Business Commons^™

Analysis Of The Current Public Relations Practices Within The Irish Luxury Hotel Sector And The Importance Of These Practices To The Industry., Aoife Ducatta Lohse

Theses

The purpose of this study was to investigate the current knowledge, importance and application of public relations within Irish Luxury Hotels. Another aim was to find out how the public relations theories of relationship management, strategic management and communications are used in the sector.

The research methodology in this study used a mixed method approach. Quantitative research was used in the form of an online questionnaire and qualitative research was used in the form of semi-structured interviews. The online questionnaire was distributed to all luxury four star and five star properties with an online presence in Ireland with an aim …

Becoming An Entrepreneur: Researching The Role Of Mentors In Identity Construction, Monika Dukarska

Theses

This study examines the role of the mentor on the identity construction of the Nascent Entrepreneur. It aims to answer the questions on how the mentor supports the creation and growth of their business, encourages them to experiment, stimulates their reflexivity and opens and encourages the network opportunity for them. This is examined through a formal mentoring programme known as the New Frontiers Entrepreneur Development programme, designed by Enterprise Ireland and managed by the local Institutes of Technology. This thesis researches the relationship that develops between the mentor and the mentee, the mentoring life cycle and the tools and techniques …

Modeling Stock Return Volatility In Mongolian Stock Market, Munkhtsog Altankhuu

Theses

This paper is one of the first research works to examine the stock index volatility in the Mongolian Stock Exchange. The study utilizes the Generalized Autoregressive Conditional Heteroscedasticity (GAR CH) models to estimate volatility of stock market return of the Mongolian Stock Exchange. A number of prior research work demonstrated that ARCH and GARCH models are fruitful models for modeling volatility of time series data. However, they recommend using different versions of GARCH-type models for different distributions (Normal, Student's t, Skewed Student's t and Generalized Error Distribution) for emerging markets or developing markets. This paper compares the GARCH(l, 1) model …

The Proliferation Of Augmented Reality Applications: Exploring Consumer Adoption And Marketing Applications, Stephen O'Mahony

Theses

In the contemporary landscape, human behaviour is characterised by digitally mediated interactions. Computing power has simultaneously enhanced and miniaturised to the extent that contemporary consumer devices demonstrate power equivalent to or greater than that of personal computers of recent memory. At the same time, network connectivity has proliferated to ubiquitous levels. In this landscape, the concept of augmented reality (AR) has emerged as a way to visualise the pervasive virtual information woven into the physical environment as a result of ubiquitous connectivity, facilitated by ever-increasing device sophistication. However, research on the phenomenon has remained predominantly technical in nature; outside of …

The Irish Lean Experience - Origins, Development, Current Practice And Emerging Trends, Dermot Mccarthy

Theses

Lean applications are widespread in today’s business world. Lean started as the Toyota Production System, or World Class Manufacturing, and developed into Lean, as a consequence of the major Womack and Jones publication. The Machine that Changed the World, published in 1990. This dissertation examines the impact of Lean on Irish manufacturing generally, and then examines the impact of Lean on professional Industrial Engineering in Ireland. It looks at the implications for professional Industrial Engineers in a Lean environment. Then emergent developments in Lean and Industrial Engineering in Ireland are examined. This research specifically seeks to examine the question of …

Do Irish Consumers Understand Financial Risk In Savings And Investment Products In The Irish Financial Services Market?, Alan N. Burrows

Theses

This thesis focuses on Irish adult consumers and examines whether they understand the financial risk pertaining to the savings and investment products that they purchase in the Irish financial services market. This study is important because there is no up to date data currently available on this topic, specifically and solely related to Ireland and to Irish consumers. The findings of this study are significant because, if consumers lack an understanding of financial risk, it can potentially lead to mistakes in financial decisions which may lead to negative financial repercussions for consumers throughout their life and into retirement. In this …

The Significance Of Social Media And Website Use In The Promotion Of Regional Festivals, Áine B. Organ

Theses

The purpose of this thesis is to demonstrate the significance of social media and the use of website in the planning of an event. In any industry, communication is vital to the development process. This communication is especially important in the event planning industry. Communication with suppliers, civil servants, clients and general publics is an element of every event. Promotion falls under the communication process. This promotion can be done via: press releases; fliers; posters; word of mouth; traditional media and social media. Social media is a growing importance in relation to the promoting of events.

Those who have worked …

Skin Cancer - Education And Prevention: The Role Of Social Marketing, Tim Crowley

Theses

Skin cancer is the most common cancer in Ireland and worldwide. Skin cancer rates have been steadily rising in recent times. The high use of sunbeds in both Ireland and the UK is quite worrisome. Skin cancer is caused by over exposure to UV rays or through the use of sunbeds and as a result it is actually a highly preventable disease. It is estimated that 90-95% of all skin cancers are preventable. This thesis focuses on the use of social marketing in order to educate people on the dangers of skin cancer with the eventual aim of making recommendations …

How Is Social Media Changing The Public Relations Industry In Ireland: A Case Study Approach, Linda Wright

Theses

This thesis explores how the evolution of social media technologies are impacting on the Public Relations (PR) Industry in Ireland. It attempts to identify if social media has changed the landscape in which PR Practitioners work and if they believe it has changed the PR Industry in Ireland.

This study attempts to fill the gap in Public Relations research and literature and to merge the social media technologies with the existing Public Relations communication tools.

PR Practitioners recognise the need to embrace social media. However a clear gap exists in the PR industry in Ireland. While some have embraced the …

How The Use Of Social Media As A Public Relations Tactic Has Aided Animal Rescue Organisations In Raising Awareness Of Their Cause, Carole Hennessy

Theses

This study aims to contribute to the understanding of the non-profit sector, in particular animal welfare organisations and how social media can be used as a Public Relations tactic which in turn enables them to raise awareness of their cause.

A qualitative research design was deemed the most suitable by the researcher. Semi-structured interviews and a content analysis in the form of a netnographic analysis of the chosen non-profit organisations Facebook pages were used to collect the primary data. Interviewees were chosen on the basis they had knowledge, experience and exposure in their area.

Research findings indicate that social media …

How Has Social Media Impacted The Relationship Between Public Relations And Marketing Functions In Small Businesses., Lorraine Sheehan

Theses

This study is concerned with investigating the impact of social media on the relationship between public relations and marketing functions in small businesses in Ireland. The relationship between public relations and marketing has been debated in the literature and in organisations for many decades. Social media has an influence on the channels of communication which in turn influences public relations and marketing functions.

Both primary and secondary research methods on gathering findings of social media, public relations and marketing functions were carried out. Areas of conflict and tension between public relations and marketing were highlighted. The impact of social media …

An Investigation Into Recent Developments In The Regulatory Regime For Financial Accounting In Ireland, Mark James

Theses

In the last decade the Irish accounting regulatory regime has been radically reformed from one consisting largely of private sector regulation to one where public sector regulation has increased importance. This change has taken place within a larger international context of the rise of the regulatory state, and a period of greater convergence between regulatory activities internationally. While an extensive body of research on this topic has accumulated in other countries, particularly America, Irish research has generally been focussed on the role of the accounting profession in this development. This study aims to build on the existing literature by focusing …

Driving Employee Engagement Through Internal Communication; A Public Relations Perspective: A Case Study Of Cork Institute Of Technology, Ireland., Desmond P. Carroll

Theses

This study is concerned with the important role of internal communication (IC) as a driver of employee engagement and investigates how public relations (PR) might be best placed to advise on and oversee a system of managed or strategic communication within an organisation.

The literature reveals that a communications culture must pervade an organisation for effective communication to take place. Whilst early models leaned towards a predominant one-way transmission of communication, we are now witnessing a paradigm shift to a horizontal two-way system of communication and engagement.

The research methodology employed in this study was a qualitative case study which …

Factors That Determine Satisfaction Of Corporate Customers Of A Major Third Party Logistics (3pl) Company: A Case Study Of Unyson Logistics Usa, Claudia A. Rojas

Theses

The study of the service offered in 2010 by Unyson Logistics was consolidated within one customer survey as a need to promote organizational success by reaching customer satisfaction. The interest in satisfaction is due to the several advantages and benefits that offer the philosophy of excellence, among other things, increase the number of loyal customers, increasing the attraction of new clients, new opportunities to help development, improve the policy of reducing costs and optimize the company's image, and reach a higher level of satisfaction regarding the overall experience. This research will determine the main factors that will help Unyson Logistics …

The Effect Of Price Changes Of Natural Gas And Coal On S&P 500 Index, Mehman Sadigov

Theses

Natural gas and coal are important energy sources in the United States. Both energy sources are substantially used in heavy industry, daily activities, and other areas of consumption. However, no significant research has been done to investigate the impact of changes in coal and gas prices on the stock market. Using multiple regression this research finds that inflation unadjusted and inflation adjusted coal price changes are statistically significant in predicting S&P 500 index changes. Results for inflation unadjusted and inflation adjusted natural gas price changes showed that gas price changes are statistically insignificant in predicting S&P 500 index changes in …

The Effect Of Long-Term Capital Gains And Dividend Tax Rate On The Performance Of Market Indexes Based On Market Capitalization, Jason Wheaton

Theses

Through recent political history there is a common theme about taxes that is presented often: That small businesses are affected differently than larger companies. Though in political parlance small business is different than a small cap company, studying the effects of taxes on small cap companies can help discern if taxation does affect companies differently based on size. The study of the literature provides a background of critical elements such as Gross Domestic Product (GDP), interest rates and inflation, as well as factors such as fiscal policy and informational uncertainty that have an effect on stock prices. Through regression analysis …

Online Book-Buying Behavior, Carolina Ziegler

Theses

Generally speaking, the Internet is directly influencing the buying decision-making process of the consumer. More than ask relatives and friends' opinions, current customers tend now to acquire information about products on search engines, social networks, blogs, or websites. Therefore, this research was set to develop a better overall understanding about online buying behavior.

The e-commerce is growing every year and the number of consumers willing to spend money on virtual transactions follows this tendency. In order to better understand this trend, the market for academic books was chosen as a reference to appreciate how consumers behave when buying a specific …

Using Option Prices And Open Interest To Forecast Future Volatility Of A Small Cap Biotech Security Facing A Binary Event, Chris Abbott

Theses

The purpose of this study is to determine the accuracy of price targets set by options traders for small cap biotech companies approaching a Food and Drug (FDA) event. The study also highlights whether or not an increase in open interest improves the accuracy of options traders target price estimates. The thesis for this paper states that the options estimates of future price movement are accurate predictors of the future price one day before the FDA event. This thesis studies small cap biotech stocks with an approaching FDA approval or advisory committee meeting for the time period of December 2007 …

How Minority Sporting Organisations In Ireland Are Promoting And Growing Their Sports Using Social Media: A Public Relations Perspective., Peter Lucey

Theses

The aim of this research study was to explore how minority sports organisations in Ireland are using social media to effectively grow and promote their sport. The researcher has analysed how these organisations are currently making use of social media and how it has benefited them in their operations. Relevant secondary literature was studied in depth along with the primary research methods that were used for this study. The research methodology used by the researcher constituted elements of both quantitative and qualitative analyses. Interviews and questionnaires made up the main research tools in addition to an action research approach as …

How Social Media Networking Is Supporting Customer Engagement And Brand Awareness: A Pr Perspective In An Irish Context., Miriam O'Regan

Theses

The primary purpose of this thesis is to investigate the phenomenon of social media networking in the Irish organisational context. The study examines how Irish organisations are utilising social media networking as a communication platform. The research assesses the aspects of phenomenon that provide organisational advantages in Public Relations. Therefore, aim of the study is to identify how social media networking is influencing customer engagement and brand awareness.

The first research phase comprises of an extensive literature review of key academic sources of secondary research including reports, articles and publications. This review cultivates a range of sources with insight into …

The Use Of Online And Offline Communication In Public Information Campaigns: A Case Study Of The Health Service Executive “Quit” Campaign, Rachel O'Sullivan

Theses

To understand the role of offline and online communication in public information campaigns, research of the Health Service Executive (HSE) “Quit” Campaign was conducted. Through document analysis of campaign materials and interviews, an in-depth examination of the campaign communication platform is presented. Discussion of these elements reveals the strengths of both communication tools in current public messaging. The research concludes with a set of recommendations for future public information campaigns and describes how this modem day campaign is an excellent model that other organisations can emulate.

The Use Of Celebrity Endorsements As A Public Relation, Kate Power

Theses

A huge part of public relations in todays world is based around celebrity and their endorsements of brands, products, services and causes. The use of celebrity endorsement has become such a vital and trusted public relation tactic by so many PR practitioners to create a communication vessel between brand and consumer. This type of engagement between brands and their target audiences has become increasingly important to the Public Relations world for building long lasting and enduring relationships with these consumers and targeted audiences.

The aim of this research is to discover if celebrity endorsement makes an impact within public relations …

Asynchronous Ultrasonic Trilateration For Indoor Positioning Of Mobile Phones, Viacheslav Filonenko (Thesis)

Theses

Spatial awareness is fast becoming the key feature on today‟s mobile devices. While accurate outdoor navigation has been widely available for some time through Global Positioning Systems (GPS), accurate indoor positioning is still largely an unsolved problem. One major reason for this is that GPS and other Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) systems offer accuracy of a scale far different to that required for effective indoor navigation. Indoor positioning is also hindered by poor GPS signal quality, a major issue when developing dedicated indoor locationing systems. In addition, many indoor systems use specialized hardware to calculate accurate device position, as …

An Examination Of Coordination Among Friends And Strangers From A Coordination Theory Perspective, Christopher D. Wamble

Theses

Within mobile social coordination, there is a field of study known as outeraction, the communicative processes used by people to manage future interactions. It is an important area of research because it identifies how informal interactions support complex collaboration between individuals and groups. Outeraction is primarily conducted through the interpersonal communication channels of texting, instant messaging (IM), face-to-face, and mobile phone or Skype conversations. Currently this area of research in mobile outeraction support systems is weak. It lacks a firm foundation in system building, has very few if any conceptual frameworks, and little empirical knowledge of user requirements and attitudes …

Diy Pr: How Independent Music Artists Use Online Social Networks For Public Relations Purposes, Martina Lawless

Theses

Significance of the study: Independent musicians are a huge part of the Irish music industry and yet they are the part that do not have the backing of a record label. This means independent musicians need to look at cheap or even free ways to promote themselves to existing fans and potential new fans. With the emergence of social networks musicians both signed and independent have the tools necessary to engage in a new form DIY PR. The purpose of this study is to look at the different ways that social networks have helped musicians in recent years, but also …

Golf Tourism In Ireland: An Inbound Perspective, Brian Murphy

Theses

The fact that Ireland has some of the finest natural golf courses in the world is not a new phenomenon, with renowned courses such as Waterville, Ballybunion and Royal Country Down regularly appearing in the list of top ten best golf courses in the world. The sheer ruggedness and natural beauty of many of Ireland’s links golf courses have for many years attracted golfing enthusiasts to our shores. The experience of playing these magnificent courses is only surpassed by the warmth and hospitality which is shared by the local people. Ireland has a reputation for welcoming visiting tourists with open …

What Is The Effectiveness Of Public Relations Tactics Being Utilized By High Street Fashion Brands To Encourage Consumer Knowledge Of Their Brand Identity?, Lynn Ferrari

Theses

This thesis looks to discover if high street fashion brands are utilizing effective public relations. It attempts to identify if the PR tools being utilized by high street fashion brands are evident to the consumer and if they contribute to purchasing power, the model of communication that is being employed by high street fashion brands and if age contributes to the knowledge and effectiveness of public relation tactics and communication tools. Approach: The research involved a two-stage study with the first phase focusing on an extensive literature review of the key sources of secondary research including reports, articles and publications. …

Assessing The Impact Of Celebrity Ambassadors On The Pr Strategies Of Non-Profit Organisations: A Public Relations Perspective, Allison Kelleher

Theses

There has been increased interest from academics, public relations professionals and industry professionals regarding the impact of celebrity ambassadors on the PR strategies of non-profit organisations. This study aims to contribute to the understanding of the non-profit PR sector and the impact of celebrity ambassadors on this section of the PR industry. A qualitative research design was deemed most suitable by the researcher, and semi- structured interviews were used to collect the necessary primary research data. The researcher interviews two PR professionals and three non-profit organisation representatives regarding this particular study. Interviewees were chosen due to their knowledge, experience and …

An Evaluation Of Entrepreneurial Difficulties In Ireland Since The Economic Downturn Of 2008, Edward Keogh

Theses

This Research Study looks at the Irish entrepreneurial landscape in the aftermath of the collapse of the Celtic Tiger, particularly at the small businesses sector. This study also looks at what entrepreneurs think of the effectiveness of the current policies in Ireland in helping entrepreneurs and businesses to cope and survive the current recession. The study looks at people who lost their businesses during the collapse of the Celtic Tiger and asks the question 'Can these people be supported to start-up back into business again?’

A qualitative research approach was undertaken in this study using the semi-structured interview method to …

Performance Measurement System Enabling The Development Of Strategic Objectives - A Case Study In An Irish Shared Services Centre, Padraig Murray

Theses

Historically management accounting literature has articulated the benefits of performance measurement systems (PMSs) as effectively enforcing and supporting organisations ’ existing strategic objectives. More recently, management accounting literature advocates the uses of PMSs in guiding the review of an organisation's current strategy and enabling the development of future strategy. This literature calls for more empirical evidence of the existence of these benefits. The current competitive and recessionary conditions have led to a reassessment by Irish organisations of their strategic objectives. Multinational companies are tempted to relocate to lower wage rate economies, unless Irish divisions can prove that they can provide …