Business Commons^™

The Liminal Workplace, Michael O'Hare

Student Scholarship

This study investigates how managers, executives and professionals (MEP) working 50 or more hours per week and using Information Communication Technology (ICT) to stay connected with their work 24/7 manage their energy and thrive at work. Based on interviews with these subjects, we learn that they have adapted ICT to help them achieve the goals of their "protean careers" and meet the challenges of the transitional or liminal workplace. We also discovered that they function in an autopoietic fashion to rejuvenate themselves in the work domain by physical exercise, managing relationships, and through introspective reflection. We were surprised that for …

Empowering The 99%...One Esop At A Time! A Qualitative Study Of Employee-Owned Company Acquisitions, Suzanne Cromlish

Student Scholarship

This research project focuses on how ESOPs can accomplish successful acquisitions. Most successful ESOPs implement various types of progressive management strategies including open book management and open door communication policies and procedures. These practices of active employee engagement and participation enhance productivity and profitability because employees are personally empowered to improve company performance. Somewhat of a mystery is the question of why there are not more ESOPs. If their numbers are to increase, it can only occur through two methods: 1) employees purchase the company from an owner, and 2) other companies are acquired by an existing ESOP. This study …

Assessing Predictors Of Work Engagement In Full-Time Undergraduate Students With Part-Time Jobs, Megan Wertheimer

Honors Projects

Past research has shown that work engagement is beneficial for employees and employers. It is linked with performance, job satisfaction, motivation, employee health, and well-being. We tested whether social-support, conscientiousness, generalized self-efficacy, and work/school congruency would be predictive of work engagement of full-time undergraduate students at Grand Valley State University. Findings showed that work/school congruency and perceived organizational support significantly predict work engagement. These results have implications for how student workers and their employers should seek to increase engagement.

Life Cycle Assessment (Lca) Of Tourism Activities, Kayla Santello

Honors Theses and Capstones

Abstract— Tourism, like other developed industries is a commerce that requires energy inputs and yields outputs with significant effects on the environment. However a comprehensive study examining the life cycle impact associated with each tourism component including transportation, accommodation, food services, and recreation is still lacking. Therefore a search of previous tourism life cycle studies was carried out and ten studies were further investigated. Indicators, assessment approaches, and system boundaries of these previous studies were assessed. Then the outcomes were normalized and compared in order to obtain ranges for the four components of tourism. It was found that energy intensity …

The Moderating Effects Of Praise On The Relationship Between Autonomy And Work Motivation, Alyssa Washakowski

Honors Theses and Capstones

This study applied self-determination theory principals and the already existing links to work motivation to examine how praise would moderate the relationship between work motivation and autonomy. Previous literature has already stated that there is a positive relationship between autonomy and work motivation and also a positive relationship between praise and work motivation. A sample of 54 participants was used in a 37 question survey highlighting questions on work motivation, autonomy and praise. Our results yielded that there was in fact a significant relationship between praise moderating the effects of autonomy on work motivation. From this research it is evident …

The Emergence Of Assurance In Sustainability Reporting: A Stakeholder Perspective, Jessica Lyn Denoncour

Honors Theses and Capstones

No abstract provided.

Performance Of Utility Based Hedges, Jim Hanly, John Cotter

Articles

Hedgers as investors are concerned with both risk and return. However when measuring hedging performance, the role of returns and investor risk aversion has generally been neglected in the literature, by its focus on minimum variance hedging. In this paper we address this by using utility based performance metrics to evaluate the hedging effectiveness of utility based hedges for hedgers with both moderate and high risk aversion together with the more traditional minimum variance approach. To examine this for an energy hedger, we apply our approach to WTI Crude Oil, for three different hedging horizons, daily, weekly and monthly. We …

Do Non Management Employees Value The Performance Management System, Especially The Performance Appraisal System Within A Cork Call Centre?, Caroline Mehigan

Theses

The purpose of this thesis is to examine the topic of Performance Management, especially focusing on the non-management Performance Appraisal. The value associates place on the performance appraisal is assessed along with the views from both management and non management on performance appraisals. Organisations are very mindful of the important role employees can play in the success of their business and of course, in the reputation within the local market, therefore developing associate is vital for a number of reasons.

For this thesis, semi structured interviews took place with 23 associates, which consisted of management and non-management associates. The main …

Workplace Well-Being: Examining The Mental And Psychological Health And Safety Of Non-Unionised And Unionised Employees, Peter O'Mahony

Theses

A quantitative case study was conducted to gain a deeper understanding of the mental and psychological health and safety of non-unionised and unionised employees within the researcher's organisation, a multi-national pharmaceutical company based in Ireland. One hundred and sixty-seven employees and seven senior managers were surveyed to explore their perspectives of psychological health and safety risks in the workplace across thirteen different psychosocial factors which are known to either have positive or negative effects on the psychological health and well-being of an employee.

The Guarding Minds at Work (GM@W) online survey resources were considered appropriate methods to collect the necessary …

Which Craft? An Investigation Into The Irish Craft Brewing Industry - Exploration And Co-Operative Context, Oliver Blackwell

Theses

This study investigates and explores the Irish craft brewing industry with a specific focus on the attitudes, experiences and perceptions of Irish craft brewers to exportation and cooperation. This rapidly growing, niche sector could be considered a microcosm or subset of the Irish brewing industry and it is a valuable contributor of diversity, innovation, creativity, employment and revenue to the Irish economy as an indigenous industry. A quantitative and qualitative mixed methods approach was adopted to triangulate data from various sources. The research comprised of a survey questionnaire to Irish craft brewers, seven semi structured one-to-one interviews and one focus …

Conditions Associated With Increased Risk Of Fraud: A Model For Publicly Traded Restaurant Companies, Elizabeth Yost

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The central focus of this dissertation study is to understand the impact of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and the factors that contribute to increased risk of fraud in order to determine why fraud may occur despite the imposed regulation of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. The main premise of the study tests the application of the fraud triangle framework constructs to publicly traded restaurant companies during the time period of 2002-2014, using proxy variables defined through literature. Essentially, the study seeks to identify the factors that may provide the optimal criteria to engage in fraudulent or opportunistic behavior. The fraud triangle theoretical framework …

Good Works: The Topoi Of Corporate Social Responsibility In The Travel And Tourism Industry, Connie Culler

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation focuses on the identification and analysis of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) topoi in the travel and tourism industry. A sample set of six companies was selected for the study due to their size and prominence in the industry -- namely Disney, Hilton, Intercontinental, Marriott, Starwood, and Wyndham. Topoi were identified through a blended method of research that employed rhetorical analysis, modified grounded theory, and NVIVO content analysis software. The research followed three guiding principles to recognize textual cues and drive analysis: common and special topoi; topoi as heuristic; topoi for association and amplification; and topoi as fluid and …

Empirical Identification Of Factor Models, Piyachart Phiromswad, Takeshi Yagihashi

Economics Faculty Publications

In the conventional factor-augmented vector autoregression (FAVAR), the extracted factors cannot be used in structural analysis because the factors do not retain a clear economic interpretation. This paper proposes a new method to identify macroeconomic factors, which is associated with better economic interpretations. Using an empirical-based search algorithm, we select variables that are individually caused by a single factor. These variables are then used to impose restrictions on the factor loading matrix, and we obtain an economic interpretation for each factor. We apply our method to time-series data in the USA and further conduct a monetary policy analysis. Our method …

Examining Industrial Interdependence Between Japan And South Korea: A Favar Approach, David D. Selover, Takeshi Yagihashi

Economics Faculty Publications

This paper investigates the economic relationship between Japan and South Korea by incorporating disaggregated output measures. Using a factor-augmented vector autoregression (FAVAR) model, we conduct several experiments to test the nature of the interdependence, both in the aggregate and by sector. We find that South Korean output shocks affect the Japanese economy in a significant manner, whereas Japanese output shocks have a limited effect on South Korea. By further examining the transmission mechanism of sectoral output shocks and comparing them with the direction of sectoral trade, we find evidence of cross-border production sharing, which explains the asymmetric results seen in …

Command Abilities Of Captain Career Course Completers In Maneuver, Fires And Effects: A Self-Perceived Assessment, Michael C. Shaw

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

The primary purpose of this study was to determine if a relationship exists between specific demographics of U.S. Army Company Grade Officers that have completed the U.S Army’s Captains Career Course (CCC) in Maneuver, Fires and Effects and their self-perceived capacity to perform as a successful Company Commander. This study included six objectives. The research hypothesis states: Company Grade Officers in the U.S. Army who have held a command position prior to completion of the CCC will have higher self-perceived abilities to function as a successful company commander than those who have not held a command position. The instrument was …

Using Academic And Demographic Characteristics To Determine Whether Or Not Admitted Transfer Students Will Enroll In A Four-Year Research-Extensive University In The Southeastern Region Of The United States, Barrett Palmer Linam

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Abstract The primary purpose of this study was to determine whether or not selected demographic, academic, and institutional characteristics influence the decision of admitted transfer students to enroll in a research-extensive university in the southeastern region of the United States. The transfer student population is an untapped student population that could help benefit many universities. If these students are targeted like potential freshmen, then universities can increase their enrollment. Being able to identify the correct characteristics for potential transfer students would help conserve resources and maximize the incoming transfer student population. This study used the standards of a research-extensive university …

A Simulation-Based Approach To Risk Assessment And Mitigation In Supply Chain Networks, Mamadou Seck, Ghaith Rabadi, Christian Koestler

Engineering Management & Systems Engineering Faculty Publications

We present in this paper a simulation-based approach to evaluate the risk associated with supply chain disruptions caused by failures in some supply chains nodes and measure the impact of such disruptions on supply chain key performance measures (KPIs) of interest. The proposed framework enables analysts and managers to repeatedly assess the risk to their supply chains based on various simulated scenarios and identify the most critical nodes whose disruption will have the highest impact on the KPIs of interest. As a result, companies can focus on the most critical supply chain assets and develop targeted mitigation plans that minimize …

Three Essays On Compensation And The Board Of Directors, Ian Cherry

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In my first essay, I find a statistically and economically significant director-specific component in CEO pay following the enactment of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (SOX). In the cross-section of firms, directors that award relatively higher (lower) CEO pay in one firm also award relatively higher (lower) CEO pay in other firms of whose boards they are members during the year. Based on my estimates, the director-specific component is responsible for around ±3.5% of total CEO pay or around ±$230,000 per CEO-year on average. In addition to affecting CEO pay levels, the director-specific component also has a significant effect on …

Street Fights: Corporate Social Responsibility And A Dragway's Attempt To Reduce Illegal Street Racing, Amanda E. Greene, Andy Dotterweich, Gary Lhotsky, Jason Davis

ETSU Faculty Works

This study sought to explore a professional sport venue’s use of Corporate social responsibility (CSR) to promote positive social change, by addressing illegal street racing, through events designed for community participation. This study specifically looked at public dragracing events, titled “Street Fights,” held at a professional dragway. The purpose of this study was to 1) examine drivers’ awareness of the event’s social responsibility initiatives with Street Fight events and 2) determine if these initiatives are promoting behavioral changes in drivers. Drivers at Street Fight events were surveyed (n=77, 60% response rate) on their levels of awareness of the venue’s social …

Challenges, Changes, And Opportunities In Ngb Coach Education From 2003-2015, Anna Swisher, Andy R. Dotterweich

ETSU Faculty Works

No abstract provided.

Human Resource Management: Managing People And Organizations, Jonathan Alvarez

Whittier Scholars Program

This paper is designed to acknowledge the different research trends and discoveries that have occurred over time, which have influence various changes in the models of Human Resource Management. Since the earliest forms of establishment of the human resource department within the organizations, there has been extensive growth in the roles of the department as it deals with the people who make up the organization. By recognizing the different trends and movements in the industry, we can evaluate the newer models that H.R. departments transitioned from the "regulatory enforcer" to the new "human development" position in organizations. To understand these …

Non-Profit Financial Viability During The Great Recession: A Case Study Of The Ronald Mcdonald House Of Greater Cincinnati, Madison Holbrook

MPA/MPP/MPFM Capstone Projects

The Great Recession from 2008-­2010 adversely affected the non-­profit sector as charitable donations were greatly reduced in the United States. While aggregate measures are useful to look at the non-­profit sector as a whole, it does little to show how each non-­profit individually handled its finances during the recession. To show an individual non-­profit perspective, I examined data from the Ronald McDonald House of Greater Cincinnati to determine whether or not it was financially viable during the Great Recession. To answer this question, I used data from IRS 990 forms to complete a series of financial ratios that evaluated different …

Assessing The Production Revenues And Forecasting Models Of Lexington Children's Theatre Productions, 1998–2004 And 2008–2014, Shea Henning Bartlett

MPA/MPP/MPFM Capstone Projects

This paper assesses the accuracy of the ticket sales and revenue forecasting model used by Lexington Children’s Theatre, a Central Kentucky Performing Arts non-profit. Research suggests that if bias is present in the models, it could be a result of the Optimism Bias, which is a tendency for humans to predict favorable outcomes. Recent data seems to suggest that humans may also act pessimistically with forecasts if the endgame would work in their favor.

"The Lexington Children’s Theatre provided data for 108 productions over a twelve-year span from 1998 – 2014. Using a series of regression models, I found that …

Factors Associated With Philanthropic Giving And Their Correlation With Donation Amount: A Case Study Of The Indianapolis Zoo 2014 Donor Survey, Ashley N. Marcum

MPA/MPP/MPFM Capstone Projects

The Indianapolis Zoo, located in the heart of Indianapolis, is a staple of the community. Celebrating its 50th year anniversary in 2014, the Indianapolis Zoo is known worldwide for both its excellence in animal care and its dedication to local and international conservation efforts. The intent of this paper is to provide the Indianapolis Zoo Institutional Advancement Department with an in depth analysis of its 2014 Donor Survey. Understanding the factors that can affect donor motivation to give philanthropically and the correlation these factors may have with gift amount will help the development team hone their soliciting practices.

It is …

Issues And Challenges In The Establishment Of Continuous Improvement In Vietnam, Phoung Anh Nguyen

School of Economics and Business Administration Faculty Works

A better understanding of Vietnamese management is important for both practitioners and academics because of the huge and continuing growth of business activity in Vietnam. In particular, information about the Vietnamese use of continuous improvement (CI) practices is valuable because these have underpinned the success of both western and Asian companies in recent decades. Using the case-study method based on over 60 in-depth interviews with executives, managers, supervisors, and employees of nine leading companies in Vietnam and information gathered from discussions with 440 business and non-business leaders, practitioners, and academics, this paper shows that Vietnamese organizations face numerous challenges when …

Stakeholder Perception Of The Ethics Of An Industry: The Case Of Organic Food In South India, Jubin Jacob-John, Navin Veerapa

School of Economics and Business Administration Faculty Works

No abstract provided.

Long-Term Services Requiring Customer Participation And Compliance, Frances Turner, Mark Hager, Stephanie Dellande

School of Economics and Business Administration Faculty Works

No abstract provided.

Leadership Cultural Intelligence: A Path To Highly Effective Global Operations, Joseph C. Gelineau Jr

Master of Liberal Studies Theses

This is a comparative study of how to achieve highly effective leadership in foreign cultures. The collective findings reveal that effective leadership is significantly limited when not accompanied by conscious efforts to apply cultural intelligence as a leadership dynamic in global operations. It reviews the science of leadership in terms of visionary transformation of organizations by leaders and the application of cultural intelligence operating in foreign culture environments. It evaluates the effect of cultural differences in the key leadership areas of innovation, a primary determinate of effective organizational performance, and ethical behavior applied across different cultural groups. Published research from …

The Black Ceiling: Barriers To Career Advancement For African American Women In The Us, Victoria C. Sepand

Scripps Senior Theses

Black women in America do not deal exclusively with race or gender discrimination, but many times a combination of the two. This qualitative study seeks to address how black women experience this double discrimination within their organizations’ cultures, policies, and practices. In addition, the career journeys and experiences of the participants interviewed will be analyzed in comparison to the current literature, which states mentoring, training and networking, and women-friendliness are the most effective methods to advancing women and women of color in the workplace. Ultimately, this study discovers that for those methods to work, there needs to be more structure …

Direct Care Staff And Influential Factors, Michelle Jean Ryan

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

The shortage of direct care workers will continue to influence the quality of care that the elderly population will receive. With the projected increase of worker shortages there will be not enough direct care workers to take care of the growing elderly population. With the baby boomer population's need for long term care, the need for qualified staff is also growing. Staff training development and consistent staffing, along with employee friendly benefits and policies will be needed to recruit and retain employees. The growing aging population, along with the increase in demand for quality care drives a need to find …