Business Commons^™

Digitally Curating Undergraduate Editors’ Voices With The Fuse Box, Alexandra Butler

Honors Projects

The Forum for Undergraduate Student Editors (FUSE) is a national organization focused on creating a community of undergraduate editors. Every year, FUSE hosts an annual conference at a member institution as well as a caucus at the American Writers and Writing Programs (AWP) Conference. Through the rest of the year, FUSE has used their website and Facebook to keep in touch with the members. However, FUSE was not using this digital platform to their advantage, nor were they building a deliberate brand with their online efforts. Because of this, membership gain was only through the AWP Caucus or through word-of-mouth; …

Excel Technique Workshop, Kendall Newcomer

Honors Projects

This research paper identifies key Microsoft Excel skills for users at the beginner and intermediate stage. The document consists of 3 consecutive workshops based off the Microsoft Excel skills identified.

Exploration Of The Impact Of Lean System On Profitability In U. S. Pharmaceutical Industry, Linya Shu

Morehead State Theses and Dissertations

A thesis presented to the faculty of the College of Business and Technology at Morehead State University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree Master of Science by Linya Shu on April 27, 2018.

Music & Media: A Senior Recital & Honors Project, Kayla Luteran

Honors Projects

Music & Media: A Senior Recital & Honors Project is a cross-media marketing strategy. The main purpose of this project was to develop visually appealing, informative graphic elements and branding to effectively promote a musical performance. This is interdisciplinary in nature and includes written and oral communication.

While many music students post about their senior recital on social media or place flyers, they do not develop a thorough methodology for generating buzz about their event. Although musical preparation is of utmost importance for a performance, I believe that time should be spent on all aspects of planning the recital. With …

What's Wrong With The Tap? Examining Perceptions Of Tap And Bottled Water At Western Michigan University, Lindsey Makos

Honors Theses

Distrust in tap water seems to be increasing in the United States with a consonant increase in single-use bottled water. As a result, I was intrigued to explore the behaviors and opinions of Western Michigan University (WMU) students in Kalamazoo, MI towards bottled water. Specifically, I initiated a study to examine student’s perceptions and use of tap water and bottled water. To study water consumption habits on WMU’s campus, I replicated a Purdue University study from 2011. In addition, because of the high profile of the Flint Water Crisis, particularly in Michigan, I added a section that focuses on the …

Initial Evidence Of Construct Validity Of Data From A Self-Assessment Instrument Of Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge (Tpack) In 2-Year Public College Faculty In Texas, Kristin C. Scott

Human Resource Development Theses and Dissertations

Technological pedagogical content knowledge (TPACK) has been studied in K-12 faculty in the U.S. and around the world using survey methodology. Very few studies of TPACK in post-secondary faculty have been conducted and no peer-reviewed studies in U.S. post-secondary faculty have been published to date. The present study is the first reliability and validity of data from a TPACK survey to be conducted with a large sample of U.S. post-secondary faculty. The professorate of 2-year public college faculty in Texas will help their institutions meet the goals of the state’s higher education strategic plan, 60x30TX. In order to do …

Identifying Factors That Impact Female Leadership Presence, Victoria Elizabeth Kendall

M.A. in Leadership Studies: Capstone Project Papers

This research aims to acknowledge and weaken various factors that deter women from taking up leadership in our current systems. Increasing one’s personal capacity for leadership is especially beneficial for women who participate in systems that lack equal gender representation. Despite differences in organizational culture, certain patterns of experience have been negatively related to female Leadership Presence, and depend on the theoretical lens of leadership for development. Examining the demand-side and supply-side factors that inhibit female career progression is significant to understanding the environmental and individual impositions impacting leadership development. Specific strategies to strengthen Leadership Presence, as well as the …

Sales Leaders & Consultants Transition, Collin Newton

Honors Projects

The Bowling Green American Marketing Association (BGAMA) has been recognized as one of the top 5% chapters in the world for 5 consecutive years. The Sales Leaders & Consultants (SLAC) is a sub group of the BGAMA founded in 2017. The vision was to form a group of elite, competent, engaged students who have an interest in developing professional selling skills. After one year, SLAC has reached 15 members, engaged 4 corporate partners, received recognition at national competitions, and saved members over $300 through seeking rejection. 100% of graduating seniors had accepted job offers prior to the beginning of their …

Effects Of Incorporating Patient Acuity Into The Rn Assignment Process, Melissa L. Forton

Evidence-Based Practice Project Reports

As the largest sector of healthcare, nurses are the primary providers of patient care. By 2025, it is estimated that there will be a shortage of over 250,000 registered nurses (RNs) (American Association of Colleges of Nursing, 2011). Factors contributing to the nursing shortage include increased complexity of patients and decreased staffing that leads to decreased job satisfaction (Fox & Abrahamson, 2009). Over half of neonatal intensive care nurses reported missing at least one nursing task per shift when staffing was inadequate or patient acuity was high (TubbsCooley, Pickler, Younger, & Mark, 2015). The purpose of this evidence-based practice (EBP) …

Helmets: An Examination Of The Opinions Of High School Girl's Lacrosse Coaches, Kelsie Schindler

Sport Management Undergraduate

No abstract provided.

The Marketing Trends Of Ski Resorts In The Wake Of Climate Change, J.J. Mulvey

Sport Management Undergraduate

The purpose of this paper was to examine what products ski resorts offered and to what degree they were marketed. The ski resort industry, as a whole, has been strongly affected by climate change (Dyer & Mote, 2006). Snow coverage has significantly decreased, especially in areas such as the Rocky Mountains and Midwest United States (Pickering, 2006). Resorts have been forced to adapt to the changing landscape of the industry by product diversification. Increases in summer activities lessened the risk of winter months failing (Sorensen, 2016). Understanding how resorts have been adapting to these changes is important for the health …

Inside Sales Vs. Outside Sales & The Evolving Art Of Communication, Garrett Chapman

Honors College Theses

The 21^st Century market is defined by the rise of technology and the level to which different businesses adapt to these innovations. The modern-day sales market has entered a new era of interaction between buyer and seller. While the traditional method of sales, entailing an inside representative supporting outside salespeople still exist, many companies have invested heavily into a strictly inside sales method. Inside sales is cost-effective for businesses, but it removes the benefits of non-verbal communication from the buyer and seller. Research was conducted through a detailed literature review and interviews of industry professionals in both the inside …

Positive Organizational Leadership: Some Recent Findings In Positive Organizational Scholarship, Lawrence Chan

M.A. in Leadership Studies: Capstone Project Papers

The study of positivity is multifaceted, with roots across psychology, philosophy, and more recently organizational behavior (Csikszentmihalyi, 1997; 2014). This review article highlights the framework from which the study of positivity originates, and then explores positive behaviors in the workplace that have correlated to increases in fulfillment, productivity, engagement, and leadership capacity (Cameron & Dutton, 2003). This essay reveals core components of positive organizational scholarship (POS), notably the interaction of positivity within job demands and job resources, positive employee engagement, and positive deviance, and uncovers some recent findings of these POS components in empirical research and application within human resource …

Where's The Beef? Masculinity, Gender And Violence In Food Advertising, Anne Mcnutt Patrick

Morehead State Theses and Dissertations

A thesis presented to the faculty of the Caudill College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences at Morehead State University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree Master of Arts by Anne McNutt Patrick on April 24, 2018.

Comparing Parental Leave Packages Across Countries, Angel Alls-Hall

Honors Projects

This project focuses on parental leave, which is a combination of maternity and paternity leave, and compares the existing policies in the United States to the United Kingdom, Norway, and Japan.

The Effect Of Excess Reserves On U.S Real Gross Domestic Product, Prince J. Adjei

Doctoral Dissertations (DBA)

The recent financial crisis has triggered questions regarding the role of the Federal Reserve Bank and the effectiveness of its intervention in the financial markets, post the crisis. This paper investigates the impact of huge spikes in excess reserves on the U.S. real gross domestic product. U.S. Federal Reserve in an effort to deal with the 2008 financial crisis instituted a series of programs aimed at taming the impact of the crisis. Through its emergency lending activities and Quantitative Easing (QE) programs, the Federal Reserve created a huge spike in excess reserves to levels not seen before. The empirical findings …

Re-Imagining Business Enterprise As A Force For Social Good: Exploring Shared Values And The Future Of A Sustainable World, Regina Bernal

M.A. in Leadership Studies: Capstone Project Papers

The world is at a crossroads when it comes to understanding business models and their impact on the world and the environment. Business enterprise fuels the economy and plays a key role in society. However, business enterprise has also been in the spotlight recently due to the damages it has inflicted on society and the environment. We have finite resources on this earth and “business as usual” will no longer suffice for 21st century business models. Companies and leaders are called to re-imagine different business models that integrate a more holistic view of profit, humanity, and the potential for business …

A Study Of Delays And Cost Overruns In Construction Projects, Ibekwe Francis Chibuikem

Morehead State Theses and Dissertations

A thesis presented to the faculty of the College of Science and Technology at Morehead State University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science by Ibekwe Francis Chibuikem on April 21, 2018.

Kalamazoo Fc Social Media Plan, Brittney Wojcik

Honors Theses

Social media presents itself as a far-reaching and cost-effective tool to not only reach, but also to engage with potential audiences. As social media usage is becoming more commonplace, it is increasingly important for companies to understand their place within the social media realm.

Kalamazoo FC is a local semi-professional team in their third year of play. They are looking to expand their target market to include those of millennials, college students, and Latinos. Herein lies a comprehensive social media plan that contains detailed information regarding the team, new markets targeted, and social media platforms currently used by the team. …

Business Plan: Consulting Firm Focused On Manufacturing Digitalization, Edward Mulford

Honors Theses

The goal of this paper outlines a business framework for the development of a digitization consulting firm focused on the manufacturing sector. The firm’s goal is to help organizations in Michigan leverage technology to keep their business vibrant and workers skilled. The primary services for the firm will be related to the implementation of products and services within Industry 4.0, the cyber-physical smart factory industrial revolution. The beginning of the paper explains the ecosystem surrounding digitalization as well as the nine technologies (ex: big data, simulation, additive manufacturing) driving the innovation. The framework for this business plan uses the business …

Marketing Plan For West Hills Athletic Club, Loai Maddah

Honors Theses

In the recent past, the trading environment has increasingly become competitive. Businesses are adopting various strategies to survive in the dynamic business environment. One such business is West Hills Athletic Club, which is located along South 11^th Street, in Kalamazoo, Michigan. The fitness center was organized and incorporated in 1973. It was opened in 1974 and it has eight indoor courts for tennis. As of 1976, the enterprise expanded to twelve courts. In 1988, the firm converted 2 tennis courts to incorporate a track, basketball, and fitness equipment. In 1998, the facility was donated to the Western Michigan University. …

Social Media: On Tech-Caves, Virtual Panopticism, And The Science Fiction-Like State In Which We Unwittingly Find Ourselves, Michael Major

Theses

Making use of three historic philosophical thought experiments, this paper blends psychological perspectives with philosophical reasoning to show how social media is corrupting our perception of reality, the result of which is ultimately detrimental to society as a whole. This is accomplished by first using Plato’s “Allegory of the Cave” to analyze and discuss the ways in which social media is limiting humanity’s access to real knowledge. Next, Michel Foucault’s analysis of punishment in its social context, Discipline and Punish, is used to discuss the ways in which social media is adversely affecting our behavior. Finally, Robert Nozick’s “Experience …

Sex May Sell But Gender Identity Predicts: An Investigation Of College Students’ Propensity To Join Entrepreneurship Clubs, Jerald Wallace

Doctor of Business Administration Dissertations

A rich and diverse stream of research has focused on assessing different outcomes between men and women entrepreneurs. Popular stereotypes maintain that women are neither as interested, or successful as entrepreneurs compared to men. However, most past research has used biological sex as a proxy to measure differences between women and men dichotomously. The problem with this approach is that it is an oversimplified approach to a complex issue. To address this problem, the more recent literature suggests the inclusion of more meaningful variables, such as gender identity, an individual’s concept of their traits both masculine and feminine, to assess …

Strategic Implications Of Blockchain, William R. Adams

Undergraduate Honors Theses

This thesis introduces blockchain, the underlying technology of cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin, and discusses how best to conceptualize it relative to other technologies. Following an explanation of the fundamentals of blockchain, also known as the distributed ledger, I identify the characteristics of the technology. Building upon blockchain’s inherent strengths and limitations, I explore potential business applications of blockchain. Finally, I recommend that leaders continue to track the development and adoption of blockchain technology, even if they decide that implementing it does not align with their organization’s strategy at present.

Virtuous Discourse In The Specialty Coffee Sector: How Social Responsibility Practices Fragment Pursuits For A Supply Chain, Jane H. Motsinger

Geography ETDs

A diversity of public and private initiatives strive to address the human-environment challenges confronting the global coffee industry, including certifications like Fairtrade, direct trade sourcing models, and efforts led by NGOs. Research examines the outcomes of major certification programs and the private initiatives of corporations like Starbucks. Much less is known about the business practices of the small specialty coffee businesses that increasingly advertise sustainable business practices. Yet, their collective business practices likely influence the industry-wide efforts to achieve a sustainable supply chain. This research examines how small specialty coffee roasting and importing companies represent their socially responsible business practices …

The Digital Global Supply Chain: The Growing Case For Blockchain Technology Expansion Within Global Supply Chain, Jonathan Chichoni, Scott Webb Dr.

Undergraduate Honors Theses

In a competitive global market place, technology adoption and application in supply chain is becoming increasingly important as companies seek to acquire competitive advantages. Since blockchain’s advent to the global stage of modern disruptive technologies, several questions remain unanswered pertaining to the benefits that blockchain adoption poses to global supply chains. I apply a typology analysis to a corpus of company filings, press releases and industry studies to better understand the reasons for which global supply chains industry wide are adopting blockchain technology and the specific benefits which they seek to exploit through the use of blockchain. I characterize the …

Dynamic Logistics Enabled By Iot, Madeline K. Conner

Honors College Theses

The implementation of Internet of Things technology is becoming increasingly popular in the logistics industry due to its promise of valuable payoffs. The benefits will span across the entire logistics value chain, and benefits from IoT implementation will also impact areas such as operational efficiency, safety, security, and customer experience, while redesigning traditional business models. This report specifically focuses on creating a dynamic logistics system using the Internet of Things. The findings of this report focus on the associated cost savings between traditional logistics systems, and a daily dynamic model enabled by IoT technology. By applying IoT to logistics operations …

An Analysis Of The Relationship Between Leadership Style And Lean Expressed Through Respect, Proactivity, And Innovative Work Behavior, Reiner Martens

Organization, Information and Learning Sciences ETDs

This dissertation is based on the idea that a leadership style is necessary to implement a lean culture within an organization. This research study employed a systematic literature review, from which a lean leadership model was developed. Based on the two principles of a lean organizational culture, 1. respect for people and 2. continuous improvement, three measurable variables were identified, respect, proactivity, and innovative work behavior. These three variables were connected to the lean leadership model. Leadership styles based on the full range model of leadership were used as independent variable(s). The overarching results of this study were: (1) transformational …

Implementing Agile Methodology Techniques In Automobile Industry, Nikhil Kranthi Datrika

Dissertations and Theses

Automotive industries have continued to expand, as they cut on costs by regulating efficiency, grow and make profits. The factors that have continued to change the industry include marketplace growth, outsourcing for product development, customers demanding for improved reliability, development of human-vehicle software and have continued to change the automotive industry. As a result, companies have continued to face numerous challenges to manage the factors. The challenges include managing volatility, experiencing massive uncertainty, as well as reduced predictability of future businesses. Other challenges include handling a complex and interconnected industry and the need to form joint ventures and maintain successful …

Predictive Power? Textual Analysis In Mergers & Acquisitions, Philip Morgan

Undergraduate Honors Theses

Modern corporations utilize mergers and acquisitions as strategies to develop shareholder value today more than ever before, yet the need for understanding firms’ rationale and strategy is critical in predicting post-merger stock performance for all investors. I apply the interpretive power of textual analysis and regression to a corpus of SEC mergers and acquisitions public company filings between 1994-2017. Not only do I challenge the statistically significant correlation between word content and post-transaction abnormal stock returns, but I also characterize the effects of time segments, transaction size, and industry variation across time. As a final application, I consider sentiment analysis …