Business Commons^™

Meaning-Centered Leadership: How Exemplary Technology Leaders Create Organizational Meaning, Ed Jackson

Dissertations

ABSTRACT Meaning-Centered Leadership: How Exemplary Technology Leaders Create Organizational Meaning by Ed Jackson Purpose: The purpose of this mixed-methods case study was to identify and describe the behaviors that exemplary technology leaders use to create personal and organizational meaning for themselves and their followers through character, vision, relationships, wisdom, and inspiration. It was also the purpose of this research to identify how followers perceive that the behaviors related to character, vision, relationships, wisdom, and inspiration help to create personal and organizational meaning. Methodology: This research looked at leadership through the lens of meaning making. Current leadership trends, which are driven …

Exemplary Leadership: A Mixed-Methods Case Study Discovering How Female Chief Executive Officers Create Meaning, Stephanie A. Herrera

Dissertations

Purpose: The purpose of this thematic, mixed-methods case study was to identify and describe the behaviors that exemplary female chief executive officers (CEOs) use to create personal and organizational meaning for themselves and their followers through meaning-making domains: character, vision, relationships, wisdom, and inspiration. Additionally, it was the purpose of this study to determine the degree of importance to which followers perceived behaviors within the meaning-making domains.

Methodology: The exploratory mixed-methods case study was selected to gather insight into the behaviors of four female chief executive officers through interviews. Twelve of their employees were asked to complete an online survey. …

Meaning Makers: A Mixed-Methods Case Study Of Exemplary Chief Executive Officers Of Engineering Technology Organizations And The Behaviors They Use To Create Personal And Organizational Meaning, Sandra Kay Hodge

Dissertations

Purpose: The purpose of this thematic, mixed-methods case study was to identify and describe the behaviors used by exemplary chief executive officers of engineering technology organizations to create personal and organizational meaning for themselves and their followers through the five variables of character, inspiration, relationships, vision, and wisdom. Additionally, followers were surveyed to determine the degree to which they perceive the behaviors related to character, inspiration, relationships, vision, and wisdom help to create personal and organizational meaning.

Methodology: Exemplary chief executive officers of engineering technology organizations were interviewed to determine their perception of which behaviors they utilize to employ character, …

The Factors That Affect The Capitalization Of Digital Currencies In Developing Countries: An Assessment Of Security Risks And Their Effects, Joshua Tinotenda Pazvakawambwa

Honors Theses

Digital currency platforms such as Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Ripple are slowly but surely revolutionizing trade and commerce alongside their potential to impact people's economic lifestyles immensely. Digital currencies present a unique medium for humanitarian, mission, and more notoriosly arms and terrorism transactions around the globe. Various factors like security, legislature, and infrastructure affect the viability of adopting digital currencies in developing countries such as Zimbabwe. The research study assesses whether this technology's shortcomings outweigh the conventional means of exchange: hard cash, gold, and checks. Therefore, aiding stakeholders in making informed decisions concerning interfacing technology with economics in the developing world.

Investors' Reaction To The Passing Of The Indian Companies Act, 2013, Melisa Ann Ruhupatty

Honors Theses

This research seeks to determine whether mandated corporate social responsibilty (CSR) is value relevant to investors, specifically investors of Indian companies affected by the Companies Act, 2013 which requires companies meeting specific financial criteria to spend 2% of their three-year average net profits towards social initiatives. Recommended social initiatives include the development and implementation of environmentally sustainable businesss practices. Using the event study methodology, this study compares the cumulative abnormal returns (CAR) of companies recognized as CSR-active on the Bombay Stock Exccange (BSE) with those not recognized as CSR-active. Recognized CSR-active companies were determined through the use of the BSE …

Pay For Performance: What Type Of Pay Scheme Is Best For Achieving Business Results?, Fermin Augusto Diez

Dissertations and Theses Collection

Much has been written, for and against, about compensation as a driver of performance. Two main theoretical constructs deal with this subject: extrinsic theory, including agency theory, whereby money is a main motivator to performance, and intrinsic theory which proposes that money does not motivate, and in fact may hinder, performance. However, corporations spend considerable effort in designing compensation packages with the objective of linking remuneration to performance. Practitioners have developed a variety of mechanisms to deliver pay packages, but heretofore there has been no attempt to validate which, if any, of these various approaches is better able to drive …

Addressing The Opioid Epidemic: North Andover Police Department, James Buckley

Honors Senior Capstone Projects

The opioid epidemic is not just a problem that affects major cities, as there is a growing market for heroin in suburban communities. North Andover saw a spike from only seven overdoses in 2015, to twenty-three possible overdoses in just the first nine and a half months of 2016, depicting evidence of how grave the problem really has become in the community. The epidemic is not an issue that can be delayed and gradually deliberated, as immediate action is required to treat individuals affected and heal the community as a whole. The heroin problem has reached North Andover and the …

Samsung Technical And Fundamental Analysis, Stephen Janeczko

Honors Program Contracts

In this report, you will find a summary of current events with Samsung, current events in the South Korean economy, financial statement analysis, ratio analysis for Samsung and competitors, and stock recommendations based on current trading history.

How Can Small-Market Teams Survive In Today’S Major League Baseball?, Kelsey Walton

Honors Senior Capstone Projects

Competitive balance is an issue in every major sport, though Major League Baseball struggles significantly due to the lack of a salary cap. Understandably, the players’ union disagrees and refuses to allow a salary cap, as player salaries would most likely not only be slowed but halted altogether. Major League Baseball contrasts this as perfect competition is preferred though unrealistic. Prior research indicates that competitive balance measures such as the luxury tax and revenue distribution are somewhat effective, though they still do not completely solve the issue plaguing the league, specifically small-market teams.

Housing Price Models For Essex County Massachusetts, Steven Bourque

Honors Senior Capstone Projects

This paper analyzes indicators of local median housing prices in the Essex County, Massachusetts area. The housing market is a significant sector of the United States economy and therefore it is important to develop models, which can predict and identify movements in their prices. This paper contains an overview of housing price indexes and provides a short overview of previous housing price studies. Two models, based on 2010 to 2015 data, are presented and analyzed. The specification of each model was driven by possible variables that might affect housing price and availability of data. For example a subset of communities, …

The Applications Of Mathematics In Finance Actuarial Exam Fm Preparation, Robyn Stanley

Honors Senior Capstone Projects

Financial mathematics is a growing field in which mathematicians and business professionals alike are regularly finding new links between the two industries. By further developing this area of study, businesses will be able to evaluate trends analytically by implementing mathematical techniques in their investigations. Businesses with a particular interest in financial mathematics include investment banks, commercial banks, hedge funds, insurance companies, corporate treasuries, and regulatory agencies. In particular, the field of actuarial science focuses directly on the applications of mathematics in finance, and requires all aspiring actuaries seeking certification to successfully complete an exam specifically designed to test the applicant’s …

Developing A Crm Strategy For Small Businesses, Brianna Butler, Megan Carignan

Honors Senior Capstone Projects

In a data-driven world, it is becoming easier than ever for businesses to gain more and more information about their customers and use that to their advantage. This data, gathered from previous business dealings, social media, inbound marketing and click data can be utilized to provide goods and services that are more accurately tailored to the specific consumer, and to provide successful customer service. However, there must be a customer relationship management (CRM) system in place to retain, sort, analyze and pull up information. This can be done using expensive software, which is what large and medium-sized corporations may do, …

Politika Fiskale E Kosovës, Rina Shamolli

Theses and Dissertations

Respektimi i ligjeve tatimore është përgjegjësi esenciale qytetare.Në një vend modern,që Kosova synon të jetë ,nga qytetarët kërkohet pagesa e tatimeve dhe obligimeve tjera të cilat financojnë programet qeveritare ,ofrimin e shërbimeve publike si dhe standartet e larta tëarsimit, mirëqënies ,shëndetit, mbështjetjes sociale, mbrojtjes, zbatimit të ligjit dhe infrastruktuës së përgjithshme.Të gjitha këto mund të sigurohen dhe të bëhen të mundshme vetem me mbledhjen e duhur të tatimeve.“Secili person është i obliguar që të paguajë tatimet dhe kontributet e tjera të parapara me ligj”-Neni 119.Është detyrë dhe obligim i çdo tatim paguesi që të respektoj dhe të zbatoj dispozitat e …

Inovacionet Teknologjike Në Sektorin Financiar Tek Ekonomitë Në Zhvillim, Partin Halimi

Theses and Dissertations

Inovacioni teknologjik në sektorin financiar është kthyer në një faktor kyç për zhvillimin e ekonomive dhe garantimin e konkurrencës globale.

Bota është futur në ekonominë e dijes dhe të përparimit teknologjik, andaj korrelacioni i inovacioneve teknologjik me sektorin financiar si ne shumë sektorë tjera është kthyer në domosdoshmëri.

Prej shumë vitesh fokusi është drejtuar tek të rinjtë, të cilët nëpërmjet projekteve start-up mund të kthejnë idetë e tyre të reja në vlerë të shtuar për ekonominë e vendeve përkatëse. Sikur në çdo vend me ekonomi në zhvillim, ashtu edhe në Kosovë, ky korrelacion po kthehet në kryefjalë të projekteve të …

Advertising And Consumer Perception Of Conduct, Blerim Kqira

Theses and Dissertations

Hulumtimi i punimit shkencor fokusohet në ndikimin e rekalmës në sjelljes konsuamtore përkatësishtë përceptimi i një rekalame nga ana e konsumatorit apo blerësit. Saktësisht jam përqëndruar në analizimin dhe hulumtimin e veprmieve konkrete apo masave gjatë emitimit të një reklame që duhet të ndërmerren në mënyrë që promocioni në përgjithësi dhe në veqanti reklama të arrijë përceptimin e duhur nga ana e konsumatorëve.

Përgjatë këtij punimi kemi përshkruar një gjendje të përgjithshme të marketingut, reklamës dhe formave të saj në rolin ndikues në perceptimin e konsumatorit.Në këtë rast kemi zhvilluar një anketë që neve na ka ndihmuar t’i nxjerrim disa …

Lsu Students’ Perceptions Of And Reactions To The Declining Funding Of The Tops Program, Rachel Gravois

Honors Capstones

No abstract provided.

Reformation: An Apparel Design Collection, Biagia Rosinia

Honors Capstones

No abstract provided.

Straight From The Horse's Mouth: An Examination Of Social Media Usage And Advertising Methodologies In The Sale Of Sporthorses, Michael Willham

Undergraduate Distinction Papers

This study discovered general market conditions as well as buyer and seller behavior in the sporthorse market for the disciplines of Dressage, Show Jumping, and Eventing. The efficient sale of sporthorses in these disciplines is equally as important of a consideration as the marketing and advertising decisions for any other product such as automobiles or electronics. Equids differ from regular products in that they typically have markedly higher inventory costs associated with the maintenance of holding onto a live animal. Therefore, it is arguably more imperative for businesses to determine the quickest and most efficient means to sell them. This …

A Corporate Model: Aligning National Nonprofit Expectations With Regional/Local Efforts To Serve The Mission, Emma A. Powell

Dissertations

This study seeks to provide a body of knowledge and application of research to the national nonprofit audience. The focus is to study conditions that could lead to better alignment between regional staff understanding and implementation of the national expectations, by identifying alignment behaviors in five indicator areas. These indicators are fundraising, mission delivery, volunteer engagement, HR/operations, and PR/external communications.

Research in the areas of nonprofit structure design, motivation, and mission alignment continue to be significant to the sectors maturity and distinction. Corporate model nonprofit organizations structure is unique to other nonprofits within a local community. Understanding the corporate model …

Two Essays On The Antecedents And Effects Of Internationalizing Out Of Emerging And Developed Economies, Mark Robert Mallon

Management Theses & Dissertations

Comparative international entrepreneurship is a field still in its infancy. One of the largest needs in this stream of research is an understanding of how internationalization activities differ across countries, especially growing emerging markets. These two essays compare the antecedents and effects of internationalizing out of emerging and developed economies.

Essay 1 employs fuzzy-set Qualitative Comparative Analyses to investigate how distinct configurations of national business systems interact with founders’ human capital to lead to high degrees of new venture internationalization. Findings indicate that new venture internationalization is an equifinal process that differs significantly across emerging and developed markets, with firms …

Asset Owner Governance And Fiduciary Effectiveness: The Case Of Public Pension Plans, Christopher Kinne Merker

Dissertations (1934 -)

Purpose: The U.S. and many developed countries are currently facing a retirement savings crisis. The governance of institutional funds, such as public pension plans, is coming under greater scrutiny in light of systematic chronic underfunding, declining investment returns and shifts into higher risk asset classes. A disconnect exists between an organization’s process under the standards, and the outcome of this process, the overall effectiveness of the organization and, in particular, its investment performance and funding status. Methodology: In 2012, there were approximately 6,300 public retirement systems in the United States with over $3 trillion in assets. We collected financial, governance …

Comparative Content Analysis Regarding Brand Management Through Influencer Marketing, Julia Hurt

Masters Essays

The divide between advertising, marketing, and public relations has deteriorated over time, where each has a specific focus but no longer a particular correct way of reaching audiences. With the ever-growing presence of online social influencers, a new marketing practice known as influencer marketing has evolved, where brands connect with consumers in an authentic and meaningful way. Influencer marketing is a form of marketing that identifies and targets individuals through the influence of bloggers and their active voice. Research indicates how influence plays a role through social media to reach consumers. However, there is a gap in research when it …

The Impact Of Help-Self And Help-Others Appeals Upon Participation In Clinical Research Trials, Susan Lewis Casey

Marketing Theses & Dissertations

The need for participants in medical research trials continues to grow yet the successful recruitment of volunteers remains a challenge. Much of the research regarding patient recruitment activities has been conducted in the social sciences. As such, the specific impact of advertising strategy to help recruit volunteers remains unclear. The proposed research is designed to help to fill this gap in the literature, generating insight for continuing academic research and helping practitioners gain efficiencies in developing new pharmaceuticals.

This research uses an experimental design to assess the impact of two variables upon clinical trial participation. These two variables were selected …

Supervisor And Subordinate Perceptions Of Leader-Member Exchange: Examining Idiosyncratic Deals And Work-Family Experiences In A Moderated Mediation Model, Michael L. Litano

Psychology Theses & Dissertations

The extant literature recognizes that subordinates in high-quality leader-member exchange (LMX) relationships experience the most favorable outcomes (Dulebohn, Bommer, Liden, Brouer, & Ferris, 2012). In exchange for their unwavering commitment and superior job performance, high LMX subordinates benefit from greater access to valuable resources (e.g., communication, support, and negotiating latitude; Gerstner & Day, 1997), which can then be used to combat job demands and facilitate accomplishment of the subordinates’ salient goals (Agarwal, Datta, Blake-Beard, & Bhargava, 2012; Hobfoll, 2001). Meta-analytic evidence suggests that LMX also has critical implications for work-family outcomes (Litano, Major, Streets, Landers, & Bass, 2016), however, the …

Impact Of A Localized Lean Six Sigma Implementation On Overall Patient Safety And Process Efficiency, Luvianca G. Gil-Moreno

Engineering Management & Systems Engineering Theses & Dissertations

Continuous quality improvement tools have been widely used in the Healthcare Industry to increase efficiency and patient safety as well as to reduce cost. This research explores the impact of a Lean Six Sigma (LSS) process improvement initiative on the overall process efficiency and patient safety in the Labor and Delivery (L+D) units of a large hospital provider. This study focuses on the application of a modeling and simulation methodology to investigate the influence of a localized process improvement intervention on the overall L+D unit output by considering patient flow, system capacity, and unit performance. The simulation models capacity profiles …

Analysis Of Project Management System Structure Using The Viable System Model (Vsm), Joseph A. Sisti

Engineering Management & Systems Engineering Theses & Dissertations

The purpose of this research was to explore the applicability of the Viable System Model as a framework for structural analysis of Project Management Systems using a case study approach. The research used a modified Viable System Model based on the work of Stafford Beer (1979) for the analysis of systems (organizations). The specific research questions explored in this research were: (1) How can the Viable System Model (VSM) be adapted for analysis of project management structure? And, (2) What results from exploration of the Viable System Model framework application to active project management structures?

The research used an exploratory …

Role Of Requirements Engineering In Software Project’S Success, Sujatha Alla

Engineering Management & Systems Engineering Theses & Dissertations

Despite considerable time and resources spent on the initiation phase of software projects, discrepancies often exist between formal project documentation, customer requirements, and final project specifications. Such discrepancies in the requirements management process can have a very negative impact on final project outcomes. A Business Requirements Document (BRD) constitutes the formal software requirements documentation, which typically includes stakeholders’ needs and expectations and project scope while providing a clear project roadmap and project plan. According to IEEE standards, a BRD should be a structured document that includes specific elements such as functional and technical requirements while incorporating certain traits such as …

Planning And Team Shared Mental Models As Predictors Of Team Collaborative Processes, Zikai Zhou

Engineering Management & Systems Engineering Theses & Dissertations

This study evaluates the role of team planning and the similarity of team shared mental models (TSMMs) as predictors of two types of collaborative behaviors that are known to contribute to team performance. A computer-based Networked Fire Chief (NFC) simulation task was used as a testing environment for emergent and dynamic situations. The relationships among team planning, similarity of task-focused team shared mental models (TASKTSMMs), similarity of team-focused team shared mental models (TEAMTSMMs), team backup behaviors, and implicit coordination were tested. This study provides evidence for the mediation effect of similarity of TASKTSMMs between team planning and team backup behaviors, …

Pathways Of Leadership For Women In Higher Education Unions In Illinois: A Comparative Study Using Grounded Theory, Rochelle Robinson-Dukes

All Capstone Projects

This study focused on qualitative elements in its design. It sought to explore the process of women ascending to leaders in higher education unions and discover the barriers that derailed them or which they broke through on their leadership journey. It investigated the stereotypes and assumptions about women as leaders. The researcher looked at similarities and differences of the experiences of women in leadership roles to discover unknown phenomena within their unique experiences. Women in unions may be limited by proliferation of negative stereotypes and sexism. The purpose of this study was to explore the gender barriers of five women …

The Effect Of Using Social Media Marketing On Customer Engagement In The Public Sector: The Case Of The Zakat Fund, Sultan Faisal Ali Alremeithi

Theses

Social Media Sites (SMSs) are affecting a wide cross-section of marketing activities, including research, strategy formulation, advertising, promotions and sales. It is proposed that Social Media Sites (SMSs) are not only an addition to the modern marketer's toolkit, but mark an endemic and ecological change.

The purpose of this research is to investigate what antecedents determine a user's engagement with an account on a social media sites (SMSs).

Through their use, the social media have facilitated various business opportunities as well as providing the public sector with platforms through which organizations can engage current and future customers. Still, the huge …