Business Commons^™

Gender And Dissent Effects On Teams' Decision-Making Quality, Luisa Martinez

Honors Projects in Management

Research shows that having a devil’s advocate improves a team’s decision-making quality. This finding has been proven to hold even under a hidden profile condition, where information is shared unequally among the members. Teams with asymmetric information are more likely to combine unshared information leading to superior decision-making when a team member plays the devil’s advocate. This experimental study aims to examine whether the gender of the devil’s advocate in a three-person team affects the team’s ability to succeed in a hidden profile condition challenge. This study utilizes experimental research to observe the effect of the gender of the devil’s …

Conceptualizing The Electronic Word-Of-Mouth Process: What We Know And Need To Know About Ewom Creation, Exposure, And Evaluation, Ana Babić Rosario, Kristine De Valck, Francesca Sotgiu

Marketing: Faculty Scholarship

Electronic word of mouth (eWOM) is a prevalent consumer practice that has undeniable effects on the company bottom line, yet it remains an over-labeled and under-theorized concept. Thus, marketers could benefit from a practical, science-based roadmap to maximize its business value. Building on the consumer motivation–opportunity–ability framework, this study conceptualizes three distinct stages in the eWOM process: eWOM creation, eWOM exposure, and eWOM evaluation. For each stage, we adopt a dual lens—from the perspective of the consumer (who sends and receives eWOM) and that of the marketer (who amplifies and manages eWOM for business results)—to synthesize key research insights and …

Sales Position Mobility: Exploring Women's Mobility In Sales Positions, Nyatasha Jackowicz

Honors Projects in Marketing

This thesis consists of literature research and a survey study to answer the question "Is there a consistent movement over the course of a sales career from outside sales to inside sales among women" The survey will help find correlations between specific job qualities and how they link to inside and outside sales positions. The survey will find qualitative information on specific sales professional's career paths and provide an in-depth view on motivational and job factors that have also affected female salespeople's decisions to pursue inside sales roles over outside sales roles.

Unanticipated Stressful And Rewarding Experiences Engage The Same Prefrontal Cortex And Ventral Tegmental Area Neuronal Populations, Alberto Del Arco, Junchol Park, Bita Moghaddam

Faculty and Student Publications

© 2020 Del Arco et al. Brain networks that mediate motivated behavior in the context of aversive and rewarding experiences involve the prefrontal cortex (PFC) and ventral tegmental area (VTA). Neurons in both regions are activated by stress and reward, and by learned cues that predict aversive or appetitive outcomes. Recent studies have proposed that separate neuronal populations and circuits in these regions encode learned aversive versus appetitive contexts. But how about the actual experience? Do the same or different PFC and VTA neurons encode unanticipated aversive and appetitive experiences? To address this, we recorded unit activity and local field …

The Relationship Between The Perceived Value Of Professional Development, Job Satisfaction, And Intent To Leave, Wendy Marie Wells

Dissertations

Organizations striving to remain competitive compete in the war for talent in order to recruit and retain employees. Studies assessing intent to leave and turnover suggest numerous strategies to mitigate the revolving door of employees quitting jobs (Allen, 2008; Allen, Bryant, & Vardaman 2010; Lee, Hom, Eberly, & Li, 2018). This study assesses the relationship between the perceived value of professional development, job satisfaction, and intent to leave. Results of the study reveal as one finds professional development, valuable job satisfaction increases. In assessing the relationship between professional development and intent to leave, the results of the study suggest that …

Work-Life Balance: Perceived Differences Of Teleworkers And Non-Teleworkers, Christian Paul Lagarde

Dissertations

As the growth in the number of dual-career couples continues, couples attempt to balance the demands of career and family (Berlato & Corrêa, 2017). A healthy work environment potentially supports a positive work-life balance for employees. Supportive work environments increase morale, job satisfaction, job retention, productivity, as well as a fulfilling family life (Molla, 2015). Failure to assist employees with finding work-life balance risk the loss of a positive work environment for a company’s employees and the entire organization. Therefore, this human capital study seeks to build on the current research surrounding assisting organizations to find work-life balance for their …

An Examination Of Non-Traditional Bridal Wear And Its Primary Consumer, Erica Thalmann, Kristina Dimaria

Senior Honors Projects

Bridal wear has traditionally been viewed as big white dresses. But as times change, so do brides’ preferences for bridal wear. Jumpsuits, rompers, short dresses, and other “non-traditional” choices are experiencing an increased demand in the market. Unfortunately, brides who seek these options are often not met with a promising assortment. This study examined primary consumers of non-traditional bridal wear. Specifically, we sought to find out whether women who belong to the LGBTQ community choose to consume more non-traditional bridal wear compared to heterosexual brides. The study also examined through which channels (e.g., online, in store, etc.) consumers predominantly purchase …

The Modern Church Crisis: What Church Leaders Can Learn From Three Counter-Reformation Saints, A Managerial Analysis, Peter Vise

Honors Projects in Management

The Catholic Church is currently in a crisis, yet this is not the first time and likely will not be the last. In the past, men and women of virtue, now saints, have arisen to successfully lead the Church through such crises. Hence, the principal question of this thesis is whether a leadership analysis of these saints, from the perspective of contemporary management theory, can help us understand their effectiveness and provide insights that would be useful for modern Church leaders. To satisfactorily answer this question, it would help to find a period in history like ours, namely the Reformation. …

The Mental Health Of Black Men: Stabilizing Trauma With Emotional Intelligence, Davis Brandford

School of Professional Studies

The purpose of this study is to explore the relationship between the impact of historical trauma and barriers on African-American males and the effects of emotional intelligence in reducing traumatic experiences. This research study is based on previous research and studies that explores the historical review of African- American oppression, trauma in black males, and mental health in the African American community. This study will utilize the historical trauma and emotional intelligence theories to explore barriers that African Americans have experienced over time and the role emotional intelligence can play to reduce trauma. It also explores the relevance of historical …

Amendment To The Effective Dates Of Sas Nos. 134–140; Statement On Auditing Standards, 141 (May 2020), American Institute Of Certified Public Accountants. Auditing Standards Board

Statements on Auditing Standards

No abstract provided.

Fixed Income Fund Report, May 2020, Bryant University, Archway Investment Fund

Archway Investment Fund

No abstract provided.

The Influence Of News Sentiment On Common Asset Pricing Models, Liam Mahler

Honors Projects in Finance

This paper aims to explore the influence of daily news article sentiment as a predictor of the returns on an investment. A daily sentiment score is developed and it is used to augment five commonly researched models, CAPM, Fama & French Three Factor, Carhart Four Factor, Fama & French Five Factor, and Fama & French Five Factor with Momentum. This study looks at six different securities over a five-year period. Along with this, two different variations of the factor are looked at, one of which is a simple factor that scores days without an article as zero and another that …

Notes From The Dean: Leadership In Changing Times

Business Exchange

Dean Misty Johanson announces her decision to step down as dean of the Driehaus College of Business and return to the college's School of Hospitality Leadership. She acknowledges the changes wrought by the COVID-19 pandemic, reviews the strategic plan the college produced, marks major accomplishments of the college and reviews some of the content in the current issue.

College News

Business Exchange

Thomas Donley Appointed Business College Interim Dean; Coming Soon: Revised MBA, New Graduate Degrees; In Memoriam: Robert O'Keefe

Managing The Going Concern Risk In An Uncertain Environment An Analysis Of Regulatory Guidance And Financial Relief For The Covid-19 Pandemic, Nicholas C. Lynch, Michael F. Lynch, Charles Cullinan

Accounting Department Faculty Journal Articles

manufacturing company Regal Beloit reports that it has drawn $255 million on its line of credit, even though it "has a strong balance sheet and does not currently intend to use the borrowed proceeds, but believes an abundance of caution regarding its cash position is prudent at this time." Management's Responsibility The responsibility to prepare financial statements on a going concern basis under U.S. GAAP and the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) falls on management. Managers must look forward for a "reasonable period of time," defined as 12 months from the financial statement issue date or 12 months from the …

Crisis Communication And Executive Leadership: Ethical Shortcomings In Government, Daniel Davidoff

School of Professional Studies

This research thesis project is an analysis of how and why governments fail in their attempts at crisis communication. The hypotheses tested are: there exists a negative correlation between unethical leadership and successful crisis communication practices. And governments are more likely to experience these failures due to ethical disconnects in modern politics. Research includes a review of relevant academic literature regarding crisis communication theory, as well as the ethical framework that can be applied to that theory. Cases considered are Hurricane Katrina, the choking death of Eric Garner, and the COVID-19 global pandemic. The research project concludes with a recommendation …

Becoming A Trauma Informed Care Organization, Katie Robery

School of Professional Studies

The Brockton Area Mutli Services Inc or BAMSI is a private, non-profit human services organization providing services to adults and children with developmental disabilities, mental illness, behavioral health, and public health needs. Founded in 1975, BAMSI is in the business of “bringing people and services together.” BAMSI transforms lives by building the capacity of individuals, families, organizations, and communities to learn, thrive, and achieve their goals. BAMSI services promote the recovery, resiliency, and self-determination of the people we serve. As a human services leader, we strive to be the provider of choice. (Duffy, 2019) With an emphasis on respect and …

Diversity And Inclusion In The Workplace; Benefits, Challenges And Strategies For Success, Margaret Leone

School of Professional Studies

In this case study I have explored the topic of diversity and inclusion in the workplace and learned how it can transform a business. When D&I is a serious business strategy supported by senior management it can help recruit and retain top talent, increase profits, and unleash creativity among other benefits. It is important to have leadership that is inclusive so they can set the tone for their staff

This case study evaluates the D&I culture at The Children’s Study Home (CHS) and explores best practices for improvement. CHS is a non-profit human service agency in Western MA, that’s mission …

Young People, Social Media, And Impacts On Well-Being, Andreana Nop

School of Professional Studies

Millennials and Generation Z were born into an age where social media and digital technology have been integrated in nearly all aspects of their lives. While social media has proven to be a valuable communication tool in connecting with each other and sharing information, the long-term psychosocial effects are beginning to become more apparent as social media matures. This study analyzes what these effects are and how communication is impacted for these young people. It questions how young people can leverage social media and decrease harm. The study will be conducted through a literature review and analysis. Its goal is …

Managing Burnout And Secondary Traumatic Stress In Human Service Organizations, Naomi Ingram

School of Professional Studies

This Case Study explores how burnout and secondary traumatic stress impact staffing, service delivery, and organizational effectiveness in a human service agency. The Case Study is focused around Ascentria Care Alliance’s Children & Family Services in Massachusetts, which encompasses three foster care programs: the Unaccompanied Refugee Minor (URM), Division of Children’s Services (DCS), and Intensive Foster Care (IFC) programs. Both individual and organizational approaches are needed to most effectively address burnout and secondary traumatic stress. Individual workers need to build resilience factors such as self-compassion and mindfulness, set appropriate boundaries with clients, engage in ongoing training, support, consultation, and supervision, …

Rest Homes: Their Value On Massachusetts Healthcare Continuum, Ronald Pawelski

School of Professional Studies

In Massachusetts, rest homes provide cost effective care for elderly residents in a community setting. Rest homes, however, are not well-understood and the rest home industry itself suffers greatly, not only from a lack of understanding of the services they provide, but also from the strain on their financial resources due to both competition from other healthcare options and insufficient reimbursement rates for residents’ care.

The paper explores the financial challenges facing the industry and outlines the data that speaks to the value of the rest home care option for both the residents themselves and Massachusetts state healthcare budget. It …

A Case Study On The Best Practices Of The Facilitating Organization For Peer Recovery Support Services In The State Of New Hampshire, Maggie Ringey

School of Professional Studies

In working with the Facilitating Organization for Peer Recovery Support Services through Harbor Homes, I have found that the Recovery Community Organizations that receive support through the FO provide valuable services that help individuals that struggle with substance use disorder achieve and maintain long term sobriety and recovery. The RCOs throughout New Hampshire bridge gaps in services and treatments that are left untouched by traditional clinical methods and through regular check ins, participants at the RCOs have reported that the services provided resulted in positive outcomes in their lives. Throughout the course of this research, I found that the RCOs …

A Stochastic Approach To Portfolio Optimization Using Competing Risk Metrics, Juan Gonzalez

Honors Projects in Finance

This thesis presentation presents a stochastic approach to portfolio construction using various risk metrics as underlying models for portfolio optimization. The risk models utilized in this thesis include Mean-Variance, Minimum-Variance, Value-at-Risk (VaR), Conditional Value-at-Risk (CVaR). To evaluate the efficiency and overall performance of these models, historical data for 30 specific stocks was selected. The stock selection process focused on the selecting stocks that are highly volatile and correlated with one another. Empirical results reveal that portfolio optimization strategies outperform the benchmark. Additionally, results showed that the Minimum-Variance model constructed the best portfolio for the predetermined backtesting time period.

How Search Personalization Impacts Consumer Behavior, Jessica Taylor

Honors Projects in Marketing

Almost half the world’s population is online, roughly 3.2 billion people and one of the main uses of the internet is for search. Search engines like Google receive over 63,000 searches per second on any given day, with users looking to find information to questions, interact with communities, and purchase products online. Personalization enables search engines to provide the most relevant results and helps companies reach their target audiences more efficiently. This study focuses on personalization and its various forms, including targeted advertisements, the disadvantages of search, Cookies, and data privacy. The goal of this study is to understand (a) …

From Listening To Lyrics To Buying Brands: The Effectiveness Of Lyrical Product Placement, Mary Bridget Gomes

Honors Projects in Marketing

Brand placement is a nonconventional medium for companies to use to help consumers gain brand awareness and ultimately purchase a product. The purpose of this study was to investigate brand placement in different genres of songs to identify the participants’ degree of recall and recognition of these brands and determine if participants were enticed to purchase the brand, in order to draw conclusions of what genre and speed make a placement effective. Brand placement has been used in music videos, television shows and movies. Studies have seen a positive effect on purchase intent from these placements, yet there is a …

The Relationship Between Locus Of Control And Athletic Performance, Allyson Mccorison

Honors Projects in Management

The purpose of this study was to expand the conversation of locus of control through quantitative research. A hypothetical model was tested to determine if there is a significant relationship between an athlete's locus of control and their athletic performance. Intrinsic and extrinsic motivation were posited as mediators in the relationship. To test the hypothesized model, data was collected for Division 1 athletes (n=136). The data was analyzed using Preacher and Hayes (4) macro, with results indicating no significant relationship between locus of control and athletic perofrmance. Intrinsic motivation was found to be a predictor of athletic performance. Limitations, discussion, …

Elder Isolation In Immigrant Communities, Jessica Da Silva

School of Professional Studies

This paper examined loneliness, as a measurement of perceived social isolation, in older immigrant adults. Previous research shows that older adults are more likely to experience social isolation and loneliness. Both of which have a direct correlation with their overall health (Wilson & Molton, 2010, Cacioppo et al., 2002) and mortality rates (Holt-Lunstad et al, 2015). Another international study found that immigrants in particular are at a higher risk for experiencing loneliness (Government of Canada, 2018). In this study, 35 immigrants and non-immigrants participants answered a survey which included 20 questions from the UCLA Loneliness Scale Version 3 (Russel, 1996). …

Three Essays On Managing Information Security Using The Fraud Triangle, Randi Jiang

Doctoral Dissertations

Managing information security has increasingly become more important as information security breaches, computer fraud, and other devastating events are increasingly more frequent and disrupting business processes. Information is one of the most important enterprise assets. Therefore, information is valuable and should be properly protected. Accounting employees are tasked with specific responsibilities of information risk management. Therefore, ineffectively managing accountants may result in countless problems for the company, not the least of which are reputational problems, loss of stock value, material financial reporting errors, and financial losses. In Essay 1, I examine the elements of the fraud triangle and the impact …

The Bidirectional Relationship Between Art And Business, Hannah Brletich

Information Systems Undergraduate Honors Theses

There has long been an established relationship between art and business, finding its roots in the Industrial Revolution when the effects of arts on the economy were first explored. Since then, creative economies have been influenced by adaptation of businesses through urban development and revitalization and by continuous growth in artistic and cultural spaces. Capturing the relationship between arts and urban design, cultural districts establish strong economic communities within vastly creative, business- and culture-centered spaces. Current research provides insight to the economic, social, and cultural outcomes of creative economies.

As a contribution to that narrative, I will use this analysis …

Examining Farm Bill Expenditures Over The Last Decade, Bailey Riggs

Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness Undergraduate Honors Theses

The American Farm Bill is a bill that is passed by Congress every five to six years. This legislation is omnibus, meaning it covers a wide variety of topics such as nutrition, conservation, rural development, crop insurance, and much more. This thesis will study the effectiveness of the allocation of funding covered in the Farm Bill, specifically Farm Bills from the last 12 years. This bill has a significant impact on farmers who need support from the government to remain profitable and continue their operation. This thesis will examine how shifts in funding can affect farmers growing crops, raising beef …