Business Commons^™

From The Village To Entrepreneurial Mentality: A Transformative Path For Africa's Economic Development, Morris Tsuma

Honors Theses

Because the economic development in Africa is at an inflection point, the continent needs to use the transformative process of going from the village mentality to the entrepreneurial mentality. They need to go from the dependency village mentality to the free market entrepreneurial mentality to affect Africa’s economic future.

Many factors affect the path from the village mentality to the entrepreneurial mentality. Some of these factors and examples that I explore in this paper are international companies investing in local intelligence and people finding role models/goals to aspire to. Another factor is individuals going through difficulty and needing change. However, …

The K-Wave And Its Impact On The South Korean Economy, Jessica Johnson

Honors Theses

During the last few years, Korean entertainment has captivated audiences globally. Parasite was the first foreign film to win Best Picture at the Oscars, BTS was nominated for a Grammy Award, and Squid Game was one of the most popular TV shows of 2021. A discussion of the merits of these works I will leave to the artists and critics. My question is, what does this wave of popularity mean to the South Korean economy?

Money Makes The Diamond: A Creation Of A Predictive Model To Forecast On-Field Performance Through Usage Of Past Financial Data, Jacob Bowman

Honors Theses

This paper examines the feasibility of using statistics to predict win values for major league baseball. Definite correlations were discovered between a Major League organization’s finances and on-field performance. Stated correlations are used to generate a predictive model that will predict on-field outcomes. Using regression analysis, such a model is construed, and successfully predicted win ratios for Major League Baseball organizations using only available past financial data.

Grasping The Intangible: The Perseverance Of Physical Music Media In A Digital World, Sam Youmans

Honors Theses

Music is a unique economic good with several interesting characteristics: as an art form, its value is immensely subjective and changes with the culture; it is most widely consumed via online streaming platforms but still embedded onto physical formats and sold through retailers; and the United States music business had to pivot through substantial economic disruption at the turn of the century with the advent of peer-to-peer file sharing. Given the digital world in which we live, this thesis explains why people still purchase music on physical formats. This is accomplished by discussing revenue data from the past few years, …

A New Generation Of The Ncaa: How Two Major Rules Have Changed The College Landscape, Brennan Saunders

Honors Theses

This paper is designed to take a look at the effect of two new rule changes the NCAA has established within the past two years. Through an explanation of what led to the NIL and transfer portal rulings, what NIL involves, and the long-term effects that NIL and the transfer portal are going to have on future athletes’ decisions, we will find that the NIL and transfer portal are the biggest rule changes in NCAA history and will have major ramifications for years to come.

The Democratization Of Finance Through The Banking Revolution And Financial Technologies In Brazil, Joao Rodrigues

Honors Theses

Every nation requires an adequate financial system to support the flow of funds between savers and borrowers, providing a safe and effective payment system. The Brazilian National Financial System (Sistema Financeiro Nacional - SFN) is recognized as one of the backbones of Brazilian development throughout the years, one of the explicit drivers of the ten largest world economies. Interestingly, institutions that established the country's financial system are vulnerable to structural change driven by continuous development created through new ideas, new challenges, and new opportunities.

The American Dream: Embodying Perseverance, Erin E. Mcnully

Honors Theses

Small businesses take many forms: from local accounting services to clothing stores to decades old, family-owned restaurants. Small businesses have been important to our country for as long as it has existed. What started out as a collection of family farms and shop owners has evolved into the complex economic system that reaches every facet of society. Americans have always believed in hard work, perseverance, and determination as these qualities were what led to success. In this opportunistic land, ideally, if entrepreneurs have good ideas and are willing to put in the work, they can succeed in fulfilling their own …

Women In Business: Social Status Recognition, Prejudices, Power Usage, Challenges And Solutions, Xinwen Zhang

Honors Theses

Although there has been a recent surge of business women in the workplace, there are many challenges that business women have every day. Business women are more likely to face unfair treatment than men at work. Sheryl Sandberg, Chief Operating Officer of Facebook, wrote in her book Lean In (2013) that these problems for women can include gender discrimination, lack of access to mentorship, and imbalance between work and life, to name a few. The primary reasons that business women face those difficulties at work are from social influences of stereotypical group thinking as well as different expectations of each …

Achievers And Believers: Women Overcoming Obstacles In Business, Harly Dearing

Honors Theses

Ever since I was a young girl, the people in my life have always told me that I could do anything I set my mind to if I worked hard for it. Whether it was making a certain sports team, or trying to be the top in my class, their answer was always the same, “if you want to be the best you have to outwork the others.” So, that’s what I’ve been doing my whole life; only now I’m working to be the top student in the Hickingbotham School of Business and trying to be the best mom I …

The Influence Of The Qur'an On Islamic Finance, Connie S. Quintero

Honors Theses

Islamic Finance differs in many forms from Conventional Finance commonly used in the United States. There are many components that are derived from the Islamic religious text, the Qu'ran. In this paper, I provide an analysis of the origin of these components, their implication in Islamic Finance, and the application in today's economy.

On The Sustainability Of Social Security: Have The Faroe Islands Found The Solution?, Austin Sowerbutts

Honors Theses

The United States Social Security program is in a state of disarray, desperately needing a significant change of course in order to meet the future needs of the American people (Status of the Social Security and Medicare Programs). With Social Security actuaries pointing to the year 2034 as the date of OASDI Trust Fund depletion, the clock is ticking on lawmakers to find a solution (Status of the Social Security and Medicare Programs). Consider this quote from the annual trustee's report in 2006:

Under current law, the cost of Social Security will soon begin to increase faster than the program's …

A Statistical Analysis Of The Ouachita Baptist University Men's Baseball Team, Evan Nelson

Honors Theses

In this paper, I use sabermetrics to analyze the Ouachita Baptist University men’s baseball team. I run correlation and regression analyses on the hitting and fielding and pitching statistics for games the Tiger baseball team have played from the 2003 season through the 2018 season. Using these analyses plus other information on sabermetrics I have studied, I determine which statistical categories lead to success for the Ouachita baseball team. Using these determinations, I create formulas that analyze player production for position players and pitchers on the 2018 Ouachita Baptist University men’s baseball team.

These formulas isolate four important factors for …

Applying Nehemiah's Leadership Characteristics In The Business World Today, Amanda Abbud

Honors Theses

As a Business major interested in Biblical studies, I studied leadership skills found in the biblical book of Nehemiah. My research involved identifying key leadership characteristics from Nehemiah's life, then comparing and contrasting these characteristics with books such as Hand Me Another Brick by Charles R. Swindoll and The 21 Indispensable Qualities of a Leader by John C. Maxwell. Also, I gathered information from New American Commentaries Ezra Nehemiah and Esther by Leslie Allen, and Ezra, Nehemiah and Esther by Mervin Breneman.

Market Expansion Challenge: Finnish School International, Shelby Reams

Honors Theses

The Finnish School International already operates in several countries and is ready to expand the Finnish education system to new locations around the world. Accordingly, the company is seeking your help with identifying new promising markets and developing a market entry strategy, including:

t. Identify the most promising new markets, analyze the market, and decide on the best market entry mode;

2. Develop a product promotion and marketing strategy for the proposed new market; 3. Work out the operations management strategy for the proposed new market.

Brands Crossing Borders: Cross-Cultural Issues In Brand Localization In And From China, Molly Catherine Bowman

Honors Theses

As China continues to play a more integral role in the global economy, the ability to do business in, with, and from China is of the utmost importance. With the country's nascent transformation from a manufacturing economy to a value-added hub of innovation, Chinese companies face new challenges in communicating their brands and values abroad, and their Western counterparts face equal if not greater challenges in maintaining their market share on a global scale.

Communication will be the key to success in this dynamic environment. This paper will explore some of the unique China stories of prominent global organizations-- how …

Purenovation, Inc, Alex Nelson

Honors Theses

Welcome to PUREnovation, where "converting today and conserving tomorrow" is our lifestyle. Our mission embodies the idea of providing customers the opportunity to maximize cost savings while simultaneously helping to reduce the carbon footprint in their hometown. With a management team that encompasses a wide variety of backgrounds, we possess the necessary skills and abilities to drive our mission and visions forward. Based on our values and convictions, we believe that it is of the utmost importance to serve the individuals who live in small towns and to preserve the nature of the earth that God has graciously provided for …

Battle For Control: How Venture Capitalists Affect The Development Of Businesses, Jeffery Neil Wacaster

Honors Theses

In my new podcast series, I interview business leaders to determine the affect of venture capital on the entrepreneur. First, I interview a serial startup entrepreneur to find out the true nature of venture capital, how to go about getting it, and how it affects the creative process. Next, I interview a blogger who thinks that venture capital can be very detrimental to business startups, and get his perspective on related issues.

The interviewees:

1. Michah Baldiwn a) current CEO of Grahic.ly b) He and his team have raised over $350 million dollars of startup money

2. Peter Ireland a) …

Stop And Serve, Nathan J. Peace

Honors Theses

Stop and Serve will be the first to sell a fully functioning service social media website to specific organizations, companies, and churches. Furthermore, we follow up with our product by providing our customized service and necessary server space.

With our product, a fully functioning social media website, users can post various needs (such as helping mow the lawn, pay for medical bills, watch animals, etc.), without limit, and other users help meet those needs. To encourage participation, Stop and Serve websites require users to connect with already existing social media so that each user who has a need met will …

Bailing Out America: An Honors Thesis Addressing The Bailout And Financial Crisis Of 2008, Reuben Cash

Honors Theses

This paper analyzes the financial crisis of 2008 and the resulting government intervention of the Troubled Asset Relief Program, or more generally called "the bailout." Beginning with historical context of past interventions, it sets forth an understanding of the economic environment of 2008. After explaining the mechanics of the financial crisis, it proposes that the reinsurance products underlying the financial markets in 2008 were based on unsound accounting and risk management principles. Based on this proposition, the representational faithfulness and fairness of mark-to-market accounting principles are examined. The paper concludes that a short-term financial focus is largely to blame for …

Communityspot, Daniel Graham, Ryne Dubach, Chris Norcross

Honors Theses

Communityspot.com does for the community what Facebook does for the individual. Our website allows cities to develop a profile for their community in a standard format, presenting information about businesses, classifieds, attractions, local news, public services, and events. In addition to the basic information, our site also allows the members of that community to contribute personal comments and photos, giving a very real representation of what community is like in that city. The best part about this is our site is completely free, since our profit is made in advertising.

Keeping A Town Alive?: The Civil War Re-Enactment Of The Battle Of Pilot Knob, Laura Marie Gentry

Honors Theses

There is a place surrounded by thousands of acres of natural forests encircled by seven beautiful state parks nestled between the highest peaks in Missouri with rich Ozark history. Imagine three small towns situated in a valley of the Ozarks Mountains surrounded by breathtaking scenery, a perfect retreat from busyness of the city and the working world. Would you be interested in escaping here for a weekend or possibly for the rest of your life?

If you even entertained the idea, local Chamber of Commerce officials succeeded in making you believe that Arcadia Valley or the towns of lronton, Arcadia, …

A Clock, A Stopwatch, And A Looking Glass. The Timeliness Of The Fasb's Due Process: Is It Really Meeting Our Needs?, Alison Hamby

Honors Theses

The Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) was established in 1973 in response to an increased demand in organized accounting standards set by an independent full-time board. In response, the FASB emerged with the following mission:

The mission of the Financial Accounting Standards , Board (FASB) is to establish and improve standards of financial accounting and reporting for the guidance and education of the public, including issuers, auditors, and users of financial information (FASB Facts 2002).

The timeliness of the FASB has been under great scrutiny since the recent accounting scandals in 2002. The Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 further increased the …

A Comparative Study Of The Management Structures Of Japanese And American Corporations, Terry Melson

Honors Theses

The purposes of this paper are to 1) research the cultures of Japan and the United States. 2) describe five salient management characteristics which differ between the two countries . 3) use these five characteristics to compare corporate management systems. 4) determine which characteristics are bound by Japanese culture and which are transportable to the U.S. 5) draw conclusions from the information regarding which, if any, of the Japanese characteristics should be emulated by the U. S.

The research design for this paper is one which presents antecedent conditions for both countries which cause certain distinctive management practices and which …

Case Study Of First National Bank Of Phillips County, Michelle Leigh Early

Honors Theses

First National Bank of Phillips County, located in Helena, Arkansas, is a small commercial bank with assets totaling a little over fifty-one million dollars. A small bank in a small town, First National is not the place to go if you need a loan involving millions of dollars, and they may not offer all the in depth financial services found in large metropolitan banks, but it does serve the basic needs of the citizens of Helena, Arkansas. Farmers need crop loans, businesses need financing, and individuals need personal loans as well as the services such as savings, checking, and certain …

Summary Of Cpa Review Notebook, Marilyn Metcalf

Honors Theses

A candidate who wishes to pass the CPA exam must be proficient in the areas of Accounting Theory, Accounting Practice, Auditing, and Business Law. This is a tremendous amount of material to understand, or to even review. Just because a person has studied in all these areas at the undergraduate or graduate level does not mean a person will pass the exam. "Only by diligent study, and a well-paced review will the candidate acquire the necessary educational background and confidence to pass." This can only be accomplished with a serious individual study program.

A Look At Today's Stock Market, Beth Gladden

Honors Theses

Being interested in the stock market, certain stocks specifically, I decided to follow ten different companies for a period of 91 days. These stocks include some of my own, some I am interested in, and some of the most active stocks during the week I began my project, September 1, 1973. They are listed in the New York Stock Exchange, the American Stock Exchange, and Unlisted Stocks.

To begin my investigation I recorded the closing price every day of each company, in order to show increases, decreases, and fluctuations. By doing this I was constantly aware of what stock I …

The Auditor And Statistical Sampling Techniques, Marilyn Metcalf

Honors Theses

"The auditor's overall objective is to determine whether the accounting process is free from material error." To complete his objective, the auditor must thoroughly analyze all aspects of the financial statements used in the accounting process in order to satisfy himself that they fairly represent the results of activity for the period under audit and of the financial position at the end of that period. If the volume of the transactions is great, time and economic factors may keep the auditor from making a 100 percent examination. Since a complete examination cannot be made, the auditor must choose a portion …

A Comparative Study Of The Truth In Lending Act, Robert R. Riggins

Honors Theses

Less than two generations ago America discovered mass production. Scarcely one generation ago America discovered mass distribution. In the present generation America is discovering mass finance. But since this adage was written, some forty years ago, America has rapidly progressed out of the discovery stage--it is not well into the application stage.

While many people may regard consumer credit as a relatively new concept, such is not the case. It probably began in the United States early in the nineteenth century (a few years after it was initiated in England), but it has only in recent years acquired such a …

Mathematics Of Investment, Claudia Morgan Griffin

Honors Theses

By using the text Mathematics of Investment by William L. Hart, Griffin examines the mathematics of investments.

The Home Economist In The Business Field, Mary Moyers

Honors Theses

Business firms have two main purposes in hiring home economists: home economics women interpret the needs and desires of homemakers to the company and they increase consumer demand for their company's product. Trained home economists hold a wide variety of positions in business, including work with foods, equipment, clothing, textiles, and home furnishings. In carrying out their work they use such media as magazines and newspapers, radio, television, advertising, home service, and public relations. Business is a relatively new but expanding field in which graduate home economists are employed.

The business field has such a variety of positions that persons …