Business Commons^™

Interactive Learning: Developing An Esimulation Portal Framework, Ayman Tobail, John Crowe, Amr Arisha

Articles

The emerging eLearning paradigm is becoming increasingly used in many academic disciplines. The concept acknowledges learning processes that no longer deploy only traditional teaching methods. It can be argued that today’s third level education students are part of a new virtual era where the blackboard has been replaced by the interactive whiteboard, so more interactive and virtually orientated teaching aids are required to assist in the transition from traditional learning to eLearning. The key objective of this paper is to propose a simulation-based learning framework that integrates web-based simulation and a web content management hierarchy model. Using the highly complex …

Legitimising Expertise: Analysing The Legitimation Strategies Used By Economics Experts In Broadcast Interviews, Joseph K. Fitzgerald, Brendan O'Rourke

Articles

Few would doubt that economists have taken a prominent role as experts on policy issues [Maesse, J. 2015. Economic experts: A discursive political economy of economics. Journal of Multicultural Discourses 10, no.3: 279–305] and some contend that no other social science discipline has gained such prominence [Fourcade, M., E. Ollion, and Y. Algan. 2015. The superiority of economists. Journal of Economic Perspectives 29, no.1: 89–114]. This prominent societal role has long been evident and leans on their perceived objectivity with regard to the economy and policy advice. Yet, the Great Recession of 2008 put past understandings of the economy, and …

Strategy/Enterprise Discourse Bounds In Business Talk., Brendan O'Rourke

Articles

Corporate strategy emerged as large non-owner managed firms became economically important (Knights and Morgan, 1991). Strategy became the substitute for the earlier enterprise discourse, which depended on the dominance, in entrepreneurial capitalism, of owner-managed firms. The discourses of strategy and enterprise developed as separate academic areas and as logics of two very different economic domains. From the late 1970s however, large organizations (Kanter, 1983:27) and governments have been urged to be more entrepreneurial (Klein et al., 2010; Osborne and Gaebler, 1993). Meanwhile, small firms were encouraged to be more strategic (Carr, 2000). This article looks at evidence from small …

From Enrollment To Employment: A Dacum Approach To Information Systems And Information Security And Assurance Curriculum Design, Leila Halawi, Wendi M. Kappers, Aaron Glassman

Publications

Issues associated with information security are numerous and diverse. Since the majority of organizational actions rely greatly on information and communication technologies, Information Systems (IS) security is now a main concern for firms, governments, institutes, and society as a whole. As a result, a plethora of graduate programs have been created, covering nearly every aspect of IS security. The authors review the current state of the IS industry presented in the literature, and identify a panel of IS experts in which to explore current job skill needs using a “Developing a Curriculum,” DACUM, process to support curriculum design for two …

Electricity Sector Reform: Sourcing And Cost Management Of Electricity For Steel Manufacturing In Nigeria, Christopher Ndubuisi Okonkwo

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

In 2014, Lazard levelized cost of energy analysis model priced diesel powered systems at $0.225 – $0.404/KWh and a range of $0.165 – $0.242/KWh for gas-powered systems. The model gave a range of $0.28 – $0.33/kWh for diesel and a range of $0.14/kWh – $0.16/kW for gas fired. Nigeria has an abundance of gas reserves, but heavy gas flaring by oil companies perpetuates power failure across Nigeria. What has resulted is an unreliable electricity infrastructure and a high cost of alternative energy. The Electricity Power Sector Reform Act of 2005 started the reform process. Guided by decision theory, the purpose …

Retail Inventory Control Strategies, Mackie Johnson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Despite using computerized merchandise control systems in retail, the rate of stockouts has remained stagnant. The inability to satisfy customer needs has caused a loss of 4% in potential revenue and resulted in dissatisfied customers. The purpose of this qualitative multiple case study was to explore cost-effective inventory control strategies used by discount retail managers. The conceptual framework that grounded the study was chaos theory, which helped identify why some business leaders rely on forecasting techniques or other cost-effective strategies as an attempt to prevent stockouts. The target population was comprised of discount retail managers located throughout northeast Jacksonville, Florida. …

Business Strategies For Asean's Single Window In Southeast Asia, Craig Allen Mcgee Jones

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Since the Asian Financial Crisis of 1997 and the Global Financial Crisis of 2007, members of the Association of Southeast Asia Nations (ASEAN) have sought to strengthen ASEAN's regional economies through a digital trade project known as the ASEAN Single Window (ASW). The purpose of this case study was to explore the business strategies that multinational organizational leaders used to overcome business barriers while implementing ASEAN partnership contracts and ASW region-wide projects. This study may be unique in that, at the time of this research, there was no published study in which researchers had explored a single window for a …

Employee Engagement And Organizational Profitability, Schrita Osborne

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Disengaged employees typically cost U.S. corporations $350 billion annually. The purpose of this case study was to explore strategies that some communication business leaders used to engage their employees that resulted in increased profits. The target population consisted of 4 communication business leaders located in Jackson, Mississippi who possessed at least 1 year of successful employee engagement experience. The self-determination theory served as the study's conceptual framework. Semistructured interviews were conducted and the participating company's archived documents were gathered. Patterns were identified through a rigorous process of data familiarization, data coding, and theme development and revision. Interpretations from the data …

Ethiopian And Eritrean Businesses Growth Barriers In The Washington, Dc Area, Sereke-Berhan Meres

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Prior studies have revealed that recent Asian and Hispanic immigrant entrepreneurs have made significant contributions to social change in the United States. Although African immigrant entrepreneurs have made such contributions, few studies exist about them, and there is limited knowledge about this business community. The purpose of this qualitative case study was to identify the barriers of growth in Ethiopian and Eritrean immigrant-owned firms in the Washington, DC area who were in business for a minimum of 3 years and represented various trade lines and geographical locations. The enhanced integrated model of ethnic business development, which proposes growth strategies by …

Effects Of Information Technology Risk Management And Institution Size On Financial Performance, Shaun D'Olene Kecia Barrett

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

A negative relationship exists between unmanaged IT risk and financial performance of institutions of varying sizes. The purpose for this quantitative correlation study was to examine the relationship between IT risk management, institution size, and the financial performance of credit unions in Jamaica. Information Systems Audit and Control Association (ISACA) risk IT model provided the theoretical framework for the study. Audited financial statements and a web-based survey provided data for this study. One hundred and thirty employees from 13 credit unions in Jamaica participated in the study. Results of the multiple regression tests confirmed a statistically significant relationship between IT …

The Dimensions Of Customer Satisfaction In The Jamaican Financial Service Industry, Dr. Lydia Smith

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Bank leaders spend an average of $727 to acquire a new customer and $287 to retain current customers. Grounded in customer relationship management and adaptation level theories, the purpose of this correlational study was to examine the relationship between service quality and customers' intention to switch banking service. An online survey was administered to 203 Jamaican banking customers. The target population was selected to identify if the Jamaican banks' customer service adhered to the customer satisfaction principles developed by Parasuraman. The independent variables were the 10 dimensions of service quality. Competence, courtesy, credibility, and access were removed because of multicollinearity …

Nigerian Banking Governance, Leadership Style, And Performance During The 2008-2009 Financial Crisis, Adeola Oluwayemi Agbato

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The 2008-2009 global financial crisis of financial systems negatively affected about 30% of Nigerian banks, leading to profitability issues. The profitability issues led to operational challenges, downsizing, and liquidation of some banks. The purpose of this correlational study was to examine the relationship between corporate governance structure, perception of leadership style, and bank performance. This study was grounded in agency theory and used survey and archival data. Survey data were collected from 11 participants employed by commercial banks located in Nigeria, using the Multifaceted Leadership Questionnaire. Corporate governance and bank performance data were collected from annual bank reports. The model …

Strategies To Improve Project Management Maturity Processes, Walter H. Sargent

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Information technology organizations lose significant competitive value when business leaders fail to use project management maturity (PMM) processes that enhance market delivery, reduce costs, and increase profitability. Using a multiple-case study, the researcher explored strategies that project leaders have used to improve PMM processes and expanded upon Kerzner's PMM model, which comprises 5 PMM levels essential for achieving repeatable project success. The researcher selected 20 project leader participants in the Southeastern region of the United States using a purposeful snowball sampling technique. In depth interviews were combined with archival and document exploration using a multiple-case study design where different types …

A Collaborative Approach To Budgeting And The Impact On The Budgeting Process: A Case Study, Michael Van Roestel

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Corporations budget and strategize to set targets for planning purposes. Review of the literature indicated that methods of budget creation, including input from operational employees, are not fully understood by corporate budget officers. The problem addressed in this study was whether a collaborative approach to budgeting would improve implementation of the Generally Accepted Accounting Principles of relevance and reliability within the budgeting process. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore the benefits of a collaborative approach to budgeting since non-inclusive budget preparation could alienate members of the operations team. Participative leadership was the conceptual framework guiding this study …

Exploring U.S. Business Leaders' Strategies For Enhancing Team Communication, Susan Kuehn

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Many senior project managers (PMs) and other business leaders lack effective strategies for enhancing communication among their team members, thereby reducing profitability and organizational cohesion. The purpose of this exploratory case study was to explore communication strategies used by 22 PMs who were members of a project manager professional (PMP) association in Colorado, with 5 or more years of relevant experience and who worked at a leading technology company recognized for its effective PM communication strategy for enhancing business-team communication. The conceptual framework for this study was built on interpersonal, mass communication and profound leadership theories. PMs were interviewed, and …

Success Strategies For Small Business Owners In Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Marcellinus Emeka Madu

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

African immigrant business owners create jobs and often stimulate economic growth in distressed inner-city areas, yet they continue to experience barriers obtaining financial support in the United States when trying to gain entrance into the broader economy. The objective of this multiple case study was to explore strategies African immigrant business owners used to succeed in business beyond 5 years. The conceptual framework of this study included resource-based theory, human capital theory, and disadvantage theory. Semistructured interviews were conducted with 3 African immigrant business owners in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania who had succeeded in business beyond 5 years. Thematic analysis from interviews, …

He Said , She Said: The Rcbc Money Laundering Scandal, Leveric T. Ng

Graduate School of Business Publications

The ongoing RCBC money laundering investigation has evidently become a topic of conversation from New York to Singapore…….That should come as no surprise given the magnitude of the crime, but unfortunately not many people here seem to have grasped yet just how damaging this is to the country. The sad reality is that the all-too-typical way this scandal is being addressed only serves to camouflage the relatively simple, broad facts of the case, and almost certainly won’t lead to the swift decisive solutions the country needs to implement to avoid becoming a financial pariah.” (Ben Kritz, Manila Times March 18, …

The Impact Of Marcellus Shale Development On Hotel Revenues In Pennsylvania, Daniel J. Mount, Timothy W. Kelsey, Kathryn J. Brasier

ICHRIE Research Reports

New technologies have allowed for new drilling in oil and gas deposits throughout the world. In the Northeast United States, the Marcellus Shale formation has been one of the most active regions for new wells. This new drilling activity has created a visible economic impact to communities in and around the drilling sites. The increase in hotel activity metrics such as occupancy percentage and average daily rate has been noted but there has been no research that determines the total revenue impact of the drilling activity. This research does not attempt to factor in the social and environmental costs that …

University Lodging Demand: An Analysis Of Its Stability And Guidance For Estimating Its Growth Potential At The Market Level, John O'Neill

ICHRIE Research Reports

This translational research study analyzes university-related lodging demand over a 24-year period through 2013. In so doing, this research project focuses on 27 university towns in an attempt to best isolate the dynamics of lodging supply and demand related to universities. Also, the study compares the supply and demand in university towns to U.S. averages and to similarly-sized cities that are not dominated by a university. This study finds that lodging demand in university towns is more stable than both U.S. averages and to similarly-sized small cities. This study also evaluates factors that hotel developers and analysts should consider when …

Where Is It Going? An Overview Of Technology Decision Makers’ Perceptions In The U.S. Lodging Industry, Mehmet Erdem

ICHRIE Research Reports

This study has attempted to examine and document perceptions and opinions of hotel executives about issues and trends in information technology. Respondents have a wide variety of titles including CEOs, owners, and general managers of numerous different properties in lodging industry. The results of this study provide empirical evidence to substantiate current technology issues and trends within the lodging context. The results shows that hotel executives have recognized the importance of connectivity between hotel guests and hotel technologies. Findings in this study offers an opportunity to examine the status quo of technology’s influence on the U.S. lodging industry. It is …

Motivation, Place Attachment, And Loyalty In A Country Club, Jim Butler, Jo Jung Lee

ICHRIE Research Reports

Introduction

Club members are the lifeblood of the private country club business. However, country club research is understudied because of the private nature of the business and lack of recognition of studying members’ behaviors in the club. The research investigated the relationship between motivation of joining factors of members in a private country club, place attachment of members to the club, and membership loyalty to the country club. The study also examined the effects of demographic factors in motivation, forming place attachment, and loyalty to the club.

Relevance and Significance of the topic

Private country clubs, an important part of …

Extreme Minimum Wages: Effects On The U.S. Hotel Industry, John O'Neill, Sean P. Mcginley

ICHRIE Research Reports

The subject report analyzes literature regarding minimum wages to explore the potential effects of what could be described as extreme increases in the minimum wage on the American hotel industry. The current presidential administration as well as several large municipalities are actively seeking, or recently passed laws that increase the minimum wage by an extreme amount. The subject report quantifies the forecasted effect on the U.S. hotel industry. The study concludes that the hotel industry in the U.S. would have a negative economic impact estimated at $2.53 billion if the current national minimum wage proposal is approved.Min

Multi-Unit Efficiency Assessment And Multidimensional Polygon Analysis In A Small, Full-Service Restaurant Chain, Thomas Maier, Reynolds Dennis, Jennifer Sandstrom

ICHRIE Research Reports

Purpose: Restaurant revenue management practices and profit optimization techniques are evolving into more complex data analysis processes. The “big data” revolution has created a wealth of information on revenue, pricing, key operational performance indicators, and various productivity/efficiency variables. Advanced research analysis that can identify these key factors across multiple operating units may be useful to restaurant managers unaccustomed to data analytics or those seeking a deeper understanding of unit-level business performance. The overarching goal of this study was to utilize mixed research methods across conceptually dissimilar units of a multi-unit chain restaurant, enabling researchers to build on the resulting outcomes …

Related Parties: Audit Risk When 63 Entities Act As One, Alyssa Lieb

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

This paper delves into the fraud committed by Adelphia Communications for fiscal year 2001. Former Adelphia owner, the Rigas family’s background is scrutinized in an effort to understand how an environment fostering the ideals of financial statement fraud was created. The fraud itself is analyzed to uncover the potential warning signs that were available to then auditor, Deloitte. The audit process is outlined to determine where audit risk was greatest, and how audit guidelines in place at the time may have been ineffective in helping auditors to mitigate such risks. Audit guidelines in place at the time are then compared …

Leadership Experience Project: Jamaica, Brandi Floor, Cinara Foor

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

The purpose of this study is to determine the reasons behind studying abroad and how The University of Akron can improve the College of Business Administration’s (CBA) programs to ensure students receive an enriching experience. Upon discovery of the failure to attain students for two CBA study abroad programs, sustainability became an issue that needed to be addressed. The paper begins with research on the history and the impact of studying abroad. Two surveys were distributed to three different trips within the CBA. This was to assess the reasoning behind why students chose to study abroad. Overall, we found that …

Life Is Good No Matter What, Daniel J. Wyrock, Emily Kosuda, Brian Raglow

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

As part of our Leadership Experience Project through the Institute of Leadership Advancement, our goal was to create an alternative revenue stream for an Akron cancer charity, Life Is Good No Matter What. As a team of three, we had to plan, development and implement our strategy over the course of a year. We researched charities and trends in the charity space which led us to the development of a product. After much time, we developed the idea of an ice cream line that not only fit the message of Life Is Good No Matter What, bus also helped define …

Seeking Personal Financial Understanding For College Students, Nathan Webel

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

With the cost of college increasing it is critical that students develop sound a sound financial understanding of key topics that will effect them for the rest of their lives. Budgeting, interest rates, debt, and other key topics are not well understood by the majority of college students. This paper looks at how much students understand their debt, as well as other key finance areas and demonstrates what The University of Akron can do to produce students that understand personal finance concepts.

Getting The Green: Understanding The Market For Eco-Friendly Tires, Julia E. Mallinak, Kira L. Sizemore, Nicholas A. Moyer, Pauline G. Gaynesbloom, Kyle R. Costal

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

The Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company has developed a new tire that replaces petroleum with a more sustainable resource: soybean oil. Following an unexpected surge of popularity in the press, Goodyear decided to look into marketing options for this new tire. For this purpose, the research team is testing market reactions to eco-friendly products, reactions to specific tire names, and potential pricing options for the tire.

Previous research indicated multiple areas of concern, including a general skepticism towards “green” terminology, perceptions of low quality in eco-friendly products, and a lack of willingness to purchase eco-friendly products in older generations. The …

Recruiting And Hiring Millennial Talent In Northeast Ohio, Katharine Powell, Taylor Clawson, Rachel Scheuermann, John Brown, Brandon Johnson, Elizabeth Stoneburner

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

Since October 2015, the Honors Business From and Awesome Inc. has been working with The J. M. Smucker Company to investigate the employment preferences, motivations and geographic preferences of millennial talent in Northeast Ohio. Through extensive secondary and primary research, Awesome Inc has provided an in-depth review of millennials in Northeast Ohio, and has provided two significant and applicable recommendations as supported by the research findings to assist The J. M. Smucker Company in their recruiting efforts.

Recruiting And Maintaining Millennial Talent For The J.M. Smucker Company, Emmary Sharer, Conner J. Jones, Angela Morris, Andrew Harpel, Ashley Miesle, Jessica Dixon

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

The purpose of this research project as part of the Honors Business Integrated Forum was to explore growth and innovation in the Millennial marketplace. Specifically, this particular project focused on how The J.M. Smucker Company could better attract and retain Millennial talent. Primary and secondary research was conducted in order to gain insight into the Millennial mindset and workplace trends. This research led to several findings about Millennial interests including their desires to create formal and informal bonds at work, uphold a work-life balance, interact with companies prior to the interview process, and live in more urban settings with social …