Business Commons^™

Social Media And Political Campaign Communication In Ghana., Beatrice Eyram Amenyeawu

School of Professional Studies

Originally designed for social networking and interactions, social media has gained precedence in business and organizational operations. Politics which has had a long relationship with the media has seen some changes in its campaign and communication due to the evolution of the media. Social media has proven to be an effective strategy in political communication and campaign. Given its numerous features such as the like button, live videos, content sharing, comment option, photo sharing, status update, tags, amongst others it has enabled the dialogue between political stakeholders. Furthermore, social media impacts elections and democratic discourse with its dialogic feature which …

Internal Communications In The Time Of A Global Pandemic, Thais Gandica, Manvi Talwar, Sange Wangmu Thungon, Edgar Knyvet Diengdoh Pyrtuh, Emmanuel Kumah

School of Professional Studies

The business and organizational worlds have been in constant transformation for years. Still, 2020 changed drastically the way they function from their very inside. The COVID-19 pandemic hit all industries, and with that, all models of communication had to be reshaped so they could efficiently connect with their internal players in charge of crafting and delivering messages that would work towards a healthy and productive environment. Internal Communications played a critical role in the employee relations, brand image, and overall success of organizations, especially during the crisis. Through primary and secondary research conducted to three different organizations’ sizes, this research …

An Analysis Of The Applications Of Technology To Health Care Within The Caribbean And Latin America, Chineme Ezema

School of Professional Studies

This project aims to investigate and document the evolution of health technology applications and uses within the regions of Latin America and the Caribbean. Originally inspired by the Cayman Islands’ thus far successful handling of the Coronavirus pandemic, I was eager to explore how the applications of technology to the field of healthcare have existed within the region currently and over time. With this foundation, I then explored the regions’ trajectory in terms of technological growth and what the future may hold for these countries and communities.

A Comprehensive Analysis Of Food Insecurity And Solutions In Worcester, Massachusetts, David Sullivan

School of Professional Studies

Worcester, Massachusetts is a postindustrial city with high levels of potential that faces the persistent obstacle of food insecurity for its low-income and ethnic minority communities. This research thesis examines food insecurity in general and explores data and trends in Worcester, then combines this with conceptual frameworks which explain how socioeconomic factors play into food security. It also explains the systemic inequalities present as a result of food insecurity and critiques academic assumptions surrounding food insecurity. One of these assumptions is that food deserts on their own can explain food insecurity in Worcester and elsewhere, though it has been found …

Broadband In Rhode Island, Deborah Ruggiero

School of Professional Studies

Broadband is the 21st century fiber-optic highway in our technology and information economy. The need for high-speed fiber-optic connectivity is critical for economic development, education, business, e-learning, and telehealth

Examining The Effectiveness Of Influencer Marketing Across Platforms, Alison Everett

School of Professional Studies

This paper evaluates how effective influencer marketing is across the two most popular influencer platforms, YouTube and Instagram. This paper uses a case study approach to analyze popular brands that use influencer marketing on both platforms to determine which platform is more successful at engaging and reaching audiences from influencers. The brands analyzed for case studies are food delivery service HelloFresh and haircare brand Function of Beauty. Both brands use influencer marketing on Instagram and YouTube. The HelloFresh case study analyzes sponsored content from YouTube creator Jacksfilms and Instagram influencer Marisa Hen. The Function of Beauty case study analyzes sponsored …

Pernet Family Health Service, Inc.: Organizational Restructuring & Change Management Best Practices, Carly Massino

School of Professional Studies

Research exhibits that between 70-75% of change initiatives fail and a major contributor to this trend is employee resistance. Although change can bring exciting growth and innovation, it can cause employees heightened stress and worsened physical and mental health outcomes. These effects are often amplified when organizations enact multiple change initiatives at once. These worsened outcomes are often a result of feelings of distress, anxiety, powerlessness, and apprehension and unknowns such as how one’s position will be affected, how operations will change, or how one fits into the change. This topic is incredibly relevant for Pernet Family Health Service, Inc., …

A Comparison Of Community Development Corporations (Cdcs) In Worcester, Massachusetts, Benjamin L. Gessel

School of Professional Studies

This paper examines the factors that influence the effectiveness of two community development corporations (CDCs) in Worcester, Massachusetts. The Main South CDC is more community-oriented and has a comprehensive approach to improving its neighborhood. Worcester Community Housing Resources (WCHR) has a narrower approach that is limited to developing and financing affordable homes. The paper investigates the success of these two organizations on factors widely considered important for CDCs, including their ability to provide affordable housing, the extent of services they offer, their level of community control, and their financial security

Happening In Plain Sight: An Evaluation Of Sexual Harassment In Municipal Government Through A Case Study Of Newark, New Jersey, Hoween R. A. Flexer, Caitlin R. Louie

School of Professional Studies

In the city of Newark, New Jersey, Sebrevious Scott, a participant in the New Jersey Reentry program was hired as part-time office assistant in the city's re-entry office. After being transferred to the city’s Parks and Grounds Departments, she started being sexually harassed, inappropriately touched and propositioned by her supervisor, Richard Kirkland. Scott made repeated attempts to report these actions through the appropriate channels. She was met with dismissal, resistance, and later retaliation. While working in this hostile environment she was also pursuing a full-time employment opportunity with the city upon the completion of the reentry program. Unfortunately, this never …

Small Business And Sustainability: How The Back Bone Of America And The Buzz Word Of The 2010s And 2020s Can Be A Powerhouse For Change, Raleigh Woods

Management Undergraduate Honors Theses

Over the years phrases like “going green” or “reduce, reuse, recycle” have been the war cries of environmentalist conservationists. Now, a new word has begun to heavily circulate among the environments communities and beyond: sustainability. However, the concept of sustainability has been around for centuries. According to the World Energy Foundation sustainability was “coined in German, the original term was Nachhaltigkeit, meaning ‘sustained yield.’ It first appeared in a handbook of forestry published in 1713, and was used to mean never harvesting more than the forest can regenerate.” (The World Energy Foundation, 2014). Since then, the word and concept has …

Her Picture Is Worth A Thousand Words: An Investigation Into The Relationship Between Resume Photos And Perceived Morality, Hannah Daab

Honors College Theses

It was once believed that a woman’s physical appearance benefited her in many aspects of life, including her career. Following the progression of the #MeToo movement, society has seen beauty become a liability for women in the workplace. This investigation dives into this phenomenon and redirects the focus to an earlier point in the timeline of a female’s professional career: the hiring process. Specifically, this paper begins to uncover an answer to the long- standing question of whether or not a woman should include a photo of herself on her resumé or CV. Across two quantitative studies, I investigate whether …

Platforming Gamification As A Means Of Engagement In Employee Recruitment And Onboarding, Samuel D. Lipson

Management Undergraduate Honors Theses

Gamification, generally understood as the application of game elements and design concepts in non-game contexts, is a field of academic study and multibillion-dollar business tool whose popularity is growing as a means of employee engagement, education and training, and talent selection. While there are companies that attempt to gamify separate processes within the employee life cycle, no company exists that gamifies the stages surrounding talent selection: attraction and recruitment of applicants and onboarding of final candidates. To this end, this thesis proposes a software and consulting company, GameON Business Solutions, that will work with small and medium enterprises to expand …

The Relationship Between Religious Freedom In America And The Current And Future Workplace, Liz Spence

Management Undergraduate Honors Theses

In regards to religious freedom, the current climate in America is ambiguous and sensitive. This has carried over into the workplace and will continue to affect the way that leaders must manage their employees. This study contains a survey that addresses historical cases dealing with religious freedom, personal experiences in the workplace, and finally, questions regarding the ideal workplace and leadership. This study also includes in-depth interviews of current employees in a variety of careers that adhere to a religion. The paper concludes with a summary that explores how managers should react in the future to the findings in this …

Social Media Preferences Of Individuals Seeking Graduate Business Degrees, Peyton N. Boxberger, Hannah C. Lee

Management Undergraduate Honors Theses

The purpose of this thesis is to provide actionable insight to the Walton MBA Programs Office for a cohesive social media strategy that is inclusive of all audiences. This research hopes to help the Walton MBA program better understand potential and current students based on their social media behavior and learn how social media use has changed due to the global COVID-19 pandemic. This report will analyze the results of a survey crafted to better understand the social media preferences of individuals seeking graduate business degrees. From these, a social media marketing strategy can be created to tailor content to …

Comparative Job Skill Development Initiatives In Northwest Arkansas And Barcelona, Grace Davis

Management Undergraduate Honors Theses

Social innovation strategies are being used around the world to create new avenues to meet the social needs of people that can vary from lack of jobs or food to deforestation and loss of wildlife. In the past, simple donations and corporate programs have made an impact, but there is a new way of creating sustainable and profitable impact through newly introduced strategies that consider society as a whole and allow the perceived obstacle to work as a solution. It is important to first note what social innovation is. Social innovation is the restructuring of philanthropic endeavors by creating sustainable …

Consumer Behavior And Coronavirus: How The Pandemic Transformed The American Shopper, Gina L. Riedell

Supply Chain Management Undergraduate Honors Theses

This study examines the changes in consumer shopping behavior resulting from the coronavirus pandemic in the United States as well as the effects on in-store and e-commerce sales and market share within the CPG industry. Most Americans faced some level of disruption throughout developments in the coronavirus outbreak. The study of their ongoing behavior changes in shopping preferences and purchasing decisions is revealed through CPG sales and offers insight into how it has affected the industry long-term. This paper analyzes the consumer behavior shifts in chronological order as new developments in the pandemic affected shopping decisions from January 2020 to …

Employee Retention Rate, Lila Sorenson

School of Professional Studies

This paper addresses the following problem regarding low employee retention rates in non-profit mental health organizations, specifically at NFI. The problem at hand is that majority of staff at NFI have an average length of stay of one year or less. The purpose of this paper is to address the current problem and hypothesize factors that could impact the low retention rates. Additionally, the purpose of the paper is to brainstorm potential solutions regarding the low retention rates and suggestions of how to implement the solutions. The documents contained in this paper include data analysis of employee average length of …

Predicting The Financial Vulnerability Of U.S. Public Charities: A Test Of The Tuckman-Chang Model, Alesha L. Graves

Doctor of Business Administration (DBA)

Charitable organizations are significant contributors to the U.S. economy, and Americans invest billions of dollars into these organizations through their donations. Without these organizations, additional pressure would be placed on governmental agencies to provide certain services or those services would not be provided at all, indicating that these organizations’ long-term survival is necessary. In 1991, Tuckman and Chang published the seminal work on the financial vulnerability of nonprofit organizations and presented a model that describes a financially vulnerable organization. Subsequent studies of this model indicate that the model is predictive; however, those studies did not utilize an actual financial shock. …

Technology In Accounting: A Qualitative Study Of Undergraduate Preparedness, Alyssa Dingus

Undergraduate Honors Theses

Throughout history, technology has had a major impact on every profession and how certain tasks are performed. In recent years, technology has accelerated at an astonishing rate causing a total shift in the valuable skillsets of young professionals. Accounting is no exception to this shift and, as technology continues to advance, emerging accounting professionals will no longer be expected to enter the workforce only with basic pen-and-paper accounting knowledge. Instead, they will also be expected to possess analytical skills and be prepared to apply and learn the newest technology on the market. However, the traditional accounting curriculum does not focus …

Etsu's Accounting Program: Creating Cpas, Christopher Jones

Undergraduate Honors Theses

Becoming a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) is the goal of many aspiring accountants. Universities and colleges prepare students to gain the necessary skills to pass this certification exam; however, the CPA exam is increasingly difficult, and students continuously struggle trying to pass all four parts of the CPA exam. The goal of this research project is to gain a better understanding of how ETSU can better prepare students to become CPA exam ready, since this certification leads to increased job opportunities, pay, etc. A survey was sent out to 90 previous graduate students at ETSU with both multiple choice and …

Ethical And Sustainable Cosmetics And Their Importance On Consumer Purchase Behavior, Warda Rawof

Undergraduate Honors Theses

“Sustainability is increasingly important to consumers as they consider not only the effects products they buy have on their personal health, but also the impact they have on our wildlife, soil, and the people who work at every level of the supply chain. As climate change has moved from a future concern to a present reality, going green has become a driving force for innovation in every industry, including beauty” (Linkage, 2020). The importance of ethical and sustainable products is on the rise in the beauty industry, it is becoming increasingly apparent that having ethical and clean products are important …

The Impact Of Fresh Eyes: How A Change In The Engagement Team Impacts The Reporting Of Internal Control Material Weaknesses, Hannah Elizabeth Richards

Finance and Real Estate Dissertations - Archive

Regulators have repeatedly debated mandatory auditor rotation. Proponents emphasize the benefits that a new auditor brings, specifically, improved independence and a fresh perspective, leading to higher quality audits. However, opponents argue that changing auditors is costly and impedes audit quality. The United States currently requires audit partner rotation, but it is not clear that partner change alone significantly impacts audit outcomes. In this dissertation, I provide evidence that the fresh perspective brought about by changes in the engagement team improves the detection and reporting of internal control material weaknesses (ICMW) after controlling for the likelihood of the existence of ICMW. …

Writing The Book Proposal For The Innovators: How Creative Mavericks Solve Tough Business Problems, Marsha M. Huber

Creativity and Change Leadership Graduate Student Master's Projects

This project presents the process I used to write the book proposal for The Innovators: How Creative Mavericks Solve Tough Business Problems. Acquisitions editor, Edward Stone, invited me to write a book on organizational creativity. Although a few older books are on the market, my book presents a comprehensive view of creativity with two parts. Part 1 covers the creative process, and Part 2 teaches the creative methods. I used mind maps to organize each chapter of the book proposal. The final outcome of the Master’s project is the table of contents that I submitted to Edward Stone and the …

Effects Of Retail Case Environment And Led Lighting Temperature On Color Of Ground Beef Patties, Mesa Kutz

Animal Science Undergraduate Honors Theses

The objective of this study was to explore different type of retail cases and case environments, primarily lighting, to quantify the impact on shelf life. Coarse ground 80:20 beef from a local retail establishment was acquired between 7 and 10 d from the box date and fine ground through a 9.5 mm grinder plate, and then formed into 150.25 g patties with an automatic patty forming machine. Each patty was then individually packaged in PVC-overwrap packages and randomly assigned to one of the four different treatments: open, multideck cases with 3000 K lighting (OPEN3000),open 3500 K lighting (OPEN3500),enclosed, …

Application Of Interpretable Machine Learning In Flight Delay Detection, Afroza Hossain

Information Systems & Operations Management Theses - Archive

Precise flight delay prediction is vital for the airline industries and passengers. This thesis focuses on applying several machine learning and auto-ML techniques to predict flight delays. A flight delay is said to occur when an airline lands or takes off later than its scheduled arrival or departure time, respectively. Conventionally, if a flight's departure time or arrival time is greater than 15 minutes than its scheduled departure and arrival times respectively, then it is considered that there is a departure or arrival delay with respect to the corresponding airports. Notable reasons for commercially scheduled flights to be delayed are …

An Inclusive Leadership Model To Integrate Organizational Dynamics, Change Management, Change Leadership, And Diversity And Inclusion Needs For The Successful Implementation Of Business Transformations, Jarrod A. Combs-Harris

Full-Text Theses & Dissertations

This paper explores Change Management and Change Leadership theories in-depth, along with an analysis of how Diversity and Inclusion drivers play a significant role in how businesses can sustain successful transformations. In the past, experts focused on how change initiatives can help transform businesses on a macro level, regardless of employee factors. In most recent times, the world has evolved to include diversity and inclusion initiatives that will consider broader perspectives from communities who were once silent.

Historically, change management theories of yesteryear focused on how to execute change in a myriad of ways. Some theories were more tactical in …

A Comprehensive Analysis Of Trader Joe’S: Exploration From National And Omaha Metropolitan Perspectives, Natalie R. Bauermeister

Theses/Capstones/Creative Projects

Trader Joe’s started in 1967 when founder Joe Coulombe became inspired to provide local Pasadena residents a refreshing grocery store experience. Aimed at the young college student crowd, his idea quickly grew into a chain of successful grocery stores. The concept was simple: private label products cut out the middleman to keep prices fair, and the floor space compacted to feel like a local market experience. With a nautical theme to match the casual and outgoing feel of the stores, customers have flocked to Trader Joe’s stores around the country for the “wow” experience only found within those walls. Fast …

Wonderfully Made In The Making: A Strategic Recommendation For Growth Opportunities, Kayley Scott

Theses/Capstones/Creative Projects

I was partnered with a local non-profit organization, called Wonderfully Made, to identify and solve a strategic problem they are experiencing. Wonderfully Made is focused on serving girls of color with special needs. I analyzed internal resources and weaknesses and I researched external factors that affect them. I found that Wonderfully Made needed to explore growth opportunities through a strategic alliance with a college organization, ideally an NPHC sorority at UNO. This would create a mentorship opportunity for the participants in the organization. It would also create growth with minimal time and resources needed from Wonderfully Made’s busy board. If …

A Sweet Future For Sugar Makery: A Deeper Dive Into Small Business Consulting, Samuel Lauritsen

Theses/Capstones/Creative Projects

This case study investigates a local candy store in Glenwood and Council Bluffs Iowa. Processes, consistency and concise planning promoted the rapid growth of Sugar Makery into two locations in three short years. Results from the analyses indicate that the main problem facing Sugar Makery is sustaining its differentiated strategy from new industry entrants, key recommendations to sustain its success are presented. Every company has its own strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. The key is identifying each to be able to capitalize on competitive advantages, mitigate the damage done by weaknesses, take advantage of opportunities and create plans to avoid …

Debiasing A Decision Maker Facing Supply Uncertainties In A Newsvendor Setting, Alan William Zeller

Dissertations and Theses Collection (Open Access)

Companies must be prepared to manage uncontrollable events that will disrupt their supply chain and add uncertainty to their inventory models.

This thesis first studies the effect of different types of supply disruption risks on the ordering performance of profit-maximizing decision makers in a newsvendor setting.

Then, this thesis aims at extending the literature on the newsvendor model in studying the effect of a Decision Support System and the effect of a Secondary Task on the ordering performance of profit-maximizing decision makers who face supply uncertainties in a newsvendor setting.

Finally, implications for scholars and practitioners are discussed.