Business Commons^™

The Application Of Creative Leadership Skills In The Education And Mentoring Of Social Entrepreneurs: A Graduate Level Course, Maria J. Rivera

Creativity and Change Leadership Graduate Student Master's Projects

The purpose of this project is to fully comprehend the state of social entrepreneurship education through research, and consequently, to design a course on how to apply creative leadership skills to educate and mentor social entrepreneurs and to enhance their problem solving skills. The outcome of the project is a course proposal to build inter-disciplinary knowledge and skills.

Incremental Dcop Search Algorithms For Solving Dynamic Dcop Problems, William Yeoh, Pradeep Varakantham, Xiaoxun Sun, Sven Koenig

Research Collection School Of Computing and Information Systems

Distributed constraint optimization problems (DCOPs) are well-suited for modeling multi-agent coordination problems. However, most research has focused on developing algorithms for solving static DCOPs. In this paper, we model dynamic DCOPs as sequences of (static) DCOPs with changes from one DCOP to the next one in the sequence. We introduce the ReuseBounds procedure, which can be used by any-space ADOPT and any-space BnB-ADOPT to find cost-minimal solutions for all DCOPs in the sequence faster than by solving each DCOP individually. This procedure allows those agents that are guaranteed to remain unaffected by a change to reuse their lower and upper …

Code Of Ethics And Implementation Plan For Casa Cornelia Law Center, Allison Bechill, Janine Mason

Program Design and Evaluation

This project for Leadership and Ethics 502 was to develop a code of ethics for Casa Cornelia Law Center that outlines the ethical principles that reflects its values and the manner in which the board, staff and volunteers are expected to carry out the organization's mission and conduct their work. To accompany the Code, a three-year implementation plan was created to assist the organization in assimilating the Code into the organizational culture of Casa Cornelia.

The Strategic Assembly Of Global Firms: A Micro-Structural Analysis Of Local Learning And Global Adaptation, Mitchell P. Koza, Stephen Tallman, Aylin Ataay

Management Faculty Publications

Strategic Assembly - the comprehensive and coordinated use of internal development, mergers, acquisitions, joint ventures, and alliances - is a novel approach to the construction and management of global firms. This paper describes the role and characteristics of strategic assembly in the construction and management of the Global Multi-Business Firm, an emerging form of global organization. We present a study of Group Renault and its relationship with two key players in the lucrative and emerging market for autos in Turkey, emphasizing the coevolutionary processes through which local players enter and dominate a local market and the global parent, utilizing local …

Consumer Choice Tactics For Common, Repeat Purchase Products: Using Tissues And Deodorant To Predict And Understand Consumer Behavior, Alicia Elizabeth Dixon

Undergraduate Honors Thesis Collection

Currently there is limited research on the consumer decision-making process for low involvement products. The purpose of my study was to better understand the consumer decision-making process for common, repeat purchase products. Specifically, I was looking at how gender and generational differences impacted the decision-making process when purchasing two low-involvement products, tissues and deodorant. One hundred and ten students, staff and faculty were asked to look at a constructed store aisle and purchase both a box of tissues and stick of deodorant and complete a questionnaire responding to questions regarding their decision choice. The questiOl1J1ai re collected information regarding six …

Does Female Representation On Boards Of Directors Associate With Increased Transparency And Ethical Behavior?, Meredith B. Larkin

Honors Senior Capstones and Theses

This study examined the association between corporate transparency and ethical orientation of Fortune 500 companies and the number of females represented on the board of directors from 2010 annual report data.  My basis for this judgment was whether or not the firm was listed on either (both) Ethisphere Magazine’s 2010 “World’s Most Corporate Citizens List”.  My results indicate that, as the number of women directors increased, the probability of a corporation appearing on these lists increases.  I also found that a “critical mass” of women directors was indicated by the data for Ethisphere Magazine’s but not Corporate Responsibility Magazine’s list. …

In Remembrance Of Me, Rob Erich

Lake Union Herald

No abstract provided.

A Creative Brief For Hogs Abroad, Spencer J. Burmingham

Marketing Undergraduate Honors Theses

This thesis was designed to improve the marketing of the Hogs Abroad International Study program. Specifically, it looked into the myths of studying abroad and how the Study Abroad department may be able to mitigate these myths with informative posting via their LinkedIn channel.

Development For The Past, Present, And Future: Defining And Measuring Sustainable Development, Max Cantor

Senior Honors Projects

In 1987, the United Nations released the Brundtland Report, which defined sustainable development as “development which meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.” While this definition provides a relatively stable theoretical base from which development economists and political scientists can begin to tackle issues surrounding sustainable development, the inherently amorphous nature of this definition has also created a fair amount of ambiguity in both the economic literature surrounding sustainable development and the subsequent attempts by economists to measure it.

Historically, those interested in the science of development have typically …

Sarbanes Oxley: An Antidote To Executive Greed?, Andrew Colantani

Business/Business Administration

No abstract provided.

Revenue Recognition Of Gift Cards Complications Of Breakage Income, Matthew Hendricksoon

Accounting

Gift Cards are loved by both companies and customers. They are a large source of income and customers love their ease. However, regulation for reporting gift card income is something companies must pay close attention to. Companies must be concerned with recognition of breakage income as well as state escheatment laws. This paper will examine the current regulatory environment relating to gift card revenue as well as how companies are currently presenting this information to investors.

Self-Directed Learning And The Impact Of Leadership: Analyzing Keys For Success From A Covenental Perspective, David Duby, Kahlib J. Fischer

Faculty Publications and Presentations

The current state of education seems to beg for visionary changes to truly impact students and prepare them for the future. Self-directed learning models purport to do just that, by preparing students to be self-motivated, lifelong learners. While many educators seek to apply self-directed practices, research reveals that there are several obstacles that can hinder self-directed learning. Duby’s 2006 study of schools employing self-directed learning investigated how leaders successfully overcome these hindrances via specific leadership attitudes and behaviors that not only effectively overcame these obstacles, but are also reflected in the covenantal perspective of leadership. Using content analysis, this paper …

Financial Policies And Procedures Manuals For Nonprofit Organizations: Applying Best Practices To The Environmental Health Strategy Center, Jennifer Rottmann

Muskie School Capstones and Dissertations

Nonprofit organizations are exempt from taxation specifically because they do not distribute profits to shareholders or owners. It is expected that their purpose is to benefit the public good. Nonprofit organizations rely on public trust to raise the funds needed to carryout their work and to recruit and retain board members and volunteers who can amplify their efforts.

From Inspiration To Reality- Starting A Business Today, Nicole Christie

Senior Honors Projects

In today’s age of large corporations and superstores consuming the marketplace, small businesses must fight to stay afloat. In order to compete with these market giants, understanding the industry and establishing goals for the future are increasingly important. These ideals are especially essential for a small business initially entering the marketplace. This is the essence of my senior honors project.

During my career at URI, I combined my passion for pool and my business administration major to create a New England 9 Ball Tour. For the past three years, I have operated, managed, and promoted this successful tour which draws …

Exceling On The Job, Micah Schwartz

Senior Honors Projects

Graduating and seeking employment in this current economy can be a daunting challenge. However, when armed with the right tools, securing full-time employment is possible. In order to set oneself apart, it is essential to have a broader skill-set than that of other candidates.

As a Finance major here at the College of Business, I became interested in developing a set of “how to” tutorials for using advanced features of Microsoft Excel in order to better prepare students who will be entering the job market.  Through a series of professional internships, I have picked up some crucial skills and have …

The Importance Of Course Offerings On The Topic Of Environmental Sustainability At The University Of Rhode Island, Sarah Kane

Senior Honors Projects

For my project, I created a survey for University of Rhode Island students’ exploring their experiences and interest in course offerings on sustainability.  I am distributing it to students through different mediums such as email, Facebook and in person. Through my analysis of the results, I am seeking some evidence about whether or not students at this institute feel that our school offers enough courses on this topic and whether or not students are interested in taking courses on this topic.

As a business major, I have taken several courses where we learned about surveying and analysis of the results. …

How To Excel In The Fashion Industry, Elizabeth Weaver

Senior Honors Projects

How to Excel in the Fashion Industry

Elizabeth Weaver

Faculty Sponsor: Claire Lacoste Kapstein, Textiles, Merchandising and Design

Co-sponsor:  Art Mead, Economics

The fashion industry is most often thought of as a glamorous business filled with successful designers and supermodels.  For fashion students, however, the industry they seek to enter upon graduation is drastically different.  Students entering merchandising and retailing related careers will spend a large portion of their time analyzing data and working in Microsoft Excel. 
            As a graduating senior with a dual degree in Textiles, Merchandising and Design and Economics, I wanted to create a project that could …

Jcpenney Priced For Life Campaign, Michael Dolan

Renée Crown University Honors Thesis Projects - All

The JCPenney “Priced for Life” campaign was designed as Syracuse University’s entry for the National Student Advertising Competition, an event held by the American Advertising Federation. As a member of the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications team for the competition, I helped to make this integrated advertising campaign a reality.

The goal of this campaign is to retain women aged 25-34 who currently shop at JCPenney and also capture new customers who fall within that demographic. It is also designed to increase frequency and grow share of wallet among members of this target audience. The proposed campaign runs from …

Integrating Werw Into Syracuse University, Marina Zarya

Renée Crown University Honors Thesis Projects - All

Title: Integrating WERW into Syracuse University

WERW was a free form student-run radio station at Syracuse University that was failing after losing its transmitter, members, and audience. This Honors Capstone project has three main components. First, it explores the history and significance of college radio at Syracuse University through interviews with alumni. Next, it describes my recreation of a sustainable student organization that fills a creative need at the University through management, promotions, and strategic partnerships. The final part of the project is a future campaign designed for WERW, which explores low budget branding and advertising strategies that will be …

Habitat For Humanity Campus Chapter Effectiveness Study, Paul Stanley

Renée Crown University Honors Thesis Projects - All

This study examines the different ways that Habitat for Humanity International (HFHI) campus chapters engage their officers and volunteers, collaborate with external publics and fundraise to help eliminate substandard housing. The information for the study was collected through a survey sent to 271 campus chapters and interviews with five campus chapters, as well as reviewing current literature on employee engagement, trends in youth volunteering and corporate social responsibility. The study aligns strengths of certain campus chapters with areas of improvement of others that campus chapters can utilize to help improve their effectiveness.

Yourmainsqueeze: A Campaign For Syracuse, Jacqueline Piccolo

Renée Crown University Honors Thesis Projects - All

The city of Syracuse is a resource that has been untapped by SU students. Most students would consider themselves disconnected from the city, and would say that there’s not much to do downtown. Students will more likely complain about all the snow Syracuse receives, and the wind chill levels that can freeze your tears. However, when actually using the city’s resources, and engaging with downtown events, it is easy to see that life in the city does not freeze over in the winter.

In order to combat this problem, I have created a campaign proposal plan for the city of …

Why Aren’T Banks Loaning? An Analysis Of Over $1 Trillion In Excess Reserves In The United States Banking System After The Financial Crisis Of 2008-09, Gregory O. Orlowski

Renée Crown University Honors Thesis Projects - All

This thesis examines the subject of the maintenance of historically unprecedented levels of excess reserves during the financial crisis of 2008-09 and beyond. The thesis first provides an overview of how the buildup of excess reserves happened within the context of the credit crunch. A review of United States' legislative intervention follows. Basic implications of the maintenance of very high excess reserve levels are then discussed, with an emphasis on how this condition has hindered economic recovery. The Federal Reserve Board’s role is explored. This is followed by a comparison of the current financial crisis to a similar crisis that …

Renée Crown University Honors Program Advertising Campaign, Samantha Yanow

Renée Crown University Honors Thesis Projects - All

The advertising campaign that I created for the Renée Crown University Honors Program is intended to raise awareness for the program across Syracuse University’s campus. This campaign is also intended to alter the common stereotype of the program as “pretentious” and “overrated.” The ideas behind each of these advertisements and their intended meaning were adapted from research that I conducted in the fall of 2010 with current Renée Crown University Honors Program students and faculty. Though these advertisements will most likely not be used for the Renée Crown University Honors Program due to budget constraints it is possible that core …

Skilladdiction Business Plan, Taylor Louie

Renée Crown University Honors Thesis Projects - All

Skill gaming is a type of online gaming in which people play fun, easy to learn, casual games, in a tournament setup - sometimes backed by small wagers, in attempt to win cash prizes. Launched in April, 2009, SkillAddiction (SA), now host to over 54,000 customers across more than 150 countries, brings people together to compete in any of their favorite casual games, in which the outcome is predominantly based on the player's skill. SA has incorporated innovative features to set itself apart from competitors, such as a virtual scavenger hunt, and interactive community features, and continues to develop the …

The Economic Impact Of Baseball Stadiums On Their Surrounding Development, Adam Davidson

Renée Crown University Honors Thesis Projects - All

The following paper examines the economic impact that Major League Baseball stadiums have on their surrounding developments and the funding methods used to build those stadiums. It includes a comparison of four examples: Oriole Park at Camden Yards, Busch Stadium, AT&T Park, and Fenway Park. The paper also takes both a qualitative and quantitative analysis of the results promised prior to construction and the various impact reports completed after the stadiums have been completed. The paper analyzes the use of public money for private use and the impact that the stadiums have on new sports centered developments as well as …

Content Management System, Timothy P. Daigle

Renée Crown University Honors Thesis Projects - All

The goal of my project was to develop a Content Management System for the CitrusTV website. This project was first brought to my attention in the Fall of 2009 by fellow Syracuse University student Alyssa Elias.

As a Newhouse Broadcast Journalism major, Alyssa recognized a need to develop a site that better mirrored the CBS news video website after having interned there the summer entering Junior year.

I was brought into the project because of my Information Technology minor, which allowed me to be familiar with the technical background necessary for the project. Additionally, my role involved maintaining communication between …

An Organizational Analysis Of Independent Record Labels, Daniel Creahan

Renée Crown University Honors Thesis Projects - All

In this thesis, I will investigate the work structures and day-to-day operational analysis of independent record labels (“indies”) from across the United States and UK. These findings will then be applied to my personal experiences running an independent record label in Syracuse, New York as a way to evaluate our own operations.

My research constitutes a combination of scholarly studies and personal interviews with 9 different labels, studying work hierarchies, communication methods, office layout, artist interaction, creative disputes, and customer interaction.

In general, indies embrace flexibility, a pragmatic approach to costs and strategy, and a relatively informal power structure, alongside …

Fueling Ukraine’S Future: Using Microfinance As A Tool For Reducing Energy Dependency And Changing Lives, Justin Cole

Renée Crown University Honors Thesis Projects - All

Ukraine is a country heavily dependent on other countries for its natural gas supply, leaving it vulnerable to interruptions in supply. One of its largest suppliers, Russia, has twice taken drastic means of physically closing the pipelines, thereby cutting off this supply and illustrating to Ukraine and the world the leverage that it can exercise. While at the present time the cut-offs have lasted no longer than a few weeks, future cut-offs could become more common and longer in duration. When compounded with the troubled history between the two countries, one can quickly see the precipitous situation that has the …

Sovereign Wealth Funds: Global And Domestic Implications Of The Rise Of A New Major Player In International Finance, Michelle Sollod

Renée Crown University Honors Thesis Projects - All

The subject of petrodollar recycling has frequently captured the interest of academics, politicians and the media. Specifically, the issue typically boils down to one central question: where exactly are the petrodollars—revenue earned from the sale of oil—flowing? According to traditional scholars like Bernard Mommer and Terry Lynn Karl the recurring argument is that in oil-exporting nations, oil revenues are channeled directly into the hands of a few government officials resulting in corruption, inequality and economic decay.

However, the main limitation of this traditional argument is that it tends to focus solely on the dynamics between the national level and local …

Hurricane Katrina’S Impact On Louisiana’S Educational Systems, Emily Alice Larson

Renée Crown University Honors Thesis Projects - All

This study examines how Hurricane Katrina affected educational statistics within Louisiana by comparing standardized test scores and school performance scores over time. To measure these educational factors, I focus on two levels of observation: district and individual. In particular, I focus on New Orleans schools before and after the hurricane and find that these educational factors increased, signaling a positive impact from Hurricane Katrina. However, on the district level there is a gap in available data due to the severity of damage to particular school systems, which led me to examine individual-level observations for more comparisons. At the individual level …