Business Commons^™

Partnering With Profs, Patrick J. Cooney

Theses

This thesis will focus on the study of corporate universities and the development of a business plan for the implementation of Bi-State University.

Research presented will cause the reader \O consider alternatives 10 accomplish strategic organizational training and development objectives. The reader should keep in mind their organizational culture and the developmental needs of their organization's human resources.

The purpose of this commentary is to identify the various options available beyond traditional training methods to develop a corporate university for Bi-State Development Agency. The best way to research approaches to human development is to ask the subject matter experts. Several …

Baby Boomers' Feelings On The Relationship Between Price And Quality, Rebecca A. Hudzik-Presson

Theses

This thesis will focus on the study of Baby Boomers and the impact their particular generation has upon the type of products they purchase.

Marketing research has indicated that generational data can be very helpful. Generational factors provide a framework for understanding the marketplace. Many marketers who want to appeal to Baby Boomers attempt to recognize what interests Boomers. A fundamental truth is that marketers who take into account age group have an important competitive advantage over those who do not.

Research has also indicated that Baby Boomers show some loyalty to brand names. They look at quality as a …

The Valuation Of Family Limited Partnership Interests, Steven J. Krekeler

Theses

The focus of this report is on using family limited partnerships to reduce wealth transfer taxes. This report will explain how valuation discounts applicable to family limited partnership interests enable wealth to be transferred which avoids gift and estate tax. Furthermore, the report will discuss why some family partnership valuation discounts are accepted by the IRS and others are rejected, including steps taxpayers and their professional advisors can take to increase their chances of success.

Senior family members throughout the U.S. have a growing interest in preserving their wealth for the next generation. Many are not aware that 55% or …

Employability Skills In The Undergraduate Business Curriculum And Job Market Preparedness : Perceptions Of Faculty And Final-Year Students In Five Tertiary Institutions, Patrick Antonio Williams

Dissertations

Problem

For several decades educators, researchers, and employers have expressed concern about the quality of business graduates that are entering the workplace as entry-level professionals. The major concern of these stakeholders is that many students who are leaving tertiary institutions lack the necessary employability skills needed for career success. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate if undergraduate schools of business are adequately preparing their students for the workplace through the incorporation of employability skills throughout the curriculum. To achieve this purpose, the study measured the perceptions of both final-year undergraduate business students and their professors to determine …

Web Based Customer Support In Banking And Financial Services, Kevin C. D'Silva

Theses : Honours

As customers become more sophisticated and competition increases in the marketplace, companies need to provide better service to gain a competitive advantage. The World Wide Web (WWW) offers companies the opportunity to provide service to their customers 24 hours a day and 7 days a week. Companies are taking advantage of this opportunity by making the WWW the customer service tool of the future. This project was conducted to develop a model for evaluating the level of customer service and support provided by corporate Web sites. The model was developed by adapting Lovelock’s Flower of Service Model (1994) to Web …

To Develop And Implement A Quality Assurance System Based On Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points (Haccp) To A Cook-Freeze Operation: Research Project, Denisa Baca

Theses : Honours

The purpose of this study was to identify and develop a suitable quality assurance system based on Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points (HACCP), which was implemented to the ‘cook-freeze' operation, currently employed at Healthcarc Foods. In addition, the quality assurance system was implemented as a systematic approach to food quality, and as a means of ensuring food safety. The samples, which consisted of all the chicken dishes, were used in the development of the HACCP plans comprising of flowcharts and HACCP control charts. These dishes are regarded as 'high risk', in terms of microbiological growth, and therefore, were chosen to …

Good Software Development Processes Lead To Harmonious Project Teams Which In Turn Lead To Effective Project Performance, Rweyunga Kazaura

Theses : Honours

The modem world relies on computers in almost every facet of life. With the explosion of Information Technology, software development has become an important process. However, from the beginning, this process has suffered and continues to suffer from a number of problems. If these problems are not rectified, they can jeopardise projects and lead to project failure. Project failure results in a project being delivered: • without satisfying the functional and non-functional requirements requested by the user or customer • beyond the agreed schedule and/or • over budget. Research indicates that practising good software development processes (SDPs) can override these …

Innovative Business Communication And Its Effect On The Bottom Line, Jane M. Lloyd

Theses

This thesis will examine a variety of business communication styles and show how various forms of communication can have an impact on a company's profitability.

Although a number of variables have been known to contribute to a company's bottom line - sales volume, cost of production, quality of products, etc. - only in the last ten to fifteen years have companies begun to look at the impact their business communication techniques have on productivity.

In these times of downsizing, rightsizing, and reengineering, it is more important than ever to maintain open lines of communication among all levels of employees. It …

Changing Policies Regarding Advertising In Taiwan & Their Impacts, Li-Tzu Yang

Theses

Mass media is not only an important tool to develop social change but also a condition to ensure democracy's continued development. Before the lifting of martial law, newspaper publication was controlled by the KMT Party. This situation meant that the mass media had no freedom and could not decide for themselves what to publish. After the lifting of martial law, Taiwan experienced great changes in politics, economics, society and culture. These huge change were reflected in mass media before and after martial law and are the purpose of this research analysis. Specifically, the role advertising played before the lifting of …

Determinants Of Participation In The Ad Hoc Computer-Supported Workgroup, Nancy A. Floyd

Theses and Dissertations

The increase of end-user computing, including the use of computer-mediated communication systems (CMCS), is one of the most significant changes to occur in business information systems in recent years. Researchers suggest that changes in technology lead to changes in the way individuals think about work and how they perform it. An important question is how the use of CMCS is changing work and work relationships. This study considers a portion of this question; it asks "What makes individuals willing to participate in a computer-supported workgroup (CSWG)."

This study considered the relationship between three variables (sex, anonymity, and token status) and …

Hardiness And Job Fitness For The Intensive Family Preservation Specialist: A Correlational Study, Sandi Fisher

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

It is costly to train the counselors who serve in intensive Family Preservation Services (IFPS). The hiring agency must pay for traveling expenses in addition to any fee paid for training. When an IFPS worker chooses to terminate employment before the end of two years of employment, this puts a strain on an already tight budget. This problem could be alleviated by finding an efficient pre-hire screening instrument. The three personality traits described in Hardiness Theory literature: commitment, challenge, and control, are traits often used to describe the ideal IFPS worker. This study assessed IFPS workers to determine if the …

An Economic Assessment Of The Tourism Industry In The Tralee Area And Possible Future Development, Patrick M. Mcelligott

Theses

This study has been carried out at a time when Tralee is trying to develop a viable tourism industry and aims at analysing the impact of this process. It studies Tralee s transition over the last decade from being a commercial town to becoming a recognised tourist destination. The present state of the local tourism product is portrayed and fixture courses of action suggested. This analysis is conducted utilising the views of tourists, tourism operators in the town and current industry thinking. Relevant hterature is examined and questionnaire surveys of tourists and accommodation providers were administered and their results investigated. …

An Empirical Model For Predicting The Feasibility Of Corporate Turnaround, Syed Kamalludin Bin Syed Alaudin Al Qadiri

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

The primary objective of this research was to identify the determinants of corporate turnaround feasibility and their effect (in terms of their state of existence and their existence) on the probability of corporate turnaround feasibility in Successful and Non Successful Turnaround Companies. The other objective was the development of an empirical model of the determinants of corporate turnaround feasibility capable of predicting the feasibility of corporate turnarounds. One hundred 'troubled companies ' were identified out of two hundred and eleven publicly listed companies of the Kuala Lumpur Stock Exchange through observations of their share price performance, earnings before interest and …

Three Essays On European Union Advances Toward A Single Currency And Its Implications For Business And Investors, Charlotte Anne Bond

Theses and Dissertations in Business Administration

The first chapter examines the changes in various European currencies' exchange rates through the time period 1980 through 1997. Specifically, we are interested to determine if there is any affect to the volatility of these exchange rates and specific events related to the advancement of European Unification. In order to move to a single currency it is imperative that the separate currencies become less volatile to facilitate the move to a single currency. In this study, we examine whether this is the case and discuss which currencies appear to display this behavior. It is observed that of the 14 currencies …

Discovering The Recreational Interests Of South Florida's Youth For Use In The Expansion Of 4-H Programs In Broward County, Florida, Thomas W. Kehlhofer

Graduate Student Dissertations, Theses, Capstones, and Portfolios

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An Analysis Of The Bareboat Chartering Program Of The Philippines, Sonia B. Malaluan

World Maritime University Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Proposals For Restructuring The Marine Department In Aqaba Port, Jordan, Walid A.S. Al-Suheimat

World Maritime University Dissertations

Today’s shipping industry has become an over-regulated industry where safety and the marine environment protection can not be compromised. This modern global arrangement requires a heightened efficient and competent maritime administrations to control and observe their national fleet. Hence, the main aim of this dissertation is to promote and enhance the marine safety and pollution prevention through restructuring the Marine Department at The Port of Aqaba by proposing and recommending feasible solutions. The Marine Department’s role in Port of Aqaba is essential as it is the sole authority controlling and enforcing national safety related maritime legislation. Its roles significance has …

The Cost Effective Quality Maintenance Of Ship Containers : Management And Technical Practices Which Reflect High Standards Of Containers In The Ceylon Shipping Corporation, H.M. Ajith Dehipola

World Maritime University Dissertations

This dissertation seems to highlight the need of have a quality repair standards to develop, implement and oversee the container repairs in the Ceylon shipping corporation. The mechanism and process through which this can be achieved is examined and explained by the author in a manner which can be understood by the readers in the late chapters. It is also emphasised, in this work that the need exist for properly and highly trained personal to fulfil the required standards in container repairs. It is fairly clear that, the life of a container is depend from many factors. Some of the …

Quality Assurance System In Vietnam Register (Vr), Hai Bang Pham

World Maritime University Dissertations

The dissertation is a study of the implementation of a quality assurance system applied for Vietnam Register as well as other classification societies as imposed in the IMO resolution A739(18) and the Quality System Certification Scheme (QSCS). The concepts of quality, quality assurance and the process of the standardisation are clarified, taking into account the changes in terms of management and operation in the maritime industry nowadays. The necessity to implement the quality assurance system in the international classification societies is investigated in respect of their roles and obligations. Certain attempts to increase quality and credibility of services provided by …

Human Element In Shipping : Training And Competence Of Shore Based Personnel, Keith Joseph Miranda

World Maritime University Dissertations

This dissertation examines the need for the training of shore based personnel employed in shipping companies. Numerous studies address the human element in shipping - the Seafarer, as one of the main causes of accidents and pollution. As a result, regulations targeting the training of seafarers have been greatly enhanced in the recent past. Very little has been said about personnel manning shipping companies in numerous offices ashore. Rapid strides in communication have brought the “seafarer” and the “shore-farer” in close contact, the two being separated virtually by just the dialling of a few buttons of a telephone or a …

Group Decision Support Systems (Gdss) And Influence Modes: A Comparative Field Study Between Gdss Mediated Groups And Non-Gdss Mediated Groups, L. Grant Bridgewater

Theses and Dissertations

This study examined the effect of Group Decision Support System (GDSS) technology on perceived influence modes. The researcher measured perceived influence modes in two group treatments: GDSS groups and non-GDSS (N-GDSS) mediated groups. Actual groups in both treatments performed judgmental tasks of their own choosing. Group members then completed a survey which measured their perceptions regarding five influence sources: expert influence, influence from legitimate authority, referent influence, reward influence, and coercive influence. The survey also measured the extent to which members perceived an "opportunity to influence" other group members. For each variable measured in both treatment groups, mean scores were …

The One With The Most Information Wins? The Quest For Information Superiority, Stacy M. Clements

Theses and Dissertations

The escalation of interest in information as a corporate resource is reflected in the military's quest for information superiority. A volume of directives, articles, and doctrine is appearing to meet the unique challenges presented by information as a resource. Discussions of how to achieve information superiority have given rise to investigations of such related concepts as information warfare and information operations, with associated taxonomies and ideas of how to use information capabilities for attack and defense. This thesis examines information superiority and the related concepts, and examines current information technology initiatives in order to discern the characteristics which can aid …

A Comparison Of The Decision Quality Of Group Decisions Made In A Face-To-Face Environment With Decisions Made Using A Distributed Group Decision Support System, Hope D. Cullen

Theses and Dissertations

The Air Force is increasingly turning to a team approach for decision making. When team members are geographically separated it can be expensive for them to meet in a traditional face to face setting. Group Decision Support Systems (GDSS), designed to help groups make decisions, may be able to support these groups in a distributed mode. The assertion of this thesis is that a GDSS can indeed support such distributed processes and that these processes will be of higher quality than decisions made in a face to face environment. This study explores decision quality in terms of quality of the …

Strategic Performance Measurement In An Air Force Logistics Organization, Michael A. Grover

Theses and Dissertations

Strategic performance measures are being used to define and communicate longer term planning imperatives to organizational members and external stakeholders. These measures are designed to support the concept of a strategic management process, in which the progress towards strategic goals, and also the goals are continuously reviewed and updated. The measures are linked through associations and communicate the strategy as a series of hypothesized cause and effect relationships. One such performance measurement system, the balanced scorecard, describes the organizational strategy with reference to four common organizational perspectives: Financial, Customer, Internal Process and Growth and Development. A case study is performed …

An Investigation Of Environmental Paradigms And Organizational Classifications, Marvin T. Ee

Theses and Dissertations

The extent of environmental management in organizations is largely determined by what paradigms are espoused with respect to maintaining both natural resources and raw materials. Environmental management paradigms possibly stem from whether an organization is private or public, producing a product or providing a service. However, no established methods exist for comparing organizations with regard to environmental management approaches and perspectives. The purpose of this thesis is to determine whether particular organizational classifications are linked to specific environmental management paradigms. This study incorporates several environmental management concepts to develop an analytical instrument for observing organizations. Environmental management paradigms provide a …

A Decision Analysis Model For Allocating The Military Family Housing Investment Budget, Timothy G. Imdieke

Theses and Dissertations

Allocating resources is a difficult task when resources fall considerably short of the requirements, and there are many different opinions on what requirements should have priority. The Air Staff Housing Division must decide how to allocate a $25OM/year budget to best achieve the Air Force goals for military family housing. The decision is complex because requirements are much larger than the available resources, and there are many conflicting objectives to consider. This research uses value-focused thinking and multi-attribute utility theory to develop a decision analysis model to assist the decision maker in selecting a budget strategy. A deterministic analysis (using …

An Investigation Of The Relationship Between Perception Levels Of Prime Beef Training And Readiness Task Confidence, D. Wade Lawrence

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis examined the readiness training perception levels and task self-confidence of CE Prime BEEF personnel, and investigated the relationships between these two constructs. A heuristic model was developed which hypothesized that since previous research has shown that perception of training affects self-efficacy, and that self-efficacy affects performance, it may be inferred that training perception ultimately affects task performance. Surveys were sent to the target population to gather demographic data, perceptions of Prime BEEF readiness training and task confidence in both self and unit. Despite an improvement in perceptions over the past 12 years, results showed somewhat mediocre perception levels …

A Strategic Marketing Plan For Welltech International, Renee Denlow

Theses

It's here, and whether you know it or not, you are getting swept away by a strong underlying current of the "digital revolution ." For many, life has become an inoperative treadmill on the loose, for the pace gets quicker and more challenging. How often do you find yourself or the people surrounding you saying, "Fax me the draft, so I can review it prior to tomorrow's meeting.," "Leave me a message on my car phone," and/or "e-mail me the latest statistics before noon?" Electronic mail (E-mail) is just one of many of the technologies that is changing the landscape …

The Effect Of Managers' Clarification Of Business Linkage Of Training On Trainees' Transfer Of Training, Elizabeth J. Benanzer

Dissertations

This study investigated the hypotheses that if managers were engaged in specific activities aimed at increasing their understanding of the linkage of employee training to business goals, then they would in turn create a more positive transfer environment, resulting in greater transfer of training received by their employees. Some managers of trainees participated in a workshop in which they used an “impact mapping” procedure to clearly explain the relationship between training of their employees and strategic goals of the business; another group of managers did not receive this impact mapping training. Then, all managers’ employees participated in a supervisory training …

Contingent Pay And Employee Performance, Rania Mohamed Abou Senna

Archived Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.