Business Commons^™

Sustainable Eco-Friendly Packaging, Kyla Barrett

Sustainable Supply Chain Management

Plastic pollution is one of the most pressing environmental challenges today, threatening marine ecosystems and global environmental health. With 8 to 10 million metric tons of plastic entering our oceans annually, the urgency to implement sustainable practices in packaging has never been greater. This chapter explores the environmental impact of single-use plastics and highlights innovative alternatives like bioplastics and compostable materials. Lessons from global leaders, like Japan's cultural approach to waste management, the European Union's Circular Economy Action Plan, and Costco's efforts in bulk buying and sustainable design, the chapter identifies actionable strategies for industries to adopt eco-friendly practices. Concluding …

Exploring The Town Management And University Partnership Impact On Community And Economic Development In Bridgewater, Massachusetts, David German Alatorre

Honors Program Theses and Projects

This undergraduate thesis investigates the Town of Bridgewater, Massachusetts through a qualitative process. Through this approach, the interconnection between community and economic development was explored and analyzed to understand how these factors and their underlying elements impact the Town of Bridgewater stakeholders. The Town of Bridgewater Master Plan, 2022 is a key cornerstone in this study, providing a compendium of influential priorities for the Town, current efforts initiated to support those priorities, barriers hindering further advancement, and future opportunities. Additionally, the unique Town characteristic of occupying a university-town partnership is considered when investigating the influences on community and economic development. …

The Transformation Of The Commercial Airline Industry By Frequent Flyer Programs, Christian Demoras

Honors Program Theses and Projects

Frequent flyer programs (FFPs) started in the 1950s as rudimentary punchcard programs tracking limited customer information. However, at present, they are some of the most dynamic and complex loyalty programs in the world: maintaining external partnerships that have diversified industry economics with billions in annual co-branded revenue; agglomerating big data to create detailed customer profiles, determining their willingness to pay, and dynamically set pricing thereafter; and generating commercial value often exceeding the market capitalizations of their respective carriers. This paper leverages extensive secondary sources to portray the evolution of FFPs and their impact on the larger industry through every major …

Ethical Challenges For Same-Day Delivery Contractors, Chun-Miin (Jimmy) Chen, Xinwei Chen

Faculty Journal Articles

No abstract provided.

Women’S Volleyball Wins Ovc Championship With 3-0 Sweep Over Morehead State, Lindenwood University

Archived Lindenwood Press Releases

No abstract provided.

2024-12-02 Letter From The Dean Of The College Of Arts, Humanities, & Social Sciences, Morehead State University. Faculty Senate., Sylvia Henneberg

Faculty Senate Records

A memo sent by Sylvia Henneberg, Dean of the College of Arts, Humanities, & Social Sciences, to faculty members of the college on December 2, 2024, titled "Changes/Transition in Caudill."

Dark Tetrad Personality And Earnings Management: The Moderating Effect Of Corporate Reputation, Alan Diógenes Góis, Gerlando Augusto Sampaio Franco De Lima, Márcia Martins Mendes De Luca, Giorgio Gotti

School of Accountancy Faculty Publications

Objective: The purpose of this study is to investigate the moderating effect of corporate reputation on the relationship between the Dark Tetrad personality and earnings management.

Method: Two approaches were adopted: one archival and one experimental. In the archival approach, 434 firms (2,645 observations) headquartered in the US were analyzed, covering the period 2010-2017. Earnings management was proxied by accruals quality, reputation was proxied by the score on the ranking of the World’s Most Admired Companies, and Dark Tetrad personality was based on CEO speech and ‘Big Five’ personality analysis. In the experimental approach, we used a 2x2 between-subjects design …

Research Report: Housing, Heather Akin, Cheryl A. Burkhart-Kriesel, Mary Emery, Katelyn Larson, Bradley Lubben, L. J. Mcelravy, Timothy Meyer, Rebecca J. Vogt

Nebraska Rural Poll

Executive summary

Most rural Nebraskans support a variety of housing programs and priorities. The support for these various programs was similar to that found in 2016. At least three-quarters of rural Nebraskans would somewhat support or strongly support the following in their community: developing programs to help seniors age in their current home; offering low-interest loans or grants for repair, rehabilitation or home improvement; providing affordable rental housing; establishing a local program that would purchase and remove dilapidated houses making lots available for building; developing senior housing; purchasing, rehabilitating and reselling vacant housing; and establishing a local program that would …

Bank Competition Amid Digital Disruption: Implications For Financial Inclusion, Erica Xuewei Jiang, Yang Gloria Yu, Jinyuan Zhang

Sim Kee Boon Institute for Financial Economics

We study how digital disruption impacts bank competition, considering consumers’ heterogeneous digital preferences. We find that the rollout of 3G networks contracts bank branch networks and leads to divergence in branching and pricing strategies across banks. These developments benefit young consumers but increase the unbanked rate for poorer and older consumers. A structural model shows that the higher perceived digital quality by younger borrowers mainly prompts these adjustments, causing significant surplus losses for older savers. Counterfactual exercises illustrate that subsidizing older savers opting for mobile banking effectively offsets these disparities at minimal cost, facilitating a smoother digital transition.

Fixed Income Fund Report, December 2024, Archway Investment Fund

Archway Investment Fund

No abstract provided.

Using Llms To Establish Implicit User Sentiment Of Software Desirability, Sherri Weitl-Harms, John D. Hastings, Jonah Lum

Research & Publications

This study explores the use of LLMs for providing quantitative zero-shot sentiment analysis of implicit software desirability, addressing a critical challenge in product evaluation where traditional review scores, though convenient, fail to capture the richness of qualitative user feedback. Innovations include establishing a method that 1) works with qualitative user experience data without the need for explicit review scores, 2) focuses on implicit user satisfaction, and 3) provides scaled numerical sentiment analysis, offering a more nuanced understanding of user sentiment, instead of simply classifying sentiment as positive, neutral, or negative.

Data is collected using the Microsoft Product Desirability Toolkit (PDT), …

Financing White Rule: How Luxembourg Became A Banker For The Belgian Congo And Apartheid South Africa, Samuel Weeks

College of Humanities and Sciences Faculty Papers

In this article, I offer a historical analysis of how bankers in Luxembourg came to be important service providers to borrowers in the Belgian Congo and Apartheid South Africa. I demonstrate how a series of unique political and cultural factors linking Luxembourg and these two (neo)colonial regimes account for the financial activities that developed between the three jurisdictions. As such, I show that officials in the Belgian Congo and Apartheid South Africa were able to count on their Luxembourg-based bankers for a variety of finance-related services, including the provision of Eurocurrency loans and the formation of offshore companies. In doing …

Innovating Under Pressure? Regulatory Intensity And Corporate Innovation, Christy Mak

Honors Projects in Finance

We investigate the impact of regulatory intensity on innovation outcomes. We examine U.S. publicly listed firms, utilizing a novel firm-level measure of exposure to all federal regulations. The study reveals that highly regulated companies tend to exhibit lower patent value, a reduction in patent filings, and a decrease in patent citations. The results suggest additional costs imposed on firms burdened by heavy regulations. Furthermore, financial distress and political connections mitigate this negative effect. Overall, the paper uncovers a previously undiscovered connection between regulation at an aggregate level and innovation, emphasizing circumstances where regulations may impose costs that outweigh potential benefits.

Safeguarding Virtual Healthcare: A Novel Attacker-Centric Model For Data Security And Privacy, Suvineetha Herath, Haywood Gelman, John Hastings, Yong Wang

Research & Publications

The rapid growth of remote healthcare delivery has introduced significant security and privacy risks to protected health information (PHI). Analysis of a comprehensive healthcare security breach dataset covering 2009-2023 reveals their significant prevalence and impact. This study investigates the root causes of such security incidents and introduces the Attacker-Centric Approach (ACA), a novel threat model tailored to protect PHI. ACA addresses limitations in existing threat models and regulatory frameworks by adopting a holistic attacker-focused perspective, examining threats from the viewpoint of cyber adversaries, their motivations, tactics, and potential attack vectors. Leveraging established risk management frameworks, ACA provides a multi-layered approach …

Improving Student Outcomes Using Automated Feedback In A First-Year Economics Class, Sinead Huskisson, Tom O'Mahony, Seán Lacey

Dept. of Management & Enterprise Publications

The assessment literature advocates utilising formative assessment strategies to support and enhance student learning. This study uses online practice tests with inbuilt feedback, that students could repeatedly use, as a formative feedback strategy in a first-year introductory microeconomics module. The key question explored is whether repeated engagement with online practice tests had a statistically significant impact on students’ subsequent performance on a summative assessment. Quantitative engagement and performance data (N = 223) were collected from a cohort of first-year students. An analysis of this data reveals that engaging with the online practice test multiple times has a statistically significant impact …

Everyone Brings Something To The Table: A Culturally Sustaining Analysis Of Teacher Candidates’ Mixed Reality Teaching Simulations, Erin Scott

Faculty Publications

Discussions of HBCU students’ content knowledge have centered around developing high impact, asset-based approaches to learning (Williams et al, 2022). So, HBCU teacher preparation providers (TPPs) can also focus efforts on culturally sustaining approaches to developing candidates’ content knowledge and researching how high impact practices, like teaching simulations, can help prepare candidates for classrooms. This exploratory case study uses critical cases (n=2); findings suggest candidates have a developing understanding of content, which forms a solid basis for increasing their knowledge. MRTSs are addressed as a potential high impact, culturally sustaining practice for building candidates’ content knowledge. Further, HBCU TPPs can …

Research Report: Artificial Intelligence, Heather Akin, Cheryl A. Burkhart-Kriesel, Mary Emery, Katelyn Larson, Bradley Lubben, L. J. Mcelravy, Timothy Meyer, Rebecca J. Vogt

Nebraska Rural Poll

Some rural Nebraskans have used artificial intelligence (AI) tools. Just over one-quarter have used any AI tool. However, most younger persons have used AI tools.

Given that, it is not surprising that most rural Nebraskans are not at all or slightly informed about artificial intelligence. Just over one-third are moderately informed about AI, and just over one in ten are either very or extremely informed about AI.

Most rural Nebraskans are either not at all or slightly confident that AI is being used in the best interest of the public. Just over one-half are not at all confident that it …

Esg Ratings In The Mining Industry: Factors And Implications, Mahelet G. Fikru, Jennifer Brodmann, Lili Eng, J. Andrew Grant

Economics Faculty Research & Creative Works

While previous research explores the relationship between ESG ratings, firm size, and financial outcomes, there is a lack of comprehensive analysis comparing multiple ESG ratings within the mining industry. This gap is crucial given the increasing focus on ESG in mining operations and its potential impact on company performance. Based on proprietary financial and ESG ratings data from 200 mining companies, this study investigates the relationship between two different ESG ratings and firm characteristics. We compare ESG-rated firms with unrated firms in terms of firm size, and financial performance indicators, and explore country-level patterns in ESG ratings. Findings reveal that …

Breaking The Spiral Of Silence: Enhancing Marketing Education With Dei Certification For Greater Classroom And Societal Impact, Ania Rynarzewska

Academic Affairs

This study examines the impact of incorporating Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) certificationprograms into higher education marketing curricula on students’ acceptance, competency in DEItopics, and perceived employment success. Against a societal backdrop marked by divisiveness and silencing of minority voices, known as the Spiral of Silence, this research aims to determinewhether DEI certifications in marketing curricula can influence students’ perceptions and attitudestoward DEI discussions in the classroom, as facilitated by their instructors. It assesses the role ofinstructors’ perceived credibility in DEI discussions and how DEI certification affects students’willingness to engage in DEI discourse both within the classroom and in broader …

Effective Project Management With Sap Project System (Ps): Balancing Scope, Time And Budget Constraints, Falguni Panchal, Shabduli Khokrale

School of Professional Studies

SAP (Systems, Applications, and Products) is a leading ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) system that provides integrated business functions such as Customer Relationship Management, Financial Management, Business Intelligence, Product Planning, and Supply Chain Management. It enables organizations to streamline workflows, improve business efficiency, and enhance decision-making by sharing common data across various departments. SAP is highly customizable, allowing businesses to tailor it to their specific processes and integrate it with other systems, thus transforming organizational operations. However, the successful implementation of SAP depends on the software and effective project management to ensure the project is delivered on time, within budget, and …

From Concept To Creation: The Role Of Generative Artificial Intelligence In The New Age Of Digital Marketing, Andrew Smith, James Hutson

Faculty Scholarship

Artificial intelligence (AI) has been extensively used in digital marketing. Still, the recent advances in generative AI (GAI) have revolutionized social media marketing and content creation, lowering barriers that once restricted high-quality design to professionals well versed in expensive and complex software like Adobe Suite. GAI tools enable anyone, from students to marketers, to generate logos, branding, and multimedia content without extensive training. This shift has empowered more people to engage in creative expression, expanding the pool of ideas and creativity. However, the abundance of AI-generated content raises questions about the evolving definition of “art” and the emergence of a …

Issue 7, Dark Academia, Janell Gamboa

Thrive

No abstract provided.

2024 Update: The Economic Impact Of Artprize, Grand Valley State University, Christian Glupker

Other Faculty Publications

ArtPrize is estimated to have generated or supported economic benefits for Kent County in the following ways:

• The total economic impact of all primary visitor spending, ArtPrize operational spending, and artist spending is estimated between $71 and $77 million in economic output supporting between 547 and 600 jobs.
• 795,555 total visitors, with 57% visiting from outside the local region.
• 39% of local visitors and 74% of all nonlocal visitors stated that ArtPrize was their primary reason for visiting Grand Rapids.
• All local visitors spent an average of 2.75 days at ArtPrize and all nonlocal visitors spent an average of 1.76 …

Unravelling The Effects Of Knowledge-Sharing Dynamics On Crowdsourcing Contest Participation, Hanieh Javadi Khasraghi, Xuan Wang, Yaojie Li, Xi Mao

Information Systems Faculty Publications

Crowdsourcing contests have emerged as a popular approach for organisations to leverage collective intelligence and tap into the expertise of a diverse crowd. Knowledge sharing in such contests is paramount in promoting individual or team participation. This study employs negative binomial regression analysis to explore the impact of dynamic knowledge-sharing features – knowledge volume, knowledge expansion, knowledge innovation, and knowledge popularity – on team participation, using data from 211 crowdsourcing contests hosted on Kaggle. The findings offer significant implications for researchers and practitioners regarding effective knowledge management within crowdsourcing platforms. Encouraging knowledge sharing and collaboration and promoting innovative practices can …

Vale Strategic Audit, Nikolas Mancio

Honors Program: Senior Projects (Public)

The Chinese government is critical in shaping the global mining and metals industry, specifically for companies like Vale S.A., the world’s largest iron ore and nickel producer. China’s dominance as the largest importer of iron ore significantly impacts commodity prices and demand, with its government exerting substantial influence through production quotas, infrastructure spending, and environmental regulations. Vale’s strategic position in the Chinese market is a cornerstone of its operations. It is supported by investments in distribution centers, blending facilities, and high-grade iron ore that align with China’s environmental goals. However, this reliance also makes Vale vulnerable to shifts in Chinese …

Understanding Immigrant Entrepreneurship In Ireland, Thomas M. Cooney, Martina Brophy, Toluwani Akaehomen

Reports

Understanding immigrant entrepreneurship in Ireland involves examining the diverse contributions that entrepreneurs from various backgrounds bring to the Irish economy. Immigrants from EU countries, Asia, Africa, the Americas and elsewhere come with different entrepreneurial traditions and experiences, enhancing the Irish business landscape with new ideas and practices. These entrepreneurs have a significant economic impact, introducing new products and services, creating jobs, and contributing to economic diversity and resilience. However, they often face distinctive challenges such as cultural and language barriers, difficulties in accessing finance, and navigating local regulations. The aim of this report is is to enhance understanding of immigrant …

Entrepreneurs’ Network Bricolage: Reconfiguring Social Ties For Resource Creation, Frances Y.M. Chang, Cynthia M. Webster, Muhammad Aftab Alam, Francesco Chirico

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

The entrepreneurship literature demonstrates the positive impact of network bricolage on resource-seeking. We extend this work by examining why and how entrepreneurs reconfigure ties within the social architecture of their networks. Building on the network bricolage literature and an in-depth analysis of 55 dyadic relationships embedded in four networks, we provide evidence of network bricolage behavior indicating that entrepreneur bricoleurs are, in fact, resource-creators as well as resource-seekers. Our data cover a series of preliminary and in-depth interviews, member checks, site visits, direct observations, and archival sources. We find support for our theoretical arguments that more resources and re-deployment opportunities …

Exploring Impression Management Through Eye-Tracking: A Study On The Influence Of Photographs In Financial Reporting, Andreas Hellmann, Simone D. Scagnelli, Lawrence Ang, Suresh Sood

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

The objective of financial reporting is to provide decision-useful information for a wide range of existing and potential stakeholders. However, the lack of regulation regarding the use of visual imagery may enable companies to engage in impression management and subtly influence the reader's judgments through careful selection of images and how they obfuscate or clarify information. This study utilizes eye-tracking technology to experimentally examine how non-explanatory photographs influence the performance judgments of non-professional investors comprising business students and auditors. Participants were exposed to an excerpt of the management summary of a fictitious company's annual report. The findings suggest while a …

Sustainability In The Wake Of Crisis: Transforming Climate Change-Induced Disasters Into Drivers Of Renewable Energy Innovation In Business, Hiva Rastegar, Aymen Sajjad, Gabriel Eweje, Kazunori Kobayashi

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

This study examines how climate change-induced disasters affect renewable energy innovation in United States-based firms. To this end, we utilized the behavioral theory of the firm and the threat rigidity model to investigate strategic decision-making in the context of environmental crises. We employed a difference-in-differences approach combined with meta-analysis. Further, we analyzed data from 2013 to 2018 and found a significant increase in renewable energy innovation following climatological disasters, marked by an effect size of 0.74. However, firms exceeding their aspiration levels exhibit a smaller impact, reducing the effect on renewable energy innovation by 0.273 units. Additionally, firms with a …

The Dynamic Effects Of Transformational Leadership On Employee Retention And Employability Over Time: An Agent-Based Model, Sophia R. Thomas, S. R. Aurora

Management Faculty Publications

Employee retention is a problem for organizations of all sizes. Research has shown that transformational leaders improve retention and reduce turnover; however, there has been little research on the effects of transformational leadership on retention over time while also considering employees’ changing employability. We use agent-based modeling to demonstrate these changing relationships while considering the nature of modern organizations. Our model looks at the relationships between transformational leaders, individual employability, and retention. The model uses data from earlier research to define parameters for these variables, showing how workers and leaders interact and affect employability and retention and how these effects …