Business Administration, Management, and Operations Commons^™

Mindful Symbiotic Ecosystems. Designing For Women In Remote Workspaces, Andrea Guevara Araujo

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Women represent 61% of designers in the workforce but hold only 29% of leadership roles. This disparity highlights a critical need for an ecosystem that removes barriers and cultivates mentorship, community, and leadership among women (Bolt, 2020). Even though women have proven their ability to succeed in male-dominated corporate cultures, the real question is not about capability but sustainability. Driven by overwork, competition, and burnout, the workplace does not just push women out; it leads to long-term instability for the entire organization (Krivkovich et al., 2024). In the workplace, a culture of masculinity reinforces harmful, outdated mindsets and glorifies aggressive, …

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 …

Bridging The Gap: Management Vs. Leadership And The Path To Mastering Both, Wesley A. Key

Marketing Undergraduate Honors Theses

Management and leadership, though often conflated, represent distinct but complementary skills that are critical for organizational success. This thesis aims to explore the fundamental differences between management and leadership, highlighting how these roles interact and the necessity for individuals to master both to excel in today’s dynamic business environment. Drawing on theoretical frameworks from psychology, organizational behavior, and case studies, this research synthesizes academic literature to address key questions: What core competencies distinguish leaders from managers? How do these competencies align or conflict with one another in real-world settings? And what practical steps can individuals take to develop proficiency in …

Peaking Today, Taking It Easy Tomorrow: Daily Performance Dynamics Of Working Long Hours, Lieke L. Ten Brummelhuis, Charles Calderwood, Christopher C. Rosen, Alison S. Gabriel

Management Faculty Publications and Presentations

Underlying the “ideal worker” image that pervades many organizational cultures is the assumption that working longer hours equates to higher performance, despite recovery research that suggests that long work hours might actually impair future work performance. In an effort to reconcile these differences in how long work hours are thought to relate to job performance, we develop and test a conceptual model in which daily boosts in same-day performance associated with working longer hours could be offset by lower next-day performance. More specifically, we examine if working a longer day than usual reduces sleep, which has the potential to diminish …

How The Russia & Ukraine War Is Contributing To Raw Materials Shortages In The Aerospace Industry, Ava Magness

Supply Chain Management Undergraduate Honors Theses

The aerospace industry, a key driver of the global economy, generates annual revenues exceeding $750 billion and is projected to reach $1.38 trillion by 2030. A substantial portion of this revenue—approximately $300 billion—stems from raw materials, which are integral to the manufacturing of aerospace components. These materials, including titanium, aluminum alloys, palladium, and neon, are essential due to their unique properties, such as lightweight strength, heat resistance, and suitability for extreme conditions.

However, the industry's dependence on limited geopolitical suppliers has exposed vulnerabilities in global supply chains. The Russo-Ukrainian War has significantly disrupted the availability of critical materials like titanium, …

Supply Chain Management Internship – J.B. Hunt Transportation Services, Inc., Kroopa Gandhi

Supply Chain Management Undergraduate Honors Theses

Transportation is all over the world as it is a part of our daily lives. It connects the supply chain from sourcing raw goods from suppliers to delivering finished products to stores. Whether by road, rail, air, or sea, transportation bridges the geographical gaps that separate markets and economies, ensuring the timely delivery of essential goods, and fostering economic growth and development. Since beginning of my fall semester of 2023, I had the opportunity to intern at J.B. Hunt Transport Services Inc. as an Intermodal Appointment Intern. My experience has deepened my appreciation for the complexities of the industry and …

Three Essays Examining Technology Adoption And The Role Of Physicians In Improving Efficiency, Quality And Reducing Risk In Healthcare Supply Chains, Rajib Dutta

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Hospitals across the USA are operating under extreme financial stress and looking for opportunities to improve financial stability and maximize bottom-line savings. As supply chain function accounts for up to 40 percent of total hospital operating cost, hospital leaders are increasingly viewing the healthcare supply chain as a potential area for efficiency gain and cost reduction. The recipe for effective and efficient care delivery is to synchronize the flow of supplies with patient needs by integrating products, processes, and information while complying with government regulations. Therefore, proper management of inventory, role of government policies in shaping hospital strategies, adoption of …

Breaking The Silence: Exploring The Impact Of Supervisor Vulnerability On Menstrual Disclosures At Work, Marilla Hayman

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Management research has traditionally overlooked the significance of the human body in the workplace. However, recent recognition of organizational body work has prompted the examination of biological processes such as pregnancy and breastfeeding. Menstruation, however, has received little attention, despite the challenges faced by menstruating employees. The invisibility and silence around menstruation at work hinders managers' understanding of employee needs and prevents employees from accessing needed accommodations. An important first step in remedying this problem is understanding the factors influencing employees to disclose their menstrual symptoms and seek support. Bringing together theories of organizational body work and concealable stigmas, this …

Corporate Crisis Management: A Contemporary Best Practices Template, Vivek Narayan

Finance Undergraduate Honors Theses

This paper seeks to re-envision the crisis management framework used by organizations in their day-to-day activities. In the modern world, with exponential technological advancements, the social media age, and the 24/7 news cycle, crises have worsened in severity. Despite this, most literature on the subject is more than a decade old.

Incorporating past literature, this thesis demonstrates that society is in an “era of crises,” then defines and discusses the types and origins of these crises. It compares the topics of issues and crisis management before commentating on corporate and academic literature and ultimately previous 3-stage models for crisis management. …

How Supply Chains Respond To Disruptions: Three Essays On Responses To Operational, Geopolitical, And Natural Disaster Disruptions, Travis Kulpa

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The ability to respond to supply chain disruptions efficiently and effectively is a highly sought after capability, particularly in light of recent events such as the COVID-19 pandemic, geopolitical conflicts, and major natural disasters. These events have led researchers, practitioners, and policymakers to ask: how can we better use our resources to respond to supply chain disruptions? This dissertation examines responses to the three main types of supply chain disruptions: operational disruptions, geopolitical disruptions, and natural disasters. The first study examines how US importers adjust between air and containerized transportation in response to shipment delays and abnormally high demand from …

Decoding Generation Z: A Perceptions Content Analysis, Olivia Larson

Agricultural Education, Communications and Technology Undergraduate Honors Theses

This thesis explores the multifaceted nature of Generation Z through a content analysis, aiming to identify the range of characteristics and preferences within this cohort. By delving beyond prevalent stereotypes, this study addresses the gap in understanding regarding Generation Z's learning styles, communication preferences, work ethics, and personal values. Through examination, this research provides insights crucial for marketers and educators seeking to engage and educate Generation Z effectively.

Developing And Modernizing Small Businesses In Dangriga, Belize, Abby Teague

Management Undergraduate Honors Theses

This thesis evaluates the effectiveness of the Small Business Development project located in Dangriga, Belize, and includes research on the challenges of entrepreneurship in developing countries. The project consisted of research and the implementation of marketing workshops to teach businesses how to manage their online and social media presence through the Belize Tourism Industry Association (BTIA) Dangriga. The impact of the project was significantly important because many Belizeans struggle to survive and succeed within their businesses. Belize contains multiple microenterprises that cannot meet their potential because of a lack of knowledge and communication. Overall, the project aims to give BTIA …

Utilizing Horizontal Integration For Expansion And Resource Optimization: A Comprehensive Business Plan For Cc Furniture Shipments, Connor Long Clinton

Management Undergraduate Honors Theses

Although delivery companies are not in short supply, CC Furniture Shipments aims to differentiate by providing more unique offerings to higher-end customers. Whereas CC Furniture Shipments will act as its own entity, it will work in conjunction with the retail store Interior Fabrics and Design in Fayetteville, Arkansas. Resources like moving vehicles, clientele, and wholesale connections will be shared between the two companies. These connections will provide the basis on which to build a platform that will provide consumers with everything they would need to revitalize their home or business. One major requirement for many wholesalers is access to a …

Small And Mighty: An Analysis Of Foundational Aspects Of Small Family Firms And Their Corporate Social Responsibility, Ashlyn Crosby

Accounting Undergraduate Honors Theses

This thesis investigates the foundational aspects of small family firms to understand how their unique characteristics create differences among various types of firms. This review examines five key business components: operations, longevity, innovation, succession, and decision-making within these firms. The analysis in this report focuses on businesses that operate within the United States. When considering the American economic model, it is also vital to consider the corporate social responsibility (CSR) of small businesses and, due to its emergence as an integral aspect of contemporary business practices, the impact on society, the environment, and stakeholders. While CSR is frequently associated with …

The Effects Of Short-Term Rentals On Communities And How To Legislate Them: An Expanded Literary Review, William Cherry

Finance Undergraduate Honors Theses

A literary review of the economic and socioeconomic effects of short-term rental properties, specifically the commercialization of the industry based upon other research studies. An in-depth look at how commercialized short-term rentals effect the younger generation, hospitality industry, housing market, communities they reside in, and other externalities. A further review of different legal case studies of short-term rental legislation in major cities across the globe and their varying degrees of effectiveness.

An Analysis Of A Changing Supreme Court Viewed Through Students For Fair Admissions V. President And Fellows Of Harvard College, Reed Fagg

Finance Undergraduate Honors Theses

An analysis of the Students for Fair Admissions v. President and Fellows of Harvard College and Students for Admissions v. the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill to better understand the changes in the Supreme Court. Breaking down of the argument and a study of societal impacts.

Innovation Unveiled: The Power Of Innovative Experiences On Undergraduate Development, Alexander Cummings

Finance Undergraduate Honors Theses

A paper analyzing my experiences participating in the McMillon Innovation Studio and other OEI programs and their impact on my development during my undergraduate education.
It explores how these experiences can positively affect students of all backgrounds and how universities can work to improve these programs to further amplify their effects.

Forya.Ai Business Plan, Landen Usher

Finance Undergraduate Honors Theses

This thesis presents a comprehensive business plan for Forya.AI, an innovative artificial intelligence-powered platform designed to streamline social media content creation for churches. The platform distinguishes itself by automating the generation of engaging content, leveraging church-provided images to produce visually appealing posts accompanied by contextually relevant captions. By integrating advanced AI algorithms, Forya.AI analyzes uploaded images, identifies thematic elements, and crafts captions that resonate with the spiritual and community values of the church. This process not only enhances the digital presence of religious organizations but also significantly reduces the time and financial resources traditionally required for content development. The business …

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 …

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

Business Plan For Seamless Custom Clothing Designs, Bella Steketee

Marketing Undergraduate Honors Theses

The following Honors Thesis demonstrates a business plan for Seamless Custom Clothing Designs, an Artificial Intelligence platform that offers customers the ability to design their own clothing items to their preferred level of customization. All components of a start-up business operation are included.

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 …

The Extreme Rise Of The Fast Fashion Industry From Country To Country: Does Consumer Behavior Differ Cross Culturally Regarding Fast Fashion Between The United States And European Countries?, Madison R. Feuerbacher

Apparel Merchandising and Product Development Undergraduate Honors Theses

Abstract

The apparel industry has various categories of fashion. One of these categories known more readily today as fast fashion. Fast fashion has gained immense global popularity over the past decade. The concept of fast fashion apparel involves producing vast amounts of product as quick as possible to sell to the consumer at an aggressively low price. It is important to understand this current phenomenon of the global rise of fast fashion as well as understand the devastating effects our environment is facing because of it. As the vocalization of the harmful effects of fast fashion have become more prevalent …

Impact Of Leadership In Project Management, Ian Wegh

Information Systems Undergraduate Honors Theses

Today’s business environment demands effective project management for enterprises to meet their goals and continue to be innovative. Inherently, this also means that project managers must have strong leadership skills. Project management provides a framework of techniques that provides a symbiotic relationship between both the framework and the leader. The idea behind project management is to complete objectives efficiently within a certain time period given a restricted number of resources. This means project management is a process of principles, tools, and methodologies used to effectively manage a team through the System Development Life Cycle. The System Development Life Cycle (SDLC) …

Navigating The Campus Labyrinth: A Guide For Internship Success, Ashley Peterson

Supply Chain Management Undergraduate Honors Theses

In order to help incoming college students navigate their way through interviews, networking and eventually landing an internship, I have compiled all that I have done and learned through my college career to land my dream internship. Navigating through the hundreds of organizations on campus can be exhausting and cause burnout, which is why I am sharing what I believe helped me, what I think was worth my time, and what I wish I would have done differently. I will also share the ups and downs of my internship which led to me receiving a return offer with the Fortune …

Exploring Success Factors Of Women Senior Leaders In The United States Paper Manufacturing Operations Industry: A Phenomenological Study, Ericka Eggleston

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study is to understand how women describe their journey to becoming senior leaders within the operations sector of the Paper Manufacturing Industry. This study will provide insights about how women in the male-dominated Paper Manufacturing Industry (PMI) assumed leadership positions. This pre-registered study will offer the framework for this study to be carried out at the University of Arkansas. The researcher will apply a descriptive phenomenological approach that will use semi-structured questions to understand the strategies they used to navigate their career path. Snowball sampling will be used to select 5-15 participants who provide their perceptions …

Essays Examining Humanitarian Supply Chains: Investigating Operational Characteristics, Activities, And Performance, Llord Brooks

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

As the frequency and severity of disasters continue to increase, the need for collaboration amongst all humanitarian stakeholders in humanitarian supply chain activities during all aspects of the disaster cycle has become more critical to the success of relief operations. Humanitarian non-governmental organizations (NGOs) are voluntary organizations operating in highly dynamic and chaotic environments to provide aid to people in need. But as the impact of disaster increases and the funding becomes more limited and competitive, they face mounting pressures from stakeholders to improve the quality of their operations. Similarly, private organizations are also under higher levels of scrutiny to …

The Role Of Platform Openness In Complementary Innovation, Jia Wei

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The two important roles in a platform ecosystem are platform owners and complementors that cooperate to create value through indirect network effects. To facilitate such cooperation, platforms implement platform openness to provide significant resources for their complementors. Granting complementors access to platform core resources through application programming interfaces enables complementors to access the platform’s core development assets such as built-in software functionalities, data, and the user base. This resource provision is the dominant way for platforms to “open” their platform to complementors. While platform openness has attracted scholarly attention, there is a gap in understanding the role of platform openness …

Sharing Economy Last Mile Delivery: Three Essays Addressing Operational Challenges, Customer Expectations, And Supply Uncertainty, Nicolò Masorgo

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Last mile delivery has become a critical competitive dimension facing retail supply chains. At the same time, the emergence of sharing economy platforms has introduced unique operational challenges and benefits that enable and inhibit retailers’ last mile delivery goals. This dissertation investigates key challenges faced by crowdshipping platforms used in last mile delivery related to crowdsourced delivery drivers, driver-customer interaction, and customer expectations. We investigate the research questions of this dissertation through a multi-method design approach, complementing a rich archival dataset comprised of several million orders retrieved from a Fortune 100 retail crowdshipping platform, with scenario-based experiments. Specifically, the first …

The Impact Of The Corporate Workspace On Employee Happiness And Turnover Rate, Sarah Ayla Johnston

Management Undergraduate Honors Theses

The physical workspace is one that we can see, touch and smell (Morgan, 2018). From the floor layout to the furniture that fills the space, it all makes up the physical workspace where employees come to work. Physical workspaces can also include a cafeteria, gym, arcade area, etc. Prior studies have shown that small, yet meaningful modifications can be made to achieve an optimal workspace (Heitzman, 2018). The purpose of this study is to collect data from employees who conduct work in different office layouts to see how their physical workspace affects their overall happiness and their intent of staying …