Business Commons^™

Door - To - Door Summer Sales And Other Summer Employment: A Cost And Benefit Analysis, Jentrie Gilliland

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

Door-to-door summer sales is heavily marketed to college students, especially on university campuses in Utah. These employment options are marketed as having high financial rewards while giving students the opportunity to develop their professional skills. In this study, I examine whether these expected rewards are delivered and if door-to-door summer sales is a viable position for college students in comparison to other summer employment. Specifically, I focus on the financial benefits and skills gained from both job types as well as determinants for students who participate in door-to-door summer sales versus other summer employment. My findings indicate that there is …

Brand Media And Health Perceptions: A Thematic Analysis Of Generational Differences, Julie Irene Diaz

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This thesis explores the influence of brand identity and media on shaping evolving perceptions of health across generations. The three generations considered are Generation X, Millennials, and Generation Z. The initial hypothesis predicted the popular media and brands that each generation interacts with are most likely to influence their perception. Additionally, the health brands most popular with each generation would influence their overall health perception, based on the identity and values of the brand. A qualitative study was conducted using focus groups to gather data about health perceptions, brand identity, media influence, and holistic health. The findings suggest that individuals …

Immersive Influence: Examining The Impact Of Virtual Reality On Brand Perception Among The Innovation Generation, Holden Gaylor

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Now more than ever, brands must create innovative and engaging experiences to enhance perception and build consumer trust. Virtual reality (VR) offers an opportunity for brands to achieve these goals by providing immersive, interactive experiences that, when done right, can strengthen key brand metrics. Despite the growing use of VR in experiential marketing, research on VR’s effectiveness in shaping brand perception and influencing authenticity remains limited. Grounded in media richness theory, this study examined how VR impacts brand perception and whether media richness influences authenticity.

Using a mixed-methods approach, 20 participants engaged with the “Wendyverse,” a branded VR environment. Pre-, …

Diversity In Beauty Brand Marketing On Instagram: The Case Of Fenty Beauty, Julia K. Narh

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Diversity in beauty brand marketing is increasingly important as platforms like Instagram shape consumer perceptions. This study analyzes how Fenty Beauty, MAC Cosmetics, and L’Oréal represent diversity, particularly skin tone, in their Instagram content, using source credibility theory and social identity theory. A content analysis was conducted to evaluate how visual elements relate to engagement, measured by likes, comments, and shares. Findings show that Fenty Beauty features more dark-skinned models than its competitors. However, posts with darker-skinned models do not receive higher engagement. Instead, factors like model attractiveness and hair type, especially curly hair, drive interaction. Although Fenty’s posts generally …

Digital Revival: The Role Of Social And Streaming Media In The Resurgence Of Appalachian Country Music, Jacob Cody Powers

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study investigates the role of digital media, specifically social media, and streaming platforms, in the resurgence of Appalachian country music. In recent years, niche music genres have found new life through online platforms, which offer unique avenues for discovery, engagement, and community building. Using a mixed methods approach, this research combines quantitative survey data and qualitative thematic analysis to explore how audiences discover Appalachian country music on platforms such as TikTok, YouTube, and Spotify. A cross-sectional survey was distributed to college students and social media users, collecting responses on participants' digital engagement habits, platform preferences, and motivations for exploring …

Ai For Sustainability In Appalachian Businesses: Challenges And Successes, Mariatu Mahmoud

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative study examines the perception of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and how this technology can advance sustainable development in small businesses in Central Appalachia. Participants described how they leveraged AI-enabled technologies to address economic challenges as well as how they overcame the technological barriers often associated with emerging technologies. Findings reveal that AI can significantly improve efficiency, streamline workflows, and enhance visibility for Appalachian entrepreneurs. However, the research also highlights challenges, including trust issues, limited resources, and resistance to change, which hinder adoption. Results from this study produce strategies for adopting AI that enable small businesses to integrate innovation while …

Stock Pitch: Robinhood Markets (Hood), Morgan Cole

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

This capstone project presents an in-depth analysis and valuation of Robinhood Markets Inc. (NASDAQ: HOOD). Robinhood Markets is a revolutionary fintech platform aiming to democratize finance and investing.

The company was founded in 2013 in Menlo Park, California by Vladimir Tenev and Baiju Bhatt. The co-founders created an intuitive mobile trading platform and were the first to offer commission-free trading. Robinhood has opened the door to investing to a new demographic through the easy-to-use mobile app, the ability to buy and sell fractional shares (this makes purchasing shares of companies with high share prices accessible to more individuals), in-app financial …

Untapped Potential: Many Intelligent Female Accountants Are Not In The Workforce, Heidi Sundberg

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

As the shortage of accountants in the U.S. continues to increase, it is crucial to examine what barriers are keeping women from remaining in the workforce. This research project focuses on women in accounting, especially mothers, and what changes can be made so that they are more likely to continue pursuing career growth, instead of becoming stay-at-home moms. This report focuses on what barriers women in Utah’s accounting profession face when trying to get promotions while fulfilling family commitments and how their perspectives differ from those of their management.

The basis of this research was done through a survey that …

Does Ai Intergration Moderate The Relationship Between Firm Growth And Performance In Smes: The Influence Of Decision-Making And Operational Performance, Dalal T. Alqahtani

Graduate Theses and Dissertations (2019 - present)

Today's dynamic business environment requires small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to keep up with technological advancements in order to remain competitive. Business growth creates more challenges for SMEs since they possess fewer available resources than big organizations. Since the introduction of artificial intelligence (Al), several SMEs have been able to compete more effectively and deliver better performance. As part of this research, I examine the possibility that Al integration (All) will moderate the relationship between firm growth and both decision-making and operational performance, ultimately affecting the performance of SMEs. The aim of this research is to provide practical implications for …

Reframing Rudeness: Exploring Positive Reappraisal As A Pathway From Customer Incivility To Self-Efficacy, Justin S. Boyd

Graduate Theses and Dissertations (2019 - present)

Customer incivility is a persistent challenge for front-line employees (FLEs), often leading to adverse workplace outcomes. This research examined whether positive reappraisal can transform incivility into a source of growth. Grounded in Social Cognitive Theory, the research explored how positive reappraisal mediates the relationship between customer incivility and two key forms of self-efficacy—regulatory emotional and workplace social—ultimately influencing job satisfaction. The moderating roles of perceived organizational support and trait mindfulness were also investigated.

A cross-sectional survey of 296 FLEs was analyzed using partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM). More specifically, the results confirmed customer incivility positively predicts positive reappraisal. …

Role Of Retro Branding On A Consumer's Attitude Toward Products And Purchase Intentions, Cortnee Y. Bunch

Graduate Theses and Dissertations (2019 - present)

This paper proposes retro branding as a marketing strategy that can impact consumers’ attitudes towards retro-branded products and, ultimately, their purchase intentions. Evoked nostalgia, through retro branding, for hedonic and utilitarian products is explored to investigate the impact on attitudes towards the products for both product types and purchase intentions. Nostalgia proneness is examined as a moderator amongst the relationships between retro branding, attitude towards products (both utilitarian and hedonic), and purchase intentions. Additionally, age and gender are explored as possible boundary conditions that impact the purchase intentions. Results indicate that evoked nostalgia, through retro branding, enhances attitudes toward products, …

Exploring The Influence Of Social Media Communication On Destination Branding: A Study Of Saudi Arabia, Abdullah Alshehri

Graduate Theses and Dissertations (2019 - present)

Tourists now find social media important in forming their perceptions and decision criteria when traveling. This Research investigates the impact of destination marketing organizations -generated content and tourist-generated content on tourists' inspiration to visit Saudi Arabia, emphasizing the mediating role of destination image dimensions (cognitive, affective, and sensory) and the moderating role of cultural distance. Based on the Elaboration Likelihood Model, Hofstede Cultural Dimension Theory; the research analyzed a dataset of 237 responses using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM). The findings reveal that destination marketing organizations -generated content and tourist-generated content significantly enhance perceived advertising value, which in …

Impact Of Smartphone Usage On The Performance And Satisfaction Of Hospitality Employees, Karalee Anne Taves

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This study examined the impact of smartphone usage on the job outcomes (job satisfaction and performance) of employees, specifically focused on the hospitality industry, where employees’ income and performance heavily rely on emotional labor. The research was aimed to distinguish between negative smartphone activities (e.g., doomscrolling, social comparison) and positive activities (e.g., listening to calming music, engaging in stimulating games) to determine how these behaviors affect employees. Using the Stimulus, Organism, Response Cognitive Theory (SOR), the study examined if positive smartphone usage enhances well-being and job outcomes, while negative usage diminishes them. The results revealed that smartphone usage does not …

A Year In The Making: Evaluating Sec Cybersecurity Disclosure Rule Compliance Through Public Company Case Studies, Katherine Kuli

Accounting Undergraduate Honors Theses

This thesis evaluates public company compliance with the SEC’s 2023 cybersecurity disclosure rule, which mandates that material cybersecurity incidents be reported within four business days via Form 8-K, Item 1.05. Through case studies of UnitedHealth Group, AT&T, and Krispy Kreme, the research assesses firms’ performance across three key areas: materiality determination, timeliness, and the scope and depth of disclosures. Using a structured benchmarking framework based on SEC guidance, the findings reveal inconsistent compliance, with patterns of vague reporting, selective disclosure, and procedural adherence that falls short of regulatory intent. While Krispy Kreme aligned most closely with SEC expectations, UnitedHealth and …

The Electric Revolution: A Quantitative Analysis Of Tesla's Sales Growth, Mason Bravo

Accounting Undergraduate Honors Theses

This thesis explores the key factors influencing Tesla's sales growth within the evolving electric vehicle (EV) market. It uses regression analysis to quantify the impact of average sales price, charging infrastructure, EV demand, and macroeconomic performance on Tesla's vehicle sales. The analysis is based on data from Tesla's annual reports, the Alternative Fuels Data Center, the International Energy Agency, and the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Key findings include a significant negative correlation between average sales price and vehicle sales, and a strong positive correlation between charging infrastructure and sales. These insights offer valuable implications for Tesla’s strategic decision-making, investor analysis, …

Razorback Analytics And Consulting: Driving Innovation, Clayton J. Chapman

Accounting Undergraduate Honors Theses

Under the identity of Razorbacks Analytics and Consulting, a consultation company, recommendations are made into the future of the vehicle manufacturing industry. Based on financial statement and industry data, Razorbacks Analytics and Consulting advises manufacturers about the uncertainty and high cost of transitioning vehicle lineups to electric powertrains. Recommendations are made based upon the observed data. Topics include: basic ratios, industry timing, supply chain issues, profitability, risk, and consumer issues.

Essays On Credit Default Swaps, Zhao Liu

All Dissertations

This dissertation focuses on the investigation of the credit derivative market. It consists of an analysis of credit default swaps (CDS) based on corporate bonds and a study of the indexed CDS—the ABX.HE index, which references subprime residential mortgage-backed securities as the underlying reference entities.

The first chapter examines the CDS pricing model and explores the key determinants of the price error measured by the absolute value of the CDS-bond basis. Specifically, I assess the efficiency of different risk-free rate proxies--Treasury Yields, EFFR/OIS rates and SOFR/OIS rates--in the CDS pricing model. The result indicates that Treasury yields overperform the other …

Borders And Burdens: Three Essays On Inter-Jurisdictional Tax Policy In America, Benjamin Jaros

All Dissertations

Individuals, firms, and governments make decisions about the tradeoffs of different tax policies at jurisdictional borders, such as those between states, nations, or local governments; those choices shape the burden of taxation. This dissertation examines the effects of three distinct changes in tax policy: for state corporate income tax apportionment, colonial tobacco tariffs, and tax abatements for data centers. Chapter 1 examines how changes to the corporate income tax base formula affect state tax revenues. Chapter 2 analyzes how colonial era export and import tariffs on tobacco impacted trade volumes, raised revenue, and the distribution of the tax burden between …

The Effect Of Financial Literacy On Firm Performance, Erwin Joseph

Doctoral Dissertations (DBA)

This study examines the influence of financial literacy on firm performance by integrating state-level financial literacy data with firm-level metrics including Market Capitalization, Tobin’s Q, ROA, ROE, and EBIT. Utilizing data from the National Financial Capability Study (NFCS) and COMPUSTAT for the years 2009 to 2024, and a sample size of 100,126 observations, it highlights how higher levels of financial literacy correlate with improved firm valuation and profitability. The study employs the Financial Literacy Index and its imputed counterpart using the Fully Conditional Specification (FCS) method to address missing data. Regression analyses reveal that financial literacy significantly impacts both valuation …

Optimal Prediction Of Bitcoin High And Low Prices: An Exploratory Analysis, Tatiana Rice

Doctoral Dissertations (DBA)

The purpose of this paper is to provide traders with a trader friendly model that would enable them to accurately predict Bitcoin’s high price and low price so that they are able to make more informed decisions for improved risk management when trading the highly volatile asset – Bitcoin. To achieve this purpose, this paper poses the following research question: Which statistical model-frequency combination best predicts – in terms of Mean Absolute Percent Error (MAPE), Akaike Information Criterion (AIC), and Schwart Information Criterion (SIC) – Bitcoin’s high price and low price? This paper also poses the objective of ensuring that …

A Qualitative Study Exploring Senior Leaders’ Experiences And Perceptions In Addressing Workplace Sexual Harassment In The U.S. Federal Government: A Systems Perspective, Karen Jane Dean

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Sexual harassment (SH) is a prevalent, costly, and often unreported problem in the U.S. Federal Government. Despite decades of research from multiple perspectives and recommendations to address SH, the problem persists and remains complex. While some researchers and U.S. Government agencies have called upon leaders to commit to eliminating workplace SH, others have suggested using an integrated conflict management system (ICMS) to manage the complexity, nuances, and conflicts. Even though there is a call for leadership to address SH, there is limited documentation in the literature about leaders’ experiences and perceptions in addressing the problem. Therefore, this qualitative study was …

An Exploration Of The Influence Of Occupational Mentorship On The Success Of Black Female Executive Leaders In Educational Sales, Bashelia H. Ward

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The dearth of Black women in executive-level leadership roles within U.S. business organizations persists due to numerous barriers such as tokenism; racial fatigue; stereotypes; a lack of identity; and the intersection of race, gender, and social injustices impeding their upward mobility in the educational sales industry. Despite recognizing the potential for change through tools and programs, the absence of robust occupational mentorship emerges as a pivotal barrier hindering the transformation of Black women’s roles in these educational sales environments. The sample size for this hermeneutical qualitative study was seven Black women in the K–12 educational sales industry. Data collection methods …

Fractured Inheritance: Quantifying The Economic Impact Of Heir’S Property On Arkansas Farmers, Makenzie Mcjunkins

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Heir’s property arises when the original owner still holds the title despite their passing, and ownership is distributed among their heirs. This was driven by barriers to retaining land ownership and access to legal support in predominantly African American populations in the early 20th century. This approach allowed land to remain in the original owner's name while granting continued ownership to future generations without formal paperwork. Additionally, allowing limited land access, land management, and disparities in capital access compared to property with direct ownership rights. This analysis examines how modern heir’s property impacts agricultural returns. This study develops a conceptual …

Predicting Late Deliveries In International Healthcare Logistics Using Machine Learning Models, Jeevan Sai Gali

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

The healthcare supply chain plays a pivotal role in ensuring the timely delivery of essential medical supplies, particularly during global crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic. However, this critical system is often plagued by inefficiencies and disruptions caused by factors such as inadequate infrastructure, natural disasters, geopolitical tensions, and variability in vendor performance. These challenges underscore the need for advanced methodologies to enhance supply chain resilience and operational efficiency. This culmination experience project explores the integration of machine learning models and external variables, such as the Logistics Performance Index (LPI), to optimize lead-time predictions and mitigate risks in global healthcare …

Usage And Engagement Patterns Of Students In Online Learning Platforms, Sumalatha Panja

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Online leaning platforms play an important role in this modern education world by providing flexible and diverse learning opportunities. This study investigates the most engaged online learning platform and the pattern by which the students are mostly attracted to a particular platform by focusing on enrollments, duration, price and completion rate of each course across different platforms. The research questions asked in this paper are: (Q1) What are the most engaged online learning platforms by students? (Q2) What are emerging patterns of engagement of students in online learning platforms? The dataset which is used for answering these questions is being …

Understanding Household Financial Stability: Examining The Effects Of Inflation And Income, Cyndy E. Gutierrez-Fierros

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

This study aims to investigate the impact of inflation on US household financial stability from 2013 to 2023. As inflation rises, individuals’ purchasing power erodes leading to influence economic behaviors. Behaviors such as spending, saving, and borrowing should be a priority concern in the US economy. Results of this study reveal that inflation does not affect financial well-being and its direct impact on household stability is statistically weak. Regression testing shows that income emerges as the most significant factor. Most noticeably income influences savings and debt management in a positive way. As per these results, economic policies should be focused …

Navigating Perspectives: A Phenomenological Inquiry Into Communication Experiences Between North American–Trained International School Leaders And Expatriate Staff, Maggie Cashdollar

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This descriptive phenomenological study explored the communication approaches and experiences between leaders and expatriate staff in English-medium international schools. The researcher aimed to understand how leadership communication, feedback, and cultural awareness impact professional relationships and organizational effectiveness in diverse educational settings. Semistructured online interviews were conducted with seven current or former international school leaders and teachers to capture their lived experiences. Thematic analysis revealed three major themes: (a) communication approaches, (b) the role of feedback in the workplace, and (c) cultural awareness in communication. Five subthemes emerged: (a) expectations, (b) inclusion, (c) being present, (d) growth mindset, and (e) positivity. …

The Number Of Portfolio Holdings And Performance Of Actively Managed Mutual Funds, Mason Wanzenried

Business/Business Administration

This study tests for a quadratic relation between number of holdings and performance for open-end mutual funds. Based on previous literature and practical portfolio management constraints, a quadratic relation is hypothesized. If confirmed, this would suggest an optimal number of holdings. The results show the hypothesized quadratic relation for fixed income funds, but not for other asset classes. The findings hold for both large and small-scale funds.

Creating A Website To Introduce And Inform Local Apparel Businesses’ Sustainability To Fayetteville College Students, Elana R. Applegate

Apparel Merchandising and Product Development Undergraduate Honors Theses

Fast fashion has increased clothing consumption and waste, contributing to severe environmental consequences. Large retailers rapidly produce garments to keep up with microtrends, leading to consumer waste and unsustainable habits. This thesis aims to educate University of Arkansas students about fast fashion’s environmental impact and promote sustainable shopping practices. To achieve this goal a website will be created for educational purposes and will provide information on sustainability and fast fashion as well as local sustainable apparel businesses in Northwest Arkansas. The research draws from consumer behavior studies, business sustainability models, and the effectiveness of educational interventions on shopping habits. The …

Mortgage Default Classification Modeling For Variable Analysis, Brendan R. Goggins

Honors College Theses

The financial crisis of the early 2000’s is a prime example of the severe consequences that mortgage default and borrower insolvency can have on economies at large. Mortgage default specifically is a prime case with the popularization of mortgage backed securities and the commonality of this loan structure. Multiple hypotheses and models have been formed to understand the reasons, causes, and consequences of mortgage default. This paper uses both machine learning and statistical classification models to inform an understanding of the variables most significant and impactful to the default outcome of mortgages. Consideration is given to both loan-level microeconomic variables …