Business Commons^™

Kenya’S Konza Techno City: Utopian Vision Meets Social Reality, Amina Johari

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

This paper explores Kenya’s ambitious Konza Technology City. In 2008 the Kenyan government unveiled its plan to construct a city from scratch 60 kilometers outside of the nation’s capital, Nairobi. Konza Technology City is a flagship project for Kenya Vision 2030, the country’s development program covering the period 2008 to 2030. The new city is expected to relieve Nairobi of some of its traffic and overcrowding issues, and also support the country’s growing technology sector. Konza City is just one of many proposed city plans all over sub-Saharan Africa reflecting a growing phenomenon. Due to the challenges many African cities …

Western Farmers’ Markets In Kathmandu: Vendor Perspectives, Caroline Saunders

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

This study seeks to understand Western farmers’ markets (FMs) in Kathmandu by understanding vendors’ motivations for attending FMs; and further, their perspectives on the purpose and potential for expansion of FMs in Kathmandu’s food economy. In the US and Europe, FMs are often seen in the literature as a component of a social movement (SM) called the ‘alternative food movement’ (AFM) concerned with environmental sustainability and social justice within the processes of food production and consumption (Isenhour 2012). FMs, a type of direct market that offer face-to-face interaction between producers and consumers, are a site for the transmission of values …

Imsa360: Spring 2015, Imsa Fund

IMSA Fund Reports

As most of you know, I have been President of IMSA for only seven months, not yet a full year. I feel like I am beginning to get to know IMSA better and better each month, and what I am learning continues to excite me and encourages me to spread the word to others about this amazing place. That is why this issue is going out to hundreds of new readers for the first time, and I welcome the many new superintendents, educators, and friends who will hopefully learn more about IMSA, just as I have these past few months. …

The Influence Of Instagram On Exercise And Eating Behavior, Bridgette Kosek

Honors Projects in Marketing

The use of social media, specifically Instagram, of 305 Bryant University students ages 18-28 was investigated through student completion of an online survey to examine how following exercise and food related Instagram accounts impacts behavior. Both male and females use Instagram fairly equally, though males are more responsive to food Instagram accounts than females, who have no significant difference in behavior. Both males and females who follow exercise Instagram accounts are significantly more active than those who do not follow exercise Instagram accounts. Given the recent explosive use of Instagram in the population, the implications for this study are enormous, …

The Discreet Trader, Seth Wing

Honors Projects in Finance

This paper examines insider trading, specifically trades by corporate insiders around quarterly earnings announcements. Announcements were broken up into three categories: earnings above analyst expectations, earnings below expectations, and earnings in line with expectations. Trade data was collected from the thirty companies of the Dow Jones Industrial Average from 2012-’13. The trades were sorted by purchases and sales by date and analyzed with the earnings report of which the trades were made. Only trades in the interval from twenty days before the announcement date to twenty days after the announcement date were considered. The prediction was that corporate insiders would …

Effects Of Online Sponsored Advertising On Consumer Attitudes, Cassidy Maksy

Honors Projects in Marketing

Effectively utilizing persuasion techniques in advertising is essential for businesses to master in order to stay ahead of its competitors. This research project investigates the ways in which marketers advertise brands and products in the online environment, specifically on the social networking sites Twitter and Facebook. More specifically, the implementation of different techniques and credibility of sources will be examined to help gauge the effectiveness of advertisements. By utilizing the constructs of the Persuasion Knowledge Model and source credibility, the attitudes toward brands and advertisements within the online environment was tested. The goal of this research is to evaluate the …

Alumnus Profile: Robert Chatwani

Business Exchange

Profile of Robert Chatwani, a 1997 alumnus of the Driehaus College of Business who works as the Senior Director of Consumer Marketing for eBay Inc.

The Huntsman Post, April 2015, Usu Jon M. Huntsman School Of Business

Jon M. Huntsman School of Business Huntsman Post Issues Collection

Monthly newsletter for the Jon M. Huntsman School of Business at Utah State University.

Bringing Flowers Back To The Cité Des Fleurs: A Geographical Study Of The Sôma Beach Development Project In Mahajanga, Elizabeth Isaac-Herzog

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Mahajanga, Madagascar is currently watching one of its biggest development efforts unfold. The Sôma Beach project will transform the previously-bustling Village Touristique, degraded over the past decades by the ocean’s waves, into an accessible hotspot for national and international tourists. This study aimed to answer the overarching questions, “How is the Sôma Beach project being carried out?” and “How is it affecting the local population and spatial organization?” Interviews, spatial observation and analysis, and review of relevant documents were used during a month-long period in order to gather information on this topic. The study concluded that space was an influential …

Innovation And Institutional Quality On Economic Growth In Asia, Nguyen Tran-Nguyen

Honors Projects in Economics

When looking at the different effects of institutional quality on economic development, namely control of corruption, there are two different hypotheses that explain such effects. One is the “grease the wheel” hypothesis, which predicts that corruption is beneficial for growth, and the other one is the “sand the wheel” hypothesis, which says the opposite. Corruption is normally blamed for the slow economic growths in some countries, but some Asian countries’ exponential growths have proven the “grease the wheel” hypothesis otherwise. The “Asian experience”1 phenomenon occurs when corruption does not seem to hamper business activities in some Asian countries. This research …

Valuing “Green” How “Going Green” Affects A Company’S Stock Price, Alexia Bayer

Honors Projects in Finance

Environmentally conscious decision making has become a prominent topic in business that has the potential to affect the public opinion and performance of companies. This project seeks to identify whether or not positive changes in excess return might offer an incentive for companies to adopt green initiatives. It examines the ways in which companies’ green initiatives, as measured by their annual Carbon Disclosure Project S&P 500 Climate Change Report score, impact their stock price. In other words, is there value in “going green”? It is hypothesized that companies exhibiting greater variance in their environmental initiatives from one year to the …

The Power Of Point Of Sale Improving Growth, Profit, And Customer Service In A Retail Business, Matthew Cote

Honors Projects in Marketing

For many small businesses, creating a captivating retail experience is the key to success, and finding the right technologies to enable that experience is crucial for sustaining a competitive advantage. This project is a case study designed to evaluate and select a Point of Sale (POS) system and Inventory Management (IM) system for a small business based upon its specific industry needs. The project creates a three step framework leading up to the real world implementation of these systems and uses the Rhode Island based company - Wildwood Inc. - as the subject of the study. Wildwood Inc. is a …

Impacts Of Cigarette Smoking On Consumer Health, Calli Hudock

Senior Honors Projects

In this paper, I will analyze the effects taxes impose on smoking behavior given the relative inelastic demand cigarettes have had over time.

The Effects Of Tarp On Fair Value Accounting, Christopher N. Mitschow

Senior Honors Projects

In the aftermath of the financial crisis of 2008, fair value accounting in banks has come under a great deal of criticism by some who believed bank managers were intentionally reclassifying assets to prevent write-downs, or who believed that banks were taking risks with fair value assets and liabilities that caused their distressed states. We analyzed banks’ use of fair value accounting by using the SEC’s EDGAR database to read and analyze the financial statements of public banks which received Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP) funds and have since repaid them. We looked to see if banks classified more assets …

An Impact Analysis Of Increased Hydrokinetic Electricity Generation In The United States, Joseph Mchugh

Senior Honors Projects

The United States relies mainly on fossil fuels to meet its energy demand, but it is beginning to look into renewable energy alternatives. One such alternative is hydrokinetic technology, which captures the kinetic energy found in waves, tides and currents. Although initially hampered by regulatory uncertainty and low government backing, hydrokinetic technology is now gaining traction within the United States. Improved regulations and government laws are promoting research and development in the field, which will lead to more projects. This paper performs an impact analysis of an increased number of hydrokinetic energy projects as a result of reduced regulatory uncertainty …

Job Analysis: Measuring Accuracy And Capturing Multiple Perspectives, Deann H. Arnold

Doctoral Dissertations

Organizations rely on job analysis to provide information about the work performed and requirements needed for a position. The use of inaccurate information may have negative outcomes, such as the misallocation of human resources or inefficient training programs. Many job analysis techniques rely on averaging responses, which may oversimplify the results. Preserving idiosyncratic variance, which reflects differences in the ways in which respondents experience and evaluate the job, may increase job analysis accuracy. To assess overall accuracy, the job analysis data in the present study was examined utilizing a practical model of accuracy (Prien, Prien, & Wooten, 2003). To detect …

Haworth College Of Business News (04/2015), Haworth College Of Business

Haworth College of Business News

• Sharing Expertise
• Inspired Change
• PITCH Competition Draws Range of Student Led Companieseach
• Matt Morgan, M.S.A.'05 — An Inspired Career Change

The Potential Application Of Servant Leadership, Rusiana M. Mitau

Academic Leadership Journal in Student Research

This article discusses the concept of servant leadership as advanced by Robert Greenleaf and others. By exploring and elaborating what Robert Greenleaf and others have had to say about the servant leadership model, the article creates a connection and relationship between values, a focus on service and six sigma business strategies to create a lasting value for all. This article argues that the application of the servant leadership model in today’s organizational context may improve business results. Empirical research will need to be carried out to provide specific empirical data on implementation of the model to demonstrate that servant leadership …

The Impact Of Cultural Difference On International Business Negotiations, Dongya Marcia Qu

Academic Leadership Journal in Student Research

As Manrai and Manrai (2010) demonstrate, “international business negotiations (IBN) play a fundamental and critical role in just about every aspect of conducting business in today’s global economy” (p. 69). With increasing integration of globalization and the rapid development of international trade, international business negotiation has become an indispensable part of commercial activity. Metcalf, Bird, Peterson Shankarmahesh and Lituchy (2007) point out that “business negotiation involves two or more distinct entities with various cultural backgrounds” (p. 147). Research from Graham (1985), Foster (1992), Li and Zhang (2004), and Bülow and Kumar (2011) demonstrates that cultural difference largely impacts the success …

A Theoretical Model Of Competitive Equilibria In The New Car Market, Rebecca Abraham, Mark W. Zikiye, Charles Harrington

HCBE Faculty Articles

In the United States, the automobile purchase decision is consequential for both households and car producers. In households, adults typically own their own vehicles for personal use such as commuting to work or college. The need for multiple, safe cars per household represent a significant allocation of household income on an ongoing basis as old vehicles are replaced. Customer needs are represented by groups of demand utility functions which specify the demand for increasingly expensive safety features and styling changes. Auto manufacturers respond to the need for a variety of styles and safety features by producing vehicles in as many …

Hospitality News, Spring 2015, School Of Hospitality - Providence

College of Hospitality Management Newsletter

No abstract provided.

Learning Gains At Cccu-Member Schools: A Comparison Of Cccu Students’ Performance On The Cpa Exam To Performance At Aacsb-Member And Non-Aacsb-Member Schools – A Replication Of A Study By Hahn, Fairchild, And Childs Presented At The Christian Business Faculty Association In October 2014, Rachel M. Galbreath

Selected Honors Theses

This study is a replication of a study by Hahn, Fairchild, and Childs that examines differences in Uniform Certified Public Accountant Exam (UCPAE) pass rates between test-takers who graduated from schools that are members of the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities (CCCU) and those who graduated from institutions that are not members of the CCCU. CCCU- member schools were found to have pass rates similar to institutions accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) even though AACSB schools have an advantage in incoming student aptitude as measured by students’ SAT scores. These results indicate that …

The Scarlet Market: The Economic Framework Of Sex Trafficking And Microfinance As A Proactive Solution, Hannah M. Demarest

Selected Honors Theses

No abstract provided.

Multilevel Marketing Diffusion And The Risk Of Pyramid Scheme Activity: The Case Of Fortune Hi‐Tech Marketing In Montana, Stacie A. Bosley, Kim Mckeage

School of Business All Faculty Scholarship

While statisticians have simulated the expected rate of growth in pyramid schemes, this research examines actual data on the spread of an alleged pyramid scheme in Montana. Fortune Hi-Tech Marketing (FHTM) was a multilevel marketing firm, sued by six states and the Federal Trade Commission and permanently shut down in 2014. Data from a settlement with the State of Montana provide a population of participants in a geographic region with definable markets and offer unique insights into local contagion. The authors analyze the pattern of FHTM adoption within a diffusion-of-innovation framework. The findings confirm that nearly all adoption results from …

The Untapped Potential Of Introvert Leaders, Marina A. Pawlaczyk

Selected Honors Theses

Academic research shows that extroverts are generally seen as more productive and

effective leaders than their introvert counterparts because they possess the characteristics our society has so often revered (Grant, Gino, & Hofmann, 2009). With the rise of the “extrovert ideal” throughout our society, introverts are left wondering what role they play when it comes to leadership (Cain, 2013). Through examples of four successful introvert leaders (Susan Cain, Warren Buffett, Laura Bush, and Bill Gates), it can be derived that it is not the personality that makes the leader but, rather, the passion, drive, and self-actualization of the individual. With …

The Certified Management Accountant Program, Kathleen M. Trenski

Selected Honors Theses

No abstract provided.

Exploring The Impact Of Stakeholder Pressure On Environmental Management Strategies At The Plant Level: What Does Industry Have To Do With It?, Teresa K. Betts, F. Wiengarten, S. Tadisina

Faculty & Staff Research and Creative Activity

Stakeholder theory and empirical evidence confirm the positive relationship between stakeholder pressure and the implementation of environmental practices and strategies. However, the specific mechanisms and impact of selected stakeholder groups on environmental management strategies are relatively underexplored. In this paper, this shortcoming is addressed by exploring the impact of selected stakeholder groups on environmental management strategies taking the contingency factor industry into consideration (i.e., dynamic vs. static industries). Basing the arguments primarily on stakeholder theory, it is suggested that stakeholder pressures are perceived differently in plants in dynamic versus static industries. Similarly, it is suggested that the influence of stakeholder …

Exploring The Impact Of Stakeholder Pressure On Environmental Management Strategies At The Plant Level And Industry, Teresa Betts, F. Wiengarten, S. Tadisina

Faculty & Staff Research and Creative Activity

Stakeholder theory and empirical evidence confirm the positive relationship between stakeholder pressure and the implementation of environmental practices and strategies. However, the specific mechanisms and impact of selected stakeholder groups on environmental management strategies are relatively underexplored. In this paper, this shortcoming is addressed by exploring the impact of selected stakeholder groups on environmental management strategies taking the contingency factor industry into consideration (i.e., dynamic vs. static industries). Basing the arguments primarily on stakeholder theory, it is suggested that stakeholder pressures are perceived differently in plants in dynamic versus static industries. Similarly, it is suggested that the influence of stakeholder …

Time To Lift The Veil Of Inequality In Health Care Coverage: Using Corporate Law To Defend The Affordable Care Act, Seema Mohapatra

Faculty Scholarship

No abstract provided.

Building A Better Pedestrian Flow Model For The Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Charles Edward Anklam

Open Access Dissertations

Undeniable shifts in how public events are conducted with regard to security have occurred since the terrorist attacks on the United States on September 11, 2001. Increased security requirements are a product of the paradigm shift in security for Mega-Event locations. This study examined the Indianapolis Motor Speedway during Mega-Event status events, with specific focus on the 2013, Indianapolis 500 automobile race. The objective was to study the phenomenon of pedestrian flow as it related to entry gate procedures and resulting impacts. This data was then used to compile modeling scenarios employing AnyLogic computer software that allowed for free-agent, variable …