Business Commons^™

Knowledge, Wisdom, And Service: The Meaning And Teaching Of Professionalism In Medicine, Matthew K. Wynia

Center for the Study of Ethics in Society Papers

Papers presented for the Center for the Study of Ethics in Society Western Michigan University. Presented September 29, 2011.

A Utility Based Approach To Energy Hedging, Jim Hanly, John Cotter

Articles

A key issue in the estimation of energy hedges is the hedgers’ attitude towards risk which is encapsulated in the form of the hedgers’ utility function. However, the literature typically uses only one form of utility function such as the quadratic when estimating hedges. This paper addresses this issue by estimating and applying energy market based risk aversion to commonly applied utility functions including log, exponential and quadratic, and we incorporate these in our hedging frameworks. We find significant differences in the optimal hedge strategies based on the utility function chosen.

How Do Start-Ups Obtain Their Legal Services?, Darian M. Ibrahim

Faculty Publications

This essay presents the first empirical study of how rapid-growth start-up companies obtain their legal services, with particular attention to the choice between in-house and outside counsel. Drawing on responses to online surveys of venture-capital-backed start-ups formed between 2006 and 2008, the study tests several hypotheses rooted in economic and entrepreneurship literature. The results show that most start-ups do not employ in-house counsel, with cost considerations and broader coverage offered by outside firms emerging as the primary reasons. In contrast, start-ups that do hire in-house counsel cite their attorneys’ superior understanding of the business, responsiveness, and ability to monitor internal …

Governance, Media And The Quality Of Environmental Disclosure, Kathleen Rupley, Darrell Brown, Scott Marshall

Business Faculty Publications and Presentations

Given the rising emphasis on environmental disclosures and the expressed importance of 'good' governance in determining the extent of information disclosure in general, we examine the relation between specific aspects of governance and media coverage and the quality of voluntary environmental disclosure (VED). Using a sample of 127 firms over a six-year period (2000 to 2005), we empirically test characteristics of governance and media in relation to VED. Our results suggest that VED quality is positively associated with environmental media coverage, negative environmental media and board attributes of independence, diversity, and expertise. Results from supplemental analysis suggest that institutional investors …

Theresource, Georgia Southern University

Human Resources Newsletter

• Required Compliance Training
• Compensation & Classification Training
• TAP
• Management Training Series
• The Eagle Experience
• Communication Series
• Diversity Series
• Employment Updates
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• Tax Management
• Values Misalignment

Good Reputation: A Reputation For Doing Good, Knowledge@Smu

Knowledge@SMU

Having a good product is no longer sufficient for companies to retain a competitive edge in the modern society where consumers are getting more sophisticated and environmentally conscious. And corporations around the world are realising it. What is it that motivates companies to take up the corporate social responsibility flag and how does it relate to their corporate reputation?

New Dentist News (March 2012), Ada Committee On The New Dentist

New Dentist News

New Dentist News offers timely information on scientific, social, educational, political and economic developments affecting new dentists. This collection is historical and items may not reflect current standards. For up-to-date information contact the ADA. The New Dentist News was alternately titled ADA Lifeline, 1997-June 2001.

Grant Document For Epiphany Prep P/I Work Plan, The Nonprofit Institute, University Of San Diego

Governance

Grant Document for Epiphany Prep P/I Work Plan

San Diego Center For Children Finance Manual, San Diego Center For Children

Finance

2012 edition of the San Diego Center for Children's Finance Committee handbook.

Client Strategies In Vendor Transition: A Threat Balancing Perspective, Cecil Eng Huang Chua, Wee-Kiat Lim, Christina Soh, Siew Kien Sia

CCX Research

Many outsourcing contracts are expiring, and vendor transition is an increasing concern. This paper attempts to develop guidelines for vendor transition by applying balance of threat theory, which suggests a client organization should pursue either a “soft” or “hard” balancing strategy, depending on the outgoing vendor’s capability and aggressive intent to disrupt client operations. Balance of threat theory is explored across two contrasting case sites. In addition to demonstrating the relevance of balance of threat theory, the cases identify specific tactics associated with hard and soft balancing, as well as key areas of conflict in vendor transition.

Assessing Aviation E-Marketplaces: A Mmulti-Criteria Approach., Emilio Esposito, Pietro Evangelista, Michele Mastroianni, Renato Passaro, Edward Sweeney, Claudia-Maria Wagner

Books/Book chapters

After a proliferation of logistics e-Marketplaces during the dot.com boom of 1998-2000, there has been a high rate of failure and survivals are developing much more slowly than expected. This is the case in the aviation industry where a large number of B2B e-Marketplaces emerged according to the focus of aviation companies’ strategies on electronic B2B in the late 1990s. However, the current use of e-Marketplaces in the industry is low and many of them have ceased trading. The traditional e-Marketplaces model has been characterised by poor quality portals and a lack of technical standards. Such an approach is unsustainable …

The Power Of Setting Smartr Goals, Connie I. Reimers-Hild

Kimmel Education and Research Center: Presentations and White Papers

Welcome to the Extension Update! My name is Connie Reimers-Hild, and I am an Extension Educator focused in leadership, innovation and entrepreneurship at the Kimmel Education and Research Center in Nebraska City. In today’s Extension Update, I will present the power of setting SMARTR Goals!

We all hear about how important it is to set goals, but very few of us to actually do it. What if we made the process of goal setting more personally fulfilling and more fun? As a Certified Professional Coach, I have used SMARTR goal setting with my clients. Establishing SMARTR goals can be powerful …

A Comparison Of Attitudes Toward Food And Biotechnology In The U.S., Japan, And Italy, Marianne Mcgarry Wolf, Paola Bertolini, Izumi Shikama, Alain Berger

Agribusiness

This research compares the attitudes of consumers in the United States, Italy and Japan toward food characteristics. The U.S. and Japanese consumers had relatively positive attitudes toward genetically modified food, while the Italian consumer had relatively negative attitudes. The Italian consumer was least likely to be familiar with genetically modified food. They rated organic higher than the U.S. consumer and they appeared to understand the meaning of the term organic better than the U.S. consumers. The U.S. and Japanese consumers were more concerned with freshness and value while the Italian consumers were concerned about the environment and local food.

Why Can’T A Family Business Be More Like A Nonfamily Business? Modes Of Professionalization In Family Firms, Alex Stewart, Michael A. Hitt

Management Faculty Research and Publications

The authors survey arguments that family firms should behave more like nonfamily firms and “professionalize.” Despite the apparent advantages of this transition, many family firms fail to do so or do so only partially. The authors reflect on why this might be so, and the range of possible modes of professionalization. They derive six ideal types: (a) minimally professional family firms; (b) wealth dispensing, private family firms; (c) entrepreneurially operated family firms; (d) entrepreneurial family business groups; (e) pseudoprofessional, public family firms; and (f) hybrid professional family firms. The authors conclude with suggestions for further research that is attentive to …

Imf: Predatory Lender Or Latin America’S Best Chance?, Paul Thomas Smith

Political Science Theses and Capstones

Recently, there has been heated debate as to whether or not assistance from the International Monetary Fund has proven to be a great humanitarian effort or a scheme by Western governments to keep emerging Latin American countries in debt. The IMF partners with numerous governments in order to create a collective monetary community from which all may benefit in times of need. These partnered countries are also able to apply for assistance if they find themselves in monetary hardships. Some studies have shown that the IMF has been too heavy handed, while other studies have shown that recipient governments may …

Comparative Models Of Cooperative Journalism, Mercedes N. Rodriguez

Journalism

No abstract provided.

Massive Kinked Bonuses, Kevin F. Hallock

Economics Faculty Publications

While most people are paid by the hour or with a yearly salary, some are also paid bonuses. And, some are paid very large, all-or-nothing bonuses. The author's favorite recent example is from last summer when golfer Darren Clarke earned a $3-million bonus from his sponsor. But it was how the payout was structured more than the amount that so intrigued him -- his sponsor's payout was all or nothing. How people are paid is fascinating. It is particularly interesting in this case of very, very large bonuses. The sports odds that Darren Clarke would win the tournament going into …

Tls Newsletter Volume 6, Edition 6. March 2012, Unf Transportation And Logistics Society

Transportation & Logistics Society Newsletter

Inside the Newsletter: TLS General Meeting Wednesday April 11. Cold Chain Logistics Executive Spotlight. Upcoming Events for March and April. T LS President's Corner. In the Know: Joining a Professional Organization. Get to Know Taylor Barry, Marketing Director. Life after Graduation with Joseph Finnigan.

A Little Common Sense Is A Dangerous Thing: The Inherent Inconsistency Between Ksr And Current Official Notice Policy, Eli M. Sheets

The University of New Hampshire Law Review

[Excerpt] “The question of whether an invention is an obvious variation of existing technology is one that has troubled courts for decades. From its roots in nineteenth century case law to the recent Supreme Court decision KSR v. Teleflex, Inc., the doctrine of obviousness has waxed and waned—moving through a variety of judicially-created tests to a current state that is still far from perspicuous.

This paper will examine obviousness through a particular lens: the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (“USPTO,” “PTO”) tool known as “official notice”—the practice of declaring a patent application’s claims unpatentable as obvious based on undocumented reasoning, …

Software Protection: Copyrightability Vs Patentability?, Deli Yang

School of Business Faculty Research

The moment software was created was also the starting point of heated debates over software protection. During the early stages of protection, the debate was around the copyrightability of software protection. Nowadays, the focal point is the argument on whether software should be solely protected under copyright or dually guarded by both copyright and patent. With the development of the software industry across the world, this issue has become more and more contentious internationally. This column of Global IP Debate opens with a software patent case and an open source case, and then traces the history of software protection to …

Asoka As Philanthropist, Roger A. Lohmann

Faculty & Staff Scholarship

Philanthropy is one of the oldest concepts associated with western civilization. Although it is generally traced to ancient Greece, there is no clear indication where the Greeks got the idea. My earlier paper on Buddhist philanthropy was one of the first published studies in the third sector literature of evidence of Buddhist practices in this area. This unpublished paper explores more fully the history and legends associated with one of the major figures in the Buddhist philanthropic division. Asoka was the third ruler of the Maurian empire in northern India. A great warrior, Asoka is reputed to have given up …

National Geographic Crown Of The Continent Geotourism Mapguide Usage Assessment, Christine Oschell, Norma P. Nickerson

Institute for Tourism and Recreation Research Publications

This report examined the uses of the Crown of the Continent MapGuide (both the printed and website versions) and how this tool has influenced those who use it. The Crown of the Continent MapGuide appears to be a tool that is influencing many visitors to the area. The findings of this study suggest that the Geotourism concept, as portrayed by the MapGuide, is a successful tool in visitor management.

Computerizing Chance: The Digitization Of The Slot Machine (1960-1985), Cristina Turdean

Occasional Papers

The digital slot machine entered the gambling floor in the mid-1970s and, within a decade, it became gamblers’ favorite and the main contributor to casinos’ gross revenue. This paper traces the main developments of this transition, particularly the role of the inventors, entrepreneurs, and the business context that made it possible. Decisively shaped by the culture of the casino floor and advancements in computer technology, the emergence of the microprocessor slot machine involved the gradual replacement of mechanical parts with digital components and created new opportunities for casino managers.

Spin-Offs And Operating Performance, Gary L. Caton, Jeremy C. Goh, Frank Kerins

Research Collection Lee Kong Chian School Of Business

This study examines the relation between changes in industry-adjusted operating performance associated with corporate spin-offs and the market’s assessment of the spin-off as either a value increasing or value decreasing activity. I find that the average change in industry-adjusted operating performance associated with my sample of spin-offs is not significantly different from zero. However, I also present evidence suggesting that this average result is misleading because some spin-offs appear to be value increasing while others are value decreasing. I establish that a positive and significant relation exists between parent company revaluation and a) the change in industry-adjusted operating performance of …

Us Government Efforts To Repair Its Image After The 2008 Financial Crisis, Andrea A. Chua, Augustine Pang

Research Collection Lee Kong Chian School Of Business

Globalization has intensified the interaction and interdependency among countries. The need to maintain good reputation and establish good relationships should dominate public diplomacy efforts (Hiebert, 2005). Using the US financial crisis 2008 as a case study, this study examines how the world's only superpower repaired its image when it was accused of triggering the financial meltdown that impacted the world economy. Few studies have examined repair strategies by nations. The need to undertake more empirical research to understand how the image-rebuilding rhetoric can aid diplomatic efforts remains relevant today.

Is Specialization Desirable In Committee Decision Making?, Ruth Ben-Yashar, Winston T. H. Koh, Shmuel Nitzan

Research Collection School Of Economics

Committee decision making is examined in this study focusing on the role assigned to the committee members. In particular, we are concerned about the comparison between committee performance under specialization and non-specialization of the decision makers. Specialization (in the context of project or public policy selection) means that the decision of each committee member is based on a narrow area, which typically results in the acquirement and use of relatively high expertise in that area. When the committee members’ expertise is already determined, specialization only means that the decision of each committee member is based solely on his/her relatively high …

Compilation And Review Engagements, March 1, 2012; Audit And Accounting Guide, American Institute Of Certified Public Accountants (Aicpa)

Industry Guides (AAGs), Risk Alerts, and Checklists

No abstract provided.

Assessing And Responding To Audit Risk In A Financial Statement Audit, With Conforming Changes As Of March 1, 2012, American Institute Of Certified Public Accountants (Aicpa)

Industry Guides (AAGs), Risk Alerts, and Checklists

No abstract provided.

Reporting On Controls At A Service Organization Relevant To Security, Availability, Processing Integrity, Confidentiality, Or Privacy (Soc 2sm), March 1, 2012, American Institute Of Certified Public Accountants (Aicpa)

Industry Guides (AAGs), Risk Alerts, and Checklists

No abstract provided.

Not-For-Profit Entities With Conforming Changes As Of March 1, 2012; Audit And Accounting Guide, American Institute Of Certified Public Accountants (Aicpa)

Industry Guides (AAGs), Risk Alerts, and Checklists

No abstract provided.