Business Commons^™

The Response To Left-Wing Radicalism In Portland, Oregon, From 1917 To 1941, Andrew Nils Bryans

Dissertations and Theses

In the early twentieth century industrial, political, and social conflicts occurred throughout the United States during a period of rapid industrialization and modernization. Examples of these disputes, such as labor strikes and political struggles, have frequently been the subjects of scholarly investigations. Yet certain aspects of these conflicts remain relatively unknown, particularly on the community and local levels. The purpose of the present study was to explore and provide the context for a better understanding of the motives behind the responses of antiradicals to left-wing radicalism. What were some of the social, cultural, and economic motivations of local antiradicals in …

‘Sworn’ Versus ‘Civilian’ Career Development Paths In The Fire Service In Nevada, Kelly Blackmon

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

The Clark County Fire Department has no formal career development path for fire prevention (civilian) personnel as it does for suppression (sworn) personnel. The purpose of this paper is to compare the career paths developed for suppression personnel and prevention personnel in five fire departments throughout the State of Nevada. Each department was chosen because they have over 100 total employees. Three dimensions relevant to the extent to which a career development path exists were identified and each department was assessed terms of these dimensions. The results illustrated the need to enhance the career development path in prevention to more …

Louisiana Mass Media Perceptions Of The Lsu Agcenter's Communications Effort, Robert James Soileau

LSU Master's Theses

LSU AgCenter Communications sends news stories and materials to all three major mass media for news - newspaper, radio and television - in the state of Louisiana. These news releases are designed to educate and inform the general public about LSU AgCenter programs and research through the Louisiana Cooperative Extension Service and the Louisiana Agricultural Experiment Station. LSU AgCenter Communications wanted to know the effectiveness of its news effort in terms of usage by the media, and what was the media’s perception of the LSU AgCenter and the topics covered by communications. Three researcher-designed surveys were developed, one for each …

Public Relations In Action: Marketing A New Business, Autumn Visser

Presidential Scholars Theses (1990 – 2006)

This paper will discuss previous literature that addresses marketing strategies in public relations processes to create a new business. Relevant public relations' theories will be described and applied, and a new retreat and spa center will be used as a case study. Specific guidelines for marketing a new business will be identified.

Prenursing Students' Perceptions Of The Nursing Profession, Essie Dee Scott Cockrell

LSU Master's Theses

The primary purpose of this study is to determine the nursing perceptions among prenursing students enrolled in a baccalaureate prenursing program. Objectives in the study included describing undergraduate baccalaureate prenursing student on selected demographic characteristics such as age, gender, ethnic background, etc., determining the perceptions of students about the nursing profession, and determining if a relationship existed between students' perceptions of nursing and selected personal characteristics such as classification, reason for choosing nursing, area of nursing practice most interested, etc. A total of 207 (66.35%) prenursing students enrolled in prerequisite courses for a baccalaureate nursing program participated in the study. …

Validation Of Annagnps At The Field And Farm-Scale Using An Integrated Agnps/Gis System, Glenn M. Suir

LSU Master's Theses

Non-Point Source (NPS) pollution models are effective watershed-scale predictors of NPS loadings and useful evaluators of agricultural Best Management Practices (BMPs) and water quality Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs). The work reported in this thesis examined two applications of the AGricultural Non-Point-Source (AGNPS) pollution model: 1) predicting surface runoff, nutrient loading, and sediment yield predictions for an artificially delineated farm-scale watershed; and 2) evaluating relative benefits of different BMPs on reducing sediment accumulation in a lake surrounded by agricultural land. A procedure using identification, extraction, and processing of critical area data using an ArcView Geographic Information System (GIS) was used …

Corporate Social Disclosure In The Timber Industry In Western Australia 1989-1998 : A Test Of Legitimacy Theory, Theo Christopher

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

In recent years, accounting researchers have turned their attention to media agenda setting theory in addition to legitimacy theory as the theoretical framework for researching voluntary social disclosure in the annual report of a company. Their research has tended to show a significant relationship between the extent and change in the number of press media social reports and the extent and level of social disclosure in the annual report of a company based on the same classification of Social items. They have also explored the existence of a time lag between the number of press media reports and disclosure in …

The Use And Usefulness Of Managed Fund Ratings In Australia, Paul Gerrans

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

Managed fund ratings have become an increasingly available piece of information to guide choice of managed funds. From the perspective of modem portfolio theory and specifically within the efficient markets paradigm, the value of such information is questionable. No profitable relationship should be able to be demonstrated between a fund rating and its subsequent performance. This thesis investigates the relationship between fund ratings and subsequent performance using Morningstar ratings, the most prominent Australian rating provider, for two of the largest and most important groups of managed funds. A positive relationship between a fund's star rating, its quantitative and qualitative components, …

Designing A Framework For The Alignment Of E-Business Strategy And Consultant Engagement Processes For Australian Smes : A Cross-Case Analysis, Shirley A. Bode

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

The majority of SMEs have neither the internal expertise nor financial resources to enable in-house development of electronic commerce and therefore turn to the services of website design consultants to assist them. Unfortunately, they often engage consultants without any clear idea of their intended e-business strategy and without due care as to effective engagement processes. This frequently leads to ineffective e-business development and a highly disaffected group of small entrepreneurs. The study suggests that there is a significant gap between the intended strategies of SMEs and the actual e-business strategy implemented. The study aimed to investigate the relationship between Australian …

An Investigation Into The Validity Of The Intra-Continental And Intercontinental Casselian Hypothesis (Ppp) And Uncovered Interest Rate Parity (Uip) In Southern African Development Community (Sadc) Countries A Long Run Structural Modelling Approach, Fidelia M. Gandiya

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

The current high exchange rate volatility in the face of globalization, underpinned by growing trade and financial and commodity markets liberalization has attracted the resurgence of considerable interest from both financial economists and policy makers, into the validity of international parity relationships. Using multivariate cointegration framework and long run structural modelling, this paper investigates the evidence in support of two of the parity relationships that underpin either implicitly or explicitly much of international macroeconomics. The first is the purchasing power parity (PPP) hypothesis or the theorem that there exists an invariable long-run equilibrium real exchange rate. The second is the …

Finding The True Performance Of Australian Managed Funds, Victor Soucik

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

When making conclusions about the performance of managed funds, it is critical that the framework in which such performance is measured provides an accurate and unbiased environment. In this thesis I search for true performance of the two major classes of funds- equity as well as fixed interest managed funds. Focusing, first on the former class, I examine five measurement models across three risk-free proxies, nine benchmarks proposed by the extant literature (covering conditional and unconditional as well as single and multi factor definitions) and over three independent periods in an effort to identity (in a consistent setting) the most …

How Green Is Your Hotel? : An Examination Of Environmentally Friendly Practices Of The Phuket Hotel Industry, Aungkan Thongkao

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

The global hospitality industry is currently facing many challenges from the external business environment. These include the effects of global recession, a downturn in overall trade and an increased demand for service excellence from a much more quality conscious clientele. A more recent challenge, however, relates to an increase in global awareness of environmental issues. Contemporary consumers require goods and services to be produced, or delivered, in environmentally friendly ways. As a result, managers are being forced to reconsider their business strategies and activities. Indeed a wide range of industries has already responded to consumers' dictates on conservation issues. It …

A Rhetorical Analysis Of Theodore Hesburgh's Fund-Raising Speeches For The University Of Notre Dame, Peggie Mathaba Ncube

Dissertations

Problem Statement. Literature reveals that college or university presidents play a key role in raising funds for their institutions. These roles are well documented, and yet many presidents face challenges in raising adequate funds for their institutions. Success stories of some university presidents are recorded, but no research has studied their rhetoric in raising funds in an attempt to uncover their formula for success. One such president is Theodore Hesburgh of the University of Notre Dame.

Methodology. This study assumes a rhetorical design, specifically the Burkean dramatistic approach to analyze Theodore Hesburgh's fund-raising speeches to the alumni of the …

The Design, Implementation, And Assessment Of Initial Change And Growth In A Local Voluntary Organization And Its Members, Tracy Ann Weber

Dissertations

Problem. During the past 30 years, Americans have steadily reduced their participation in the traditional forms of community involvement, such as clubs, associations, and organizations, that bring people together to effectively pursue a shared objective. In this postmodern society, leaders of community and nonprofit organizations find they are asking themselves difficult questions about the most effective methods of fulfilling their mission and simultaneously meeting members' changing needs. Participatory volunteer-run organizations, such as a local branch or chapter of a national organization, face many challenges, making it hard to establish and maintain there organizations. They demand great energy of leaders, …

The Roles And Attributes Of Human Resource Leaders During Organizational Restructuring, Alison Anne Brown

Dissertations

Problem. As the number of organizations involved in major restructuring increases, Human Resource (HR) leaders find themselves in a labyrinth of evolving roles. How might they facilitate the organization's desire to successfully wed human needs and experiences to profit expectations and strategies?

Purpose. This qualitative study seeks to increase understanding of the dual role played by human resource leadership, as they are both survivors and facilitators of organizational restructuring. It answers the overarching question: What are the unique contributions made by HR leaders to the organizational restructuring process?

Methodology. Through a purposive sampling process, 11 HR leaders were identified who …

Interviewer Questioning Strategies: Small Business: The Implications That Inappropriate Questioning Has For Compliance With The West Australian Equal Opportunity Act, 1984, Kelly Pember

Theses : Honours

No abstract provided.

An Exploratory Study Of Constructive Differentiation By Managers Of Multi-Ethnic Workforces In Indonesia And Malaysia, M. A. Fergusson-Stewart

Theses : Honours

Indonesia and Malaysia are two of Australia's closest geographical neighbours and represent major trading partners; Malaysia, as one of the economic success stories of Southeast Asia and Indonesia, as the third most populous nation in the world are politically and economically of great significance to business in Australia. Both have experienced racial rioting, the former as recently as 1998, and the later in 1969. Much of the tension that has led to these riots centres around the relationship between the ethnic Chinese communities in these countries and the other ethnic groups, particularly the Pribumi in Indonesia and the Bumiputera in …

From Unemployment To Self-Employment, An Investigation Into The Profile Of ‘This’ Entrepreneur, Nora Mary O'Mahony

Theses

Richard Cantillon, who in 1734 introduced the term ‘entrepreneur’ into economic literature, described entrepreneurship as

‘‘Self-employment of any and every sort" (Long 1983 P 48)

Self-employment is entrepreneurship at its simplest form. According to O’Kane (1997) entrepreneurship is

“The dynamic process of creating wealth, undertaken hy people who assume a risk in terms of money, energy, time and/or career commitment, and creating value through the provision of some product or service. ” (O’Kane 1997 P 6)

Entrepreneurship is nothing new. Men without wealth have always been attracted by the prospect of attaining it and the opportunities, which it affords. (Bruce …

Women Entrepreneurs: Factors That Contribute To Women Launching Their Own Business And Factors That Satisfy Women Entrepreneurs, Jean M. Mcatavey

Graduate Student Dissertations, Theses, Capstones, and Portfolios

Factors that contribute to women launching their own business and satisfaction levels of women entrepreneurs are examined. Survey responses from 94 respondents are obtained from women entrepreneurs in Florida. An ANOVA was used to compare sample means between the demographics and the independent variables. Aligning with values, regaining excitement, being in charge, advancing myself, fulfilling life-long goal and balancing family and friends contribute to reasons why women launch their own business. Regression analyses were also conducted where being in charge, fulfilling a life-long goal, and balancing family and work contribute 41% of the variance of the dependent variable regaining excitement. …

Organizational Climate And Commitment: A Case Study Of An Urban Nonprofit Organization, William Sawyer Grant

Theses and Dissertations in Urban Services - Urban Management

This qualitative study investigates the relationship between the two constructs: Organizational Climate and Organizational Commitment.

Litwin and Stringer (1968) suggested that a molar model is needed to explain employee behavior and motivation. Climate was proposed as this molar construct. Research concerning Organizational Climate resulted in multiple definitions and little consensus concerning the number and use of multiple dimensions of this construct. The almost exclusive use of survey methods coupled with methodological confusion with Organizational Culture created difficulty with the use of this important construct.

Organizational Commitment research resulted in a number of competing definitions. Research by Meyer and Allen (1997) …

It's All Relative: A Study On The Acceptance Of Family Employment In College Athletics, Jennifer E. Cirillo

Graduate Student Dissertations, Theses, Capstones, and Portfolios

Nepotism is a dirty little word: Related individuals work together in entertainment, medicine, education and yes, even sports administration. This study proposes to identify the acceptance of relatives, by blood or by marriage, working together in NCAA Division II colleges in the southeastern United States. "Nepotism" is an arguably accurate descriptor of arrangements of relatives working together. However, the potential for real as well as asserted preferential treatment is shown to exist. Further, as the trend of couples working in the same discipline grows, whether or not a candidate accepts a position may be determined by the potential manager's acceptance …

Connecting People: An Exploration Of Building An Intranet Through Autoethnography, Christopher J. Martinez

Masters Theses

This study examines the development and failure of an Intranet at a small company in Southern Illinois. Using autoethnographic methods, I analyzed the events surrounding the development and rejection of the Intranet by the organization's president. Using Burke's concepts of identification and mystery, I analyzed the relationship between the failure of the Intranet and the president's reasoning for not supporting its development. Throughout this study I evaluate the lntranet's development, the impact of other's involvement, as well as the impact that the design of the layout could have on communication at the Company. I find that the failure to develop …

The Impact Of Institutional Stock Ownership On A Firm's Earnings Management Practice: An Empirical Investigation, Santanu Mitra

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

This study examines whether institutional investor shareholdings inhibit firm managers from engaging in earnings management practice. It investigates the empirical association between discretion/flexibility available to managers in managing abnormal non-cash working capital accruals and institutional stock ownership for a sample of 386 New York Stock Exchange firms over a period of 8 years, from 1991 through 1998. The differential institutional influence on the level of accrual management of firms having different information environment, S&P 500 versus non S&P 500, is also examined to see whether the difference in information environment of these two sets of firms has any effect on …

Nursing Students' Knowledge, Observation Of Environmental Risk Factors And Compliance With Recommended Precautions For The Prevention Of Transmission Of Infectious Diseases By Needlestick Injury, Cynthia Ann Logan

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

The primary purpose of this study was to determine the relationships between selected institutional and personal demographic factors, knowledge, observation of environmental risk factors, and the degree of nursing student compliance with standard and transmission-based precautions for the prevention of transmission of infectious diseases. A four part, 89 item questionnaire was administered to students enrolled in clinical courses at three associate degree and four baccalaureate nursing programs in order to measure knowledge, compliance, environmental risk factors, and demographics. Useable data was collected from 710 nursing students enrolled in clinical courses. The typical respondent was female, between the ages of 20 …

Lmx Dyad Agreement: Construct Definition And The Role Of Supervisor/Subordinate Similarity And Communication In Understanding Lmx, Barbara Dale Minsky

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Much LMX research is predicated upon the assumption that the quality of the supervisor-subordinate relationship is predictive of important organizational and individual outcomes. I propose, however, that leader-member agreement in perception about the nature of the relationship as well as the type of relationship itself is important. I have identified and examined some of the theoretically relevant determinants of leader and member perceptual agreement regarding the nature of their LMX relationship. I hypothesized that relational demography, values, perceived similarity, communication, feedback, and role clarity are related to LMX perceptual agreement. Data was collected through surveys personally administered to employees at …

The Effectiveness Of Managerial Leadership Development Programs: A Meta-Analysis Of Studies From 1982-2001, Doris B. Collins

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Many organizations are committing to education and training that deepens skills, perspectives, and competencies of their leaders. This research located 103 studies from 1982-2001 with a full range of managerial leadership development interventions including feedback, developmental relationships, on-the-job experiences, and formal training. It integrated results of 83 of these studies with formal training interventions via meta-analytic techniques to determine the effectiveness of interventions, in their enhancement of performance, knowledge, and expertise at the individual, team or group, or organizational level. The studies were viewed through a "macro-lens," that used a full range of managerial leadership development interventions (McCauley, Moxley, & …

Islamic Banking And Takaful : The Development And Future Challenges In Malaysia, Jalaludin Mohd Noor, Khairuddin Hanafiah

Student Works (2000-2009)

The establishment of the Mil Ghamr Local Savings Bank of Egypt in 1963 marked a new milestone in the development of Islamic banking system. The interest-free banking concepts introduced by Mil Ghamr signaled to the Muslim community that Islamic principles were applicable to modern day banking business. The government of Malaysia has been actively promoting Islamic banking with the view to have Islamic financial system operating side-by-side with the conventional interest-based system, Both are geared towards the nation's socio­economic development goals. The establishment of Bank Islam Malaysia Berhad in 1983 was the first step towards this vision. Ten years later, …

Network Characteristics And Its Implications : Case Study Of Two Firms In Buyer-Supplier Relationships, Geok Eng Kwee

Student Works (2000-2009)

Cooperative relationships among firms are an area of research of interest to academicians and practitioners alike. Such cooperative relationships have evolved into a new form of business model known as network. This paper attempts to investigate the characteristics of a network and its implications such as benefits and risks from it. In a competitive world where survival depends on the abilities of firms to meet the needs of demanding consumers, an understanding of the dynamics of network is of paramount importance to firms wishing to deliver high value-added products. The study applies a case-study approach and two firms were selected. …

The Commercial Usage Of Internet By Insurance Companies In Malaysia, Chee Kiat Tee

Student Works (2000-2009)

One of the characteristics of the new millennium is the increasing pace of change that has been brought about by the advent of Internet technologies, and it becomes another viable channel of delivery for the insurance industry. The question is no longer whether the Internet will change the insurance marketplace. Rather, the focus is on how quickly the changes will occur, how the industry will be affected, and how insurance companies can best position themselves to take advantage of new e-commerce opportunities. The primary motivation for this study comes from a lack of studies of commercial Internet usage by Malaysia's …

Stereotypes In The Language Of Beauty Product Advertisements, J.R. Shanmugam

Student Works (2000-2009)

This study focuses on the connotative language used in printed facial and slimming advertisements, which may be adhering to any common stereotypes of tile ideal Malaysian beauty in terms of complexion and figure or body weight. It was found that beauty product advertisements do convey a stereotypical beauty to the potential consumer. This so-called ideal beauty has a fair and youthful-looking complexion and a slim figure However, this stereotypical beauty is only implied subtly through the advertisement The research methodology has been carried out in 4 stages Stage 1 consisted of mere extraction of words from the advertisements Stage 2 …