Business Commons^™

Change In Major League Baseball Player Performance After Signing A Long-Term Deal, Matthew J. Cahill

Sport Management Undergraduate

Baseball teams have been trying to understand how player performance changes over the course of their career for decades. Officials have wanted to figure out a better way of determining how much a player should make in their contract by trying to predict how their performance might change in the future. Front office officials need to better understand the importance experience might have when it comes to predicting a player’s future performance. In the previous study by Sturman & Thibodeau (2001), the researchers found that players tended to decline in performance once they signed a long term deal. The current …

The Effect Of Loyalty Program Attributes On Customer’S Booking Choice, Sung Jun Joe

Open Access Theses

A loyalty program is commonly observed in our real world to establish and maintain a customer relationship. However, there is limited research information on the effect of loyalty program schemes on customers' choice in an online booking context. The current study summarized the awards currently offered by major hotels and online travel agencies (OTAs) and examined: 1) customers' preference toward attributes of the loyalty program, 2) within reward attributes, which contributes to an increase in consumers' booking choice, 3) which attributes make customers book on hotel websites rather than on OTA websites, and 4) the interaction between customer involvement and …

Sales Performance And Intuition – The Role Of Gut Feelings, David Locander

Doctoral Dissertations

This dissertation extends the dual theory of salesperson information processing by examining the relationship between salespersons' emotional intelligence (EI) and their preference for and use of decision-making styles (intuition and/or deliberation) in the selling process. This dissertation contains two studies, Study 1 employs a descriptive research design and Study 2 uses experimental manipulations to investigate the role that intuition and deliberation play within the sales process. Data for both studies come from a sample derived from a national online panel of business to business salespeople.

Study 1, using a survey approach, assesses two competing models and one post hoc model …

“Menaxhimi I Stoqeve Dhe Ndikimi I Tij Në Profitin E Kompanisë”, Donat Karaxha

Theses and Dissertations

Inventari apo stoku, është një nga pjesët më kruciale të çdo biznesi të mirëfilltë, duke e pasur përsyshë që profiti është ai i cili bënë diferencë nga të ardhurat nga shitja dhe të ardhurat nga kosto e prodhimit. Tendenca për rritje të profitit paraqet nivelin e prodhimit i cili krijon diferencën më të madhe në mes të ardhurave totale dhe kostos totale. Nëse një kompani rrit profitin, atëherë krijon shpërblime për burimet më të larta te kompanitë.

Rëndësia e menaxhimit të mirëfilltë të stokut është esenciale për funksionimin e të gjitha organizatave dhe kompanive për arsye të shumës së parave …

“Menaxhimi I Stoqeve Dhe Ndikimi I Tij Në Profitin E Kompanisë”, Donat Karaxha

Theses and Dissertations

Inventari apo stoku, është një nga pjesët më kruciale të çdo biznesi të mirëfilltë, duke e pasur përsyshë që profiti është ai i cili bënë diferencë nga të ardhurat nga shitja dhe të ardhurat nga kosto e prodhimit. Tendenca për rritje të profitit paraqet nivelin e prodhimit i cili krijon diferencën më të madhe në mes të ardhurave totale dhe kostos totale. Nëse një kompani rrit profitin, atëherë krijon shpërblime për burimet më të larta te kompanitë.

Rëndësia e menaxhimit të mirëfilltë të stokut është esenciale për funksionimin e të gjitha organizatave dhe kompanive për arsye të shumës së parave …

Menaxhimi I Procesit Të Prokurimit (Përparësitë Dhe Mangësitë), Alban Krasniqi

Theses and Dissertations

Prokurimi publik është një proces, që ka të bëjë me furnizimin me mallra, kryerjen e shërbimeve dhe ekzekutimin e punëve përmes shfrytëzimit të fondeve publike, duke u bazuar në legjislacionin në fuqi mbi prokurimin publik.

Si menaxhohet procesi i prokurimit dhe cilat janë përparësitë dhe mangësitë e këtij procesi? Në kuadër të kësaj pyetjeje, si dhe pyetjeve tjera lidhur me menaxhimin e procesit të prokurimit, jemi përpjekur që në këtë punim t’i japim përgjigjet e duhura. Që përgjigjet të jenë më të plota, më profesionale dhe më shkencore kemi konsultuar literaturën bashkëkohore mbi prokurimin. Gjithashtu, për këtë punim kemi konsultuar …

Aplikimi I Auditimit Të Brendshëm Dhe Të Jashtëm Në Kosovë, Hikmete Veseli

Theses and Dissertations

Auditimi luan rol të rëndësishëm për çdo biznes i cili dëshiron të rris transparencën, besueshmërinë dhe rregullsinë, prandaj kjo është njëra nga arsyet e përzgjedhjes së temës së diplomës. Edhe pse Kosova është shtet i ri dhe në tranzicion me kushtet të cilat ishin të vështira në fillim, shteti ynë në bashkëpunim me vendet mike, ka filluar të bëj hapa të sigurt në aspektin e raportimit dhe kontrollit financiar.

Në këtë punim kam provuar të përshkruaj rëndësinë dhe rolin e Audimit si proces i filluar nga ndërkombëtarët të cilin duhet ta vazhdojmë me aplikimet praktike, llojet e auditimit elementet e …

Nartel Investment Plan 2012 – 2015, Shkumbin Hasani

Theses and Dissertations

This paper will study the Nartel Company Investment Plan 2012 through 2015. The paper will briefly define systems, project management and use of the systems in managing projects. The paper finally will study a case of an Investment Program Budget of the Organization based on their priorities, by approving and funding future projects, as well as monitor and control all projects that the Budget Organization of Nartel Company is implementing. The paper will examine a real life example and by doing that the paper will show advantages of the Investment Plan during the period of 2012 through 2015.

Intelegjenca Biznesore, Valbona Fejzullahu

Theses and Dissertations

Qëllimi i temës është që të përshkruaj implementimin e Intelegjencës Biznesore në kompanie dhe korporata të ndryshme.

Suksesi i Intelegjencës Biznesore është ngushtë i ndërlidhur me kualitetin e marrëdhënieve në kompani si dhe me efikasitetin e proceseve brenda kompanisë. Kompanitë kërkojnë mënyra për t’i analizuar në mënyrë sa më efiçiente sasitë e mëdha të të dhënave që i kanë të mbledhura nga IT sistemet e tyre. Ato janë duke i aplikuar teknologjitë e reja nga Inteligjenca Biznesore që t’a analizojnë çdo aspekt të të dhënave për t’i kuptuar sjelljet e kompanisë dhe të ardhurat, qarkullimin dhe shpenzimet e kompanisë së …

Common Method Variance: An Experimental Manipulation, Alison Wall

Doctoral Dissertations

Although common method variance has been a subject of research concern for over fifty years, its influence on study results is still not well understood. Common method variance concerns are frequently cited as an issue in the publication of self-report data; yet, there is no consensus as to when, or if, common method variance creates bias. This dissertation examines common method variance by approaching it from an experimental standpoint. If groups of respondents can be influenced to vary their answers to survey items based upon the presence or absence of procedural remedies, a better understanding of common method variance can …

May I Help You? How Stereotypes And Innuendoes Influence Service Encounters, Lauren Michelle Brewer

Doctoral Dissertations

"You only get one chance to make a good first impression." The dissertation focuses on marketing agents; among the most visible is the "service provider." Previous research establishes the important role of cognitive social schemata in determining the way consumers react to different types of marketing agents, including service providers. In the literature review, a classification schema is developed for service provider stereotypes derived from theory using social stereotypes. The development of the Service Provider Perception Framework (SPPF) creates a classification for the individual service provider along two main dimensions: competence and affect.

In services design (particularly situations involving a …

Assessing Children's Programs In Country Clubs: A Case Of A Midwest Country Club In The United States, Xiaoying Song

Open Access Theses

Memberships in private clubs have been declining over the past several years due principally to economic downturns, the overbuilding of golf courses, and aging members. Several suggestions have been implemented to solve the problem, but without any positive effect. Recent studies have indicated that emphasizing family and developing children's programs could be the answer. However, issues related to children's programs in this setting have received limited research attention. This study develops an evaluation process to measure the performance of children's programs in country club settings. A mixed-method case study approach was used to collect and analyze data from a Midwest …

Field To Flight: A Techno-Economic Analysis Of Stover To Aviation Biofuels Supply Chain, Amanda C. Bittner

Open Access Theses

Greenhouse gas emissions have been a growing concern. The transportation sector contributes to one-third of GHG emissions in the United States from fossil fuel burning. The Renewable Fuel Standard set a requirement for 16 billion gallons (ethanol equivalent) of cellulosic biofuels to be used in the market. Aviation biofuels can help to meet both of these problems as well as improve U.S. energy security.

Investment in the biofuel industry carries a lot of risk. The biofuel industry is run by the private sector, but can be incentivized by government. Cellulosic biofuels carry even more risk than first generation biofuels, because …

The Use Of Business Intelligence Techniques In Supply Chain Performance, Jue Gu

Open Access Theses

Who likes data? Businesses are always loyal data followers. Companies analyze various forms of data to maintain businesses and identify their current performance in different areas so they can find business opportunities to improve and obtain more market share in advance (Qrunfleh & Tarafdar, 2012). When Big Data comes to businesses, companies who can take advantage of data the best tend to regularly get more business and customers (Waller & Fawcett, 2013). Collecting, analyzing, and demonstrating data could be essential to a single business, a company's supply chain performance and its sustainability. As an intelligent data processing product in terms …

The Importance Of Community Resilience: Developing The American Red Cross International Services Department In The New Hampshire Region, Sarah Romac

Capstone Collection

Disaster management and humanitarian aid organizations have had to reevaluate how communities and individuals can better adapt and prepare for future disaster events. One concept organizations are incorporating into their overall framework is strengthening community resilience. Increasing a community’s resilience level increases its ability to cope with the changes that affect it. Creating awareness of the vulnerabilities in an area, addressing these vulnerabilities with preparedness training, disaster risk reduction (DRR), and sustainable changes made over the long-term can develop a community’s adaptive capacity to be more resilient.

For my practicum, I was given the opportunity to be the International Services …

Behavioral Finance: Factors Influencing Angel Investor Decisions, Robert C. Forrester

Dissertations, Theses and Capstone Projects (Full IR Collection)

Angel investors are individual investors who invest in high-risk projects without the assistance of professional portfolio advisors and are an important source of early-stage entrepreneurial financing. When providing financing, an angel must decide how much time to spend on due diligence, the amount of wealth invested, and the degree of post-investment interaction with entrepreneurs. As they are individual investors, angels may be particularly influenced by behavioral factors. In order to provide insight into the investment decisions of angel investors this dissertation examines angel investor and deal characteristics including demographics, experience, perception of the management team, the source that led the …

Impact Of Transformational Leadership On Job Satisfaction And Organizational Commitment And The Re-Enlistment Intention Of Virginia Army National Guard Soldiers, Kervin Gregory Sider

STEMPS Theses & Dissertations

A key component to the success of the Army National Guard (ARNG) is the retention of its soldiers. The ARNG must maintain enough soldiers to accomplish their mission of supporting the active duty Army. Leadership is one of the important factors that influence soldiers' level of job satisfaction and organizational commitment and ultimately their intention to remain or leave the ARNG. This research study sought to determine the impact of transformational leadership on job satisfaction, organizational commitment, and re-enlistment intention. The research questions guiding this study included: (1) Does transformational leadership impact the re-enlistment intention of first term soldiers, mid-term …

The Antecedents And Effects Of Strategic Caring: A Cross-National Empirical Study, Thomas Weber

Theses and Dissertations in Business Administration

This study develops a new construct, strategic caring, defined as actions taken by top managers within stakeholder relationships to improve the well-being of both the stakeholders and the firm. This construct is based on a review of the multidisciplinary caring literature from which a definition of individual caring was developed through content analysis, and then subjected to conceptual inferences to the organizational level of analysis. Strategic caring focuses on a broad set of firm stakeholders, and this stakeholder orientation suggests that a firm can take actions to improve the well-being of these many stakeholder groups and perform as well as, …

Self-Regulating Teamwork Behaviors In Low-Volume & High-Complexity Production, Aaron W. Powell

Engineering Management & Systems Engineering Theses & Dissertations

An environment of ever increasing competition drives manufacturing organizations to continually search for ways to improve the performance of their production operations. Lean manufacturing, born out of the Toyota Production System (TPS), has become the dominant improvement method sought to meet this need. Although well established in high-volume production settings, the application of lean production methods in low-volume and high-complexity (LVHC) manufacturing contexts has not been as successful. A commonly cited reason is a biased focus on the technical aspects of implementing lean methods with little regard for the social system involved in the change. In the LVHC manufacturing context, …

An Empirical Examination Of The Moderators Of Direct Versus Indirect Comparative Advertising, Chun-Kai Hsu

Theses and Dissertations in Business Administration

This research examines the relative effectiveness of different kinds of comparative advertising. The effects of direct and indirect advertising are discussed and empirically tested. Extant research focuses on the differential effects of comparative and non-comparative advertising. However, with the growing popularity of comparative advertising in recent years, it becomes crucial to examine different kinds of comparative advertisements more closely to provide guidelines to marketing managers in the application of comparative advertising. In the marketing literature, very little has been known about how advertising-specific moderators may influence the effectiveness of direct and indirect comparative advertising. In this dissertation, different advertising-specific moderators …

Three Essays On The Enterprise Strategy For Multinational Firms, Veselina Plamenova Vracheva

Theses and Dissertations in Business Administration

The enterprise strategy (ES) of the firm is the overarching organizational strategy which reflects the firm's degree of integration with society. It asks, "What do we stand for?" Very little is known about the ES; however, it is an important construct which can deepen our understanding of the stakeholder management process and the firm's long-term performance. Unlike much previous ES research, this three-essay dissertation examines both the nature of and the antecedents for ES in a cross-national setting.

The introductory essay offers a conceptual model describing the organizational identity orientation effects on the multinational enterprise's (MNE) ES. Additionally, it shows …

Use Of System Dynamics Modeling To Explicate The Theory-Of-Change Of A Social Marketing Innovation, Brian J. Biroscak

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Community coalitions are an important part of the public health milieu and thus subject to many of the same external pressures as public health organizations--including changes in required strategic orientation. Many funding agencies have shifted their funding agenda from program development to policy change. Thus, the Florida Prevention Research Center created the Community-Based Prevention Marketing for Policy Development framework to teach community coalitions how to apply social marketing to policy change. The dissertation research reported here was designed to explicate the framework's theory-of-change. The research question was: "What are the linkages and connections between CBPM inputs, activities, immediate outcomes, intermediate …

Exploring Generational Differences Between Generation Y And Baby Boomers In Work-Life Balance, Afton Barber

Human Resource Development Theses and Dissertations

With the recent addition of Generation Y to the workforce, workplace dynamics are changing to reflect a labor force which now encompasses the four extant commonly working generations. This study seeks to identify generational differences found between two of the generations in the current workforce, Baby Boomers and Generation Y, by isolating a specific work value, work-life balance, as promoted through managerial practices. Limited research has examined the links among the topics of generational differences, work-life balance, and managerial practices. Therefore, this study will attempt to explore the relationships among the three topics.

The Dynamics Of Business Communication: A Look At Social Media Use In The Workplace, Lindsey Munro

Honors Theses

This paper reviews the use of social media in a work place setting. Reviews on the history of social media and definitions are initially made to prepare the reader for the language of the paper. The main section of the paper covers the advantages and disadvantages of social media use in the work place from the perspective of inside an organization using a private social media platform. Private social media platforms are referred to as enterprise social media. Enterprise social media has advantages and disadvantages when used for communication in team settings, for individual communication and learning, and for knowledge …

An Analysis Of The Impact Of Variation In Mean Time Between Demand On Air Force Fleet Level Aircraft Parts Inventories, Andrew J. Berger, Caleb S. Murphy

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis researched the accuracy of demand forecasting and impact of demand variation on requirements definition for Air Force aircraft secondary items. Specifically, this thesis sought to answer three questions: How does the Air Force calculate item requirements? , How accurate is the current system at predicting future item requirements? , and How do variations in predicted demand change item requirements? The literature review described the Air Force supply system for aircraft secondary items. Analysis into current demand forecast accuracy found that the level of error between actual and predicted historic demand was as high as 92% for the items …

Green Index: Integration Of Environmental Performance, Green Innovativeness And Financial Performance, Ilknur Mary Joy Nirmala Tekin

Dissertations and Theses

The integration of sustainability performance of companies is becoming increasingly important. The recent global requirements (i.e. the Kyoto Protocol) for significant reduction of the negative impact of companies on the environment over the next 6 years have been putting pressure on the companies, requiring them to lower the negative environmental impact of market performance. This requirement challenges the profitable growth of the companies' business functions, given the change needed for business operations to improve on their environmental impact.

In this dissertation a new corporate sustainability performance index, called: The Green Index, for measuring and assessing the integrated sustainability performance of …

Exploring Capability Maturity Models And Relevant Practices As Solutions Addressing It Service Offshoring Project Issues, Rosine Hanna Salman

Dissertations and Theses

Western countries' information technology and software intensive firms are increasingly producing software and IT services in developing countries. With this swift advancement in offshoring, there are many issues that can be investigated which will enable companies to maximize their benefits from offshoring. However, significant challenges can occur throughout the lifecycle of offshoring IT service projects that turn the potential benefits into losses. This research investigated CMM/CMMI best practices and their effects on managing and mitigating critical issues associated with offshore development.

Using a web based survey, data was collected from 451 Information Technology and software development firms in the US. …

Multi-Perspective Technology Assessment To Improve Decision Making: A Novel Approach Using Fuzzy Cognitive Mapping For A Large-Scale Transmission Line Upgrade, Richard Chad Sperry

Dissertations and Theses

The objective of the technology assessment (TA) process is to understand problematic and undesirable consequences from the development and application of technology. TA advocates for the engagement of technology experts and stakeholders to understand the effects of technology. However, TA is often criticized that the decision-making process is not transparent - leaving stakeholders wondering if their contributions were heard. Furthermore, the methods have limited capability for conducting tradeoff analysis between the organizational objectives and conflicting stakeholder perspectives that can result in unintended consequences. Finally, these methods are static making it difficult to update and reassess decision alternatives when new information …

Participation In Technology Standards Development: A Decision Model For The Information And Communications Technology Industry, Ramin Neshati

Dissertations and Theses

There is a dearth of decision-support models or frameworks to aid managers in the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) industry in uniformly assessing the key factors in the decision to standardize innovative technologies. Making the proper decision is consequential and potentially fraught with risks for the firm such as competitive exposure, high expenditures with inadequate returns, restrictive inbound or outbound patent licensing obligations, and related complications.

This study presents a framework to guide managers in the ICT industry in assessing the factors that inform the decision to participate in the development of technology standards. Using multi-criteria decision analysis and judgment …

The Rhetoric Of Corporate Identity: Corporate Social Responsibility, Creating Shared Value, And Globalization, Carolyn Day

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

In today's global political and media climate, the stakes are high for corporations, local or otherwise, to create and maintain an `ethical' perception of not only their daily business activities and how they can benefit society or protect the environment, but also their enduring characteristics or `corporate identity' (Conrad, 2011) for numerous, sometimes conflicting stakeholder audiences (Cheney, 1983). This dissertation examines how such forms of `socially responsible' corporate identities are created and maintained through the use of persuasive language. In particular it examines the role and implications of rhetoric within the contexts of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), as well as …