bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Implications Of The Risk-Based Capital Requirements Of Implicit Recourse In Asset Securitizations In The Banking Industry
Authors: Kane Stephen A. , Muzere Mark L.
Published: February 2016

We consider implications of the risk-based capital requirements of implicit recourse in asset securitizations. These implications include issues in finance such as risk management and contracting between counterparties. The first part of our analysis deals with asset securitizations where originating institutions provide investors with implicit recourse. We show that the risk-based capital requirements associated with the new regulatory definition of implicit recourse may discourage some banks from offering implicit recourse in their asset securitizations. This suggests that the new regulatory definition of implicit recourse may be a workable compromise between supervisory regulators and originating institutions. We then consider a scenario where banks enter into reinsurance contracting with banks in other regions to mitigate some regional economic risks. These reinsurance contracts may enable banks to improve the performance of their balance sheet assets. Although we find weak correlation among equity returns for regional banks, future high correlation among bank portfolios could pose a problem to regulators because when a bank gets into financial distress this may spill over to other network banks. Widening yield spreads in asset securitizations might serve as an early warning signal of financial distress. Thus, regulators might devote more supervisory resources on originating institutions when their asset securitization yield spreads widen.
The Impact Of Human Interaction On The Development Of Virtual Teams
Authors: Nunes Silas T. , Osho Gbolahan Solomon , Nealy Chynette
Published: February 2016

Virtual teams have revolutionized the ways in which organizations are able to improve business efficiency and productivity in the new era of globalization and information technology. Despite constant advancements in computer technology, virtual teams success continues to depend heavily on the ability of their members to communicate well and trust each other. This paper presents elements of successful virtual teams and accentuates the need for improved human interaction skills.
ERP System Implementation At A Small Engineering Company: Size Does Matter
Authors: Cooney Vance , Pratt Pamela , Olsen David
Published: February 2016

This case regards a company pseudonymously referred to as Johnson Precision Instruments, Inc, that, faced with Y2K compliance, decided to deal with it by adopting Oracle’s ERP solution, Oracle Applications.

 

As recently as the mid to late nineteen eighties, traditional business applications comprising an organization's information infrastructure used data that either resided in proprietary file structures or was easily represented by the relational database model, in either event resulting in an ever proliferating set of non-integrated, heterogeneous systems.  In today’s business climate, access to information is key to competitive advantage, but both data and IT architectures have become increasingly complex, so a single system model is currently deemed desirable to reduce or eliminate the deleterious effects associated with the proliferation phenomenon.  This single system model (that would serendipitously solve as Johnson Precision Instruments,  Inc.'s  (JPII) Y2K problem as well) is typically embodied in the implementation of the Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) process, but this solution carries it's own costs and risks as this case makes clear.
Resistance To Liberalization: The Effects Of Individual Decision Making On Opposition To Multilateral Liberalization Through The WTO
Authors: Vargha Lynda D.
Published: February 2016

This paper examines the sources of the resistance to liberalization in the United States and its effects on the political climate in which the WTO member nations continue to pursue liberalization.  This analysis utilizes the findings of mainstream economic theory to argue that opposition to the WTO is rooted in rational economic decision-making. A majority-voting model is used to more formally illustrate that this rational decision making affects the composition of public opposition and results in a resistance to liberalization by a majority of the populace, even if a majority will benefit from the movement toward free trade.  The paper concludes with a discussion of the policy implications of the theoretical analysis focusing on the importance of Trade Adjustment Assistance and continued multilateral liberalization through the WTO.
Instability Of Risk Loadings Of Industrial Stocks
Authors: He Ling T.
Published: February 2016

By using the Flexible Least Squares (FLS) method, this study visibly shows the time variation paths of risk loadings for industrial stocks. Significant structural changes in time variation paths of risk loadings are verified by the OLS results and largely consistent with major economic and political events in the U.S. history.
Decision Trees And Quality Control Decisions
Authors: Zebda Awni
Published: February 2016

Bayesian decision tree analysis has been widely used as a basis for quality control decision making.  Recently, the traditional decision tree analysis has been criticized for requiring a lot of calculations and, therefore, being inefficient.  This paper presents a simplified and efficient decision tree analysis for quality control decision making that improves the efficiency of the traditional decision analysis by reducing substantially the number of calculations required to solve decision problems.  For some decision problems, the proposed analysis reduces the number of calculations required to solve decision problems by more than 75%.

 

Some researchers provided modified decision trees (Game trees and Scenario trees) that attempt to preserve the advantages of the traditional trees while improving their efficiency.  However, these other modified decision trees may not be as efficient as the traditional analysis because they do not allow for the use of the coalescence procedure in the case of symmetrical decision problems.
Managerial Incentives And Changes In Corporate Focus
Authors: Best Ronald W. , Hodges Charles W. , Lin Bing-Xuan
Published: February 2016

We examine how Chief Executive Officer (CEO) equity ownership, CEO tenure, and the percentage of options in CEO annual compensation are related to decisions regarding changes in corporate focus.  We document that the CEOs whose companies change their level of corporate focus have significant differences from CEOs whose firms do not change focus.  However, we find no differences in the characteristics of CEOs who increase their firm’s level of diversification and the CEOs who decrease their firm’s level of diversification.  Firm characteristics, such as size or whether the firm sells at a premium or discount to its peers, are better predictors of changes in corporate focus than CEO characteristics. Overall, we find no evidence that changes in diversification are related to self-serving managers attempting to maximize their own wealth.
Corporate Sexual Harassment Policies: Effective Strategic Human Resource Management
Authors: Trotter Richard , Zacur Susan Rawson
Published: February 2016

To avoid successful sexual harassment claims against them, companies must work to prevent harassment from occurring through an effective sexual harassment policy, work to train employees through well designed programs for all levels of the organization, and promptly respond to any employee complaint.  This article provides guidance for employers in these activities.
The Success Of Chains: Customer Loyalty Or Customer Comfort?
Authors: Rinehart Shelley M. , MacAulay K. Doreen
Published: February 2016

The quest to understand customer behaviour has led researchers down many interesting paths. Is it satisfaction with the product, a feeling of belonging, a basic need, or perhaps something more? The literature lends itself to many theories and constructs that try to pin point what makes the consumer tick. Generally the literature defines both physical and psychological aspects of the consumer, that can help better predict the behaviour of the market. The research leaves many questions: Does one rely on the other? Are we measuring too much? Or are we missing the main points? This paper will look at the psychological aspect of the literature in trying to develop the Consumer Comfort construct (Spake, Beatty, Brockman and Crutchfield 2003), and to identify the basic determinates needed to measure buyer behaviour.
The Impact Of Internet Marketing On Profitability
Authors: Wang Hwei Cheng , Chen Ninghsin , Chang Hsain-Jane
Published: February 2016

With the internet user increased, the internet marketing becomes a hot and new marketing channel to sell and buy through internet meanwhile changes buyer behavior. This study examine whether internet marketing become a popular marketing channel or a key marketing channel for the company in future.  This paper reports the results of an empirical study of the marketing channel choices (internet and catalog) have different marketing costs to cause different performances on firm profitability. Data on financial statements from internet and catalog retail of COMPUSTAT database that were in existence in 2002 were examined and statistically analyzed the profitability. Comparisons are made, through a series of T-tests, to determine the profitability of their different retail marketing channel choices. The results indicated statistically significant differences in ROE, ROA, and ROS between internet and catalog retail, therefore, the adoption and implementation of different retail marketing channel choices such as internet and catalog did have a different profitability. The results concluded that internet retail or on-line retail may be an additional marketing channel for the company but it can not be a key retail marketing channel due to the negative means of t-test results on internet profitability.
Financing The Firm: Venture Capital And Initial Public Offerings
Authors: Damanpour Faramarz , Mavrokordatos Pete
Published: February 2016

Venture capital and initial public offerings have been the backbone of the development of new business firms for many years. However, the recent abnormal growth of stock market in the 1990s, especially the creation of the many new technology firms, has boosted venture capital formation and initial public offerings. This paper intends to shed light on the type and formation of the IPOs in 1999-­2000, including the process involved, the stages of capital funding, the allotment pricing, and the risk and effects of flipping.  It concludes with a brief discussion of the three new and successful IPOs.
Measuring Business Performance: Emerging Perspectives Of The Balanced Scorecard
Authors: McGinty Robert
Published: February 2016

Benchmarking business performance over time is an emerging managerial capability that is used for continuous improvement of existing value adding activities and processes that become leading indicators of strategic success.  To achieve this success, corporations first define success, and then they decide how to get there from where they are presently.  Financial information has long been the language of business with accountants adding up the numbers and defining success in bottom-line figures.  What have been missing are the non-financial elements of business enterprises, elements that can be quantified and linked to the bottom line as predictors of financial success. This paper utilizes Kaplan & Norton’s Balanced Scorecard (BSC) and an extensive pilot study of ski resorts to explore an awareness of using non-financial information as a supplement to financial information in explaining overall strategic performance in one segment of the tourism industry.

 

Leading and lagging indicators of a non-financial nature were used in the study to help focus on the strategic and operational management practices at selected ski resorts in Colorado, Montana, Canada, and the Pacific Northwest.  A list of potential critical success factors and non-critical success factors that help build value and best business practices for ski resort management, were identified through written and oral interview survey techniques following a combination Delphi & Nominal Group Techniques.  Previous work on the balanced scorecard by Kaplan and Norton aided in the identification and description of indicators within each of four balanced perspectives.  Recognition of the intuitive elements of non-financial measures represents a departure from prevalent theory that favors the more traditional financial perspective.
Extended Enterprise Metrics: The Key To Achieving Synthesized Effectiveness
Authors: Kamauff John W. , Smith Darlene Brannigan , Spekman Robert
Published: February 2016

In this paper we argue that the Extended Enterprise is a natural response to changing competitive dynamics and is predicated upon adapting some of the traditional performance measures.  We examine how the constructs of the Balanced Scorecard, Economic Profit (or Economic Value Added) and boundary spanning metrics such as the cash-to-cash cycle are useful tools for developing metrics for the Extended Enterprise.  We illustrate that when these measures are jointly adopted they can help to drive the integrating behaviors that epitomize the truly revolutionary Extended Enterprise.  The key phrase here is integrative – what is good for one must be good for all since the true competitive battle is fought supply chain against supply chain.
Home Health Care Services: A Look At Audit Opinion Announcements And The Contagion Or Competitive Effect On Rival Firms
Authors: Elliott R. Stephen , Schaub Mark
Published: February 2016

With the aging of the American population and the increase in demand for health care services, we can expect an increase in investment activity in the health care market.  This study focuses on whether intra-industry information transfers from going-concern audit opinion announcements create contagion or competitive stock price reactions in rival home health care firms.  Data are derived from a sample of firms traded on the NASDAQ, the New York Stock Exchange, or the American Stock Exchange.  Average standardized abnormal returns for each firm are computed during an 8-year period.  The findings suggest a dominating competitive effect for rival home health care and miscellaneous home service firms significant at the .05 level.
The Impact Of Accounting Scandals On Accounting Students
Authors: Jackson Steven R.
Published: February 2016

At no other time in the history of the accounting profession has there been such an impact to the financial reporting function within the capital market structure. The institutions responsible for the financial reporting function are reeling from the fallout of these financial-reporting scandals. “Reports on the collapse of Enron, the bankruptcy of WorldCom, and a growing list of failures and near failures have exposed massive manipulations of financial reporting by management, inexplicable breakdowns in the independent audit process, astonishing revelations of holes in our financial-reporting standards and practices, and studding lapses of corporate governance”. (Sutton, 2002). As Sutton also points out, in this environment, investors and the public have become increasingly skeptical about a system that seems to be out of control.  The impact on perceptions of the investing public must also include students studying business and more specifically students studying accounting. This study uses a questionnaire developed by Gramling, et.al. (1996) to study the perceptions of auditing students before and after the above mentioned financial-reporting scandals. Students in two auditing classes, one before the scandals and one after, were given the questionnaire at the beginning of their auditing course. The results show a significant change in student perceptions concerning audit expectation issues after the scandals, but before they studied auditing. 
Innovative Activity And Change Tendencies Of Some Of Polish Industry's Economic Indicators
Authors: Mazurkiewicz Adam , Dobrodziej Jerzy , Sitkowska Rozalia
Published: February 2016

The article discusses innovation in Polish industry in light of OECD indicators and the authors' own study. The problem of innovation in Polish industry is presented from the point of view of the following topics: adjusting Polish industry's structures to the requirements of knowledge-based global industry; raising the efficiency of some industry sectors as a result of an improved transfer of innovative achievements, the concentration of capital available, especially that obtained from the EU Structural Funds and offset deal, on the investments conducive to the economy's growth by means of implementing innovative solutions.

 

The article presents the results of analyses of the economic indicators in some industry sectors in Poland based on innovative activity. In line with the Classification of Products by Activity in the European Union (CPA), the following sectors have been highlighted: the Sector of Consumer Goods Production, the Sector of Delivery Goods, the Sector of Investment Goods (the main vehicle of technological progress for Polish industry).

 

Based on the results of the analysis, change tendencies have been identified for economic indicators as enabled by innovative potential. Prognostic models for economic indicators have been proposed that help estimate the influence of innovative potential on the growth of Polish industry. An example has been presented for applying the prognostic model using an Artificial Intelligence Method.
Boards Of Advisors In Small Businesses: An Empirical Profile Of Their Composition And Use
Authors: Akers Michael D. , Giacomino Don E.
Published: February 2016

This article discusses the literature coverage on Boards of Advisors to date and provides the results of a study designed to determine the formation and composition of Boards of Advisors and the ways in which small businesses use such boards.  Our study surveyed the Chief Executive Officers or Presidents of a large sample of small businesses.  We found that there is very limited use of Boards of Advisors in small businesses and that many small business managers are not aware of the concept of a Board of Advisors.  However, those small business managers (97%) that use a Board of Advisors characterize their interaction with their Boards of Advisors as good or excellent. When selecting board members, the responding executives seek practical experience, good “common sense” and industry experience as the most important types of expertise.  Most board members were male (67%), active in business (90%), have managerial/strategy or law (52%) and are not compensated (53%). 
How To Motivate Knowledge Workers To Impact The Bottom Line
Authors: Turner Freda
Published: February 2016

Budget reductions, less volunteerism, increased needs for services, new governmental regulations, and downsizing have left non-profit organizations struggling to meet goals and objectives with fewer resources.  One way non-profit organizations can increase effectiveness is to tap into their own intellectual resources and implement an employee suggestion/involvement program. The labor force has emerged from a ‘hired hands’ concept to one of knowledge workers. It is estimated that approximately 35% of suggestions submitted by employees save time, money or identify strategies and/or processes for increased effectiveness (“Promote Your Employee Involvement Program”, 2003). Every workforce has creativity and experience within its ranks and if leaders properly tap their employee talent pool, there is potential to increase productivity.  Many organizations have downsized and re-engineered to the point that the next evolution of productivity gains will emerge from an organization’s own pool of knowledge workers.  This article provides examples from various organizations that have benefited from using employee suggestions, provides 15 strategies to build an effective program, and offers ideas to increase employee participation.
E-Commerce And Small Business Enterprise Some Evidence From Northern New Jersey
Authors: Mwaura Muroki F. , Nyaboga Andrew B.
Published: February 2016

The purpose of this research was to investigate the extent to which small businesses in Northern New Jersey are prepared for e-commerce. The Internet has changed the market place and the face of business more dramatically than any other technological innovation since the Industrial Revolution. In the last ten years, the Internet has changed and fundamentally restructured business to business, business to consumer and consumer to consumer relationships. Internet based commerce is estimated to be growing at the rate of 200% per annum and the volume of Internet commerce is estimated to exceed $2 trillion by 2003.
Information Technology Training For Under-Represented Minority Teachers And Students
Authors: Eyob Ephrem , Quaye Ago , Omojokun Emmanuel
Published: February 2016

This paper will present an attempt for addressing the high rate of under-representation of minority students and teachers in Information Technology (IT) in low income localities. It appears that these communities have been left behind during the economic boom of the dot.com experienced by the rest of the western world and the nation. The paper will discuss on strategies to alleviate the disparity between the ‘haves’ and ‘have not’ in information technology training, skills, and economic opportunity that can be availed through use of e-commerce and, generally, seeking information through the Internet. Our proposal is to train teachers and students in such communities to make difference in their lives and by mentoring the teachers and hopefully the knowledge passed to the teachers will reach their students in junior and high schools.
Common Stock Put Options: Gambling Without A Penalty
Authors: Anderson J. Richard
Published: February 2016

Companies have recently begun to speculate in their own stock by selling common stock put options. The subsequent exercise of these options often creates a loss of shareholder wealth that is not currently recognized due to antiquated accounting rules. This paper argues that it is clearly time for a change in the accounting treatment of these transactions.
Online Music Piracy: Are Lawsuits The Best Approach?
Authors: La Roche Claire R. , Flanigan Mary A. , Marks Melanie B.
Published: February 2016

In the age of digital technology, perfect copies of sound recordings may be easily made and shared in violation of copyright law.  Music piracy in the form of illegal downloading is a worldwide phenomenon that has a significant impact on the music industry.   In response to the perceived threat to the music industry, lawsuits have been filed in the United States and abroad based on copyright infringement for illegally downloading music. This paper examines copyright law, case law, and recent litigation.  In the wake of legal efforts to curtail illegal downloading, a survey of 112 undergraduate students was conducted in an effort to determine whether the lawsuits filed by the music industry are a deterrent to downloading music.  Potential solutions are proposed and economic consequences discussed.
The Relationship Between Organizational Ethical Culture And The Ethical Behavior Of Employees: A Study Of Accounting And Finance Professionals In The Insurance Industry Of United States
Authors: Ampofo Akwasi , Mujtaba Bahaudin , Cavico Frank , Tindall Laura
Published: February 2016

This study explores the relationship between organizational ethical culture and ethical behavior of accounting/finance professionals working in the insurance industry in the United States.  Results of 100 respondents in five different insurance organizations suggest that there is a significant relationship between organizational ethical culture and ethical behavioral intentions given bad debt write off and insider trading ethical vignettes. This was consistent with prior research findings that written (formal) and unwritten (informal) organizational policies significantly affect employees’ ethical decision-making (Sims and Keon, 2000 & 1997).  Key (1999) also argued that organizational culture sends messages as to sanctioned and unsanctioned behavior.
Energy Prices And The Global Economic Recovery
Authors: Crawford Peggy J. , Fredericks, Jr. Edward H.
Published: February 2016

Global economies seem on their way to recovery after the recent downturn.  However, one dilemma has emerged that could halt expansion and raise the specter of inflation – energy prices.
Using Calls And Puts As Risk Management Tools
Authors: Choi Ducksang
Published: February 2016

A very strong case is presented for why the financial manager of an electric utility company should use hedging strategies to ensue a continuous supply of natural gas to his/her utility.  A combination of hedging strategies has been presented and tested for the natural gas market.  The combination of strategies works and works well while substantially reducing risk at the same time.
A Theory Of Bust-Up Corporate Takeovers
Authors: Williams Thomas G. E. , Marquette Christopher J.
Published: February 2016

Quite often, the market value of a firm in parts exceeds its value as a single entity.  The maximum value can be attained in such instances, by splitting the firm up.  We observe several instances where a firm’s management breaks up the firm to achieve maximum value.  In other cases, firms require a change in management to initiate divestiture. Lastly, takeover by outsiders is sometimes required to split the firm up and sell it in parts to achieve full value.  This study provides an economic analysis of the payoffs to all parties involved in a corporate breakup.  Models of the costs and benefits to shareholders and management teams are developed for each of the three situations listed above to explain why the different circumstances occur in different cases.
Agency Costs And Corporate Financial Policies: A Simultaneous Equations Approach
Authors: Kim Yong H. , Rhim Jong C. , Kang Jun Gyu
Published: February 2016

Financial economists have devoted great attention to corporate financial policies, such as the firm’s capital structure. It is also understood that these policies are not determined independently, but jointly with other corporate policies such as dividend policy and ownership structure. The purpose of this paper is to incorporate the pension funding decision into this policy mix. The design and administration of a firm’s pension fund affects the firm because of the size and risks of the pension fund. The degree of funding of a defined benefit plan affects the value and risk of a company’s common shares. This paper simultaneously explains leverage, dividend policy, ownership structure, and pension funding using several independent variables that, based on agency theory, should affect these policies. The results are significant and reinforce the notion of simultaneous determination of corporate policies.
How Do The Small, Successful Companies In America Choose Their Auditors?
Authors: Addams H. Lon , Allred Anthony
Published: February 2016

The competition among audit firms is becoming increasingly intense.  The pressure to keep clients and gain new clients keeps managing partners on edge.  New business is the lifeblood of an audit firm.  Furthermore, the publicity surrounding giant companies like Enron, Tyco, WorldCom. et.al., and associated accounting practices has precipitated extra scrutiny of audit firms who present their audit proposals to companies for their business.
A Note On The Lack Of Statistical Optimality In The Judgment Of Solomon
Authors: Motlagh Cyrus K.
Published: February 2016

Solomon, in his most celebrated decision, threatened to cut a baby in half, calculated to elicit such testimony from a claimant that would allow him to identify the real mother and thus grant her custody. Comment from biblical scholars seems to run in the same direction, i.e. Solomon had insight into maternal love. When one of the females offered to withdraw her claim, to save the child, he identified her as the real mother, and this provided the foundation for his Judgment. While the evidentiary trap set by Solomon is genius, his use of the data produced by his trap lacked statistical optimality. The optimality of Solomon’s decision has never been challenged in the literature until now. This challenge is long overdue, considering the fact that this decision has been enshrined as the icon of “Superb decision making” in many cultures including our own. This paper points out that, in view of the testimony of the second woman, the optimal decision would have been to identify the second woman as an imposter. Custody should have been given to the first woman by default.
Holistic Information Support For Virtual Business Organization
Authors: Potocan Vojko
Published: February 2016

Assessing and implementing a virtual organizational provides an organization a template for increasing the control and viability of its operations. Under circumstances of restricted availability of factors and presently restrictive conditions of business operation, results can be improved by adequate information support for business operation. Various solutions are available to improve information support quality, while a primer example of important improvement of business is provided by a holistic information support of business, its management and basic processes. The business process is based upon the information basis with which we represent important characteristics of the examined field and the requisite additional knowledge (from both the content and methodological aspects). Holistic information support for business by means of a virtual organization presents an important viewpoint of its consideration, which, to a great extent, determines the quality of the entire business, and it also has a major impact on the results of business operation.
A Multivariate Statistical Approach to Compare Fringe Benefits Between Public and Private Sector Workers
Authors: Ramoni-Perazzi Josefa
Published: February 2016

This study relies on multivariate statistical analysis applied to the Health and Retirement Study (1992-2002) to approach the issue of public/private compensation differences. Particularly, principal components are used to uncover the internal structure of relationships among demographic variables, while multiple correspondence  analysis is used to describe and compare wages and fringe benefits between the two sectors. Results indicate the public sector compensates more its workers, not only by offering higher wages but also better non-wage monetary benefits.
Impact Of Asset Age/Fiscal Viability On Selected Measures Of Quality In Hospitals
Authors: Morey Jim , Scherzer Gary , Lee Hoseoup
Published: February 2016

Seventy-three New York hospitals were examined to determine if a relationship between age of assets, fiscal viability and quality of care existed.  These factors were examined for 2002 for each of the hospitals selected.  Several financial variables were used to construct a fiscal viability index; and a quality index was created from selected mortality outcomes and procedural measures that may be used to measure specific aspects of institutional care.  The premise that age of assets and fiscal viability will influence quality is gleaned from the Donabedian Model in which he proposed three domains important to the quality of health care.  Utilizing both the financial and quality of care indices, the following statistical models were prepared: Effect of asset age on fiscal viability index, Effect of asset age on individual fiscal viability measures, and Effect of asset age and fiscal viability index on quality index 
The Cost-Of-Living In Northwest Missouri
Authors: White Jason T.
Published: February 2016

The cost-of-living in Maryville is approximately 90.3% of the national average of 324 cities nationwide.  Eight Missouri cities participated in the official study under the rules of the American Chamber of Commerce Research Association (ACCRA).  Separate from this study, but applying identical standards of calculation during the same time period, we conducted a cost-of-living study for Maryville, Bethany and Trenton, Missouri.  Bethany’s cost-of-living came in at 94.9% of the national average, while Trenton’s was slightly higher, but still well below the national average, at 95.7%.  Incorporating these three city’s data into the Missouri Average as calculated by ACCRA yielded a 1.1% increase, making the cost-of-living for the state of Missouri 93.7%.  This resulted in a seventeenth place finish for Missouri when ranked against all other state composite indices.  Without our data included, the Missouri Department of Economic Development reported that during the 3rd quarter, 2002 the state had the thirteenth-lowest cost-of-living in the United States. 
The Spiritually-Guided Enterprise: Setting A Course Of Study
Authors: Smith Darlene B. , Hoadley Ellen D. , Desi Ronald
Published: February 2016

This paper begins an exploration of the intersection between Christianity and business with a focus on the spiritually-guided enterprise.  It examines the impact of Christian leadership on business and seeks to explore whether Christians run their businesses differently. The purpose is to pose reflective questions that will indicate potential research studies and that will lead to a greater understanding and knowledge of this intersection.
Money And Its Effect On U.S. Housing Sub-Markets: Evidence From The VAR Model
Authors: Kim Doh-Khul
Published: February 2016

Even though it is an area worth studying for policymakers, little research has in fact been done to observe differential effects of monetary policy on housing sub-markets; i.e., new home construction and existing home sales. Utilizing a vector autoregression (VAR) framework, this paper explores the response differentials across the two housing sub-markets in the short run. According to findings in this research, in the short run, the existing home sale market is relatively more affected by expansionary monetary policies than is the new home construction market. Thus, it is suggested policymakers should provide more motivating policies for both builders and consumers to encourage more economic activities in the new home construction market.
Life Planning / Strategic Planning / Financial Planning
Authors: Knaus E. J. Roy
Published: February 2016

This Paper examines a technique for doing ‘Life Planning’.   The technique is one that has been tested by the author in a number of sections of a business school’s capstone course.  The study is empirical in nature, applying concepts found, mainly, in strategic planning but, also in psychology, career planning and financial planning.
Steady State In A Markov Process
Authors: Lowenthal Franklin , Malek Massoud
Published: February 2016

It is well known that a Markov process whose transition matrix is regular approaches a steady-state distribution, or equilibrium distribution. To find these steady-state probabilities requires the solution of a system of linear homogenous equations. However, the matrix of this system is singular and thus the system has infinitely many solutions. This obstacle is overcome by replacing one of the equations of the linear homogenous system by the linear non-homogeneous equation that simply expresses the requirement that the steady-state probabilities sum to one. But which equation of the original system should be chosen to be the one replaced. This brief article demonstrates that any of the equations of the original linear system can be selected as the one to be replaced; no matter which one is selected for replacement; the revised linear system will have the same unique solution.
The Ethics Of Crisis Management: A Juxtaposition Of Examples In Cognitive-Decision Making And Framing In Corporate Crisis Management
Authors: Hagan Thain Y. , Long Shelby Jo
Published: February 2016

Ethical decision-making is a cognitive process that must be effectively managed within crisis situations that face corporations on a daily basis.  Two juxtaposed cases are presented that help to define good decision-making in crisis management and bad decision-making.  The two corporations used as case studies are Malden Mills and Enron.
Conceptualisation Of Operational Risk Management Models
Authors: Viney Christopher
Published: February 2016

Operational risk is evolving as a specialist field of risk management that must be practiced within all organisations, but currently has a particular relevance to banks. The Basel Committee on Banking Supervision has circulated a consultative paper which, if adopted by nation-state bank supervisors, will impose an operational risk capital charge on banks as part of a new Capital Accord. The definition of operational risk is wide-ranging and creates some unique issues related to the development of appropriate risk management models. This paper conceptualises two distinct operational risk management models; being a predictive model that will result in a known outcome upon its implementation, and a pre-emptive operational risk management model which prepares an organisation in the event that a future risk occurrence results in a disruption to critical business operations.
An Analysis Of SAS No. 99 And Its Impact On The Big Fraud In Kentucky
Authors: Noland Thomas G. , Washer Kenneth M.
Published: February 2016

Statement on Auditing Standards (SAS) No. 99 was implemented in 2002 and requires auditors to expand audit procedures to detect fraud.  This paper analyzes the impact the procedures outlined in SAS No. 99 would have made if they had been in effect at the time of one of the largest frauds in the history of Kentucky.  Wallace Wilkinson, former governor of Kentucky, was the target of FBI investigations at least seven times.  Wilkinson entangled such well-known names as the late Dave Thomas, founder of Wendy’s restaurants, in his fraud.  At the time of his death in July 2002, Wilkinson’s business empire was in bankruptcy after being kept afloat for years by one of the largest Ponzi schemes in the history of the state. 
Case Study: Decline In CIS/IT Degree Enrollment At A Medium-Sized University
Authors: Davis Gary Alan , Leone G. James
Published: February 2016

Within the past few years, colleges and universities in the United States and worldwide have noted a marked decline in the number of students enrolling in Computer and Information Systems (CIS) and Information Technology (IT) degree programs. With the potential for a rebounding U.S. economy, this shortage of new CIS and IT professionals gives cause for concern. The goal of the present research was to analyze CIS and IT enrollment trends at Robert Morris University and determine appropriate courses of action for meeting the anticipated demand for CIS/IT graduates. The study involved comparative and forecast analyses using actual student enrollment statistics and U.S. Department of Labor statistics. Forecast projections were determined out to and including the year 2013. The findings of the research suggest that CIS and IT degree enrollment at Robert Morris University lags associated employment trends in CIS/IT–related fields. Further, the findings parallel the analyses of other institutes of higher education, in which CIS/IT student enrollment projections are indicative of a shortage of information professionals over the next ten years. Based on the findings of the present study, the authors make several recommendations to Robert Morris University faculty and administration regarding strategies to address the ensuing CIS/IT skills gap.
The Glitch That Stole Christmas From The Pac-10
Authors: Teasley C. E. Wynn , Hornyak Martin J.
Published: February 2016

The Bowl Championship Series (BCS) employs a multi-criteria decision model (MCDM) to determine eligibility to play in the most elite college football bowls at the end of the season.  MCDM’s are widely used in business and government to make important decisions, including those with tremendous financial impacts.  The BCS college bowls have the biggest payouts involving several million dollars.  This year, the PAC-10 could have been the first football conference to place two teams in the BCS bowl.  What a Merry Christmas that would have been!  The payout would have been $2.75 million or $275 thousand per team.  Unfortunately, due to the use of a faulty MCDM that distorts the relationship between those football programs considered, a glitch in the BCS formula stole the Rose Bowl prestige and the money from the PAC-10 during the Christmas holidays.  Using appropriate multipliers, the economic impact in PAC-10 communities could have been very significant.   The implication for future competition through enhanced athletic facilities, for example, could have a sustained economic impact for several years in those communities.  It will be demonstrated in this paper that had the BCS employed a valid and consistent algorithm for determining a final score, even with the BCS’s own data, the University of California would have a higher score than the University of Texas and the PAC-10 would have benefited by $2.75 Million, and they would have a much merrier Christmas than they had from playing in the Holiday Bowl.
Financial Performance Of Wide-Moat Companies
Authors: Boyd David P.
Published: February 2016

Morningstar has identified 85 companies with wide economic moats.  According to Morningstar these firms enjoy structural advantages that create shareholder value.  This paper confirms the historical outperformance of these companies.
Accounting For Stock Based Employee Compensation: A Continuing Controversy
Authors: Wrege William , Myring Mark , Schroeder Joe
Published: February 2016

Stock options represent an increasingly significant component of executive compensation. Theoretically, the inclusion of stock options in executive compensation contracts motivates managers to take actions that increase the market value of the firm's stock. Accounting standards regulating the treatment of stock options continue to be controversial. The focus of this paper is to examine the accounting treatment of stock options. We begin by outlining the controversial history of accounting for stock options.  Next, we examine the alternative accounting treatments for stock option.  Finally, we critique the proposed changes to the methods of accounting for stock options.
Is The Indian Stock Market A Casino?
Authors: Azarmi Ted , Lazar Daniel , Jeyapaul Joseph
Published: February 2016

This paper examines the empirical association between stock market development and economic growth for a period of ten years around the Indian market “liberalization” event.  We find no support for the hypothesis that the Indian stock market development is associated with the economic growth in that country during the entire event study period of 1981 to 2001.  We find support for relevance of stock market to econmic development during the pre-liberalization sub-period.  We also find a negative correlation between stock market development and economic growth for the post-liberalization period.  We offer a number of hypotheses consistent with the inverse relationship between growth and stock market development in the post-liberalization period.  In particular, our results are consistent with the suggestion that the Indian Stock market is a casino for the sub-period of  post liberalization and for the entire ten-year event study period.
Corporate Governance And Firm Characteristics (The Sarbanes-Oxley Act Of 2002)
Authors: Hebble Annette , Ramaswamy Vinita
Published: February 2016

With the current attention focused on the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, it is timely to investigate the characteristics of firms that are early in implementing corporate governance policies pursuant to the Act.  Since a relationship between corporate citizenship and financial success has been established in prior research, it is of interest to further probe these associations.  The purpose of this particular study is to examine some characteristics of firms that were early in adopting corporate governance policies in response to the Act.
The Deterrents To CPE Effectiveness In The Accounting Profession: A Factor Analytic Study
Authors: Wessels Susan B.
Published: February 2016

This paper examines the effectiveness of CPE programs for accountants and whether there are deterrents that prevent some CPAs from getting the most out of their CPE hours.  Previous studies (Cross, 1981; Dao, 1975; Darkenwald & Merriam 1982; Darkenwald & Valentine, 1985, Chanidinia & Griffith, 1975; Johnstone & Rivera, 1965; Scanlan & Darkenwald, 1984) identified several deterrents or barriers which inhibit voluntary participation in continuing professional education.  However, little research has been conducted exploring the relative importance of deterrents to participation in settings in which participation is mandatory.  A survey of 1,957 North Carolina CPAs showed that deterrents identified in earlier participation studies are negatively and significantly related to the effectiveness of mandatory continuing professional education for the accounting profession.
Investment Risk Profiling Utilizing Business Resource Slack
Authors: Safdari Cyrus , Scannell Nancy J.
Published: February 2016

Financial investor classes are commonly depicted via a tripartite model that distinguishes among risk averse, risk neutral and risk seeking behaviors. This paper contributes to the literature by capturing the essence of risk tolerance in the context of a profit-maximizing firm’s investment decision vis-à-vis the business’ resource slack. The paradigm introduced in this paper contextualizes risk profiling in a rigorous manner which should augment treatments relayed in standard principles of finance textbooks. This paper illustrates that it is the existence or absence of resource slack that influences, if not dictates, a business’ risk disposition.
The Myth Of Lost Sales: Does Disk Copying Negatively Impact The Music Industry?
Authors: Betts Stephen C. , Taran Zinaida
Published: February 2016

The music industry contends that copied CDs represent lost sales. An exploration of the historical precedents, music industry assumptions and empirical evidence show a far more complex relationship. In this paper we look back at potential threats to the entertainment industry threats such as the advent of recording, radio and cassette recorders. We then examine the assumptions of the music industry’s argument, supplemented by a survey of disk copying behavior. The results indicate that the underlying dynamics are more complex than the industry claims, including the possibility that disk copying can result in a net benefit to the CD industry.
Occupational Sex Segregation And Economic Development
Authors: Swanson Paul A.
Published: February 2016

Occupational sex segregation is an important measure of equality between men and women in the labor force.  As men and women share more occupations and increasingly perform the same jobs in the workplace, occupational sex segregation decreases, indicating a more similar work experience between the sexes, as well as an increase in gender equality.  In this paper a cross-national examination of D, an index of dissimilarity, is presented.  Data from the International Labor Organization is used to calculate D for various countries.  Using the United Nations’ classification of countries into least developed, developing, developed, and Eastern European, this paper examines the effect of economic development on occupational sex segregation. 
Networking Strategies For Professional Women
Authors: McGinty Robert L.
Published: February 2016

This article deals with the concept of networking as one means of obtaining positions of power with the ability to influence others.  A strategy of networking is discussed for individuals seeking advancement in their careers, with a primary focus on women, so that they may position themselves to realize their potential as managers expeditiously through their day to day job performance or obliquely through out their careers.  The results of a field survey of successful networking strategies for career women are discussed.