Business Commons^™

Cruise Industry: Size Matters, Christina Antoinette Wedderburn

Business/Business Administration

This study investigates the relationships between several measures of market share and specific levels of financial performance. The study focuses directly on the cruise line industry and pairs two significant firms to test the hypothesis. The two firms are Carnival Corporation and Royal Caribbean Cruises, Ltd. When correlating higher market share with the return on assets, operating margin and book-to-market aspect of performance it was discovered that higher market share produces higher productivity and efficiency.

Cyber Attacked: Could You Be Next?, Sarah Desjardins

Business/Business Administration

In today’s modern world, companies store the majority of their business information on computer systems. If not properly protected, private data such as customer financial records, trade secrets, and company financials, can be easily compromised. Major data breaches are becoming more frequent, as hackers are becoming more sophisticated. Cyber-attacks have a negative impact on customers, shareholders, employees, and of course the company itself. This paper examines several recent cyber-attacks and explores the reaction to these by the corporations. It examines the potential and verifiable consequences of these attacks and identifies a range of shareholders who can be injured by the …

An Examination Of The Relationship Between Perceived Leadership Behaviors, Perceived Team Cohesion And Team Performance, Alvin Miles

Dissertations, Theses and Capstone Projects (Full IR Collection)

In an effort to help explain more of the variance in team performance, studies examining the effects of leadership upon team performance have included a limited number of contexts (Antonakis, Avolio and Sivasubramaniam, 2003; Tejada, Scandura and Pillai, 2001). This study is the first to empirically examine the relationship of leadership styles to team cohesion, and team cohesion to team performance utilizing the nine-factor version of the full range of leadership theory (transformational leadership, transactional leadership, and no leadership typologies) in the context of professional sports. Further, it empirically measures the perceptions of official members of the sports league ecosystem …

European Consumers' Attitudes Towards Cisgenic Rice, Anne-Cécile Delwaide

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The enhancement of existing plant breeding techniques, such as cisgenesis, allows plant breeders to enhance an existing cultivar quicker and with little to no genetic drag. Cisgenesis is the genetic modification of a recipient plant with natural gene(s) from a sexually compatible plant. Unlike transgenesis, which is the genetic modification of a recipient plant with gene(s) from any non‐plant organism, or from a donor plant that is sexually incompatible with the recipient plant, the results of cisgenesis could occur naturally over time. Currently, both cisgenic and transgenic products are classified as genetically modified organisms (GMOs) and are labeled as such …

Does Who We Are Influence What We Say? The Impact Of Organizational Identity On Responses To Ethical Issues, Amy J. Guerber

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Business organizations frequently face ethical issues which may lead stakeholders to question the competence or integrity of organizational actors. In such cases, the way the organization communicates with its stakeholders can play a critical role in preserving or restoring organizational reputation, financial performance, and trust. Thus, understanding factors that influence organizational communication in the wake of ethical issues is important. Previous research has focused on the impact of situational characteristics on organizational responses and stakeholder reactions to those responses but has not explored the role that organizational characteristics play in shaping firms' responses to ethical issues.

The current study seeks …

The Effect Of Infrastructure Changes On Railway Operations., Martin J.R. Schmidt 1966-

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This paper makes use of standard simulation programs in combination with the tools of applied statistics to simulate railway operations. The purpose of the use of this tool is to evaluate and compare different possible kinds of railway infrastructure, like different types of signaling procedures, different network configuration or operational procedures. A railway system is a logistic network and because of the demand for improved railway operation, much work has been undertaken lately in this scientific field. However the author postulates the hypothesis based on a literature review that in a lot of these works there is a lack of …

Strategic Planning Tool Development Using Portfolio Decision Analysis, Luis B. Vargas Rojas

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

A portfolio decision analysis strategic planning tool was developed for the Facilities Management Office at the University of Arkansas. The tool provides information to support budget allocation decisions based on their Strategic Planning Project List, project attributes (e.g, seat utilization, scheduling preferences, and sustainability rank), and budget constraints. The projects are evaluated using multiobjective decision analysis. We introduce dynamic value functions, which vary the range of the value measures based on the planning horizon, to evaluate the projects). We determine facilities portfolios based on the project values and constraints using Linear Programming. In addition, insightful reports are generated, which provide …

Social Media Marketing For The Medical Industry: Best Practices To Avoid Legal And Ethical Issues, Jessica Padilla

Journalism

This study analyzes the best social media practices for medical industry professionals and the proper and ideal uses for social media. It analyzes the public relations functions of social media—relationship building, reputation management, and crisis communication. With the constant rise of social media as a widely-used medium for marketing comes increased potential for damage to a medical business’ reputation, loss of medical licensing, or lawsuits if practitioners do not act within the lines of legal and ethical standards. Medical offices must have an online presence to remain relevant and build and keep relationships with new and current patients. This study …

Inclusive Recreation: The Malleability Of Attitudes Toward Disability Through Peer Interaction, Megan Fort

Theses and Dissertations

This study explored the malleability of attitudes with the goal of improving social inclusion for a stigmatized group, specifically individuals with developmental disabilities. Contact Theory was used as an intentional structure for meaningful intergroup contact to assess, understand, and improve meanings applied to individuals with disabilities at an inclusive summer day camp. Adolescent volunteers were administered quantitative questionnaires utilizing the Contact with Disabled Persons Scale (CDP) and the Multi-Dimensional Attitude Scale (MAS). Collected data were used to determine the efficacy of involvement in an inclusive recreation program on adolescent participants' attitudes toward disability. After a covariate-adjusted regression analysis, contact with …

Leisure Defined By Free Choice: Ugandan Women's Perceptions Of Leisure, Emilie Adams

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to explore the meaning of leisure among women in the developing East African nation of Uganda. In this study, I evaluated the leisure experiences of 38 Ugandan women of various backgrounds and socioeconomic statuses through semi-structured interviews. I analyzed the data using the constant comparative method. Themes for the meaning of leisure include fortifying leisure, enjoyment, and rest and relaxation. Results point to free choice as the core variable. Finally, I discuss the implications and suggestions for future research.

A Competency Model For Catering And Event Professionals Using A Modified Delphi Technique, Donnell G. Bayot

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

As the market for face-to-face meetings and events has grown to one of the largest private sector industries, so has the market for catering, which is the largest budget line item for a meeting or event. Clients have become more demanding and at the same time more price-conscious. This has caused catering professionals and meeting and event planners' job responsibilities to change. Caterers and planners now have more crossover responsibilities and over more varied functional areas than ever before. In response, the National Association for Catering and Events (NACE), as the oldest and largest catering association in the world, formally …

Empirical Studies On Interest Rate Derivatives, Xudong Sun

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Interest rate models are the building blocks of financial market and the interest rate derivatives market is the largest derivatives market in the world. In this dissertation, we shall focus on numerical pricing of interest rate derivatives, estimating model parameters by Kalman filter, and studying various models empirically. We shall propose a front-fixing finite element method to price the American put option under the quadratic term structure framework and compare it with a trinomial tree method and common finite element method. Numerical test results show the superiority of our front-fixing finite element method in the aspects of computing the option …

The Joan Mitchell Center: Retreat, Reflection, And Reciprocity (Internship Report), Sharbreon Plummer

Arts Administration Master's Reports (1984-2016)

The following report serves as a culmination of my 480-hour internship with the Joan Mitchell Center Artist Residency Program ( also referred to as “The Center” or “JMC”). As the intern for Community Engagement, I was afforded the opportunity to work closely with the Director and staff across an array of areas including community outreach, public programs and event planning. This report will function as a summary of the organization’s history, programming, and tasks and functions associated with my role. In addition, it will highlight best practices for artist residencies, analyze the Center’s current state of operation, and offer recommendations …

French Quarter Festivals, Inc.: A Year Of Festivals (Internship Report), Kathryn B. Simmons-Carroll

Arts Administration Master's Reports (1984-2016)

This report accounts my time spent as an intern with French Quarter Festivals, Inc. from March 2013 through August 2014. FQFI, a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization in New Orleans, Louisiana, began with French Quarter Festival in 1984 and now produces three festivals each year. This paper seeks to discuss how the organization has changed over time, examine the structure of FQFI in its current state, and make recommendations for FQFI as they continue to “promote the Vieux Carré and the City of New Orleans through high quality special events and activities that showcase the culture and heritage of this unique city, …

Contemporary Arts Center: An Internship Report, Sarah Stevens

Arts Administration Master's Reports (1984-2016)

The following internship report is an overview of the Contemporary Arts Center (CAC). As a requirement of the Arts Administration Graduate Program at the University of New Orleans, I completed a 480-hour internship spanning three months in the center’s development and membership department. This report combines observational research with the knowledge gained from my studies and subjective research to provide an analysis of the CAC’s current position, strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats, and provides recommendations on how the center can address specific issues with operations and financial management in order to grow as an organization in the future.

New Orleans Museum Of Art: A Master’S Report On My Internship Experiences And Observations, Victoria C. Lacayo

Arts Administration Master's Reports (1984-2016)

This report outlines my experiences and observations the New Orleans Museum of Art (NOMA). It will focus on a brief history of expansion through size and collections, attempts to garner a younger audience through new tactics, and will analyze the Museum’s strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. I will address the ways that staff members are adapting to help secure NOMA’s relevancy as a modern and forward thinking non-profit who is actively trying to grow its youth membership. I will primarily focus on the efforts of the External Affairs department to refine its long and short-term goals that include creating better …

An Internship Report On Classwish, Chi Ma

Arts Administration Master's Reports (1984-2016)

From September through December 2013, I interned at an organization named Classwish located in New York City. Classwish was founded in 2008. It is a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the educational environment by helping teachers to get school supplies. The organization’s Mission Statement is, “We empower parents, educators, and local communities to make a positive change in their children's lives by providing them with the supplies they need to learn, grow and excel.” This internship report includes a review of the organizational profile, the duties of my internship as a music marketing intern, an organizational SWOT analysis, best practices …

The National Wwii Museum-Entertainment Department (Internship Report), Sarah Hitchcock Langley

Arts Administration Master's Reports (1984-2016)

The purposes of this paper are to report on my internship at the National World War II Museum and to analyze the structure and practices in the Entertainment Department through a 480 hour internship. The Museum, located in New Orleans, LA, is a rapidly expanding tourist spot that captures and displays the history of World War II and the surrounding era. Beginning in October of 2013, under the direction of Director of Entertainment Victoria Reed, the position of Entertainment Assistant was filled to fulfill these hours and delve into the world of entertainment through a non-profit corporation. The hours of …

The New Orleans Museum Of Art: Managing The Collection, Laura Baker

Arts Administration Master's Reports (1984-2016)

An internship experience in the Office of the Registrar and Collections Management at the New Orleans Museum of Art is reviewed alongside discussion of the Museum’s history, structure, and permanent collection, in addition to analyses of the organization’s finances and its institutional strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats. Discussion topics also include the intern’s experience, best practices in similar institutions, and a conclusion with recommendations made by the intern.

South By Southwest, Llc: A Report On Volunteer Coordination, Sarah Spivey

Arts Administration Master's Reports (1984-2016)

This internship report reviews the privately owned, for-profit entity South By Southwest (SXSW), and the main festival it produces each March. The report includes an analysis of the strengths and weaknesses of the organization, and offers suggestions for improvements. The history of SXSW, a description of volunteer programs, and a breakdown of the staff structure provide a basic understanding of the organization. For the purpose of this internship report, the timeframe being reviewed covers January through May 2014.

The Louisiana Children’S Museum: A Time Of Transition, Kathleen Rachel Ledet

Arts Administration Master's Reports (1984-2016)

This report details an internship with the Louisiana Children’s Museum’s development office, which started in February 2014; transitioned from internship to employment in May 2014; and concluded in June 2014 after the Museum’s fundraising event, Circus Magic Night. In this paper, I will provide an overview of the Museum’s history, programs, and organizational structure, as well as describe my internship experience and contributions over a period of five months and 480 hours. Additionally, I will analyze LCM’s strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats; discuss relevant best practices; and finally, offer recommendations that propose solutions to some of the challenges I observed …

Fundraising Techniques Of San Luis Obispo Nonprofit Organizations, Samantha Suyemoto

Graphic Communication

The purpose of this study was to identify the strengths and weaknesses of using direct mail and electronic media in the fundraising techniques of local San Luis Obispo nonprofit organizations. The intended audience includes the nonprofits interviewed in each case study as well as the other organizations that fundraise within the San Luis Obispo area. Three case studies of nonprofit organizations within the area were conducted in conjunction with research on various types of funding. Results of this study are intended to benefit the nonprofits by providing more information on successful fundraising habits.

International Financial Reporting Standards Implementation In Canada: The Impact Of Ifrs Conversion On Canadian Public Banking Enterprises, Arina V. Gibson

Undergraduate Honors Theses

The purpose of the research is developing an understanding of the effect that International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) had, if any, on Canadian Publicly Accountable Enterprises (PAEs), specifically their external financial reporting compared to Canadian Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (Canadian GAAP). The focus of this research is the analysis of reported financial ratios of Canadian Banking companies for the year ended December 31, 2010, which will be tested for the statistically-significant differences between Canadian GAAP and IFRS. The research is designed to examine what impact on liquidity, leverage, profitability, and cash flows the change from Canadian GAAP to IFRS has, …

An Importance-Performance Analysis Of Multigenerational Preferences In Guestroom Technology, Sidian Lan

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

This study focuses on generational preferences in terms of guestroom technology. The hospitality technology industry has indicated guestroom technology as their highest priority in terms of hospitality technology investment. Previous studies have investigated in-room technology amenities and ranked them in order of importance and performance. However, it is uncertain which guestroom specific technologies should they invest in when it comes to different generations. Each generation is fundamentally different from the others because each generation was born in different eras with different societal changes. These generations have different values, ideas, needs, and communication skills. Hoteliers are investing time and money into …

Methane Production By A Packed-Bed Anaerobic Digester Fed Dairy Barn Flush Water, Sean Richard Thomson

Master's Theses

Packed-bed digesters are an alternative to covered lagoon digesters for methane production and anaerobic treatment of dilute wastewaters such as dairy barn flush water. The physical media of packed-beds retain biofilms, often allowing increased treatment rates. Previous studies have evaluated several types of media for digestion of dilute wastewaters, but cost and media fouling have setback commercial development. A major operational cost has been effluent recirculation pumping.

In the present effort, a novel approach to anaerobic digestion of flush dairy water was developed at pilot-scale: broken walnut shells were used as a low-cost packed-bed medium and effluent recirculation was replaced …

Obesity: The Elephant In The Budget Room That We Can No Longer Afford To Ignore, Katharine G. Linehart

Honors Theses

An analysis of the effect of obesity on the national budget.

Barriers To Women In Economic Development, Rachel Ann Rawlings

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

The focus of my research is on Ghana, because I completed a microfinance internship there. The methodology of this research is a combination of direct observation, interviews, and secondary research. Women in Ghana are limited from obtaining greater economic power by formal and informal barriers. Formal barriers are systematic exclusions from resources that prevent women from pursuing greater levels of power, specifically lack of access to capital and unstable political institutions. Informal barriers are perceived by individuals or societies but are not evidenced in the societal structure. Informal barriers that hinder women from progress include community restraints regarding the role …

Managing Warehouse Utilization: An Analysis Of Key Warehouse Resources, Vitaly Brazhkin

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The warehousing industry is extremely important to businesses and the economy as a whole, and while there is a great deal of literature exploring individual operations within warehouses, such as warehouse layout and design, order picking, etc., there is very little literature exploring warehouse operations from a systems approach.

This study uses the Theory of Constraints (TOC) to develop a focused resource management approach to increasing warehouse capacity and throughput, and thus overall warehouse performance, in an environment of limited warehouse resources. While TOC was originally developed for reducing operational bottlenecks in manufacturing, it has allowed companies in other industries, …

The Influence Of Mindfulness During The Travel Anticipation Phase On Search And Choice Behaviors, Search And Choice Outcomes, And Trip Evaluations, Lorraine Taylor

All Dissertations

Anticipation is the first travel phase (Clawson & Knetsch, 1966) and consists of the vacation planning process. Tourists may exhibit varying levels of mindfulness during this phase. Mindfulness is associated with analytic decision making through a heightened sensitivity to one's environment and openness to new information (Langer & Moldoveanu, 2000). This study considered the influence that mindfulness during the travel anticipation phase has on: search and choice behaviors, search and choice outcomes, and trip evaluations. Analysis was also conducted to determine if there was a significant influence on the relationships based on the mediating effect of the amount of the …

The Differentiation And Integration Of Information Technologies: Three Empirical Studies On `Bring Your Own Devices', Zachary R. Steelman

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation examines how the management and configuration of organizational IT portfolios enhance organizations and their employees. Specifically, the theory of the differentiation and integration of information technologies is developed with in-depth examinations of "Bring-Your-Own-Device" (BYOD) policies. Four data collections are utilized: survey vignettes, case studies, agent-based simulations, and a questionnaire survey. Each essay uses a mixed-method approach providing insights into the selection, development, and management of ITs across individual and organizational levels.

Essay 1 explores the impact of BYOD on employees' performance, job satisfaction, and work-life conflicts. The results indicate that IT integration improves performance and job satisfaction, and …