Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations Commons^™

Teaching Sql In An On-Line Learning Environment: Considering For Selecting A Relational Database, Marion Smith

Southwestern Business Administration Journal

In today’s business environment, students entering the workplace are expected to have problem-solving skills as well as an understanding of fundamental database concepts. Interns and new hires must be able to identify, extract and manipulate data that typically reside in a relational database. To meet this expectation, students are introduced to database concepts and SQL in a variety of courses. This paper discusses instructor considerations when selecting a database management system for teaching SQ on-line

Navigating Economic Headwinds, Dilhan Pillay Sandrasegara

Perspectives@SMU

Temasek’s CEO Dilhan Pillay Sandrasegara believes Southeast Asia will be a bright spot amidst global headwinds. Being a networked organisation could make all the difference.

Why We Chose To Partner In A Corporate Practice, Michael Scialabba Dds

The Journal of the Michigan Dental Association

This article addresses the changing landscape of dental practice ownership and the growing importance of DSOs. The article discusses the journey of Great Hill Dental Partners from its inception at the advent of the Affordable Care Act in 2009 to become a fully functional, doctor-owned DSO.

The author emphasizes the need for practitioners to consider partnering with DSOs, especially in the face of rising challenges in the dental industry, such as increased administrative demands, reduced reimbursements, and the complexity of digital marketing and compliance. They outline the factors to evaluate when considering a DSO, including culture, support for clinical care, …

Trends And Expectations For Dentistry, Christopher J. Smiley Dds

The Journal of the Michigan Dental Association

The dental industry is experiencing significant changes, with the rise of Dental Support Organizations (DSOs) and corporate dentistry as a dominant model. Economic trends have attracted venture capitalists to invest in dentistry, leading to the growth of DSOs. While some practitioners worry about losing independence, the trend toward DSOs is driven by practice sales by retiring dentists, high educational debt for graduates limiting their ability to finance a traditional practice purchase, and the need for investment to modernize and achieve efficiencies. A desire for work-life balance may guide a clinician to choose this practice option. The number of solo practitioners …

Mda At Your Service: Is It Too Late To File For An Employee Retention Tax Credit?, Eric Tye Dds, Angela Kanazeh Ms, Cmp

The Journal of the Michigan Dental Association

The Employee Retention Tax Credit (ERTC) remains available for businesses affected by COVID-19, allowing them to claim a tax credit of up to $26,000 per employee. Eligibility criteria include a mandated shutdown, revenue decrease, COVID-19 impact, or supply chain disruption. Even businesses with forgiven PPP loans can apply for ERTC. The credit covers 2020 and the first three quarters of 2021 and must be filed by December 31, 2023. Dental Business Specialists can assist with ERTC filings. Changing your name upon marriage as a licensed professional, obtaining labor employment posters, and reducing credit card processing fees through MDA-endorsed programs are …

The Relationships Among Locus Of Control, The Impostor Phenomenon, And Math Anxiety In Business Majors, Tiffany L. S. Tovey, Stephanie Kelly, Wiley Brown

International Journal for Business Education

The importance of quantitative literacy in business education cannot be overstated. A barrier to enhancing quantitative skills for many business majors is their math anxiety, an angst some individuals experience when working with numbers. This study explored the relationship between math anxiety, locus of control, and impostor phenomenon in business students. 220 business students (undergraduate and graduate) from a two moderately sized southeastern universities in the United States participated in an online survey that assessed these three phenomena. A linear regression was run to understand the relationships among the variables. The results indicated that more than one fifth of math …

The Terrorist Laffer Curve:Rationality And Insurgency In Iraq, 2004-2008, Dennis S. Edwards

Southern University College of Business E-Journal

While the original framework by Arthur Laffer focused on tax rates and the resulting revenue from such taxation, the Laffer curve has been applied to other studies in behavior as well. This paper details evidence of a Laffer curve in Iraq with respect to terrorist violence and Iraqi public support of that violence against the U.S.-led coalition forces. As insurgents began killing more Iraqi citizens in their attacks on U.S.-led forces, the increased lethality caused initial support of such violence to erode. As a result, the high-level terrorist hierarchy has suggested that its operatives reduce lethality and indiscriminate bombings.

J Mich Dent Assoc July 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 July 2022 issue, the reader will find the following original content:

• A cover feature on negotiating reimbursement rates with PPO contracts.
• A cover feature on guarding against employee embezzlement.
• A 10-Minute EBD on rampant caries management and prevention with ADHD patients taking stimulant medications.
• A Back Page look at the 2022 MDA award winners.
• News you need: an Editorial, guidance on dental practice cybersecurity, and regular department …

Red Flags And Risks: Unpleasant Surprises When An Office Manager Suddenly Leaves, David Harris Cpa

The Journal of the Michigan Dental Association

Losing an office manager can pose significant challenges for dental practices. This article delves into the red flags and potential risks that may accompany an office manager's sudden departure, shedding light on the importance of understanding the circumstances surrounding their exit. The article highlights how embezzlement can be a reason behind unexplained departures and emphasizes the need to assess the situation more deeply. It explores account ownership issues that can hinder practice owners from accessing crucial business information, particularly in embezzlement investigations. The article recommends proactive measures for practice owners to secure access to vital accounts to prevent potential issues …

Quality And Transparency, Christopher J. Smiley Dds

The Journal of the Michigan Dental Association

In a recent JDR Clinical & Translational Research report, the American Dental Association's clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) were determined to offer high-quality guidance for the dental profession. The study employed the AGREE II tool to validate the ADA's guidelines’ methodological rigor and transparency, ensuring their quality. This external review is promising for the profession, as it indicates that the ADA has developed reliable CPGs that support advocacy and implementation. However, the article raises questions about consumer-targeted quality scores for dentist providers, such as DentaQual by P&R Dental Strategies LLC. It suggests that for such scoring systems to be credible, they …

Dentistry And The Law: Risk Of Employment Discrimination In Job Advertisements, Dan Schulte Jd

The Journal of the Michigan Dental Association

Employment discrimination in job advertisements that include religious references, such as statements like "faith-based practice" or symbols like crosses, is a legal concern. Federal and Michigan state laws, particularly the Elliot Larson Civil Rights Act (ELCRA), prohibit discrimination in employment, encompassing various protected classes. ELCRA applies to all employers in Michigan, regardless of their size. Violating ELCRA can lead to legal consequences, including injunctive relief and compensatory damages. Including such references or symbols in job ads can be used as evidence against employers in discrimination claims, even if rejected candidates have lesser qualifications. Publishers of these ads are also at …

Marketing Activity Influences On Brand Attractiveness & Loyalty, Keiondre' Mcallister

McNair Scholars Research

While selecting a specific brand could seem simple, many variables are considered. Consumers must trust that the chosen brand meets their needs by providing value. Value differs for everyone; however, four value pillars within the value creation pyramid could explain which value attracts the consumer most to a brand. These value elements will be explored to explain consumer preferences.

Entrepreneurial Orientation Impact On Micro And Small Enterprises In Egypt, Fayrouz Negm

Theses and Dissertations

The aim of the proposed study is to test and analyze the impact of Entrepreneurial Orientation (EO) on micro and small enterprises’ growth in Egypt, measured by three growth indicators: sales revenue, profit margin, and employment. The growth rates are measured over four periods (past three years, past year, next year, and next three years) to examine the historical and potential impact of EO on growth rates.

EO is defined as the process which organizations use to renew themselves and their markets by innovativeness, proactiveness, and risk-taking (Miller, 1983). While EO is considered one of the crucial factors in determining …

Analysis Of The Comovement Of Unemployment In Midwestern States, Tammy Rapp Parker

Southern University College of Business E-Journal

The current paper investigates the interrelatedness of twelve Midwestern states through the comovement of unemployment rates. Due to their geographic location, we would anticipate similarities and comovement among macroeconomic variables. The results show that although most of the bivariate pairings do show a relationship. Five of the sixty-five pairings show no indication of cointegration among their unemployment rates. Each of these five pairings includes North Dakota. The paper investigates geographic and socioeconomic similarities between these states to try to explain these results.

Baumol And Bowen Cost Effects In Research Universities, Robert E. Martin

Southern University College of Business E-Journal

We estimate cost models for both public and private research universities and use partial differentials from these models to estimate different cost effects. The results suggest both Baumol’s cost disease and Bowen’s revenue theory drive cost higher and that Bowen effects are larger than Baumol effects. Tight revenue since 2008 reversed some declines in productivity and accelerated the trend in economizing on the use of tenure track faculty. This behavior under loose and tight revenue constraints is consistent with Bowen’s revenue theory.

Under What Circumstances Are Chinese Entrepreneurs Reluctant To Go Public, Ting Huang

Dissertations and Theses Collection (Open Access)

As secondary stock markets often overestimate corporate value, many Chinese entrepreneurs seek to achieve their wealth targets by going public. However, some companies in China do not want to go public. This paper utilises multi-case research methods to develop theories about which factors lead to corporate reluctance to go public. Case studies show that compared with entrepreneurs with lower shareholdings, entrepreneurs with higher shareholdings have stronger long-term orientations and a greater desire for control and are more reluctant to go public. Industry characteristics affect entrepreneurs’ long-term orientation, desire for control, and early listing experience, thus influencing their listing decision-making. Empirical …

Staff Matters: More Tips For Hiring And Developing A Great Staff, Jodi Schafer Sphr, Shrm-Scp

The Journal of the Michigan Dental Association

Addressing the challenge of hiring staff in the current job market, this Staff Matters column provides insights for dental practices. With a focus on creating an attractive work culture, the article suggests developing partnerships with educational institutions and emphasizes the importance of continuous learning opportunities. The author encourages practices to define key skills, establish clear expectations, and implement training processes for effective communication, conflict resolution, and teamwork. Emphasizing the role of ongoing coaching and mentoring, the column outlines the necessity of investing in training and development to build a skilled and cohesive dental team.

Dentistry And The Law: Purchase Price Allocation When Selling Your Practice, Dan Schulte Jd

The Journal of the Michigan Dental Association

This Dentistry & the Law column advises a dentist on the importance of carefully considering the purchase price allocation when selling a dental practice. While the initial letter of intent may contain such terms, the author emphasizes that they are not binding, and negotiations on the purchase agreement will determine the final allocation. The article highlights the significance of tax implications for both the seller and the buyer, urging involvement of an attorney and accountant in the process. The Internal Revenue Code's requirements for purchase price allocation and potential tension in negotiations are discussed, emphasizing the need for informed decision-making.

Entrepreneurship And Heterogeneity Among Firms' Strategies: Three Essays, Xi Zhang

Dissertations

The first essay of this dissertation focuses on the entrepreneurship survival in the early stage, during which time an entrepreneur plays the game at the "edge of chaos" and improvises in real-time to learn the strategic playing field. It examines the social networks of entrepreneurs and the impact on new venture survival. Specifically, it explores how the entrepreneurs' social connections with other entrepreneurs and their types of employment differentially affect survival during the different stages of the entrepreneurial journey in the United States and India. Using the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) dataset, this study documents not only how the social …

Developing An Assessment Model For Entrepreneurship Ecosystems Using Hierarchical Decision Model: Case Study Of Riyadh City, Mustafa Kamal Almuzel

Dissertations and Theses

Entrepreneurship is one of the major drivers of economies. Countries that aim to improve their economies by increasing entrepreneurial activities and its effectiveness need to develop an effective entrepreneurship ecosystem. This ecosystem combines a set of domains and factors that create a healthy environment for entrepreneurs. The analysis shows that there is limited research about structured assessment methods to evaluate the entrepreneurship ecosystems.

Therefore, this research objective is to introduce a universal assessment model that can be adopted in different cities for implementing an effective entrepreneurial ecosystem. This will be achieved by addressing three main research questions. 1) What are …

Executive Peer Advisory Groups: Who They Are? What Are Their Benefits? Why Do Members Join And Stay?, Andrew Feghali

Dissertations

Executive peer advisory groups (EPAGs) are exclusive organizations in which chief executive officers (CEOs) and presidents of businesses can problem solve business challenges, discuss business strategies, share best practices, and solve critical growth and performance issues. Executive peer advisory groups are based on the premise that the collective experience and resources of peer groups empower like-minded executives to solve challenges more effectively and more rapidly than they could do on their own. A key component of EPAGs is the forum, in which six to 16 members meet, typically monthly, in small-group sessions to function as each other’s personal advisory boards. …

The Rise Of American Food In China, Shiyan Wang

Master's Projects and Capstones

Over the years, American food has become more and more popular in China. Today, the Chinese are more open to trying new cuisines. To fully understand the forces that have catalyzed the growing presence of American foods in China, my research project demonstrates the complex web of factors that shape how American food businesses’ presence in China has changed over the last decade. Examining a diversity of sources, including existing trend data, my analysis focuses on the domestic and global factors that have facilitated the growing presence of American food restaurants in China. Using this research as a jumping off …

The Significance Of Sonic Branding To Strategically Stimulate Consumer Behavior: Content Analysis Of Four Interviews From Jeanna Isham’S “Sound In Marketing” Podcast, Ina Beilina

Student Theses and Dissertations

Purpose:
Sonic branding is not just about composing jingles like McDonald’s “I’m Lovin’ It.” Sonic branding is an industry that strategically designs a cohesive auditory component of a brand’s corporate identity. This paper examines the psychological impact of music and sound on consumer behavior reviewing studies from the past 40 years and investigates the significance of stimulating auditory perception by infusing sound in consumer experience in the modern 2020s.

Design/methodology/approach:
Qualitative content analysis of audio media was used to test two hypotheses. Four archival oral interview recordings from Jeanna Isham’s podcast “Sound in Marketing” featuring the sonic branding experts …

Getting Ahead And Getting Along In Entrepreneurial Networks: Network Effects Of The “Dark” And “Light” Sides Of Personality In New Venture Performance, Victoria Antin Yates

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation explores how dark and light personality traits influence venture performance via mediating effects of social structure. Because entrepreneurship is an inherently social process, theoretical perspectives of social network theory and social comparison theory are used to examine how entrepreneurs’ dark and light personality traits interact with personality traits of socially proximal others to influence venture performance via network structure. These perspectives are drawn together using socioanalytic theory. This dissertation argues that agreeableness and narcissism interact with the personality traits of network others at the group-level to influence structural hole positioning within entrepreneurial networks; in turn, structural holes are …

Creating A Healthy Rural Ecosystem For Community Vitality: Developing Rural Community Business Research, Karalyn Kutzer, Dr. Emily Newell

Thinking Matters Symposium

The objective of this project is to create a model of and mechanism for statewide, systematic data collection to support workforce development pathways for P-20 students in rural Maine to ensure the long-term vitality and success of these communities. Businesses, as sites of financial and social capital development, can be more thoughtfully calibrated to local workforce needs in these communities. However, data is not currently made available to businesses and community leaders that would allow them to make thoughtful decisions about how to use community resources and time in order to create these partnerships. Businesses and economic growth in rural …

Arclothmasks: A Pandemic Startup Journey, Adam Jackson

Information Systems Undergraduate Honors Theses

Covid-19 changed the way the world operated when it became a pandemic in 2020. The need for personal protection equipment was unexpected and suppliers were not prepared for the demand. The government mandate of masks furthered the need of PPE across the nation. To help fill this shortage, many companies began to retool their manufacturing processes from clothing to masks. This thesis will dive into one PPE company and its journey from the start of the pandemic. The business plan for the company will follow it along with graphs and charts that help tell the tale of the startup.

Insomnovation – Natural Sleep Solutions Business Plan, Nikolas Limperis

Finance Undergraduate Honors Theses

Currently, 70 million Americans suffer from some sort of sleep issues from trouble falling asleep, trouble staying asleep, and daytime drowsiness. However, the sleep solutions on the market today are either highly artificial or only address the symptoms of sleep issues rather than the underlying cause. This is what Insomnovation seeks to address. By providing supplementation to seven key vitamins and minerals, Insomnovation hopes to bring a natural solution to put the issue of sleep disorders to rest.

Event Planning: Understanding The Process Through Gained Experience And Research, Taylor M. Ansuini

Creativity and Change Leadership Graduate Student Master's Projects

Event Planning: Understanding the Process Through Gained Experience and Research

Event planning is a complex and challenging job as it requires a creative, driven individual who excels as a multitasker and problem solver. The focus of this master’s project is to engage in a deeper understanding and gain volunteer experience as part of an event planner’s team in preparation for a desired future career in the field. Both communication with and opportunities to work with local event planners assisted with accelerating experience and insight into the field of event planning. The outcomes of the project include insights into various volunteer …

The Many Sides Of Social Capital: How Social Capital Is Related To Entrepreneurship?, Vivian M. Williams

Student Theses and Dissertations

This study explores two questions about the relationship between social capital and entrepreneurship that have not received much attention. The first is, how different dimensions of social capital relate to entrepreneurship? The second is, to what extent community social capital is related to the level of entrepreneurship among marginal and dominant members of a community? Social capital is the benefits derived from social connections. We know about the positive aspects of the relationship between social capital but it is also important to examine if there are negative effects. Further, community social capital, which is the aggregate level of social capital …

Covid-19’S Impact On Dental Practice: Managing With Less Support, Christopher J. Smiley Dds

The Journal of the Michigan Dental Association

This editorial explores the impact of COVID-19 on dental practice, focusing on the challenges of managing with reduced support due to workforce shortages. The author shares personal experiences highlighting broader workforce realities, including stress, compensation concerns, and a desire for work-life balance contributing to the "Great Resignation." The dental field, already facing shortages, witnesses increased competition for skilled professionals, with corporate dentistry exacerbating the situation. The editorial discusses potential solutions, such as revising delegation rules, addressing relicensure barriers, and advocating for higher education funding. The lasting changes in dental practice administration and patient care delivery post-COVID-19, including potential shifts in …