Business Commons^™

Tax Effects Of The Affordable Care Act On Individuals And Small Businesses, Lindsey Atteberry

Honors Theses

This paper examines how the Affordable Care Act, passed into law in 2010, will affect individuals and businesses in regards to taxes. There are many different tax implications resulting from the Affordable Care Act. For individuals, these include the premium assistance credit, the net investment income tax, the increase in the medical expenses deduction threshold, the additional hospital insurance for high-income tax payers, and the individual mandate. For small businesses, these include the small business tax credit, the excise tax, and the new SIMPLE cafeteria plans which are now available. After discussing these new taxes and tax credits, several cases …

The Difference In The Social Styles Of Career And Volunteer Fire Chiefs, Jimmy Rumsey

Human Resource Development Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine whether a difference exists in the Social Style of a career fire chief (paid) and a volunteer fire chief. This study evaluated the Social Style of 211 fire chiefs in the State of Texas, to determine whether a difference existed between the Social Style of volunteer fire chiefs and the Social Style of career (paid) fire chiefs. Fire chiefs were surveyed and their Social Style determined by use of Wilson Learning Corporation's Social Style Profile Social Impression Survey. The results were then cross-tabulated with the respondents' status as a career fire chief …

Examining The Influence Of Shared Leadership And Political Skill On The Relationship Between Project Management Complexity And Project Team Effectiveness In Organizations, Cathy Cockrell

Human Resource Development Theses and Dissertations

Organizations are experiencing increasing complexity due to global competition, technological advances, and dynamic political and environmental circumstances. Therefore, organizations are driven to find new ways to stay competitive, including the increased use of project teams and the formulation of new types of project team leadership structures to manage complex and innovative work. The aim of this study was to examine shared leadership and political skill in project teams within the context of project management complexity, and the influence of these factors on project team effectiveness. A quantitative cross-sectional survey design was used as the approach for data collection. A pilot …

Binoculars: Management Strategies In Film, Kamryn Fall

Liberal Arts and Engineering Studies

No abstract provided.

Searching For Lodging: An Analysis Of Selected Pismo Beach Hotels' Search Engine Marketing Practices, Christopher J. Kumata

Recreation, Parks, and Tourism Administration

Search engines connect users to websites and became a distribution channel for many products. In the case of hotels, it is essential that the hotel’s website appears among the top results when potential customers search for lodging in a certain area. The purpose of this study was to examine search engine marketing best practices and performance among non-national hotels in Pismo Beach, California. The researcher performed popular keyword searches to evaluate performance and examine strategies of the top performing hotels. The analysis discovered that the top hotels shared website design characteristics, the majority of search engine optimization is performed by …

Re:Find Distillery, Ronald Cain, Kasey Urman, Taylor Frias

Case Studies in Agribusiness

When Alex and Monica Villicana started their winery in 2002, they had no intention of starting a distillery. But in order to have the right ratio of skins to juice they had to bleed off and dispose juice. Trying to find a use for the excess juice, they distilled it into vodka and gin. Much to their surprise, they quickly sold out. The case discusses licensing and technical issues of starting a distrillery.

Lagunitas Brewing Company, Maria Camozzi, Kelsey Guttchen, Amy Robertson

Case Studies in Agribusiness

The story of Lagunitas Beer is presented, from its start as a hobby for the founder Tony Magee to its current production of over 600,000 barrels per year, making it the 5th largest craft brewer in the US in 2013. To add perspective, a brief history of beer and the emergence of craft beer is included.

La Baguette Case Study, Logan Smith, Christina Willman, Joe Brunello

Case Studies in Agribusiness

La Baguette is a bakery/deli/coffee shop with two company-owned stores and one franchise. Starting as a retail bakery, it expanded into coffee, deli sandwiches, catering services and custom orders. The owners are considering several expansion options.

Mollydooker Wines: Supply Chain Analysis, Jacob Mix, Marianne Gera, Navreen Thandi

Case Studies in Agribusiness

MollyDooker (Australian slang for a left-handed boxer) exports 90-95% of its 70,000 case production of ultra-luxury wine (retail $185/bottle) to the US. Currently they have distributors handling the logistics for them. This study evaluates the pros and cons of MollyDooker running their own warehousing and shipping facility. It concludes that MollyDooker should continue to pay others to handle their wine.

Tap It Brewing Company: Raising The Bar, One Pint At A Time, Alex Flint, Jordan Long, Keith Inokuchi, Meera Vyas

Case Studies in Agribusiness

Johns and Miles Gordon had started and sold a successful pet food company in Texas and decided to move to the Central Coast. Their shared love of beer led to starting Tap It as a craft brewery in San Luis Obispo. The case discusses the history of beer, the emergence of craft beer in the US, and the issues and problems a small brewery faces as it gets started.

Leading A Mock Trading Floor: Active-Based Learning In A Business Context, Heather Knewtson

College of Business Publications

A master teaching approach was used during a session of introductory finance to provide high impact teaching practices for a large class of 190 freshman business students. To teach financial markets, an active-based learning activity was used, and the students participated in a simulated New York Stock Exchange trading floor. Using volunteers as market specialists, students traded fictional shares and submitted a portfolio assignment after the trading session. Active-based learning generated excitement toward meaningful student engagement about financial markets.

Barriers To Adoption Of Methane Digester Technology On California Dairies, Desiree Lee Libarle

Master's Theses

The goal of this research was to analyze the barriers to adoption of methane digesters on California dairies. Methane digesters have long existed as a technology in the dairy industry, both in the United States and abroad. Much research has been done to attest to the viability and economic sustainability of methane digesters; however in 2014, there were 26 dairies in California that have methane digesters installed, and of these, only 17 of those were still in operation, according to the USEPA AgStar Anaerobic Digester Database. Hence, the question remains, as to why this technology has not been widely adopted …

The Generational Divide: Generational Differences In Psychological Capital, Heather Staples

Theses & Dissertations

Human resource development has customarily focused on social and human capital; however, an innovative new theory within positive organizational behavior focuses on psychological resources. The purpose of this research was to examine the differences across generations on dimensions of psychological resources using the core construct psychological capital. Using a quantitative survey research approach, this study focused on the differences among the three largest generations in the current workforce: Baby Boomers, Generation X, and Generation Y. The independent variable, generations, was defined through a self-identified connection with age and significant events. The dependent variable, psychological capital (PsyCap), was defined as a …

Correlating Coworker Relations, Employee Involvement, And Leadership With Associate Commitment In Select Healthcare Companies Using A Mixed Sequential Explanatory Design, Kimberly Ann Lee

Theses & Dissertations

Increasing patient demands and decreasing reimbursement require better efficiency and effectiveness in health care systems and, subsequently, in health care teams. These environmental and societal factors are further complicated by the complex initiatives set forth by the Affordable Care Act (2010). In this study, the researcher sought to examine and identify the strongest variables of health care teaming and to explore resulting themes through the perception of groups of health care associates. This mixed sequential explanatory design first examined the relationships between coworker relations, employee involvement, and leadership with associate commitment and with each other. An existing database of associate …

Consequences Of Destructive Leadership Through The Experiences Of Millennial Followers, Rhonda M. Martin

Theses & Dissertations

Destructive leadership has serious detrimental effects on organizations and their employees. Today U.S. companies are spending an estimated $23 billion annually on healthcare costs (e.g. chronic absenteeism, high turnover, and dissatisfaction) resulting from the negative impacts of destructive leaders (Tepper, Duffy, Henle, & Lambert, 2006). This emerging theory was worthy of additional research because of the adverse effects it has on the personal and professional lives of followers. According to Padilla, Hogan, and Kaiser (2007), the success of a destructive leader depends on susceptible followers (Millennials) and a conducive environment, which creates a toxic triangle. In 2009, Trickey & Hyde …

Diversity Programs: Learning And Effectiveness As Viewed Through The Eyes Of The Diverse, S Michelle Cox

Theses & Dissertations

This research examines corporate diversity programs and initiatives from the perspective of the self-described diverse employee because they are intended to be the recipient of the benefits of diversity programs and initiatives. The research question is: In what ways have self-described diverse employees found that the diversity programs in their workplaces helped or hindered others in relating to them in ways that recognize their knowledge, skills, and abilities and allow them to be treated with respect and civility. To obtain information about the research question, a qualitative study using basic interpretive methodology was used which included face to face personal …

Fans Use Of Twitter In College Athletics, Clayton V. Stanley

Sport Management Undergraduate

Abstract

Fans use of social media to follow athletes is becoming more and more popular these days and fans often use this as a way to attempt to get recruits to attend schools that they themselves are a fan of. The reasoning behind the research is that not a lot has been done on this topic and with social media becoming more and more popular looking into the fans usage of social media towards recruits is worth looking into. The fact that professional leagues and the NCAA have attempted to implement and enforce a policy against the illegal tweeting practices …

Wall Fellows Newsletter, Volume 2, Issue 4, Fall 2014, Coastal Carolina University

Wall Fellows Newsletter

Newsletter of the Wall Fellows Program in the E. Craig Wall Sr. College of Business Administration.

Eco-Friendly Or Eco-Frenzy? A Cost-Benefit Analysis Of Companies’ Environmental Decisions, Sandria S. Stephenson, Natalie Rodriquez

Faculty Articles

The purpose of this paper is to evaluate and analyze the incremental costs of businesses becoming “green.” It answers the overarching question: are businesses becoming eco-friendly or eco-frenzy? For the purposes of this paper, eco-friendly is defined as companies that strive to be environmentally conscious. Conversely, companies that are eco-frenzy become environmentally conscious for the wrong reasons, such as gaining an environmental reputation. With the increase in popularity of corporate social responsibility (CSR) and the legal requirements related to environmental laws, more businesses have been incorporating the ideas of sustainability into their strategic positioning. At the start of the 21st …

Development Of Workforce Skills: Student Perceptions Of Mentoring In First Robotics, Katie Joan Veal Wallace

Dissertations

In today’s global economy, new workforce competencies are needed for success at both individual and societal levels. The new workforce skills extend beyond basic reading, writing, and arithmetic to include higher order processes such as critical thinking and problem solving. Technical job opportunities have grown by approximately 17%, yet the United States continues to decline in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) disciplines. Further, U.S. students earn average or below average test scores when compared to other developed countries. Researchers cite the need to incorporate the learning of workplace skills into secondary education curriculum, and advocates call for new teaching …

Coaching Student Teams: Guiding Students Through Team-Based Learning Experiences, Lindsey M. Higgins

Agribusiness

No abstract provided.

Employee's Participation: A Critical Success Factor For Justice Perception, Wai Kwan (Elaine) Lau

Accounting Faculty Research

The present study proposed and tested a model that examines the relationship between leadership style, employee’s participation, and justice perceptions. The paper extended the literature of the justice by connecting three major research areas (leadership style, employee’s participation, and organizational justice), and examined the influences of leadership style and employee’s participation in shaping employee’s perception of justice. Results indicated that transactional, transformational, and dynamic leadership have positive impact on distributive, procedural, and interactional justice. Moreover, the effect of leadership style on organizational justice was indirect through employee’s participation. This study synthesized previous leadership studies and argued that leadership style can …

More Evidence For Efficient Markets, Steven D. Dolvin

All Chapters

The market's performance this year has surpassed that of most professional money managers. In fact, this is the worst (relative) year in three decades for professionals (see post here, The Reformed Broker). The level of competition and the high level of fees prevent meaningful outperformance. The result -- a large influx of capital into index funds.

Index-Based Insurance And Risk Management Among Nomadic Mongolian Herders , Kelsey Larson

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Mongolian herders must contend with the risk of dzuds, harsh winters that can kill large numbers of livestock. To do so, they use a mixture of formal financial tools and traditional risk mitigation techniques. This paper is a study of the interaction between the Mongolian Index-based Livestock Insurance Program and traditional informal risk mitigation techniques. The researcher interviews herders in Bulgan soum, Arhangai aimag and Galuut soum, Bayanhongor aimag to compare the IBLI program’s impact in a community that has had IBLI since 2006 and one that only received IBLI in 2012. This study finds that insurance purchase is positively …

Nepali Corporate Culture Of Giving: Investigating Practices Of Corporate Social Responsibility, Taylor Knoop

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

The purpose of this research is to explore corporate Nepal’s definition of corporate social responsibility (CSR), how these definitions influence corporations’ activities and the motivation and rationale behind giving. Multiple factors are impacting the practice of CSR, such the historical influence, personality of industry sector, post-conflict recovery efforts, and trust and transparency in giving. However, corporations’ definition of CSR contradicts the type and level of activities they engage in. The rhetoric is often stronger than the action undertaken, although there is slight trend towards a more incorporated social responsible business model, particularly in the financial and tourism industries. The primary …

Curbing Corporate Inversions: A Study Of National And International Efforts To Establish Corporate Tax Equity, Scott Novak

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

In recent years, the number of U.S. companies trying to merge with a foreign company and thereby reincorporate themselves in countries with a lower corporate tax rate – a practice known as corporate inversion – has skyrocketed. The public outcry in 2014 against corporate inversions led the U.S. Treasury to release a series of new anti-inversion regulations, and more policy changes are in the process of being debated. At the same time as this national discussion on the harmful effects corporate inversions have on the U.S. tax base is progressing, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) is in …

La Educación Y El Lucro No Se Mezclan: Un Examen De Las Políticas Y Las Consecuencias De Los Colegios Particulares Subvencionados En Chile / Education And Profits Don't Mix : A Review Of Policies And The Consequences Of Subsidized Private Schools In Chile, Sophie Sharps

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

With the arrival of the dictatorship of Augusto Pinochet in Chile (lasting from 1973-1990) came the implementation of a neoliberal economic model based on tenants such as privatization, deregulation, growth of a free market economy, and a passive government to uphold the private sector. This economic model manifested itself through structural reforms that distinctly changed the function of all institutions, including the educational system. Due to a series of changes in laws and ideology, a new educational sector (referred to as “particular subvencionado”) arose, and has only strengthened and augmented since the end of the dictatorship. In this sector, individuals, …

Corporate Event Planner’S Marketing Strategy: An Assessment Of Effective Website Design, Hayley V. Bauarschi

Recreation, Parks, and Tourism Administration

Marketing is a key element in a company’s development. Remaining in the public eye helps ensure business as well as generate new clients. A continuous marketing tool companies use to remain visible is a website. In order to be effective, a website needs to engage and encourage users to connect with a company. The purpose of this study was to analyze the visual appeal and aesthetic design of websites for selected corporate event planning companies. The researcher studied certain components that reflect a successful website and then created a matrix based off research to collect data. The data helped to …

Preventative V. Punitive: How Genetically Modified Rice Litigation Shaped Regulation And Remedy For Genetically Engineered Crops, Allison Waldrip Bragg

Journal of Food Law & Policy

As agricultural technology develops, new issues emerge. While genetically engineered crops can increase yields and productivity, they can also increase new legal concerns that had not previously existed. One such concern is the comingling of non-engineered crops with genetically engineered varieties. The corruption of plants that are not engineered is a problem not only because of the loss of that original plant itself if the entire plant population were to become comingled, but also because of the inability to sell a crop that has been intended as a non-engineered crop when it is infiltrated by genetically engineered material.

Let's Stop Worrying And Learn To Love Transparency: Food And Technology In The Information Age, Scarlettah Schaefer

Journal of Food Law & Policy

Food and technology have had a long and tempestuous relationship. Current methods of food production and processing in the industrialized world depend heavily on technological developments. However, all technologies are not created equal. Some can produce food that is safer, more sustainable, more nutritious, or longer lasting. Some can have the opposite effect: increasing opportunities for adulteration, increasing the difficulty in detecting food fraud, and contributing to both foreseeable and unforeseeable health or ecological costs. Increasingly sophisticated technologies often become less apparent to the average consumer. For example, consider irradiated meat or genetically modified foods as opposed to freezer storage …