Business Commons^™

Derivatives: Benefits, Risks, And Regulations, Kristopher Nguyen

Honors Theses

This paper explores much preexisting research and history about derivatives. Derivative contracts can be used to hedge risk and to speculate in markets. To find the affects of hedging and speculating, I explored what other researches had found in studies and documented in history. Through out history, the regulations of derivatives have changes. I further explore some of the most recent changes in legislation and included those changes and some of the affects in this paper. Based upon the research of others I find that when non-financial firms hedge, those firms receive a lower cost of equity and cost of …

Intersectional Identity Entrepreneurship: Historic Case Of Viola Turner Pursuing Legitimacy Acquisition In Insurance Industry, M. Madison Portie

Honors Theses

In this historical organizational study, I examine how Viola Turner, a pioneering African American female business professional, managed to climb to the board membership of a black- owned insurance company. I propose that she managed her identity entrepreneurially fitting it to match the leadership role identity in the all-black men board. To assess the veracity of this proposition, I unpack how she exhibited her identity entrepreneurship given that her social identity was perceived as ambivalent by the board that was not conducive to accepting women as members in a leadership role. I chose the case of Viola Turner because I …

Tobacco And Cannabis: The Evolution Of Pertinent Rules And Regulations And Subsequent Financial Ramifications, Palmer Avisto

Honors Theses

My thesis will discuss the evolution of the regulations surrounding tobacco and cannabis and the subsequent financial ramifications later posed on pertaining companies and the industries themselves. I will also briefly discuss the evolution of tobacco advertisements and the introduction of e-cigarettes into the tobacco market. Concerning newly legalized cannabis stores, I will discuss the struggle to acquire financial tools, the state-Federal disagreement, and proposed solutions to those issues. Both having been deemed public enemy number one, I will compare marijuana and tobacco regarding health effects, profitability after new laws, and their overall economic profitability for the country. I researched …

A Quantitative Analysis Of Financial Literacy At The University Of Mississippi, Paul Jackson Gunn

Honors Theses

This thesis examines why financial literacy is important and what factors can influence students' financial literacy at the University of Mississippi. Financial literacy is important and can affect many aspects of life, whether it is political, financial, educational or personal. Students enrolled in EDHE 105 participated in the multiple-choice survey, which included socioeconomic, demographic and financial literacy questions. Participants' answers were analyzed using four statistical models: ordinary least squares regression, univariate analysis or means by differences analysis, interactions and probit analysis. The study found that the average score, 2.02 out of five, to the financial literacy quiz for all participants …

How Proposed Legislation Could Affect Corporate Taxes, Kaitlin Aspinwall

Honors Theses

The purpose of this thesis is to explore in detail three tax reform proposals and to determine the effects that each would have on three different industries, manufacturing, service based, and technology. This study looks at the detailed tax reform plans of Congressman Dave Camp, Congressman Devin Nunes, and Senators Marco Rubio and Mike Lee. In order to determine the effects that each of these plans would have on the three industries, the financial statements of Lockheed Martin, Liberty Mutual, and Facebook are analyzed as representatives of their industries. This analysis revealed the effects that the proposals would have on …

The Dodd-Frank Act's Impact On Systemically Important Financial Institutions, Andrew Wilkes

Honors Theses

Following the financial crisis of 2008, President Barrack Obama signed into effect the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act on July 21, 2010. The Act contains stated goals of eliminating too big to fail and promote financial stability. In this paper, I analyze the impacts of new regulations on systemically important financial institutions. In Chapter one, I briefly review U.S. financial regulation and the financial crisis of 2008. In Chapter two, I identify how increasing capital requirements affects banks. This thesis then examines how the Order of Liquidation Authority and its Single Point of Entry Strategy has unintended …

Delta Air Lines: A Financial Analysis And Corresponding Recommendations For Delta Air Lines, Inc., Emily Bush

Honors Theses

This alternative thesis project is a financial analysis of Delta Air Lines, Inc. Utilizing the 10-K Financial Statements from 2009 to 2013, along with some correlating outside resources, a full business and financial analysis was completed. Starting with the business background and operations, and then working into analysis of the Financial Statements, corresponding recommendations were created for tax, audit and advisory planning strategies.. The bulk of the analysis utilized the 10-K data provided by the SEC, only using minimal other resources for background research. The research found that since filing Chapter 11 bankruptcy Delta Air Lines has improved substantially. Delta's …

A Multi-Dimensional Evaluation And Strategic Exploration Of Institutional Investing With Focus On State Street Corporation, Jack Badger

Honors Theses

This report examines State Street Corporation in a way similar to that of a professional in an advisory role. Included in this analysis is a brief history of the firm, financial ratio analysis and implications, audit and tax recommendations, and tools to help improve State Street's strategic outlook and outlast its competitors.  

Food With Integrity: A Financial Analysis Of Chipotle Mexican Grill, Kaylie M. Rowell

Honors Theses

For the accounting alternative thesis, we were to pick a publicly traded company domiciled in the U.S that we were interested in and research their financials, business, and industry. I chose Chipotle Mexican Grill due to their unique restaurant brand. Chipotle's Food with Integrity campaign makes up their main brand, but brings the issue of finding enough suppliers to meet their needs. If Chipotle has to use processed food to fulfill the lack of the natural, organic food then they will eventually lose their customer's trust. Chipotle has also expanded globally so there are always issues that appear when dealing …

Walgreens: Financial Analysis And Recommendations, Madeleine Robinson

Honors Theses

This thesis is an analysis including recommendations for the publically traded company, Walgreens. By using the most recent 10-K filing, a complete financial analysis was completed. Through the findings it was recommended to Walgreens that they focus more on mobile growth to compete with technology of competitors, as well as bring an in store area to represent their mobile presence.

Intentions To Purchase Genetically Modified Foods In The United States And Germany: The Impact Of Consumer Knowledge And Attitudes, Maggie Hall

Honors Theses

Genetically modified foods are a current, ongoing issue in the world today. Much research is done on the producers and governmental regulation systems regarding GMOs, but not much research exists about direct consumer actions towards genetically modified foods. Hence, in this thesis, I focus on the consumers in Germany and the United States and their attitudes and knowledge of GMOs. I chose Germany and the US as the two overarching cases due to their perceived and reported differences surrounding GMOs on many levels, such as production and government regulation. With the aid of Clickworker and Amazon Mechanical Turk, I utilized …

Is Accounting For Stock Options Manipulated Before And After An Initial Public Offering?, Natalie Marie Flood

Honors Theses

Stock option accounting is an area in financial statements that requires substantial estimates and management discretion. Previous research in the area of stock option accounting has found that valuations of options and subsequent accounting methods have been incorrectly stated to aid a company to look financially stronger. Companies that are about to undergo an initial public offering have the most incentive to incorrectly state the value of their options. However, all of these studies have used financial data from financial statements dated before 2004. This is significant because FASB Standard 123(R) (2004) and the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (2000) have both been …

High Frequency Trading 101: Regulatory Impact In American And European Markets, Yasmine Elisabeth Allen

Honors Theses

High frequency trading has impacted the American and European financial markets through its advanced algorithms, rapid speed, and preferential treatment from purchasing information and co-location from exchanges. High frequency trading alone is not harmful, but without proper regulations it can hurt the financial markets. In this thesis, I researched implemented regulations, the consequences of those regulations, and pending new regulations. To gather information, I studied relevant research on the topic, including numerous academic articles and books to get a broader view of the issues. Through my research, I have found that previous regulations implemented by American and European regulatory agencies …

I Got It On Silk Road: An Examination Of Knowledge And Attitudes Towards Tor And The Dark Web, Zachary Mitchell

Honors Theses

As communication technology has grown, so has the potential for crimes to be committed with the new technology. The United States government has attempted to stay current with the times by introducing legislation to increase federal power to detect and stop these crimes, but some feel that some of these new laws and acts reduce personal freedoms and liberties. Enter Tor and the Dark Web, a set of often misunderstood tools and web-based resources designed to make users' data and behavior on the Internet anonymous. This paper describes the aforementioned laws, how Tor and the Dark Web work, and examines …

A Background And Chronological Take On High Frequency Trading, Quinn H. Murray

Honors Theses

The purpose of this thesis is to analyze, in context of high frequency trading, potential market manipulation techniques (i.e. market making arbitrage, statistical arbitrage, market structure arbitrage, and directional strategies), and to review the subject from a chronological perspective from the 1960s onward, covering topics not limited to Regulation National Market System, the flash crash of May 6, 2010, and the August 24, 2015 market crash. To date, high frequency trading's effects on the United States market place have been well documented. This thesis will speculate about the true nature—whether adverse or beneficial-- of this fascinating, evolutionary, highly scrutinized topic.

Hospital Corporation Of America: An Analysis Of The Financial Statements Of Hca Holdings, Inc., C. Haadsma

Honors Theses

A successful and dynamic hospital management company, Hospital Corporation of America owns, manages, or operates hospitals, freestanding surgery centers, diagnostic and imaging centers, radiation and oncology therapy centers, comprehensive rehabilitation and physical therapy centers, and other facilities. In fact, Hospital Corporation of America is responsible for between four to five percent of all inpatient care delivered in the United States today. In partial fulfillment of the requirements of the Sally McDonnell Barksdale Honors College at the University of Mississippi, I have researched the healthcare industry, analyzed the company's financial statements, and provided audit and tax recommendations to the company's management. …

A Study On How Mobile Banking Has Affected The Banking Industry: Has Mobile Banking Improved Bank Performance?, Courtney Elizabeth Cleveland

Honors Theses

This paper explores the effect of mobile banking on the banking industry. It further seeks to investigate if banks improve financial performance as well as customer conversion and retention due to mobile banking. The research sifts through early entries in mobile banking features, data transfer technology evolution along with hand-held mobile device advances. Population demographics are also reviewed to understand which segment is more inclined to use mobile banking applications, giving banks insights and analytics for focused advertising. Data security needs and bank personnel skills evaluation show a shift in personnel skill-set evolution from historical employees. Overall, the data suggests …

Leading As Nudging: Optimizing Healthcare Delivery Systems Management In Mississippi, Grant Beebe

Honors Theses

Three factors predominantly affect the delivery of healthcare services in the State of Mississippi: 1) the ability to access comprehensive, preventative care; 2) negative perceptions of the Affordable Care Act and similar reform efforts on the part of state and federal agencies; and 3) evolving reimbursement structures affecting the revenue streams of providers. There is a growing consensus among residents, providers, managers, and policy makers, which are key stakeholders in the overall wellness of our State, that preventative care addressing these three factors could play a pivotal role in improving public health. Through the development of a nudge framework of …

Preparing And Executing An Effective Sales Call, Mackenzie Wright

Honors Theses

This thesis is written in a business document format. It will have four main sections: Introduction, Preparation, Execution, and Conclusion. Each section will include subsections. I will be discussing my involvement in the International Collegiate Sales Competition (ICSC), which was my thesis project. I will be comparing my participation in the ICSC to the knowledge I gained during my tenure as a Sales and Business Marketing student in the Haworth College of Business.

Any data or information was taken from WMU’s website, the ICSC website, and my knowledge from WMU sales classes.

Fan Perceptions Of Selling Alcoholic Beverages At A College Football Stadium, Danielle E. Hennessy

Honors Theses

Consuming alcohol while watching a sporting event has become a tradition within the sport commnnity. Almost one in ten sports fans leave major league stadiums with a blood alcohol level over the legal limit, with 40% of spectators consuming alcohol during the game (Lopatto, 2011). Due to this tradition, many colleges and universities have struggled to answer the question, should alcohol be sold at our athletic events? To answer this question research has been done on many factors including binge drinking, violence and safety, alcohol control policies, tailgating and attendance.

Competing In The International Collegiate Sales Competition, Christina Cook

Honors Theses

The following report aims to analyze the process that is involved in competing in the International Collegiate Sales Competition. There will be an overview of the selection process and the competition itself and an analysis of the overall performance at the competition. In addition, there will also be an overview of lessons learned by competing along with general suggestions to future competitors and competition coordinators.

Before examining the details of the competition, this thesis will address the Sales and Business Marketing program at Western Michigan University. In addition, there will be models referenced within Western Michigan University’s sales program that …

Does Social Media Help Create Brand Loyalty?, Ali Russo

Honors Theses

Throughout my time at Haworth College of Business, Social Media has been a big topic of discussion. The issue has not been if companies should use it as a tool to reach consumers but how do companies effectively utilize Social Media sites. Companies have two important ways to utilize these sites: the first is to collect data from users, and the second is to create a platform where they can interact and influence purchasing decisions. I wanted to create a thesis that focused on the interaction side of Social Media. Initially, I wanted to see if Social Media would create …

For The Fund$ Of It: Product Development, Josie Marshall

Honors Theses

No abstract provided.

The Future Of Community Banks And Their Role In The Changing Economy, Alisha R. Defatta

Honors Theses

This paper is a survey of the current literature concerning community banks, the current challenges faced by community banks, and the role community banks play in the economy. Currently technological and regulatory changes are creating challenges for community banks. To combat these issues many community banks are increasing their merger and acquisition activity to avoid closing. This objective of this paper is to discuss the reasons community banks are so important to our economy and to define the hardships they are currently facing. It is also important to identify the next steps we should take to ensure the stability of …

An Analysis Of The Relationship Between Study Styles And Demographics Across Multiple Accounting Class Levels, Savannah B. Hooper

Honors Theses

Approaches to learning are elemental to a student’s learning outcomes. Prior research indicates that accounting students with a deep learning approach have a more successful student learning outcome than do accounting students with a surface learning approach. Accounting accreditation and regulatory agencies have recommended that coursework be directed towards more critical thinking and real-life preparation of students. These characteristics are indicative of the deep learning approach. After ascertaining the learning approach adopted by introductory, intermediate, and advance accounting students at a public university with a main and satellite campus, this paper reports on demographic characteristics that may impact a student’s …

Factors Affecting Guest Satisfaction In The Restaurant Industry Of South Mississippi, Kinsey M. Eiland

Honors Theses

The purpose of this study is to examine the factors that affect guest services in the restaurant industry of South Mississippi as examined from the line level employee. This satisfaction can include things in the servicescape (e.g. noise level, parking availability) as well as the service support that a waiter receives from their coworkers and supervisors. By combining a research model that examines the guest server exchange with a typical guest satisfaction questionnaire, the researcher developed a two part internet survey to be administered to both restaurant patrons as well as line level employees working in the restaurant industry. The …

Black And White Advertising In Fashion Magazines, Lauren E. Necaise

Honors Theses

This thesis consists of a quantitative analysis with respect to black and white advertising in select women’s fashion magazines. There were five research questions outlined.

A code sheet was created to obtain data with regard to factors including: number of black and white and total advertisements, product/service category, setting, advertisement size, percent of black and white of the ad, position, product/user, black and white visual and verbal (words/ information), emotional/intellectual appeal. This allowed the research questions to be answered. A qualitative analysis was also performed on repeat advertisements for products that used both color and black and white advertising with …

Private Labels Related To Time & Risk Preferences, Darryn Taylor

Honors Theses

Purpose: This paper explores the linkages between demographics, time preferences, and risk preferences of private label food products.

Design/methodology/approach: More than 600 adults were surveyed on their perceptions of private labels, hedonic traits, and impulsive consumption along with their time and risk preferences.

Findings: Time preference and hedonic trait are relevant to consumer’s private label preferences.

Originality/Value: By developing measures on time and risk preferences relating to demographics, this thesis provides more detailed explanations of the consumer’s willingness to use private label brands. The scales that were developed for measuring time and risk preferences have not been previously used in …

Mud Volleyball Tournament Fundraiser Event Supporting The Water Project, Autumn Gammon

Honors Theses

The WMU Mud Volleyball Tournament took place on September 26, 2015 as Autumn Gammon and Morgan DeBoer’s honors thesis project for the Lee Honors College. The tournament was a fundraising event that helped bring awareness to The Water Project, a non-­‐profit organization that is dedicated to bringing clean water systems to communities throughout Sub-­‐Sahara Africa. Held at the Kalamazoo County Expo Center and Fairgrounds, the event brought together Western Michigan University students and surrounding community members for a fun-­‐filled day in the mud supporting a deserving cause.

The event took a great deal of organizing, with planning starting in the …

Mud Volleyball Tournament Fundraiser Event Supporting The Water Project, Morgan Deboer

Honors Theses

The WMU Mud Volleyball Tournament took place on September 26, 2015 as Autumn Gammon and Morgan DeBoer’s honors thesis project for the Lee Honors College. The tournament was a fundraising event that helped bring awareness to The Water Project, a non-­‐profit organization that is dedicated to bringing clean water systems to communities throughout Sub-­‐Sahara Africa. Held at the Kalamazoo County Expo Center and Fairgrounds, the event brought together Western Michigan University students and surrounding community members for a fun-­‐filled day in the mud supporting a deserving cause.

The event took a great deal of organizing, with planning starting in the …