Business Commons^™

Evaluating The Cost Of A Lapse In Life Insurance And Its Implications On Developing A Policyholder Retention Strategy For A Company, Peiyi Zhang

Honors Scholar Theses

In the insurance industry, many companies focus on policyholder retention as one of their key tools to retain premiums collected from customers. Customers may lapse after their purchases. Insurance companies will not receive premiums and have to pay out surrender benefits which makes it costly for an insurer. Indeed, understanding the cost of a lapse is important to retain policyholders. This paper focuses on the cost of a lapse in life insurance, and its implications on developing policyholder retention strategies. The first part of the paper summarizes the general background of life insurance, lapses, and conservation strategies. The second part …

Global Public Relations And Multinational Corporations: The Influence Of Culture On Public’S Reactions To H&M, Dove, And Nivea’S Media Campaigns In The United States And Nigeria, Olayinka Makanjuola

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study examined the significant impact of culture on global public relations practices using a case study analysis of Dove, H&M, and Nivea’s media campaigns between 2017 and 2019. The analysis was carried out through a structural comparison between the public’s reaction from the United States and Nigeria. Cultural variations between the two countries were examined, and how the variations impact GPR practices were explored. Social judgment theory, apologia, and image restoration theory were used as the theoretical frameworks alongside Hofstede’s cultural dimensions. This study demonstrates that understanding cultural dimensions as it applies to diverse countries operating in the global …

Shareholder Coordination And Corporate Innovation, Ani Manakyan Mathers, Bin Wang, Xiaohong Wang

Finance Faculty Research and Publications

We show that greater shareholder coordination, as proxied by the geographic proximity between institutional investors, is positively related to corporate innovation outcomes. This relationship is driven by coordination among dedicated and independent institutions who have strong monitoring incentives and is more pronounced among firms with lower blockholder ownership and greater information asymmetry where there is greater benefit to monitoring. We propose that shareholder coordination promotes corporate innovation through a reduction in managerial agency problems. Overall, our results are consistent with the notion that greater shareholder coordination enables diffuse shareholders to monitor managers more effectively and enhances corporate innovation.

Shattering Glass Ceilings: Where Are All Of The Women In Finance?, Rebecca Schubach

Business and Economics Honors Papers

At a time when women are equally represented in professional fields such as medicine and academia, the finance industry is still facing a lack of gender diversity, most notability at the C-Suite level. Statistics on the paucity of women paint a bleak picture, despite the fact that women are awarded majority of undergraduate and graduate degrees in the United States, a reversal from just one generation ago. This begs the question, what is deterring women from a career in finance? Are compensation discrepancies at play? This paper seeks to examine if being a female truly penalizes a woman in regards …

Live Thankfully Little Rock: A Case Study Of Marketing For Nonprofit For Resale Shops, Ann Claire Cook

Marketing Undergraduate Honors Theses

This thesis discusses the best practices that nonprofit resale shops should follow when marketing.

What Consumers Don’T Know They’Re Giving Away (Data And Privacy Concerns), Bayleigh Reeves

Marketing Undergraduate Honors Theses

The modern world leverages technology and information captured by it in ways the inventors of these technologies likely never imagined. Phones and other devices are gathering information about consumers in the background when they do not even realize it. Pew Research Center found that about 77% of Americans own a smartphone and 88% use the internet. This mass access to technology and information tracking raises many privacy concerns. Basic demographic information is being tracked as well as more in-depth information like shopping tendencies, financial information, and information about known associates. While most of this data is being used for marketing …

Examination Of Online Voter Registration Within Non-Profit Organizations Post 1993, Jonathan Mcnicholes

Political Science Theses and Capstones

Voting is a key eliminate to the validity of our democracy. Nonprofit organizations are one of the fastest growing organization structures within our society, with growing opportunities to engage voters in pursuit of their goals along with enhanced pressure following the movements surrounding the 1993 voter registration act. In this Thesis I analysis what categories of nonprofit organizations promote voter registration using their websites, to order to establish which organizations are utilizing their resources to promote their goals. The data I use is taken from the Washington Representatives studies which consists of 43,012 nonprofit organizations within Washington DC. My research …

An Exploratory Study Of Generational Coffee Preferences, Lindsey Falkner

Honors College Theses

This research focuses on generational differences in preferences towards coffee-style beverages. The aim of this research is to provide recommendations to marketers within the saturated coffee industry. An online exploratory study was conducted with two-hundred and fifty-two participants from Amazon Mechanical Turk. The results show that differences exist between the coffee preferences across all generations, especially when it comes to the current trends (e.g., premiumization, convenience, and sustainability). Further, the results reveal several factors that may cause these generational differences. Finally, the study explored several ways that marketers in the coffee industry can appeal to different generations’ preferences, especially utilizing …

Measurement Of Mentoring Program Outcomes: A Systematic Multiple Studies Review, Mark Douglas Morgan

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this research study was to investigate how mentoring is measured and assessed in the workplace by reviewing and synthesizing qualitative, quantitative and mixed methods studies that appear in the professional literature. Mentoring programs are common practice in the workplace. The one-on-one nature of a formal mentoring program creates outcomes that benefit the protégé throughout their career in three ways: onboarding, retention at an organization, and career advancement. However, mentoring programs are expensive, both in terms of direct monetary cost and the time it takes to complete the tasks associated with mentoring, making measurement of outcomes critical for …

Building Value Through Innovative Eucheuma Spp. Product Development: A Case Study With The Belize Women's Seaweed Farming Association, Bailey Moritz

All Theses And Dissertations

Seaweed aquaculture has been a successful supplemental livelihood in coastal communities worldwide, creating new income opportunities for women in particular. In most cases, raw or dried carrageenan-producing seaweed is sold into supply chains without local value addition taking place. Upgrading value chains can come in the form of new products, differentiation from existing products through marketing, or breaking into new markets. The research investigates the local market potential for value-added Belizean Eucheuma seaweed products and offers insights into a pathway forward for the Belize Women’s Seaweed Farming Association (BWSFA) to take advantage of these opportunities at an early stage of …

How Power Bi Can Be Built To Analyze Player And Team Statistics In The Nba, Alison Raszler

Theses/Capstones/Creative Projects

Software is evolving every day to aid the work of what was once manual and monotonous tasks (Software Engineers). One of these platforms is Power BI, a product made by Microsoft. Power BI is a business analytics software that can provide visualization for data that is created through reports or dashboards. My thesis used the Power BI software to answer the question “How Power BI can be built to show player and team stats for the NBA.” In this project, I researched and developed a tutorial on how to use Power BI to build a report using historical statistics of …

Përdorimi I Shërbimeve Cloud Në Kompanitë E Kosovës, Diellza Cakaj

Theses and Dissertations

Në ditët e sotme teknologjia është bërë pjesë e domosdoshme e jetëve tona. Kemi fatin që edhe në Kosovë ka filluar me të madhe përdorimi i teknologjisë së cdo lloji, ndër to është edhe përdorimi i platformave Cloud. Cloud ka lehtësuar ruajtjen dhe bartjen e të dhënave mjaft shumë duke na krijuar më shumë hapsirë dhe kursyer kohë sa i perket të dhënave sikur në bartje, lehtësimin e përdorimit të rrjetit të brendshëm, ruajtje, ndryshim e zhvillim te tyre. Jo vetëm nëpër kompani të ndryshme, por edhe në shkolla e universitete është parë nevoja e përdorimit të Cloud Computing për …

Use Of Acetolactate Synthase-Inhibiting Herbicides In Inzen Grain Sorghum (Sorghum Bicolor L. Moench Ssp. Bicolor), Hunter Bowman

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Grain sorghum is typically grown as a rotational crop in Arkansas because of its many benefits, one being the effective control of Palmer amaranth through the use of atrazine. However, limited options exist for postemergence (POST) control of weedy grasses within the crop. Inzen™ grain sorghum is the result of a nicosulfuron resistant weedy sorghum biotype cross-bred with a commercial line of grain sorghum. Inzen™ allows for safe use of over-the-top applications of nicosulfuron within the crop. Nicosulfuron is an acetolactate synthase (ALS)-inhibiting herbicide, which has historically been used in corn for control of weedy grasses. Experiments were conducted in …

An Analysis Of Dredge Efficiency For Surfclam And Ocean Quahog Commercial Dredges, Leanne Poussard

Master's Theses

Between 1997 and 2011, The National Marine Fisheries Service conducted 50 depletion experiments to estimate survey gear efficiency and stock density for Atlantic surfclam (Spisula solidissima) and ocean quahog (Arctica islandica) populations using commercial hydraulic dredges. The Patch Model was formulated to estimate gear efficiency and organism density from the data. The range of efficiencies estimated is substantial, leading to uncertainty in the application of these estimates in stock assessment. Analysis of depletion experiment simulations showed that uncertainty in the estimates of gear efficiency from depletion experiments was reduced by higher numbers of dredge tows per experiment, more tow overlap …

Impact Of Salt Deduction Cap On Individual Tax Liability, Mahum Chaudhry

Honors Theses

The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 placed a cap of $10,000 on the State and Local Tax deduction. A survey was carried out to compare individuals' tax liability in 2017 (before the cap) with their tax liability in 2018 (after the cap). The results suggest that fewer people itemized in 2018, and most belonged to the high-income group. Many individuals who itemized in 2018 also saw an increase in their federal tax liability. Most individuals with less than $100,000 yearly income opted for the standard deduction and saw a decrease in their federal tax liability in 2018 (in …

Impact Of Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, And Automation In Operations Management: An Analysis Of Healthcare, Manufacturing, And Retail Sectors, Jasmine N. Kelley

Honors Theses

In this thesis, we study the impacts of artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), and automation on operations management (OM). We specifically target the industries of healthcare, retail, and manufacturing in our analysis since each sector has distinct dynamics and concerns regarding the structural changes imposed by advancements in AI. We analyze 120 high-quality peer-reviewed journal articles to capture recent research trends in healthcare, retail, and manufacturing. Using respected business analytics reports, we compare academic efforts to industry initiatives. We find that growing interest in AI research in academia is consistent with growing research and development (R&D) investment and patent …

Using Buy And Rent Discrepancies To Predict Real Estate Bubbles, Jonathan K. Niehaus

Honors Theses

The cost of housing is one of the biggest recurring expenses Americans face. Real estate is also one of the largest asset classes of investments today. The decision of whether or not it is the right time to purchase a piece of residential real estate can be difficult for the everyday person as well as professionals. With the recent downturn of 2008, many people are reminded that the price of houses can spiral upward, and if one bought at the wrong time, their house could lose a tremendous portion of its value. This study focuses on looking at different economic …

The Impact Of Big Data On Audit Evidence And The Level Of Assurance, Sachin Yadav

Honors Theses

This study seeks to establish the relationship between Big Data and its impact on the quality of audit evidence and the level of assurance perceived by the end-users. Currently, auditors rely on sampling to provide reasonable assurance that a company’s financial statements are materially in accordance with a country’s Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP). With Big Data, auditors can minimize the risk posed by sampling, and therefore, provide a reasonable level assurance. The present study examines financial statement users’ perceptions of the level of assurance when auditors present unqualified opinions using Big Data during the audit engagement. It observes this …

The Cultural Influence On Sharing Economy Services: The Case Of Airbnb, Lacey K. Wallace

Honors Theses

The sharing economy offers consumers an alternative to ownership by exchanging value through technology-based services. As sharing economy practices continue to emerge, business scholars have only recently begun to study how cultural differences impact the sharing economy. Specifically, few studies have examined individual cultural values. Therefore, this study explores whether differences in cultural values, using Hofstede’s cultural dimensions, account for consumers’ attitudes and participation in sharing economy services (SES). Utilizing a survey, data was gathered from a total of 276 consumers from Amazon’s Mechanical Turk (MTurk) who had previous experience with Airbnb, a popular peer-to-peer accommodation SES. Multiple regression was …

Analysis Of True Risk Lab’S Price Prediction Algorithm In Relation To Market Results, Chris F. Hua

Honors Theses

The concept of beating the stock market is one of the main goals of financial investors and analysts. However, seasoned analysts and investors cannot perfectly predict the movements within the stock market. Machine learning (ML) is one prediction method that has intrigued the financial industry as a means of accurately predicting the market. Though the current prediction algorithms do not grasp every change in the stock markets, the models do provide a means of looking towards stock trends as a means to hedge an investor's or fund's portfolio against market declines by looking at the artificial intelligence (AI) results. This …

Inside-Out Interviews: Cross-Cultural Research In China, Martin Sposato, Heather L. Jeffrey

All Works

© 2020 The International Association for Chinese Management Research. There is a paucity of research exploring the use of local facilitators in cross-cultural research in Chinese cultural contexts and the impact this may have on data generation and knowledge creation. Addressing this gap, this paper critically reflects on cross-cultural interviews in Hong Kong. The reflection is centred on the experience of interviewing as an outsider to the culture of the participants and later working alongside an insider. While insider and outsider positionalities are formed from a multitude of intersectional characteristics, both gender and nationality emerged as primary influencers in this …

Mutually Exclusive: A Survey Of Ethical Decision Making In Technology, Connor Mcpherson

Honors Theses

People make hundreds of decisions every day. Developers, security consultants, operations engineers, designers, and engineers all make small decisions that affect the final product. The values people choose to promote and ignore appear in the constraints and biases of the products they craft. This paper discusses the process of developing, distributing, and analyzing a values survey to computer professionals and students in East Tennessee. I use advanced calculations of significance and beta for chi-squared tests to determine significance and discuss the ethical conclusions from the survey’s data.

An Actor's Process In Bridging The Gap Between First-Generation And Multi-Generational African-American Identities., Mutiyat Ade-Salu

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This thesis reflects my process assimilating into the role of Chelle in the production of Detroit '67 at the University of Louisville. Although there have been instances of actors crossing lines of gender, nationality, race, and even sexuality, to perform roles in contemporary theatre, discussion about generational differences is almost non-existent. Through historical research, first-hand interviews, and conventional acting methods, I explore the world of my role, searching for spirituality, authenticity, and identity. Additionally, I explain my use of The WAY Method ®, a process I began creating in 2014 to help actors be clear with who they are before …

The Making Of A Person: The Relationship Of Job Crafting And Leisure Crafting On Work Engagement, Occupational Role Salience, Job Performance And Psychological Well-Being., Joshua D. Anna

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study looks at how an individuals’ ability to job craft relates to work engagement, job performance and their psychological well-being; and when job crafting opportunities are low, how leisure crafting can compensate to provide the individual similar personal outcomes. This study also examines when job-crafting opportunities are high, how these positive effects can spillover onto other aspects of an individuals’ life such as leisure. This study also examines the extent to which an individual views work as a mean of self-identification and how this relates to job crafting. A total of 303 respondents met the inclusion criteria and completed …

Implementing Option Pricing Model, Zhao Ming

All Graduate Plan B and other Reports, Spring 1920 to Spring 2023

In this paper I replicate Clewlow and Strickland's control variates methods based on Greek letters method to test if it can improve the simulation efficiency. First, I use Black Scholes Merton formula for option pricing as a benchmark, to compare with the European call option price from Monte Carlo methods. Then I use Greek letters as control variates to reduce sample standard deviation and improve the efficiency of the Monte Carlo simulation. The whole process is programming in C++. C++ is a compiled language which can generate machine code from source code and provide a shorter running time. This paper …

Negative Brand Placement: Directions For Future Research, Fernanda Baez Calvillo

University Honors Program Senior Projects

Brand placement, or product placement, is a marketing communication tactic for promoting a brand through media platforms by embedding the brand within the content. It has been proved to be effective in creating product awareness within consumers as well as in altering or at least influencing consumer attitudes towards the brand. Negative brand placement on the other hand, places a brand in a bad light. As a marketing tactic, this can – theoretically – be placed by competitive brands, or the negative portrayal could occur organically as part of program content. It is in the marketer’s best interests to understand …

Does Litigation Deter Or Encourage Real Earnings Management, Sterling Huang, Sugata Roychowdhury, Ewa Sletten

Research Collection School Of Accountancy

In this paper, we rely on an exogenous shock to examine the impact of litigation risk on real earnings management (REM). We conduct differences-in-differences tests centered on an unanticipated court ruling that reduced litigation risk for firms headquartered in the Ninth Circuit. REM increases significantly following the ruling for Ninth-Circuit firms relative to other firms, consistent with litigation risk deterring REM. Additional analyses reveal that REM rises more following the ruling when firms issue more optimistic disclosures. The evidence is consistent with litigation deterring REM by constraining managers' ability to issue optimistic and misleading disclosures that can conceal the myopic …

2020-May-01-Jonathan Ross Byrd, University Marketing And Communication, East Tennessee State University

ETSU News

Jonathan Ross Byrd played a lot of sports while growing up on a small farm in his hometown of Thurmond, North Carolina. After high school, he earned his associate degree in graphic design and worked for a couple of years before entering the National Guard. Byrd spent eight years as a combat engineer, which included a tour in Afghanistan in 2011-12. After leaving the military in 2014, he returned to school and earned his bachelor’s degree in studio art at Western Carolina University. While at WCU, he visited ETSU when one of his professors had a ceramics exhibit at the …

2020-May-Pharmacy Summer Camp May 31-June 5, Bill Gatton College Of Pharmacy, East Tennessee State University, University Marketing And Communication, East Tennessee State University

ETSU News

Students interested in experiencing pharmacy can attend East Tennessee State University Bill Gatton College of Pharmacy’s annual summer camp, “Gatton Pharmacy Footprints,” on May 31-June 5. This year, the camp is overnight.

The camp is open to rising high school juniors, seniors and college freshmen. Other levels may be considered on an individual basis. The application deadline is May 1.

Activities include learning about the pharmacy profession from expert faculty; touring local health care facilities and pharmacies; conducting patient assessment procedures; discovering pharmacy compounding techniques; and practicing pharmacotherapy on human simulators.

 “We are very excited to host an overnight camp, …

A Comprehensive Evaluation Of Accounting Methods And Applications Through Case Studies, Dorothy Meachum

Honors Theses

This following thesis is a compilation of the case studies assigned by Dr. Victoria Dickinson, in fulfillment of the requirements for the University of Mississippi, Sally McDonnell Barksdale Honors College, and the Professional Research and Development Thesis Program. Each of the twelve case studies pertains to a different topic or problem concerning the application of accounting standards, accounting principles, or financial statement preparation and analysis. In addition, these cases present the application of accounting studies to real world scenarios, incorporating various fields such as finance, investments, risk assessment, and economics. Each of the financial cases introduced a company using their …