Business Commons^™

Discounting Undivided Minority Interests, John J. Schlueter Iii

Theses

The thesis explores how real estate ownership, when held as undivided minority interests (i.e., shared ownership where individual shares are not physically divided), leads to valuation challenges. Schlueter argues that such interests are typically worth less than a simple proportional share of the full property’s value due to factors like lack of control, marketability issues, and limited access to financing. He supports his case with legal definitions, historical context, valuation theory, interviews with real estate professionals, and analysis of real market data—including discounted sales of partial interests. Ultimately, the thesis concludes that discounting is necessary to reflect the real-world limitations …

Computer-Based Sales Information System, Mark R. Watkins

Theses

This paper will focus on a study of a Computer-Based Sales Information System as it would primarily apply to firms selling in industrial markets.

Over the past several years theorists have debated the issue of computers . Some theorists believe that computers enhance our work environment while others believe that computers eliminate jobs and create resentment. The first group supports the theory that computers aid our work environment and make our jobs more productive. The second group supports the theory that computers disrupt the work environment and cause inefficiencies through costly unproductive training of skills that are not job-related.

The …

Quality And Productivity Improvement Through Defect Prevention And Worker Involvement, Ralph (Randy) R. English

Theses

The intent of this project is to suggest a more efficient way to increase productivity and reduce errors in customer shipments. This method will save our facility $1.7 million annually while costing nothing to implement. In the Service Parts Operation in St. Louis, we service some 1,200 dealers in 14 states. At G.M. Parts, our goal is to offer a better, more effective distribution network to service our dealers and satisfy their customers. To maintain this high level of service, we must constantly strive for new ways to reduce errors, cut cost and improve worker satisfaction, We must not only …

Patent Registry Database, Subhadra Ayyagari

Theses

The purpose of the study is twofold. First, to demonstrate the ability of a database to handle a large number of patients and accompanying medical information to allow the clinician to diagnose and treat them with greater efficiency and rapidity. Secondly, to create a patient registry database for children with growth problems (St. Joseph's Hospital group study).

Computing trends indicate that over the next few years, computer stored medical records will become technically and economically feasible on a broad scale. Many clinical databases are already becoming available for doctors and hospitals to use. The benefits of computer-based medical records out-weigh …

Sexual Harassment Of Unskilled Working Women, Jane Marie Goebert

Theses

This study was done to develop an understanding of what determines a sexual harassment victim. The purpose was to determine if women, who are unskilled and lower paid, have a higher risk of being sexually harassed.

The survey was conducted in the St. Louis area. The sample consisted of both men and women working at various skill levels and incomes. There were 201 respondents, consisting of 132 women and 69 men.

The survey results were analyzed and compared to surveys taken in other geographical areas. This was to determine if there were any differences based on demographics.

The findings of …

International Purchasing, Mary Gisi

Theses

The purpose of this research is to examine the factors of why the purchasing professional is procuring foreign vs domestic commodities.

This paper will review the early history when the U.S. started to buy goods offshore and continued over the years to expand their foreign vendor base.

An examination of literature and periodicals have suggested the reasons why the purchasing professional will need to expand his/her foreign vendor base of companies as to assure that the quality, technology and availability of needed materials will be at his/her disposal in order to compete in the global market place.

To develop conclusions …

Why (Most) Mergers And Acquisitions Fail: The Causes, The Effects, And How To Lessen The Risk Of Failure, Sheldon R. Chesky

Theses

Most mergers and acquisitions fail to meet the original goals set forth for engaging in the merger. Merger failure is the failure to meet these goals in a reasonable time frame, usually five years. As a result, most mergers and acquisitions fail.

There are several causes of merger failure which are described in detail. The most significant causes are that most corporations merge or acquire for the wrong reasons, and that they fail to do adequate strategic planning before and during the merger process . As a result, up to ninety percent of the mergers and acquisitions consummated during the …

The Relationships Between Employment Status, Leisure, And Self Esteem For Women In Mid-Life, Yvonne Rocco

Theses

Women between the ages of 35 and 50 were the subject s of a study to explore the relationship between level of self- esteem and amount of planned lei sure time . The differences between employed and unemployed women with regard to level of self-esteem and amount of planned leisure time were also examined . Seventy-five subjects completed a self-administered self- esteem test (the Personal Data Inventory) and a Leisure Diary. Significant relationships were not found between level of self - esteem and amount of planned leisure time or between employment status and self- esteem . For a one-week period, …

Provident Counseling Inc.: A Marketing Video, Roberta Holler

Theses

Unavailable.

Baseball Cards As An Investment, David L. Jackson

Theses

Baseball card manufacturing began in the late 19th century. Collecting those cards soon followed . This child's hobby continued largely unnoticed until the late 1970's. At that time the hobby started a period of exponential growth. In 1979 there was one baseball card manufacturer, in 1989 there are six. Because of this extra demand, baseball cards became an investment vehicle .

This project will examine baseball cards as an investment. It will attempt to discover what motivates those involved with the hobby, why they entered the hobby, their present activity in the hobby and their opinions about baseball cards as …

The Human Resource Information System: The Impact Of The Computerized Human Resource Function On The Organization, Dayna Gitler

Master's Theses

No abstract provided.

The Alcohol Industry: Can It Survive The Next Round Of Price Wars? Or, Is It Time To Focus On Price Quality Relationships, Timothy Angus Mccreery

Theses

Unavailable.

Situation Analysis And Promotion Plan For Cushman Interiors, Caroline Mclver Pendleton-Hillmar

Theses

The quality, price and availability of a product (or company) are only important to consumers if they have a need for that product and if they are aware that the product exists. Advertising and promotion make the consumer aware that something is offered to them. Without consumer awareness nothing is sold.

In order to effectively create consumer awareness, an advertiser must know the mood of the buying public, the competitors, and the industry. Through organized gathering of information advertising and promotion may be developed so that consumers may be reached, advertising created, and products sold. This is true of any …

Product Innovation: The Internal And External Factors That Affect The Revival Of A Medical Diagnostics Product, Jonathas K. Tchen

Theses

This culminating project will focus on product innovation. A product reaches the inflection point of the life cycle curve when the product moves from the growth stage to the maturity stage.

Industrial products are reaching product maturity as fast as technology permits. Its is real world situation for product to reach their maturity stage and either find new growth paths or be deleted, from a companies portfolio.

Product managers are the specialists that are responsible in providing the direction necessary to innovate an industrial product. They must be learn how to coordinate internal factors such as shipping, finance, inventory, marketing, …

The Future Of The Small Business Administration And Their Lending Program, Gregory D. Shirley

Theses and Dissertations

The SBA is one of many federal agencies that are being scrutinized as to the use of the funds they receive from the Federal Government. The SBA's loan programs have been criticized for not being cost effective. This paper will examine the types of loans the SBA makes, the cost of these loans and the procedures for determining who obtains the loans. There are major flaws in the way the SBA manages its current loan portfolio. These flaws have resulted in an above average rate of default on SBA loans. Chapter III examines these faults. Chapter IV deals with solutions …

An Analytical Review Of The Events Leading To The Stock Market Crash Of October, 1929 Versus The Stock Market Crash Of October, 1987, Barbara Lee Peoples

Theses

Investors, scholars, and economists are still arguing about what caused the October, 1929 stock market crash, and the probability is that decades from now, their successors will remain in disagreement about what caused the October, 1987 crash.

As a result of the stock market crash of 1929 , the Great Depression began. Conventional dating of the downturn based on evidence from a variety of sources puts the slump of our economy near the middle of the year. In the popular consciousness - then and now - nothing happened until the stock market crash in the fall of the year. Stock …

The Impact Of Social Background On Th Working Conditions And Contributions Of Female Government Employees In The United Arab Emirates, Hayat Mohamed Khattab

Archived Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

On The Stochastic Sequential And Nonsequential Production Planning Problem, Shivaji Rao

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

This dissertation examines a stochastic sequential and a non-sequential capacitated production planning problem (Bitran and Yanasse, Operations Research, 32, 5, 1984) where the demand of each period is a continuous random variable. The stochastic non-sequential production planning problem is at first examined with sequence independent and then with sequence dependent set-up costs and the worst case error determined when an approximate solution is obtained by solving the deterministic equivalent. We prove in general that the worst case error is not dependent on the nature of the set-up cost. Based on a result due to Huang, Ziemba and Ben-Tal (Operations Research, …

The Status Of And Need For Robotic Applications In The Aerospace Industry, Walter F. Dimmick

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations (1964–2006)

No abstract provided.

Self-Concept Competency Of National Aeronautics And Space Administration Research And Development Managers, Mark A. Beymer

Dissertations and Theses

Boyatzis has stated that "true" management competencies are characteristics of a manager which differentiate superior from average and below average performance. Boyatzis, however, treats a manager's self-image (self-concept) as a "threshold" rather than a "real" competency. Lafferty's research, which has measured relationships between several lifestyle (self-concept) variables and corresponding organizational behavior, has found that performance differences between average and high performing managers are associated with differences in self-concept construction. The researcher proposes to treat variations in self-concept measurements from managers as indications of their relative management competency. Thisresearch investigates seventeen hypotheses relating to the self-concepts of high performing, mid-level technical …

A Survey Of Treaty Oak Community College Students Enrolled In A Program Of Study From 1986-1989 And Of Businesses Located In The Treaty Oak Community College Service Area, Kathleen Marie O'Brien

Dissertations and Theses

A study was conducted to assess Treaty Oak Community College's (Treaty Oak) accomplishment of its mission in terms of responding to the educational and training needs of the community. A questionnaire was sent to students who were enrolled in a program of study from 1986-1989.

This survey was to evaluate the assistance Treaty Oak gives students in reaching their goals, to determine employment or student status and to assess the effectiveness of the academic and student services at Treaty Oak. A second questionnaire was sent to local businesses to evaluate the contribution that Treaty Oak makes in meeting the business …

The Use Of 22 Advertising Appeals As Seen On The Home Shopping Network And Three Traditional Networks: A Comparative Study, James Robert Francis Clapsaddle

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

No abstract provided.

An Analysis Of The Effect Of State Regulation Of Commercial Income Tax Preparers On The Quality Of Income Tax Returns, Jeanie Grace Sumner

Dissertations and Theses

Occupational regulation of many professions has grown in magnitude and complexity in the past fifty years. Statutes relating to occupational regulation are often implemented by state legislatures without sufficient quantitative analysis.

Prior studies have analyzed the need for regulation to protect consumers. Some research has been published which addresses the differences in the quality of services offered by regulated and unregulated professions. Due to lack of data, the effect of state regulation on commercial income tax preparers has not been quantified.

Recently data from the 1979 cycle of the Taxpayer Compliance Measurement Program (TCMP) has been made available by the …

Implementation Of A Robotic Workcell, John J. Rogers

Theses

This thesis is intended to provide the reader with some insight into the implementation of robotics technology into an organization. A seven step approach to implementing robotics into an organization was used. The seven steps consist of the following:

1) Initial familiarization with the technology.

2) Plant survey to identify potential applications.

3) Selection of the application.

4) Selection of the robot.

5) Detailed economic analysis.

6) Planning and engineering the installation.

7) Installation.

These steps were applied in an actual organization, the IBM Corp. Real-life processes and operations were utilized in proceeding with the seven step approach. Included in …

The Design And Implementation Of An Information System For A Consumer Product Company Distribution Center, Richard C. Gilormo

Theses

The purpose of the thesis is to design an information system for a consumer product company distribution center from the MIS and distribution center staff perspective.

The design of the information system is based on the steps involved in the project cycle which are necessary for the successful completion of a project. The steps range from requirements gathering to project completion. Each step in the project cycle identifies key areas that must always be addressed, including the pitfalls that must be avoided.

This thesis can be used as a tool for the development of any distribution center information system project …

A Study Of The Stock Market Crash Of October 1987, Jonathan D. Rudman

Theses and Dissertations

This study examines the situation surrounding the stock market crash of 1987. The research was conducted in current literature and government reports. The goal of the study is to provide a background on the operations of the stock markets, examine factors leading to and contributing to the crash of 1987, and compare the crash of 1987 to the crash of 1929 in order to provide possible insight to weaknesses in the market system.

The conclusions support specific recommendations that are designed to correct market inefficiencies. These recommendations include increasing margin requirements on index futures, monitoring the performance of specialists, and …

The Strategic Planning Dilemma In American Manufacturing, James Andrew Kiray

Theses

The decline of American manufacturing competitiveness is a highly publicized and controversial issue. This publicity has led to a panacea of solutions being offered to this problem. As a result, many conflicting viewpoints have emerged, which have aided in making any solution to this problem extremely difficult. Top executives have been inundated with recommendations for change, causing confusion at all levels of management.

In an effort to define the underlying problems existing within the American strategic planning process, this author has selected current literature which supports his own views, and has expended upon these views.

Once these underlying problems are …

Development Of A Knowledge-Based System For Human Error Analysis, Bang-Chiang Sung

Theses

Human Factors is one of several essential issues in a discussion of system productivity. Its consideration must be included in the design, development, operation, and maintenance of any human-machine system. In order to maximize the system productivity, humans must perform with their maximum possible efficiency. To achieve this, all human-related activities must be evaluated to determine their possible causes of errors and the consequences. Then, if unable to completely remove, the causes of human errors must be minimized.

This thesis integrates a knowledge of expert system into an analysis of human errors. Its objective is to develop a knowledge-based system …

The Comparison Of Different Quality Of Working Life Among Countries From A Cross-Cultural Perspective, Jih-Ping Ouyang

Theses

The objective of this study is to focus on the factors underlying the prosperity of Taiwan from a cross-cultural perspective by utilizing Hofstede's (1980) theory and England's (1983) theory. It presents the scores on Hofstede's four indices (Power Distance, Uncertainty Avoidance, Individualism and Masculinity), using it to compare with countries, and touches upon England's eleven work goals.

Through research and analysis comparisons of the differences and similarities between Taiwan (Republic of China) and the other countries are found and based on these, the modifications can be made to improve the current managerial pattern. For the past few years, there has …

Computerizing The Human Resource Information System, Dur-Chih Wang

Theses

In the past twenty years we have moved from an industrial society to an information society in which 60% (Personnel, 1985) of the work force is occupied with the creation, processing, and distribution of information. Because of this change in work distribute effective management of information is now and continue to be the key to employee productivity, competitive strength, and economic achievement. The business community is coming to realize that after people, information is its most important asset. At the same time, many aggressive firms are learning to use information technology and their people as strategic weapons to gain a …