bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Multi-Unit Franchising: A Comparative Case Analysis
Authors: Hussain Dildar , Windsperger Josef
Published: February 2016

The objective of this study is to explain the franchisor’s choice between single-unit and multi-unit franchising. We employ a comparative case analysis method to compare the theoretical patterns with the empirical patterns of the governance forms. We selected two multi-national franchise networks based in Austria. Our findings suggest that franchisor’s multi-unit franchising strategy can be explained by monitoring costs, franchisee’s transaction-specific investments, franchisor’s system-specific assets, and franchisor’s financial resources scarcity.
The Impact Of Discount Rate Choice In Estimating The Workout LGD
Authors: Gibilaro Lucia , Mattarocci Gianluca
Published: February 2016

The workout approach to estimating the loss given default compares the actual value of the recovery flows with the exposure at default to measure the efficacy of the recovery process. One of the main problems related to this approach is the selection of the proper discount rate for evaluating the portfolio. In the literature, there are different solutions proposed, but there is no evidence on the impact of the choice of one of these alternatives on the LGD measurement. This paper looks at a proprietary database for the timeframe 1985-2005, evaluates the impact of the discount rate on the LGD value and studies the main determinants of LGDs computed using different approaches. Even if the explanatory variables are the same, LGDs defined using different discount rates show differences in the percentile distribution that could significantly affect the capital requirements of a financial intermediary.
Doing Well By Doing Good In The Community: Evidence From Some South African Small Businesses
Authors: Dzansi D. Y.
Published: February 2016

Researchers and policy makers worldwide are convinced that only clear empirical evidence of the economic benefits of business social responsibility (BSR), rather than normative assertions, can motivate small businesses enough to accept and adopt it as an integral business practice. Unfortunately, empirical research so far has yielded mixed results, such that smaller businesses are right to be skeptical about adopting BSR. This paper reports the findings of empirical research on patterns of BSR engagement practices and growth in firms’ sales and gross profit among small and micro enterprises (SMMEs) in a South African setting. This is to determine how a small firm’s economic performance varies (if at all) with the degree of its BSR performance and the kind of BSR activity it engages in. The results suggest a high degree of BSR activity among firms with substantial portions of profit dedicated to BSR. However, contrary to expectations, very weak (minor) link was found between BSR performance and economic performance among the sample of small businesses on some but not all dimensions of BSR considered in the study. Nonetheless, it is recommended that managers and owners of small businesses be encouraged to adopt and practice BSR. Even if they do not do so for economic reasons, they would be right to do so to ‘atone’ for the widely acknowledged detrimental impacts of business on society. 
Euro Area Money Demand Stability
Authors: Cosgrove Michael , Singh Chaitanya , Sheehan Maura
Published: February 2016

The European Central Bank (ECB) has price level stability as its primary target, and operates via an interest-rate measure to achieve its target over the short term. The ECB also explicitly incorporates a quantity measure, M3, into their monetary framework to help assess the medium to longer term risks to price level stability. Use of M3 by the ECB implies a stable relationship between money and prices. We analyzed the behavior of monetary aggregates, and concluded that the ECB’s use of M3 may have some merit over the medium to longer-term as an indicator of price pressure from a quantity theory of money perspective. But there appears to be a question as to stability of money demand since it is not clear if there is a constant interest-rate elasticity.  So, in practice, it remains unclear if the ECB gives much credence to any of the monetary aggregates. In particular, this applies to M3 since the ECB cannot directly control that measure.
The Use Of Automated Telephone Interfaces With Customers By Local Organizations: Best Practices And Exploratory Investigation Of Usage
Authors: Castleberry Stephen B. , Merrier Patricia A. , Lewis Tony
Published: February 2016

Automated telephone systems (ATS) have been criticized by customers as a frustrating way to interact with an organization.  This study seeks to discover ATS best practices, assess how many local organizations (as opposed to 1-800 call centers) are utilizing various ATSs, and determine which ATS best practices these local organizations are adopting.  A list of 35 best practices were found.  An exploratory examination of 400 organizations in a mid-sized mid-western city revealed that very few use an advanced ATS, with 51% using a simple answering machine. The adoption of best practices by these organizations was quite varied.  Managerial recommendations as well as future research suggestions are offered.
Predicting The Outcome Of NASCAR Races: The Role Of Driver Experience
Authors: Allender Mary
Published: February 2016

As national interest in NASCAR grows, the field of sports economics is increasingly addressing various aspects of this sporting contest. The outcome of NASCAR races is of particular interest to fans and thus, models describing and predicting the outcome of NASCAR races are beginning to emerge. This paper builds a model predicting the outcome of NASCAR races using NASCAR data. The outcome is hypothesized to depend on a set of variables and looks in particular, at the importance of driver experience. The findings of this paper conclude that driver years of experience do in fact play a significant role in predicting the outcome of NASCAR races.
Managing Downside Risk With Upside Volatility: Enhancing The Performance Of An Investment Portfolio With Managed Futures
Authors: Hudson Ian
Published: February 2016

Managed futures refer to the active trading of forward and futures contracts on physical commodities, financial assets, and currencies.  Since managed futures have little to no correlation with stocks and bonds, advocates claim this asset class provides much-needed diversification, allowing investors to profit from price volatility.  However, naysayers believe this volatility makes managed futures a highly risky investment. Do the unique features of this asset class make it worthy of inclusion in an investment portfolio?  This article asserts managed futures provide investment managers a powerful tool to manage downside risk by capitalising on upside price volatility.
The Social Network Generation And Implications For Human Resource Managers
Authors: Budden Connie Browning , Budden Michael Craig
Published: February 2016

Tens of millions use social networks on a regular basis.  Social networks encourage the sharing of information, photos, videos, accomplishments, and experiences via the internet.  Their wide-spread and increasing usage especially among young people has been well-documented.  Individuals who have started such networks have become wealthy as sites have gone public.  Businesses are increasingly becoming involved in the networks as they realize the large following that the networks have generated and the fact that such networks can be sources of useful information on which to base decisions.  Social networks and individual members who utilize such networks are becoming increasingly aware that there are advantages and disadvantages to such usage. Network users need to be aware that postings on these networks are being scrutinized in ways those posting the information had not imagined when they signed on.  Firms increasingly are investigating applicant users through the networks. Indeed, human resource managers have more tools and investigation avenues at their disposal now than ever before.
Speculative Bubbles: Conditions Of Creation And Explosion
Authors: Maniatis Paraschos
Published: February 2016

This study is an attempt to illustrate the compatibility of financial bubbles, even under conditions of market efficiency and rational anticipations. The classical models of rational anticipations fail to describe a unique course of the price evolution of a financial due to the multiplicity of solutions to which they arrive. The approach of the bubble as a martingale can offer principles of approaching the bubbles, the possibility of creation and their eventual explosion, even under conditions of strong market efficiency and rational anticipations.
A Simulation Study Of Economic Production Quantity Lot Size To Kanban For A Single Line Production System Under Various Setup Times With Completion Time As Performance Metric
Authors: Moran Terrence J. , Troutt Marvin
Published: February 2016

The Setup time variable was evaluated for the two systems (Kanban and EPQ) against the performance measure of total completion time.  EPQ outperforms Kanban on total completion time.  The research helped clarify for practitioners whether EPQ might be more suitable than Kanban for their given situations.  
Board Composition, Ownership Structure, Geographic Regulation, And Bank Holding Company Expenses
Authors: Haye Eric
Published: February 2016

The purpose of this article is to explore the impact of internal and external market conditions on bank holding company operating expenses.  An agency problem exists whenever management makes decisions which produce results contrary to shareholder interests.  Factors such as large-block shareholdings, management participation in ownership, product and labor market competition, outsider board participation and ease of market entry are believed to serve as mitigating factors.  Although there is evidence that product and ownership conditions have a significant effect operating expenses and other expenditures deemed to be preferred by management, there is scant evidence on the importance of these factors relative to board composition and entry barrier regulation.  Furthermore, most of the focus has been on relatively large banking institutions.  Employing a sample of small-to-medium banking firms from the 1980s, the results indicate that entry barrier regulation and board composition served as an important source of agency problems for these firms as reflected in the operating expense structure.
Stock Market Reaction To Chief Marketing Officer Appointment Announcements
Authors: Vafeas Nikos , Vlittis Adamos
Published: February 2016

This paper investigates the stock price performance of 166 firms appointing a new Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) between 1999 and 2005. Following event study methodology, the results reveal that abnormal stock returns around the appointment day are greater for firms appointing a CMO with prior marketing executive experience, in firms where the new CMO explains the intended future marketing strategy on the appointment announcement day, whereas it is lower in firms operating in higher growth, high technology industries with higher product differentiation.  Announcement-induced returns are also greater for firms that experienced poor stock price performance in the year leading to the appointment. Taken together, the results suggest that the market’s assessment of a change in marketing leadership should not be viewed as being uniformly beneficial, but should be assessed against the profile of the appointee and the appointing firm.
Internet Banking: An Empirical Study Of Adoption Rates Among Midwest Community Banks
Authors: Hosein Nasim Z.
Published: February 2016

As the internet becomes more important for commerce, internet websites are playing a more central role in most companies' business plans. The success of internet banking is determined not only by banks or government support, but also by customers' acceptance of it. Online banking acceptance has gained special attention in academic studies during the past several years as banks move toward implementing internet banking as part of their overall strategy. The business benefit of internet banking is to generate additional revenue, improve customer service, extend marketing, and increase cost savings. In accepting the internet and maximizing its potential, there are several stages that firms evolve through that involve different roles. These different stages of changes are reflected in the many levels that are present when firms go through the adaptation of new technology, including internet banking. From the literature review, some key questions were identified, especially to what extent banks should modify their internet services for customers. The aim of this paper was to identify those areas in which the banks could improve or modify their services to increase the adoption rate of internet banking. Data were gathered from non-internet banking users via a survey questionnaire. The results of the respondents were analyzed using Structured Equation Modeling (SEM) from which the hypotheses were tested and conclusions drawn. The results from the survey indicated that customers find it difficult to use internet banking services, which leads to a decrease in the adoption of internet banking.
Public Vs Private Managers: A New Perspective
Authors: Nowell Gadis
Published: February 2016

Does management in the public sector differ from that in the private sector?  Most of the research evidence relating to this question suggests no significant difference between the two sectors.  Nonetheless, the studies in this area have an important limitation , i.e., they have   focused almost exclusively  on the perspectives and activities of "senior" and "upper-level" managers while largely ignoring those on the front line - the "first-line supervisors".  Are there, for instance, differences between public and private managers at the first-line supervisory    level?  The results of this study support a negative response to this question, but with one important exception.  Specifically, “training employees” was found to be a relatively more important   activity for public sector supervisors, as compared to their private sector counterparts.  This is a surprising finding, in that the private sector is known to have a higher rate of employee turnover and, therefore, an assumed greater need for training new hires.  There is no obvious explanation for this result and, to our knowledge, there is nothing in the research literature that helps to explain it.  It therefore represents an important new area of research that needs further exploration. 
The Effect Of Consolidation On Employees In The U.S. Banking Industry
Authors: Heiney Joseph N.
Published: February 2016

This paper examines the effect of the continuing consolidation on employees in the U.S. banking industry between 1992 and 2004. It documents the decreasing number of banking institutions, the number of employees, and level of salaries and benefits.  The data indicates that while the number of banks has continued to decrease, the levels of employment and compensation have, in fact, increased during this period.
An Exploratory Study Of The Assessment Process Of The Ethical Conduct Of Top Executives In The For-Profit And Nonprofit Sectors
Authors: Denhardt Kathy , Morrison James L. , Helfman Audrey , Noghiu Alain
Published: February 2016

Because this kind of study is filled with unique challenges from gaining direct access to an appropriate research sample to that of designing  an innovative survey that can be completed within strict time constraints, this research may be considered exploratory in nature.  Therefore, based on research findings derived from limited and constrained access to executive leadership in large publicly traded companies and their counterparts in the nonprofit sector, it was concluded that a very few organizations in either sector have a proactive ethics strategy or a formal approach to the assessment of leader ethics.  Correspondingly, whatever assessment process followed, the ethical criteria for assessing top executives focuses more on their behavior as individuals rather than those aspects having a systematic organizational impact on other subordinates.
Information Flow And Trading Dynamics: A Theoretical Approach
Authors: Sun Megan Y.
Published: February 2016

This paper constructs a theoretical mixture of distributions model to describe the impacts of permanent fundamental, transitory fundamental, and non-fundamental shocks on returns, volatility and volume.  Under the assumption that informed traders share homogenous fundamental information, we find that only contemporaneous noise trading contributes to the generation of trading volume.  This theoretical model provides us with three identifying restrictions that can be readily imposed on a trivariate SVAR model to empirically estimate the impacts of the three shocks on returns, volatility, and volume.  Using this model, we find that Microsoft stock prices are not very sensitive to noise trading.
Continuing Case Against Inter-Period Tax Allocation
Authors: Colley Ron , Rue Joseph , Volkan Ara
Published: February 2016

The annual and industry-based behavior of deferred tax balances is analyzed and the accounting theory and procedures required by the FASB are examined in the context of the unit problem. The unit problem involves the selection of the appropriate perspective (either individual or aggregate) for applying measurement and recognition conventions to phenomena of interest. From an individual event perspective, the FASB's conclusions regarding liability recognition are inconsistent with the definition of liabilities found in the Statement of Financial Accounting Concepts No. 6. In addition, the use of inconsistent perspectives by S109 creates disagreements with the FASB’s position, where both the individual and aggregate perspectives are used simultaneously as the basis of the FASB's decisions. The impact of eliminating deferred taxes and adjusting the liability and stockholders equity balances on the debt-to-equity (DTE) ratio is computed for each year and 20 industries in the COMPUSTAT database (1997 – 2006). The change results in significant decreases in DTE each year and in all industries.
A Risk-Based Model For Retirement Planning
Authors: Abuizam Raida
Published: February 2016

This paper presents the use of @RISK simulation to estimate the value of a long-term investment in a diversified portfolio along with the risk associated with that investment. A number of possible investment scenarios in fixed income and equity securities are presented. Each simulation considers a possible set of portfolio weights for combinations of the different securities. The initial constraint is that the sum of the investment weights is equal to one. The simulation model creates future scenarios by randomly choosing past scenarios, giving higher probability weights to more recent years. The estimated future value of the investment is deflated to determine the amount in today’s dollars. Finally, for each portfolio scenario, the model determines the value at risk VAR, which captures the maximum possible expected portfolio value.
Consumer Rental Car Choice: Price, Agent, and Brand Effects
Authors: Ainscough Thomas L. , Trocchia Philip J. , Gum John R.
Published: February 2016

Car rentals constitute a significant portion of vacation travel expenditures. This research study uses a model developed in prior literature to explore the effects of vehicle brand, rental agency image, and rental price on consumers' willingness to rent automobiles. Results indicate that branding and price impact consumers' decisions to rent motor vehicles. However, the influence of the agency on the rental decision is limited. Managerial implications of these findings are discussed.
Resource Management: Guidelines For Managing In A Crisis
Authors: Hoadley Ellen D. , Laughton Benjamin , Purcell John , Rodgers Theresa , Ruleman Aaron
Published: February 2016

In times of economic adversity, organizations have multiple courses of action to consider.  This paper synthesizes the existing literature from two perspectives – cost cutting and investment for growth.  Conditions to consider for each choice are explained, overall recommendations for moving forward are provided, and potential research areas are identified.
GMAC: Is Half A Loaf Better Than The Whole?
Authors: Anderson J. Richard , Muise Cristina , Gancarz David
Published: February 2016

In November 2006 General Motors sold 51% ownership of its subsidiary, the General Motors Acceptance Corporation to Cerebus Capital Management in a complicated transaction. This paper demonstrates that GMAC produced over 90% of consolidated General Motors profit over the past two decades and tries to determine why the GM team sought to sell its best player and answer the natural follow-up question: why sell 51% of GMAC, instead of all of it? A number of possible explanations are considered, including cleaning up GM’s balance sheet, unlocking the submerged market value of GMAC, and improving GMAC’s credit rating/ access to capital. The paper concludes that the partial divestiture was a sound move that could easily have resulted in better financial performance for GM than the status quo, but that the entire strategy was upset by the subprime loan crisis of 2007-08.
Maintaining The Integrity Of Turnover Measurements When There Are Layoffs
Authors: Mitchell Theodore , Schaap James I. , Groves Mary
Published: February 2016

Bonuses for improvements in employee retention rates should be calculated on the actual savings due to fewer terminations and reduced replacement costs. Permanent layoffs and hiring freezes distort the turnover rate and make the normal bonus calculations invalid. A new method for calculating a manager’s bonus for reducing the turnover rate is illustrated. It isolates the number of terminations due to changes in the size of the workforce from the terminations due to the improved retention rate. The size of the savings in terminations due to the improved retention rate can be accurately measured in situations where hiring freezes negate normal calculations.
Consolidation And Profitability In The U.S. Banking Industry
Authors: Heiney Joseph N.
Published: February 2016

This paper examines the changes in profitability in the U.S. banking industry during the continuing consolidation since Riegle-Neal became fully effective.  It presents information on the changes in profitability in the U.S. banking industry to determine whether or not the trends observed in the immediate aftermath of Riegle-Neal have continued.
Assuring Not-For-Profit Hospital Competitiveness Through Proper Accounting For The True Cost Of Capital
Authors: Duggal Rakesh , Budden Michael Craig
Published: February 2016

The topic of cost of capital is very important, especially for not-for-profit (NFP) organizations.  Since profit maximization or stockholder wealth maximization cannot be their objective, NFP firms must be all the more aware of their costs, including the cost of capital, to sustain and grow the quality and quantity of their services to their consumers.  Yet, research into this topic has been lagging.  This paper adapts and enhances an existing methodology and illustrates how a non-profit hospital’s cost of capital can be estimated.
Testing The Adaptive Efficiency Of U.S. Stock Markets: A Genetic Programming Approach
Authors: Miles Stan , Smith Barry
Published: February 2016

Genetic programming is employed to develop trading rules, which are applied to test the efficient market hypothesis. Most previous tests of the efficient market hypothesis were limited to trading rules that returned simple buy-sell signals. The broader approach taken here, developed under a framework consistent with the standard portfolio model, allows use of trading rules that are defined as the proportion of an investor’s total wealth invested into the risky asset (rather than being a simple buy-sell signal). The methodology uses average utility of terminal wealth as the fitness function, as a means of adjusting returns for risk. With data on daily stock prices from 1985 to 2005, the algorithm finds trading rules for 24 individual stocks. These rules then are applied to out-of-sample data to test adaptive efficiency of these markets. Applying more stringent thresholds to choose the trading rules to be applied out-of-sample (an extension of previous research) improves out-of-sample fitness; however, the rules still do not outperform the simple buy-and-hold strategy. These findings therefore imply that the 24 stock markets studied were adaptively efficient during the period under study.
An Empirical Investigation Of The Impact Of The Sarbanes-Oxley Act Of 2002 On Agency Costs
Authors: Miller Scott E.
Published: February 2016

Drawing upon the long established stream of agency theory literature, this research investigates the effect the impact of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (SOX) on the moderating effect of corporate governance mechanisms on the agency problem. Significant attention has been given to the costs associated with SOX, yet there is no notable research which examines the benefits derived therefrom. The purpose of this research is to fill the void in the current literature and complement its focus on costs with a serious investigation into whether benefits are being realized from this legislation. Investigating domestic, manufacturing firms listed on the New York Stock Exchange, this research illustrates that SOX caused these governance mechanisms to effectively moderate agency conflict in a post-SOX environment for this sample when they did not do so in a pre-SOX environment. Additionally, it concludes that in a model that includes audit fees, SOX improved the effectiveness of these governance mechanisms in the reduction of agency costs more predominantly with more robust results. Therefore, this research is the first to provide evidence that there are measureable benefits that flow from the passage of SOX.
The 52-Week High And The January Effect
Authors: Park Seung-Chan , Moskalev Sviatoslav A.
Published: February 2016

The predictive power of past returns for January reversal is compared with that of the nearness of current prices to the 52-week high.  When compared jointly, past returns lose their forecasting power for January returns and the nearness of current prices to the 52-week high assumes the dominant role in explaining the January reversal.  This suggests that tax-loss selling is not the primary factor explaining the January effect.  A behavioral explanation consistent with the window-dressing argument is proposed in that the 52-week high acts as an “anchor,” a highly visible reference price to fund holders, increasing fund managers’ incentives to window-dress by temporarily adding (removing) stocks that are perceived by fund holders as good (bad) investments, based on the nearness of these stocks’ current prices to the 52-week high.
Survey Responses: Mail Versus Email Solicitations
Authors: Holland Rodger G. , Smith Aileen , Hasselback James R. , Payne Bryson
Published: February 2016

Surveys, particularly electronic surveys, are becoming popular methods of eliciting consumer responses. For example, many businesses now have survey sites printed on the bottom of receipts with some future discount as an enticement to participate. Clearly, the intent of such incentives is to stimulate participation. Surveys have also become popular in academia, but rarely are incentives offered. Clearly, those in academia also prefer a high participation rate, but without financial incentives what can be done to encourage participation? This research attempts to address that question.
Consumptive Behavior, Promotional Preferences, And Shopping Patterns Of Hispanic Americans: An Empirical Perspective
Authors: Rizkallah Elias G. , Truong Andrew
Published: February 2016

Hispanic Americans are becoming a substantial purchasing force in the United States, thus creating as many opportunities as challenges for marketers in many companies. Although the literature is rich with studies of this sub-culture, new information is always welcome due to the extensive changes that this segment of society is experiencing, from population growth, increasing purchasing power and income, to shifting demographics, diversity, and acculturation. This study is designed to enhance understanding about Hispanic Americans via a survey of a random sample of 120 Hispanic American adult individuals in the Inland Empire area of Southern California. The data collected was analyzed and in this paper, the findings are reported and discussed as well as some marketing tactics recommended. At the strategic marketing level, the authors recommend the application of a theoretical marketing framework, one that matches the nature of the Hispanics’ market and its dynamics, to develop winning strategies and guidelines for marketers who are interested in this vital market segment.
Improving Operations Strategy: Application Of TOC Principles In A Small Business
Authors: Kohli Amarpeet S. , Gupta Mahesh
Published: February 2016

This paper demonstrates how small business managers can create and sustain competitive advantage by applying basic principles of Theory of Constraints (TOC) using a case study on a small family-owned pizza restaurant. TOC five focusing steps were used to reveal the business constraints and practical recommendations were provided that significantly improved throughput, resource utilization, and customer satisfaction without incurring any significant expenses. TOC performance measures encourage small business managers to find innovative ways of increasing throughput instead of simply cutting costs. Positive outcomes in this study demonstrate how small businesses effectively manage their operations and realize benefits using TOC principles.
Aircraft Valuation In Dynamic Air Transport Industry
Authors: Gorjidooz Javad , Vasigh Bijan
Published: February 2016

Aircraft valuation and the projection of its future price is an intricate process. This paper provides a comprehensive review of aircraft valuation. It presents a methodology that will more accurately measure return on investment, improve the efficiency of managing operating costs, and more effectively determine yield analysis.  The value of an aircraft depends on internal factors that are directly related to the aircraft’s documentation and specifications.  Some examples of these are age, aircraft size, seat capacity, fuel efficiency, and technical status.  In addition, the aircraft price depends on the external factors, such as market demand and its elasticity, fuel cost, and environmental regulations. The external factors are extremely important because they indicate where in the aviation industry cycle the aircraft is and this, in turn, has the greatest impact on aircraft value. The theoretical value calculated in this paper is highly responsive to the assumptions underlying the valuation model.
Dark Pools And Flash Orders: The Secret World Of Automated High-Frequency Trading
Authors: Rose Chris
Published: February 2016

A market should be the purest form of exchange with willing buyers and sellers, with perfect information, agreeing on a price for a stock or commodity. Unfortunately, there are sophisticated computer systems sometimes located in the very building that house the stock or commodity exchange servers, and those computers can execute millions of trades per second. Those computers are even allowed to secretly view available trades before the rest of the general public and sometimes those trades are even clandestinely made, without any broadcast of the buy or sell prices to others. What is clear is that far from being a pure form of exchange, today’s market is heavily skewed, with the average consumer being the loser.
Profitability Performance And Firm Size-Growth Relationship
Authors: Mukhopadhyay Arun , AmirKhalkhali Sal
Published: February 2016

In this study, we intend to examine empirically how a firm’s profitability performance would impact its growth process and what implications follow for the validity of Gibrat’s law. The basic thesis that is tested in this study is that smaller firms, being more constrained in obtaining outside funds for growth, can possibly show a higher propensity to growth when their internally generated profits are high. To this end, we apply a dynamic model to panel data on a sample of firms in the USA. We first investigate the size-growth relationship for the whole sample, and then, these firms are classified into three profitability performance groups on the basis of the average size of profits as percentage of stock-holders’ equity. The empirical results emanating from this study are mixed, with the dominant result that in many cases, larger firms grow faster, violating Gibrat’s law. Moreover, the results do not lend visible support to the hypothesis that higher profitability confers a growth advantage to the smaller firms.
Compatibility Relations For Identity Analytics
Authors: Katzan, Jr. Harry
Published: February 2016

Methods for categorizing certain subjects, based on belief structures, are an important aspect of modern society.  In a related paper, we present a method for combining belief, attributable to diverse knowledge sources, in order to obtain a measure of group membership.  The scope of group identity is much greater than digital security and affects other societal endeavors.  In this paper, we are going to propose methods for propagating belief through a complex network of belief assessments.  The methods are known as compatibility relations.  The related paper is “Identity Analytics and Belief Structures,” published in an earlier issue of the Journal of Business & Economics Research.
Determinants Of Mortgage Delinquency
Authors: Brent William , Kelly Lynne , Lindsey-Taliefero Debby , Price Russell
Published: February 2016

This paper examines mortgage delinquency rates for loans in each state and Washington, DC from 2004 through 2009 in order to gain insight into the key factors that drive residential mortgage delinquency.  Models are estimated for 30-day, 60-day, 90-day, 90+ day, and all delinquency rates.  Prime and subprime loans are modeled separately in cross-sectional time series regressions.  The findings suggest that borrower income, type of loan, and the general health of the economy remain important in determining delinquency risk.  Also, factors that determine 30- and 60-day delinquency rates differ from those that determine 90-day and 90+ day delinquency rates.  In addition, factors that determine prime delinquency rates differ from those that determine subprime delinquency rates.  Finally, borrower race does not consistently explain delinquency rates.     
Determination Of The Performance Measure Of Executive Compensation
Authors: Chuo Shirley , Fonkoua Jean Emmanuel , Pollard Dennis
Published: February 2016

This paper investigates the principal-agent model of executive compensation through an empirical study of the interaction between CEO compensation and firm performance. As a multi level regression analysis that specifically shows the weight of the variance of the main independent variable, above and over the other independent variables, the stepwise multiple regression is employed to induce a statistical model of the pay-performance sensitivity. The stepwise multiple regression offers insights into the different weight assigned to the performance measure. In this respect, variances of the variables related to the change in the market value of firms are specifically weighted against each other in order to determine specific characteristics of the pay-performance relationship. The analysis is consistent with the agency theory that firm’ executives take advantage of the lack of control by firms’ owners to pursuit their personal interests. As the United States’ economy tumbles, the change in CEO total compensation does not seem to follow the accounting criteria of performance measures typically specified in management compensation contracts. The study reveals a lack of relationship between CEO compensation and firm performance. The link running from the change in the market value of firms and the change in CEO total compensation is flawed. The incentives faced by shareholders to discipline executives would be able to increase the performance of firms. It would be absurd for the compensation committee to rely on the single firms’ total assets value as the performance measure of CEO compensation. Other performance vehicles, such as returns, earnings, and cash flows should be considered in the determination of executive compensation.
Dam Policy: The Need For Global Governance
Authors: Longo Peter , Cummings Richard
Published: February 2016

Dams have long fascinated engineers, policymakers, and citizens-at-large. No doubt the engineering and architectural details of physical construction of dams are worth study and scrutiny, but it is the human dimension that complicates dam policies. Dams can result in tremendous negative impacts on human populations. Yet, dams provide a source of renewable energy, hydroelectric power. Analyzing these issues in a global perspective offers strategies for policy makers to consider. This paper will analyze the negative impact dams have on humans, illustrate the hydroelectric push for dams and how they impact food production. Finally, global policy strategies will be offered with consideration of environmental accounting and an indication of the future of water and food.
"Grass" By Any Other Name - Xeriscaping And Sustainability
Authors: Meyer C. Kenneth , Strong Richard B. , Geerts Jeffrey A. , Bennett Doug
Published: February 2016

With water conservation and use policy considered to be among the greatest challenges facing contemporary society, this case takes on the enduring issues associated with water and how it impacts urban planning, land use, water conservation, economic development, and sustainability. Conflicted on the uses of natural and artificial turf, Jerard Leon, director of Blue Havens Planning Commission recommends that Joseph Teaberry, landscape architect, contact a premier program on xeriscape in the United States the Southern Nevada Water Authority (SNWA). Teaberry prepares for an in-depth, structured interview with Doug Bennett, conservation manager of SNWA. He reviews the relevant academic and professional literature on the hydrologic cycle, and the economics and geological concerns that affect water use policy, including the meaning of Water quality, Watershed, and the sundry metrics used to assess water quality under the Clean Water Act, 1972. As the structured interview reveals, Teaberry learns about the history of water policy in the Colorado Basin, the multiple uses and costs associated with water consumption in the SNWA, and the conservation practices and water policy pricing policies and how they impact water utilization. In the final analysis, Teaberry discusses the various strategic management practices employed by SNWA and their attendant efficacies, successes/failures pertaining to water policy education, pricing, inducement, enforcement, and the future water policy concerns. The case has several take-away points associated with xeriscape policy, followed by six poignant questions that stimulate broad discussion on the general areas of water resource policy.
Sustainable Case Study: Chevron Corporation
Authors: Manna Dean R. , Marco Gayle , Letterman Denise , Mullen Jesse
Published: February 2016

The Chevron Corporation is considered to be one of the five largest energy-producing companies in the world and they are trying to become a more sustainable company. To improve sustainability they are investing in local communities through health, education, and small business funds. They are researching and learning how they affect biodiversity, in ecosystems that they are drilling in. They are also finding ways to be more energy efficient and lower their emissions. Although there are many examples of these sustainable activities there are few concrete numbers that can be shown in order to show exactly how sustainable Chevron is.
Perspectives On The LEED (Leadership In Energy And Environmental Design) System As A Green Certification Standard
Authors: Peterson Evan A. , Ulferts Gregory W.
Published: February 2016

As we begin to reach the limits of Earths biosphere, ensuring that sustainable practices are integrating into new buildings and into older buildings are crucial to remove unsustainable strains on the environment. This paper seeks to examine the merits and disadvantages of LEED as a certification system in the context of environmental sustainability. While there does seem to be legitimate criticism of the LEED system, it does serve to bring and legitimize sustainable development to an area that has a profound and continual effect on the environment. The systems should be continuously examined and revamped in the context of improving the integration of environmental sustainability into commercial and residential development. LEED has the opportunity to be revamped, improved, and to become a powerful force in promoting environmental sustainability in construction.
Creation Nets: Harnessing The Potential Of Open Innovation
Authors: Hagel John , Brown John Seely
Published: February 2016

Open innovation has become the latest management buzzword. We would have to look long and hard to find an executive who does not agree with the basic premise of open innovation that success in coming up with creative new value to offer to the marketplace depends upon connecting effectively with other companies. Executives realize they simply cant do it alone. Virtually all of them now buy into the wisdom of Bill Joys observation that there are always more smart people outside your company than within.
Cloud Computing, I-Service, And IT Service Provisioning
Authors: Katzan Harry
Published: February 2016

Cloud computing is an architecture for providing computing service via the Internet. Use of the term cloud is a metaphor for the representation of the Internet used in most systems diagrams. In this case, the Internet is the transport mechanism between a client and a server located somewhere in cyberspace, as compared to having computer applications residing on an on premises computer. Adoption of cloud computing practically eliminates two ongoing problems in IT service provisioning: the upfront costs of acquiring computational resources and the time delay of building and deploying software applications. This paper covers both subjects.
Reeling In Outsourcing: Evaluating Supply Chain Risk And Reward Under Economic Uncertainty
Authors: Russell Roberta S. , Smith Marilyn
Published: February 2016

In todays climate of economic uncertainty, companies that have relied on outsourcing in the past to curtail costs are increasingly reeling in their outsourcing decision to more appropriately balance supply chain risk and reward. This paper provides a review of the literature on reversing supply chain outsourcing and frames the sourcing decision in terms of multiple options, including multi- sourcing, near sourcing, and in-sourcing. A decision tree model is presented to aid the decision maker in evaluating the expected value of various sourcing decisions when risks and returns are explicitly considered. Trends and conditions that influence the outsourcing decision are also discussed.
Providing Service Using A Virtualization Infrastructure
Authors: Park Young R. , Sharma Srinarayan
Published: February 2016

Services could be designed to be simple, atomic, and transparent to potential consumers who interact with providers to attain desired outcome. Providing the desired service, though, may involve a series of complex operations such as accessing multiples databases owned by multiple parties residing in multiple locations, complex queries to obtain desired outcome, transforming these queries for proper display, displaying the outcome in a format comprehensible to the consumer, et cetera. The development of service-oriented architecture (SOA) or service-oriented computing (SOC) allows organizations to exploit the services that may or may not belong to them to provide customized services to potential customers. Virtualization, viewed as the separation of a service request from the underlying physical delivery of that service, allows such services to be provided in a flexible and cost-effective manner. Virtualization is also seen as one of the green ITs which can help reduce infrastructure and maintenance cost especially for the organizations that may not be able to afford big capital investment upfront. In this paper we make a case for integrating SOA and virtualization technologies to provide desired services to the consumer in highly a flexible and cost effective manner.
Identity And Privacy Services
Authors: Katzan, Jr. Harry
Published: February 2016

Personal identity and privacy are important topics in information systems in general and data analytics in particular.  Normally associated with digital security, the scope of identity and privacy is much greater and affects most aspects of everyday life.  Related subjects are behavioral tracking, personal-identifiable information (PII), privacy data relevance, data repurposing, identity theft, and homeland security.  Identity and Privacy Services is an admixture of the major issues in the area of personal identity and privacy and the security of individual rights in a complex societal environment.  This is a general paper on this important subject, intended to give exposure to the constituent topics.
Encryption And Portable Data Storage
Authors: Knott Cynthia L. , Steube G.
Published: February 2016

The protection of data is key issue in todays world. The wide of availability and use of portable technologies such as USB flash has increased concern about securing the data resides on these devices. Because USB flash drives are small, relatively inexpensive, and easy to use, the security of the information stored on these thumb drives is on-going concern. A number of approaches to safeguarding the information stored on these drives are available. This paper examines one approach to this goal through the use of encryption. This method encrypts all the data on the drive. In addition the fact the data on the drive is encrypted is not visually obvious when viewing the contents of the disk. The proposed approach uses publically available and free encryption algorithms. A user password is needed to view and access the data that has been encrypted. The proposed methodology is quick and easy to use. Individuals who routinely carry around their USB drives need to be able to decrypt and encrypt the device quickly and conveniently. Furthermore, if the device is lost, it is still possible with the method advocated in this paper to include information about how to return the device to the owner without compromising the secured data on the drive. Without encrypting the data on portable drives, the user risks the disclosure of information. This paper argues that portable storage should be secured and suggests a way to secure the data through password and encryption that further enhances the usability and flexibility of the USB flash drive. The paper includes the results and analysis of an undergraduate student survey that determined what habits and practices they followed with respect to securing their personal data and files. Some of the questions included in the analysis are the following:Do you encrypt your USB flash drive?Do you use any type of security for your USB flash drive?How important do you think security is for a flash drive? (A Likert scale)Do you use passwords to protect your USB flash drive?Do you backup your work?Do you think it is important to use security when using a USB flash drive?The findings of the survey help to understand the perspective of todays students and how to address the critical need to secure their information and data files with them.