Business Commons^™

Crisis Communication Response For Field Offices Of The Airline Pilots Association, Gina L. Butikofer

Theses

This project-based thesis examines the issue of crisis management, focusing on communication as an integral part of an organization's response to crisis. It explores the benefits of a crisis communication plan to successfully respond to a crisis situation and explores the components, writing style and considerations of a manual that make such a plan useable. This research highlights these communication challenges in relation to the airline industry, and more specifically, to the branch offices of the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA), by applying the information gathered into a written crisis communication manual.

Chapter one of this thesis discusses the importance …

A Method Of Teaching Oral Communications To Adults, John C. Bettag

Theses

This thesis addresses teaching public speaking to adult students. It takes into account the unique characteristics of adult learners in developing a ten-lesson course to teach confidence and proficiency in public speaking.

Chapters One through Three explore ideas found in literature relating to the rapid growth of adult education, adult learning processes, and the specific ways to teach public speaking to adults. The works of important pioneers in public speaking education such as Dale Carnegie and Dr. Ralph Smedley are discussed . Also included are successful modern- day advocates o f polished speaking skills such as Lilly Waters and Jack …

Consequences Of Using Fear As A Motivator And Its Effects On The Employer / Employee Relationship, Nicole M. Griggs

Theses

The following work is an in-depth analysis of the consequences of using fear as a motivator, specifically, in the workplace, and the effects fear has on employees. The empirical research identifies the successful, and often, unsuccessful components of the employer/employee relationship. For many, using fear would seem to be a powerful way of getting employees to produce more, work harder, increasing motivation. This is not always the answer. The study provides reasons why fear can be a negative motivator and detrimental to an organization.

Own-Brands : An Investigation Into Their Development And Potential In The Irish Grocery Market, Mary Patricia O'Connor

Theses

The title of the thesis “Own-Brands - An investigation into their development and potential in the Irish Grocery Market” illustrates what the thesis hopes to explore.

The overall value of the own-brand market is approximately £350 million, which represents almost 17% of total grocery expenditure in the Irish market. The last few years have seen a resurgence of own-brand with major Irish owned grocery retailers shifting from primarily low cost no frills staple goods to a focus on quality marketable goods at value for money prices, to rival the brand leaders in their respective categories and to compete with the …

Development Of A Framework For Internet Based Education System, Srinivas Lanka

Theses

Development of a framework for Internet based education has demonstrated the use of Oracle tools for the use of delivery of education on the World Wide Web. This also has proved that for an efficient dynamic education scenario, the use of a database-based system with a proper retrieval system is required.

We have designed the system on an Oracle backend system with Designer/2000. Developer/2000 helped us with the design and development of the system. Oracle Web Server 2.1 helped us with the retrieval of the web pages.

The entire design of the system and the reasoning behind the system has …

Application Of The Internet Technology And Client/Server Paradigm For The Implementation Of Repi, Chetankumar G. Patel

Theses

There are many problems associated with Requirements Engineering such as defining the system scope, developing understanding among the communities involved in the system to be built, volatility of requirements etc. These problems may lead to poor requirements and therefore cancellation of the system development, or else the development of a system that is unsatisfactory, has high maintenance cost or is unacceptable. By improving Requirements Elicitation, the Requirements Engineering can be improved, leading to a better requirements specification and eventually a better product.

Requirements Elicitation requires effective communication among the team members, as communication is the key factor. Easing communications between …

Empowerment Of A Uaw Workforce, Paula L. Hughel

Theses

This thesis will investigate whether empowerment of a workforce has a positive correlation on employee job satisfaction.

Research supports that the automotive industry is continuously focusing on the reduction of structural costs. One area that is commonly focused on is the reduction of manpower, specifically management. As the number of managers are reduced some of the work is being redistributed to the employees. Along with the additional work comes decision making responsibilities.

Although research supports that empowerment has a positive correlation on business results and working environments, it is inconclusive that empowerment has a positive correlation relative to job satisfaction. …

Applications Of Internet Technology For Requirements Elicitation, Deepak Pandit

Theses

During the Requirements Elicitation part of a project various stakeholders need to be able to communicate their requirements to the developers, and the developers need to be able communicate their understanding back to the stakeholders. Communication between the various members of the project is the key factor during the Requirements Elicitation part of a project. Easing communications between stakeholders and developers makes the process of eliciting requirement easier, leading to better requirements specification and eventually a better product.

The Requirements Elicitation Process through Internet (REPI) web site has been designed and implemented to explore this idea. The prototype version of …

The Entrepreneurially-Minded Employee's Guide To Career Management, Linda Y. Brown

Theses

This thesis will explore the concept of the employee as entrepreneur and how the importance of this concept may ensure employability among managers currently working within Corporate America.

In an era of constant change, corporate employees, particularly those that are mid- career and middle age, continue to find themselves caught off-guard when a downsizing , reorganization or spin-off occurs in their workplace. Although they realize these events can affect them any moment , many do not proactively take the responsibility for their own careers.

According to author Gareth S. Gardiner, in his book, 21st Century Manager, the employee as entrepreneur …

Developing Institutional Communications Plan For Supporting International Students, Aura Z. Castrellon Acedo

Theses

This thesis will focus on the on the study of developing an institutional communication plan for supporting international students .

Communications demand comprehension and a wide diversity of communications skills . Cross-cultural communications involves understanding the impact of cultural factors, which could be verbal and nonverbal.

International exchange programs are growing fast . The number of international students has increased to almost 500,000 students disperse around the United States. When these students come to study and learn to another country they require the most accurate and honest service.

In the Chapter IV of this culminating project is provided a plan …

Recruitment And Selection: Finding The Best Candidate For The Company, Aaron T. Strcker

Theses

This thesis will focus on the recruitment and selection techniques used by organizations, while searching for candidates. and the legal issues surrounding recruitment and selection. In many organizations, the recruitment and selection of employees is a function that is not assigned a great deal of importance. However, organizations consistently talk of employees as being their biggest asset. With that statement in mind, it becomes increasingly important to uncover a recruitment and selection process that will find the best possible candidate.

The purpose of this thesis is to gather and analyze literature and research on recruitment and selection techniques and legal …

Business Plan For The Startup And Subsequent Operation Of A Truss Manufacturing Plant, Timothy M. Liescheidt

Theses

This thesis is intended to present a thorough business plan for a truss manufacturing plant. The thesis will give the reader a complete understanding of the purpose of a truss in the building industry. The thesis also presents research on existing truss manufacturing plants and determined how the companies in this field currently operate. Once the research was completed, the business plan was prepared. The completed business plan was presented to three individuals who, by their experience, can be considered subject matter experts. These three individuals were then asked to give input about the completed business plan.

The input from …

Can Corporate Repositioning, The Turn Around Prescription Of The 1990s, Assist Dimac Direct In Regaining The Number One Position Of Direct Response Agencies?, Krista M. Mackin

Theses

This thesis will focus on corporate repositioning within the industry of direct marketing - what is it, what it does, why it is necessary and how to develop and maintain it.

The term "corporate repositioning" is the latest on the world's number one business strategy that was first studied and developed by Al Ries and Jack Trout in their book Positioning: The Battle for Your Mind. Corporate repositioning entails more than changing a company's logo, creating images through advertising and generating hype for a company's products or services. Rather, repositioning means that a company must create a "position" in the …

Characteristics And Qualities Of The Successful Entrepreneur: An Empirical Study, Pearl Farer Raskin

Theses

Entrepreneurship has become an increasingly important phenomenon for researchers and policy makers to understand. It is important for job growth, accounting for 80% of new jobs created in the United States. It is a key factor in enhancing technological innovation, productivity growth and per capita income in industrialized nations. Furthermore, it is an important career choice, accounting for roughly one tenth of the labor force at any point in time, and about one fifth of the labor force for some part of their careers (Birley 156).

Many individuals have difficulty bringing their ideas to the market and creating a new …

Improving Police Officer Performance Appraisal, Leslie D. Simpson

Theses

This thesis will examine the development of American police management practices and organizational structure from its inception during the eighteenth century to the present. The organizational structure and management philosophy will be discussed concerning the influence they have on police officer performance appraisal.

Private sector business organizations have undergone monumental changes in management philosophy during the past twenty years. Most successful enterprises have shifted to a form of quality management that recognizes the benefits of employee participation in management programs. With emphasis on customer service, quality, process improvement, and human resource management American businesses are regaining their leadership role in …

The Usar Company Command Handbook: A Study Of Potential Benefit And Impact On Effective Performance By Army Reserve Leadership, David Winston Fielder

Theses

This thesis will focus on a newly-created leadership manual and the likelihood of increased effectiveness in job performance and perceived benefit among company-level leaders in the United States Army Reserve who use it. In this thesis, this handbook or leaders' manual - which summarizes and highlights applicable military regulations, policies, guidances and code as well as provides helpful hints for the company commander - was reviewed by subject matter experts who rated the manual on the basis of accuracy, utility and potential for use among Army Reserve leadership. Specifically, it was hypothesized that these experts would view the handbook as …

The Wage Gap Between Men And Women Is Narrowing: Fact Or Fiction, Tabatha A. White

Theses

This thesis will focus on the study of how "traditionally female" and "traditionally male" occupations impact the wage gap between men and women. It will also touch on how the wage gap has been decreasing throughout the years.

There has been considerable debate and controversy regarding the issue of wage discrimination between men and women particularly with regard to women working in male dominated occupations. Some researchers believe that the wage gap between men and women has been declining because of an increase in women's education and experience, whereas, some researchers believe it has been declining because of the decrease …

The Impact Of The Visual Advertising On Today's Consumer, Gissel M. Pimentel

Theses

Advertising has grown and developed new ideas throughout the years. Since its beginning . advertising has experienced many changes trying to exert influence on potential consumers and to remain in their minds in a positive way.

This culminating project is about the influence of the visual elements used in advertising on consumer perception . Advertising ' s purpose is to sell . A good ad should cause a good impression in the consumer and lead him or her to purchase the product or service advertised .

The main idea that will be developed and demonstrated in this culminating project is …

Identification Of Critical Elements That Deter Tqm Program Success, Rex F. Osborn

Theses

This thesis reviews the Total Quality Management (TQM) program initially developed in Japan after World War II and its entry into the United States during the early Eighties.

TQM was incubated in Japan and matured into a viable program. TQM offered those who implemented the program improved quality products and improved cooperation between management and the workers for accomplishing common goals and objectives . The program focused on product quality and the belief that customer satisfaction is of key importance.

United States managers were searching for improved management programs to motivate workers, improve production and increase sales and profits . …

Managing Diversity In The Global Economy, Kathia G. Arjona

Theses

This thesis will focus on the study of the diversity management in businesses today, since the 2Ist century is around the comer. It seeks to study and highlight the importance and benefits of having a diverse workforce in today's organizations. Each day more and more companies are doing business globally, and that is why this thesis attempts to find a balance among the similarities and differences employees might encounter in any organization.

The advantages of a diverse workforce for successfully penetrating global, ethnic minority, and other group markets are many. Yet, making diversity work while simultaneously ensuring a stable and …

An Understanding And A Quest For Excellence In Human Resources At An Urban Public School District, Juliette E. Douglas

Theses

This thesis will focus on how to transition the Human Resource Division at St. Louis Public Schools into a customer focused, responsive service organization. Like many other industries, urban education has some uniqueness but there are also some common issues. To better understand the management style traditionally used in urban education, this project started with conducting extensive research on the history of management in education.

History is only important in understanding the past. Good management must focus on the present and create the future. To better plan to create a changed human resource function, two basic management concepts were also …

An In-Depth Look At Demographics And Psychographics To Show How Data About Consumers Have Changed To Meet The Need Of Marketers, Susan L. Sebacher

Theses

Consumers are constantly changing. The generations are aging, causing their wants and needs to change. Products are also changing. They have gone from standardized to specialized. The market for consumer goods has gone from a mass market to niche markets. As consumers' sophistication grows so does their skepticism about advertising and claims advertisers make about their products. This creates a tough environment for marketers.

Demographic information provides marketers with a profile of their customers. Demographic information includes: gender, race, age, education, income, marital status, and number of children Demographic information groups consumers into generational groups. Generational groups are designated by …

An Examination Of The Correlation Between Financial Ratio Analysis And Stock Price, Janet S. Hawn

Theses

This thesis will focus on the study of financial ratio analysis and its correlation to stock prices .

Research has used various methods to determine the value of a stock . Examples of these stock valuation models include the Capital Asset Pricing Model (CAPM), the dividend discount model, and the free cash flows and the free cash flows to equity models.

The purpose of this study is to analyze the relationship between financial ratio analysis and stock prices and to explore the possibility that financial ratio analysis has a value in determining the price of a stock. Both financial data …

A Study To Determine Market Acceptability Of A Skin Replacement Therapy For The Treatment Of Chronic Wounds, Henry A. Holzapfel

Theses

This thesis will focus on factors that would determine the market acceptability of a skin replacement therapy for the treatment of chronic wounds.

Because chronic wounds will probably become much more prevalent as the population ages, the best method to treat these wounds needs to be developed . In just the last couple of decades , the treatment of chronic wounds has been changing as new technologies are introduced into the marketplace.

The main purpose of this thesis is to evaluate some of the various therapies from traditional wound treatment to modern wound therapy to the more advanced therapies that …

Effects Of Training And Development On Job Satisfaction, Lora Applebury

Theses

This thesis will focus on the effect training and development in the workplace on employees job satisfaction.

Research has stated that with the proper kinds of training and development employees will be more satisfied with their jobs overall. Researchers believe that the kinds of training and development given to employees will also improve the overall quality and productivity of the work environment.

With companies trying to move into the global job market training and development has come to the for front of all companies improvement programs. Most of the large companies CEO believe that training and development is the only …

The Impact Of Minimum Wage Legislation On The Working Class Poor, Mary Ching

Theses

This thesis will focus on the study of the working class poor minimum wage and the impact it has had on their income. The study begins with the historical background of the minimum wage from early colonial times until the changes of the minimum wage law of 1993. It analyses the reasoning of creation of minimum wage legislation and the economic principles of the period.

Chief Justice Hughes said in in West Coast Hotel Co v. Parrish 300 U.S. 399:

The exploitation of a class of workers who are in an unequal position with respect to bargaining power and are …

Managing Innovation And Creativity, Dan Wilbanks

Theses

As businesses become more lean in the future they will have to do everything to gain a competitive advantage. People are the biggest resource and many times the biggest expense in an organization. Many experts are of the opinion that the single most effective way to insure a companies longevity is by having high output employees. There are many proven techniques in workforce motivation. Most managers and educators think higher production is the result of better motivation techniques. A normal motivation plan is designed to increase production in the employees ' current job under the same set of rules and …

An Empirical Study On The Differences Of Task-Orientation Skills And People-Orientation Skills Of Upper And Lower Management In An Organization, Michelle A. Heppermann

Theses

This thesis will focus on the study of communication between upper and lower management levels in a company and the impact that genders has upon it.

Communication can be divided into two sections: task-orientation and people-orientation. Task-orientation refers to a person's behavior in delineating the relationship between himself/herself and staff members and in endeavoring to establish well-defined patterns of organization, communication, and procedures. People-orientation refers to a person's behavior indicative of friendship, mutual trust, respect, and warmth in the relationship between leader and his/her subordinates.

Over the years research has suggested that women are prone to be more people-oriented while …

An Evaluation Of The Competency Modeling Method Used By A Major Telecommunications Company, Sharon K. Kramer

Theses

This thesis focuses on competency model development methods and evaluating an actual competency model development method used by a consulting company on behalf of its client.

As HRD professionals get down to actually measuring human performance against the model they set forth to specify competency and its associated behaviors, they often find behavioral measurements to be subjective and relative, rather than objective and criterion-based.

The purpose of this study is to review competency model definitions and development methods, as well as the implications for using competency models to improve human performance, business results and competitive advantage.

The competency model development …

Volunteers From The Business Community Give High Marks To Quality Of Junior Achievement's Middle Grades Program, Lori A. Jacob

Theses

This thesis will focus on the study of business volunteers' perceptions of quality of Junior Achievement's Middle Grades Program. Areas of emphasis will include teaching material provided to the volunteer, support from the Junior Achievement staff, and volunteer orientation.

Business people from the St. Louis metropolitan area teach Junior Achievement programs to students in schools, during the school day. Business people, whom JA calls consultants, volunteer one hour per week for eight to fifteen weeks to share their business experience with Middle Grade students. Educators set aside valuable classroom time for Junior Achievement consultants to present activities. In the St. …