Business Commons^™

Strategic Information Systems Alignment: A Longitudinal Investigation, Chowa Kachaka Charles

Dissertations

The alignment between business and information systems’ strategies (strategic IS alignment) has occupied researchers’ and practitioners’ interest over the past two decades. This is due to the belief that strategic IS alignment positively affects business performance. However, despite the concerted effort in seeking to understand the alignment phenomenon, executives in organizations continue to complain of the difficulty in achieving and sustaining alignment. This may be due to a lack of a comprehensive model of alignment that takes into account its dynamic nature and the factors that affect it over time. Therefore, this study seeks to add to our accumulated knowledge …

A Test Of The Cwb-Ocb Emotion-Centered Model, Ernest O'Boyle

Theses and Dissertations

Discretionary behaviors such as counterproductive work behaviors (CWBs) and organizational citizenship behaviors (OCBs) exist outside of the job description, but these behaviors nevertheless have profound influence on the organization and its members. Using Spector and Fox’s (2002) General OCB-CWB emotion centered model as the conceptual framework, I tested a specific model with personality, perceptions of the workplace, and emotional processes as antecedents of both OCB and CWB. The proposed model fit the data well and the results indicated that the emotional processes of burnout and engagement partially mediate the individual and organizational antecedents.

Redefining Green: The Green Marketing Dilemma And Redirecting Our Actions With Purpose, Amberley Gutscher

Honors Capstone Projects and Theses

No abstract provided.

Marketing Analysis For Ruiz Foods Products In Convenience Stores, Kristin Gabrielle Noga

Agribusiness

This study was undertaken to determine whether or not the location of convenience stores that are in close proximity to a freeway have an impact on the sales of Ruiz Foods products. Store audits were conducted in the months of January and February, 2010 using twenty convenience stores from two major convenience store chains that carried Ruiz Foods products: Johnny Quick and Circle K. As a sample for this study, six cities in California were used: Clovis, Fresno, Selma, Fowler, Dinuba, and Bakersfield. Store locations were selected by the company’s marketing department preferences. The store audits posed questions assessing: the …

Determining Consumer Interest In Georgian Wines, Julie Ann Inderbitzen

Agribusiness

This study was done in order to determine if there is a demand in California for wines originating in the Eastern European Country of Georgia. A survey was used in order to collect primary data from 100 respondents in two locations. The surveys were conducted in Pleasanton, CA and in San Luis Obispo, CA and were later analyzed using surveymonkey.com Microsoft Excel 2008. The data was analyzed using chi square tests, independent t-tests as well as observed frequencies and charts. The tests were used to determine demographic data about California wine consumers and to measure their interest in wines from …

Marketing Concept And Its Application In Kosova’S Enterprises, Halil Krasniqi

Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

The Financial Crisis 2010: The Role Of The Shadow Banking System, John Grogan

Business/Business Administration

The financial crisis of 2008 was the result of a number of factors affecting the global economy. Although the problems originated with subprime borrowers and the fear of loan defaults, several other factors contributed to the crisis. The Federal Reserve, rating agencies and the shadow banking system played significant roles in the 2008 collapse. The shadow banking in particular affected the financial crisis in unprecedented ways that magnified the problem and created a global credit crisis. The government sponsored entities Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac made loan guarantees and involved themselves in other questionable practices that the American taxpayers have …

Zipped Magazine: The Public Relations Campaign, Naomi Ratner

Renée Crown University Honors Thesis Projects - All

Zipped Magazine: The Public Relations Campaign is a compilation of public relations efforts created and executed in order to raise awareness about Zipped, the only fashion-focused print magazine at Syracuse University. The campaign involves four components, including the following: first, a media kit in order to provide informational materials to the press and the public; second, social media efforts to create an online presence for Zipped; third, news releases to notify media of happenings and events at Zipped; and fourth, news coverage of Zipped in local Syracuse media.

Innovation In Academic Institutions: How A Pharmaceutical Company Capitalizes On University Connections In Its Board Of Directors, Ryan Fannon

Renée Crown University Honors Thesis Projects - All

This study attempts to identify the types of pharmaceutical companies that utilize university employees as directors on their boards and if in fact having university connections on a pharmaceutical board impacts company performance. Board-level data from 2009 and firm-level data from 2008 was gathered for 109 pharmaceutical companies that varied greatly in size and geographic location. The key findings of this study were that the larger the pharmaceutical company and the greater the R&D expense of that company the more likely the company would have university connections on its board of directors; the larger the company, the better the universities …

Entrepreneurship In The Digital Age, Matthew Jared Cohen

Renée Crown University Honors Thesis Projects - All

The following Capstone Project delves into the topic of Internet entrepreneurship, specifically analyzing what it takes to turn an idea into a successful online venture. The first part of the project takes a look at the start-ups of Internet entrepreneurs, including both successes and failures. Such businesses include the CollegeBound Network, Apple, eBay, Twitter, Pets.com, Webvan, eToys, Kozmo, Facebook, Google, and Amazon. It addresses decisions that were made and how such decisions positively or negatively impacted the companies. By analyzing the businesses and their founders, we can gain much insight into what works and what does not. There were some …

Cusemycampus Business Plan, Brian Weinreich

Renée Crown University Honors Thesis Projects - All

Many students who arrive at Syracuse wish they knew more of the “inside scoop” in all aspects of the university. With the advent of Web 2.0, the Internet is now mainly dominated by social networking services. The formation and success of companies like Facebook, CollegeHumor, and Twitter show the extent to which students are connected constantly via the Internet throughout the day. One of the key problems with these large websites, such as Facebook and CollegeHumor, is the disconnect between the user and his community. These websites are successful on a large scale, but the niche small scale must be …

A Non-Profit Guide To Social Media How To Build A Presence In The Social Networking World, Laura Voigt

Renée Crown University Honors Thesis Projects - All

Social media and networking platforms have changed the game. Web 2.0 has put the power of the Internet into the hands of the user. Businesses and organizations are no longer the only ones with something to say. This can be daunting for companies and brands, but it can also be brilliant, especially for

Non-profits.

Today, hundreds of millions of people across the globe are online sharing information with friends, family, co-workers, and complete strangers via various social networking platforms. These users share everything from photos and videos to advice and opinions, passing on the information that they deem important to …

Corporate Personhood, Cash's Corruption, And The Role Of Public Relations Leadership, Joonas Niiholm

Renée Crown University Honors Thesis Projects - All

The role of the corporation in today’s society is complex and significant. This paper examines the evolution of the corporation from a narrowly constructed entity to that which resembles a human being in behavior, as a result of social construction. By examining the actions of a corporation through the lens of a human, it hopes to shed light on the profound impact corporations have on our society and the devastation they cause when operating in pursuit of profit above all else. Drawing on current research of Corporate Social Responsibility, a new way to do business that resembles the way an …

Does Financial Information Drive Donations To Not For Profit Organizations?, Kristen Paglia

Renée Crown University Honors Thesis Projects - All

Abstract not Included

Creating A Wellness Program For Hotel Front Desk Employees, Karima Abdel-Moty

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

The majority of hotel front desk employees fulfill their job demands in generally similar ways, in terms of workplace conditions. The demanding and hectic nature of this job results in very tangle physical and emotional effects on the employee. Through an analysis of current literature, guidelines on implementing a wellness program suited specifically for hotel front desk employees will be created. Through successful implementation of an employee wellness program, management will be able to provide effective job resources that will result in engaged front desk employees, and consequently, higher levels of customer service, productivity, and profitability.

A Case Study On The Effect Of Information Technology Related Interface Issues On Overall Guest Experience In Hyatt Place Hotels In The U.S., Vasuki Bellary

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Information technology has evolved and has become a major part of every aspect of business. Hotel industry has accepted changes in IT and is now moving towards fully integrating new technologies in order to fulfill the goal of guest satisfaction. Several systems are examined in this case study based on the Hyatt place model to see if their functionality has an effect on the guest satisfaction and their overall experience in the hotel setting. The results are inconclusive from this case study since a modified survey is utilized due to time and resource constraints. However there is a lot of …

Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort And Spa Disaster Recovery Plan, Matthew Ellis

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

The Grand Hyatt Kauai (GHK) was opened in 1991 and sits on the beautiful south side of the Island of Kauai. This location makes the Grand Hyatt Kauai prone to disaster from a number of events. As a result, preparations for such events must be made and implemented. All staff must be made aware of the possibilities for disasters as well as what they should do in the event of a disaster.

Earthy Bride, Melissa S. Foerster

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

There are nearly 2.5 million couples getting married in the United States each year (Harrison, 2008, pg. xi). That breaks down to more than 6,300 weddings in a single day. The average wedding in the United States “produces 63 tones of CO2 and 400-600 pounds of trash” and therefore, newlyweds are creating over 3,500,000 pounds of trash in a single at their weddings (Harrison, 2009, ¶ 2)! The green movement is on the rise and wedding industry needs to implement it to meet new demands. In order to do people need to be informed of the importance, benefits and savings …

The Boys' Club: An Exploration Into The Social World Of A Las Vegas Casino Sports Book, Frederick W. Krauss

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

This ethnography of the La Mesa Casino Sports Book explores the characteristics that frame the social world its regular patrons create. Specifically, I explain the characteristics of La Mesa’s sports bettors, the types of people who bet on sports, the mechanisms used to sustain participation in the scene, and how the sports bettors view themselves, their social world, and those outside of it. I argue that regular sports book patrons do not use the environment simply for sports betting. Rather, their complex interactional dynamics create a robust social world they come back to again and again to create a meaningful …

Financial Management Practices And Conflict Management Styles Of Couples In Great Marriages, Amanda Marie Horrocks

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

This study presents findings on the financial management practices and degrees of conflict of couples in great marriages. Qualitative data from a national sample of couples in great marriages were collected using a 31-page questionnaire. Of the 81 couples who responded, 40 fit the criteria for this study in that they discussed their level of agreement about financial issues in marriage. Their responses were coded to discover which financial topics are pervasive and whether or not couples agreed over these topics. Responses about conflict were also analyzed to determine the degree of agreement between spouses in different categories. Findings from …

Family-Owned Businesses: Determinants Of Business Success And Profitability, Jeffrey S. Wallace

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The purpose of this study was to examine many factors associated with family-owned businesses that lead to business success and profitability. The panel data used in this study came from the 1997 and 2000 waves of the National Family Business Study (NFBS). Many independent variables from the 1997 wave (e.g., age, gender, managerial activities, business size, home-based, business problems) were tested to predict business success and profitability (dependent variables), which were variables from the 2000 wave.

Some of the descriptive analyses indicated that, compared to female managers, male managers perceived less business success, participated more in managerial activities, managed older …

An Examination Of Integrated Rural Tourism Development In The Goris Region Of Armenia, Luke Alan Petersen

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Rural tourism is a popular development tool in both developed and developing countries. However, rural economic development can be problematic when considering the diversity of resources and stakeholder groups. In the Republic of Armenia the current system of tourism development is not benefiting rural communities in the regions. This study seeks to provide a deeper understanding of community dynamics in the rural region of Goris through the study of tourism integration. A novel assessment tool is implemented which provides a systematic qualitative evaluation of stakeholder perceptions through which strengths and weaknesses of the local tourism sector are derived. Data extracted …

Illegal Substance Abuse In The Full-Service Restaurant Industry: An Evaluation Of Pre-Employment Drug-Testing, Miranda Kitterlin

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

The purpose of this research is to assess the effect of pre-employment drug-testing policies on employee attitudes and aspects of work performance in the full-service restaurant industry. Specifically, this study attempts to compare the rate of absenteeism, turnover, and work-related accidents and injuries in full-service restaurants with pre-employment drug-testing policies against the aforementioned aspects of work performance in full-service restaurants without pre-employment drug-testing polices. This research also attempts to explore the perceptions, attitudes, and beliefs of full-service restaurant hourly employees and management staff in regards to pre-employment drug-testing policies in the full-service restaurant industry. For the purpose of this study, …

Enhanced Food Marketing To Children On The Internet: A Content Analysis, Sarah A. Ochsner

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

In light of the continuing epidemic of childhood obesity, aggressive food marketing strategies have come under increased scrutiny as a possible contributing factor. It has been acknowledged in numerous studies, that poor nutrient quality of food and beverages dominate children's programming. The growth in child-specific media envoys has further increased favorable opportunities to market food and beverages to children, notably less regulated and parentally unsupervised. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 65% of children aged 6-11 have home access to the Internet; and today, the majority of food manufacturers operate websites appealing to children. The Institute of Medicine issued a …

Which Financing Model Is Right For Hotel Properties? An Exploratory Study Of Financing Models Highlighting The Practice And Effects Of Different Financing Models Adopted By Hotel Industries In Usa And Singapore, Keng Tiong Christopher Goh

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

The high debt-financing model adopted by hotel owners in United States had contributed to a large number of foreclosures during the economic downturn. In contrast, the conservative financing model adopted by hotel owners in Singapore had sheltered them through the past recessions. Cultural values may have influenced the types of financing model adopted by hotel owners. Americans have a value system of using borrowed money to invest, while Singaporeans have a value system of saving for rainy days and spending within one’s means.

The studies concluded that hotel owners in the United States and Singapore should consider Juglar’s nine to …

Employee Theft: Determinants Of Motive And Proactive Solutions, David Langner

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Theft in the workplace, specifically performed by the employees, is a daunting situation for American business - both corporate and small proprietorships. This paper calls upon available literature to provide an in-depth analysis that focuses on employee's motive to steal from their employer and the potential proactive solutions organizations can implement to deter theft by improving morale and trust in the workplace. The topic will be examined from a linear fashion that looks at the concept of employee theft and common motivational determinants such as employer resentment, animosity, and the perception of fairness. Next, numerous organizations have adopted theft detection …

An Implementation Guide For Strategic Meeting Management Programs In Small To Mid-Size Meeting Firms, Monique Williams

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

This study will establish a working guide on how to implement a strategic meeting management guide for meeting planners who are employed by small to mid-size companies. This comprehensive manual will detail processes of how to accurately measure meeting and travel spend, gain cross-company leverage and apply methods for making meetings purpose-driven. This study will incorporate best practices as established by industry standards which will be specifically tailored to meet the needs of planners in smaller firms. The desired outcome will be a solid and manageable guide that planners can use to secure their role as a strategic partner to …

Towards A Deeper Understanding Of The Use And Effectiveness Of Human Resource Dashboards, Roopa Shashikant Bhopale

Business/Business Administration

The goal of this thesis is to examine the factors which influence the effectiveness of human resource (HR) dashboards and the antecedents which motivate employees to use them. To do this, I have examined research on executive information systems (EIS) and dashboards and have developed models of the factors which lead to HR dashboard use and success. Looking to this idea that a dashboard is a relative of executive information systems, EIS literature was used to provide the factors in the models of dashboard use and success. In hopes of being able to develop more used and more effective dashboards, …

Investigating Efficiencies Of Long And Inverse Etf Pairs, Daren Pon

Business/Business Administration

No abstract provided.

Do Hedged Mutual Funds Hedge?, Steven Newton

Business/Business Administration

Mutual funds using hedge fund strategies, known as “hedged mutual funds,” have experienced rapid growth in recent years. In theory, these funds should provide a source of diversification for retail investors however the 2008 credit crisis negated the expected benefits of many equity diversifiers. Between 2004 and 2009, hedged mutual funds underperform hedge funds using similar strategies. In contrast, hedged mutual funds outperform the S&P 500 although funds with a market neutral strategy underperform the risk-free rate. These findings suggest that, when compared to a long-only equity strategy, hedged mutual funds offer retail investors improved performance in bear markets.