Business Commons^™

Impact Of Leadership In Project Management, Ian Wegh

Information Systems Undergraduate Honors Theses

Today’s business environment demands effective project management for enterprises to meet their goals and continue to be innovative. Inherently, this also means that project managers must have strong leadership skills. Project management provides a framework of techniques that provides a symbiotic relationship between both the framework and the leader. The idea behind project management is to complete objectives efficiently within a certain time period given a restricted number of resources. This means project management is a process of principles, tools, and methodologies used to effectively manage a team through the System Development Life Cycle. The System Development Life Cycle (SDLC) …

International Rice Outlook: International Rice Baseline Projections 2023-2033, A. Durand-Morat, W. Mulimbi

AAES Research Reports and Research Bulletins

No abstract provided.

Decoding Generation Z: A Perceptions Content Analysis, Olivia Larson

Agricultural Education, Communications and Technology Undergraduate Honors Theses

This thesis explores the multifaceted nature of Generation Z through a content analysis, aiming to identify the range of characteristics and preferences within this cohort. By delving beyond prevalent stereotypes, this study addresses the gap in understanding regarding Generation Z's learning styles, communication preferences, work ethics, and personal values. Through examination, this research provides insights crucial for marketers and educators seeking to engage and educate Generation Z effectively.

E-Commerce Internship At Coretrex, Noah Mrok

Information Systems Undergraduate Honors Theses

E-commerce is changing the digital world as we know it, and it is an important part of our daily lives as it influences our behaviors as consumers. In this paper, I will describe the complicated nature of e-commerce through the lens of my personal experience at CoreTrex, an e-commerce agency based in Rogers, Arkansas. E-commerce has transformed how businesses connect with consumers and how consumers connect back with businesses. From its early stages as smaller online marketplaces to its current state as a much more complex virtual ecosystem, e-commerce has undergone many changes due to technological advancements and changing consumer …

Developing And Modernizing Small Businesses In Dangriga, Belize, Abby Teague

Management Undergraduate Honors Theses

This thesis evaluates the effectiveness of the Small Business Development project located in Dangriga, Belize, and includes research on the challenges of entrepreneurship in developing countries. The project consisted of research and the implementation of marketing workshops to teach businesses how to manage their online and social media presence through the Belize Tourism Industry Association (BTIA) Dangriga. The impact of the project was significantly important because many Belizeans struggle to survive and succeed within their businesses. Belize contains multiple microenterprises that cannot meet their potential because of a lack of knowledge and communication. Overall, the project aims to give BTIA …

The Shocking Future Of Artificial Intelligence Across A Variety Of Industries, Collin Elek Boone

Management Undergraduate Honors Theses

Artificial intelligence is a huge phenomenon that has begun to take over worldwide media. The abilities that AI has already proven to be capable of will undoubtedly change the world in a variety of ways. In the future, however, it is possible that AI will have an impact on nearly every sector imaginable. With the success that companies such as OpenAI and Microsoft have already displayed regarding artificial intelligence, it is clear that this software has immense capabilities. The purpose of this study is to conduct research detailing the potential impact of AI on industries within the business sector and …

Hospitality Highway Career Fair: An Exploratory Study, Lilly Miller

Human Nutrition and Hospitality Management Undergraduate Honors Theses

The goal of this creative project is to conduct research on career fairs and hospitality events to successfully host the first ever Hospitality Career Fair at the University of Arkansas. The lack of career advancement opportunities on the campus for hospitality management students continued to increase despite the rapidly growing industry across the community, so the creation of the career fair would allow improvement for the students and the companies. With a creative project, it allows more creativity and research to develop the overall plan for the event.

The project studies hospitality career events hosted at other universities to gain …

The Artificial Intelligence Revolution, Alexander Summers

Management Undergraduate Honors Theses

This thesis covers the innovation of AI and the impact it is having in the workplace.

Factors Affecting Graduation With Honors: A Case Study In Bumpers College, Timothy Dalton Roberts

Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness Undergraduate Honors Theses

This study aims to understand the factors influencing the graduation rate with honors in the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food, and Life Sciences (Bumpers College) at the University of Arkansas Fayetteville (UAF). Utilizing data from 2004 to 2014 provided by the Office of Strategic Analytics & Insights at UAF, this research investigates several demographic and academic variables to potentially identify predictors of successfully graduating from the Bumpers Honors Program. The methodology involved cleaning the data, statistical analyses including T-test and Chi-square tests, and logit regression models to determine significant factors impacting graduating with honors.

After chi-square and t-tests and …

The Quick Service Food And Beverage Line Of Business And How It Is Aligned With The Overall Objectives For The Walt Disney World® Resort And The Walt Disney Company, Meghan Mcclure

Management Undergraduate Honors Theses

The Disney College Program allows for many opportunities, such as instructor lead offerings, experiential learning, career path development, and academic support. This internship gives us hands-on work in a global company but also helps us further ourselves in our career by providing networking opportunities and behind-the-scenes access to things others may never experience.

As an intern in Food and Beverage, it was my job to provide not just food but experiences to guests from all around the world. It was my job not only to make sure guests left the restaurant locations happy, but also to maximize production. To do …

Supply Chain Management Internship – J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc., Garrett Locknar

Supply Chain Management Undergraduate Honors Theses

The transportation industry touches every facet of business: research and development, final mile services, raw material procurement, even technology innovation and application design. Without transportation of goods, people, and services, each business as we know would fall apart. The greater supply chain itself relies heavily on the presence and precision of transportation to create value for each specific company’s operations. Beginning in the summer of 2022, I have had the privilege of interning at J.B. Hunt Transport, Inc., one of the world’s largest logistics and transportation companies, which has opened my eyes to the sheer impact of transportation on each …

Supply Chain Management Internship Thesis – The Mercery, Katherine Chamberlin

Supply Chain Management Undergraduate Honors Theses

The main purpose of this thesis is to evaluate my internship with The Mercery, enabled by the Office of Entrepreneurship and Innovation’s VIP Internship program. This provides background information on both the company and the program, along with the different projects and skills I worked on throughout this semester-long internship. This is accompanied by a self-assessment and learning objectives, implications for the company, and the main project results. Finally, this concludes with the summation of all my learnings and growth, and an assessment of the experience.

International Special Projects Internship--Mauritius, Jace Reese

Supply Chain Management Undergraduate Honors Theses

This thesis explains my international internship in Mauritius. During the internship, we surveyed Mauritian residents to help them battle food insecurity using the USDA's food security survey. Food security is very prevalent in our world, especially after COVID. Included are the results as well as what we learned from surveying the residents.

Go Green Or Go Viral?, Kimberly Silva-Nash

Supply Chain Management Undergraduate Honors Theses

Our society has been altered by the proliferation of social media. Viral marketing and influencer marketing have increased the amount of products that dramatically increase in popularity, in other words - go viral. These trend cycles have led to the consumption of businesses that are not as moral as they seem. Has society replaced the priority of buying from good-willed businesses with buying from businesses that give them that new trendiest item? Has society lost its morality in purchasing concerning these trends?

Supply Chain Management Internship – Tyson Foods Inc., Burke Hoover

Supply Chain Management Undergraduate Honors Theses

In my thesis I reflect upon my internship at Tyson Foods Inc., where I served as a Transportation Strategy Intern in the Supply Chain department. My role centered on logistics strategy, transportation management, and third-party logistics provider relationships. Through projects like the Request for Proposal (RFP) implementation and the development of carrier and lane scorecards, I learned about the complexities of supply chain management. This experience also highlighted the critical role of communication, soft skills, and technical competence in the industry. This internship provided me with hands-on experience, allowed me to apply academic knowledge, and helped me realize my strengths …

Evaluating The Sustainability Of The Portraits Of Progress Event Using The Meter Method To Achieve More Sustainable Small-Scale Events, Anna Switzer

Human Nutrition and Hospitality Management Undergraduate Honors Theses

Global warming and climate change due to greenhouse gas emissions are causing society to re-evaluate how our actions affect the environment. This can be seen in many people’s professional and personal lives (Roy & Verplanken, 2016). The event management industry is no exception to this change of mindset. The purpose of this study is to measure the environmental impact of the Portraits of Progress Event on September 9, 2022, using the Measuring Events Through Environmental Research (METER) Method and provide recommendations to improve the sustainability of the event.

Implementing A Dairy Industry In Mauritius, Lainey Deitrick

Economics Undergraduate Honors Theses

Over the Summer, I interned at the University of Mauritius and the Ministry of Agro Industry and Food Security from May 18th to July 15th, 2022, researching issues with Mauritius’s food security and helping to create solutions to their economic problems. My project covered all Mauritius’s agricultural imports, but it had an emphasis on their dairy industry. While in Mauritius, I conducted research on food security among Mauritians, and a feasibility study on if residents would be open to drinking more fresh milk, which is a market the country is exploring to replace sugar cane. My data analysis will be …

Workplace Wellness, Hannah Holder

Management Undergraduate Honors Theses

The evolving landscape of workplace dynamics underscores a growing emphasis on achieving a better work-life balance and healthier lifestyle, particularly among younger generations entering the workforce. This shift in preferences highlights the importance of companies adapting to meet the needs of employees by offering flexibility and support for wellness initiatives. A workplace culture that promotes work-life balance not only enhances employee satisfaction but also leads to increased productivity and decreased healthcare costs. While comprehensive wellness programs and flexible work arrangements are beneficial, they may not be universally applicable. However, the overarching commitment to creating a supportive and healthy work environment …

Utilizing Horizontal Integration For Expansion And Resource Optimization: A Comprehensive Business Plan For Cc Furniture Shipments, Connor Long Clinton

Management Undergraduate Honors Theses

Although delivery companies are not in short supply, CC Furniture Shipments aims to differentiate by providing more unique offerings to higher-end customers. Whereas CC Furniture Shipments will act as its own entity, it will work in conjunction with the retail store Interior Fabrics and Design in Fayetteville, Arkansas. Resources like moving vehicles, clientele, and wholesale connections will be shared between the two companies. These connections will provide the basis on which to build a platform that will provide consumers with everything they would need to revitalize their home or business. One major requirement for many wholesalers is access to a …

Small And Mighty: An Analysis Of Foundational Aspects Of Small Family Firms And Their Corporate Social Responsibility, Ashlyn Crosby

Accounting Undergraduate Honors Theses

This thesis investigates the foundational aspects of small family firms to understand how their unique characteristics create differences among various types of firms. This review examines five key business components: operations, longevity, innovation, succession, and decision-making within these firms. The analysis in this report focuses on businesses that operate within the United States. When considering the American economic model, it is also vital to consider the corporate social responsibility (CSR) of small businesses and, due to its emergence as an integral aspect of contemporary business practices, the impact on society, the environment, and stakeholders. While CSR is frequently associated with …

What Impact Did The Tcja Tax Cuts Have On The Manufacturing Sector?, Ryan Parker

Accounting Undergraduate Honors Theses

Throughout this paper I will examine positive effects the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 had on the manufacturing sector. To do this I begin by outlining the key provisions in the TCJA that directly benefit the manufacturing sector. This includes the corporate tax rate reduction from 35 percent to 21 percent, the changes to the repatriation tax for foreign funds, and the treatment for capital assets. I then analyze key metrics including pre-tax income, income tax provision, dividends, changes in retained earnings, and spending on property plant and equipment. I will show the interactions between the increase in …

20 Years In The Making: Do Executive Compensation Clawback Policies Have Claws?, Brielle Mackinnon

Accounting Undergraduate Honors Theses

Compensation clawback policies allow shareholders to recoup any incentive compensation that executives earn based on reported financial performance metrics that are subsequently determined to be misstated. They were introduced to encourage top executives to take increased responsibility for the financial statements, and to give shareholders increased security when designing compensation contracts for executives. Clawback policies have existed in several different forms for the past 20 years. In this study, I review the history of clawbacks, and discuss the enforcement (or lack thereof) of such provisions by regulators and corporations. The goal of my study is to further the understanding of …

How Did The Tax Cuts And Jobs Act Of 2017 Effect Small Businesses?, Jackson Pittman

Accounting Undergraduate Honors Theses

The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) of 2017 marked a significant overhaul of the United States tax system, promising to stimulate economic growth and enhance the competitiveness of American businesses. Amidst its broad-reaching reforms, the TCJA introduced several provisions directly impacting small businesses, aiming to alleviate their tax burdens and foster entrepreneurial activity. This thesis endeavors to evaluate the multifaceted effects of the TCJA on small businesses, examining its implications for their financial performance, investment behavior, and overall economic contribution.

Preliminary findings suggest that the TCJA has produced a generally positive result for small businesses. On one hand, reduced …

2023 Community Bank Case Study Competition, Joseph Kelly

Finance Undergraduate Honors Theses

We studied a community bank in Danville, Arkansas named Chambers Bank. This was part of a 2023 Community Bank Case Study Competition, which illustrated the financial analysis, staffing, and training of the bank. We learned about technology implemented into the bank, and how the bank works with customers locally to ensure the best quality care.

The Effects Of Short-Term Rentals On Communities And How To Legislate Them: An Expanded Literary Review, William Cherry

Finance Undergraduate Honors Theses

A literary review of the economic and socioeconomic effects of short-term rental properties, specifically the commercialization of the industry based upon other research studies. An in-depth look at how commercialized short-term rentals effect the younger generation, hospitality industry, housing market, communities they reside in, and other externalities. A further review of different legal case studies of short-term rental legislation in major cities across the globe and their varying degrees of effectiveness.

Dreams And Livelihoods In Rural Areas Require Capital, Too: An Investigation Into The Role Of Diminishing Community Banks, Financial Education, And Access To Capital In Rural Areas, Jackson Walton

Finance Undergraduate Honors Theses

Individuals in rural communities face unprecedented economic challenges due to a lack of financial education and a decline in the prevalence of community banks. These problems have continuously grown exponentially without successful attempt at remedy. The community banks that once served as the center of economic activity and prevalence in rural communities are leaving these communities quickly- leaving many without access to lines of credit, personal relationship banking, and without necessary financial education in a world with more financial options than ever. Access to banking and higher financial literacy proficiency rates are almost directly linked to better financial outcomes like …

A Triadic View Of Name, Image, And Likeness From The Point Of Athletes, Universities, And Consumers Of College Athletics, William Monroe

Finance Undergraduate Honors Theses

Name, Image, and Likeness is a new era of college athletics that allows student-athletes to monetize their name, image, and likeness through personal appearances, social media platforms, commercials, selling merchandise, signing autographs, serving as ambassadors, and leading camps or clinics, among others. In simpler terms, NIL allows student-athletes to be paid to play. Before it was introduced, the NCAA took a strong stance against this but soon flipped its stance once states started passing laws relating to the subject. In the past, athletic departments, coaches, and student-athletes were punished by the NCAA because of bribes as well as athletic departments …

My Roman Holiday: Marketing Abroad In The City Of Rome, Emily Whitworth

Finance Undergraduate Honors Theses

This thesis delves into the immersive experience of the Marketing in Rome Summer Program, offered by the Sam M. Walton College of Business at the University of Arkansas. Led by professors Molly Jensen and Heather Sprandel, the program provides students with a unique opportunity to study global marketing and consumer behavior while crafting marketing plans for small businesses in Rome, Italy. Through a combination of coursework, field research, and practical projects, students explore the intricacies of marketing in a cross-cultural context.

An Analysis Of A Changing Supreme Court Viewed Through Students For Fair Admissions V. President And Fellows Of Harvard College, Reed Fagg

Finance Undergraduate Honors Theses

An analysis of the Students for Fair Admissions v. President and Fellows of Harvard College and Students for Admissions v. the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill to better understand the changes in the Supreme Court. Breaking down of the argument and a study of societal impacts.

Financial Consulting Internship In Valencia: Alternative Investments And Ai, Mason Sidney Rike

Finance Undergraduate Honors Theses

During the summer before my senior year, I had the opportunity to work as a research analyst in the finance department of TuaTeam, a financial and strategic consulting firm in Valencia, Spain. TuaTeam is a relatively new firm that serves its clients in a wide range of areas, from strategic restructuring and business model development to finding funding for future projects and identifying/evaluating potential investment opportunities. TuaTeam also works closely with communities around Spain to foster innovation and development among youth and professionals seeking to gain experience in new trends in technology and cultural enrichment. The company currently holds classes …