Business Commons^™

Network Flexibility For Recourse Considerations In Bi-Criteria Facility Location, Jeremy North

Dissertations

What is the best set of facility location decisions for the establishment of a logistics network when it is uncertain how a company’s distribution strategy will evolve? What is the best configuration of a distribution network that will most likely have to be altered in the future? Today’s business environment is turbulent, and operating conditions for firms can take a turn for the worse at any moment. This fact can and often does influence companies to occasionally expand or contract their distribution networks. For most companies operating in this chaotic business environment, there is a continuous struggle between staying cost …

Informing Systems, Interventions, And Innovations, William Francis Murphy Jr.

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The goal of this dissertation is to not only explain the informing system discipline, but to explore cases from the perspective of the basic tenants of informing systems. The first essay explains what informing science is, the need for a transdiscipline, the channels of the Informing Science Institute informing system, and describes the clients of the ISI. The first essay ends with an analysis of the authors, institutions, and countries of origin for every ISI paper published between 1998 and 2009, as well as reporting interviews with the Editor-In-Chiefs of each ISI journal. The second essay investigates a case study …

Syracuse University Basketball: To Renovate The Carrier Dome Or Build A New Arena, William P. Commisso

Sport Management Undergraduate

This study looked at how Syracuse University basketball fans’ spectator motives impacted their preference on whether to renovate the Carrier Dome or to build a new arena. The purpose of this research was to find out if these Syracuse University basketball fans differed from prior knowledge regarding sport spectator motivation. It was known that fan enjoyment is influenced by convenience of concessions and restrooms (Wakefield, 1995). However, it was also known that fans’ team identification affected resistance to change (Wu, 2012) and sense of home had a positive impact on stadium satisfaction (Lee, 2012). The sample for this study consisted …

Synchronous And Asynchronous Collaboration Technology Use In Teamwork, Thanaporn Sundaravej

Dissertations

With the increasing geographic dispersion of project teams and the evolution of collaboration technologies, organizations are increasingly facilitating synchronous and asynchronous collaboration amongst dispersed team members using information technologies. While the facilitating role of collaboration technologies to enhance the outcomes of project teams has been examined in prior research, little, as of yet, is known about the influence of a project team member’s task characteristics and extent of usage of collaboration technologies on that member’s project task outcomes. This study drew upon media richness theory to examine the impacts of a project team member’s task characteristics and extent of usage …

Job Satisfaction In Minor League Baseball, Justice L. Hoyt

Sport Management Undergraduate

Every individual in the sport industry spends a substantial amount of time at work. Hence the satisfaction of an individual’s job is important. The purpose of this study was to look at the satisfaction levels of full time minor league baseball employees in the International League. This study was the first study in the field of minor league baseball which tried to determine if the satisfaction levels were worth the demand of the work. It is known across the workforce that the more time demanding a job is the less freedom you have for family and leisure. This study was …

The Objectification Of Professional Female Athletes In Print Advertisements And The Consumers' Response, Angela L. Wallin

Sport Management Undergraduate

Abstract

As female athletes gain more recognition in the sports world, researchers continuously debate on whether the reason behind this is due to their athletic performance or their hyper sexualized appearance in media outlets such as print advertisements (Fink, Cunningham, & Kensicki, 2004). This raises the question on how consumers interpret advertisements that contain female athletes promoting both sport and non-sport products. Since this research is the first examine how consumers view and react to the use of professional female athletes in advertisements, this research further develops the literature of women’s role in both the advertising and sport world. Both …

Ncaa Division I Lacrosse Expansion: Has It Changed Recruiting?, Michael Widay

Sport Management Undergraduate

In liue of an abstract, here is the paper's first paragraph:

Lacrosse was one of the least popular sports in the United States. As time has gone on Lacrosse grew to be one of America’s fastest growing sports in the entire country, grow was seen throughout all levels from the professional and collegiate, and especially at the high school and youth levels (Vivirito 2012). As the game grew at the collegiate level their started to be more competition within recruiting as more teams expanded into the collegiate ranks. Previous research had examined what the factors that student athletes in lacrosse …

Special Olympics’ Employee Response To Organizational Change, Katelyn Disbrow

Sport Management Undergraduate

The purpose of the research study was to explore how Special Olympics’ staff groups differ in response to organizational change. The study was conducted in order to determine if there was a relationship between employees holding various positions within Special Olympics and their level of job satisfaction, specifically during times of change in the organization. Previously, there has been minimal research conducted in the non-profit sector, and Special Olympics exclusively, in terms of linking job satisfaction and organizational change. Thus very little was known on this particular topic. A survey was used in order to collect primary, quantitative data based …

How Does Retention Rates Of Division Iii Football Programs Differ Based On The Type Of Institution?, Adam Hausfelder

Sport Management Undergraduate

Abstract The focus of this research was to take a look at the retention rates of Division III football programs over a four year period. The purpose of this study was to show how some schools are struggling to keep their retention rate up year to year. A second reason was to see which type of institution had a higher retention rate and to see if there is a connection between retention and the type of institute. At the Division I level there many articles about retention rates and student athlete adjustment, while at the Division III level there is …

Fantasy Football: The Relationship Between A Participants Financial Investment And Time On Task For Team Management, Brendon L. Lamphear

Sport Management Undergraduate

Within the past decade since the use of the Internet came bout about, the sports gambling industry, specifically fantasy football, has become a multi-million dollar industry. In particular, the increase of all factors in fantasy sports such as the amount of money, number of hours and amount of leagues are increasing at a rapid rate. Due to this intriguing circumstance, this study investigates the relationship between a participant’s financial investment and time on task for team management. This study was given to participants via email and Facebook, which consisted of an online survey. In addition, this study looked at factors …

The Perceptions Of Marijuana From College Athletes, Michael A. Magnarelli

Sport Management Undergraduate

The study that was conducted examined the perceptions and the relationship college athletes have towards marijuana. As time progresses and more people become used to the idea of marijuana being fully legalized in the United States, institutions like the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) will have to deal with the fact that a vast majority of their college athletes use marijuana regardless of it being on the banned substance list. A survey that featured 14 questions was sent out to over 200 male and female student athletes at St. John Fisher College which 60 of the 200 agreed to partake …

Sales Across Cultural Context, Luke Hatfield

Honors Theses

The proposed study was designed to analyze how culture affected sales practices. The models used for analysis in depth were the CLAP model from WMU’s sales program and Hofstede’s cultural dimensions. Brazil, Germany, and China were analyzed and the elements with the largest differences from the United States were compared to the usual procedure of the CLAP model and a suggestion for an adaptation was made based on research findings (See appendix for condensed version).

After the study was complete I came to a conclusion of what steps should be taken by the effective salesperson to expand on this study. …

Tax Effects Of The Affordable Care Act On Individuals And Small Businesses, Lindsey Atteberry

Honors Theses

This paper examines how the Affordable Care Act, passed into law in 2010, will affect individuals and businesses in regards to taxes. There are many different tax implications resulting from the Affordable Care Act. For individuals, these include the premium assistance credit, the net investment income tax, the increase in the medical expenses deduction threshold, the additional hospital insurance for high-income tax payers, and the individual mandate. For small businesses, these include the small business tax credit, the excise tax, and the new SIMPLE cafeteria plans which are now available. After discussing these new taxes and tax credits, several cases …

The Difference In The Social Styles Of Career And Volunteer Fire Chiefs, Jimmy Rumsey

Human Resource Development Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine whether a difference exists in the Social Style of a career fire chief (paid) and a volunteer fire chief. This study evaluated the Social Style of 211 fire chiefs in the State of Texas, to determine whether a difference existed between the Social Style of volunteer fire chiefs and the Social Style of career (paid) fire chiefs. Fire chiefs were surveyed and their Social Style determined by use of Wilson Learning Corporation's Social Style Profile Social Impression Survey. The results were then cross-tabulated with the respondents' status as a career fire chief …

Examining The Influence Of Shared Leadership And Political Skill On The Relationship Between Project Management Complexity And Project Team Effectiveness In Organizations, Cathy Cockrell

Human Resource Development Theses and Dissertations

Organizations are experiencing increasing complexity due to global competition, technological advances, and dynamic political and environmental circumstances. Therefore, organizations are driven to find new ways to stay competitive, including the increased use of project teams and the formulation of new types of project team leadership structures to manage complex and innovative work. The aim of this study was to examine shared leadership and political skill in project teams within the context of project management complexity, and the influence of these factors on project team effectiveness. A quantitative cross-sectional survey design was used as the approach for data collection. A pilot …

Binoculars: Management Strategies In Film, Kamryn Fall

Liberal Arts and Engineering Studies

No abstract provided.

Searching For Lodging: An Analysis Of Selected Pismo Beach Hotels' Search Engine Marketing Practices, Christopher J. Kumata

Recreation, Parks, and Tourism Administration

Search engines connect users to websites and became a distribution channel for many products. In the case of hotels, it is essential that the hotel’s website appears among the top results when potential customers search for lodging in a certain area. The purpose of this study was to examine search engine marketing best practices and performance among non-national hotels in Pismo Beach, California. The researcher performed popular keyword searches to evaluate performance and examine strategies of the top performing hotels. The analysis discovered that the top hotels shared website design characteristics, the majority of search engine optimization is performed by …

Re:Find Distillery, Ronald Cain, Kasey Urman, Taylor Frias

Case Studies in Agribusiness

When Alex and Monica Villicana started their winery in 2002, they had no intention of starting a distillery. But in order to have the right ratio of skins to juice they had to bleed off and dispose juice. Trying to find a use for the excess juice, they distilled it into vodka and gin. Much to their surprise, they quickly sold out. The case discusses licensing and technical issues of starting a distrillery.

Lagunitas Brewing Company, Maria Camozzi, Kelsey Guttchen, Amy Robertson

Case Studies in Agribusiness

The story of Lagunitas Beer is presented, from its start as a hobby for the founder Tony Magee to its current production of over 600,000 barrels per year, making it the 5th largest craft brewer in the US in 2013. To add perspective, a brief history of beer and the emergence of craft beer is included.

La Baguette Case Study, Logan Smith, Christina Willman, Joe Brunello

Case Studies in Agribusiness

La Baguette is a bakery/deli/coffee shop with two company-owned stores and one franchise. Starting as a retail bakery, it expanded into coffee, deli sandwiches, catering services and custom orders. The owners are considering several expansion options.

Mollydooker Wines: Supply Chain Analysis, Jacob Mix, Marianne Gera, Navreen Thandi

Case Studies in Agribusiness

MollyDooker (Australian slang for a left-handed boxer) exports 90-95% of its 70,000 case production of ultra-luxury wine (retail $185/bottle) to the US. Currently they have distributors handling the logistics for them. This study evaluates the pros and cons of MollyDooker running their own warehousing and shipping facility. It concludes that MollyDooker should continue to pay others to handle their wine.

Tap It Brewing Company: Raising The Bar, One Pint At A Time, Alex Flint, Jordan Long, Keith Inokuchi, Meera Vyas

Case Studies in Agribusiness

Johns and Miles Gordon had started and sold a successful pet food company in Texas and decided to move to the Central Coast. Their shared love of beer led to starting Tap It as a craft brewery in San Luis Obispo. The case discusses the history of beer, the emergence of craft beer in the US, and the issues and problems a small brewery faces as it gets started.

Barriers To Adoption Of Methane Digester Technology On California Dairies, Desiree Lee Libarle

Master's Theses

The goal of this research was to analyze the barriers to adoption of methane digesters on California dairies. Methane digesters have long existed as a technology in the dairy industry, both in the United States and abroad. Much research has been done to attest to the viability and economic sustainability of methane digesters; however in 2014, there were 26 dairies in California that have methane digesters installed, and of these, only 17 of those were still in operation, according to the USEPA AgStar Anaerobic Digester Database. Hence, the question remains, as to why this technology has not been widely adopted …

The Generational Divide: Generational Differences In Psychological Capital, Heather Staples

Theses & Dissertations

Human resource development has customarily focused on social and human capital; however, an innovative new theory within positive organizational behavior focuses on psychological resources. The purpose of this research was to examine the differences across generations on dimensions of psychological resources using the core construct psychological capital. Using a quantitative survey research approach, this study focused on the differences among the three largest generations in the current workforce: Baby Boomers, Generation X, and Generation Y. The independent variable, generations, was defined through a self-identified connection with age and significant events. The dependent variable, psychological capital (PsyCap), was defined as a …

Correlating Coworker Relations, Employee Involvement, And Leadership With Associate Commitment In Select Healthcare Companies Using A Mixed Sequential Explanatory Design, Kimberly Ann Lee

Theses & Dissertations

Increasing patient demands and decreasing reimbursement require better efficiency and effectiveness in health care systems and, subsequently, in health care teams. These environmental and societal factors are further complicated by the complex initiatives set forth by the Affordable Care Act (2010). In this study, the researcher sought to examine and identify the strongest variables of health care teaming and to explore resulting themes through the perception of groups of health care associates. This mixed sequential explanatory design first examined the relationships between coworker relations, employee involvement, and leadership with associate commitment and with each other. An existing database of associate …

Consequences Of Destructive Leadership Through The Experiences Of Millennial Followers, Rhonda M. Martin

Theses & Dissertations

Destructive leadership has serious detrimental effects on organizations and their employees. Today U.S. companies are spending an estimated $23 billion annually on healthcare costs (e.g. chronic absenteeism, high turnover, and dissatisfaction) resulting from the negative impacts of destructive leaders (Tepper, Duffy, Henle, & Lambert, 2006). This emerging theory was worthy of additional research because of the adverse effects it has on the personal and professional lives of followers. According to Padilla, Hogan, and Kaiser (2007), the success of a destructive leader depends on susceptible followers (Millennials) and a conducive environment, which creates a toxic triangle. In 2009, Trickey & Hyde …

Diversity Programs: Learning And Effectiveness As Viewed Through The Eyes Of The Diverse, S Michelle Cox

Theses & Dissertations

This research examines corporate diversity programs and initiatives from the perspective of the self-described diverse employee because they are intended to be the recipient of the benefits of diversity programs and initiatives. The research question is: In what ways have self-described diverse employees found that the diversity programs in their workplaces helped or hindered others in relating to them in ways that recognize their knowledge, skills, and abilities and allow them to be treated with respect and civility. To obtain information about the research question, a qualitative study using basic interpretive methodology was used which included face to face personal …

Fans Use Of Twitter In College Athletics, Clayton V. Stanley

Sport Management Undergraduate

Abstract

Fans use of social media to follow athletes is becoming more and more popular these days and fans often use this as a way to attempt to get recruits to attend schools that they themselves are a fan of. The reasoning behind the research is that not a lot has been done on this topic and with social media becoming more and more popular looking into the fans usage of social media towards recruits is worth looking into. The fact that professional leagues and the NCAA have attempted to implement and enforce a policy against the illegal tweeting practices …

Development Of Workforce Skills: Student Perceptions Of Mentoring In First Robotics, Katie Joan Veal Wallace

Dissertations

In today’s global economy, new workforce competencies are needed for success at both individual and societal levels. The new workforce skills extend beyond basic reading, writing, and arithmetic to include higher order processes such as critical thinking and problem solving. Technical job opportunities have grown by approximately 17%, yet the United States continues to decline in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) disciplines. Further, U.S. students earn average or below average test scores when compared to other developed countries. Researchers cite the need to incorporate the learning of workplace skills into secondary education curriculum, and advocates call for new teaching …

Corporate Event Planner’S Marketing Strategy: An Assessment Of Effective Website Design, Hayley V. Bauarschi

Recreation, Parks, and Tourism Administration

Marketing is a key element in a company’s development. Remaining in the public eye helps ensure business as well as generate new clients. A continuous marketing tool companies use to remain visible is a website. In order to be effective, a website needs to engage and encourage users to connect with a company. The purpose of this study was to analyze the visual appeal and aesthetic design of websites for selected corporate event planning companies. The researcher studied certain components that reflect a successful website and then created a matrix based off research to collect data. The data helped to …