Business Commons^™

The Infinite Design Of Creative Self-Leadership, Adrian T. Ashdown

Creativity and Change Leadership Graduate Student Master's Projects

The purpose of my Master’s of Science in Creativity and Change Leadership Project is to develop a Scope and Sequence for a Creative Self-Leadership course, providing participants with a structured framework for intentional personal growth and leadership development. The Infinite Design of Creative Self-Leadership serves as an individualized framework for influencing our human experience deliberately. Throughout this project, the core idea remains consistent: to teach creativity as a transferable skill with applications beyond traditional educational settings. The culmination of this endeavor will result in a comprehensive Scope & Sequence for The Infinite Design Creative Self-Leadership Course, offering participants a solid …

Engaging For A Cause: How Nonprofits Can Leverage Theory To Maximize Video Engagement On Instagram., Aiko A. A. A. Jones

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Video is the second-richest form of media, conveying both verbal and nonverbal cues to viewers (Hasim et al., 2020). When coupled with the accessibility of social media, videos can spark consumer interest and convert neutral parties to brand-supporters (Alamäki et al., 2019; Tseng & Wei, 2020). This study aimed to investigate the effects of using Aristotle’s persuasive appeals, Berger’s STEPPS, and Monroe’s Motivated Sequence on the success of nonprofit organizations’ social media videos, measured in engagement metrics (likes and comments). Through a content analysis of 50 videos posted to Instagram by randomly selected nonprofit organizations, this study found that pathos …

A Qualitative Exploration Of Social Capital And Its Influence On Baccalaureate Degree Completion Of First-Generation African American Men At The University Of Louisville., Joseph Marshall Goodman Iii

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative dissertation was designed to examine influences which various forms of social capital have on post-secondary degree attainment of first-generation individuals who self-identify as African American men. Additionally, the sample population consisted of Black men who successfully matriculated to earn baccalaureate credentials across differing academic disciplines at a public historically White institution located in the mid-south region of the United States. The research data was extracted from one-on-one, semi-structured interviews using authentic dialogue through open-ended questions. Theoretical paradigms of the study involved a phenomenological approach and an ontological philosophical assumption, integrated with critical theory, critical race theory and social …

The Effect Of Remote Work On Career Success In The Accounting Profession, Erin Bynum

Honors Theses

This study analyzed the results of career success assessments of hypothetical public accountants working remotely and in a traditional office setting to determine if remote work affects assessments by partners, managers, and staff accountants. Subjects were randomly assigned resumes that included indications of either remote work or traditional in-office work. Resumes were otherwise identical. After an initial assessment of an assigned hypothetical accountant, subjects were asked to recommend activities that would increase the likelihood of future career success. Subjects were then told that the hypothetical accountant engaged in the recommended activity and were provided a description of a high or …

What Makes Us "Good" Leaders?, Dante Rossini

Theses/Capstones/Creative Projects

What makes us good leaders? It’s a question that philosophers, politicians and business strategists alike have been asking for centuries. Generations of scholars have sought to pinpoint the various attributes and characteristics that define leadership beyond a formal organizational role. Going a step beyond, extensive research has also been devoted to deciphering what abilities make certain individuals successful as leaders in comparison to their peers, along with how aspiring leaders can practice these abilities to hone their own leadership performance. All of this research culminates in an intimidating amount of literature, riddled with a broad array of theories and conclusions …

Spiking Engagement: Analyzing Social Media Tactics And Fan Interaction In The Omaha Supernovas, Anne Thomas

Theses/Capstones/Creative Projects

The available engagement of social media for firms and their target market is unmatched. Rather than a one-way communication, it is an open channel. Potential customers can share their thoughts and feelings on the firms’ products and services, and firms can connect with their customers and create brand loyalty. This opens opportunities for marketers to look at new ways and strategies to connect with their customers. This is the same for professional sports teams. Just like a traditional firm, professional sports teams rely on being able to connect with and sell to their target market.

The newly established Omaha Supernovas …

To Tip Or Not To Tip: An Analysis Into Prompted Tipping, Jared Dingman

Theses/Capstones/Creative Projects

Giving tips (or gratuities) in restaurants in the United States has been and is currently a hotly debated and discussed topic. Concerns regarding proper compensation have been raised, but there is a need for empirical evidence to investigate and solve potential issues of compensation. This honors thesis aimed to answer two questions: Whether restaurant patrons tip more when prompted with tipping percentages, and whether those who have worked in the tipping industry tip more than those who have not. I administered a brief survey with tipping scenarios to gauge prompted and unprompted tipping behaviors. With these scenarios, demographic information was …

Implementing A Dairy Industry In Mauritius, Lainey Deitrick

Economics Undergraduate Honors Theses

Over the Summer, I interned at the University of Mauritius and the Ministry of Agro Industry and Food Security from May 18th to July 15th, 2022, researching issues with Mauritius’s food security and helping to create solutions to their economic problems. My project covered all Mauritius’s agricultural imports, but it had an emphasis on their dairy industry. While in Mauritius, I conducted research on food security among Mauritians, and a feasibility study on if residents would be open to drinking more fresh milk, which is a market the country is exploring to replace sugar cane. My data analysis will be …

Surveys Assessing Food Security And Willingness To Buy Dairy Products In Mauritius Conducted Summer 2022, Abigail Burch

Economics Undergraduate Honors Theses

In the summer of 2022, I worked on a team of University of Arkansas and University of Mauritius students to administer surveys regarding the consumption of dairy milk and the impact of COVID-19 on food security in the island nation of Mauritius. This project was created by both universities in conjunction with the Mauritian Ministry of Agro Industry and Food Security.

Hogs For A Cause: Art As A Medium For Community Engagement, Jaden Hendrix

Economics Undergraduate Honors Theses

With the power to influence various sectors of society, art is a dynamic medium for instituting change. To explore the power of art and its impact on communities, I am organizing an event in Fayetteville, Arkansas called “Hogs for a Cause.” Hogs for a Cause would double as an art competition and a community fundraising event for local charities, ultimately taking a multifaceted approach to enhancing our community through public art. This project will serve several purposes: showcase the work of local artists, support local charities, and foster community engagement and development. I will be collaborating with the …

Unveiling The Influence: Corporate Lobbying And The American Diet, Annaleigh Mattingly

Economics Undergraduate Honors Theses

The United States has an ongoing health problem. At 41.9%, our obesity rate is one of the highest in the worldi . While there are several factors that contribute to obesity, food is a crucial one. Food plays a key role in our short- and long-term health. This impact spills over into other aspects of life, such as productivity and mental well-being. This begs the question why the United States, as a very wealthy nation, has relatively lower food quality when compared with other high-income nations. This is a multi-faceted problem that is rooted in American culture, government regulation, and …

Community Development In Stann Creek, Belize, Connor O'Neill

Economics Undergraduate Honors Theses

This research attempts to understand the inner workings of community development by taking part in ongoing development projects in Belize. Through collaboration with existing government entities, we took part in meetings, surveys, and site visits to gather the data necessary for the development projects. These projects consisted of finding cost of production, collecting market research, and constructing business plans. During our time, we experienced multiple difficulties similar to those that developers consistently encounter. Ultimately, we gained valuable insight into procedures involved in community development, as well as being able to aid in ongoing development work.

Communication And Marketing In Historically Black Colleges And Universities (Hbcu) Sports, Philip Reynaldo King

Theses (2016-Present)

This study's objectives are to evaluate the impact that communication and marketing efforts have on the attendance and revenue of HBCU sporting events; identify and explain potential challenges and obstacles to effective marketing and communication initiatives; analyze the effectiveness of current communication and marketing efforts; and examine and identify strategies for improving communication and marketing efforts in HBCU sporting events. The current state of communication and marketing in HBCU athletics will be analyzed through an analysis of the existing body of literature. Best practices will be identified, and the research will investigate strategies to optimize communication and marketing efforts in …

Assessing Undergraduate Nonprofit Management Education Programs: Combining Industry And Student Perspectives, Benjamin Walworth

Marketing Undergraduate Honors Theses

Given the role of the nonprofit sector in the U.S. economy, as well as the growth of nonprofit management education (NME) programs, there is a need to specifically assess undergraduate NME programs. This study addresses the current research gap by examining the undergraduate nonprofit studies minor at the University of Arkansas. An assessment of the minor was conducted by surveying three groups: nonprofit professionals, current students pursuing the nonprofit studies minor, and alumni of the minor. These groups were surveyed to understand why students pursue the minor, what students want or gain from the experience, as well as what skills …

The Rise And Fall Of A Video Game Dynasty And Its Road Back To Glory, Kade Rogerson

Marketing Undergraduate Honors Theses

For years the EA Sports NCAA Football series had been a long-standing success story in the world of sports video games. Combining the unique feel of collegiate athletics with the realistic nature of the game that its technology provides led the series to be a major source of revenue for Electronic Arts, Inc. in the extremely competitive and profitable industries of video games and sports merchandising.

However, the series came to an abrupt halt in 2013. Spearheaded by the O’Bannon v. NCAA lawsuit, EA was forced to discontinue the series after legal action was taken regarding the game’s unauthorized use …

"Men Hunt, Women Gather." Perceptions Of Gender And Leadership In Outdoor Recreation In A Higher Education Setting, Elizabeth Marie Johansen

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation delved into the complex interaction between gender dynamics and leadership perceptions within outdoor recreation, particularly in the context of higher education. Utilizing Transformational Learning Theory, Critical Feminist Theory, and Conditional Outdoor Leadership Theory, this study aimed to uncover the nuanced ways in which gender influenced perceptions of leadership roles and behaviors in outdoor recreation activities based on participant’s experiences. This study utilized an explanatory sequential mixed-methods research design, which included a quantitative survey and qualitative interviews to gain a more holistic understanding of participants' perceptions and experiences.

Findings suggest that despite progress towards gender equality in outdoor recreation …

External Adverse Neighborhood Factors Influence On Students' Grades 3-6 Schooling Success, Chloe Marie Janssen

Undergraduate Honors Thesis Collection

As education evolves with the growth of technology, it is crucial to study the impacts of external challenges on student outcomes within the classroom. The goal of the present cross-sectional study is to investigate the relationship between a student’s environmental factors and student-peer relationships, academic performance, and engagement, specifically within urban, low-income schools that exist in underserved areas of the community. The following research question is posed: How do external adversities in one’s neighborhood impact a student’s relationship to their peers and success in school? To learn more about this question, we conducted research in partnership with Butler University, the …

Technology Adoption In U.S. Naval Programs: Barriers, Challenges, A Way Forward, Wesley Hill

Executive DBA Dissertations

This dissertation is based on applied research that examines the United States Navy’s current innovation ecosystem, aiming to identify challenges, barriers, and viable solutions. The assessment involved a qualitative study as well as a quantitative study, encompassing respondents from various Navy organizations. Results of the qualitative interviews (study 1) were used to reveal patterns, concepts, and theoretical insights that informed the design of the quantitative survey (study 2). The research revealed significant process gaps, including communication breakdowns across organizations and a critical deficiency in knowledge management. Additionally, the research highlighted suboptimal decision-making among practitioners, negatively impacting the ecosystem. To chart …

Assessing The Impact Of Esg Scores On M&A Performance: A Theoretical And Empirical Examination, Nathan Mortkovitch

Executive DBA Dissertations

This dissertation examines how ESG scores impact the financial performance of acquiring firms in the post-M&A phase. Anchored in the frameworks of Agency Theory and Signaling Theory, this study develops three hypotheses to assess the influence of ESG scores on post-M&A performance. The empirical investigation utilizes a dataset of over 5,000 M&A observations, applying the Arellano–Bond dynamic panel-data estimation technique. This approach provides compelling statistical evidence on the ramifications of ESG scores on the performance of acquiring firms in the post-M&A period.

Fundamental Reporting Differences In Nonprofit Operating Models, Angelica G. Castro

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Not all nonprofit organizations rely on donations to achieve their social mission. Some nonprofit organizations, which Dart (2004) classifies as social enterprises, generate revenue through commercial transactions. This study identifies significant operating, monitoring, and efficiency differences between traditional fundraisers and social enterprises. Using panel data and fixed effects regressions, I find that social enterprises report more revenue persistence and better program ratios - a common metric for evaluating nonprofit performance - than traditional fundraisers. I also find that social enterprises are less likely to audit their financial statements than traditional fundraisers. Furthermore, when evaluating operating efficiency, social enterprises appear to …

The Cost Of Student Mandatory Fees: An Examination Of The Longitudinal Growth In Student Mandatory Fees At Four-Year Public Universities In Texas And Their Impact On Student Retention Rates, Charles Matthew Crouse

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

The ever-increasing costs and debt incurred by US college students is a hotly contested issue. In March 2022, the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) released a refreshed strategic plan for the stateâ??s higher education: Building a Talent Strong Texas. The refreshed plan concentrated on access for minority populations, enhanced student completion goals, and expanded the focus on reducing student debt. Texas set out to lead the nation in the least college student debt reported. One of the least examined or understood college costs is student mandatory fees (Arnott, 2012; Black & Taylor, 2018; Kelchen, 2016; Reinagel & Cooper, 2020). …

"Say What You Can't" By Nick Oliveri, Nicholas Oliveri

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

As a writer, Yeorbin both benefited from and competed against artificial intelligence. He shivered a bit but maintained a painful interest in what the video had to say. He thought it ironic that computer scientists were some of the first ones to suffer from artificial intelligence’s jet sweep of human labor. They’re supposed to be the anointed ones. Software engineers are supposed to be the ones with the guaranteed jobs. What’s happening?

What Drives A Firm To Implement Environmental Sustainability Practices?, Julia Elisabeth Suess

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

This literature review investigates the motivations that leads firms to implement environmental sustainability practices (EMPs). The research focuses on understanding how business strategy emphasizes sustainable firms and successfully managing their responsibility to employees, the natural environment, and shareholders to protect natural resources. The review answered questions in regard to the motivations to adopt EMPs, differences in proactive and reactive approaches, and environmental sustainability from an industry and country perspective. In addition, the business case demonstrates the cost and the benefits of environmental sustainability practices. The results stem from the motivations to adopt EMPs included external (consumers, competitors, regulators) and internal …

Analyzing Information Diffusion In Social Media Networks, Amin Riazi

Masters Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

Social media is a dynamic platform where a wide range of information is shared, including both true and false content, and it involves interactions between human users and social bots. This study investigates information diffusion patterns on X (formerly Twitter) by analyzing retweet (repost) network topologies. The results reveal distinct behavioral patterns for humans and bots when spreading true and false information, highlighting the need for further examination of their roles in information dissemination. Moreover, this study tackles the challenge of differentiating between broadcast and viral information diffusion on X, acknowledging the possibility of genuine information also being potentially misleading. …

The Impact Of Culture On Firm Performance: A Study On The Effect Of Respect, Teamwork, Innovation, Quality And Integrity On Corporate Profitability, Raphael Mwangi Wambugu

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis investigates the intricate relationship between organizational culture and firm performance, focusing on specific cultural dimensions of respect, teamwork, innovation, quality, and integrity as possible determinants of firm performance. The main objective is to find out the impact of these cultural elements on the dependent variable, return on assets (ROA).

As organizations strive for sustained success and competitive advantage, understanding the interplay between culture and financial performance becomes important. The cultural variable of respect is examined as a catalyst for fostering diverse perspectives and collaborative interactions within the organization. Teamwork is analyzed for …

An Investigation Into The Enoughness Mindset, Ai Nhan Thi Ngo

Theses and Dissertations

The concept of enoughness was an old but forgotten concept in human history. This research reintroduced the concept to our contemporary culture as a means to deal with consumers' endless desires by exploring the enoughness concept. Contemporarily suppressed under the development of modern capitalism, an extensive mythological trace of the enoughness concept showed its existence through more than 25 centuries across cultures with four key components: reining in desires, knowing contentment, knowing when to stop, and consideration of harmony. Building upon theories of desires, this research positioned enoughness as a means to help tame consumers' endless desires that can be …

Automatic Speech Recognition For Air Traffic Control Using Convolutional Lstm, Sakshi Nakashe

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

The need for automatic speech recognition in air traffic control is critical as it enhances the interaction between the computer and human. Speech recognition helps to automatically transcribe the communication between the pilots and the air traffic controllers, which reduces the time taken for administrative tasks. This project aims to provide improvement to the Automatic Speech Recognition (ASR) system for air traffic control by investigating the impact of convolution LSTM model on ASR as suggested by previous studies. The research questions are: (Q1) Comparing the performance of ConvLSTM with other conventional models, how does ConvLSTM perform with respect to recognizing …

Traffic Analysis Of Cities In San Bernardino County, Sai Kalyan Ayyagari

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

This research offers an in-depth analysis of vehicular traffic within San Bernardino County, California, aiming to spotlight congestion areas and suggest improvements for more efficient and sustainable transportation. Leveraging 2021 data from StreetLight Data, traffic patterns in 15 key cities were examined based on their population sizes, covering various vehicle types to dissect dynamics and flow. The methodology focused on analyzing trip purposes and metrics to calculate Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT) and its influence on congestion and environmental factors.

Findings indicate considerable disparities in traffic volume, purposes, and timings across different urban areas, with population density and intercity connections significantly …

Impacts Of Energy Price Cap System On Electricity And Gas Prices In The Era Of Energy Crisis, Jyothi Swaroop Chava

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

29 million households in the United Kingdom (UK) use Energy Price Cap and the UK government spend about 43 billion dollars a year which is 1.7 percent of the GDP in subsidizing the energy price cap subsidies to the households and businesses. The energy prices in the UK have seen a significant rise in the past few years for distinct reasons. This culminating experience project explains the mechanism of the energy price cap used for the household energy supply in the UK and how it has been affected between the years 2022 to 2024. The research questions are: (Q1) How …

Truck Traffic Analysis In The Inland Empire, Bhavik Khatri

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

This study undertakes a meticulous examination of truck traffic within the Inland Empire, focusing on the distribution and dynamics of medium and heavy-duty vehicles, to advocate for the region's transition to electric trucks. Utilizing advanced spatial analysis and data from Streetlight Data, it segments the region into six subregions, revealing distinct traffic patterns and environmental impacts. Notably, the research uncovers that the North Center and West zones, integral to the logistics and warehousing sectors, exhibit the highest traffic volumes, significantly influencing air quality and infrastructure.

Quantitative results from 2021 illustrate a pronounced disparity in truck activity: medium-weight vehicles accounted for …