Business Commons^™

Graph Enabled Cross-Domain Knowledge Transfer, Shibo Yao

Dissertations

The world has never been more connected, led by the information technology revolution in the past decades that has fundamentally changed the way people interact with each other using social networks. Consequently, enormous human activity data are collected from the business world and machine learning techniques are widely adopted to aid our decision processes. Despite of the success of machine learning in various application scenarios, there are still many questions that need to be well answered, such as optimizing machine learning outcomes when desired knowledge cannot be extracted from the available data. This naturally drives us to ponder if one …

Dismantling Power And Patriarchy: Reconceptualizing Entrepreneurship Through Feminist Research Methods, Heatherjean Macneil

Graduate Doctoral Dissertations

Initial research has shown how male and heroic idealism of the entrepreneur (Ahl, 2006), the gendering of entrepreneurial ecosystems (Özkazanç-Pan & Muntean, 2021), and societal racism (Wingfield, 2008), contribute to othering conditions for entrepreneurs who are not white and male (Ahl, 2006). Not only does this othering effect create interlocking and compounded barriers, (Collins and Blige, 2016), but a diverse perspective of how-to entrepreneur is lost amidst dominant discourse and homogenous norms. To disrupt this patriarchal mold, this dissertation investigates: How does social identity shape early-stage entrepreneurship? It applies feminist theory and qualitative research methods to explore the lived experiences …

Impact Of Hospital Inventory Management Of Ppe On State-Level Healthcare Worker Infections During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Nidhal Bouazizi

College of Business Theses and Dissertations

The COVID-19 pandemic has put a spotlight on the personal protective equipment (PPE) supply chain and its inability to keep up with the fluctuating demands of a global pandemic. Limited research examines the resilience of the PPE supply chain in times of stress, and very few studies rely on quantitative retrospective analysis. This dissertation studies the impact of hospital inventory management, a portion of PPE supply chain preparedness, on infections in healthcare workers (HCWs). Our research shows that there exists a statistically significant negative relationship between PPE preparedness and infections for HCWs, but this relationship is only significant for N95 …

Corporate Reputations Measured And In Practice: How Can Corporations Stay Authentic To Their Positive External Depictions, Internally?, Valeene Wilson

Student Theses and Dissertations

This research paper discusses corporate reputation and how companies can stay authentic to their positive external reputations internally. Organizations are getting better at communicating who they are but fall short in fulfilling broader reputation goals. To be managed, corporate reputations must be measured. Fombrun introduced the Reputation Institute and the RepTrak measurement system, which builds on research done on leadership, employee engagement, and the evolution of corporate reputation. This paper dives into how to assess a corporation’s reputation using the aggregate reputation ranking RepTrak as a frame for the analysis of qualitative data, collected on four organizations and supplemented with …

Citizenship As A Social Determinant Of Health: Healthcare Access And Utilization In The Wake Of The Public Charge Policy Change, Errol Pierre

Student Theses and Dissertations

Research shows that many non-medical factors, called social determinants of health, impact health outcomes. These social determinants include both socioeconomic factors, such as income and education, and public policies, such as laws and regulations affecting access to healthcare. This study proposes that citizenship status is also a social determinant of health and supports this proposition by examining the impact of citizenship status on healthcare access and utilization in New York. The study data consist of enrollments, disenrollments, and paid medical expenses incurred by patients enrolled in Medicaid or the Essential plan, both of which are government-sponsored health plans. In addition …

Muslim Fashion Influencers Shaping Modesty In The Twenty-First Century On Social Media, Awa Sanno

Student Theses and Dissertations

The depiction of Muslim women in Western media has been a long-running joke, as they are framed to be oppressed by the burdens of their religion and the hijab. However, Muslim women have used the power of social media to counter that narrative through their large followings as fashion influencers, digital creators, food bloggers, makeup artists, lifestyle bloggers, musicians, and so much more. Specifically, Muslim fashion influencers are changing and redefining the notion of modesty throughout their posted content on social media. Many people in Muslim communities see this redefinition of modesty as a conflict with the "proper" ways of …

Diversity And Inclusion In The Beauty And Cosmetic Advertising And Its Impact On Corporate Reputation, Lisa N. Alli

Student Theses and Dissertations

Across many industries, reputation management has been a top priority, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic, and the ongoing issues surrounding gender, race, and ethnicity. The beauty and cosmetic industry, for example, continues to face several challenges involving diversity and representation in product development and advertising. This is a study of the beauty and cosmetic industry and how corporate reputation is shaped by representation in advertising and product development. This research demonstrates select ways how brands have marketed their products throughout history by retrieving print advertisements from archives and social media. Changes in representation of gender, age, skin tone, skin type, …

Developing An Assessment Model For Entrepreneurship Ecosystems Using Hierarchical Decision Model: Case Study Of Riyadh City, Mustafa Kamal Almuzel

Dissertations and Theses

Entrepreneurship is one of the major drivers of economies. Countries that aim to improve their economies by increasing entrepreneurial activities and its effectiveness need to develop an effective entrepreneurship ecosystem. This ecosystem combines a set of domains and factors that create a healthy environment for entrepreneurs. The analysis shows that there is limited research about structured assessment methods to evaluate the entrepreneurship ecosystems.

Therefore, this research objective is to introduce a universal assessment model that can be adopted in different cities for implementing an effective entrepreneurial ecosystem. This will be achieved by addressing three main research questions. 1) What are …

Development Of The Patient Propensity Indicator: Measuring And Predicting Antecedents Of Insights Into The Individual Management Of Healthcare, Julie Monroid

Student Theses and Dissertations

This research describes the development of the Patient Propensity Indicator (PPI), a reliable and valid measure, which is grounded in the rigorous conceptualization and operationalization of psychometric (ability, attitude, belief), health literacy, and learning preferences constructs and their effect on medication adherence. Adopting a well-established protocol for instrument development (DeVillis, 2017) the PPI’s multi-construct items were developed based on the findings from an extensive literature review both within and outside of healthcare.

An expert assessment of 130 items was conducted by a distinguished judging panel who provided validation of the constructs and item reduction (87). Refined constructs and items were …

Stakeholder Capitalism: An Investigation Of The Linkage Between Corporate Social Responsibility And Financial Performance, Cynthia Walsh

College of Business Theses and Dissertations

Utilizing a large sample of firms over a 13-year period, we examine the impact of ESG Score on profitability. While we fail to find a significant effect for the continuous ESG Score variable, we find conditions where Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) plays an important role in financial performance. Specifically, after controlling for relevant firm characteristics and fixed effects, we find that the highest quartile of ESG Scores experience an average increase in return on assets of 4%. This effect is amplified for the CSR-sensitive energy industry. Additionally, CSR can play an important role in mitigating loss during times of economic …

The Future Of Name, Image, And Likeness In Advertising, Olivia E. Nuss

LSU Master's Theses

This study explores the unique intersection of the law and the theories of communication related to a student athlete’s ability to receive compensation based off their name, image, and likeness (NIL). The purpose of this study is to understand the future of NIL legislation application as it relates to emerging media and student-athletes’ privacy interests in order to better understand influencer marketing and the impact new legislation will have on student-athlete brand deals. Through a series of semi-structured, in-depth interviews, I explored industry trends in NIL as it relates to brand partnerships and advertising, focusing on key players, methods, and …

The Use Of Ethnonyms In Communication Strategies, Cristina B. Gonzales Otoya Villanueva

Student Theses and Dissertations

This research aims to explore the effectiveness of the language used in external communications, including brand campaigns already launched targeting different ethnic groups, with a particular emphasis on the Hispanic, Latino and Latinx communities. The final objective is to provide recommendations on the appropriate use of ethnonyms in their marketing strategies while authentically approaching their target market to generate brand affinity and long-standing trust.

The Current Place Of Corporate Identity Due To Changing Demographics And Corporate Communication Structures, Jordan Exline

Undergraduate Honors Theses

Our business environment is in a period of significant change. We have a new generation beginning to enter the workforce that requires different levels of communication and the phase-out and incorporation of remote/hybrid work resulting from the pandemic. Corporate identity could be at stake as a result, and how will that affect employees at a company? This study analyzes how corporate identity applies to the business of the future, what makes an impact on its connectivity, and the links between identity and work environment and communication. The goal is to understand what can be adjusted to increase the relevance of …

Learning To Fly: The Impact Of Project-Based Learning On Development Of The 4cs In The Elementary Grades, Deborah Francois

Dissertations

Purpose: The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to investigate the impact of project-based learning on K-5 students’ development of the 4Cs (Critical Thinking, Communication, Creativity, Collaboration) as perceived by elementary charter school teachers.

Methodology: A phenomenological design was selected to address the research questions for this study. Through purposeful sampling, 12 charter elementary teachers who met a pre-determined set of criteria (including the routine integration of project-based learning within their instructional programs) were selected to participate in virtual, semi-structured interviews. All teachers were employed by charter schools located in six counties within California. The interviews were conducted using …

Executive Peer Advisory Groups: Who They Are? What Are Their Benefits? Why Do Members Join And Stay?, Andrew Feghali

Dissertations

Executive peer advisory groups (EPAGs) are exclusive organizations in which chief executive officers (CEOs) and presidents of businesses can problem solve business challenges, discuss business strategies, share best practices, and solve critical growth and performance issues. Executive peer advisory groups are based on the premise that the collective experience and resources of peer groups empower like-minded executives to solve challenges more effectively and more rapidly than they could do on their own. A key component of EPAGs is the forum, in which six to 16 members meet, typically monthly, in small-group sessions to function as each other’s personal advisory boards. …

White-Collar Crime: Diversity And Discrimination In Sentencing, Rachel Labrie

Honors Projects

White-collar crimes cause businesses and individuals to lose billions of dollars a year. This paper discusses the criminal justice system in regard to the white-collar crime and discrimination by the basis of gender and race within sentencing. First an analysis is given on who commits white-collar crimes, by looking at the rates and motives of those committing white-collar crimes on the basis of first gender and race. An analysis through literature review compares sentencing of females and people of color compared with the rates of white males who make up the majority of those committing white-collar crimes. The findings suggest …

Non-Profit Accounting And Financial Strategies For The Exponential Age, Nathan A. Judd

Honors Projects

This research project was designed to introduce the current state of digital assets with all of its potential risks and rewards within the non-profit business sector. Non-profit organizations receive donations constantly, but what happens when an individual gives a digital asset such as Bitcoin to the non-profit? The answer is quite complicated from an accounting and strategic business approach but will be unpacked and reviewed. Other nonprofit topics included are the exponential network effects for digital assets, official FASB accounting regulation treatments for digital assets, taxation documentation from the IRS regarding digital assets, and potential implementation strategies to consider.

Inaccessible Interpolated Imagery: How Coffee Farmers In The State Of Chiapas Might Access Political Economic Opportunity Through Representation, Paolo Fiann Bicchieri

Master's Theses

Here is a useful parable to boil down the idea of this project and set the tone: when one goes to the bar to tell a story about a fight at the bar, they would never venture to place themselves as the hero of the brawl, taking out three drunkards in a single punch, unless they were really in the bar, at that time, fighting a good fight. One would never do this as the bartender, locals, and regulars would all know if this were the case or not. Yet transnational corporations, governments, and even consumers do this all the …

The Rise Of American Food In China, Shiyan Wang

Master's Projects and Capstones

Over the years, American food has become more and more popular in China. Today, the Chinese are more open to trying new cuisines. To fully understand the forces that have catalyzed the growing presence of American foods in China, my research project demonstrates the complex web of factors that shape how American food businesses’ presence in China has changed over the last decade. Examining a diversity of sources, including existing trend data, my analysis focuses on the domestic and global factors that have facilitated the growing presence of American food restaurants in China. Using this research as a jumping off …

The Madness Of March: A Quantitative Look At Cinderella Stories In The Ncaa Division I Men’S Basketball Tournament, Joseph J. Fresco

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

This study looked to determine if being classified as a Cinderella Story team in the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Tournament, also known as March Madness, led to a statistically significant change in NCAA Division I men’s basketball spending for that team’s respective institution one, two, and three years after being labeled. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of men’s basketball spending on teams that are Cinderella Stories in the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament. It aims to understand how spending differs between athletic programs whose characteristics mirror those of Cinderella Stories and how expenses change before …

The Cost Of Urbanization: A Look Into The Transformation Of Mao Era Reforms, Tieren A. Dokes

Master's Projects and Capstones

Mao Zedong has played an influential role in Chinese society, whether for better or for worse. His policies have caused ripples throughout contemporary Chinese society, but nothing stronger than his desire for urbanization and economic land reform. Utilizing Mao’s drive for urbanization and economic reform as essential historical context, this paper connects how the contemporary governmental push for urbanization has been unyielding, and, in some ways, counterproductive as decade-old Mao-era institutions reverberate in an echo chamber with cracks that allow darker forces to seep in. Real estate and urban development companies and local governments are given monetary incentive to redevelop …

On The Value Of Operational Flexibility In Anheuser Busch Inbev’S Trailer Loading And Shipment Problem: Data-Driven Approaches And Reinforcement Learning, Yunsi Yang

Doctor of Business Administration Dissertations

This paper introduces the Anheuser Busch Inbev (ABI)'s trailer shipment problem and suggests data-analytics methodologies to deal with it. The problem is to determine the proper weight of products loaded on a trailer (a transporting container) owned by ABI, which is delivered by a tractor (a motor vehicle) owned by third-party logistics (3PL) providers. ABI must meet a regulation that restricts the gross weight of the truck on the road. However, the challenge comes from the fact that the tractor weight is uncertain and unknown to ABI when it determines the load size on the trailer. We suggest machine learning …

Do Chief Executive Officers With Higher Compensation Assume More Innovative Risk Within Their Firms? Unearthing The Relationship Between Chief Executive Officer Compensation And Firm Innovation Levels: An Analysis Of S&P 500 Companies, Hailey Kleban, Abhay Bhandari

Senior Honors Papers / Undergraduate Theses

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, executive compensation arose at a rapid scale — with many in the labor force displaced or facing unemployment, many questioned how the excessive compensation packages of Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) reflected in actual firm performance. However, executive compensation has been a mainstay topic in academic literature. Researchers have attempted to unearth the exponentially growing paychecks or the link between compensation and other firm factors (market performance, employee satisfaction, CEO perception, etc.).

This study aims to examine the relationship between S&P 500 CEO compensation and the innovation levels of their firms; through this, we hope to understand …

Investing Green To Become More Green: An Analysis Of Whether S&P 100 Companies Are Decreasing Their Carbon Footprint Proportional To Their Liquidity, Ashley Hendler, Ethan Hunter

Senior Honors Papers / Undergraduate Theses

Global warming may have ignited the flame in corporations to invest in the changing business and environmental climate. The importance of a broader stakeholder value perspective has grown as firms have impacted the global environment. The S&P 100 firms are at the forefront of the public’s attention in maximizing shareholder and stakeholder value. With the worldwide expectation for corporate social responsibility, these top firms are not in question of whether they are investing in sustainability initiatives but to what extent. We seek to decipher if these top corporations are reducing their carbon footprint proportional to their excess available funds. Since …

A Circular Economy Approach To Improve E-Waste Recycling In California: Economic Potential And Policy Options, Kripa Shah

Master's Projects and Capstones

The higher consumption rates of electronic devices along with their short life cycles and few repair options poses a huge challenge for E-waste industries to manage them effectively. E-waste comprises of hazardous materials and toxic constituents that can affect the environment and public health through improper disposal. However, they also contain few valuable materials that, if recovered, can reduce the dependence on virgin raw materials. Circular economy has the potential to utilize these valuable materials and gain environment and socio-economic benefits. The research explains how the adoption of a circular economy approach can help improve the E-waste recycling in California …

The Shopping Experience: Pandemic Edition, Katie De Paula

Student Theses and Dissertations

This study is an initial dive behind the decline of shopping malls and stores across America. More specifically, how did the pandemic caused by COVID-19 contribute to the closure and bankruptcies of many shopping malls. Will the e-commerce business eventually take over and be the primary way consumers obtain their items?

Differences Between Brand Activism And Corporate Social Responsibility In Consumer Perception, Erika Marchiondo

Student Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this thesis is to determine if there is a perceived difference among consumers between brand activism and corporate social responsibility. Taking a stand in social and political causes has become an unspoken requirement for major brands. Consumers are selective about purchasing from brands that do not adhere to ethical practices. Consumers are also demanding increased brand transparency about the philanthropical causes brands support. I want to determine how aware consumers are of acts of corporate social responsibility and brand activism, and if consumers are able to identify a fundamental difference between behaviors associated with the two terms. …

The Stigmatization Of Mental Health And Wellness Programs In The Corporate World, Sumiya Chowdhury

Student Theses and Dissertations

This research paper will discuss the importance of mental health and work-related stress, increasing in today's adult population. Employees are more vocal about their challenges with depression, PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder), and anxiety. Many big corporations like Google and LinkedIn have supported mental health causes in their organizations and discussed coping methods on different platforms. Even though this kind of help breaks down the stigma around this issue, unfortunately, it is not enough to make employees in the corporate world feel safe to talk about mental health at work. Also, mental health stigma makes the environment hostile for those who …

The Significance Of Sonic Branding To Strategically Stimulate Consumer Behavior: Content Analysis Of Four Interviews From Jeanna Isham’S “Sound In Marketing” Podcast, Ina Beilina

Student Theses and Dissertations

Purpose:
Sonic branding is not just about composing jingles like McDonald’s “I’m Lovin’ It.” Sonic branding is an industry that strategically designs a cohesive auditory component of a brand’s corporate identity. This paper examines the psychological impact of music and sound on consumer behavior reviewing studies from the past 40 years and investigates the significance of stimulating auditory perception by infusing sound in consumer experience in the modern 2020s.

Design/methodology/approach:
Qualitative content analysis of audio media was used to test two hypotheses. Four archival oral interview recordings from Jeanna Isham’s podcast “Sound in Marketing” featuring the sonic branding experts …

Millennials In The Workplace: Recalling Critical Incidents Of Negative Feedback, Jocelyn C. Key

Student Theses and Dissertations

The Millennial generation has become one of the largest groups in the workplace and reports needing constant feedback from their supervisors. However, previous research has suggested that while Millennials desire feedback, they only want it to be positive. This research study examined the critical incidents of negative feedback that Millennials employees and supervisors recall receiving and giving. The study consisted of a qualitative survey with multiple-choice and open-ended questions. The sample comprised of 61 respondents who identified as a Millennial – born between 1981-2000 and between the ages of 22-41 – and full-time employees, the equivalent of 35 or more …