Business Commons^™

Differences Between Media And Industry Professionals’ Views On Welfare Issues At Equine Racetracks In The United States, Olivia Burris

Honors College Theses

The objective of this project was to see if there was a difference in views between lay publications in the media and industry professionals regarding welfare issues occurring at equine racetracks. This study focused on the issues of drug usage and racing-related injuries in racehorses. This project examined current lay publications versus surveys of industry professionals discussing the specific welfare issues. These lay publications were reviewed and summarized for comparison to the industry professionals’ responses to the survey.

Considerations Regarding The Accountant Shortage, Accounting Student Recruitment, And Efforts To Mitigate The Ongoing Shortage, Kellen T. Hixon

Undergraduate Honors Theses

The accounting profession is currently facing a well-documented talent shortage that has been building for a number of years. Some of the factors leading to this are fewer students choosing accounting because of higher wages in other careers as well as many CPAs retiring in the coming years. This paper considers the challenges of getting students in the door to accounting and examines the reasons why they are not choosing accounting. It also examines what accounting firms are doing to fight the workforce shortage, gains the perspective of state CPA societies on the 150 hour rule and how it is …

Front Line Innovation In Federal Agencies: U.S. Department Of State Passport Services Innovation Portal Engagement Program, Bill Langer

Creativity and Change Leadership Graduate Student Master's Projects

This project explores strategies for enhancing front-line innovation within federal agencies through employee engagement with the U.S. Department of State's Passport Services Innovation Portal. Rooted in the principles of creative leadership and intrinsic motivation, the project addresses persistent barriers to innovation in federal settings, such as bureaucratic inertia and a lack of feedback mechanisms for idea submissions. Utilizing the Creative Problem Solving (CPS) model and a modified 21st-century facilitation framework, the project team designed and implemented an engagement program that included informational briefings and targeted newsletters. Quantitative data from website analytics and idea submissions were analyzed using paired t-tests and …

Orick Rising: Assessing The Tourism Potential Of Orick, California, Mikel Ash, Zac Claus, Matt Cherovsky, Sophie Collins, Lavender Deng, Teddy Goyette, Keegan Henry, Nancy Nazario, Ara Pachmayer, Mike Sanchez

Recreation Tourism

This project explores the current landscape and future potential for recreation and tourism development in Orick, California. It highlights how natural, built, cultural and economic systems shape a community’s identity, functionality and appeal for residents and visitors. Findings reveal that effective integration of natural and built systems, combined with strong governance, cultural stewardship and tourism planning is essential for sustainable growth, enhancing resident well-being and leveraging tourism as a key economic driver while preserving environmental and cultural assets.

Wax On, Wax Off - Polishing Toward An Exceptional Staff, Michael Saba D.M.D.

Journal of the Macomb Dental Society

This article features a monthly column from the Macomb Dental Society's editor, Dr. Michael Saba.

Government Guidance Funds And Corporate Innovation: An Empirical Examination Based On Hangzhou, Huaping Wang

Dissertations and Theses Collection (Open Access)

Since the establishment of China's first market-oriented government guidance fund in 2002, these funds have actively played a supportive role in addressing market failures and promoting the innovative development of technology enterprises by reducing information asymmetry in the primary equity market, releasing positive signals, and alleviating financing constraints. With the establishment and development of China's multi-tiered government guidance fund system, related research has gradually emerged. However, current studies primarily explore whether government guidance funds have fulfilled their role in fostering innovation from a macro perspective, with limited in-depth discussion from a micro-level on how these funds should conduct their investment …

Research On The Structural Antecedents And Contingencies Of Fluid Team Performance, Xiaodong Zhang

Dissertations and Theses Collection (Open Access)

In response to rapidly evolving markets and the pursuit of organizational agility, fluid teams—characterized by dynamic membership and flexible structures—have become prevalent as a key organizational form for addressing complex tasks and uncertainty. However, inherent challenges such as frequent member mobility and multiple project participation pose significant management difficulties and performance risks, including project delays and cost overruns, particularly evident in China's fintech sector. While existing research has begun examining fluid teams, systematic investigation into their structural antecedents and performance mechanisms—especially their contingencies across contexts—remains limited.

The study examines structural antecedents and contingencies of fluid team performance through a mixed-methods …

Incorporating Media Coverage And The Impact Of Geopolitical Events For Stock Market Predictions With Machine Learning, Vinayaka Gude, Daniel Hsiao

Faculty Publications

This paper explores the impact of the Israel–Palestine conflict on the stock performance of U.S. companies and their public positions on the conflict. In an era where corporate positions on geopolitical issues are increasingly scrutinized, understanding the market implications of such statements is critical. This research aims to capture the complex, non-linear relationships between corporate actions, media coverage, and financial outcomes by integrating traditional statistical techniques with advanced machine learning models. To achieve this, we constructed a novel dataset combining public corporate announcements, media sentiment (including headline and article body tone), and philanthropic activities. Using both classification and regression models, …

Strengthening Governance In Esg Reporting: Enhancing Transparency And Accountability, Paulene Cayla Tongol

2025 Spring Honors Capstone Projects - Archive

As corporate sustainability becomes a growing priority, Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) reporting has gained significant importance in the ability to assess the impact and accountability of a company. However, governance-related challenges such as conflicts of interest, transparency gaps, and weak accountability structures continue to undermine the reliability of ESG disclosures, which are intended to provide stakeholders and investors with a clear, standardized view of a company’s sustainability practices. This study explores how governance failures impact ESG reporting effectiveness and examine strategies for improvement. Through conducting a systematic literature review, this research synthesizes findings from academic studies and industry articles …

Fixed Income Fund Report, May 2025, Archway Investment Fund

Archway Investment Fund

No abstract provided.

Equity Fund Monthly Report, May 2025, Archway Investment Fund

Archway Investment Fund

No abstract provided.

Students Win Three Trophies At St. Louis American Advertising Awards, Lindenwood University

Archived Lindenwood Press Releases

No abstract provided.

Deepfakes On Trial: Developing A High-Accuracy, Court-Admissible Ai Pipeline For Deepfake Detection In Corporate Fraud Litigation, Aiden J. Green

Honors College Theses

As deepfake technology advances, cybercriminals are increasingly using AI-generated videos and audios to impersonate executives and carry out sophisticated CEO fraud schemes. These synthetic forgeries target human trust and corporate communication systems, creating an urgent need for forensic tools capable of authenticating digital evidence with legal accuracy. This thesis presents a forensic-grade AI deepfake detection pipeline designed for this purpose, emphasizing courtroom admissibility, reproducibility, and evidentiary integrity. Built entirely with free, opensource tools, the framework combines metadata analysis, AI-powered spectrogram analysis, neural artifact detection, and facial manipulation recognition into a transparent workflow that accurately identifies synthetic media. It was trained …

Empowering Diversity: A Comprehensvie Approach To Minority Risk Management Education, Jahqethea Johnson

Applied Science Program: Theses

Federal programs are pivotal to the foundation of the United States agricultural sector. Program payments impact the economic well-being of agricultural producers, yet accessibility, outreach and education disparities remain prevalent among socially disadvantaged producer and agriculturists. From 2020-2024, an average of $21.7 billion dollars in federal agricultural payments have been paid to producers. Although federal funding historically supports commodity crops, livestock producers also depend on a distinct set of federal risk management programs, which are often less visible but pertinent for operational sustainability. There is a growing focus on the need for addressing disparities faced by socially disadvantaged producers and …

Comparative Analysis Of Legal Systems: Unraveling The Key Distinctions Between The United States And Spain, Lucy Vanover

Finance Undergraduate Honors Theses

This paper explores the key differences between self-defense laws in the United States and Spain, two countries with distinct legal frameworks. In the U.S., self-defense is governed by a variety of laws that discuss the scope of reasonable force and apply this framework on the basis of precedent. In contrast, Spain, under the Civil Code, applies a more unified approach to self- defense.

A 360 Perspective About Corporate Finance, Braden C. Fancher

Finance Undergraduate Honors Theses

This thesis provides a comprehensive reflection on the author's experience in the “Finance 360” rotational internship program at Burns & McDonnell, a program designed to expose interns to the diverse functions within a corporate finance and accounting department. Over the course of 10 weeks, the author completed 12 different rotations, gaining hands-on experience across various financial disciplines. This paper highlights five rotations—Operational Financial Analysts, Financial Analytics, Internal Audit, Project Accounting, and Investments—that had the greatest impact on reshaping the author’s understanding of corporate finance. These experiences revealed the deep integration of finance with accounting, analytics, and strategic decision-making, far beyond …

Small Business Development In The Tourism Industry In Dangriga, Belize, Jonathan R. Kasper

Finance Undergraduate Honors Theses

The thesis, Small Business Development in the Tourism Industry in Dangriga, Belize, examines efforts to bolster economic opportunities and entrepreneurial resilience in a culturally rich but economically underserved town. The project focused on addressing the underperformance of Dangriga’s tourism sector relative to other Belizean destinations, despite its potential. By engaging directly with local entrepreneurs and organizations, the initiative aimed to improve marketing practices, digital presence, and long-term business viability through practical interventions.

Major accomplishments included the development of a reservation-capable website for the Bonefish Hotel, social media and marketing consultations for various small businesses, and advisory work for the …

Comparative Analysis Of The Community Reinvestment Act And The B Impact Assessment, Ella G. Claborn

Finance Undergraduate Honors Theses

This thesis presents a comparative analysis of the Community Reinvestment (CRA) and the B Corp Certification through the B-Impact Assessment (BIA). The CRA was enacted in 1977 and is a mandatory regulatory measure aimed at addressing discriminatory lending practices and encouraging equitable credit distribution in underserved communities. In contrast, the BIA is a voluntary assessment developed by the nonprofit B Lab to evaluate a company’s social, environmental and governance practices, which lead to B Corp Certification. This analysis explores the historical background, mission, methodology, success metrics and financial costs associated with each framework. Ultimately, this thesis highlights how both models, …

The Price Of Profit: A Literature Review On Private Equity's Impact On Patient Care And Healthcare Costs, Sahil Shrimankar

Finance Undergraduate Honors Theses

In healthcare, private equity (PE) firms have rapidly expanded their presence across sectors, acquiring and consolidating providers. They typically operate on short investment cycles and employ strategies like heavy debt financing, roll-ups of fragmented practices, and aggressive cost-cutting to maximize returns. This expansion has sparked debate: supporters argue PE provides needed capital and efficiency to struggling providers, while critics contend that profit-driven ownership risks compromising care quality and access. This literature review synthesizes current evidence on how PE’s profit-driven approach affects patient care and healthcare costs. Overall, the findings suggest that PE ownership often raises costs—through higher prices and increased …

The Role Of Social Media In Shaping Investment Trends Among College Students, Catherine C. Hammer

Finance Undergraduate Honors Theses

Social media has become an increasingly influential force in shaping financial behaviors, particularly among younger generations. This study examines the role of digital platforms in financial education, investment decision-making, and market participation among Gen Z and Millennials. Through a comprehensive analysis of existing literature, case studies, and survey data, this research explores the benefits and risks associated with relying on social media for financial guidance. While social media provides unprecedented access to financial knowledge, empowering young investors with real-time market insights and investment strategies, it also presents challenges such as misinformation, speculative trading behaviors, and the rise of unregulated "finfluencers." …

Decoding Oncology-Focused Biotechnology Firms: Lifecycle Analysis And Predictive Insights For Valuation From A Junior Associate's Perspective, Kesav P. Chandrasekhar

Finance Undergraduate Honors Theses

Oncology-focused biotechnology firms present unique valuation challenges due to high R&D costs, long development timelines, and uncertain clinical outcomes. This thesis addresses such challenges by integrating the clinical development lifecycle with financial valuation models to provide predictive insights into company value. A structured framework is developed that primarily focuses on stage-specific probabilities of success (PoS) for drug candidates and their impact on firm valuation, embedded in techniques such sum-of-the-parts (SOTP) analysis. By quantitatively linking clinical trial phases and likelihoods of approval to cash flow projections, the model enables a more realistic, risk-adjusted estimation of a biotech firm's worth. Through lifecycle …

The Impact Of Irrigation On Agricultural Land Values In The United States Southeast And An Analysis Of Farmland Prices In South Carolina, Christopher L. Thomas

All Theses

Land is a key component of the agriculture industry in the United States. According to the United States Department of Agriculture, farm real estate (land and buildings) accounted for 82.8% of total US farm sector assets in 2022, consequently making land the largest source of wealth in a farmer’s investment portfolio and the primary source of collateral used for farm operating loans. The Southeastern region of the United States has seen rapid farmland appreciation and intense population growth in recent years. This research investigates the rising farmland prices across the Southeast from both a regional and state-level perspective. Chapter Two …

Emotion Analysis And Topic Modelling Of Supply Chain Discussion During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Suhong Li, Fang Chen, Thomas Ngniatedema

Information Systems and Analytics Department Faculty Journal Articles

This study aims to investigate the supply chain discussion during the COVID-19 pandemic using the supply chain tweets collected between March 2020 and May 2022 globally. The findings reveal an evolving sentiment trajectory: while the users’ sentiment remained neutral in 2020 and 2021, a negative sentiment surged starting in January 2022. Moreover, an emotion analysis indicates a mix of sadness and optimism among Twitter users, with anger gradually intensifying from June 2021 onward. Furthermore, topic modeling reveals distinct themes discussed each year. In 2020, major topics centered around the government’s response to COVID-19, food and medical supply chain crises. By …

Faculty Perception Of Lean Thinking In Higher Education, Mikhail Shilov

All-Inclusive List of Electronic Theses and Dissertations

There are many challenges that higher education institutions (HEI) are facing that include rising cost of education, reduction in student population, competition from other universities and alternative educational platforms, as well as reduction in public confidence. To stay competitive, HEIs could utilize performance improvement methods that have been proven to be advantageous in manufacturing and other industries, and one of these methodologies is Lean. Application of Lean in higher education is still in the early stages of development, the methods have been mostly used to improve administrative processes, but not as much in the core educational processes, teaching and research. …

Applause, Anonymous

Touche Ross Publications

No abstract provided.

The Influence Of Political Uncertainty On Financial Markets During U.S. Elections: A Comprehensive Analysis, Ryan Hale

Finance Undergraduate Honors Theses

This thesis examines the impact of U.S. presidential elections on financial market performance, focusing on volatility, investor behavior, and market returns. Political uncertainty during election years often triggers market fluctuations, influencing investor confidence, policy expectations, and sector-specific reactions. By analyzing historical election-year data, this study identifies consistent patterns of increased volatility, shifts in investor sentiment, and post-election market stabilization. Findings suggest that while short-term uncertainty affects market behavior, long-term investment strategies should prioritize broader economic trends over election-driven fluctuations. These insights provide practical guidance for investors navigating politically uncertain environments.

Treasury Analysis & The Digital Divide, Alivia Shaver

Finance Undergraduate Honors Theses

This paper outlines the daily tasks of a Treasury Analyst Intern and highlights the problematic issues that arise from the digital divide in the telecommunications industry.

Telehealth And Medical Consumerism In The Digital Age, Yibing Hu

Finance Undergraduate Honors Theses

This paper discusses the role of telehealth in medical consumerism. As a cheap and convenient model of healthcare, telehealth enables patients to access healthcare regardless of location, as long as they have the necessary technology.

In the current healthcare landscape, insurance policies and high costs push patients to act as consumers of medical services. With the rise of telehealth as another healthcare option, the medical sector further becomes consumer-oriented. This ultimately changes the way patients interact with healthcare.

Exploring Emotional Intelligence As A Determinant Of Sales Performance: An Analysis Using The Ability Model Of Emotional Intelligence, Madison A. Kuntz

Finance Undergraduate Honors Theses

This multi-phase research project explores the evolving role of emotional intelligence in the sales profession by focusing on four key themes: comprehending the intricacies of the sales field, understanding emotional intelligence, comparing emotional quotient to traditional sales tactics, and ultimately, harnessing emotional intelligence as a sales advantage. The study begins with an in-depth review of emotional intelligence theories and models, ultimately selecting the Ability Model as the framework for further analysis. Using this model, an emotional intelligence assessment was administered to students participating in the Walton College Sales Competition. Statistical analysis was then conducted to determine whether a correlation exists …

How Individuals’ Perceptions Of Health-Related Content On Social Media Are Shaped: The Impact Of Information Sources And Message Characteristics, Grace Mclain Hensley

Undergraduate Honors Thesis Collection

Social media platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, and X, serve as major sources of health-related information. However, the credibility and accuracy of this information remain a critical concern. This study used a 2 x 3 between subject experiment design to examine the effects of two information sources (individual influencers, nonprofit organizations) and three message types (general message, message with statistics, message with testimony) on perceived credibility and engagement. Participants were recruited through two primary channels to ensure a diverse and engaged sample. First, an email invitation was distributed by the head of the Butler University Honors Program to all students within …