Business Commons^™

Concept And Analysis Of The Application Software Development Pool, Paul Walter Bette

Theses

This study investigated a new organizational structure within the data processing field. In an attempt to curb job turnover and improve job satisfaction within a typical application software development environment, the concept of the Application Software Development Pool (ASDP) was developed. To identify differences and employee reactions to implementing ASDP's organizational structure versus a more conventional data processing organizational structure, 15 employees participated in a conventional DP group and 15 were assigned to the ASDP group. Job satisfaction questionnaires were distributed both before and after the six month implementation period. Data analysis revealed significant differences between the two groups. The …

Fund Accounting Principles Advocated By Accounting Educators And Hospital/Municipal/College Chief Accountants, Carol S. Dobitz

Theses and Dissertations

The study was designed to determine appropriate content for the Fund Accounting topic offered in college accounting programs to aid in ensuring that accounting graduates have adequate preparation for accounting positions with nonprofit entities.Two questionnaires, containing the same fifty-seven nonprofit accounting principles and different demographic variables, were developed with the input from a panel of experts. These were mailed nationally to Accounting Educators and Chief Accountants employed by nonprofit hospitals, nonprofit colleges, and municipalities. The respondents indicated (1) the nonprofit accounting principles that are in current usage and (2) the principles respondents believed are appropriate.The findings were based on the …

An Underwater Science And Resource Database Management System And Proposed Applications To Marine Geographic Information Systems, Ivar Babb

Marine Affairs Theses and Major Papers

The National Undersea Research Program (NURP) is a federally-funded program that provides scientists with modern in situ technology that allows them to conduct research that goes beyond the constraints of traditional oceanographic methodology. NURP is comprised of five regional centers that administer underwater science, and through the principal investigators that are supported generate a vast quantity of diverse data. This data and information bank consists of the following: raw environmental data, logistical data, locational data, information about the scientists, video and still photograph documentation, and publication information. This paper describes the theory behind the implementation of a Database Management System …

The Effect Of Attention To Irrelevant Information On Personnel Selection, Travis Ralph Gibbs

Theses Digitization Project

No abstract provided.

Employment Decline In The Douglas-Fir Region's Lumber And Plywood Industries: An Analysis Of Structural And Cyclical Factors, Majid Rasoolzadeh

Dissertations and Theses

Over the years a significant decline in employment had occurred in the Douglas-fir region’s lumber and wood products industry. High levels of unemployment can lead to undesirable economic and social effects. An understanding of the nature of unemployment can facilitate future planning as well as mitigating current problems. This study has attempted to examine the underlying causes of employment decline in the region’s softwood lumber and plywood industries, specifically over the period 1979-86. This time span is of particular importance since there was a rapid decline in employment levels after 1979. There has been much controversy over the causes of …

Application Of Zero-Base Budgeting In The Learning Resource Center, Javad Raiesdana

Masters Theses

Budgeting is a statement of the organizational goals and objectives in monetary terms. Traditionally, budgets have been developed by adding to the previous year's budget as a base (at least in theory), but rather to start from a zero base and requires a justification of all expenditures. This method of budgeting assumes that each years's budget requests are built up from zero in response to the priorities and needs of that year.

The range of opinion about zero-base budgeting is broad. Some critics regard it to be of great value while others feel that it is inadequate. The purpose of …

The Relationship Of Life-Script Decisions To Occupational Interests, Jacqueline Holler

Theses

This study considered the relationship of life-script decisions to an individual's occupational interests. A variety of definitions and functions of work were discussed, and the influences or early family parenting styles and mode-ling were explored.

The theory of Transactional Analysis was used as the basis tor explaining emotional and psychological needs of individuals. The origins of the three ego states, Parent, Adult, and Child, were described and defined The life script, or life plan, of individuals, developed from decisions: which are based on messages and modeling from parental figures, was used to determine the executive ego states of the subjects. …

Are Bonuses Compatible With The Deming Philosophy?, F. Case Whittemore

Master's Theses

This paper examines the philosophy of Dr. W. Edwards Deming to determine what principles of that philosophy should apply to selecting a bonus compensation plan. All types of bonus plans, including the following incentive bonus plans individual incentive, group incentive, gain sharing, profit sharing and pay-for-knowledge are examined to determine which meet the Deming principles.

Evaluating Direct-Mail Effectiveness In Building Sales And Attracting New Customers, Carol Beth Spivey

Master's Theses

This independent research project describes the direct-marketing efforts of Ukrop's Super Markets through its Ukrop's Valued Customer® Program, with special emphasis on the "zip code test" conducted in August, 1989. The purpose of this test was to acquire new Ukrop's Valued Customers from a population of non-Ukrop's customers.

While the test did yield a positive net present value, in evaluating the post-test shopping behavior of the two test groups and the control group, the author determined that there were no long-term benefits from these test mailings. Recommendations for improvements (if Ukrop's undertakes a similar campaign in the future) include additional …

A Retail Branch Profitability Measurement Model For The Thrift Industry, Rex L. Smith Iii

Master's Theses

Deregulation of the financial services industry has created a need for management to adapt a different approach to operations. Drastic regulatory and environmental changes have forced thrifts and banks to concentrate on increasing efficiency and core profitability from the retail branch network. Once considered to be highly bureaucratic, financial institutions are trimming back off ice review and focusing on a more decentralized leaner operation. Expensive mergers and large conglomerate financial powerhouses have created a need for increased management controls and reasonable methods of measuring the true profitability of the individual business units within a financial services company.

Trends In Solid-Waste Management And The Implications For The Aluminum Beverage Can, Phil Whitehouse

Master's Theses

The aluminum beverage can market is extremely important for Reynolds Metals Company and other aluminum producers being the single largest end-use market for aluminum in the United States. Shipments of 77.9 billion cans in 1988 accounted for 96% of total beverage can shipments, equivalent to 3.6 billion pounds of input canstock or 21% of the estimated 16.9 billion pounds of U .S. aluminum industry shipments. It is also one of the few aluminum markets that has exhibited consistent growth this decade, with canstock shipments increasing 4.6%/yr.versus 1.8% for all other products. Its success can largely be linked to its recyclability …

The Relationship Between The Number Of Sexual Harassment Incidents Reported In The Manufacturing Industry And Personnel Administrators' Knowledge Concerning The Problem, Brenda J. Willenborg

Theses

This thesis focuses on sexual harassment in the workplace and how it relates to personnel administrators' knowledge thereof.

As sexual harassment claims rise, businesses suffer tremendous financial loss. However, most researchers believe that many claims could be prevented if businesses implemented strong anti-sexual harassment policies, in addition to education and training for all employees. Personnel administrators are often assigned these difficult tasks without much thought as to how well-informed they may be about sexual harassment. If not very knowledgeable themselves, how practicable will their prevention programs be?

The purpose of this study is to determine whether there is a relationship …

The Impact Of Product Line Management For Women's Services In Healthcare, Jill M. Skyles

Theses

This paper will focus on the problem of poor utilization of resources in women's health care and how product line management may allow for a cost effective means of providing quality care with optimal use of resources.

In the past decade, hospitals have had to adjust to changes in the payment system. This has forced hospital executives to develop and implement innovative management strategies to continue to provide quality patient care, while keeping costs at a minimum.

Research has attributed the lack of product line management in health care to a basic misunderstanding of product line management. In the past, …

Inconsistencies And Turnover, Lori A. Strawhun

Theses

In any organization, turnover is inevitable - employees come and employees go. A great deal of research has been devoted to exploring the causes of turnover as well as turnover's costs and benefits. There is much to say about turnover. It is a complicated phenomenon affected by many variables and having many effects itself.

To better- understand turnover, several formulas have been created to quantify this phenomenon in terms of percentages. These formulas are presented and one formula was used to examine a company referred to in this text as "Company X". There is little agreement on how much turnover …

An Investigation Into The Resistance Factors Associated With The Use Of Computers In Office Automation, Norman L. Davis

Theses

This thesis will investigate the resistance factors associated with the use of computers in automation.

Primary and secondary research has shown that high level employees and low level employees resist the use of computers in their work milieu. By studying the use of Electronic Mail, it has been shown that those employees who rank themselves as upper management resist using the computer resources available to them and those employees who rank themselves as lower management also demonstrate resistance. Those employees who rank themselves as middle management do not demonstrate such resistances.

This investigation, and the research that has preceded it, …

The Impact Of Implementin Effective Employee Communication To Manage The Evolving Work Force, Michelle K. Bray

Theses

This thesis will focus on the study of implementing effective employee communications to manage a diverse work force.

Over the years the practice of public relations has struggled to establish a niche for itself by justifying its existence to corporate America, mainly upper management. As an increasing number of chief executive officers recognize the need for effective communications professional communicators are being strategically placed to best serve the organizational objectives. Unfortunately, the area of internal communications is often neglected.

Research has attributed the lack of effective, open, two-way communications to the false presumption that employees are loyal 10 their employer …

The Use Of Quality Cost Measurement Systems For Improving Profitability, Daniel J. Boehm

Theses

The focus of this study was to determine if t he use of a quality cost measurement system will allow companies to track and analyze costs and provide a means of improving profitability. Focusing on the philosophies and theories developed by W. Edwards Deming, J .M. Juran, and Philip Crosby, three of the leading authorities in the quality control field, a quality control system can be designed to track and analyze quality costs. Quality costs have been grouped into three categories : Prevention costs, Appraisal costs, and Failure costs. Prevention costs are those associated with preventing poor quality such as, …

Designing And Implementing Participative Management Within The Corporate Sector: A Primer, Robert R. Appel

Theses

The focus of this thesis is the study of participative management, in particular the use of quality circles in the corporate sector. After thoroughly researching the information available on quality circles t here will be developed a manual to be utilized to provide information to the managers and potential circle members of a company preparing to implement quality circles.

Research has shown that over fifty percent of the quality circle programs implemented in the United States failed. One of the major causes of this failure rate is the lack of information provided to the employees concerning quality circles.

After a …

Early Retirement, Julie L. Brown

Theses

The purpose of this study was to show the increasing rate of early retirement offered by corporations as a means of reducing the work force today. The study was also conducted to point out that more and more employees are opting for early retirement and taking the buyout.

A survey of 11 questions was administered to 22 participants from various age groups and employers for the study. The data analysis consisted of the measures of central tendencies: mean, median and mode, along with cross tabulations to test early retirement hypothesis.

The survey results were rather interesting. It was discovered that …

The Motivation Of A Collegiate Level Educator Is Mobility Within The Profession, Andrew V. Carter

Theses

For as long as there have been Colleges and Universities, graduates have been making career decisions. The decision one makes to become a collegiate level educator has been made by thousands since this time. Due to this, the motivations these educators have felt are quite interesting.

This project will examine the motivations of the collegiate level educator. It will attempt to prove that the mobility within education is the greatest motivator.

The reader will become familiarized with history of the educator and the motivations that are present.

After the reader has been brought up to date, the author will attempt, …

The 1986 Tax Reform Act And Its Effect On The Office Building Market In St. Louis County, Pat P. Clark

Theses

Prior to the 1986 Tax Act , the real estate industry enjoyed privileged status granted by the Economic Recovery and Tax Act of 1981 . Because of flagrant abuse of the provisions of the 1981 Act, Congress passed the 1986 Tax Reform Act in order to curtail certain activities in the real estate market that had become unhealthy for the economy of the United States . Therefore, it is the intent of this project to show its readers that the 1986 Tax Reform Act had a negative impact on the office building market in St. Louis County.

The following pages …

The Health Care Industry: Union Vs. Management, Maria Ciolfi

Theses

'This paper will begin with an overview of the legal enactments which allowed the National Labor Relations Board {NLRB) jurisdiction in the health care sector.. It will discuss the development of the reimbursement system, technological advancements and their. effect on the health care industry.

Based on these issues have developments, several human relations issues have emerged resulting in union activity in the health care environment . A dichotomy arises when both management and labor strive for high quality patient care . Management is forced to operate with in cost constraints , leaving labor to battle for equitable wages and benefits …

The Benefits And Detriments Of Beer: Health And Economic Impact, James M. Rice

Theses

This thesis will focus on studies which have been conducted showing both the benefits and detriments of beer to health. Further, illegal drugs and beer will be compared, regarding economic impact and effect on users.

In recent years, the beer industry has been attacked by the media and other elements of society. It is considered a detriment to health by some. The negative media attention in recent years has given the beer industry and its products a bad image. Further, in the last 24 months, efforts have been made by supporters of the anti-alcohol movement to equate beer with illegal …

The Struggles For Success: Quality Of Work Life At General Motors Wentzville, Betty Sue Schumpert-Anderson

Theses

The implementation of team concept at General Motors (G.M.) Wentzville (Missouri) appears to be on the road to failure. By tradition, G.M. management and union relationships have been conflicting, but since the 1930's both parties have agreed that a more cohesive working environment would be advantageous for both parties. In the early 1970's General Motors and the United Auto Workers Union signed an agreement to start a new Quality-Of-Work-Life (QWL) program. This agreement lead to the development of team concept at General Motors Wentzville. Wentzville tried to model their team concept program similar to the Japanese but they seemed to …

Assessment Of Integration In R & D / Marketing Interface Conditions In The New Product Development Process, Pamela A. Hoffman

Theses

This thesis will focus on the relationship between the Research and Development (R&D) and marketing functions as they relate to the new product development process in a corporate setting.

New product development processes are a complex and dynamic series of activities which require a transition in the organization from a hierarchical structure to a colleague-based, horizontal structure. Cross-departmental teams and project management methods lead to shared responsibilities for new products among R&D, manufacturing, and marketing groups.

Research has established that communication problems, goal conflicts, and a lack of openness often characterize the relationship between R&D and marketing. Research has also …

The Environmental Impact On Management Decisions, Daniel C. Ingham

Theses

This thesis will focus on how the environment will impact management decisions. The impact is measured in dollars when possible,

Management needs to have a working knowledge of how their decisions can impact the environment and ultimately the bottom line. The environmental impact ranges from depletion of the ozone to contamination of groundwater. The potential business changes due to the environment cover the range from the planning to the disposal stages of a product and to include shifts in marketing and advertising strategies.

The environment is getting more attention today from the public than at any other time. The public …

An Explanation Of Fasb #96, Michael R. Armbrecht

Presidential Scholars Theses (1990 – 2006)

Deferred taxes exist because Generally Accepted Accounting Principles CGAAP and tax laws differ. These differing rules require companies to prepare two sets of financial statements, one for their stockholders and other financial statement users (GAAP) and one for the Internal Revenue Service. The two sets of financial records result in a net income for GAAP purposes which differs from the income on which the tax is computed. Since 1967, the reconciliation of these two sets of books was prescribed by Accounting Principle Board Opinion #11. The reconciIiation is necessary because expenses are usually recognized faster and revenue recognized later under …

Integration Of The Workforce In The Steel Industry: The Inland Steel Experience 1945-1969, Carolyn Hernandez

Master's Theses

No abstract provided.

Industrial Relations Behind Bars: Human Resource Problems And D Issues In The Management Of Civilian And Convict Employees In Correctional Institutions, Irwin B. Horwitz

Master's Theses

No abstract provided.

Implementation Of A Management Information System, Suzanne Margaret Moran

Theses

This project presents a history of occupational medicine and workers' compensation laws in the United States as a prelude to discussing the development of computer systems in occupational health. The history of a private corporate health service is outlined and the development of a management information system for that corporate health service is discussed. A computer instruction manual developed for the management information system is included. The results of an evaluation of the billing system, a major component of the management information system, indicate that the majority of the clients of the corporate health service are pleased with the system.