Business Commons^™

Stock Market Correlations To Economic Indicators, Anthony K. Quandt

Honors Theses

For this project, I researched how representative the S&P 500 (a common index of choice to represent the market) is of the economic well-being of the US. I found that stock market data can be used an as indicator of the economic well-being of the U.S.. The results do not indicate that the stock market leads to recovery, but it does suggest that it is correlated with recovery. In my analysis, I compared the S&P 500 performance to four different economic indicators: Real Gross Domestic Product (GDP), The Consumer Price Index (CPI), Average Weekly Private Wages, and Unemployment Rate. A …

Amazon.Com, Inc Strategic Audit, Ningzhi Luo

Honors Theses

Amazon.com, Inc (Amazon) was founded by Jeff Bezos in 1994 as an online marketplace for books but later expanded to e-commerce, cloud computing, digital streaming, and artificial intelligence. This large variety of products and innovations has contributed to Amazon as one of the most influential economic and cultural forces in the world (Eugene Kim, 2018). This study would specifically focus on the e-commerce area and analyze Amazon's position in this market from an external and internal perspective by using three models: Porter's Five Forces, PESTEL, and the SWOT model. The report would identify Amazon's competitive advantages and the challenges it …

Wmu Essential Studies Program: Creating Awareness For The New Required Curriculum, Catherine Lemus

Honors Theses

In the Fall semester of 2020, the WMU Essential Studies (WES) Program officially launched. This new program replaces the previous WMU General Education curriculum which was over 30 years old with curriculum concepts over 100 years old. While the WES program was not allocated any financial or human resources by Western Michigan University as its inception, it required assistance in creating messaging and content to help educate multiple audiences including current and prospective students, WMU faculty, WMU staff, and local community members. Catherine Lemus stepped in the role of WES Strategy and Marketing Assistant with the guidance of Prof. Greg …

Remote Careers And Entertainment: The Shift From Gaming Console Entertainment To Pc Capabilities, Jacob Sanderson

Honors Theses

This study arose from a conversation with my roommate about the state of the gaming industry in terms of devices on which consumers play. We perceived a shift in our attitudes towards gaming PCs due to Covid-19 and other aspects. I wondered if this affected a wider population. If this change in attitude was widespread, it would affect different companies in the gaming industry as well and would alter consumer behavior related to large purchases in the gaming industry.

To examine these issues, I conducted five in depth interviews and administered a survey developed through Qualtrics to two WMU business …

Trader Joe’S: A Case Analysis Of Trader Joe's Competitive Strategy, Holden G. Adams

Honors Theses

Trader Joe’s has been wildly successful since the store was first founded largely due to their ability to distinguish themselves from their competitors. Found across the United States, Trader Joe’s offers its consumers a unique range of private-label products to their target audience. This case analysis delves into Trader Joe’s competitive strategy and how they plan to sustain their competitive edge in the years to come.

Many factors play a role in the success of Trader Joe’s over the past years. Internally, they carry highly sought after products and have a loyal consumer base. They have found a foothold in …

The Textile Industry: A Deep Look Into The Environmental Impacts Of Fast Fashion, Jordan Miller

Honors Theses

The purpose of this research was to understand the detrimental effects the textile industry has had on global environments and ecosystems across the globe. The textile industry for many years has continued to disregard the current acceleration of global warming and other environmental crises, and it is time the fashion industry holds itself accountable for these actions and takes a change in a new, more sustainable future. With proper education of the environmental pollution the textile industry has made, young consumers will be able to make the change necessary for businesses to develop more sustainable habits for the future production. …

Global Emergencies: How Do They Affect Supply Chain Management Students?, Alexander Stratton

Honors Theses

The goal of this thesis project is to discover how the effects of global emergencies such as Covid-19 affect graduating supply chain management students. Global emergencies cause issues and can completely disrupt supply chains. Therefore, it is hypothesized that since supply chain students may be of help in aiding these supply chains that they may currently or eventually be of higher need and value. Global disasters are full of uncertainties and it is unknown how an event on the scale of Covid-19 will influence employment decisions made by supply chain employers. Uncertainty can be worrisome and cause stress, so it …

Strategic Audit Of Optum, Connor Crow

Honors Theses

Optum is a large American-based pharmacy benefit manager, healthcare consultant, healthcare delivery service, and business analytics corporation that has dominated the industry with sister-company UnitedHealthcare underneath the umbrella UnitedHealthGroup. This report seeks to understand through internal and external analyses how Optum’s business model and strategies have allowed them to gain and sustain competitive advantages in the everchanging, volatile environment of healthcare. Specific tools used to highlight this include Porter’s Five Forces, PESTEL, and SWOT analyses. Additionally, strategic recommendations are given for Optum’s next steps.

Diversification Using International Exchange-Traded Funds, Alese K. Jones

Honors Theses

Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs) are diversified portfolios of assets which trade like stocks and track a benchmark index. This manuscript looks at the diversification and return benefits a U.S. investor would receive by investing in Emerging market (EEM) and Total World (DGT) ETFs over the period of June 2003 to July 2019. We use S&P 500 ETF IVV as a proxy for U.S. market. EEM had the highest absolute return but also the highest risk. However, the U.S. ETF IVV had the greatest risk-adjusted return and the lowest tracking error. International ETFs were also highly correlated with the S&P 500. Overall, …

Starting A Residential Real Estate Business, Caelan Shurina

Honors Theses

Hello fellow entrepreneur! It seems you have set your heart on residential real estate. Great! This guide explores the steps you will need to take to turn this interest into a profitable business in real estate investing. By laying out the discoveries I made while creating my own real estate management business in downtown Chattanooga, I’ve created a step by step guide to help you streamline the process from evaluating the market before you buy to selling the property after renovations are complete.

The Warner Theater Business Plan, Nicholas Adams

Honors Theses

No abstract provided.

Building Professional Development Through The Research Of Financial Accounting, Amanda Starrett

Honors Theses

The following work is compiled from twelve cases assigned by Dr. Victoria Dickinson over the course of an academic year. The program used in creating this work was designed to enhance students’ professionalism and enhance their exposure to real world examples of accounting methods. Each case provided different outlooks on accounting standards and provided the opportunity to examine specific issues regarding financial statements. Public accountants face a wide variety of problems when working with clients; learning from real world situations, students are able to create a better understanding of what challenges may await them in their future careers. By the …

Financial Accounting Topics: Cases And Analysis, Charles Boatright

Honors Theses

This thesis consists of twelve individual case studies that analyze issues and topics related to the current financial accounting landscape. These cases take a practical and professional look at financial accounting the real current world, using technical understanding that has been gained throughout the coursework of the Bachelors of Accountancy major as well as professional skepticism and judgement to assess the situations. All of these cases were facilitated by the Patterson School of Accountancy over a year long period. These cases pertain to recent accounting changes such as pensions, the financial implications of recent scandals such as the BP oil …

A Comprehensive Analysis Of Accounting Topics Through Case Studies, Grant M. Rudow

Honors Theses

The following thesis is a combination of twelve accounting case studies that were presented as curriculum in the Accounting 420 class. Each case contains a different topic and demonstrates a deep analysis in accounting theory and the current industry, in accordance with the Generally Accepted Accounting Principles set by the Financial Accounting Standards Board. This thesis demonstrates an in-depth knowledge of core accounting principles and standards, and their relation to academia and industry practice. The case studies were completed under the direction of Dr. Victoria Dickinson in fulfillment of the requirements for The University of Mississippi, Sally McDonnell Barksdale Honors …

Board Gender Diversity, Esg, And Corporate Performance, Novena Sutiono

Honors Theses

No abstract available.

The Fundamentals Of Financial Accounting: A Compilation Of Case Studies, Grace Anne Harlan

Honors Theses

Financial accounting encompasses many topics such as different accounting methods, ethical practices, financial reporting, and more. Dr. Victoria Dickinson assigned students twelve case studies, each covering a different category of financial reporting, including case studies about accounting methods, accounting standards, and financial statements. The cases are designed to help students understand real examples, think critically to solve problems, and develop strong research and collaboration skills. At the conclusion of this course, students had an improved technical knowledge of accounting and a better understanding of the importance of proper financial accounting methods. The knowledge learned will continue to benefit students in …

A Compilation Of Accounting Case Studies, Richard Brohaugh

Honors Theses

This thesis compiles twelve case studies provided by Dr. Victoria Dickinson. Each of these cases, which were performed over the course of the 2018-2019 academic year, presented accounting problems that used both fictional and real-world situations to provide an experiential approach to learning. These cases presented numerous types of business problems and challenged me to better understand the various dimensions of accountancy, ranging from data analytics to banking and finance. The procedures used to gather solutions and data for each of the cases were unique, but for each case, I was able to learn how to research potential issues and …

A Comprehensive Analysis Of The Accounting Environment And Procedures Through A Series Of Case Studies, Ryan Mccarty

Honors Theses

The following thesis is a culmination of twelve case studies completed throughout the academic year of 2018-2019 under the direction of Dr. Victoria Dickinson, as a requirement of the Sally McDonnell Barksdale Honors College and completion of the ACCY 420 course. Each case study is independent of the next, and is an in-depth response to questions and theories that are found outside of this document. Each analysis is accomplished by myself alone and through the studies of Financial, Managerial, and Cost accounting courses in my career at the University of Mississippi. The thesis is intended to analyze accounting procedures and …

A Compilation Of Case Studies On Modern Issues And Applications Of Accounting, Tyler Butler

Honors Theses

Over the academic year spanning from 2018 to 2019, I attained knowledge of the accounting profession and applications of accounting techniques that have arisen from modern needs in the professional world. Having since spent the summer working as an accountant for a private construction company, I have been able to apply the knowledge in a real-world setting. For the thesis requirement, I thoroughly completed case studies on a variety of topics related to accounting. Each of the sections have been completed in case format with attention to readability and thoughtful presentation of information. Every case began with a problem to …

A Compilation Of Case Studies Focusing On Financial Reporting Issues, Haydn Brown

Honors Theses

The following thesis is a compilation of case studies that focuses on various financial reporting and accounting topics. Each case addresses different topics using real world examples of specific companies. The thesis demonstrates the understanding of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles and was completed under the supervision of Victoria Dickinson to satisfy the requirements for the University of Mississippi, Sally McDonnell Barksdale Honors College, and Patterson School of Accountancy, and ACCY 420 course in the 2018-2019 academic year.

A Study Of Financial Reporting Principles Through Analysis Of Case Studies, Daniel Cooper Hoskins

Honors Theses

The following thesis provides twelve solutions to case studies on various financial accounting standards. These standards are in agreement with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) as set forth by the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB). In conjunction with the topics learned in Intermediate Financial Accounting I and II, each case focuses on a separate area of financial reporting. Each area is then applied and analyzed within a specific company. The thesis displays understanding of major accounting principles, financial statement preparation and analysis, and current topics in accounting. The case studies were completed with the direction of Dr. Victoria Dickinson under …

Case Studies Of Accounting Concepts And Principles, Jones Albritton

Honors Theses

The following thesis contains solutions to case studies performed on various accounting standards in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles, GAAP. Each case study focuses on a different area of financial reporting with some focusing on the principles and others on the documentation. The case studies were done in conjunction with topics learned during the Intermediate Financial Accounting class. The thesis shows understanding of accounting and financial reporting principles as well as current accounting topics in accordance with GAAP. The case studies were performed under the guidance of Victoria Dickenson and the Patterson School of Accounting in the Accy 420 …

A Case By Case Study Of Accounting Fundamentals, Shane Ferrero

Honors Theses

Accountancy attempts to capture and record business activities with a treatment as reflective of economic realities as possible. The dynamic nature of the business world results in accounting standards being an evolving set of rules with various considerations necessary. The case studies examined for the purpose of this thesis looked into many of these considerations to exemplify how the field of accounting manages to recognize and manage complicated business transactions. For the purposes of gathering cases, case studies were sourced from academia from the University of Mississippi as well as other institutions. The dissection of the case studies provided a …

Topics In Accountancy, Kara Kennedy

Honors Theses

For my thesis, I conducted a thorough analysis of the accounting field and profession through the lens of historical case study examples. In a classroom environment, I researched and debated case topics together with fellow accountancy students under the guidance of our thesis advisor, Dr. Dickinson. Case topics included analysis of broader areas, such as the current conceptual accounting framework or the analysis of accounting careers, along with analysis of more specific areas, such as the sale of debt securities or the appropriate capitalization of costs. Most cases required the evaluation of relevant financial statements in order to gain valuable …

A Study Of Financial Accounting Principles Through Analysis Of Case Studies, John Parker Crane

Honors Theses

This thesis is a compilation of twelve case studies performed throughout the 2018-2019 academic year under the direction of Dr. Vicki Dickinson. Each case study focuses on an aspect of the accounting world ranging from the current shift to data analytics to various financial accounting principles.

A Study Of Key Accounting Principles For Financial Reporting Through Analysis Of Case Studies, Brent Austin Thomas

Honors Theses

The following thesis is a compilation of the solutions and analyses derived from twelve different case studies covering a variety of topics related to financial accounting standards in accordance with the Generally Accepted Accounting Principles as set forth by the Financial Accounting Standards Board. These case studies demonstrate how key accounting principles studied in academia are adapted into practice by businesses for financial reporting. Through the case studies, the real-world presentations of financial statements are analyzed in order to establish a knowledge of the current accounting climate and promote understanding of specific accounting topics. The case studies were completed under …

The Data Revolution: An Examination Of The Use Of Scouting And Analytics In Major League Baseball Front Offices, Eleanor Weller

Honors Theses

The area of study for this thesis is the use and optimization of the sub-departments within the larger baseball operations department in Major League Baseball front offices. The research is divided into the history of the two major units—scouting and analytics. This background is followed by an investigation of the balance between them. Information for this analysis was obtained through secondary research, primarily articles for online journals and previously conducted interviews with front office personnel. I have also included some of my own work, which was completed during the summer of 2019. The findings of the analysis are that the …

Applying Lean Manufacturing Principles At Vip Cinema: Standardizing Hardware Assembly Workstations, Cameron Koch

Honors Theses

This paper will explore the benefits of standardization and consistency in a manufacturing setting by demonstrating the value of improved tooling and organization. “Lean Manufacturing” is the broad term used to describe key principles that can be applied to most businesses to reduce waste and increase efficiency. This ideology’s theme is to maximize customer value while minimizing waste. The purpose of its adoption is to transform managers and operators into experts of identifying the deficiencies in many manufacturing and assembly processes and implementing changes that can lead to enormous improvements in takt time, production output, and ultimately, profitability. At VIP …

Case Studies On Special Topics In Accounting, Anna Stephens

Honors Theses

This thesis is a collection of twelve different case studies that investigate various accounting concepts and financial issues. During the fall of 2019 and the spring of 2020, I compiled my thesis under the direction and guidance of Dr. Dickinson. The cases cover a variety of topics that include personal opinions on world-wide financial topics, interviews of current professionals in the field, and analyses of different scenarios. Each case study is independent of one another, but together they demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of the accounting curriculum. These cases further developed my technical skills and enhanced my understanding of accounting concepts …

A Series Of Case Studies In Financial Reporting, Nicholas Fenske

Honors Theses

The Sally McDonnell Barksdale Honors College and the Patterson School of Accountancy allow honors accounting students an “alternate route” for fulfillment of their thesis requirement. A structured class is held, with a series of twelve case studies assigned over the course of two semesters. The content of the case studies varies, but each involves a final product consisting of a thorough analysis and response relevant to the topic at hand. On other weeks, we hear from invited accounting professionals; and in lieu of a traditional defense, we participate in two separate case competitions which require intense team preparations and presentations. …