Business Commons^™

Essays On Corporate Finance, Hari Prasad Adhikari

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

We compare acquisition activity, method of payment choice, and the long-run value implications of acquisitions by newly public single-class and dual-class US companies. Our results show that dual-class IPO firms make relatively more acquisitions in innovative industries and are less likely to pay with stock as compared to single-class IPO firms. We provide evidence that the reluctance of dual-class firms to pay with stock is not related to the insiders' cash-flow rights but it is significantly positively related to the insiders' voting rights and wedge between the insiders' voting rights and cash-flow rights. We also find that acquiring dual-class IPOs …

Studies In Volatility, Nazli Sila Alan

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

This dissertation consists of five chapters that focus on the price discovery role of equity markets and examine the evolution of intraday stock price volatility as a key measure of market quality. Using six differentiated measures of intraday volatility (that mostly focus on the opening half-hour of trading), all common stocks listed at three stock exchanges with varying levels of fragmentation are analyzed: NYSE and NASDAQ stocks over the period 1993-2012, and Istanbul Stock Exchange (ISE) stocks over the period 2000-2011.

The results on the evolution of intraday volatility presented in Chapters 2 and 3 indicate the following: In 1993, …

Bureaupathology And Organizational Fraud Prevention: Case Studies Of Fraud Hotlines, Chelsea Ann Binns

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

This dissertation examined the effect of organizational bureaucracy on fraud hotline performance. Fraud hotlines are used to receive anonymous fraud tips from employees in all sectors to prevent and detect fraud. This work contributes to the research on fraud hotlines, which today is very light. This work also examined individual hotline performance against organization theory, which is absent in the literature. The literature also doesn't include studies using social media data to determine organizational climate. This work contributes to that literature by providing a collective case study examination of the fraud hotlines in six organizations. Their hotline performance was examined …

Homeostasis-Driven Responses To Consumer Sensations, Rhonda Hadi

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

This research examines the effect of experienced physical temperature on an individual's decision-making process. Reliance on emotions can function as a warming process and reliance on cognitions can function as a cooling process, hence individuals are nonconsciously induced to alter their decision-making style according to their thermoregulatory objectives. My first two studies support a thermoregulatory account by demonstrating that the mere use of cognitive versus affective processing leads to both self-reported and objective changes in body temperature, and that the adoption of a compensatory pathway can indeed aid in providing temperature-related comfort. My last three studies demonstrate that individuals adopt …

Essays On Non-Gaap Earnings Disclosure, Hangsoo Kyung

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

Essay1: The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) issued new Compliance and Disclosure Interpretations (CDI) in 2010, relaxing enforcement of Regulation G and Regulation S-K. The nonbinding nature and opaque procedures behind interpretive guidance cast doubt as to whether SEC staff interpretations changed a firm's voluntary disclosure. In this paper, I find that firms more frequently disclose non-GAAP earnings after the issuance of new CDI, suggesting that nonbinding SEC staff interpretations influence corporate disclosure practice. Compared to the pre-CDI period, non-GAAP exclusions are of higher quality in the post-CDI period. The exclusion quality of firms who started to disclose non-GAAP …

Wearing Your Heart On Your Sleeve: The Effects Of Conspicuous Compassion On Identity Signaling And Charitable Behavior, Zoe Rogers

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

Conspicuous compassion is one type of prosocial behavior that involves the purchase and wearing of merchandise that supports a cause. This research considers the effects that conspicuous compassion has on signaling to others and signaling to the self and the factors that influence these types of signaling. This research shows that self-signaling is influenced more by whether the merchandise supported (vs. did not support) a cause, while other-signaling is more influenced by the public (vs. private) dimension of the message on the merchandise. This research also examines a two-path model of the effects of conspicuous compassion on subsequent charitable behavior, …

An Approach To Understanding Through Practice: Contextual Analysis Of A High School--College Latina/O And Latin American Studies Collaborative Program, Gabriel Antonio Higuera

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

Collaborative, interdisciplinary, multigenerational, and culturally-rooted educational programs benefit students of historically marginalized groups in the United States. This paper employs critical race theory (CRT) as a means to better understand the greater dynamics undergirding the achievement gap. CRT also serves as a basis for the narrative description of the high school-college collaborative program I created and developed in Phoenix, Arizona, from 2002 to 2006. The program model features 2-year and 4-year college students co-facilitating dialogues on Latina/o and Latin American Studies at participating high schools. Collaborative program structures are analyzed with a focus on their ability to invite community input …

Testing The Relationships Among Transformational Factors In A Postsecondary Environment, Gayle B. Wooten

Human Resource Development Theses and Dissertations

The external environment is forcing many higher education institutions into transformational change. However, institutional change remains elusive and little research exists that explains how organizational change has been implemented in higher education. This study employed structural equation modeling to test the transformational factors in the Burke-Litwin Organizational Performance and Change model (1992) in a statewide technical college system. Results suggest the extraordinary influence of the external environment in the host organization permeates the culture and mission and strategy, weakening the role of leadership in the organization. The findings support the need for future research in the unique role of transformational …

Law Estates Wine, Devon Pitts, Cheyenne Jepsen, Will Akkaya

Case Studies in Agribusiness

Law Estate Wine differentiates its high end wines through quality and highly personal wine tastings. Believing that word of mouth and personal experience is the best way to market high end wines, Law offers tastings only through appointments, with 4-6 people per tasting. They also submit wines to selective wine journals and competitions. This selective business model appears to be successful for this boutique (under 10,000 cases) winery.

Lone Madrone Winery And Bristols Cider, Kallo Collines, Asher Hoffman, Paul Ogden

Case Studies in Agribusiness

Neil Collins, the award winning wine maker at Tablas Creek and Lone Madrone wineries, is originally from Bristol, England, where he grew up enjoying apple ciders. This case follows his transition from the culinary to wine industry, and how he learned wine making from some the best wine makers in the Central Coast of California to become the head wine maker at an established winery and part owner of his own smaller winery. The case also explores how his cider making hobby became a commercial business, and the growth of the fledgling US cider industry.

Saint Archer Brewing Company: A New Way Of Marketing Craft Beer, Conor Lowery, Dillon Irving, Zac Shippey, Jackson Egan

Case Studies in Agribusiness

Josh Landan and friends Mikey Taylor and Paul Rodriguez were well know stars in the skate and surf worlds. They were frequently asked to endorse new craft beers in the rapidly growing San Diego market. Rather than endorsing an existing company, they decided to start their own enterprise, which led to St. Archer Beer.

Vegetable Production Concentration In Northwest Mexico, Desiree Michelle Danel

Master's Theses

An American company that supplies premium quality hybrid vegetable seed to commercial growers in the southern part of the US, Mexico, and Central America sought an assessment of the market potential in the Northwest region of Mexico by identifying land area and production concentrations of vegetables by location, crop, and cultivation method, whether open-field, greenhouse, or shade house.

Data on the cultivated area of four states in the Northwest region of Mexico was collected for 12 crops of interest for the period of 2003-2012 from secondary sources. Data was entered into a statistical software program to complete frequency distribution charts …

The Economic Feasibility Of Establishing A Pine Nut Orchard In California, Jason Joseph Colombini

Agribusiness

The purpose of this project was to determine where pine nuts could be grown in California and if they would be economically feasible to grow in California.

There is very limited information for growing pine nuts in a domesticated orchard. Areas where there was a lack of information were completed with assumptions using costs for walnuts. Once all costs were determined, they were entered into an Excel spreadsheet for analysis.

It has been concluded that pine nuts could be grown in California, mainly in the far northern intermountain regions such as Modoc County. The breakeven for the enterprise would not …

Sustainability: An Examination Of Trends In The Floral Industry, Emily Gaul

Recreation, Parks, and Tourism Administration

Sustainability in the floral industry is a constantly changing subject. As more products are created for florists to use in their designs, sustainability will evolve and be redefined. The purpose of this study was to examine the sustainable trends in growing, designing, and marketing within the floral industry. As seen in the companies analyzed, each business plan constitutes a different set of practices that are utilized for the benefit of that company. An applied best practices analysis was conducted on the floral industry’s trends in sustainability. In the floral industry, businesses are shifting away from importing and focusing on local …

Beef Export Price Response To Sanitary Status And Traceability Systems: Implications For Paraguay, Silvana Careaga

Master's Theses

Global beef markets are highly influenced by sanitary issues, mainly related to animal health and food safety, which have been determining levels and trends in global beef trade. Food safety issues affecting human health such as bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) associated with Creutzfeldt-Jacob Disease (vCJD) in humans, and other diseases affecting production such as foot and mouth disease (FMD) has encouraged putting these issues to beef trade attention. A way to address these concerns and comply with international standards is the use of traceability systems in order to quickly identify hazard sources and assure beef quality and safety. The goal …

Drenched Fitness: Marketing Toward Men, Erin Sydni Abzug

Communication Studies

No abstract provided.

Guerrilla Marketing, Anesa Ramaxhiku

Theses and Dissertations

This research was done for reaching results related to the use of Guerrilla Marketing in Kosovo. The objective of the research was to find out, how much the companies in general use Guerrilla Marketing, what are the benefits of using it, does it create brand awareness, while explaining why it is not yet very common in Kosovo.

In this study it was used a qualitative research technique. Three research propositions were made to analyze the effect of using Guerrilla Marketing and its usage in Kosovo. The first research question aims to find out rather guerrilla marketing gains profits for companies. …

Tregjet E Parasë, Pleurat Hoti

Theses and Dissertations

Nevoja per nje treg te parave lind per shkak se te hyrat e njesive ekonomike nuk perputhen me shpenzimet e tyre. Keto njesi mund te mbajne bilancet e parave - qe perfshine bilance te transaksioneve ne forme monetare, depozitave me kerkese, ose llogarite me urdher pagese dhe terheqje - per te siguruar qe shpenzimet e planifikuara mund te mbahen ne menyre te pavarur nga parate e gatshme te arketuara.

Qellimi kryesor i tregjeve financiare eshte transferimi i fondeve nga huadhenesit tek huamarresit. Pjesemarresit e tregut financiar zakonisht bejne dallimin ne mes te "tregut te kapitalit" dhe "tregut te parase", me …

Kujdesi Ndaj Konsumatorit Në Kompanitë Publike Dhe Private - Dallimet Dhe Ngjashmerite Ne Sektorin Publik Dhe Privat, Ylli Krasniqi

Theses and Dissertations

Duke u nisur nga fakti që klienti është faktori më i rëndësishëm i cdo biznesi qoftë ai publik apo privat, në disa institucione në Kosovë kjo mbetet ende sfida më e madhe tani për tani. Ky material është studim mbi ndikimin e përkujdesit ndaj konsumatorit në institucionet publike dhe ato private. Nga ky studim del se rëndësi më të madhe ndaj klientëve i japin institucione private se ato shoqërore, edhe pse nga ky aspekt mund të themi që institucionet shoqerore e kanë me te rregulluar cështjen e rëndesisë së konsumatorit përmes të politikave institucionale, kodeve të ndryshme (kodi I etikës) …

Sales Incentives And Sales Performance: The Moderating Effect Of Cultural Dimensions, Morten Brante

Dissertations, Theses and Capstone Projects (Full IR Collection)

An increasingly globalized world requires businesses to operate across countries and cultures. Managing a business in international markets adds complexity and challenges that can lead to strategic mistakes in dealing with customers, employees and suppliers. Culture impacts many aspects of business. Proper management of culture can lead to competitive advantages. Companies use sales incentives to motivate their sales force and customers in an effort to optimize sales performance. Despite a growing interest in international sales research, few studies address the impact of culture on sales performance. This research will contribute by exploring the moderating effect of culture on sales incentives …

Designing An E-Commerce Website For Summit Outdoor Supply (S.O.S.), Eliott Kentaro Mason

Graphic Communication

The purpose of this study was to design an appealing and easy to use e-commerce website for a startup company called Summit Outdoor Supply (S.O.S.) in order for them to expand their customer base and continue to grow. This new website will provide customers with a convenient online store to order S.O.S.’s unique survival gear products at the click of a button.

This study investigated the requirements to design a successful e-commerce website along with increasing visibility of the company through search engine optimization techniques. A usability testing questionnaire was sent out to students, faculty, and personal friends through e-mail …

Why Buying Local Will Soon Be Everyday Life: An Inquiry Of Local Food Markets, Logan M. Spittler

Graphic Communication

The purpose of this study was to determine the customer preferences between buying produce from local farmers’ markets verses buying produce from supermarkets within San Luis Obispo County and determine if the application of a delivery service of said produce would be successful. Surveys were conducted with one hundred and sixty individuals in San Luis Obispo County. Participants were asked a series of questions about purchasing preference, interest in a produce delivery service, and about other information they may want to know before purchasing produce. Student responses were compared to non-students from the San Luis Obispo County for contrasts of …

The Role Of Social Media In The Fashion Industry: How Fashion Blogging Encourages Two-Way Symmetrical Communication, Leila Durmaz

Journalism

Over the past few years, social media and digital media have drastically changed how people consume content, especially in the fashion industry. People are no longer picking up magazines as often as they have in the past. Today, content is consumed online and people are not only reading content, but they are offering their feedback through comments and social media. Multiple types of fashion blogs managed by everyday people are giving consumers an inside look into what used to be an exclusive, fashion-experts-only industry. This study looks at fashion blogging and social media within the fashion industry and how it …

A Feminist Exploration Of Gender And Communication In The Professional Sales Workplace, Chelsea Heil

Communication Studies

For many years, the sales profession has been largely male-dominated, however recently there has been more and more women are taking on this career choice (Dawson, 1997). In order to better understand the implications of this change, I propose to conduct a critical analysis that addresses the roles of women in the sales profession. Primarily, I will engage in a feminist exploration of gender and communication in the professional workplace with regards to the sales profession.

Water In The 21st Century, Grayson Michael Shor

Social Sciences

The aim of this research project is to provide a comprehensive and global analysis of water use in order to provide the reader with a comprehensive grasp of current and impending issues. The included five (5) chapters discuss water distribution, conservation, purification, law, international development, economic debates, ethical consideration, as well as educated estimations of the effects water related issues may cause in the next one-hundred years.

Patient Safety Culture And High Reliability Organizations, Jared D. Padgett

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

A 1999 evaluation of case studies performed by staff from the Institute of Medicine found that between 40,000 and 98,000 patients died from preventable errors, while 43,598 individuals died in car accidents that year. A 2011 report increased that estimate nearly 10 times. Widespread preventable patient harm still occurs despite an increase in healthcare regulations. High-reliability organization theory has contributed to improved safety and may potentially reverse this trend. This explorative single case study explored how the perceptions and experiences of nursing and respiratory staff affected the successful transition of a healthcare organization into a reliability-seeking organization. Fourteen participants from …

Connecting The Disciplinary Dots: Faculty Attitudes Toward The Professionalization Of Web Development, Kathleen Mary Kalata

Dissertations

Professionalization offers rewards such as prestige, financial benefits and autonomy. Fields such as nursing and social work have undergone the professionalization process. This exploratory study examined faculty attitudes regarding the professionalization of web development as defined by the Hall model of professionalism. The purpose of the study was to understand how faculty view web development as a profession. Based on the Hall’s Professionalism Scale (1968) and modified survey by Snizek (1972), the Web Development Professionalism Inventory (WDPI) was used to explore faculty attitudes toward professionalization.

This study surveyed faculty about their views on the structural and attitudinal components of web …

Individual, Disease, And Work-Related Factors Associated With Work Patterns, Presenteeism And Sick Pay Policy Of The Colorectal Cancer Survivor After Treatment, Kristin A. Roper

Graduate Doctoral Dissertations

Participation of colorectal cancer survivors (CRC) in the workforce has been described by clinicians, survivors, and researchers as a way to improve mood, quality of life (QOL), and survival. Maintaining self-esteem and financial independence have also been attributed to continued employment of the CRC survivor. The purpose of this cross-sectional survey was to describe patterns of employment of the CRC survivor and to examine the individual, disease, and work-related factors that influence presenteeism and perceived adequacy of sick pay (ASP) policy. The Conceptual Model of Nursing and Health Policy and the Pathways to Work Life Recovery guided the design, selection …

The Effects Of Social Media & Web Development On Product Promotion & The Effects Of Branding On Sales And Building A Startup, Scott Toshiro Burns, Galen Quan Tran

Graphic Communication

The purpose of this study was to identify the key components needed to make a startup. This included created making a landing page and also driving traffic to the page through Facebook. On the landing page section, there was a test to see what would provide the best user experience using Squarespace. This entailed looking into different layouts and using analytics to determine how effective the landing page was in converting customers. In terms of Facebook research, went into looking into creating a method into driving leads into the prospect pipeline. A campaign was run to gather all the data …

Electronic Student-Form Management System, Donia I. Alsayed

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

The development of technology has made the world a smaller place where communicating instantaneously irrespective of the geographical location is a way of life. Electronic Forms (E-FORMS) are an easy way to communicate efficiently with students. At present, universities are still using old systems for communication where efforts to improve the system is a lethargic process. As most of these universities are still using student forms manually, the introduction of E-FORMS will speed up the whole process and positively impact in communicating efficiency. In addition, the inconvenience of making numerous visits to the university is sometimes seen as a hassle …