Business Commons^™

Dreams And Livelihoods In Rural Areas Require Capital, Too: An Investigation Into The Role Of Diminishing Community Banks, Financial Education, And Access To Capital In Rural Areas, Jackson Walton

Finance Undergraduate Honors Theses

Individuals in rural communities face unprecedented economic challenges due to a lack of financial education and a decline in the prevalence of community banks. These problems have continuously grown exponentially without successful attempt at remedy. The community banks that once served as the center of economic activity and prevalence in rural communities are leaving these communities quickly- leaving many without access to lines of credit, personal relationship banking, and without necessary financial education in a world with more financial options than ever. Access to banking and higher financial literacy proficiency rates are almost directly linked to better financial outcomes like …

A Triadic View Of Name, Image, And Likeness From The Point Of Athletes, Universities, And Consumers Of College Athletics, William Monroe

Finance Undergraduate Honors Theses

Name, Image, and Likeness is a new era of college athletics that allows student-athletes to monetize their name, image, and likeness through personal appearances, social media platforms, commercials, selling merchandise, signing autographs, serving as ambassadors, and leading camps or clinics, among others. In simpler terms, NIL allows student-athletes to be paid to play. Before it was introduced, the NCAA took a strong stance against this but soon flipped its stance once states started passing laws relating to the subject. In the past, athletic departments, coaches, and student-athletes were punished by the NCAA because of bribes as well as athletic departments …

My Roman Holiday: Marketing Abroad In The City Of Rome, Emily Whitworth

Finance Undergraduate Honors Theses

This thesis delves into the immersive experience of the Marketing in Rome Summer Program, offered by the Sam M. Walton College of Business at the University of Arkansas. Led by professors Molly Jensen and Heather Sprandel, the program provides students with a unique opportunity to study global marketing and consumer behavior while crafting marketing plans for small businesses in Rome, Italy. Through a combination of coursework, field research, and practical projects, students explore the intricacies of marketing in a cross-cultural context.

An Analysis Of A Changing Supreme Court Viewed Through Students For Fair Admissions V. President And Fellows Of Harvard College, Reed Fagg

Finance Undergraduate Honors Theses

An analysis of the Students for Fair Admissions v. President and Fellows of Harvard College and Students for Admissions v. the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill to better understand the changes in the Supreme Court. Breaking down of the argument and a study of societal impacts.

Financial Consulting Internship In Valencia: Alternative Investments And Ai, Mason Sidney Rike

Finance Undergraduate Honors Theses

During the summer before my senior year, I had the opportunity to work as a research analyst in the finance department of TuaTeam, a financial and strategic consulting firm in Valencia, Spain. TuaTeam is a relatively new firm that serves its clients in a wide range of areas, from strategic restructuring and business model development to finding funding for future projects and identifying/evaluating potential investment opportunities. TuaTeam also works closely with communities around Spain to foster innovation and development among youth and professionals seeking to gain experience in new trends in technology and cultural enrichment. The company currently holds classes …

Innovation Unveiled: The Power Of Innovative Experiences On Undergraduate Development, Alexander Cummings

Finance Undergraduate Honors Theses

A paper analyzing my experiences participating in the McMillon Innovation Studio and other OEI programs and their impact on my development during my undergraduate education.
It explores how these experiences can positively affect students of all backgrounds and how universities can work to improve these programs to further amplify their effects.

Forya.Ai Business Plan, Landen Usher

Finance Undergraduate Honors Theses

This thesis presents a comprehensive business plan for Forya.AI, an innovative artificial intelligence-powered platform designed to streamline social media content creation for churches. The platform distinguishes itself by automating the generation of engaging content, leveraging church-provided images to produce visually appealing posts accompanied by contextually relevant captions. By integrating advanced AI algorithms, Forya.AI analyzes uploaded images, identifies thematic elements, and crafts captions that resonate with the spiritual and community values of the church. This process not only enhances the digital presence of religious organizations but also significantly reduces the time and financial resources traditionally required for content development. The business …

From Instagram To Top Ranks: Unveiling The Influence Of Social Media Engagement On Business School Prestige, Hofran Kinkela Ngoma

2024 Spring Honors Capstone Projects - Archive

Social media usage by universities has become widespread, serving as a dynamic platform for engaging with a diverse audience that includes prospective students, alumni, and the broader community. This research paper delves into the multifaceted role of social media in universities, serving as a tool for communication, audience engagement, brand promotion, and academic support. The study aims to explore the correlation between universities' social media usage and their ranking performances. Utilizing Instagram and the U.S. News website as data collection platforms, the investigation gathers insights into social media usage and change in business school ranking over a ten-year span. By …

The Stories That Matter From The People Who Care: Interviewing The Mentors Of The Women’S Business Leadership Center, Megan Nicole Gray

Honors Theses

Women across the nation face barriers that include a pay gap, under representation, caregiving expectations, threats of sexual violence, and more. Barriers related to the workplace are significant due to their impact on a woman’s autonomy, particularly in Arkansas. The Women’s Business Leadership Center on the Arkansas State University campus provided an excellent opportunity to investigate the life experiences of women in Arkansas who recognize barriers to women and confront them. Eleven mentors of the WBLC at ASU were interviewed to document such life experiences. Regarding mentorship, participants shared that they built support systems, received their own benefits, commonly had …

The Mathematics Of Financial Portfolio Optimization Incorporating Environmental, Social, And Governance Score Information, Ian Driskill

Master's Theses

We numerically investigate the effects that Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) scores have on portfolio optimization with Modern Portfolio Theory assumptions and how ESG scores correlate with the market returns of a rated company's stock. Additionally, we review and analyze a research paper published in the Journal of Financial Economics regarding ESG investing titled “Responsible investing: The ESG-efficient frontier” by Pedersen, Fitzgibbons, and Lukasz. Our overall goal is provide insight for socially responsible inclined investors, to help them understand what ESG scores tell us and how those scores may effect their overall investment returns."

2023 Community Bank Case Study Competition, Alivia Brewer

Finance Undergraduate Honors Theses

Study of Chambers Bank, located in Danville, Arkansas for the 2023 Community Bank Case Study Competition. This paper covers financial analysis, training and technology, as well as staffing.

Moving Forward: Automating A Walmart Executive View From Existing Manual Financial Systems, Alexandra Rosen

Finance Undergraduate Honors Theses

Walmart, the largest retail giant globally, is a company that needs no introduction. Headquartered in Bentonville, Arkansas, it has become synonymous with retail innovation and efficiency. Last summer, I had the unique opportunity to immerse myself in Walmart’s culture and the world of finance and accounting through Walmart's Accounting and Finance Development Program (AFDP) internship. This analysis examines my summer in the program and applies my experience to the importance of in-person office work.

Exploring Growth: A Multifaceted Approach To Development In The Stann Creek District Of Belize, Brady A. Voss

Finance Undergraduate Honors Theses

This honors thesis delves into the multifaceted approach to development within the Stann Creek District of Belize, as undertaken by the Ministry of Agriculture (MOA) in collaboration with the international non-profit Peacework. Authored by Brady A. Voss under the guidance of Dr. Amy Farmer, this research is a culmination of efforts aimed at enhancing economic growth and sustainability in the region.

The thesis begins by outlining the author's involvement in three primary projects during a summer internship in 2023: assessing market awareness of dragon fruit, estimating the cost of production for habanero peppers, and formulating a business plan for the …

Financial Literacy For Life: Mandating Financial Literacy In The Classroom, Avery Alford

Finance Undergraduate Honors Theses

This paper presents literature review and qualitative analysis of the need to mandate financial literacy courses at the high school level. It breaks down the importance of financial education and highlights the benefits in terms of confidence and mental health and its current state in the US with states that require the curriculum. Then it discusses the consequences on mental and physical health by studying the impact of cortisol, the “stress hormone”, within the scope of necessary policy change and in the context of country comparisons around the world. Next it provides counter arguments and objections that debate which classes …

2024 Brings Many New Opportunities For Your Clients’ Tax Savings, Michelle Freeman, Shelby Follis

ETSU Faculty Works

Excerpt:

With the April 15 tax filing season deadline behind us, there are several conversations that practitioners still need to have with their clients about new tax savings opportunities for 2024. Helping your clients take advantage of some of these new opportunities, as well as reminding them of tax savings options that are often forgotten, are value-added services you can provide that will keep them returning for your advice [...]

Intergenerational Brand Loyalty With Families And Their Banking Partners, Harrison James Monteith

Undergraduate Honors Thesis Collection

This research paper investigates the potential emergence and development of intergenerational brand loyalty within families and their banking partners, exploring a novel area where such loyalty is not yet established. The study aims to uncover the factors that could contribute to the formation of brand loyalty across generations within familial units and its relationship with the banking institutions with which they engage. This research paper concludes that intergenerational brand loyalty does exist in the banking industry for college students. However, the specific factors that explain intergenerational brand loyalty in bank partner selection remains unknown.

Analyzing The Influence Of Gender Biases On College Students' Attitudes Towards Flexible Work Arrangements, Leah Elizabeth Rubino

Undergraduate Honors Thesis Collection

Flexible work arrangements are becoming more prominent after the Covid-19 pandemic. These flexible work arrangements, including flextime and flexplace structures, better allow for working individuals to find a work-life balance and have been shown to improve morale and productivity. However, previous studies have found that gender biases impact the utilization of flexible work arrangements as well as the attitudes and perceptions towards those who employ them. We propose that these gender bias impacts on the utilization and perception of flexible work arrangements will differ between college students with no work experience from the data collected using individuals in the workforce, …

Mechelle’S Bridal Palace Business Plan, Lakendra Montgomery

Theses

This project aims to develop a comprehensive business plan for a one-of-a-kind bridal store called Mechelle's Bridal Palace, which offers an innovative and unique bridal shopping experience. The plan goes beyond the traditional bridal store concept and includes a café, which will provide customers with additional relaxation and convenience. This business plan focuses on redefining the traditional bridal shopping experience and making it more enjoyable for customers. Moreover, this project aims to address the issue of diversity, representation, and inclusion in bridal fashion. The bridal industry has historically been exclusive, and it aims to address this by creating a more …

Religiosity And Executive Compensation Tournaments, Toufiq Nazrul

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

This paper examines the effect that local religiosity has on executive compensation tournaments. The main finding suggests that a higher degree of local religiosity significantly reduces the magnitude of executive compensation tournaments. Subsample analyses involving the majority religious group of Christianity show that a higher local presence of Protestants relative to Catholics and other non-religious population heightens the negative effect of community-level religiosity on the magnitude of executive compensation tournaments. Additional subsample analyses involving the minority religious denominations also show that the effect of overall community religiosity is not solely driven by the different sects within the Christian denomination. Minority …

Business Plan For Seamless Custom Clothing Designs, Bella Steketee

Marketing Undergraduate Honors Theses

The following Honors Thesis demonstrates a business plan for Seamless Custom Clothing Designs, an Artificial Intelligence platform that offers customers the ability to design their own clothing items to their preferred level of customization. All components of a start-up business operation are included.

Barbie (2023): An Analysis Of Mattel's Positioning Of The Barbie Brand Throughout The Decades And How Barbie (2023) Served As A Crucial Point In The Changing Of Perceptions Of The Iconic Doll., Alejandra Gomez

Marketing Undergraduate Honors Theses

This paper is a deep analysis of the positioning of Barbie by Mattel Incorporated. It analyzes what exactly is Mattel’s positioning of the Barbie brand before diving into a study into whether Barbie (2023) impacted this positioning at all by changing stereotypical perceptions of Barbie. The study consisted of 200 participants answering a survey that gathered their perceptions of Barbie. The 200 were then divided into groups who watched Barbie(2023) and groups who did not to further measure whether perceptions of Barbie (2023) were changed by the film which displayed Barbies as being diverse and had feminist themes.

Hay: A Hedonic Study, Chester R. Broadbent

All Graduate Reports and Creative Projects, Fall 2023 to Present

Hedonic price theory posits that the price of a product is influenced by the values consumers assign to its individual attributes. Hay is a versatile commodity with variation across several attributes helping to cater to diverse needs of consumers. A detailed analysis using hedonic regression techniques within hay pricing can help producers, stakeholders, and educators more fully understand the marginal values consumers place on diverse hay attributes. Previous studies focused on limited scopes within the hay industry or other sectors, allowing room for broader investigation. This study examines qualitative attributes impacting hay pricing, revealing significant influences from factors like location, …

Bidding Strategy For A Wind Power Producer In Us Energy And Reserve Markets, Anne Stratman

Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Wind power is one of the world's fastest-growing renewable energy resources and has expanded quickly within the US electric grid. Currently, wind power producers (WPPs) may sell energy products in US markets but are not allowed to sell reserve products, due to the uncertain and intermittent nature of wind power. However, as wind’s share of the power supply grows, it may eventually be necessary for WPPs to contribute to system-wide reserves. This paper proposes a stochastic optimization model to determine the optimal offer strategy for a WPP that participates in the day-ahead and real-time energy and spinning reserve markets. The …

Get Smart About Your Money, Sharonda Singleton Brown, Imani Beverly, Jacquelyn J. Daniel

Georgia Library Quarterly

“Get Smart About Your Money” was an event held at the Atlanta University Center (AUC) Robert W. Woodruff Library for Money Smart Week 2023. The goal of the event was to introduce the new business librarian, promote financial literacy in the Atlanta University Center community, and participate in National Money Smart Week.

World Class Supply Chain 2024: Thriving In Volatile Times, Michael Haughton

Business Faculty Publications

The Eighth Annual World Class Supply Chain Summit was convened on May 1st, 2024 under the theme of Thriving in volatile times. The theme, which embodies the expressed interests of attendees in last year’s post-summit survey, underscored the supply chain community’s focus on how to succeed in a supply chain world that is volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous (VUCA). The summit’s deliberations on the theme featured two keynote addresses (one each by an industry executive and a research scholar), an industry panel, a student panel, and an intergenerational fireside chat by a panel comprising individuals with experiences ranging from a …

A Dive Into Ri's Waste Disposal Practices, Kyle Zalabowski

Senior Honors Projects

Preserving natural resources and caring for the environment are significant in many communities today. As environmental conditions become more concerning, effective waste management practices become more critical. This project delves deep into Rhode Island's waste system, focusing on the state's only waste public management facility, the Central Landfill in Johnston. The research goal is to learn about existing practices, understand why other available options for remediation and recycling are not utilized, and determine the local impediments to greater sustainability. Reviewing the Rhode Island General Laws and the Department of Environmental Management's regulations provided an understanding of the legal framework for …

Marketing Of Bread, Leeloo Blunt

Senior Honors Projects

A content analysis of gluten-free bread packaging

The gluten-free food market has seen huge growth in the recent decade with the market valued at 12.3 billion US dollars in 2023. This market growth is due to the increased awareness of gluten related illnesses such as celiac disease and gluten intolerance, as well as the increasingly widespread belief that a gluten-free diet leads to weight loss and a healthier lifestyle. Out of the gluten-free market, bread products have been a major contributor to the growth of the market due to the demand for low-carb, gluten-free bread. The purpose of this project …

Less Litigation, More Business Purpose: Leveraging Dispute Prevention To Preserve Business Relationships, Joan Stearns Johnsen

UF Law Faculty Publications

Strong interorganizational relationships play an essential role in business relationships. Soft skills associated with negotiation and communication are key to dealing with disagreements in these relationships. However, many companies do not invest in these aspects of their business relationships until conflicts arise. Dispute resolution provides helpful processes for managing these disputes, but companies can avoid conflict before it arises by investing in dispute prevention.

Dispute prevention represents a change in the existing paradigm, yet it poses numerous benefits. By implementing a dispute prevention mechanism, such as a Standing Neutral, companies can invest in strong interorganizational relationships and improve their ability …

A Qualitative And Quantitative Review Of The Terms "Job" And "Organization" From The Employee's Perspective, Nirvana Mejia

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

This study explores how employees perceive workplace constructs like job satisfaction and differentiate them between their job and organization. It highlights the importance of avoiding mistaken associations, known as the "jingle fallacy," which can oversimplify workplace dynamics. The research includes two studies, one qualitative with 12 participants discussing their job and organization, and one quantitative with 197 to 252 participants assessing job satisfaction dimensions. Findings indicate that people generally mention tasks when discussing their job and broader organizational aspects when discussing their organization. The majority of job satisfaction dimensions fall into a mixed category, with Regular Tasks being the only …

Are “10 Grams Of Protein” Better Than “Ten Grams Of Protein”? How Digits Versus Number Words Influence Consumer Judgments, Marisabel Romero, Adam W. Craig, Milica Mormann, Anand Kumar

Marketing & Supply Chain Faculty Publications

Numerical information can be communicated using different number formats, such as digits (“5”) or number words (“five”). For example, a battery product may claim to last for “5 hours” or “five hours.” And while these two formats are used interchangeably in the marketplace, it is not clear how they influence consumer judgments and behavior. Via six experimental studies, two online ad campaigns, and one large secondary dataset analysis, we find that digits, compared to number words, positively affect consumer behavior. We refer to this phenomenon as the number format effect. We further show that the number format effect occurs because …