Business Commons^™

Management Communication Failures In Faculty Hiring Processes: A Case Study, Christopher J. Mckenna

Faculty Publications

While universities contribute directly to the future successes of students through the delivery of content knowledge and the development of key career skills, they might also reasonably be expected to model the “best practices” of industry professionals. However, based upon a three-year study of the communications between universities and graduate students applying to nearly two-hundred faculty positions, universities often fail the best practice test when interacting with job candidates. Ironically, they do so even when recruiting for faculty positions that target candidates specializing in the pedagogies and practices of effective communication.

Local County Hospital: A Review Of Challenges And Opportunities, Mary Fischer, Treba Marsh

Faculty Publications

There are multiple factors regarding current health care delivery in the U.S. These factors include the high-priced medical care, hospitals, equipment, and pharmaceutical charges, and the private system of health insurance. This discussion looks at these factors’ impact on Local County Hospital ranging from Obamacare to a host of other challenges. The hospital is going through difficult times as it struggles to make ends meet. Although it will take time to adjust to an inconsistent environment and changing health care industry, Local County Hospital continues to focus on the patients first and attempts to keep the region healthy.

Closing Pandora’S Box: Reducing Student Confusion With A Process Costing Simulation, Marie Kelly, Nikki Shoemaker

Faculty Publications

This paper describes a classroom Process Costing simulation that can be used in both introductory managerial accounting and cost accounting courses in order to help students better understand the principles of process costing and how to apply these principles to a problem. In groups, students work to manufacture candy necklaces for a set amount of time. After the manufacturing time has ended, students work together to determine equivalent units of production, cost per equivalent unit, and total costs for the period. Subsequently, a final class discussion provides opportunities for differences between groups to be discussed and any additional questions to …

Determinants Of State Audit Delay: An Empirical Analysis, Mary Fischer, Treba Marsh

Faculty Publications

Prior audit delay studies concentrated on municipal government, counties and school districts. This study adds to the literature by examining the determinants of state governments’ timeliness of audit reports. Audit delay determinants found by previous municipal research are used to identify characteristics that may influence state audit delay. This study’s results suggest both agreement and contradiction of prior research audit delay determinants. Financial variables alone do not predict state government audit delay. However, a combination of financial and nonfinancial variables used in municipal audit delay studies do.

National Income Inequality, Society, And Multinational Enterprises, Nathaniel C. Lupton, Guoliang Frank Jiang, Luis F. Escobar

Faculty Publications

This chapter calls for understanding the perspective of multinational enterprises (MNEs) on international differences in income inequality. The authors set a research agenda on how national differences in income inequality influence MNE expansion strategies. Applying a transaction cost framework, both negative and positive economic outcomes of income inequality, from the MNE's perspective, are identified. Low levels of income inequality may deter foreign investment, as MNEs prefer countries where they incur lower levels of transaction costs arising from interactions with various market and non-market actors. However, the positive effect of income inequality on location attractiveness will likely diminish at higher levels …

Sustainable Fashion: A Hybrid Model For Social, Economic, And Environmental Responsibility In Haiti, Mary Conway Dato-On, Isabel A. Walker

Faculty Publications

This case explores two Haiti-based organizations, one a non-profit (REBUILD globally) and one a sustainable fashion business (deux mains), that work interdependently to combat poverty through business. The business model addresses complex social, economic, and environmental issues prominent in Haiti and provides actionable solutions consumers can take through their purchases to help alleviate negative outcomes the fashion industry has had in the world. By presenting a ‘successful’ hybrid model for sustainable fashion, the authors offer challenges and opportunity for how the fashion industry can create positive influence in emerging countries while meeting demands presented by the growing consumer …

Student Perceptions Of Engagement In A Mandatory Programatic Service Learning, Gina Fe Causin, Chay Runnels

Faculty Publications

In the hospitality industry, service-learning opportunities are particularly important for students seeking work in the meeting and event planning industry. Faculty of a hospitality program at a regional university in East Texas decided to investigate the benefits in embedding service learning activities to their hospitality courses. The study investigated student perceptions of their participation in compulsory service learning assignments were created and implemented. Service learning assignment benefited the respondents personally; it benefited the sponsoring organization; it benefited the respondents’ career goals and their own individual awareness of community issues.

Cultural Festival Improves Quality Of Life In The Community, Gina Fe Causin

Faculty Publications

A study of the Germanfest in Syracuse Nebraska and its impact on the local community's quality of life.

Trajectories Of Brand Hate, Lia Zarantonello, Simona Romani, Silva Grappi, Marc Fetscherin

Faculty Publications

Taking inspiration from the work of Langner et al. (Mark Lett 27:15–62, 2016), this paper explores how the feeling of brand hate develops over time. To that aim, the paper conducts a series of qualitative interviews during which participants are asked to graphically trace the course of their feelings towards their most currently hated brand. In doing so, the paper identifies five types of trajectories of brand hate: “Negative all the way”, “Down-up”, “Downward slope flattens”, “Roller coaster”, and “Steady decrease”. Moreover, it identifies the most common antecedents (i.e. negative past experience with the brand, corporate wrongdoing, and image incongruence) …

The Quest For Carbon-Neutral Industrial Operations: Renewable Power Purchase Versus Distributed Generation, Tongdan Jin, Tianqin Shi, Taeho Park

Faculty Publications

Integrating renewable energy into the manufacturing facility is the ultimate key to realising carbon-neutral operations. Although many firms have taken various initiatives to reduce the carbon footprint of their facilities, there are few quantitative studies focused on cost analysis and supply reliability of integrating intermittent wind and solar power. This paper aims to fill this gap by addressing the following question: shall we adopt power purchase agreement (PPA) or onsite renewable generation to realise the eco-economic benefits? We tackle this complex decision-making problem by considering two regulatory options: government carbon incentives and utility pricing policy. A stochastic programming model is …

Incivility In The Workplace: The Experiences Of Female Sport Management Faculty In Higher Education, Elizabeth A. Taylor, Robin Hardin, Natalie Welch, Allison B. Smith

Faculty Publications

Access to higher education for women has dramatically increased in the United States during the past 50 years. Female college graduates have reversed the figures and gone from being outnumbered by their male counterparts 3 to 2 in the 1970s, to now outnumbering male college graduates 3 to 2. Women also graduate from masters and doctoral programs at a higher rate than men.

However, increases in the number of women obtaining college and advanced degrees has not translated to comparable representation in faculty positions or leadership roles in higher education. This lack of women in leadership positions, as well as …

Informational Video Gaming In The Waiting Room, Andrew Long, Mitchell Ramirez, Coltin Shields, Nathan Twyman

Faculty Publications

This study is testing the potential of a gamified method of conveying information and the ability of the game to influence people’s sentiment towards immunization. The most popular way that medical information and awareness is spread is in the form of pamphlets or flyers, even though many people either ignore them or do not retain much information from them. Perhaps a game paired with intermittent quiz questions that influence the overall score will improve overall retention as compared with plain reading. To test this hypothesis, a game was designed to include identical information as a pamphlet commonly handed out in …

Education, Cognitive Performance, And Investment Fees, John Beshears, James J. Choi, David Laibson, Brigitte C. Madrian, William L. Skimmyhorn, Stephen P. Zeldes

Faculty Publications

We study the association between human capital and rollovers into Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs), using administrative records from the defined contribution savings plan for U.S. government employees: the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP). Employees who separate from government employment have the option to leave balances in the TSP, where fees are currently under 4 basis points. However, we estimate that more than a third of the TSP balances end up being rolled over into IRA accounts, which are very likely to have much higher fees. We find that educational attainment has a very small positive association with the propensity to roll …

Monthly Payment Targeting And The Demand For Maturity, Bronson Argyle, Taylor Nadauld, Christopher Palmer

Faculty Publications

We provide evidence of mental accounting in the market for consumer installment debt and argue that increases in credit supply have been an important contributor in the recent rise in auto debt through a demand-for-maturity channel. Since the Great Recession, auto debt has grown faster than any other category of U.S. consumer credit and now eclipses credit cards in total debt outstanding. Simultaneously, auto-loan maturities have increased such that more than half of 2016 auto-loan originations had a term of over 65 months. We document three phenomena we jointly refer to as monthly payment targeting using data from millions of …

Understanding The Unique Nature Of The Adolescent Study Abroad Experience, Mat D. Duerden, Eric Layland, Michael Petriello, Amanda Stronza, Mary Dunn, Shelby Adams

Faculty Publications

Despite rising numbers of adolescents traveling abroad each year, the majority of study abroad research focuses on emerging adults. This study represents an effort to expand our understanding of the study abroad experience from the adolescent perspective. Qualitative data were drawn from interviews and focus groups with, and observations of, participants in the program. Results indicate preparing for and then sharing the experience with like-minded peers, coupled with exposure to a new culture and direct interaction with locals, facilitated a process of reflection and growth with both perceived short-term and potential long-term impacts.

Development And Validation Of The Outdoor Activity Profile (Oap): A Research Note, Andrew Lacanienta, Mat Duerden, Peter Ward, Ramon Zabriskie

Faculty Publications

This study sought to design and validate the Outdoor Activity Profile (OAP), which was based on the Family Leisure Activity Profile (FLAP; Zabriskie & McCormick, 2001). The OAP was designed to measure and categorize involvement as opposed to time in outdoor activities. Data were collected from undergraduate students on two occasions separated by four weeks. Significant correlations existed between all time one and time two involvement scores, thereby supporting the OAP’s test-retest reliability. Descriptive data is presented outlining involvement, satisfaction, and whom respondents were with during activity categories. One-way ANOVA results describe differences between male and female outdoor activity involvement …

Do Accounting Firm Consulting Revenues Affect Audit Quality? Evidence From The Pre- And Post-Sox Eras*, Ling Lei Lisic, Linda A. Myers, Robert Pawlewicz, Timothy Seidel

Faculty Publications

In recent years, public accounting firms have experienced a steady increase in the proportion of their revenues generated from consulting services. Although growth in consulting revenue following the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (SOX) has been generated primarily from services provided to nonaudit clients, regulators have expressed concerns about the potential implications of this increase for audit quality. In contrast, accounting firms assert that the expertise developed by their consulting professionals helps them to provide better quality audits. We examine the relation between the proportion of accounting firm consulting revenue to total revenue and audit quality and investor perceptions of audit quality. Because …

Examining The Impact And Influence Of The Leisure Science Literature, Mat D. Duerden, Michael B. Edwards, Michael C. Goates, Justin Dyer

Faculty Publications

This study explored the impact and influence of the leisure sciences literature through an analysis of highly cited articles. Discriminant function analysis identified whether articles had more exclusive impact inside or outside the field. Research themes and methodologies were examined based on these classifications. Results indicate articles with the greatest impact within the leisure literature tended to be quantitative studies drawing upon survey data and non-experimental designs focused on general leisure and outdoor/forest recreation. Articles with the greatest impact outside the leisure literature were more recent and focused on place attachment, psychological motivation, or community parks and recreation and used …

Leisure At Work And Employee Flourishing, Andrew Lacanienta, Mat D. Duerden, Mark A. Widmer

Faculty Publications

The purpose of this study was to examine the efficacy of Duerden, Courtright, and Widmer’s leisure at work (LAW) model and explore the relationship between LAW and employee flourishing (i.e., resilience, work engagement, organizational identification). In a sample of 266 computer software employees, structural equation modeling revealed that LAW and leisure as a state of mind (i.e., intrinsic motivation, perceived freedom, positive affect) had positive relationships with personal expressiveness (b ¼ .704, p < .001) and organizational identification (b ¼ .164, p < .01). In addition, LAW had a positive relationship with resilience mediated by personal expressiveness (b ¼ .157, p < .01). Results suggest that LAW can provide added value to the workplace by facilitating personal expressiveness, resilience, and organizational identification. This study contributes to the discussion on LAW-related benefits and provides recommendations for practical application and future research.

Pragmatism And Pluralism: A Moral Foundation For Stakeholder Theory In The 21st Century, Paul C. Godfrey, Ben William Lewis

Faculty Publications

Donaldson and Preston (1995) defined the three pillars of stakeholder as descriptive, instrumental, and normative. Because of their close alignment between the instrumental and normative pillars and the moral philosophies of utilitarianism and deontology, the latter became the default moral foundations of stakeholder theory. In this chapter, we argue that the moral foundation of the descriptive pillar, pragmatism, provides a moral foundation for twenty-first century stakeholder theory. As we show, pragmatism and its close cousin pluralism fits a stakeholder theory concerned with the descriptive questions that characterize current work in stakeholder theory. Pragmatism and pluralism both see eudemonia, or human …

Experience Design In Leisure Studies, Parks, Recreation, And Tourism, Neil R. Lundberg

Faculty Publications

This article provides a response to the article “Leisure Studies is for Experience, Not Industry,” by Harmon (2018). In responding to Harmon’s critique, I address two important issues; both could be expanded into full-length articles but are treated only briefly in this response. First, it is critical to clearly understand and differentiate between the related concepts of experience design, experience industries, and experience economy, so I will provide a preliminary differentiation. Second, and in connection with the differentiation of experience-based concepts, I briefly discuss the need for curriculum reform or refocus within the broad discipline of leisure studies, parks, recreation, …

Family Leisure Functioning: A Cross-National Study, Camilla J. Hodge, Ramon Zabriskie, Jasmine A. Townsend, Dennis L. Eggett, Raymond Poff

Faculty Publications

The purpose of this study was to, first, determine whether positive relationships between family leisure (involvement and satisfaction) and family outcomes (cohesion, adaptability, family functioning, and satisfaction with family life) were present in a multinational sample, and second, determine whether the core and balance model could provide a consistent framework for between country comparisons of relationships between family leisure and family outcome variables cross nationally. Familieswere recruited fromAustralia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Data were analyzed using blocked multiple regression models, and generalized linear models to compare relationships across countries. Overall, findings indicated positive relationships …

Detecting Discrimination In Small Business Lending, Sterling A. Bone, Glenn L. Christensen, Jerome D. Williams, Stella Adams, Anneliese Lederer, Paul C. Lubin

Faculty Publications

With limited financial sophistication, entrepreneurial consumers approach the financial marketplace more like retail financial consumers than business customers. However, the assumption of both legislators and regulators is that business-borrowers are more financially savvy than consumer-borrowers, and thus do not require as broad-reaching protections. This gap between marketplace policy protections and the lived reality of the vast majority of small business entrepreneurs sets the stage for entrepreneurial consumers to fall through the regulatory cracks and sets the stage for possible exploitation and abuse. This situation is potentially exacerbated for minority entrepreneurs who belong to protected classes that are generally more vulnerable …

The Reciprocal Relationship Between Passive Social Networking Site (Sns) Usage And Users’ Subjective Well-Being, Jin-Liang Wang, James Gaskin, Detlef H. Rost, Douglas A. Gentile

Faculty Publications

Prior studies have found an inconclusive relationship between social networking site (SNS) usage and users’ subjective well-being. Passive SNS usage may be detrimental to subjective well-being, because it cannot provide social support and may evoke envy and jealousy. Conversely, it is also possible that lower subjective well-being may predict higher passive SNS usage, which can be used as a means to relieve stress. To examine this reciprocal process, a two-wave study among a sample of Chinese college students was conducted (N ¼ 350 at Time 1, 265 at Time 2). Data were analyzed with structural modeling. Cross-lagged analysis indicated that …

Ontological Deep Data Cleaning, Scott N. Woodfield, Spencer Seeger, Samuel Litster, Stephen W. Liddle, Brenden Grace, David W. Embley

Faculty Publications

Analytical applications such as forensics, investigative journalism, and genealogy require deep data cleaning in which applicationdependent semantic errors and inconsistencies are detected and resolved. To facilitate deep data cleaning, the application is modeled ontologically, and real-world crisp and fuzzy constraints are specified. Conceptualmodel- based declarative specification enables rapid development and modification of the usually large number of constraints. Field tests show the prototype’s ability to detect errors and either resolve them or provide guidance for user-involved resolution. A user study also shows the value of declarative specification in deep data cleaning applications.

The Creation Of Military Family Leisure Experiences, Karen K. Melton, Jasmine Townsend, Camilla J. Hodge

Faculty Publications

This article provides a theoretical model that positions family leisure experiences as a mechanism for positive family outcomes and resilience in military families. The article integrates the Creation of Family Experiences (CFE) framework with literature on military families, family leisure, and structured experiences. The CFE framework is a conceptual model that provides a lens for examining the context of family activities in order to better identify benefits for human development and family relations. When contextualized within military settings, the CFE can be used to understand and systematically optimize military family leisure experiences. It is critical to consider the experiences of …

Measurement Of Deep Structured Experiences As A Binary Phenomenon, Gary D. Ellis, Patti A. Freeman, Jingxian Jiang, Andrew Lacanienta

Faculty Publications

We developed a procedure for measuring ‘deep structured experiences’ based on a conceptualization of such experiences being binary (i.e. present or absent at a given moment) rather than continuous. Deep structured experiences are heightened states of attention and motivation that may occur during a distinct period of activity. This binary approach is consistent with definitions of similar concepts, such as Maslow’s [1962. “Lessons from the Peak-Experiences.” Journal of Humanistic Psychology 2 (1): 9–18] description of ecstasy, Csikszentmihalyi’s [1975. Beyond Boredom and Anxiety. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass] description of flow, and Ackerman’s [1999. Deep Play. New York: Vintage Books] description of deep …

Behavioral Household Finance, John Beshears, James J. Choi, David Laibson, Brigitte C. Madrian

Faculty Publications

This chapter provides an overview of household finance. The first part summarizes key facts regarding household financial behavior, emphasizing empirical regularities that are inconsistent with the standard classical economic model and discussing extensions of the classical model and explanations grounded in behavioral economics that can account for the observed patterns. This part covers five topics: consumption and savings, borrowing, payments, asset allocation, and insurance. The second part addresses interventions that firms, governments, and other parties deploy to shape household financial outcomes: education and information, peer effects and social influence, product design, advice and disclosure, choice architecture, and interventions that directly …

Team Video Gaming For Team-Building: Effects On Team Performance, Mark Jeffrey Keith, Greg Anderson, James Eric Gaskin, Douglas L. Dean

Faculty Publications

Teams rapidly form and dissolve in organizations to solve specific problems that require diverse skills and experience. For example, in the information systems context, cross-functional and project-based teams that comprise a mix of personnel who temporarily work away from their usual functional groups (best perform agile software development (Barlow et al., 2011; Keith, Demirkan, & Goul, 2013). These newly formed work teams need to become productive as quickly as possible. Team video gaming (TVG) has emerged as a potential team-building activity. When new teammates play a collaborative video game, they engage in cooperative and challenging goals while they enjoy the …

Potential Vs. Realized Savings Under Automatic Enrollment, John Beshears, James J. Choi, David Laibson, Brigitte C. Madrian

Faculty Publications

Employer adoption of automatic enrollment can dramatically increase retirement savings plan participation. However, many savings plan participants withdraw some, or even all, of their accumulated balances prior to reaching retirement. The extent to which individuals’ preretirement withdrawal decisions, sometimes months or even years after they have been automatically enrolled, offset the increased savings induced by automatic enrollment is an open question. We explore this issue by studying the evolution of retirement savings outcomes over time for the employees at a large firm that introduced automatic enrollment in 2005. Comparing employees hired in the 12 months after the introduction of automatic …