Business Commons^™

Netflix And Their Customer Acquisition Model, Maximus Drew

Undergraduate Theses, Professional Papers, and Capstone Artifacts

No abstract provided.

Strategic & Management Analysis Of Wendy's Co., Aryal M. Love

Undergraduate Theses, Professional Papers, and Capstone Artifacts

No abstract provided.

Professional Identity Development In Large Public Accounting Firms During Covid-19 And Beyond, Alexander J. Tighe

2024

Professional identity is formed by understanding the set of traits and behaviors that help define the social expectations of individuals within a profession. Acquiring these traits and acting in accordance with professional norms allows an individual to feel connected to their profession and other individuals within their field. In public accounting, professional identity is formed through the socialization process. This process teaches new hires the necessary technical knowledge to complete job tasks and behaviors that denote overall professionalism such as proper work attire or polite interactions with clients. The COVID-19 Pandemic radically changed social norms in the accounting profession by …

Sticks And Stones: A Look At The Effects Of Microinsults And Stereotype Threat On Sustainable Career Outcomes, Shona G. Smith

Management Dissertations - Archive

Subtle forms of workplace discrimination have many adverse consequences for employees and organizations (Jones et al., 2016). Microinsults – a type of microaggression “characterized by interpersonal or environmental communications that convey stereotypes, rudeness, and insensitivity and that demean a person’s racial, gender, or sexual orientation, heritage, or identity” (Sue, 2010, p. 31) – are one form of subtle discrimination that may be pervasive in organizations. As they are invisible and ambiguous (Sue et al., 2008), some research suggests that microinsults are more taxing than overt forms of discrimination because they involve guesswork and sensemaking for the target to process their …

Binding Norms: Three Essays On The Effect Of Cultural Tightness On Consumer Behavior, Shashi Minchael

Marketing Dissertations - Archive

Cultural Tightness-Looseness reflects the variability in how different cultures mandate strict adherence to social norms and allow deviation from the social norms reflected in sanctions on norm violations. The three-essay dissertation aims to advance our understanding of the effect of cultural tightness (vs. looseness) and the resulting societal emphasis on norm adherence on consumer behavior. Specifically, the proposed research examines the effect of differences in societal norms regarding consumer frugality, system justification, and beliefs regarding the malleability of the world and individuals on consumer decision-making. In essay 1, I study the effect of societal norms regarding frugality in tight (vs. …

Essays On Corporate Finance And Real Estate, Hanh T. H. Phan

Finance and Real Estate Dissertations - Archive

My dissertation consists of two essays. In the first essay, I study the impact of local economic policy uncertainty on corporate cash holdings for U.S. firms. While national economic policy uncertainty has been examined extensively, few studies have investigated the impact of local economic policy uncertainty. I use the state-level economic policy uncertainty developed by Baker, Davis, and Levy (2022) to examine the impact of local economic policy uncertainty on firm cash holdings. Using a sample of publicly traded U.S. firms from 1985-2022, I find that firms increase their cash holdings in response to higher local economic policy uncertainty. The …

Three Essays On Mutual Fund Flows, Yi-Ju Chien

Finance and Real Estate Dissertations - Archive

This dissertation comprises three essays that investigate the impact of real interest rates (real rates) on mutual fund dynamics, specifically focusing on the performance-flow relationship (PFR) and the size-flow relationship (SFR).

Essay 1 explores how real rates influence the PFR in equity mutual funds. The hypothesis posits that higher real rates increase investors' opportunity costs, prompting them to prioritize past performance more heavily, thus intensifying the PFR. Empirical analysis supports this hypothesis, revealing that a 1% increase in real rates correlates with a 1.816% increase in PFR, holding other variables constant. This relationship is mixed across different subgroups of funds …

Why Do My Coworkers Share Their Work-Related Good News With Me? Coworker Capitalization, Motive Attribution, And Implications, Chenduo Du

Theses and Dissertations--Management

While research on close relationships suggests that individuals can benefit from capitalization or sharing positive events, it is unclear whether similar benefits hold for coworker capitalization or sharing work-related positive events with coworkers. Given that coworkers typically possess less intimate knowledge of one another compared to those in close relationships, it is plausible that they may interpret each other’s actions in diverse ways. Thus, I introduce attribution theory as a novel framework for understanding the effects of coworker capitalization. I suggest that when a coworker shares a positive event, recipients may attribute one of three motives to the discloser: a …

Two Essays On Asset Management, Quan Qi

Theses and Dissertations--Business Administration

My first chapter shows that disruptions in derivative markets can propagate to corporate bond markets via mutual funds that hold both fixed-income securities and derivatives. The transmission arises because when fund managers incur losses in their derivative investments, they are obligated to deliver cash payments to counterparties or provide additional cash collateral to meet margin calls. Using the Covid-19 crisis as an adverse shock on derivative investments bond funds made in 2019 Q4, I find that funds with substantial exposure to derivative market disruptions liquidate fixed-income assets to fulfill corresponding payment obligations. The forced liquidations cause sizable price depressions in …

Music For The People: Comparing Public Funding Models For Popular Music In Atlanta, Glasgow, And Toronto, Heather Mcdonald

Theses and Dissertations--Arts Administration

This dissertation explores the complex landscape of public funding policies for popular music across three cities: Atlanta, Glasgow, and Toronto. Through comparative case studies and qualitative research methods, this work explores the varying approaches each city takes towards funding popular music, including the social, economic, and political environments in which these funding policies have developed.

Through document reviews and interviews with key stakeholders, the dissertation highlights the differences in how public funding for popular music is approached in Glasgow, Atlanta, and Toronto and the broader context of how these policies were created. Using Multiple Streams Approach, the Five Streams Confluence …

Orchestra Community Engagement: Factors Of Environmental Impact, Travis Newton

Theses and Dissertations--Arts Administration

The symphony orchestra industry in the United States was founded with the goal of serving the elite, but these orchestras are organized as not-for-profit organizations and are currently mandated to benefit the community more broadly. Professional symphony orchestras in the United States are beginning to address this disconnect between their elite-oriented origins and the more modern federal mandate of community-oriented service in a variety of ways, including through community engagement programming. There are a number of items that remain unknown, including the impact that environmental factors have on orchestras’ community-oriented work, and what “community engagement” means to orchestras.

The purpose …

Built Ford Tough, Again: Does Each Generational Group Of Consumers Associate The New Ford Bronco With Positive Feelings Of Nostalgia?, Liv R. Wilson, Emily J. Plant

Undergraduate Theses, Professional Papers, and Capstone Artifacts

This marketing research paper investigates whether various generational groups of consumers associate the new Ford Bronco with positive feelings of nostalgia. The study conducted a comprehensive survey with 420 respondents to determine the extent of nostalgia evoked by new Ford Bronco advertisements among consumers of different age groups. The results of the research suggest a strong and affirmative response to the new Ford Bronco advertisements across all generational cohorts. This implies that the marketing strategy employed by Ford effectively taps into a universal sense of nostalgia, transcending generational boundaries. This finding underscores the brand's ability to connect with consumers of …

A New Industry For Student- Athletes: An Analysis Of Nil Implications On Well-Being And Team Dynamics, Jamison W. White

Honors Theses and Capstones

As of June 2021, college athletes are allowed to benefit from selling their name, image, and likeness (NIL) by engaging in contracts with sponsors and businesses. Even though this law was passed to allow athletes to earn a fair pay for their hard work though utilizing their popularity and engaging with fans, its potential effect on athletes remains uncertain. This research examines the effects of NIL agreements on student-athletes’ well-being and team perceptions. More specifically, does the adoption of NIL place additional stress on student- athletes or disrupt their team dynamics? If so, what support can be granted to allow …

The Influence Of Leadership Communication On Employee Engagement During Transformational Change: A Case Study Of 123bank, Myrian Barron Garrett

Human Resource Development Theses and Dissertations

This study aimed to understand employee perspectives on how leadership communication efforts impact employee engagement in an organization undergoing transformational change. Kotter’s change management model served as the framework and support for this study. One research question was developed to guide this study, and the qualitative case study approach was used. Data was collected through semi-structured interviews with 26 study participants. The researcher found that most participants had a negative perspective on their leader’s communication efforts during transformational change. Eight main categories were identified, with two to three coded themes each. The findings cannot be generalized to other organizations and …

A Narrative Discourse On Large Global Corporations And Modern Slavery In Complex Supply Chains, Bonnie Nixon

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation asks to what extent, if at all, large global corporations are addressing modern slavery in their complex supply chains. Many companies publicly report that they are addressing human rights topics such as modern slavery in their complex supply chains using traceability, transparency and accountability frameworks and tools, public communications, stakeholder dialogue, auditing, etc. The researcher explored narratives in academic, governmental, corporate, and non-governmental organization reports, media publications, websites, and videos to determine whether the corporations are addressing modern slavery in complex supply chains. Using systematic review methods and tools, the researcher also analyzed medical and engineering profession ethical …

Ethics In Action: Exploring B Corporation Certification, Value Congruence, And Empathy Within Organizations, Jiahui Lu

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This dissertation is comprised of three studies. It explores ethical practices within organizational settings from three different perspectives: a macro perspective, an individual perspective, and a micro-level interaction perspective. The first study examines the earnings management behavior of B Corporation managers, providing a macro view of how an external corporate certification may address the broader issue of business ethics. The findings of this study contribute to the legitimacy of B Corporations and our understanding of the relationship between corporate social responsibility and earnings management. The second study investigates the effect of value congruence on employee whistleblowing at for-profit social mission …

Optimizing Organizational Growth: Exploring The Integration Of Business Development, Leadership And Project Management, Nathalia Romao

Harrisburg University Dissertations and Theses

This quantitative study investigates the integration of business development, leadership, and project management practices to optimize organizational growth. Despite the extensive literature on business management, organizations continue to face challenges such as communication gaps, monitoring inefficiencies and discrepancies in the division of tasks, which undermine performance and stakeholder satisfaction. This research aims to identify effective strategies for aligning these critical areas, focusing on agile, waterfall methodologies and a hybrid project management suggestion. Opinion research and correlational analysis will be carried out to collect and analyze data from professionals from various sectors. Cross-sectional and longitudinal surveys provide information on current integration …

From Technical Resolution To Agile Evolution: A Blended Role At Humane Interface Design Enterprise (Hide), Ketansingh Anil Patil

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

This report provides a comprehensive overview of my journey through two distinct roles at the Humane Interface Design Enterprise (HIDE) - as a Technical Consultant in Spring 2023 and an Agile Process Analyst in Fall 2023. My tenure as a Technical Consultant was marked by the application of academic knowledge and technical skills to tackle real-world challenges at HIDE, leveraging experiences from my capstone projects and my roles in the industry as an IT Analyst Intern at Milwaukee Tool and a Data Engineer at UST. This role at HIDE enhanced my problem-solving skills and contributed to the progress of the …

The Phenomenology Of Success: Women Who Made It To The C-Suite Despite Barriers, Bettye H. Smith

Dissertations

Multiple researchers have explored avenues to achieve gender diversity in leadership, primarily by studying the barriers to success for aspiring women leaders. Despite barriers, a small group of women have risen to the top positions of US corporations, demonstrating that there is a path to success and highlighting an opportunity to address leadership diversity differently. Whereas most research on gender diversity in leadership focuses on the barriers women encounter, this qualitative phenomenological study focused on how women can succeed. By leveraging Bronfenbrenner’s ecological systems theory to explore systems that enabled a phenomenal group of women to advance to the C-suite, …

Examining The Synergy Between The Marketplace And The Church In Ghana: Strategies For Enhancing Socio-Economic Development, Grace Opuni-Darko

Doctor of Ministry

This dissertation explores the complex relationship between the marketplace and Church in Ghana, seeking to identify collaborative strategies that lead to sustainable socio-economic development. The study aims to unravel the complexities of this relationship and identify effective strategies that can foster sustainable growth and development within the Ghanaian context. At the core of this research is an in-depth historical analysis, tracing the evolution of the Churches' role in the Ghanaian economy from colonial times to the present day. This historical perspective provides a critical backdrop for understanding current dynamics and trends. The study employs a multifaceted approach, incorporating both qualitative …

The Effects Of Esg On The Financial Performance Of Aerospace & Defense Companies, Cooper Trimble

Honors Undergraduate Theses

This study examines the relationship between Environmental, Social, and Corporate Governance (ESG) activity and financial performance in the context of firms operating in the Aerospace & Defense industry. As societal pressure increases for companies to adopt ESG and related corporate sustainability practices, it is crucial to understand the repercussions of such adoptions. As the Aerospace & Defense industry continues to grow and capitalize on post-COVID travel booms, military modernization efforts, and increased demand for advanced aerospace technology, it is essential to understand the consequences of ESG implementation. By examining data from 2012 – 2023, this study produced results regarding the …

Trust In E-Commerce And Its Impact On Digital Marketing Strategies, Akshay Tailor

Theses and Dissertations

Background: The rise of e-commerce has transformed consumer behavior, with trust playing a critical role in determining the success of online platforms. Prior research suggests that privacy and security concerns, as well as transparency and social proof, significantly affect consumer trust in e-commerce. This study aimed to investigate how strong security measures, privacy safeguards, and social media marketing initiatives influence consumer trust and purchasing decisions in e-commerce environments.

Methods: A survey was conducted with 232 students from Illinois State University, focusing on key factors such as privacy protection, security, transparency, and social proof. The survey used a Likert scale to …

Enhancing Marketing Education Through Gamification: Learners’ Characteristics And Motivation In Gamification Strategies, Jagannath Kharel

Theses and Dissertations

The study investigates how the personality traits of marketing students influence their engagement with gamification elements and the resulting learning outcomes. Additionally, it explores how gamification, guided by Self-Determination Theory, enhances these outcomes, and motivates university marketing students. One hundred eleven respondents participated, testing eight hypotheses: seven examined the Big Five traits' influence on attitudes and engagement. At the same time, the final used the self-determination framework to analyze motivation in gamification. Respondents with openness and extraversion favored using gamified learning materials, with no gender differences observed. The study found that gamified learning elements, such as rewards, feedback, levels, challenges, …

A Critical Event Narrative Analysis Of African Women Immigrant Entrepreneurs In The United States: Impacts Before, During, And After The Covid-19 Pandemic, Damilola T. Fasinu

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This doctoral research presents a qualitative critical event narrative study focused on African Women Immigrant Entrepreneurs (AWIE) in the United States during the COVID-19 pandemic. The study aims to explore the unique challenges, coping mechanisms, and resilience strategies of AWIE by examining their experiences before, during, and after the pandemic. The research is driven by three guiding questions: (1) How do AWIE describe their experience before the pandemic? (2) During the pandemic? (3) After the pandemic? This inquiry provides a comprehensive narrative, capturing the challenges and successes experienced in the pre-pandemic environment, documenting the immediate impacts of the pandemic on …

Resource Affluence And Sustainable Consumer Behavior, Liguo Liu

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

While resource affluence is desired by most individuals, it may not always be advantageous for a collective group. Recent research documents some “dark side” effects associated with resource affluence, such as reducing people’s willingness to help others or leading to unethical behaviors (e.g., Piff et al. 2012; Vohs et al. 2016). Building on this body of work and advances in sustainability research, this study investigates the impact of financial affluence on sustainable consumer behavior. Using a multi-method approach (archival data and experiments), this study demonstrates that financial affluence leads to less sustainable consumer behaviors compared to a control group, across …

Executive Compensation And Competitive Behavior Of The Firm: A Behavioral Agency Perspective, Oleksandr Tsaruk

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This dissertation attempts to address the research question: how does the CEO’s compensation structure affect the firm’s competitive actions in the context of rivalry with competitors? Prior research has systematically examined antecedents of firms’ competitive actions, such as TMT characteristics, industry structure, exogenous shocks, competitive attacks and counterattacks. However, there is a lack of systemic research on how CEO compensation structure serves as a motivational factor of the firm’s competitive actions. The influence of the CEO on a firm’s competitive behavior has long interested scholars in strategy research. Thus, filling this gap in the literature is of significant importance.

This …

The Influence Of Celebrity Endorsers On Brands' Perceived Warmth And Competence, Helene Gilis

Honors Program Theses

The utilization of celebrity endorsers has become a prevalent strategy among marketers in recent years, serving to enhance brand communication and audience engagement. This study examines the dynamic relationships of celebrity endorsements, specifically investigating the impact of perceived warmth and competence on celebrity endorsers through the stereotype content model (SCM). The model was introduced to fill the research gap in a marketing context on the influence of the perceived warmth and confidence of endorsers on the perception of brands and, subsequently, consumer behavior. Furthermore, the research evaluates the consequential effect of brand image on key brand elements, including purchase intention, …

When Ballots Are Blank: Write-In’S Serving Local Government And The Implications For A Healthy And Vibrant Democracy, Thomas J. Ruter

School of Business Student Theses and Dissertations

Our democracy depends on having a supply of candidates running for elected office, but in some instances, no one wants to run. This phenomenological study asks what the effects on a healthy and vibrant democracy are if ballots are blank and the seat is filled through write-in or appointment. Rooted in democratic theory, this study explores small, rural city elections where write-ins won election. Understudied, local governments are responsible for decisions affecting the lives of millions of people each day. Workforce scarcity, the alienation of young Americans from politics, government bashing, nasty campaigns, threats of physical harm, and other barriers …

Milk Collection Problem: Integrating The Traveling Salesman And Set Covering Problem - A Case Study In West Virginia, Usa, Md Rabiul Hasan

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Route determination for perishable products is complex due to its unique characteristics, such as limited shelf-life regulatory requirements, or possibility of getting damaged. This research investigates a novel problem of collecting raw milk from a rural network of dairy farms. The research problem is grounded in a real scenario of milk collection in West Virginia, USA. The milk in this scenario is produced by small farms incapable of realizing transportation economies of density out in mostly rural areas throughout the state. Maximum coverage area and milk processing overhead costs are used to identify suitable locations for intermediate milk collection centers …

Spiritual Grounding As An Influence On Servant Leadership Practice Among Senior Executives In U.S. Publicly Traded Companies, Nancy K. Bosire

Dissertations

This dissertation investigates the influence of spiritual grounding on the practice of servant leadership among senior executives in publicly traded companies in the United States (U.S.). The research problem centers on the potential marginalization of individuals aspiring to practice servant leadership without spiritual grounding. The study aims to investigate whether spiritual grounding is foundational for servant leadership practice and to examine the relationship between servant leadership, spiritual grounding, and reliance on authoritative sources. Through a comprehensive review and analysis of existing literature, this research identifies a gap in understanding the role of spirituality and authoritative sources in servant leadership practices. …