Business Commons^™

Delivery Preferences Of Omnichannel Consumers, Dinesh Gauri

Marketing Faculty Publications and Presentations

Customers are demanding faster, convenient, and affordable delivery options. Retailers that can meet these demands will be better positioned to succeed in the competitive e-commerce market. This report of US Shoppers provides key insights on the current trends in delivery preferences for shopping,

Online Or In-Store - Shopper Channel Preference Study - 2023, Dinesh K. Gauri

Marketing Faculty Publications and Presentations

As channels converge, consumers have many choices for shopping. Understanding how consumers shop is important for retailers looking to customize their product and service offerings. This report of US Shoppers provides key insights on the current trends in selecting the channels for shopping.

Estimating The Economic And Health Benefits Of Bicycling In Northwest Arkansas, Mervin Jebaraj

Publications and Presentations

Over the past year, the Center for Business and Economic Research in the Sam M. Walton College of Business at the University of Arkansas conducted an analysis of the economic and health benefits of bicycling in Northwest Arkansas. The study was commissioned by the Walton Family Foundation and built on a previous study completed in 2018. The data and analysis presented in this study will inform regional and state policymakers, funders, and other community stakeholders about the overall return-on-investment from the significant investments in the bicycling ecosystem in Northwest Arkansas.

Shopping Marketing Tactics That Drive Purchases, Dinesh K. Gauri

Marketing Faculty Publications and Presentations

Technology is reshaping the retail experience. In the fight for market share, how effective are traditional marketing tactics and technology offerings at attracting shoppers?

The Forces Changing U.S. Shopping Behavior, Dinesh K. Gauri

Marketing Faculty Publications and Presentations

The future of retail is all about catering to the consumer. To survive retail’s newest challenge, retailers must understand what’s shaping consumer demand.

Active Learning With Cybersecurity, Carole Shook

TFSC Publications and Presentations

A global campus grant was obtained in Spring 2020 to develop modules for Cybersecurity. This presentation encompasses the use of Cyberciege and case studies that require active learning of students.

“Arkansas Global Changemakers And The Effect Of Collaborative And Disruptive Strategies”, Laurence Hare, Rogelio Garcia Contreras

Research and Social Innovation Publications

In this essay, we consider the ways in which disruptive strategies align with collaborative strategies to produce innovations aimed at ameliorating global challenges in the twenty-first century. Specifically, we consider how they work through our current initiative, Arkansas Global Changemakers, which creates new international partnerships at the local level in order to challenge long-standing obstacles to global social change.

Heads Up! Arkansas Has A New Llc Act, Carol Goforth

Arkansas Law Notes

This past legislative session Senate Bill 601, sponsored by Senator Jonathan Dismang, was enacted into law, becoming Ark. Act 1041 on April 30, 2021. This act repeals the old LLC Act and adopts the Uniform Limited Liability Company Act (“ULLCA”), with minimal changes from the uniform language. This short piece points out some basic information about the Arkansas ULLCA and some of the major changes in Arkansas law applicable to LLCs. While lawyers will obviously need to consult the new statute when actual issues arise, this article should at least provide a “heads up” notice to practitioners with LLCs or …

The Retailing Study Project Report: A Series Of Research Studies From The Walton College Of Business, Dinesh K. Gauri

Marketing Faculty Publications and Presentations

The respondents to questions about consumer behavior towards general merchandise and grocery retailers revealed distinct divisions among the three large retailers.

This study is in response to the dynamic and chaotic nature of today's retailing. U.S. retail accounts for 16 percent of U.S. GDP with just a few key retailers contributing most heavily.

Mergers and acquisition continue to change the retail landscape, and with Amazon growth and ecommerce on the rise, it was time to check shopper perceptions toward the three major retailers: Walmart, Amazon and Target,

Walmart's Sustainability Journey: Elizabeth Fretheim And The Search For Sustainable Trucking, David G. Hyatt

Wal-Mart Sustainability Case Project

In early 2014 Elizabeth Fretheim, Director, Business Strategy and Sustainability for Logistics with Walmart, was reviewing with other members of the transportation team data on the fuel efficiency of their private fleet, which included over 6,000 trucks and 61,000 trailers operated by over 7,000 drivers. The logistics and transportation groups were vigilant in their basic goals of (1) loading trucks efficiently, (2) driving fewer miles, and (3) investing in fuel efficient equipment. But this issue concerned the drivers’ impact on mpg. In particular, the data showed that idling had increased over the past calendar year (2013) compared to the year …

Bottled Water Logistics And Forecasting, Michael Galbreth, Matthew A. Waller, Christopher Vincent, David G. Hyatt

Wal-Mart Sustainability Case Project

CASE OVERVIEW This case presents an interesting and very real dilemma: In 2005, Walmart committed to selling “products that sustain people and the environment.” However, despite environmental and social concerns of the category that include energy required for transport and storage, the plastic used for bottling, the potential lack of purity due to chemicals leeching from the plastic, massive waste, and the cost relative to tap water, consumers want and continue to buy bottled water. Thus the espoused goals of the company are in seeming conflict with its business model. Bottled water is an item under public scrutiny, and producers …

Bottled Water Mini Case, Michael Galbreth, Matthew A. Waller, Christopher Vincent, David G. Hyatt

Wal-Mart Sustainability Case Project

CASE OVERVIEW This case presents an interesting and very real dilemma: In 2005, Walmart committed to selling “products that sustain people and the environment.” However, despite environmental and social concerns of the category that include energy required for transport and storage, the plastic used for bottling, the potential lack of purity due to chemicals leeching from the plastic, massive waste, and the cost relative to tap water, consumers want and continue to buy bottled water. Thus the espoused goals of the company are in seeming conflict with its business model. Bottled water is an item under public scrutiny, and producers …

Walmart's Sustainability Journey: Andy Ruben And The Design Of Organizational Structures And Systems (B), David G. Hyatt, Andrew Spicer

Wal-Mart Sustainability Case Project

The case “Andy Ruben and the Design of Strategic Goals and Processes” flows from the previous discussion, by moving from the development of an ambitious vision to the challenges of adopting strategic policies and processes to reach those aspirations in practice. This case puts students into the role of Andy Ruben, Walmart’s first Vice-President for Sustainability , asking them to make concrete decisions about what should be done, in what order, and by what process if they were to implement an ambitious corporate sustainability strategy. In the case, Ruben confronts specific choices about how to define the responsibilities of the …

Walmart's Sustainability Journey: Lee Scott's Founding Vision, Andrew Spicer, Laura Lambdin

Wal-Mart Sustainability Case Project

The first case—“Lee Scott’s Founding Vision”—takes the perspective from the apex of the organization as Walmart’s CEO, Lee Scott, develops and articulates his vision of what Walmart hopes to achieve by pursuing an aggressive sustainability strategy. This case explores the pressures that led Scott to announce the company’s ambitious sustainability goals: achieving zero waste, 100% renewable energy, and selling sustainable products. It also explores the choices made when defining and communicating the scope of the strategy, particularly through an in-depth analysis of his announcement of Walmart’s new goals in his October 2005, “Twenty-First Century Leadership” speech.

Walmart's Sustainability Journey: Andy Ruben And The Design Of Organizaional Structures And Systems (A), Andrew Spicer, Laura Lambdin

Wal-Mart Sustainability Case Project

The case “Andy Ruben and the Design of Strategic Goals and Processes” flows from the previous discussion, by moving from the development of an ambitious vision to the challenges of adopting strategic policies and processes to reach those aspirations in practice. This case puts students into the role of Andy Ruben, Walmart’s first Vice-President for Sustainability , asking them to make concrete decisions about what should be done, in what order, and by what process if they were to implement an ambitious corporate sustainability strategy. In the case, Ruben confronts specific choices about how to define the responsibilities of the …

Consumers And Sustainability At Walmart: A Student's Perspective, Kealy Carter, Satish Jayachandran

Wal-Mart Sustainability Case Project

To further encourage students to analyze initial goals in comparison with outcomes over time, we have developed a consumer-oriented case—“Consumers and Sustainability at Walmart: A Student’s Perspective”—that moves beyond the perspective of internal Walmart participants to explores issues of sustainability from the point of view of a typical Walmart shopper. In this case, we examine the experience of a fictional student shopper who goes to Walmart and wants to buy sustainable products, which helps raise questions for students about what Walmart’s actions mean to them as consumers, citizens as well as business professionals. The case also asks students to evaluate …

Walmart's Sustainability Journey: Defining Sustainable Products (B), David G. Hyatt, Andrew Spicer

Wal-Mart Sustainability Case Project

In “Defining Sustainable Products (A),” we examine Walmart’s search for a systemic solution to define a sustainable product precisely. In this case, Matt Kistler, who succeeded Andy Ruben as the company sustainability leader in 2007, knows that the company is lagging behind on its espoused goal of selling sustainable products. The case asks students step into Kistler’s shoes as he leads Walmart’s sustainability office through a systematic review of the different models and frameworks available for measuring the sustainability of products presently in use. Eventually, the students face a decision about what Walmart should do to make systemic progress with …

Walmart's Sustainability Journey: Defining Sustainable Products (A), David G. Hyatt, Andrew Spicer

Wal-Mart Sustainability Case Project

In “Defining Sustainable Products (A),” we examine Walmart’s search for a systemic solution to define a sustainable product precisely. In this case, Matt Kistler, who succeeded Andy Ruben as the company sustainability leader in 2007, knows that the company is lagging behind on its espoused goal of selling sustainable products. The case asks students step into Kistler’s shoes as he leads Walmart’s sustainability office through a systematic review of the different models and frameworks available for measuring the sustainability of products presently in use. Eventually, the students face a decision about what Walmart should do to make systemic progress with …

Walmart's Sustainability Journey: Peter Redmond And The Search For Sustainable Seafood, David G. Hyatt

Wal-Mart Sustainability Case Project

In “Peter Redmond and the Search for Sustainable Seafood,” students examine the responses of Peter Redmond, Vice President and Divisional Merchandise Manager of Deli and Seafood, to organizational pressures to make seafood more sustainable at Walmart.

Choosing And Using A Co-Packer, Pamela L. Brady, Steve Seideman, Justin R. Morris

Research Reports and Research Bulletins

Co-packing, also known as contract packaging, is when a company contracts with another company to manufacture and package foods that the original company will sell. Products on the market that have been co-packed range from nationally known brands to those sold under private labels. The use of co-packers has become extremely popular with entrepreneurs who have a product idea but lack the $100,000 or more needed to set up a manufacturing facility to produce the product. In addition, many entrepreneurs starting a foods business find that, in today’s market conditions, greater profits are achieved through sales and marketing innovations than …

Farm Service Agency Direct Farm Loan Program Effectiveness Study, John Nwoha, Bruce L. Ahrendsen, Bruce L. Dixon, Eddie C. Chavez, Sandra J. Hamm, Daniel M. Settlage, Diana Danforth

Research Reports and Research Bulletins

This final report presents the results of an independent, performance-focused review of the effectiveness of Farm Service Agency (FSA) Direct Farm Loan Programs (FLPs) as requested by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) in the 2005 Passback for FSA. The study focuses on FSA’s direct Farm Ownership (FO), Farm Operating (OL), and Emergency (EM) loan programs.

Models Of Farm Service Agency Guaranteed Loan Loss Claim Rates In The U.S. For 1990-1998, Latisha A. Settlage, Bruce L. Dixon, Bruce L. Ahrendsen, Steven R. Koenig

Research Reports and Research Bulletins

The Farm Service Agency guaranteed loan program is an important source of credit for family-sized farming operations in Arkansas and the other states of the U.S. This program provides loan guarantees to borrowers who are otherwise unable to obtain credit from traditional lenders at reasonable rates and terms. This study identifies those factors related to the program’s loss claim rate performance over the years fiscal 1989 through 1998 using state-level data from forty states. For both the operating loan and farm ownership loan programs, farm operator financial variables, interest rates, and commercial bank characteristics are found to be statistically significant …

Soybean Marketing Methods And Characteristics Of Arkansas Grain Handlers, Patricia A. Sauer, Nathan B. Smith, Andrew M. Mckenzie

Research Reports and Research Bulletins

Arkansas producers should acquaint themselves with all marketing methods available to them. Of particular importance is the pervasiveness of price risk within the current economic climate. This bulletin provides insights into the current structure of the grain marketing industry, soybean handler characteristics, and the availability and use of marketing alternatives in Arkansas. Arkansas soybean handlers were surveyed in 1998 to determine the marketing practices of both handlers and producers for the 1996 crop year. Particular emphasis was placed on the types of contracting methods offered by these handlers. Both facility size and corporate structure were found to play a significant …

Models Of Fsa Guaranteed Loan Use Volume And Loss Claims Among Arkansas Commercial Banks, Bruce L. Dixon, Bruce L. Ahrendsen, Scott M. Mccollum

Research Reports and Research Bulletins

The Farm Service Agency (FSA) guaranteed loan programs are an important source of credit to production agriculture. The two major guaranteed loan programs are the operating loan (OL) program and the farm ownership (FO) loan program. Guaranteed loans insure payment to the lender of up to 95% of the losses in the event of borrower default. FSA has historically been involved in lending to farm operators via direct loans, but emphasis has changed over the last two decades to making guaranteed loans the primary source of FSA associated lending to production agriculture. This study seeks to determine what characteristics of …

Marketing Practices Of Arkansas Beef Cattle Producers, Michael P. Popp, Lucas D. Parsch

Research Reports and Research Bulletins

This report contains information from a 1996 survey on marketing practices of Arkansas beef cattle producers. While several studies have been completed on the profitability of retained ownership of beef cattle, few data are available on what marketing techniques and decision criteria cow-calf and stocker operations use to market their cattle. This report shows that there are some differences in opinions on marketing issues such as pooled cattle sales and retained ownership across cow-calf and stocker operations. Further, these operations use different sources of information to make marketing decisions. The results of this study can be particularly helpful in providing …

Production Practices Of Arkansas Beef Cattle Producers, Michael P. Popp, Lucas D. Parsch

Research Reports and Research Bulletins

This report contains information from a 1996 survey on production practices of Arkansas beef cattle producers. While several studies have been completed on the profitability of retained ownership of beef cattle, few empirical data are available on production practices of cow/calf and stocker operations in Arkansas. This report shows that there are some differences in production methods across operation types. Further, the report summarizes demographic characteristics of Arkansas cow/calf and stocker operations. The results of this study can be particularly helpful in providing the needed data for studying the potential economic impact of feeding weaned calves to heavier weights in …

Feasibility Study For A Beaver Reservoir Agricultural Water Supply Volume I, James Ferguson, Robert Shulstad, William Bateman

Technical Reports

An irrigation district of approximately 30,000 acres has been proposed to be located in Washington and Benton Counties in Northwest Arkansas utilizing water from Beaver Reservior. This report on the economic benefits of such a district is done under contract No. DACW03-81-C for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers by the Water Resources Research Center at the University of Arkansas.

Feasibility Study For A Beaver Reservoir Agricultural Water Supply Volume Ii, James Ferguson, Robert Shulstad, William Bateman

Technical Reports

An irrigation district of approximately 30,000 acres has been proposed to be located in Washington and Benton Counties in Northwest Arkansas utilizing water from Beaver Reservior. This report on the economic benefits of such a district is done under contr