Business Commons^™

General Purpose Computing On Graphics Processing Units For Accelerated Deep Learning In Neural Networks, Conor Helmick

Senior Honors Theses

Graphics processing units (GPUs) contain a significant number of cores relative to central processing units (CPUs), allowing them to handle high levels of parallelization in multithreading. A general-purpose GPU (GPGPU) is a GPU that has its threads and memory repurposed on a software level to leverage the multithreading made possible by the GPU’s hardware, and thus is an extremely strong platform for intense computing – there is no hardware difference between GPUs and GPGPUs. Deep learning is one such example of intense computing that is best implemented on a GPGPU, as its hardware structure of a grid of blocks, each …

Exploring Mechanisms Insurers Employ To Set Premiums And Maximize Profitability, Brent Ferenczy

Senior Honors Theses

The insurance industry is a very complex segment of the macroeconomy. An explain will be given as to how these companies are able to maintain and maximize their profits, allowing them to remain in business. A key area in this process is the setting of premiums. This activity draws from many areas of the business model. This paper will start with a birds-eye view and telescope in, starting with standard business practices and ending with specific undertakings of insurance companies. Companies must keep adequate liquid funds. This is done mainly through forecasting cash outflows and investing their assets under management. …

The Music Bluetooth Controller: An Intersection Between Technology And Music, Lydia Wu

Senior Honors Theses

The modern musician faces a new challenge: how can technology be used to enhance a performance? This thesis documents the development of a Bluetooth remote controller that will aid today’s performing musicians by interacting with a digital display (e.g., an iPad) to flip musical score pages remotely. At its core, while mimicking a Bluetooth pedal (the current industry standard), this device attaches to the musician’s hand. In its pilot stages, the device has been referred to “MBC” (Music Bluetooth Controller).

Effects Of Esg Investing On Returns, Hank De Roover

Senior Honors Theses

Countless researchers have sought to find out if there is a positive correlation between Environmental, Societal, and Governance (ESG) investing and returns that beat the market over the past few decades. To analyze what ESG investing is, the history of the practice, and if there can be any conclusion drawn between ESG investing and returns. A deeper understanding of what goes into returns, including modern portfolio theory, will uncover that ESG securities cannot be efficiently placed on the efficient frontier. Risk associated with ESG stocks cannot only be tied directly to beta, but also to external qualitative forces that make …

Impact Of Risk Perception And Risk Tolerance On Investment Portfolio Decisions, Claire Covey

Senior Honors Theses

Average individual investor returns drastically underperform standard investment benchmarks, with common attributing factors including relying on instincts and overconfidence in trading ability. Neural processing, financial risk, risk perception, and risk tolerance literature show how instinctual reactions form and how those reactions affect risk decision-making under the Prospect theory. Examining the effect of neural processing and risk framing on subjective risk perception allows a measurement of the indirect impact on risk tolerance. The stable factors of risk tolerance directly impact investment risk decisions. There are implications of accurately assessing risk tolerance in a client/advisor relationship. Advisor application of a proper risk …

The Theme Park Throwdown: The Successes And Failures Of Ip-Related Attractions And Expansions In Disney Theme Parks And Strategies For The Future, Aubree Zern

Senior Honors Theses

The Disney brand invokes strong feelings of loyalty from supporters and dissatisfaction from its opponents, and it many facets play an important part in society (Havard et al., 2021). It is certainly true that “the Magical World of Disney remains unsurpassed in terms of brand name recognition, planning complexity, and detailed execution. It is the paradigmatic ideal of how architecture can establish a universe around its landscape” (Dalov, 2019, p.10). For nearly 70 years, the Imagineers cultivated an idea from the mind of one man into a global phenomenon of twelve theme parks and counting (Tang & Iwerks, 2019). The …

Collection Of Accountancy Case Studies, Adam Lalejini

Honors Theses

The following collection of case studies examines various personal and professional topics in accounting. These topics range from personal research and reflection on important topics within the profession to a comprehensive case competition focusing on The Coca-Cola Company. Throughout the collection, theoretical accounting frameworks and solutions are applied to real world scenarios. In addition to theoretical frameworks, financial statements and relevant outside sources are used with applicable.

The Effects Of Big Data And Blockchain On The Audit Profession, Tereesha Marquette Patterson

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This qualitative study purposed to gain a greater understanding of the technological systems effecting the audit industry. The central focus was to gain an in-depth understanding of the effects of big data and blockchain technology on the audit industry. Interviews were carried out with selected participants working for Certified Public Accounting (CPA) firms. From the interviews, eleven CPAs provided the data to form the discovered themes. The information gathered in the interviews contributed to the body of knowledge concerning big data and blockchain technology as recognized by practicing CPAs. Four themes were identified which aligned with the participants feedback concerning …

Gender, Leadership, And Diversity Policies In The Workplace: A Quantitative Study Of Gender Bias In The Context Of Dei, Francesca Manfucci

Honors Capstones

No abstract provided.

Is Tesla, Inc.’S Market Value Justified Relative To Its Competitors?, Cody Silas

Honors Capstones

No abstract provided.

A Sleeping Giant: Finding An Endogenous Solution For The U.S. Public Pension Underfunding Crisis, Caroline Crawford

Honors Capstones

No abstract provided.

Attitudes, Purchases, And Usage Of Lingerie Among College Women: An Exploratory Investigation, Madison Craig

Honors Capstones

No abstract provided.

Human Resource Strategy In Times Of Disruption, April R. Kinchen

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This study sought to obtain knowledge relating to human resources during crisis and disruption. To obtain a deeper understanding of the material, I conducted a qualitative case study using a structured interview process, an anonymous survey process for triangulation. The interview process comprised 15 interviews to achieve saturation, as well as 135 survey respondents. During the participant interview process, I obtained the data to attribute to the current body of research regarding human resources during times of crisis and disruption. Interview participants comprised of individual contributors, people leaders, and human resource professionals. Participants felt strongly that open communication, infrastructure, and …

An Implicit Leadership Theory Lens On Leader Humility And Employee Outcomes: Examining Individual And Organizational Contingencies*, Xingyu Wang, Zihan Liu, Xueqi Wen, Qu Xiao

Research Collection Lee Kong Chian School Of Business

An emerging leadership style centered on the moral practice of humility has recently garnered the attention of organizational researchers in the hospitality field. Taken in tandem with the prevailing empirical evidence supporting the various salutary effects of leader humility on employees' job attitudes and moral behaviors, the current set of studies offers an implicit theoretical perspective on leadership that underlines the importance of identifying both individual characteristics and organizational factors that can alter employees' assessments of humble leaders. We propose that employees' assessments of humble leaders' benevolence hinge on the employees' learning goal orientations and their perceptions of informational justice …

Breaking The Chains: The Inverted-U-Shaped Relationship Between Action-State Orientation And Creativity Under Low Job Autonomy, Ronald Bledow, Jana Kühnel, Mengzi Jin, Julius Kuhl

Research Collection Lee Kong Chian School Of Business

When the social fabric of organizations limits individual autonomy, new ideas are needed that satisfy a person’s will as well as the constraints imposed by the social context. To explain when people achieve this synthesis and display creativity under low job autonomy, we examine the influence of their action-state orientation. The theory of action versus state orientation contrasts two responses people display when faced by a situation that conflicts with their will. An actionoriented response entails that people readily disengage from processing the situation and initiate goal-striving, while a state-oriented response entails that people remain focused on the situation. We …

Measuring The Intensity Of Mymotivators™ / Whole Brain® Communication In Print Advertising, Tanner Schulz

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

Advertising’s purpose is to create a state of mind conducive to purchase (Colley, 1961).

This study seeks to identify, measure, and understand the intrinsic motivators communicated within print advertisements and quantify their intensities. The theory is that ads with more intense motivator content - distributed somewhat evenly across all four quadrants of the Whole Brain ® Model - will be more effective in influencing that state of mind.

This research is the first step in identifying, quantifying, and visualizing motivators communicated within print advertisements. The study analyzed 15 print ads found in contemporary magazines.

The framework for this work is …

2022 April, Morehead State University. Office Of Communications & Marketing.

Morehead State Press Release Archive, 1961 to the Present

Press releases for April of 2022.

The Importance Of Public Space During The Covid-19 Pandemic With A Case Study Of The City Of Kalamazoo’S Kik Pool, Natalie Baker

Honors Theses

No abstract provided.

Lower The Risk For Medical Emergencies, Christopher J. Smiley Dds

The Journal of the Michigan Dental Association

Clinicians focus on health and safety for our patients. The editorial highlights the importance of cultural competence in dentistry to mitigate the risk of medical emergencies. Reflecting on a recent CE program, Dr. Smiley underscores the need for proactive emergency preparedness, emphasizing detailed protocols and hands-on training. The article advocates for thorough patient screening, incorporating three questions presented by Dr. Mitchel Gardiner in an article in this month’s issue, addressing patient-specific health considerations and consulting with healthcare providers. The editorial concludes by stressing the significance of risk reduction through comprehensive assessments, team training, and preparedness.

J Mich Dent Assoc April 2022

The Journal of the Michigan Dental Association

Monthly, The Journal of the Michigan Dental Association brings news, information, and feature articles to our state's oral health community and the MDA's 6,200+ members. No publication reaches more Michigan dentists!

In this April 2022 issue, the reader will find the following original content:

• A cover feature “Protect Your Patients and Yourself: The Complete and Honest Medical History”
• A feature article “The Foundation for Dental Care: The Patient Interview and Dental/Medical Health History”
• A 10-Minute EBD “The Preferred Analgesia for Orthodontic Tooth Movement: Acetaminophen or NSAIDs?”
• News you need: an Editorial, a "Reminder about Antitrust Law", and regular department articles, …

Seeking Independence A Second Time: Fdi In Uganda’S Development, Halle Jones

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

This paper aims to examine the characteristics of foreign direct investment in Uganda and its impacts on development. The paper will look at the current neoliberal paradigm in the international political economy and its role in the developing world.

A practicum-based internship with the Southern and Eastern Africa Trade Information and Negotiations Institute Uganda (SEATINI) guided independent research and provided information through interviews with various organizations and government ministries.

This paper found that neoliberal policies limit development opportunities of FDI. Examples of successful economic growth in various countries provide significant evidence of the importance of government intervention and strategic development …

Innovative Data-Driven Demand Estimation Strategies In Revenue Management, Sanghoon Cho

Theses and Dissertations

Understanding customers’ choice behavior and decision-making process is crucial in many industries, including hotels, airlines, and retail, as it allows firms to offer the right product to the right customer. This has resulted in a growing focus on accurately estimating customer demand for a product or service in the revenue management space, which can serve as a valuable input to optimal pricing, inventory, and assortment decisions. However, much of the existing work in the literature has not been able to comprehensively address some common challenges that are observed in practice: unobservable no-purchases, heterogeneous customer preferences, and the impact of factors …

Three Essays On Banking And Other Financial Institutions, Xiaonan Ma

Theses and Dissertations

This paper shows that access to payday lending affects societal health outcomes such as opioid-related mortality. I find that states allowing payday lending experience 1.5 lives lost per 100,000 population every year, which amounts to one-third of its mean value. I interpret this result in line with the increased consumption of opioid pills after accessing to payday lending. Accordingly, the effects are more pronounced in areas with low socioeconomic status. Confounding events, time trends, or systematic differences between states allowing and prohibiting payday lending are unlikely to explain the association between payday lending access and opioid mortality. Overall, my findings …

Dissecting Human Capital Resources: Unpacking The Structure And Activation Of Human Capital Resources Within Firms, Caitlin Ray

Theses and Dissertations

Human capital resources (HCR) are often identified by scholars and practitioners as a firm’s most crucial resource. However, the academic use of the HCR construct, which is relatively new addition to the research vernacular, is often described with vague and imprecise terms, challenging the ability for academics and practitioners to clearly understand HCR’s precise impact on firm outcomes. One of the challenges arises because much of the HCR research literature focuses on the processes surrounding HCR without clearly specifying the components that make-up the HCR. Such lack of specificity has resulted in theoretical and empirical work which is often too …

Essays On Delegation Under Migrating Technologies: The Case Of Mobile Network Value Chain, Fan Zou

Theses and Dissertations

The fast expansion of the mobile services market has propelled the growth of MVNOs to reach an expected 7.4% of the global market and, even higher, 8.1% of the North American market by 2022 (Research&Markets 2017), which reaches a total size of 90 billion US dollars. The growth of MVNOs, meanwhile, has complicated implications for MNO market performance because of the fast industry clockspeed, under which new mobile network technologies inevitably overlap with existing technologies (Tilson and Lyytinen 2006). Adding MVNOs to the value chain allows MNOs to develop proper growth strategies by exploring new technologies balanced against exploiting existing …

Essays On Multichannel Retailing, Arkapravo Sarkar

Theses and Dissertations

Many upscale retailers operate discounted versions of their premium stores to engage with value-conscious customers, often as a separate channel. In the first essay, we empirically examine the effects of a high-end department store retailer’s opening of discounted store on customer shopping behavior. Leveraging a unique customer-level transaction dataset that spans pre- and post-opening of multiple discounted stores across the United States by the focal retailer, this essay seeks to disentangle the effects of discounted store opening (DSO) on the incumbent channels, namely the upscale regular physical stores and the online stores and to document the possible mechanisms that …

From An Ambivert's Perspective: The Relationships Between Personality Types, Attachment Styles, And Behavioral Tendencies Of Introverts And Extroverts, Andrew Chang

Senior Theses

Over the years, there has been continuous discussion around the idea that extroverts dominate the business workplace over introverts and vice versa. However, depending on the work setting and skillsets needed, it is imperative to realize how certain business practices, personality styles, and relationship approaches are different in every scenario. For this research thesis, the goal was to compare the personality and attachment styles of students who study in two different cultural environments, seeing if there were any apparent relationships between the two variables and student behavioral tendencies. Previous studies have shown that personality, behaviors, and attachment levels can predict …

The New Frontier Or A Billionaire’S Joy Ride? Artificial Intelligence Driven Analysis Of Twitter Conversations Of The Spacex Company, Meghan Whittle, Miranda Butler

Senior Theses

In recent years, space travel has become less of a vision for select individuals in the field of research and is now on the cusp of becoming an experience available to paying customers. The purpose of this study is to determine Twitter users’ perceptions of SpaceX during the COVID-19 pandemic period from March 2020 to December 2021. We identified Twitter sentiment and emotions regarding such a new and abstract notion of a service that could be more widely available in the future. To achieve these goals, we collected tweets related to SpaceX using Brandwatch – a tool allowing the search …

How Decision Makers’ Career Histories Impact The Gender Diversity Of The Ceo Successor Candidate Pool, Andre G. Havrylyshyn

Theses and Dissertations

Scholars have explored when/why women are chosen as CEOs, and what factors explain the presence of women in the TMT, but little is known about when/why firms have women executives in their internal CEO successor candidate pool. This omission is consequential, since there are firm performance benefits to having a woman CEO who is an internal hire, and because being a CEO successor candidate helps ensure a woman executive has had skill-building opportunities that will help her thrive when she becomes CEO. To address this, my dissertation explores two research questions. First, when and why do women directors positively impact …

Out Of Office: Examining How Remote Auditing Can Affect Audit Quality, Kristen Thompson

Theses and Dissertations

Psychological factors bring rise to the potential for differences in audit quality between in- person and remote work. With remote auditing on the rise, I investigate whether an increase in distance between an auditor and their supervisor can increase auditors’ divergent thinking and, in high time pressure, lead to a greater likelihood for auditors to exhibit reduced audit quality (RAQ) behavior. Consistent with prior literature, I find auditors facing high (vs. low) time pressure are more likely to engage in RAQ behavior, consistent with their motivation to speed up testing. More importantly, I find auditors working remotely are more likely …