Business Commons^™

Life Can Change In The Blink Of An Eye Capstone, Christopher Rutigliano, Jillian Elalaoui, Kristin Humphrey, Phillip Gates, Mohamed Ndjikam, Highness Meena, Adam Menard, Spencer Pickney

School of Professional Studies

Texting and driving is one of the most widespread and uncontrollable of epidemics that have arose to prominence in the 21st century. Texting and driving is now a global issue, that has left nations across the road scrambling to implement new laws and preventative measures to stunt the increasing rates of accidents and fatalities caused by texting and driving. The severity of the issue has lead to a multitude of different entities ranging from domestic and foreign governments, cell phone and car manufacturers, cell phone carriers, and insurance agencies to seek new methods to prevent texting and driving. Determining the …

The United Nations Global Compact In México: Evaluation Of Corporate Social Responsibility Reporting, Magaly Preciado

Sustainability and Social Justice

The United Nations Global Compact (UNGC) is the world’s largest corporate responsibility platform. It is based on Ten Principles related to Human Rights, Labor Standards, Environment, and Anticorruption commitments that companies can voluntarily adhere to. The UNGC has been celebrated for bridging the Sustainable Development Goals to the private sector and for promoting Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) among businesses. It has also been criticized for its lack of supervision and enforcement mechanisms. The signatories of the Compact are required to submit an annual report to the UN (Communication on Progress) but this is not evaluated in any form.

In México, …

The Contagion Of Lean Inventory Management In The Supply Chain, Kennedy Green

Supply Chain Management Undergraduate Honors Theses

This study examines the impact of buyer-supplier relationship age and industry similarity on the effect of buyer inventory leanness on supplier inventory leanness. While previous literature has studied the relationship between buyer inventory leanness and supplier inventory leanness, there has not been a large focus on the external relationship characteristics that influence this relationship. This study hypothesizes that buyer-supplier relationship age and similarity increase the effect of buyer inventory leanness on supplier inventory leanness. With data from buyer-supplier observations in different U.S. industries from 2008 to 2015, regression was used to measure the inventory leanness of each supplier and year. …

A Social Media Plan For The Changemakers’ Playground, Meng Cong, Ciara Kilian, Xinling Wang, Sumanth Wilson, Chenyu Yan

School of Professional Studies

The purpose of this project was to create a social media plan for the Changemakers’ Playground campaign. The Changemakers’ Playground is a website thought up by our client, Sarah Lange, whereby ordinary individuals doing extraordinary things in their community can be celebrated for the work they are doing. Each person featured on the website, also known as a Changemaker, was interviewed by Sarah and that interview was split into three videos to be posted on the Changemakers’ Playground website throughout the week they are being featured. In short, our task was to create the Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram content to …

Are Prize-Linked Savings Accounts The Solution To Arkansas' Savings Problem?, Mckenzie Wages

Accounting Undergraduate Honors Theses

This research finds that access to prize-linked savings could improve the financial security of Arkansans. Prize-linked savings (PLS) accounts are nontraditional savings products that offer depositors the chance to win cash prizes instead of a typical interest rate return. Given the low median incomes, high liquid asset poverty rates, and high levels of underbanked and undereducated individuals in Arkansas, there is a need for an innovative savings solution like PLS in the state. PLS accounts capitalize on individuals’ propensity for lottery-like risk-taking to inspire the productive behavior of personal saving. A wide range of individuals, especially those who could stand …

Consumer Preferences For Gm Food Labeling: A Market Segments Analysis, Colton Henderson

Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness Undergraduate Honors Theses

Consumer demand for labeling information regarding the genetically modified (GM) content of foods has increased in recent years. This had led to a growing number of products labeled as non-GMO in the marketplace under a voluntary GM labeling program. However, many consumers support stricter regulation in the food industry via a mandatory labeling program for GM ingredients. Although considerable research exists documenting consumers’ willingness to pay to avoid GM foods, less in known about how two such labeling programs affect individual decision making in the marketplace. The goal of this project is to better understand how individuals value GM foods, …

Overt And Covert Retaliation Of Service Employees Against Customers Who Mistreat Them, Agnieszka Shepard

Wayne State University Dissertations

Mistreatment of service employees by customers who are demanding and aggressive has become a problem for service organizations. However, it has been the subject of very little research in the organizational behavior literature (Bedi & Schat, 2007). The few studies that have examined service employees’ reactions to such mistreatment (e.g., Doorman & Zapf, 2004, Grandey et al., 2004; Skarlicki, van Jaarsveld, & Walker, 2008; Yagil, 2008, Wang et al., 2014) found that that when service employees believe they have been mistreated, they become angry and upset, and reciprocate the unfair treatment in order to punish unpleasant customers. However, these researchers …

Firm-Specific Information Environment And Analyst Forecast, Wei Hsu

Accounting Dissertations - Archive

I examine how firm-specific private and public information affect analyst forecast revisions. I find that when managers easily beat (struggle to meet) the consensus forecasts in the previous quarter, financial analysts revise their earnings forecasts upward (downward). The revision magnitudes are higher when there is more private information. Similarly, I find that when managers provide upward (downward) earnings guidance, analysts revise their forecasts upward (downward) more when there is more private information. In contrast, the revision magnitudes are lower when there is more public information. Additionally, I find that the magnitudes of analysts’ downward revisions increase with private information prior …

Surprisingly Open Or Openly Surprised? That Is The Question; Using Surprise Experiences To Increase Openness To Experience And Tolerance Of Ambiguity, Anneke Veenendaal-De Kort

Creativity and Change Leadership Graduate Student Master's Projects

Using Surprise Experiences to Increase Openness to Experience and Tolerance of Ambiguity

In the fast-changing world in which we are currently living, we constantly come across situations and problems that we have not encountered before. An open mind and the ability to tolerate ambiguity are important skills in uncertain times. People who embrace the unpredictable can develop their resilience and flexibility. Surprisologists Luna and Renninger (2015) have discovered that a great way of dipping into unpredictability is through surprise. For my Master’s Project, I designed experiences that transform people’s openness and tolerance for ambiguity through surprise. This paper begins with …

Blockchain: Is It The Future Of Business?, Stuart Welsch

Information Systems Undergraduate Honors Theses

Blockchain is one of these new and disruptive technologies being developed; it is predicted to change the landscape of business in an extremely similar fashion as the Internet did. In lay terms, blockchain is a new technology designed to secure privacy (Collins, 2016), cut out unnecessary middleman costs (Eha, 2017), dramatically lower the cost of transactions (Iansiti & Lakhani, 2009), lower transaction time (Underwood, 2016), and assist in making assets become more liquid and appealing (like cash) because they are more easily transferable (Paech, 2016). Blockchain functions like a ledger; it is able to keep track of an asset’s ownership …

Lithium And The Foreseeable Future, Paolo Vargas

Mechanical Engineering Undergraduate Honors Theses

This paper aims to clarify the uncertainties regarding worldwide lithium resource availability in the years to come. Previous studies made on the subject are presented with some ambiguity and this work intends to fill the gaps. The information and data presented throughout this script with respect to global lithium resources and reserves are mostly based on data released by the United States Geological Survey (USGS). Lithium resource availability in the future is a point of paramount significance primarily for the automotive, portable electronics, and the power generation industry. Since, a change of supply would ultimately affect the price of lithium, …

Managing Media For The Genius Of Warren Buffett, Sydney Edens

Theses/Capstones/Creative Projects

The main purpose of this project was to provide public relations and marketing services to the Genius of Warren Buffett course and related events. I served as the Account Executive for the Genius of Warren Buffett account in the Spring semester of 2018 for MaverickPR, UNO’s student-run public relations firm. Main tactics included media relations and social media research and strategy. Thesis materials include the PR and marketing plan, news releases, social media content calendars, graphic design materials, documentation of client communication, copy writing and editing, news coverage of stories pitched to the media and administrative documents. I assess the …

Strategic Analysis Of Lifeloop, Llc: Current Positioning And Recommendations For Future Growth, Erin Dabbs

Theses/Capstones/Creative Projects

LifeLoop is a senior living software company that has the potential to gain market share in a new and growing industry. By making changes to current processes, business level strategy, and corporate level strategy, the company can grow organically, faster. LifeLoop must make these strategic changes to areas of marketing and sales processes now as the industry is changing life cycle stages; the company’s movement in this window of opportunity is critical to their future success. These findings outline where LifeLoop is currently positioned and the first steps needed to grow and develop into a reputation of excellence that will …

Fair Trade And Its Value In Today’S Globalized Economy, Kristen Unangst

Renée Crown University Honors Thesis Projects - All

My capstone examines how fair trade can operate in today’s globalized economy and how it can aid in solving some of the large problems that globalization has created. This paper is structured in the following way. It first examines globalization and the ways that it has advanced the world today. Then, it ventures into the problems that globalization has created and how they can be repaired using fair trade. This paper also looks into how fair trade has been successful in the recent past and how it can be improved in the future. It especially highlights how profitable fair trade …

The Psychology Of Consumer Resistance To Advertising, Chi-Ching Lam

Renée Crown University Honors Thesis Projects - All

Advertising has been used for a long time to support the large amount of content that people consume every day. However, the negative stigma associated with advertising has lead to increasing amounts of consumer resistance towards advertising, such as the problem of ad avoidance. Through a literature review, this paper answers the following question: how can understanding consumer resistance inspire more effective advertising? First reviewing the psychology literature, this paper explores the the origin and manifestation of consumer skepticism in response to attempts at persuasion. Cialdini’s weapons of influence provide a basis for the persuasive techniques commonly used. Counterarguing, attitude …

Cost-Benefit Analysis Of Retirement Plans, Hunter Rhea

Finance Undergraduate Honors Theses

In my research, I’ve compared the cost and benefits of defined benefit and defined contribution plans consisting of 401(k)s, IRAs, 403(b)s, and S&P 500 ETFs. A model was used to forecast future value of plans at retirement based on years till maturity, contribution amounts, and plan type. Based on the results, it’s beneficial for an individual to invest in a diversified mix of retirement plans to reduce the risk associated with one plan. The future value of each plan witnessed a direct increase in value for an increase in contribution amount and years till plan maturity.

The Role Of Time Horizons In Shaping The Antecedents And Consequences Of Hedge Fund Activism, Anna Obedkova

Management Dissertations - Archive

While the general stream of shareholder activism literature examines the antecedents and consequences of hedge fund activism, this dissertation investigates this phenomenon from a different angle. I examine the impact of time-related antecedents on the choice of campaigns initiated by hedge fund activists and the consequences of such interventions. To be specific, I study the impact of the shareholder mix, i.e. long-term (dedicated) vs. short-term (transient) ownership, and firm investment horizon on the choice of two most common hedge fund demands: governance changes and business strategy-related changes. Building on prior research, I argue that governance changes are associated with long-term …

The Nfl And Trump: Did Protesting Cause The Decline?, Jameson Osmond

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

This project is a study in econometric modeling of the effects of the protests of the national anthem in the NFL during the 2016-2017 seasons. The project is created to determine the accuracy or lack thereof of President Donald Trump's statement that the cause of the decline in viewership and ratings (and thus business) of NFL games was caused by protests that deterred US viewers.

Using viewership and rating data, along with various protest indexes created by collecting game-level protest data, an econometric model was constructed to allow for control over various endogenous and exogenous variables that surround NFL in-season …

An Investigation Of The Impact Of Changing Social Norms On Female Clothing Attire Pre And Post Ww Ii, Bailey Marie Burningham

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

Not only did World War II bring about changes to the economy and policy in the United States, it also changed women's fashion and, consequently, the way in which women's fashion was presented through marketing efforts. This study is an investigation of how changing social norms, as seen in various marketing material, may have impacted women's attire before and after World War II. The study will be conducted by analyzing various reports on how changes came to pass throughout this time, and how different factors may have instigated the change. Additionally, an analysis of marketing materials used pre and post …

A Qualitative Approach To Examining The Rules Of A Community College And Industry Partnership., Cara Dimattina-Ryan

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to qualitatively examine the governance structure of a successful community college and industry advisory board that collaborate to improve regional workforce development initiatives. The institutional analysis and development (IAD) framework was used as a lens to describe the partnership. The results determined that there were many informal rules that governed the relationship between the community college and industry partners, which led to successful implementation of decisions. The community college leaders created the informal rules with the purpose of encouraging involvement among industry stakeholders, sharing power among all the participants, and facilitating communication. The findings …

A Socioemotional Wealth Perspective On Innovativeness And Performance Of Family Businesses., Vasiliki Kosmidou

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation is a theoretical and empirical examination of the relationships among socioemotional wealth, innovativeness, and performance in family firms. Building on the Behavioral Agency Theory’s predictions that socioemotional wealth of family firms may affect their strategic decision making both positively and negatively, this study theoretically develops and tests a research model that aims at understanding the nuanced influences of different socioemotional wealth dimensions on firm innovativeness and performance. Specifically, the study hypothesizes that a family’s socioemotional wealth affects the firm’s innovativeness and performance both negatively, in the case of internal socioemotional wealth and positively, in the case of external …

The Effects Of Food Security On Socioeconomic Mobility In The United States: A Case Study In Allendale County, South Carolina, Taylor St Clarke

Senior Theses

This thesis examines the relationship between food security – defined as accessibility to an affordable, nutritious, and sustainable source of food – and socioeconomic mobility in the continental United States. This thesis is primarily focused on the effects of food insecurity on both individuals and communities, examining the chronic long-term effects of such insecurity on areas known as “food deserts,” which are often given status as areas of persistent poverty. This research further examines the effects of a sustained poor diet, brought about by food insecurity, on the individual and overarching community in a food desert and how such a …

Corporate Social Responsibility: Examining The Effects Of A Lean And Green Supply Chain On Bottom Line Costs And Market Valuation, Sharon Maskin

Senior Theses

This paper examines the link between a firm’s adoption of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) practices and the resulting monetary benefits. Specifically, it addresses four major areas of business operations that present great opportunities for supply chain cost reduction and a simultaneous decrease in environmental impact. These four areas include traditional/open-loop supply chains, product packaging waste, pollution at the manufacturing site, and logistics inefficiencies. The paper then identifies several business cases in which companies have addressed several environmental issues and driven down bottom-line costs in each of the four areas through innovation and increased resource productivity. Along with cost benefits, it …

Trump's Tax Plan...Will It Make America Great Again?, William Pollock

Accounting Undergraduate Honors Theses

The research and analysis is presented in order to develop an understanding of the new tax law and its implications to the individual tax payer. To gain perspective on tax reform, a brief history of the origin of tax and its development over time in the United States is given. After a basic understanding of tax and its reform is gained, I go on to present the major changes contained in the law. This paper concentrates on the policy changes to individuals as opposed to businesses. I included charts that I believe support the analysis that is provided. Following the …

Roli I Kulturës Në Ndërmarrësi: Analizë E Rastit Të Kosovës Përmes Indeksit Kulturor Të Hofstede, Ardit Berisha

Theses and Dissertations

Në vitet e fundit vërehet një ndërgjegjësim në rritje për rëndesinë e aktivitetit sipërmarrës me qëllim të zhvillimit ekonomik. Kjo ka nxitur kërkime shkencore apo debate mbi bazat e ndërmarrësisë dhe elementet kryesore që mundësojnë vendet në zhvillim të adoptojnë modelet e suksesshme. Dallimet ndërmjet kombeve të ndryshme në nivel të ndryshem të aktivitetit sipërmarrës mund të shpjegohen përmes një game të gjerë faktoresh, siç janë ata: ekonomik, teknologjik, kulturor apo institucional. Ndikimi i institucioneve informale dhe vlerave kulturore ka tërhequr më pak vëmendje. Sidoqoftë, pas publikimit të studimeve mbi dismensionet kulturore dhe ndërmarrësinë të Hofstede është intensifikuar kërkimi aplikativ …

Papunësia Dhe Zhvillimi Ekonomik, Elena Desku

Theses and Dissertations

Qëllimi kryesor i këtij punimi është studimi poashtu analiza e papunësisë dhe zhvillimit ekonomik në shoqëri. Në hyrje janë të paraqitura termet dhe kuptimi i tyre, pastaj ndërlidhja që këto nocione kanë me njëra tjetrën.

Papunësia konsiderohet si një fenomen social për shkak të efekteve që ka në strukturën sociale të shoqërisë. Një ndër qështjet më të rëndësishme sociale ka qenë gjithmonë punësimi , për shkak që e afekton zhvillimin ekonomik të shoqërisë dhe stabilitetin shoqëror. Punësimi rezulton në prodhim, ndërsa prodhimi krijon të ardhura dhe të ardhurat rezultojnë në kërkesë për produkte, kështu duke krijuar një zinxhir. Padyshim që …

Ndikimi I Investimeve Të Huaja Direkte Në Zhvillimin E Shtetit, Gresa Krasniqi

Theses and Dissertations

Investimet e huaja direkte janë një segment shumë i rëndësishëm ekonomik i një vendi, për arsye që dërgojnë në rritje të ekonomisë.IHD-të ofrojnë rritje të punësimit, ndërmarrjet e huaja duke punësuar shtetasit e vendeve në zhvillim ofrojnë punësim. Në mungesë të këtij investimi, këto mundësi punësimi nuk do të ishin në dispozicion te shumë vende në zhvillim.

Këto investime në vitet e fundit kanë shënuar rritje të dukshme në të gjithë botën, kjo për shkak se shumë vende, sidomos vendet në zhvillim shohin IHD-të si një element të rëndësishëm për zhvillimin ekonomik. Investimet e huaja direkte janë një burim efektiv …

Roli Dhe Rëndësia E Investimeve Të Huaja Direkte Në Zhvillimin Ekonomik Rasti I Kosovës” : Analizë E Periudhës 2007-2016, Marigona Zymberi

Theses and Dissertations

Investimet e Huaja Direkte janë një fenomen relativisht i ri, i cili ka pasur një zhvillim të hovshëm në rritje në vitet në vazhdim. Nxitur nga ndryshimi teknologjik, konkurrenca globale dhe liberalizimi i tregjeve, investimet e huaja direkte luajnë një rol kyç në procesin e integrimit global ekonomik. Ato krijojnë efekte si në vendet pritëse ashtu dhe në ato investuese. Efektet në vendet pritëse janë të rëndësishme si për nga shumëllojshmëria e tyre ashtu dhe për nga rëndësia ekonomike, politike dhe sociale që ato gjenerojnë. Përfitimi i këtyre efekteve nuk vjen automatikisht por ndikohet nga realizimi i disa kushteve specifike. …

Ndikimi I Politikave Fiskale Në Ndërmarrjet E Vogla Dhe Të Mesme Në Kosovë, Elfije Hoti

Theses and Dissertations

Ky studim adreson çështjen e impaktit të politikës fiskale në zbutjen e papunësisë, rritjen e investimeve dhe të konsumit për të gjeneruar rritje ekonomike të qëndrueshme. Ndër të tjera, ky punim do të sqarojë se çka janë politikat fiskale, ndikimi i tyre në ndërmarrjet e vogla dhe të mesme, dhe aplikimi i tyre në përputhje me legjislacionin e shtetit dhe politikat monetare.

Ndikimi i politikave fiskale ka qenë gjithmonë temë kryesore në ekonomi, pasiqë mirëqenia dhe stabiliteti politik varen nga ekuilibri ekonomik. Politikat fiskale përbënjë një komponentë të politikës ekonomike shtetërore që shfrytëzohet për qëllime makroekonomike për të ndikuar në …

Roli Dhe Funksioni I Bankës Qendrore Të Kosovës Në Stabilitetin Financiar, Avdullah Hoxha

Theses and Dissertations

Banka Qëndrore e Kosovës është autoritet i pavarur kombëtar që udhëheq politikën monetare, rregullon bankat komerciale dhe siguron shërbime financiare duke përfshirë hulumtime ekonomike e që e ka të rregulluar me ligjet e kushtetutës së Kosovës. Qëllimet janë të stabilizojnë monedhën e vendit, të mbajnë papunësinë e ulët dhe të parandalojnë inflacionin në mbarë vendin. Në kuadër të këtij studimi në fillim është analizuar kuptimi i bankës qëndore në përgjithësi me fokus të veçant është analizuar roli dhe funksioni i saj. Qëllimi i këtij studimi është përshkrimi dhe vështrimi sa më i hollësishëm i Bankës Qëndrore në Kosovë, rolin e …