Business Commons^™

The Reintroduction Of Rail-Oriented Communities In The St. Louis Region, Andrew G. Sisk

Theses

This thesis will focus on the potential for rail oriented development in the greater St Louis area, and methods to communicate that potential.

From many means of analysis, there is a serious problem with the "modern suburb" form of development. Whether in regards to the suburbs' long-term infrastructure costs, their social and psychological dysfunctions, the diminished resources they depend upon or the new, different tastes for housing, our region needs to find a new model.

The current type of growth has been in effect for over sixty years; only in the last fifteen has it drawn much criticism. Many have …

Employee Health In The 21st Century: An Investigation Of Exercise Incentives In Four Medium-Sized Western Australian Organisations, Troy Fuller

Theses

The first decade of the 21st century has shown how organisations are dynamic and turbulent. Many employees are time-poor, working longer and longer hours and are expected to be contactable 24/7, motivated and available to work. Research has shown that employee health is at great risk. Some organisations are now offering incentives for employees to exercise (‘exercise incentives’), and rigorous research was needed to understand and manage these incentives and support health.

The major research question in the study involved employees’ experience of exercise incentives in four medium-sized organisations in Western Australia. Four subsidiary questions provided detail as to the …

Consumer Values And Value Change As Influencing Factors Of Future Purchase Decisions In The Automotive Industry, Marc Uhl

Theses

The intense competition in the automotive industry and thus the pressure to correctly evaluate future consumer demands for successful product development provides the context for this thesis. Previous studies have drawn attention towards a potential change of automobile related personal values among younger consumers, yet failed to present a clear picture of this subject. Building on this background, this thesis investigates the automobile related personal value system of a younger and an older respondent group in order to determine the progression of values between both groups. For the first time, a qualitative approach was applied in this context in order …

The Effectiveness Of The Investments In Music Event Sponsorship, In The Brand Image Of The Company, Natalia Hara Katayama

Theses

This thesis is being developed as a conclusion project of the degree in Master of Science in Marketing at Lindenwood University. The study will be developed to produce information regarding the effect in the brand image of a company, in the consumer's mind, when investing in music event sponsorship.

Another purpose of this research is to provide the reader a better understanding of the tactic used by many companies which is event sponsorship. In addition, the theoretical review will present cases and theory regarding the usage of the sponsorship tactic in the music industry. Another subject that will be approached …

Factors That Stimulate And Motivate Entrepreneurs To Start Enterprises In The Growth-Oriented, Knowledge-Based Industry Sector: A Kerry Case Study, George Nash

Theses

This study focuses on the stimulation and development of growth-oriented entrepreneurs in Co. Kerry, with particular emphasis on the knowledge-based sector. The knowledge-based sector has been identified as a key area for development by the enterprise support agencies. The rationale for the study arose from the knowledge that a certain enterprise boom had taken place in Kerry in recent years and this had resulted in the creation of a new culture of entrepreneurial development in the county.

The research aims to profile Kerry‟s growthoriented knowledge-based entrepreneurs and to identify the factors that stimulated them to initiate and develop business ventures …

Increasing Organ Donation In Ireland : Social Marketing And Infrastructural Improvements., Ronan O'Sullivan

Theses

There were over 600 patients on the organ waiting list in Ireland in November 2010. This is a substantial increase on the 414 patients on the waiting list in 2008. Ireland also witnessed a dramatic decline in the number of donors from 90 donors in 2009 to 58 donors in 2010. This thesis focuses on investigating the current state of organ donation in the Republic of Ireland, with the eventual goal of recommending alterations to improve the system. In depth- interviews were conducted with eleven leading personnel from the fields of organ donation and social marketing in Ireland as well …

The Impact Of Celebrity Endorsement On Public Relations And The Consumer, Berenice Geraghty

Theses

Celebrity culture and endorsement has become a huge part of public relations today. Therefore it has become a core tactic within public relations campaigns and is becoming increasingly important as a method for building a long standing relationship with the consumer. The aim of this research study is to discover if celebrity endorsement makes an impact within public relations campaigns - why it is selected as a public relations tactic and how companies select celebrities to go with particular campaigns. The study also aims to discover how celebrity endorsement affects the consumer.

A qualitative research design was chosen as there …

Does Marketing Have An Image Problem? An Empirical Study In To The Opinion Of Marketing From The Perspective Of Business And Consumers., Tony Ferguson

Theses

In the 50 year period since the marketing concept was first introduced to business strategy, we have witnessed a shift from the post-World War 2 austerity of supply shortages, to a modern day consumerist society, where maturing markets and an excess supply of goods and services pose serious challenges, in a highly competitive business environment. As competition has intensified, businesses have endeavoured to differentiate themselves from their competitors. Billions of dollars have been invested in research to gain an insight in to what motivates a highly sophisticated and increasingly cynical consumer. These challenges have been exacerbated since 2008, by the …

An Examination Of Irish Females Attitudes Towards Nanotechnology Claims Used In Advertising Appeals By The Cosmetics Industry, Deirdre Kelleher

Theses

Cosmetics advertising exert an image of hope and belief to consumers in that these products will dramatically make them look younger and change their lives. Much criticism has been drawn to cosmetic claims based on nanotechnology. Do they work? Are they safe? Do the cosmetic companies use false claims?

Today, the media is saturated with advertisements that promote cosmetic products. The cosmetics industry is becoming more and more advanced due to the use of nanotechnology. Cosmetic advertisements are so common that it is difficult to distinguish one from the other. Celebrity endorsers are being utilised by cosmetic companies to promote …

Impact Of Relational Marketing Of Laptops: High Tech Product Adoptions In A Retail Setting, Anirudha Vasant Bansod

Theses

Marketing has developed from using a simple transactional model to a more sophisticated relational orientation model. Selling and marketing practices are different according to the culture of a country, purchasing power parity, economical situations, political conditions, the demand versus supply gap ratio and the socioeconomic conditions of the market place. Academics have translated these factors into a simple sales discipline. However, every region and country has its own style of business.

The business problem in this study was to understand ‘how retailers develop effective marketing strategies to increase the consumer’s propensity to buy high-tech products from their retail stores in …

Teleworking: An Examination Of The Irish Dichotomy, Deirdre Donovan

Theses

Changing demographics and labour market structures are placing increased pressure on identifying work/life balance solutions, while global competition is forcing companies to look beyond traditional solutions to search for competitive advantage. Recent rapid technology developments facilitate a strategic application of teleworking, which, in suitable organisations, would appear to alleviate both of these issues. Despite this, the limited evidence that exists in the telework literature indicates a dearth of telework in Irish companies, and recent research on the reasons for this, form a gap in the literature.

This study, therefore, empirically examines the key factors that influence the extent of telework …

The Management Of Sports Sponsorships In Ireland, Noel Collins

Theses

The purpose of this research is to examine the management of sports sponsorship in Ireland from the perspective of the sponsoring company and the sports property, and to present an accurate, up-to-date analysis of this relatively unexplored area. Four interviews were conducted with executives of major sports properties while four interviews were also conducted with executives of commercial sponsors who sponsor these sports properties.

The study reveals that Irish sports sponsorships are very well managed and are considered to be very successful by both sponsors and sports properties. The strength of the interpersonal relationships and understanding between both parties is …

A Comparative Study Of How Social Media And Web 2.0 Tools, Such As Facebook, Twitter And Viral Marketing, Can Be Used By Small Businesses, To Integrate A Business Strategy Of Augmenting The Company Profile And Awareness With Their Publics, Robyn Foley

Theses

The object of this dissertation was to explore the public relations techniques implemented by small businesses located in Cork.

The Effectiveness Of Food Tourism Branding: The Case Of Kinsale, The Gourmet Food Capital Of The South., Lisa O'Riordan

Theses

Kinsale is a small fishing village in West Cork. During the summer months, the population increases from three thousand to over twelve thousand, due to the influx of tourists. This may be attributed, in no small way, to Kinsale’s reputation as the gourmet capital of Ireland. Kinsale has been at the core of Ireland’s food circles for many years, and has successfully branded itself as a food tourism destination.

Despite Ireland’s long association with agriculture, food tourism is a relatively unknown concept in the country. Food tourism includes visiting food producers, attending food festivals, restaurants and specific locations for food …

The Marketing Of Toys To Children In Ireland: The Parents' Perspective, Derarca O'Shea

Theses

Children, as a target audience are increasingly attractive to marketers for many reasons. Firstly, children represent an important demographic to marketers, they have their own purchasing power; they influence their parents buying decisions and are the adult consumer of the future (McNeal, 1999). Secondly, the children’s market is ever expanding and marketers see opportunities to reap the rewards by targeting their products at children in an effort to increase sales. Thirdly, children between the ages of 2-11 see more than 25,000 advertisements a year on television alone and until the age of eight years, children do not understand advertisements’ persuasive …

A Study Of The Pr & Marketing Tactics Used In The Gaming Industry., David Hurley

Theses

The gaming industry in Ireland has changed greatly in the last 20 years. The way in which we communicate has also changed greatly in this time due to technological advancements. This advanced technology has greatly changed the way in which the gaming industry works, as there has been a massive increase in popularity in recent years thanks to the advent of online gaming.

This study aims to examine and gain an understanding of the public relations and marketing tactics being promoted by both game developers and the organisations that supply them. It also assesses the overall impact the gaming industry …

Social Media As A Marketing Tool For Business Operations, Katharina Jung

Theses

The purpose of this study was to elaborate different social media tools and their benefits as well as their risk for marketers.

An increasing number of companies use social media for their purposes and Internet users spend plenty of time with social media.

The use of social media is on the rise and cannot be ignored anymore. It is more cost-effective than traditional media marketing and distribution as well as other interactive marketing. Traditional media is struggling, but there is a connection between traditional and social media, which shows that these two relate to each other and influence the overall …

The Use Of Social Marketing Messages In An Anti-Tobacco Context: An Investigation Of Irish Female Adolescents, Barry Griffin

Theses

The WHO (2008) report states that although tobacco deaths rarely make headlines, tobacco kills one person globally every six seconds. Tobacco kills a third to a half of all people who use it, on average 15 years prematurely. Today tobacco use causes 1 in 10 deaths among adults worldwide - more than 5 million people a year (Murray and Lopez, 2006). The Irish Office of Tobacco Control’s research has confirmed that initiation into smoking is largely a childhood phenomenon. More than 75% of all smokers in Ireland started to smoke before they reached the age of 18 (HBSC Ireland, 2006). …

A Framework For Analysis Of Spatial Specialisations Of Industry, John Hobbs

Theses

Concentrations of firms in an industry sector within a geographic space or region have exercised the minds of economists for more than 100 years. Several models attempt to analyse the interactions and dynamics of such concentrations. Industry clusters (Porter, 1990) and industrial districts (Becattini 1978, Piore and Sabel 1984, Scott 1988a 19886, Storper 1989) are well known examples.

Yet debate continues about the validity of such models and how they function. While cluster theory has many adherents, spatial boundaries of a cluster and its determinants of competitive advantage remain controversial. Several variants of industrial district have been analysed, and according …

The Correlation Between Financial Fraud And Economic Downturn, Karen Alyse Hyink

Theses

Throughout the 20th century, researchers studied financial fraud in order to better understand the factors, motives and environments that increase the occurrences of fraud. By studying these historical trends, modern governmental agencies and public organizations are able to more effectively detect and prevent financial fraud.

Economic climate directly influences the occurrence of fraud; specifically, it is during periods of economic downturn when organizations are more vulnerable to fraudulent attacks. While it has always been assumed that recessionary periods lead to an increase in fraudulent activities, the direct correlation between the two has been greatly understudied by researchers. This thesis is …

Cultural Diversity In The Hotel Industry: A Study Of Performance Management Systems, Deirdre O'Donovan

Theses

Recent years have seen a sharp increase in the numbers of people immigrating to Ireland, making Irish society much more culturally diverse than in previous decades. At present, there are approximately 420,000 migrants living in Ireland, of whom approximately 350,000 individuals are of an age to work (Central Statistics Office 2006). Consequently, Irish workforces are now more culturally diverse.

This thesis focuses on the implications of cultural diversity on performance management practices in a number of Irish hotels. Due to the large number of culturally diverse employees in the hospitality industry, the hotel sector was chosen as the focus of …

The Application Of Social Marketing In Increasing Blood Donation Among Donors And Non Donors: The Case Of Third Level Students., John Healy

Theses

In today’s society, blood donation is dependent on the goodwill of people to voluntarily donate blood without financial reward. There is a continuous need for new blood donors, because the demand for donor blood is increasing, whereas the supply of blood is declining. Three thousand blood donations are needed in Ireland every week. Maintaining an adequate supply is the biggest challenge. Only 3.6% of the population in the Republic of Ireland donate blood. This leaves an enormous potential blood donor base, which if tapped into and maintained could lead to an adequate reserve of donations to meet the transfusion needs …

An Analysis Of The Contribution Of Public Relations To The Growth Of The Ballymaloe Brand., Avril Desmond

Theses

The aim of this dissertation was to explore the public relations techniques of Ballymaloe and determine the effectiveness of these techniques on the Ballymaloe brand. Relevant literature was explored and the subjects the subjects that were encountered included public relations traditional and new media avenues.

The research methodology constituted quantitative analysis. Interviews were the primary research tools, with media analysis being used to back it up. The data was analysed using content analysis procedures.

The conclusion identified that, Ballymaloe are inadequate in implementing two way communications with their strategic publics. The research highlighted the relaxed attitude towards their public relations …

The Role Of Public Relations In Integrated Marketing Communications, Claire Healy

Theses

This study is concerned with analysing the integration of public relations and marketing practices currently being undertaken by various organisations in Ireland. The concept of integrated marketing communication has been debated in the literature and in organisations for many decades.

This study employs both primary and secondary research methods on gathering findings that focus on the increasingly fundamental role of public relations in marketing initiatives, and highlights the areas where conflict and tension exist. These conflicting areas are having a negative effect on organisations maximising from this integration.

This research gathered both public relations and marketing perceptions on how the …

A Study Of How Social Media Is Being Integrated Into The Irish Pr Industry And The Effects Of This On The Profession., Denise Haran

Theses

This thesis explores the effects that social media is having on the Public Relations (PR) profession in Ireland it also looks at the characteristics of PR 2.0. In this it aims to look at particular aspects of the industry to see how they are being affected by social media including monitoring, reputation management, communication models and traditional media usage as well as looking at which social media platforms are used. The study will also look at PR professionals opinions on social media in Ireland.

A qualitative research design was chosen for this study and the primary method of data collection …

The Role And Significance Placed On Corporate Social Responsibility In The Hotel Industry In The South West Region Of Ireland., Shirley Millar

Theses

This research sets out to examine the concept of Corporate Social Responsibility in the context of the hotel industry, with a specific focus on Ireland and the South West Region. The study looked at the level of importance placed on CSR by both the hotel consumer and the hotel industry. The study also sought to determine the relevance of CSR as a source of competitive advantage

Interest in the practice of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) has become increasingly prominent in recent years. There has been a shift in practice from companies doing good to be seen to be doing good, …

The Application Of Viral Marketing To The Irish Film Industry, Stephen O'Mahony

Theses

The research examines the concept of viral marketing and in particular, its application to the Irish film industry. It explores the merits of viral marketing as a promotional technique for Irish film and the associated online social media channels through which viral messages are disseminated. Further to this, the study identifies the extent to which viral marketing and online social media have been adopted by Irish consumers and enterprise. Given that viral marketing is still in its relative infancy, the research also takes a conceptual approach so that it contributes to the continued understanding of the practice in general.

A …

An Investigation Of Female Career Progression And Development In The Irish Hospitality Industry., Richella Ryan Devereaux

Theses

In recent years, the increasing number of women at the lower positions in the hospitality industry and their underrepresentation in top management positions has made women’s status in the industry a great concern. The purpose of this study is to examine the career progression of female graduates in the Irish hospitality industry.

A qualitative approach in the form of in-depth interviews of twenty-one female middle and senior managers in the Irish hospitality industry provided the opportunity to gain insights into their experiences and barriers faced in advancing their careers to senior management positions.

The results of the current study identify …

Water Purification In Haiti : An Engineers Without Borders Project, Melissa Valoura

Theses

The objective of this thesis was to present the necessary steps to help a town in Haiti develop an organization focused on improving their water quality. It goes through the technology needed to create the organization and explains the procedures for implementing a charitable project in a foreign country. A narrative of the student project in Milot, Haiti, where students from the New Jersey Institute of Technology's Engineers Without Borders Chapter implemented a water purification project, explains the course of action that was taken and gives an example of a successful project. A summary of Haiti and its history paints …

The Application Of Social Marketing In Reducing Binge Drinking Among Female College Students: An Investigation Of A Third Level College In Cork, Fergus Murphy

Theses

Ireland has one of the highest levels of alcohol consumption in the EU, consuming 10.6 litres of pure alcohol per person in 2003, increasing to 13.4 litres in 2006. This rise in consumption has led to increases in alcohol-related harm and disease, and has resulted in more than 1,775 deaths according to the Health Research Board (Mongan et al., 2007). In general, increases in overall consumption are accompanied by a greater incidence of health and social problems. In addition to the high volume of alcohol consumed by people in Ireland, drinking occasions appear to be strongly related to heavy episodic …