Business Analytics Commons^™

The Design And Manufacturing Process Of The Concealed Shelf, Clarence A. Matthews Iv

Honors Theses

The Haley Barbour Center for Manufacturing Excellence (CME) at the University of Mississippi challenges students to manufacture a product and put forth a balanced manufacturing line in a senior capstone project. The chosen product was a concealed shelf, or a shelf with a hidden compartment. The team aimed to design a product, formulate a project plan, analyze the market, conduct financial analysis, develop a prototype, establish a manufacturing process, and demonstrate that process in two production runs. The team used tools such as Computer Aided Design (CAD), market surveys, jig creation, and line balancing to accomplish these tasks. After two …

Accounting In Practice: An Analysis Of Real-World Business And Regulatory Case Studies, Claire E. Coursey

Honors Theses

This thesis consists of several accounting case studies completed throughout two semesters of Honors Accountancy 420 under the direction of Dr. Victoria Dickinson. The projects combined both individual and group work and focused on applying accounting knowledge to real-world business situations and current events. Each case study required research, analysis, and evaluation of topics related to financial reporting, auditing, regulation, and corporate operations. Throughout the fall semester, the case studies introduced a variety of accounting and business topics that helped develop research, analytical, and communication skills. During the spring semester, the primary focus shifted toward analyzing the potential impact of …

Large Language Models As A Detector For Political Deepfakes, Gracie L. Roberts

Honors Theses

The advancement of generative artificial intelligence has allowed for the creation of highly realistic political deepfakes, posing significant threats to democratic integrity and trust in governmental institutions. This study investigates the effectiveness of Large Language Models (LLMs) as detectors for political deepfakes, specifically exploring their ability to address the transferability, interpretability, and robustness limitations inherent in traditional detection systems.

The research was conducted in four steps including data collection, model selection, experimental testing, and evaluation. Two datasets were used in this study. The first dataset uses 833 fake images from the Political Deepfake Incidents Database (PDID) and 833 real images …

Manufacturing Of A Wooden Tortilla Press: Idea To Production, Glenn H. Walker

Honors Theses

The purpose of this thesis is to document the design, development, and manufacturing of a wooden tortilla press completed as a capstone project through the Center for Manufacturing Excellence (CME). The project follows a structured product development process that began with problem definition and concept development, progressed through design, prototyping, and jig fabrication, and culminated in a full production run on the CME shop floor. A multidisciplinary team, including engineers, a marketer, and an accountant, collaborated throughout the project to support both technical development and manufacturing execution. Project planning and scheduling were established early and maintained throughout the project to …

Accounting In A Changing Landscape: A Collection Of Case Studies, Rachel K. Rowe

Honors Theses

This thesis comprises six independent yet interconnected case studies that reflect on a range of modern accounting and regulatory topics. These cases were written under the direction of Dr. Victoria Dickinson during two semesters of the Professional Research and Development Thesis Program at the University of Mississippi. The purpose of this class is to provide students with the opportunity to research cases that have real-world applications in the field of accounting.

The first case explores Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) issues, emphasizing the increased importance of reporting for them and the growing role of accountants in sustainability assurance. The second …

Final Practicum Thesis And Portfolio From Accy 421: Professional Development Reviewing The Economic Effects Of Maha Initiatives On Conagra Brands Financial Statements And Studies On Business Professionals, Everett B. Heuer

Honors Theses

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the potential legislative changes brought about by Robert F Kennedy Jr. and the “Make America Healthy Again” campaign to uncover possible financial effects to Conagra Brands’ next fiscal year. This was achieved through research on RFK’s opinions on American food culture from sources such as interviews and Senate confirmation hearings. Findings included disapproval of seed oils and artificial food dyes that could affect Conagra Brands’ subsidiaries. After reviewing Conagra Brands’ 10k for the previous fiscal year as well as mission statements and core values, the team developed multiple plans for Conagra Brands …

Financial Assessment Of Executive Decision-Making And Risk Management: A Case Study Of Autozone, Carolina Hollis

Honors Theses

This area of investigation pertains to the business organizational structure, executive summary, and risk management decisions of AutoZone within the 2022-2023 fiscal year. This analysis was performed by examining previous financial records, the yearly 10-K report, and various research databases regarding the financial performance of retail auto part companies. Many different sources were used to gather information about AutoZone. AutoZone has an intricate financial system that maintains the going concern by addressing current issues within the financial world to combat problems they could face in the future. These risk factors include inflation, interest rates, energy prices, political climates, and supply …

Financial Accounting Case Studies, Porter May

Honors Theses

In this thesis, a series of case studies are presented, which were undertaken as part of the ACCY 420 course during the 2022-2023 academic year. The cases encompass a diverse range of subjects, including but not limited to Environmental Social Governance (ESG), audit risks, and tax planning strategies. Additionally, contemporary events such as the downfall of Silicon Valley Bank and the financial market crisis of 2008 were scrutinized. The studies involved both individual and collaborative efforts to gather substantial evidence. The first five cases concentrate on the analysis of Flowers Foods and its financial standing. A team of five students, …

A Collection Of Accounting Case Studies, Danielle Gonsoulin

Honors Theses

Over the course of a year, I performed case studies on various economic and financial topics and events. For the first half of the year, I worked in a group with three of my peers to develop audit, advisory, and tax plans for a publicly traded company named Agilysys. We evaluated economic conditions and the company’s financial and nonfinancial data to determine what areas both internally and externally the company can target in order to improve its operations. Once the four case studies were written and reviewed, we created a slideshow and presented our ideas on Zoom to a group …

A 360-Degree Approach To Accounting, Kaleel Salloum Iii

Honors Theses

This thesis consists of one year of research related to the modern day accounting and financial industry. There are numerous topics that are covered, with the first four sections being related to one company’s financial statements and operating conditions. Each of these sections includes their own abstract that outlines the scope of the research. The remaining parts of the thesis are topics, events, and industries related to modern day accounting. This research was completed and submitted to the faculty of The University of Mississippi in partial fulfillment of the requirements of the Sally McDonnell Barksdale Honors College.

An Examination Of Financial Accounting Through Case Studies And Discussion, Andrew Meyer

Honors Theses

This thesis is a collection of eleven case studies completed over the course of the 2021-2022 academic year in the Patterson School of Accountancy in the ACCY 420 course, under the direction of Dr. Victoria Dickinson. The cases cover a broad array of concepts within the field of accounting. A few examples of topics include the impact of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on business in America, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the financials of Pfizer Inc., and an interview with a successful entrepreneur. From Case 6 on, the thesis is comprised of an analysis of the …

Combatting Consolidation In The United States Banking Industry: An Analysis Of Performance And Strategy Of First National Bank Of Clarksdale, Lydia Johnsey

Honors Theses

This thesis is based on a submission with group members in the 2023 Case Study Competition for the Conference of State Bank Supervisors. This thesis includes additional background information not included in the original competition paper in order to clarify the competition standards and goal of the paper. This thesis evaluates First National Bank of Clarksdale with respect to two areas: financial analysis, which evaluates earnings performance, loan portfolio composition, asset growth, capital levels, and liquidity of the bank; and strategy, which includes staffing, succession, training, and technology strategies instituted by bank management. Data from the bank’s Uniform Bank Performance …

Case Study Summary: Johnson & Johnson And Macy's Inc., Cameron Richardson

Honors Theses

This thesis, over a one-year period, covers conclusions derived from research on two different companies: Johnson & Johnson and Macy’s Inc. Through a two-semester course taken within the scope of the honors college alongside Dr. Victoria Dickinson, I, alongside my respective group members for each company, were able to compile a thorough analysis of risks and business strategies the two corporations could identify and implement to manage present and future complications. This analysis followed standard conventions of the accounting profession, as our research was focused on identifying risks and strategies affiliated with audit, tax, and advisory services, modeling how professional …

Case Studies In Accountancy, Michael Keene

Honors Theses

Case Studies in Accountancy is a compilation of case studies completed in fulfillment of ACCY 420. My cases are titled as followed: A Tale of Two Cities, Financial Statements, Presidential Debate, Tax Cuts and Job Act and Taxodus, Professional Interview, Financial Crisis, Case Competition Amazon Overview, Case Competition Amazon Audit Analyst, Case Competition Amazon Tax Advisor, Case Competition Amazon Advisory Consultant and Case Competition Amazon’s Equity Position. These cases covered a variety of topics in the world of accountancy as well as touching on our personal lives. In the first semester of the course, cases were typically individual before moving …

Accounting Case Studies, Jack Mcinnis

Honors Theses

Accounting Case Studies is a compilation of independent case studies performed during the Honors Accounting 420 class. The case studies consisted of multiple performed individually, and a case competition with an assigned group. The case studies I performed individually consist of an assessment between the two cities I was interested in beginning my career in, a case study about the presidential debate in 2020, an evaluation of the optimal corporate tax, a mentorship interview, and an analysis of the 2008 housing crisis in the United States. My group for the case study included my fellow classmates; Francena Sekul, Caitlyn Henry, …

Fundamental Principles Of Accounting: A Series Of Case Analyses, Bridget Mcmillan

Honors Theses

Over the past four years at the University of Mississippi, I acquired knowledge about the accounting profession and the application of accounting principles that have arisen throughout the evolution of modern professional accounting. For the thesis requirement in accordance with the standards set by the Patterson School of Accountancy and the Sally McDonnell Barksdale Honors College, I completed a series of case studies covering a variety of topics related to the study of accounting. Under the direction of Victoria Dickinson, I completed these cases over the 2019-2020 academic year. Each case introduces a unique topic and presents findings about various …

A Comprehensive Evaluation Of Accounting: A Series Of Case Studies, Emma Acheson

Honors Theses

The following thesis is a compilation of the evaluation and solutions derived from a variety of case studies provided regarding a variation of accounting topics related to financial accounting. Each case presented in this thesis is accompanied by an analysis describing the valuable knowledge that was extracted from each unique study. Through these case studies, real-world accounting concepts can be observed in accordance with the Generally Accepted Accounting Principles as set by the Financial Accounting Standards Board. In addition to the analyses of these case studies, the completion of this thesis involved participation in two accounting case competitions. These presentations …

A Comprehensive Analysis Of The Accounting Environment And Procedures Through A Series Of Case Studies, Ryan Mccarty

Honors Theses

The following thesis is a culmination of twelve case studies completed throughout the academic year of 2018-2019 under the direction of Dr. Victoria Dickinson, as a requirement of the Sally McDonnell Barksdale Honors College and completion of the ACCY 420 course. Each case study is independent of the next, and is an in-depth response to questions and theories that are found outside of this document. Each analysis is accomplished by myself alone and through the studies of Financial, Managerial, and Cost accounting courses in my career at the University of Mississippi. The thesis is intended to analyze accounting procedures and …

Comprehensive Case Studies Of Financial Reporting Principles And Professional Development Topics, Caroline Bailey

Honors Theses

The purpose of this paper was to investigate financial reporting and professional development topics through the analysis of twelve original cases. The following case studies were completed over the course of a nine months in an independent study class in fulfillment of the requirements of the Sally McDonnell Barksdale Honors College, under the direction of Dr. Victoria Dickinson. Topics looked at included, but were not limited to, data analytic software, the creation of basic financial statements, treatment of various types of debt securities sales, and capitalization v. expensing of costs. Each case study introduced a new topic centered around a …

Applying Lean Manufacturing Principles At Vip Cinema: Standardizing Hardware Assembly Workstations, Cameron Koch

Honors Theses

This paper will explore the benefits of standardization and consistency in a manufacturing setting by demonstrating the value of improved tooling and organization. “Lean Manufacturing” is the broad term used to describe key principles that can be applied to most businesses to reduce waste and increase efficiency. This ideology’s theme is to maximize customer value while minimizing waste. The purpose of its adoption is to transform managers and operators into experts of identifying the deficiencies in many manufacturing and assembly processes and implementing changes that can lead to enormous improvements in takt time, production output, and ultimately, profitability. At VIP …

Case Analyses In Financial Accounting, Jordan Watts

Honors Theses

The following thesis explores topics in the profession of public accounting, a diverse and ever-evolving field. As the global business environment and economy develop, so must accounting standards and ideas in order to protect the interests of the masses who invest and take part in the larger economy. The following cases expound on important concepts in the field of accountancy and provide careful consideration of standards utilized and debated worldwide. Each case is explored within the context of a different company or situation, allowing for a diverse palette of research topics from which to view the business world through an …