Business Commons^™

Barriers For Small Businesses To Adopt Sustainable Practices In The Sioux Falls Area, Meredith King

Honors Thesis

Sustainability is a broad concept that encompasses environmental, social, and economic factors to meet current and future needs. Many individuals and large businesses are becoming conscious of the effects they have on the planet and the people around them. However, despite the financial benefits and positive publicity of environmentalism, many businesses are not adopting sustainable practices. This study interviewed local business owners to answer the question “What are the main reasons that small businesses in the Sioux Falls area of South Dakota do or do not adopt sustainable practices that benefit the environment and the community?” Five business owners were …

Rebranding My Cosmetics Business, Liaonn Martin

Creativity and Change Leadership Graduate Student Master's Projects

The project is focused on rebranding my business by changing the name, creating a working website, as well as creating and selling different products I am passionate about. As part of the project I worked on making my Instagram page more appealing to bring in customers from all over the world, and using Instagram to promote my products. I also researched different ways to utilize platforms such as Tik Tok and Facebook to help my business become more popular. I created extra gifts such as thank you notes, complimentary lip scrubs, and a thank you note for all of my …

The Esport Points Of Attachment Index (Epai): Exploring Psychological Connections Of Esport Consumers On Behavioral Intentions Toward Esport Organizations, Se Jin Kim

Doctoral Dissertations

This dissertation addresses the literature gap in understanding the different psychological mechanisms of eSport consumers, as determined by their various points of attachment they possess depending on different sport contexts. The electronic sports (eSports) industry has been growing rapidly in popularity, but exploration of eSport fandom has been limited. Especially, a better understanding of the eSport consumers’ behavior and their psychological connection to particular eSports and teams is necessary. The first study in this dissertation identifies the points of attachment in eSport fans, based on an extensive literature review. The second study develops and validates the eSport Points of Attachment …

Visionaire Branding Company, Toni Joy Forsythe

Graphic Communication

It has been a goal of mine to one day launch my own branding and marketing agency, therefore this opportunity has allowed me to ideate what the agency would look like in terms of branding and business. I developed Visionaire Branding Company, a branding and marketing agency located in Central California. Creativity has always been at the forefront of my ambitions and Visionaire is a reflection of my passion for taking businesses to the next level and doing it with a vision.

Jonny Boy Cookies' Event Campaign Targeting College Students, Ye'senia L. Agosto-Rivera

Honors College Theses

The evaluation of data from social media sites can offer valuable decision-making data for small businesses. Generally, college students are dependent on the Internet and social media sites precisely to connect with others socially. Can small businesses with limited finances and limited technical knowledge compete in this new social media-driven market to develop more in-person events? This paper discusses a detailed event campaign for Jonny Boy Cookies to expand their college student demographic beyond their current middle-aged women demographic. Quantitative approaches will be used to guide the research and implementation of new methods.

Where The Rainbow Ends: The Hidden Humanitarian Crisis For Members Of The Lgbtqia+ Community In International Business, John R. Krendel

Senior Honors Projects, 2020-current

Before pursuing an international career, members of the LGBTQIA+ community must be aware of the hardship that may be exacerbated by living and working abroad. This study addresses the trends in laws, including employment and anti-discrimination laws, that provide and restrict certain rights of members of the LGBTQIA+ community in eight countries. These nations, both progressive and discriminatory, include the United States, England, Switzerland, Germany, Taiwan, China, the Philippines and Kazakhstan. Eight LGBTQIA+ business professionals spoke on their experiences living and working in each of these countries and provided advice to members of the community wishing to pursue an international …

Downfalls Of Economy Leading Small Businesses: A Study Of Corrective Actions, Alexis N. Davis

Honors College Theses

This study explores the significance of inappropriate accounting procedures and their detrimental effects on small businesses. This conceptual study is centered around small business decisions made by decision makers with weak understanding of financial literacy. The study highlights a series of improvements to weak internal controls that are not uncommon in small businesses.

Corporate America Gives Back: Exploring The Best Practices And Implemented Programs That Help Combat Food Insecurity In America, Emily Uvaney

Marketing Undergraduate Honors Theses

As businesses of all types become more self-aware and responsive to consumers’ interests, they are quickly adapting their business models to include pillars of philanthropy. Philanthropic qualities are especially important in regards to the CPG industry (consumer packaged goods) since they often produce food products. Many consumers and analysts believe that CPGs have a moral obligation to cater to people with various types of dietary needs, restrictions, and preferences while also helping customers meet their nutritional minimums. Companies can aid consumers in a plethora of ways. Beneficial programs can include initiatives like fundraising, food drives, internal employee assistance programs, and …

Arclothmasks: A Pandemic Startup Journey, Adam Jackson

Information Systems Undergraduate Honors Theses

Covid-19 changed the way the world operated when it became a pandemic in 2020. The need for personal protection equipment was unexpected and suppliers were not prepared for the demand. The government mandate of masks furthered the need of PPE across the nation. To help fill this shortage, many companies began to retool their manufacturing processes from clothing to masks. This thesis will dive into one PPE company and its journey from the start of the pandemic. The business plan for the company will follow it along with graphs and charts that help tell the tale of the startup.

Creation Of A Home Bakery: A Business Plan, Erika Prusak

Honors Projects

Nothing exemplifies business knowledge more than creation of a business plan, and subsequently, creation of a business. Both pull together business knowledge of marketing, management, accounting, business law, supply chain, and finance. Business knowledge is then tied together with the mentality needed of an entrepreneur to tackle challenges and thrive for the moments when everything works out perfectly. Completing a business plan will organize my ideas and help me see my business clearly. It will help me identifies areas that I need to research more as well as areas I cannot figure out until I start it. My business plan …

An Imc Approach To Entrepreneurship: How Generation Z Is Changing The Landscape Of Entrepreneurship, Kylie Nicole Cockrell

Honors Theses

Generation Z entrepreneurs capitalize on the fast-paced environment of the marketing industry and adapt to changing customer needs and expectations to deliver the best product or service from their business. This thesis researches the current media trends and marketing approaches Gen Z entrepreneurs are using in their businesses and how access to entrepreneurial-focused programs make Generation Z the leading generation in entrepreneurship.

Inspired by the researcher’s own experience as an online clothing business owner, this thesis investigates how members of Gen Z are increasingly becoming entrepreneurs. A mixed methodology of primary and secondary research was deployed to explore consumer trends. …

The Legal And Social Challenges Involved In The Expansion Of Multinational Operations: A Case Study Of Exxonmobil Indonesia, Shashaank Rajaraman

Senior Theses

Within this paper, I will analyze the legal and social relations between multinational corporations and their host countries. This analysis will be conducted through viewing the circumstances surrounding Doe v. ExxonMobil within the District of Columbia Circuit Court, in which ExxonMobil has engaged in litigation regarding their human rights record within the country of Indonesia. Through secondary research conducted both within business and legal journals, information about the practices of ExxonMobil can be examined and utilized to make general conclusions upon the corporate diplomacy practiced by multinational corporations.

Monopolies, Monopsonies, And Everything In-Between: The Gradual Unwinding Of Nearly A Century Of Antitrust Activity, Chase Faulkner

Senior Theses

Changes in the interpretation of antitrust law since the Reagan administration have created a simultaneous increase in mergers/acquisitions and a decrease in antitrust action. This trend started with Ronald Reagan in an effort to bolster a stagnant United States economy, yet in spite of the revolution the global economy has undergone in the last few decades, this trend is still perpetuated today. While this has helped the United States economy abroad, it has come at a cost domestically. A number of industries have become dominated by a single firm (or a group) through a variety of anticompetitive practices, and their …

The Lived Experiences Of Group Practice Ownership By Female Licensed Professional Counselors, Ashley Garrett

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The U.S. counseling profession is mostly female, with many practitioners interested in starting their own business. However, little is known about women’s lived experiences of owning a group counseling practice. An interpretative phenomenological analysis approach was used to explore the lived experiences of six female licensed professional counselors who have owned a group counseling practice for at least 5 years. Phenomenology and feminist theory provided a framework for the study. Eight themes emerged from the study: (a) factors associated with the decision to create a group practice, (b) a continuum of preparatory engagement for group practice ownership, (c) the influence …

Strategies For Increasing The Sustainability Of Small Restaurant Business, Sahara J. Givens-Evans

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Small business owners who operate in the restaurant industry face many challenges and sometimes succumb to failures. Identifying solutions to avoid failure is important and will strengthen this community of entrepreneurs and help in terms of creating sustainability strategies. Grounded in Richard Cantillon’s entrepreneurship theory, the purpose of this qualitative multiple case study was to explore strategies small business owners in the restaurant industry use to sustain business beyond 5 years. Participants included six small restaurant business managers who survived beyond 5 years and specialized in fast-casual food service within Chicago. Data were collected using semi-structured interviews and participant reflections. …

The Short Business Life Span Among Entrepreneurs In Aba, Southeastern Nigeria, Uche Kalu

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Southeastern Nigeria is known for high entrepreneurial activity. However, there is an observable high small business mortality in one of the major commercial cities, which many scholars argue could be connected to insufficient entrepreneurial development. The purpose of this qualitative transcendental phenomenological study was to explore the phenomenon of insufficient entrepreneurial development and short business life span among small and medium scale businesses in a major city of Southeastern Nigeria. Scholars have stated five years or less as the average lifespan of a small or medium scale business enterprise in Southeastern Nigeria. This study was based on the theories of …

Strategies To Reduce Corrupt Practices At The Firm Level In Nigeria, Alexander Iloka Rajis

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Corruption is harmful to businesses and impedes performance and growth. When business leaders fail to mitigate fraud and corruption, their business and the local economy suffer. Grounded in the principal-agent theory and the integrative social contract theory, the purpose of this qualitative multiple case study was to explore strategies business leaders in Nigeria use to reduce firm-level corrupt practices. The participants were six anticorruption officers at three firms who implemented successful strategies to reduce corrupt practices to enhance performance. Data collected came from semistructured interviews and company documents. Five themes emerged from the thematic analysis: bribery and corruption are part …

Strategies For Adoption Of Innovative Information Technology For Business Performance Improvement, James Melvin Smith

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Business leaders do not often consider investing in informational technology (IT) to increase performance. These business leaders lack knowledge of innovative IT adoption strategies to expand their revenue and reduce costs to sustain a competitive advantage. Grounded in the technology-organization-environment (TOE) theory, the purpose of this qualitative multiple case study was to explore IT innovation adoption strategies business leaders use to increase performance. The participants were four successful business leaders selected from finalists for international entrepreneurial awards presented annually in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. The data were collected using semistructured telephone interviews, media releases, and online publications. …