Business Commons^™

Measuring Financial Literacy: A Comparative Study Across Two Collegiate Groups, Emma Floyd

Honors Theses

This study analyzed the financial literacy of students in the College of Business versus that of students in other colleges at the University of Southern Mississippi. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between demographic characteristics, financial literacy, and financial experience. The financial literacy of the students was assessed using a selection of questions from the Jump$tart Coalition Survey of Personal Financial Literacy. The financial literacy of the students was determined based upon the number of questions answered correctly on the survey; however, there was no passing or failing number. Instead, each demographic group was said to …

Price Slides Within Cattle Markets Over Time And Space, Justin Edward Dickamore

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The production of cattle in the United State is a very large business. Production begins at the cow-calf level, where a calf is born and raised to a specific weight. This weight is the weaning weight and averages between 300-600 pounds. The calf is then typically shipped to a feedlot, where it is fed a high corn ration which increases the weight of animal quickly and cost effectively to reach a sufficient slaughter weight. Cattle production takes place primarily in 5 different geographical locations which include the North Central, Southeast, Northern Plains, Southern Plains, and West regions. Due to the …

This Thesis Is Submitted In Partial Fulfillment Of The Requirements For The Degree Of Master Of Science In Information Technology Management, Farhan Mohammed

Theses

A large number of recent advancements in the technology of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) have enabled them to be very useful and effective in many applications in today’s society. They demonstrate a high degree of stability and agility in the air. A few years ago military applications were the main driving force behind the development of UAVs and UAV systems. Many of their applications included monitoring, surveillance, data transmission and communication. Recently, several opportunities have emerged and participated in driving the development of UAV technology further ahead. Such opportunities include integration of UAVs with smart cities, disaster recovery, military and …

The Impacts Of A Smoking Ban On Gaming Volume And Customers' Satisfaction In The Casino Industry In South Korea, Sojeong Lee

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

A growing number of countries have legislated smoke-free policies in enclosed public areas and have extended the policies to hospitality facilities. However, some states and countries exempt gaming areas from the smoking law fully or partially. Anti-smoking policy is controversial for a number of reasons, such as smokers’ strong opposition, government ordinance, public health, and economic anxiety. Casino management may worry that a smoking ban policy will result in a significant decline of casino revenue because the break for smoking may interfere with continuing play.

This thesis examined a smoking ban impacts on gaming volume and customers’ satisfaction in the …

The Political Economy Of Going Global: Understanding The Determinants Of Chinese Foreign Direct Investment In The Middle East And Africa, Majid Shirali

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

This study seeks to explain the motivating factors behind Chinese foreign direct investment (FDI) patterns to the Middle East and Africa through a quantitative framework that utilizes a pooled cross-sectional time-series data set that covers 57 countries from 2003-2010. Prior research on the issue has hypothesized that China attempts to use external FDI to developing areas to promote national interests and help sustain economic growth. However, there has been an almost exclusive focus on economic determinants while generally ignoring political variables. The approach in this project attempts to fill this scholarly void by employing a broad array of independent variables …

The Role Of The Integration-Responsiveness Framework In An International Branch Campus: A Case Study, Tammy Joy Silver

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Similar to multinational corporations, international branch campuses have the challenge of maintaining legitimacy in different cultural and regulatory environments across national borders. It is common for organizations to modify business practices when expanding operations abroad to respond to local demands and preferences based upon cultural expectations and regulatory requirements.

National culture is comprised of the underlying values, beliefs, and attitudes of a society that drives behavior and expectations (Hofstede, 1980). Differences in national culture determine the amount of local adaptation necessary to conduct business in a foreign country (Kostova & Roth, 2002). International branch campuses must also maintain quality assurance …

The Impact Of Hotel Website Quality On Customer Reservation, Chen Tan

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

This study focuses on the discussion of the relationship between the website design and customer reservations in Las Vegas, specifically, how important the website quality is to hotels and how the features affect the Internet bookings. Since the online market is growing and becoming more and more competitive, hotels are investigating an effective way to keep customers making reservation directly through the hotel’s own website, such as providing lowest guarantee rates, promoting loyalty points and cooperating with online travel agents. Consumers expect websites that are informative, attractive and engaging. Usability, security, personalization, usefulness, responsiveness and information content are the dimensions …

Ethanol Energy Futures: Identifying Hedge Ratios, Cointegration Equations And Price Bubbles, Sergio Garcia

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

Ethanol has been the subject of intense debate following the adoption of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (EPAct) which established that the gasoline supply in the United States (U.S.) must contain 10% ethanol. The subsequent increase in the production of ethanol since 2005 has had an effect on the prices of corn, ethanol, and gasoline. This work seeks to identify hedging ratios using dynamic multivariate GARCH to best identify hedging opportunities in a newly developed futures market. In addition, Cointegration and Vector Error Models are used to identify relationships in price movements between ethanol futures, spot prices and related …

Determining The Dynamic Co-Diffusion Of Four E-Services Using Country-Level Panel Data, Samer Takieddine

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

Motivated by the slow diffusion of e-services in many countries in the world, and Rogers’ call for researching related innovation as a cluster, this study investigates the co-diffusion among e-services. To our knowledge this study is the first to examine the co-diffusion effects among e-services. It extends prior studies from the e-services diffusion literature, and the technology co-diffusion literature by examining co-diffusion among four e-services; e-banking, e-shopping, e-government, and e-learning. It also examined the co-diffusion mediation effects, moderation effects, and country-level factors’ effects. Using panel data of 28 European countries, and applying dynamic GMM econometric technique, this study’s findings were …

Essays On Insider Trading, Xu Sun

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

Insider trading has always been an area with high priority for the regulation and enforcement of Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) programs, as insiders are supposed to possess material, non-public corporate information. The main goal of this dissertation is to examine the insider trading behaviors.

In the first essay, I test whether insiders trade on investor optimism and superior firm performance information in a special context – stock splits. Using insider trading data from Thomson Financial Insider Filing Data Files and stock split announcements from the Center for Research in Security Prices (CRSP), this essay shows that, starting as early …

Three Essays On Bailout Banks During 2007-2009 Financial Crisis, Daphne Shu Nu Wang

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

In the wake of this financial crisis 2007-2009, the government injected approximately $604 billion into financial sector to increase liquidity and improve capital base for the bailout banks, which in order to restore market confidence and to prevent bank runs and possible contagion effects.

The main purpose of this dissertation is to assess the appropriateness and effects of the bailout program between 2008 and 2009. Chapter 1 introduces the causes and the effects of the recent financial crisis. Chapter 2 explains the bailout program-Capital Purchase Program (CPP) in details and discusses the sample section method used in this dissertation. There …

The Status Of Small Group Training As Perceived By Program Administrators, Jade Alexis Dworkin

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This descriptive study was obtain program components and administrative perceptions of collegiate recreation small group training programs. Through an extensive review of literature and valued input from key campus recreation professionals, a preliminary survey with 30 items was created. The preliminary survey, Administrative Effectiveness of Small Group Training Programs Survey (AESGTPS), was administered electronically to collegiate recreation small group training program directors. Research questions investigated were identifying ways in which various program components may vary from institution to institution, identifying program components that were perceived to be contributing to perceived program effectiveness, and defining ways in which program administrators perceived …

Consumer Perceptions Of Apparel Fit Satisfaction And Sizing Based Upon 3d Body Scanning And Block Garment Assessment, Nicole Lee Coury

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The objectives of this study were to first, determine whether Walmart, Inc. customers are purchasing the correct size garments for their body measurements, and their perceptions of the fit of Walmart, Inc. clothing prior to trying on the current block garments. The next objective was to determine which factors influence fit satisfaction after the participants have tried on the current block garments. Hypothesis 1 tested participants' perceived size and their actual size, Hypothesis 2 tested participants' pre and post try-on fit satisfaction perceptions, and Hypothesis 3, 4, and 5 tested which factors have a significant effect on garment fit satisfaction. …

An Exploration Of Income Characteristics: Analyzing Targets And Acquirers In Banking Mergers And Acquisitions, Stephanie S. Simpson

Honors College Theses

With the large number of bank mergers occurring from 1990 to 2007, it is useful to know why acquirers chose to merge with these targeted entities. This research analyzes the income characteristics of targets and acquirers for this period to determine any indicators that distinguish an acquirer’s income structure from a target’s. To do this, income statement items from these banking entities are examined using factors such as size, serial or nonserial classification, and (for the targets only) public or private status. The research concludes that acquirers and targets indeed attain different income, cost, and efficiency characteristics.

Building The Brand: The Difference In Brand Profiles Between Team And Individual Athletes, Kayci Nucci

Sport Management Undergraduate

Billions of dollars are spent in the sport marketing industry each year; more specifically investors are looking to put their money into specific sponsorship and endorsements of athletes. Millions of dollars are put into each sponsorship deal by managers due to the ability of the athlete’s endorsement to elevate their brand. There has been several studies conducted that asses the effectiveness of athlete sponsorship due to the fit and qualities of the athlete. There is little known about the differences in athlete’s endorsement profiles in regards to their sport, as well as their gender, ethnicity, and media exposure. This is …

Under Armour Consulting Report, Heather Dommer

Undergraduate Theses and Capstone Projects

Under Armour has been taking the Athletic Apparel industry by storm. From their start in 1996 as a small performance apparel company to becoming the second biggest athletic apparel brand in the United States in 2014 (Peterson). The secret to their success lies within the products. All products have a moisture wicking fabric that eliminates the sweat-soaked fabric of normal sports apparel. Industry: The industry of Athletic Apparel is very intense and innovative one. There are numerous competitors striving to be number one and trying to distinguish themselves from each other while selling similar products. This is an industry that …

The Utility Of Health Insurance For Young Adults, Billy Bookman

Honors Theses

No abstract provided.

Choosing The Right Steps: Management Decisions Of Dance Businesses, Jessica B. Rosina

Business and Economics Honors Papers

Fundamental dance researchers have found that dancers have some of the lowest Human Capital returns. Today, the average dancer has a median pay of $15.87. Only six percent of public schools offer dance as a part of their curriculum. This situation poses a threat to the transmission of culture in our country and will have negative impacts. Children receive little to no dance education in public schooling, leaving private dance education organizations as the only option left. Using a sample of 100 privately owned studios in the tristate area, business decisions will be analyzed to uncover the impact on enrollment.

Did Antebellum Illinois Free Banks Take Undue Risk With Their Bond Portfolios?: An Analysis Of Decision-Making Prior To The Civil War, Scott N. Clayman

Business and Economics Honors Papers

Free banks in Illinois could issue bank notes backed by state or U.S. bond collateral. A decline in bond prices as the Civil War approached resulted in banks being unable to redeem their noteholders in gold specie and subsequently resulted in bank failures. Previously economic historians believed that failures of free banks were due to wildcat banking rather than the portfolio allocation of free banks. Over time, other researchers have found that banks that took greater ex ante risk prior to the failure were more likely to fail. There were other price declines during the 1850s, in particular the Panic …

Who's Trending: #Nba Vs #Nhl, Kevin Martuscello

Sport Management Undergraduate

Many professional athletes across a wide variety of sport have obtained celebrity status and as a result, have become human brands much greater than themselves (Carlson and Donavan, 2013). Previous research analyzed specific cases, individual strategies, and consumer behaviors. However, this study has furthered new knowledge by obtaining a comprehensive description of the differing approaches set in place by the National Basketball Association and the National Hockey League with regard to branding of individual athletes on Twitter. The purpose of this study was to determine in which ways do different sport leagues contrast in how they brand athletes on Twitter. …

Criminal Minds: The Relationship Between Sport And Off Field Violence, Danielle M. Falck

Sport Management Undergraduate

The purpose of this study was to determine if a relationship existed between type of sports team and player convicted of a crime involving bodily harm off the playing field in the National Basketball League (NBA) and National Football League (NFL). This research was beneficial to the academic community because it further developed which professional sport participants were more engaged in violent acts out of the boundaries of their respective sports. This study allowed future researchers the opportunity to build off this study in hopes of building off of what is already known. This study was conducted with a cross …

To Play Or Not To Play: D3 Football Injuries, Tyler J. Darby

Sport Management Undergraduate

Injury in college athletics are a very common occurrence, and can affect the participants very severely. Football has been one such sport that has shown a lot of public health concerns at the elite levels. With this being said research has lacked at the lower levels of collegiate football, even though this is where the vast majority of NCAA football players participate. Many scholarly sources have either focused on the elite levels of football or the youth levels, no research had been specifically done on the Division III level of football in regards to injury. Ultimately this paper hoped to …

Incorporating Google Glass With Emergency Medical Services, Davis Cho

Renée Crown University Honors Thesis Projects - All

Technology's integration into the Emergency Medical Field has been lifesaving. Quicker response time, treatment, and transport to the hospital have been possible through the help of new technology. Telemedicine is not new, but the way it is communicated is evolving. What is unique about using Google Glass for EMS is it would not restrict the user's mobility or function, which is incredibly important for First Responders who might need two hands to do compressions for CPR. My Capstone Project will give First Responders, such as Paramedics and EMTs, an extra set of hands through utilizing Google Glass.

Western Client: A Business Plan, Connor Makowski

Honors Theses

Western Client was created to simplify electronic communications. We believe that we can challenge standard communication processes and revolutionize how smartphones disseminate media. We can help our users to foster better relationships and communicate more effectively. We are achieving this by streamlining user interfaces, compiling data, and minimizing unproductive intervals on electronic devices.

Western Client will offer an easy to navigate, well designed application that integrates information from many sources. We are currently focusing our efforts on designing an application for iOS and Android devices that provides universal inboxes. Every contact will have a dedicated universal inbox that will place …

Managing The Credibility Of A Nonprofit Organization In The Face Of Unexpected Publicity, Regan Crowell

Honors Theses

Ethical conduct of a nonprofit organization was suspected to impact the credibility of the organization as perceived by its stakeholders. This study uses secondary research for three nonprofit organizations in order to gain a closer look at the ethical issues of compensation, conflicts of interest, and the combined issues of accountability and strategic management. The nonprofit organizations discussed are United Way, Susan G. Komen, and The ALS Association. Each faced unexpected publicity, either positive or negative, and managed the organization’s credibility through dealing with one of the named ethical issues. Based on the case studies conducted for the three nonprofit …

How Does Competitive Balance In International Soccer Relate To The Fluctuation In Attendance, Christopher Blyth

Sport Management Undergraduate

Competitive balance is a contributing factor in the fluctuation of attendance in international soccer. The importance of this research was to show soccer organizations that competitive balance had some sort of relationship with the attendance of these games. Another reason why this study was important was because it developed further knowledge on this topic. Before conducting this study prior research was done that showed that competitive balance is not the only factor that plays into the fluctuation of attendance. The timing of the games, economy, and certain preferences of the fans were other factors that played in a role in …

Cross-Examining The United States And Germany's Education And Employee Treatments In Relation To The Unemployment Rate, Natalie Cook

Honors Theses

The unemployment rate has been a constant battle in the United States, especially in the last five years. In 2010 the unemployment rate was at a high of 9.7%, in 2011 it was at 9.0%, in 2012 is what at 8.2%, in 2013 it was at 7.4%, and in 2014 it was at 6.6% (Unemployment, total (% of total laborforce) (modeled ILO estimate), 2015). This is relatively high compared to other countries, such as Germany. Germany in the last five years has had lower unemployment rates in the last five years, their highest rate in the last five years was …

Supply Chain Managers And Risk Behavior: Testing The Sitkin And Pablo Model, Willie Frank Thompson

Doctor of Business Administration Dissertations

The frequency of supply chain disruptions is increasing and the resulting costs amplify with the growth of supply chain density and complexity. Supply chain managers serve a pivotal role in ensuring continued firm competitiveness and success. Having the right person whose risk preferences, propensity to take risks, and history dealing with risks match the needs of the company is important. A foundational study performed by Sitkin and Pablo (1992) proposed a conceptual model focused on specific predictors of risk behavior from the individual, organizational, and problem-related perspectives. Questions still remain to the validity of the model given that it has …

Effects Of Minimum Wage Changes On The Development And Use Of The Student Employee Pay Rate Structure At Western Michigan University, Kristin Kinney

Honors Theses

The purpose of this project is to present a thorough analysis of the current utilization of Western Michigan University’s student employee pay scale that has been performed to provide useful information for the decision of how to best restructure the student employee pay scale. This analysis shows the average of how many student positions were paid at each of the sixteen set hourly wages and how many were paid at Level Q (a range of wages between $9.58 and $20), or above level Q during the Fall 2014 semester. The results can be effectively used to determine how many student …

Intuition And Its Impact On Information Systems Success, Robecca Quammen

Doctor of Business Administration Dissertations

The concept of Intuition is not new to management and behavioral sciences. However, defining Intuition has been anything but intuitive even in these heavily studied domains. This research seeks to expand current Intuition research into the information systems (IS) domain. Given the velocity of change in contemporary IS, researchers and practitioners are seeking richer explanations and success measurements to better understand and promote effective use of IS. A preliminary content analysis of select proceedings from the Americas Conference on Information Systems (AMCIS), designed to assess the investigation and interest in the concept of Intuition as a contemporary IS research topic, …