Strategic Recommendation For Evertec, Inc., Talia Zook

Undergraduate Theses, Professional Papers, and Capstone Artifacts

Our research seeks to improve the operational effectiveness of Latin American transaction processing firm Evertec, headquartered in San Juan, Puerto Rico. The unstable economic status of Puerto Rico—as the site of headquarters and as the source of approximately 7% of Evertec’s total revenue—is of external concern, though there are promising technological trends occurring in much of Latin America. The risk of entry by potential competitors in industry appears high, but all other risks as outlined by Michael Porter’s Five Forces are low, indicating an attractive market. Internally, Evertec exhibits several core competencies, including innovation, end-to-end (comprehensive) service, community service/social responsibility, …

Why Referees Stay In The Game, Lynn L. Ridinger, Stacy Warner, Jacob K. Tingle, Kyungun R. Kim

School of Business Faculty Research

Current trends indicate the number of qualified sports officials continues to dwindle. Therefore, this research sought to better understand reasons for initial entry, continuation, and potential discontinuation with officiating, while also identifying problematic issues, and potential solutions. Content analysis was utilized to examine five open-ended online survey responses from 2,485 referees. The results indicate that Enjoyable Affiliation (58%) and Remuneration (14%) were key to referees becoming involved in officiating. Those two themes, Enjoyable Affiliation (75%) and Remuneration (14%), were also identified as important to retaining officials. Physical Limitations were mentioned by 58% of the respondents regarding why they plan to …

Mantras Ambulance Services, Inc. Case 2: A Buyer-Side Business Valuation Case, J. R. Jones, P. D. Hutchison, Amy Foshee Holmes

School of Business Faculty Research

“2017 is going to be an exciting year for your company, Daniel! I just received the requested information from that company that you are interested in buying. I’ll forward the information to you by email attachment, and I will get started on the analysis.” Penny knew that her boss, Daniel, would be anxious to review and discuss the new information on a potential acquisition, so she cleared her desk off to focus on the analysis.

Daniel Gustafson started his company, QRT Ambulance Services, Inc. in 2010. He wanted to quickly expand operations, so his business strategy was to buy existing …

Factors Affecting Debt Decisions: Syndicated Loans Vs. Corporate Bonds, Theerut Winaikosol

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

Following the recent developments and expansions in syndicated loans market, syndicate loans are currently accounted for around one-third of borrowers' total public debt and equity financing. It is one of the main alternative debt instruments for corporations. Syndicated loans are bank loans by their settings but also have many of the corporate bonds' characteristics. These characteristics have made syndicated loans hybrid debt instruments which combining features of both bank loans and bonds. This study investigates the financial factors behind syndicated loans issuance for a comprehensive sample from 2000 to 2016 of United States non-financial companies which are listed in New …

Instilling Positive Beliefs About Organ Donation: An Information Processing Approach, Gerardo Jose Moreira

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

The number of those seeking a kidney donation in the United States continues to increase while the number of donors is not growing at the same rate (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services USDHHS, 2010). The lack of donations is more prevalent in low health literate communities which suffer from misinformation and ultimately negative beliefs toward organ donation. Thus, it is important to understand how marketing efforts can effectively change individuals' beliefs about organ donation.

Drawing on the Self-Determination Theory and Schema Theory, I proposed that the effectiveness of health education programs, which is to motivate individuals to be …

An Investigation Of Financial Accounting Statements And Reporting Techniques, Rachel A. May

Honors Theses

The following report includes solutions to a series of financial reporting case studies completed in fulfillment of the requirements of the honors ACCY 420 course at the University of Mississippi from the fall of 2015 through the spring of 2016. Each case examines various accounting topics and principles using a company's financial statements. Each topic was thoroughly researched as assigned. Included in each case is an analysis of each company and its financial stability along with various mathematical calculations to better understand each situation. As the cases progress, the accounting topics become more advanced. Topics range from generic financial accounting …

A Comprehensive Analysis Of Corporate Financial Information Through Integrated Case Studies, Tanner West

Honors Theses

This report is an analysis of thirteen case studies concerning various topics in accounting. The purpose of this report is to analyze, explain, and evaluate specific concepts in accounting through the thirteen case studies. These case studies were prepared over the course of the 2015-2016 academic year through the ACCY 420 honors course. Accounting concepts covered throughout the cases include: pensions, tax research, financial reporting, and long-term liabilities. Each case study includes the executive summary, the questions responses, and additional calculations. Some case studies are about real world companies while others involve fictional companies and accounting scenarios. The ultimate goal …

Analysis Of Financial Accounting Techniques And Applications, Joseph Lascara

Honors Theses

This thesis sets to examine the core accounting principles in financial accounting and apply those principles to companies' financial statements and 10-K's. Starting from simple transactions and adjusting entries, each topic moves through the financial statements and applies them to different companies. The second half examines more advanced accounting topics such as pensions and the buying and selling of securities. Among each section is also a thorough set of figures that highlight specific journal entries, data, or calculations to enhance the understanding of these topics. Each topic was researched through various case examinations relating to a particular area of financial …

The Financial Analysis And The Application Of U.S. Gaap Principles, Lauren Vonder Haar

Honors Theses

This thesis follows eleven case studies examining various accounts of U.S. GAAP financial statements. Each case study represents a specific area of the financial statements, and each case uses a different company to analyze the accounts. Through the cases, commonly misstated items are explored. The purpose of this thesis is to determine the proper U.S. GAAP treatment of these items. The thesis explores all areas of the financial statements including accounts from both the income statement and balance sheet. The thesis was written during the Honors Accy 420 class during the academic year 2015-2016. The class allowed me to gain …

Style For Life: A Fashion Blog Analysis, Lynley-Love Jones

Honors Theses

Social media usage has drastically increased and has made interacting with a much larger number of people from around the world possible. Because social media has allowed increased interaction, blogging has been able to capitalize on this by building brand awareness and exposure in the market with more people as a result. This has also helped fashion blogging become a huge part of the fashion industry, with it now being viewed as a respectable facet of the industry. These people have become hugely influential in the fashion world, having been deemed the title of product influencers. Consumers become invested in …

Analysis Of Financial Accounting Procedures And Applications, Mary Stewart Hurst

Honors Theses

This thesis is a compilation of accounting problems in an exploration of core accounting principles. Each case is a unique illustration of one of these financial accounting concepts and is an application of the principles and procedures associated with it. Within each case there is an executive summary describing the situation outlined in the case, the most important procedures used to solve the problem, and the ultimate outcome of the case. Following the executive summary is an appendix in which many specific questions were addressed. Additionally, within the appendices are included many figures, including journal entries, calculations, comparisons, and financial …

Financial Reporting: An Analysis Of Accounting Methods And Principles, Nathan C. Mccall

Honors Theses

This paper is a compilation of several analyses of various accounting methods and practices. Each chapter takes a different area of accounting and uses a well-known company to explain the theory behind a specific method or area of accounting. Through reference to these companies, the paper attempts to simplify some complex accounting processes. The real business examples help illustrate these concepts in a reader friendly format. The goal of this paper is to convey basic accounting principles to those without prior knowledge in accounting, allowing them to grasp the main concepts and understand the theory behind the standards of this …

The Practical Application Of The United States Accounting Codification, Parker Durham

Honors Theses

The United States Accounting Standards Codification is the source of the Generally Accepted Accounting Principles, or GAAP, that all publically traded U.S. companies and many private companies adhere to. This thesis concerns the United States Accounting Codification and how it is applied to real-life scenarios derived from various business activities. These different scenarios were provided by Dr. Victoria Dickinson in a series of twelve different case studies and covered numerous areas of financial reporting. This thesis is the compilation of the solutions to those case studies and has been verified to be in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles. Numerous …

Developments In The Law Affecting Electronic Payments And Financial Services, Sarah Jane Hughes, Stephen T. Middlebrook, Tom Kierner

Articles by Maurer Faculty

No abstract provided.

A Fresh Take: Rebranding La Catalia, Diana Alessandra Alvites Vasquez

Whittier Scholars Program

Abstract (English)

This project involves the rebranding of La Catalía, a small, Lima, Peru-based dark kitchen bakery Started during the COVID-19 pandemic in an Instagram launch, La Catalía gained good traction in terms of a customer base but had an incoherent brand identity that reflected the high-quality and artisanal nature of its desserts.

As a result of the project, a holistic rebranding strategy encompassing a new visual identity, a new system of logos, a bespoke icon system, packaging, and a digital content plan for Instagram and TikTok was developed. The objective was to upscale the brand's presence while keeping its …

Applying User Experience (Ux) Design In Interior Space For Art, Science Museums, And Learning Environments, Zainab Al-Hajji

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

This research study explores the role of user experience (UX) and user interface (UI) in educational spaces: museums, science centers, galleries, libraries, and classrooms. This study examines the effects of enhancing displays in learning spaces and focuses on users’ interactions and experiences. This project observes the effectiveness of learning modes and styles applied in different museums and focuses on the users’ experiences in an educational environment, which was measured through student users’ impressions, behaviors, and performance. It was hypothesized that students would retain more information through the experience. The concepts covered included using UX/UI on websites and small devices. Results …

African American Graduates' Experiences Of Managing College Debt, Christal Blalock

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Higher education is a means to improve professional status and economic mobility; however, mounting college debt has become a hindrance to college graduates, primarily African Americans. A disproportionate number of these graduates incur significant debt while attending college. The purpose of this descriptive phenomenological study was to understand the lived experiences of African American college graduates who were managing debt incurred to pay for their education. Human capital theory and critical race theory provided the conceptual framework. Two research questions motivated this study: How do African American college graduates living in the state of Georgia manage their college debt? What …

Strategies For Increased Productivity Through Control Of Process Constraints, Fabian Aniemene

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

In Nigeria, manufacturing businesses play a vital role in the industrial growth of the nation and have many dynamic benefits crucial for the growth of a sustainable economy. The manufacturing sector has added substantially to the gross domestic products of many countries. Nonetheless, 50% of manufacturing firms in Nigeria experience a decline in production capacity utilization and profitability because of inefficient production processes. The purpose of this qualitative multiple case study was to explore strategies leaders of manufacturing firms in Nigeria use to support efficient manufacturing operations. The theory of constraints served as the conceptual framework for this study. Eight …

Knowledge Management Strategies For Competitive Advantage In The Convenience Foods Franchise Industry, Tiffany Moses

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The lack of successful knowledge management (KM) practices significantly hinders competitive advantage in small businesses. This case study was designed to explore what effective KM strategies convenience foods franchise industry business owners or managers use to increase competitive advantage. The study population consisted of 7 fast food franchise owners or managers in or near the Research Triangle Park area of North Carolina. The cognitive model of KM was the conceptual framework that grounded the study. Face-to-face interviews were used for the data collection process. Data were organized into nodes and coded for thematic analysis. The 3 major themes that emerged …

Sources Of Financing For Small And Medium Enterprises In Nigeria, Dije Umaru Watse

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Small and medium enterprises (SMEs), which account for 96% of businesses in Nigeria are often forced to close because they lack access to funds. The purpose of this multiple case study was to explore the sources of funds available for the development and growth of SMEs in Nigeria. The conceptual framework guiding this study was the pecking order theory. Data were gathered from company documents and through semistructured interviews of a target population of 3 leaders of 3 SMEs from the oil and gas industry in Abuja, Kano, and Lagos in Nigeria, with a capitalization of between N5 million to …

Leadership Strategies For Managing Change In The Nigerian Banking Industry, Jude Ememe

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The Nigerian banking system is experiencing changes brought about by globalization. Operating in a changing business environment requires that bank leaders evolve strategies to manage and adapt to change. There are direct and indirect costs associated when banks are unable to adapt to change such as bank closures, and loss of economic and business opportunities. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore the lived experiences of Nigerian bank leaders regarding strategies they used to manage change in the banking industry. The conceptual framework was based on transformational leadership theory and change management theory. Data were collected from document …

Growing Yeast For Livestock, Zachary Christman

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Over 500,000 tons of organic materials such as food scraps are disposed of each year in Wisconsin. A large percentage of this material could be composted or turned into useful products. The purpose of this article is to educate farmers and organizations on how to turn food waste into a high value food source for livestock. Yeast can be grown at any time of the year without the large inputs of agricultural chemicals and machinery that is common with other feed production methods. A yeast growing facility can be scalable to any size the producer wants such as a small …

To Work More Or Less? The Impact Of Taxes And Life Satisfaction On The Motivation To Work In Continental And Eastern Europe, Orkhan Nadirov, Khatai Aliyev, Bruce Dehning

Accounting Faculty Articles and Research

Using country-level data from 2000-2013, we test the relationship between life satisfaction (measured as how people evaluate their life as a whole rather than their current feelings) and the motivation to work (measured as aggregate hours of work). Our hypothesis is that even after controlling for average labor income tax rates in countries with high and low average hours worked, there is a significant negative association between the motivation to work and life satisfaction. The main findings of this paper are that the increase in the motivation to work per employee comes at the expense of life satisfaction, and differences …

Portfolio Risk-Return Analysis: The Case Of The Automotive Industry In The Czech Republic, Florin Aliu, Drahomira Pavelkova, Bruce Dehning

Accounting Faculty Articles and Research

Risk has always been the concern of managers and shareholders as a part of decision-making processes. Managers tend to control unsystematic risk mostly while trying to minimize the exposure to systematic (market) risk. The paper aims to assess the risk level and risk-return tradeoffs for the companies operating in Czech automotive industry. A diversification formula and calculation of returns using return-on-equity were employed on the yearly basis from 2005 till 2014. The returns and risk calculations were conducted on the portfolio of auto manufacturers, followed by the portfolio of auto suppliers, while the third one was performed for suppliers and …

What Drives Endorsement Earnings For Superstar Athletes?, Daniel Rascher, Terry Eddy, Giseob Hyun

Journal of Applied Sport Management

Athletes’ endorsement earnings receive significant attention in the trade/popular press, but the academic literature on this issue is sparse. Thus, the purpose of the study was to examine factors that drive variation in endorsement earnings. Resulting analyses indicated the Positive Q Score measure (likability) was worth about $750,000–$1 million for each unit of the scale, while the Negative Q Score measure was statistically insignificant. One unit increases in Exposure and Familiarity were worth roughly $600,000 and $200,000, respectively. These findings can be used by athletes, agents, and sponsors to determine estimates, or fair-market value, for endorsement deals.

Students’ Search Behaviors And Career Alignment For Internships, Michael Odio

Journal of Applied Sport Management

The present study explores the internship search behaviors of undergraduate sport management students at three public universities, including how much time is spent looking for internships, what resources are used for searching, and what criteria are used when deciding on an internship. The findings affirm previous research that factors such as compensation, location, timing, and career goals are important, but also reveal how students weigh these factors and how it affects when, where, and how they search for internship opportunities. This information is beneficial for employers interested in understanding the student’s perspective of the internship search in order to increase …

Market Dimensions Of Industrial Juice Production, Anushree Priyadarshini

Articles

The juice sector is currently demonstrating positive and dynamic growth mainly due to a change in lifestyle, the tendency of consumers to prefer healthy products, and an increase in purchasing power. Fruit juices form part of what are termed the “new age beverages.” In sync with growing consumer inclination toward healthier choices, manufacturers are moving over to healthier ingredients in their juices. Numerous new and innovative products are being launched globally by manufacturers to stimulate sales through innovations in flavor blends, calorie and sweetness levels, and functional benefits, very much shaped by the major lifestyle trends. This chapter aims to …

Managing Energy Price Risk Using Futures Contracts: A Comparative Analysis, Jim Hanly

Articles

This paper carries out a comparative analysis of managing energy risk through futures hedging, for energy market participants across a broad dataset that encompasses the largest and most actively traded energy products. Uniquely, we carry out a hedge comparison using a variety of risk measures including Variance, Value at risk (VaR), and Expected Shortfall as well as a utility based performance metric for two different investor horizons; weekly and monthly. We find that hedging is effective across the spectrum of risk measures we employ. We also find significant differences in both the hedging strategies and the hedging effectiveness of different …

An Investigation Into The Obstacles And Barriers Preventing Farmers In Rural Areas Using Information Communication Technologies, David O'Leary

Theses

Technology and in particular, mobile devices can help farmers both from a social and business perspective. This study focuses on the areas preventing farmers using smart phones and the downfalls they might be facing on a regular basis in the adoption of mobile devices. The objectives of this study were to identify what devices are being used and for what purpose, identify who helps the farmer when they are in difficulty with their device, identify if broadband is an obstacle and to develop a set of recommendations based on my research for the use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) …

Economic Viability Of Direct Drilling In Ireland Compared To Conventional Drilling, Angus Griffith

Theses

With the price of fuel rising and the need for farmers to try and cut costs, and not just variable and the input cost of producing the crop need to be reduced too. It is for this reason that this project is going to focus on direct drilling (DD) vs. conventional tillage (CT) which is the most common system of production in Ireland while also looking into the difference in the costs of establishing each of the two methods. In addition, this project will determine whether or not there are any differences in soil quality and conditions as well as …