Business Commons^™

An Analysis Of Bank Willingness To Decrease Deposit Fees, Madison E. Settlage

Finance Undergraduate Honors Theses

Bank deposit fees have been at the forefront of bank criticism for years, as many view them as being too severe and having a disproportionate effect on low-income customers. In recent years, there has been a strong push for declines in these rates. In this paper, I analyze banks willingness to decrease deposit fees using data from bank call reports over the 2017 to 2023 time period. Through statistical analysis, I find that various factors such as 2017 deposit fee level, ROA, total assets, average personal deposits, population, median income, and poverty rates are significant in determining bank fee levels …

Accounting And Finance Internship Thesis, Peyton Fair

Finance Undergraduate Honors Theses

During the summer of 2023, I had the opportunity to intern for ten weeks at Walmart Inc. in the Accounting and Finance Development Program (AFDP). The AFDP internship provides participants with hands-on training and experience in various areas of accounting and finance within Walmart. Participants work in various business areas across Walmart US, Walmart International, Sam's Club, and Walmart Inc.

In the summer of 2023, there were 38 AFDP interns representing 18 different universities. The AFDP internship provides opportunities for interns to attend networking events, interact with executives, and receive feedback on their performance through evaluations. This program aims to …

Internship Experience At Dannah Investment Group, Llc, Isabelle Linkous

Finance Undergraduate Honors Theses

My internship and employment experience at a small investment management firm in Dallas, Texas, has been one of the most valuable components of my college career. Dannah has three rules at the heart of everything we do:

1. Make Money

2. Have Fun

3. Influence Others

The Value Of Cryptocurrency In An Efficient Portfolio, Bryn Taylor

Finance Undergraduate Honors Theses

With the recent approval of Bitcoin-backed exchange traded-funds, it is now easier than ever for mainstream investors to gain exposure to cryptocurrencies. This paper aims to employ the Markowitz efficient frontier model to determine the potential for cryptocurrency investment to increase the risk-adjusted performance of a diversified portfolio of stocks and bonds. The analysis finds that investors can expect a meaningful increase of 4.41% to the risk-adjusted performance of their portfolio when allocating 4.83% of their total investment to cryptocurrency. However, this potential increase is highly sensitive to cryptocurrency returns, volatility, and correlations to stock. As such, whether adding cryptocurrency …

Mixing Customer Ingratiation Into Evaluation: How Service Providers Judge And Evaluate Rideshare Experiences, Yazhen Xiao, Jonathan Hasford

Business Faculty Publications and Presentations

Whereas consumer satisfaction is critical for the success of services, we research how providers evaluate customers in the sharing economy represented by the rideshare marketplace. We examine anticipated customer evaluation (ACE) as the underlying link and the provider's sense of power as a moderator for the relationship between customer ingratiation and provider evaluations. We first conducted a field pilot study and analyzed the content of rideshare trips described by drivers. Then, we tested the conceptual framework in four experiments that manipulated different rideshare customer behaviors (self-presentation, other-enhancement, and customer conformity). Our study contributes to the consumer research literature by examining …

The Competitive Advantage Of Prioritizing Human-Centered Design Thinking In Business, Joshua Rajan

Honors Theses

This thesis examines the impact of design thinking on promoting innovation within businesses. Design thinking is a human-centered problem-solving approach that solves problems using empathy, creativity, and iterative prototyping. The thesis commences by clearly defining design thinking and presenting its fundamental concepts, emphasizing how it differs from traditional business thinking. The thesis vividly illustrates the real-world impact of design thinking through compelling case studies from the consumer electronics, healthcare, automotive, and entertainment industries. It showcases how design thinking fosters creativity and develops solutions that prioritize customers' needs. The case studies show how companies gained a competitive advantage by deeply understanding …

Automatic Appraisals Of Houses, Sloan Scroggin

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Multiple hedonic models and an automatic appraiser model were used to create a residential house’s estimated sales price. The goal is to use the limited data available to a REALTOR® to estimate the future sales price of a residential home without the aid of pictures of the property or viewing the physical property. The first model automates some of the actions of an appraiser by finding comparable sales based on proximity, based both on distance between houses and characteristics of the houses, and then calculating a weighted average price for an estimated sales price of future sales. If the model …

What Accounts For The Effect Of Sustainability Engagement On Stock Price Crash Risk During The Covid-19 Pandemic—Agency Theory Or Legitimacy Theory?, Junru Zhang, Chen Zheng, Yuan G. Shan

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

In this study, we conduct a textual analysis of the third-party disclosure of corporate sustainability news focused on the Standard and Poor's 500 firms in the United States market during the first and second quarter of 2020. We find a positive relationship between corporate sustainability news release and firm-specific stock price crash risk. This finding is surprising, but it indeed aligns with agency theory. It indicates that the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic exacerbated the tendency of managers under increasing financial pressure to use the sustainability information release as a mechanism to mask and withhold bad news for extended periods at …

Instagram And Influencer Marketing: An Empirical Study Of The Parasocial Interaction Theory And Its Effects On Purchase Intention, Caroline Marie Chumley

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Scholars have studied different factors that contribute to a parasocial interaction theory, and how this relates to purchase intention in the marketing industry. Previous research concentrates on parasocial interactions between television personalities and consumers, rather than influencers on social media. It is important to determine exactly what factors lead consumers to create a parasocial interaction with influencers in the media and determine how that parasocial interaction mediates purchase intention. Influencer marketing on Instagram is included in this study, as it contains brand-sponsored posts and allows users to interact with each other. This study utilizes the parasocial interaction model to determine …

Mental Health In College Journalists: Recognizing Causes Of Trauma And Recommendations For Training In College Programs, Sydney R. Mulvenon

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

News reporting serves as an important vehicle for sharing breaking news across diverse communities, yet it often entails significant stressors. Some news reporters may experience trauma while covering challenging stories or navigating negative experiences within the newsroom. Many professionals in journalism have expressed concerns about the lack of awareness of mental health in the field. Addressing this need, this research using a documentary format, explores the need for integrating trauma training and awareness initiative into college-level journalism programs. Drawing on stories from former journalists and other professionals connected to journalism, this documentary highlights the pressing need for trauma-focused coursework to …

Systemic Effect Of Organizational Capitals On Parent Commitment In Youth Soccer, Paul Kimbrough

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This study evaluates how soccer parents perceive the offerings of the soccer team on which their child plays. The study uses the systems perspective of Flora & Flora’s Community Capitals Framework to analyze family commitment to the team. The study subjects were parents of soccer players ages 12 and older who play for teams and participate in competitive travel soccer teams. Parents are classified based on their geographic location and team level. Questionnaires were administered at a series of travel soccer tournaments in March 2024. Data were analyzed using binary logistic regression analysis. Parents were found to value the total …

Spatiotemporal Negative Inventory Outlier Decomposition For Supply Chain Applications In Consumer-Packaged Goods (Cpg), Hayden Mcdonald

Data Science Undergraduate Honors Theses

Coca-Cola is a popular soft drink brand with sales occurring in every Walmart store across the world, which generates large quantities of data and requires a robust supply chain system. However, the company does not currently have a sophisticated, automated, and/or prescriptive system for detecting where, when, and why inventory outages occur and applying preventative measures to avoid loss of revenue from the absence of inventory on store shelves. This thesis proposes and applies a novel, prescriptive system for this purpose. An inventory outage can be seen as a ‘negative’ statistical outlier in a time series of inventory for an …

The Importance Of Data Preparation In A Data Science Problem, Sophia Beard

Data Science Undergraduate Honors Theses

This study is going to be based on an inventory outlier automation data science problem that is being solved to identify and prescribe inventory level outliers to help keep shelves stocked in terms of beverages. The objective of this paper will address why it is so important to understand the data that is involved in a particular data science problem and how planning ahead ensures a successful outcome in the data science world. In this data science project, Spatiotemporal Outlier Analysis for Inventory Intervention Automation, it was crucial for the team to understand, research, and visualize the data we were …

Artificial Intelligence In The Hotel Industry: The Benefits And Effects On Corporations, Carlie Malone

Human Nutrition and Hospitality Management Undergraduate Honors Theses

This research delves into the benefits and effects of artificial intelligence in the hotel industry. Through a qualitive design, the study shows how the hotel industry since Covid-19 has tried to grow in the technology. The findings were valuable insights from CEO’s, CFO’s, Executives, Directors, and Managers. Nine hotel and technology executives from around the country participated in interviews covering the basic topics of demographics, AI utilized in/on the hotel property, AI and employee experiences, and guest satisfaction with AI.

The challenges stated by the participants were that AI is still in its early stages and being developed. An additional …

The 4c Framework: Towards A Holistic Understanding Of Consumer Engagement With Augmented Reality, Philipp A. Rauschnabel, Reto Felix, Jonas Heller, Chris Hinsch

Marketing Faculty Publications

Highlights

• The 4C framework highlights four unique characteristics of AR: Consumer, Content, Context, and Computing Device.

• Engagement with AR derives from an alignment of the 4 Cs.

• The paper advances theory by using the lens of complexity theory to explain how to engage consumers in AR experiences.

• The framework offers significant implications for managers and scholars.

• It allows systematic approaches to assess, communicate, and develop AR applications across various disciplines.

Abstract

Augmented Reality (AR) is an emerging concept that impacts many disciplines, such as business, marketing, tourism, gaming, human–computer interaction, and manufacturing. Surprisingly, many scholarly and practical discussions overlook the …

Staggered Boards And Human Capital Disclosure, Xue Yang

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

This article examines the effects of staggered boards on human capital management (HCM) disclosure quality. I find that firms with staggered boards exhibit significantly better HCM disclosure scores than non-staggered boards. Additionally, firms that transition from staggered boards to non-staggered boards are shown to experience significant decreases in their HCM disclosure scores. These results are robust to the exclusion of firms that switch to or from staggered boards to non-staggered boards, propensity score matching, and alternative disclosure quality measures. While various cross-sections and the usefulness of HCM disclosure information for analyst forecasts are explored, the results were not significant.

The Need For Volunteer Engagement, Brittney Portillo

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

Although there are a large number of non-profit organizations and volunteer opportunities available, there is a lack of volunteer engagement within organizations making it difficult to complete mission goals. This project was implemented and completed by Community Builders for Monterey County executive director and intern. Community Builders for Monterey County is a 501c(3) non-profit organization that was created to connect volunteers to different non-profit organizations around Monterey County. This project was created with the purpose of assessing potential volunteer needs in a survey style form in order to better understand how to get volunteers more engaged. The project resulted in …

Persuasion As A Function Of Celebrity, Argument Complexity, And Need For Cognition, Stratton Stave, Blair T. Johnson Dr., Lisset Martinez-Berman, Matthew B. Jané

Honors Scholar Theses

With advertising commanding so much money as an industry, it is critical to determine what people like or do not with ads. Our focus was on three main factors within advertising, two dimensions within how the advertisement is presented, one based on the person reading the ad. The two dimensions based on presentation were the complexity of the ad, done the first time by omitting letters from the ad and the second time by swapping letters within words, and celebrity endorsement, comparing popstar Taylor Swift’s to Alicia Steele, an AI-generated celebrity. We also measured Need for Cognition (NFC), the level …

Bridging The Gap Between The Disability Community And Marketers, Amari Richardson

Honors Capstones

People with disabilities have a large amount of buying power, due to their significant collective disposable income. This has resulted in a large untapped market which marketers could target in the future. This study seeks to understand how to people with disabilities would prefer disability inclusive marketing to be executed. One of the research objectives within this study are to understand the importance of disability inclusive marketing when individuals are choosing to purchase from a company. The other objective is to understand what marketing tactics individuals with disabilities prefer. Research method utilized within this study is a Qualtrics survey, which …

The Effects Of Social Media In The Fashion Industry, Kirsten Leigh Whitaker

Theses

This project focuses on how social media is impacting the fashion industry. The primary focus is on the inner workings of social media within the fashion industry, and how it has changed the industry. The project aims to study problems found within fashion marketing, which are causing negative effects in the industry. The negative effects can be defined as environmental and unethical working environments, which are common topics of discussion within the fashion industry as a whole, but never discussed in tandem with the influence of marketing and social media. Furthermore, the project studies how these can be solved by …

Project Foresight Annual Report, 2022-2023, Paul J. Speaker

Faculty & Staff Scholarship

Project FORESIGHT is a business-guided self-evaluation of forensic science laboratories across the globe. The participating laboratories represent local, regional, state, and national agencies. Economics, accounting, finance, and forensic faculty provide assistance, guidance, and analysis. Laboratories participating in Project FORESIGHT have developed standardized definitions for metrics to evaluate work processes, linking financial information to work tasks, and functions. Laboratory managers can then assess resource allocations, efficiencies, and value of services—the mission of Project FORESIGHT is to measure, preserve what works, and change what does not.

The benchmark data for the 2022-2023 performance period includes laboratory submissions for a variety of fiscal …

Filling In The Gaps: A Service Ecosystem Perspective On Purchase Groups As Interstitial Markets, Aditya Gupta, Sheila Roy, Renuka Kamath

Faculty Publications – Marketing

Purpose

Given the continuing need to study service marketing adaptations that emerged in the wake of Covid-19, this paper looks at the formation and evolution of purchase groups (PGs) that arose in Indian gated communities during the pandemic and have continued functioning in the post-pandemic marketplace. Not only did these groups act as much-needed interstitial markets during a time of significant external disruption, but they also served as sites of value co-creation with consumers collaborating with each other and with service providers.

Methodology

Using a phenomenological research approach, we conduct 22 in-depth interviews with Indian consumers and small service providers …

Social Selling: My Experiences Through An Internship With Outside Life, Zariah Farris

Marketing Undergraduate Honors Theses

Last summer I had the opportunity to be a campus development associate intern with Outside Life, a company who crafts personalized ski trips for universities across the United States. This internship was virtual and taught me so many skills about how to communicate well while being fully digital and how to go through the the sales process virtually. With our sales being made without any in-person connections, I was introduced to social selling, a concept I discuss further in my thesis. I reviewed the timeline of what my internship and getting started with the company looked like. In my thesis …

Crossing Borders And Breaking Barriers: A Strategic Analysis Of Chick-Fil-A'S Expansion Into The French Market, Avery Besson

Marketing Undergraduate Honors Theses

This thesis explores the strategic considerations and potential challenges of Chick-fil-A, a prominent American fast-food chain, establishing itself in France. The study investigates the cultural, economic, and regulatory factors that may impact Chick-fil-A's entry strategy, aiming to provide a comprehensive understanding of the opportunities and obstacles the company may encounter in France. This research will examine Chick-fil-A’s previous attempts at expansion, analyze an American company that has successfully established themselves in France, and provide market entry strategies to Chick-fil-A to establish its presence in the French market successfully.

Fast Fashion: Ethical Dilemmas And Suggestions For Change, Rachel Walden

Marketing Undergraduate Honors Theses

The fast fashion industry has grown immensely over the last decade, quickly capturing a large segment of the fashion industry as a whole. This industry is defined by a highly responsive and extremely cost-focused supply chain, allowing the curation of trendy and low-cost garments. These garments, while appealing to consumers for the stylish and affordability, are of poor quality and have short lifetime. The fast fashion model gives rise to serious environmental and social consequences, often contributing to high levels of air and water pollution, increased landfill waste, and unethical labor practices. The aim of this paper is to describe …

Genocide Dressed In Jeans: Does Sharing A Narrative About The Uyghur Population Alter Opinions About Fast Fashion, Danya Radhi

Marketing Undergraduate Honors Theses

One of the most cherished traditions on our University of Arkansas campus is the etching of names onto Senior Walk each year. On any given day, thousands of students stroll across these beautiful sidewalks as they venture to and from class. Dressed in the latest fashions from iconic brands such as Zara, H&M, and Nike, these students are far removed from the tragedy that has befallen the Uyghur population living in the Xinjiang province, 6,914 miles away. Evidence has been mounting that the Uyghur population has been suffering through massive displacement, forced labor camps, and atrocities that we cannot even …

The Swift Effect: How Popstar Taylor Swift Has Brought Business And Viewership To The National Football League, Mckenna Baron

Marketing Undergraduate Honors Theses

Big reputation. Two words that perfectly define the twelve-time Grammy award-winning, and Time’s 2023 Person of the Year, Taylor Swift. Swift had a monumental year in 2023. Her Era's tour is going down in history as one of the biggest tours to date. Swift is one of the most decorated music artists of all time. Swift’s love life had been kept quiet for the past few years until her recent relationship with football star Travis Kelce made headlines on the news. Kelce and Swift have taken the National Football League (NFL) and Swifties by storm, transforming the business and viewership …

Quantifying Marketing Lifts To Create A Data-Driven Model: Walmart Merchandising Operations Internship, Susannah Patton

Marketing Undergraduate Honors Theses

I assumed the role of a Merchandising Operations Intern, working directly under the guidance of Planner Candace Gooding in D71. Given the prominence of the furniture and mattresses department in the online retail space, due to the limitations of in-store infrastructure for large products, our focus within D71 is centered on expanding the digital business. Over the past couple of years, Walmart has strategically shifted towards launching higher-end retail items, particularly in the realm of stylish furniture, bolstered by robust marketing initiatives. Although historical performance, seasonality, and price elasticity have traditionally guided forecasting for these items, the oversight of additional …

The Implications Of Nil Collectives On College Baseball, Matthew Magre

Economics Undergraduate Honors Theses

Under current regulations, the allocation of athletic-based aid in public universities is slanted away from non-full scholarship sports like baseball. Since the approval of student-athletes to benefit from their name, image, and likeness, college sports have ascended into far larger businesses than ever before. This expansion has raised concerns over the future of college sports and its historic stance on amateurism. While the focus of NIL has centered around blockbuster deals for individual athletes, the changes in regulation have created avenues to support student-athletes better financially. Universities have formed NIL collectives to facilitate money from donors to student-athletes in exchange …

Intellectual Property Rights: Examining Outdated Laws, Monopolies, Manipulation, And The Need For Modernization, Maggie Moles

Economics Undergraduate Honors Theses

This thesis critically examines the shortcomings of current intellectual property (IP) laws in the face of rapid technological advancement and evolving digital landscapes. It argues that while IP laws were intended to incentivize innovation, protect creators' rights, and foster fair competition, they often fall short of these goals in practice. Through an analysis of various case studies and real-world examples, the thesis demonstrates how outdated IP laws can hinder progress, stifle creativity, and impede access to knowledge and resources, particularly in industries heavily reliant on patents and copyrights.

Furthermore, the thesis explores alternative models and proposals for reform, including open …