levels of international trade activity, through niche market orientation and innovative and flexible management. Through an exploration of the internationalisation process in the context of Irish indigenous software firms, this thesis seeks to understand how this process of international expansion occurs, the barriers encountered throughout the process, future challenges for the industry and the use of strategic partnership activities as a facilitator in …

The Implementation And Diffusion Of Inter-Organisational Systems (Iso) Amongst Retailers And Suppliers In The Irish Grocery Industry, Colm Rooney

Masters

The purpose of this study is to review and empirically examine the literature on the implementation, use and diffusion of Inter-Organisational Systems (IOS) between retailers and suppliers. The study is set in the Irish grocery industry, which brings a significant contextual dimension to the study. Following a research paradigm known as ‘Pragmatism’, the researcher used both quantitative (survey) and qualitative (interviews) data collection methods in an effort to answer the three primary objectives set out. This mixed-method approach is encouraged by Pragmatists, as each data set can be triangulated; ensuring more conclusive and robust findings. The objectives set about examining …

Consumer Web-Search Behaviour In The Irish Airline Industry, Bernie Lydon

Masters

Web usability is highlighted as a key factor likely to affect web search and subsequent buying behaviour. In fact it has been claimed ‘usability is a prerequisite for e-commerce success’ (Nielsen et al 2001). The main elements of usability may be categorised as primarily personal and stimulus factors. The main personal factors are constructs such as consumer attitudes towards searching, subjective norms, behavioural intentions to revisit web sites and likelihood of carrying out ecommerce purchases. The main stimulus factors are encapsulated in web design, which incorporates elements such as web content, web structure and web accessibility. These personal and stimulus …

The Determinants Of Charitable Donations In The Republic Of Ireland, James Carroll

Masters

This thesis explores the variable that affect the probability of donating and the variables that affect the size of donation by Irish households. The datasets employed are the Irish Household Budget Surveys, 1994/1995 and 1999/2000, which are analysed using a tobit model and a double-hurdle model with an inverse hyperbolic sine transformation. Between 1994 and 2000, Ireland witnessed a remarkable and well-documented economic boom. This thesis provides insight into how the determinants of charitable donations change in an economy such as the Republic of Ireland’s, which has undergone such rapid economic and cultural changes. To date there has been no …

An Examination For The Marketing Strategy Of The World Rally Championship, Sean O'Connor

Masters

In 2000, International Sportsworld Communicators Ltd. (ISC) acquired a ten year exclusive commercial rights agreement for the World Rally Championships. Previously the sport attracted a low level of media exposure. ISC planned to market the WRC with the intention of gaining a top five position as a global sports television brand. The main aim of the present study is to examine the marketing strategy of the WRC by ISC. In particular, this study focuses on the strategies taken to increase the Pan European TV coverage for the WRC. ISC identified television as the priority channel for building audience and the …

An Investigation Into The Absence Of Disabled People From Commercial Advertising And Its Impact On The Disabling Experience, Mary-Ann O'Donovan

Masters

Much research has been conducted into the effects of advertising on various minority groups – women, gay people, black people, unemployed youths. However, research regarding the relationship of mainstream advertising and disable people is sparse. Disable people are one of the largest minority groups in the world and yet, they are almost invisible within advertising and consumer research, and within advertising itself. It is this lack of representation in commercial advertising that interests the researcher. Disabled people have historically been excluded from many facets of society- education, employment, leisure – with advertising viewed as one more mechanism to further this …

Experiential Consumption And Sport Sponsorship: A Phenomenological Investigation, Gavin Mcallister

Masters

This study examined the experiences of individuals engaged in sports consumption of a favoured team or sport, and further examines if this consumption experience is in any way affected by the presence of commercial sponsorships. While studies of experiential consumption have been carried out before, this is the first study to examine the possible impact sponsorship has from an experiential consumption perspective. Sponsorship is a broadly managerial activity from a marketing perspective. Sports consumption has been shown to be a predominantly experiential activity (Holt, 1995), yet marketers attempt to target sports supporters through regular marketing channels. But a better understanding …

Investing In Sustainable Urban Transport In Dublin And Its Commuting Hinterland - An Analysis Of Current Policy In The Context Of Its Review, James Nix

Masters

The thesis reviews international literature in the area of sustainable urban transport. Extensive use is made of industry reports and statistical information compiled by Irish public bodies. In turn, this data is supplemented by fieldwork, namely communication with, and study visits to meet, experts in three German cities - Bonn, Cologne and Munich - while a detailed case study is made of rail tunnelling in Madrid, with expert knowledge provided by Professor Melis, project leader of the Madrid metro expansion. Cost data from Madrid is compared with estimates for proposed underground rail lines in Dublin. Drawing on the literature and …

Investigations Into Availability And Quality Of Urban Tourism Consumer Behaviour Information: Tourist Information Availability And Use For Dublin's Tourism Stakeholder Organisations, David M.J. Nunan

Masters

The availability of timely urban tourist information is increasingly important for useful learning experiences among all tourism stakeholders. National or regional tourism visitor surveys are usually either too general to be of much use, if any, to the individual city tourism stakeholder or too specific to be of much use to the city destination manager. A homogeneous city survey model has recently been made available for European city tourism organisations. A balance needs to be struck between the homogeneous information needs of the city tourism manager and the more specific needs of the individual local urban tourism sectors. This thesis …

Best Practice Hrd: Exploring The Feasibility Of Conventional Models In The Small Firm: The Case Of The Irish Hotel Sector, Ciara Nolan

Masters

The growth and popularisation of best practice HRD literature has been a key feature of recent international management research. This study explores this concept within the context of the small firm. In particular, the work sought to analyse the feasibility of conventional best practice HRD, theoretically and empirically, within a small hotel environment. Conventional best practice theory advocates that HRD takes place within a structured framework of formal plans and procedures. It explicitly overlooks and ignores informal and tacit means of training, which have proven to be particularly crucial within small hospitality firms. Yet, many small firms are successful and …