College of Business and Economics presents its annual
Development & Research Conference
Friday, May 5, 8 a.m.- 2 p.m.
Stephens Hall
About
This annual event some the exciting scholarly pursuits of CBE faculty and students. 2017 marks the seventh anniversary of this college tradition. We hope you will enjoy this opportunity to learn more about CBE, its students and faculty.
Schedule
8:00 A.M. Student Research Poster Session (ST 311)
9:00 A.M. Sarah Magnotta (ST 311) / James Manley (ST 307)
9:30 A.M. Filiz Tabak & Mariana Lebron (ST 311)
10:00 A.M. Michaël Dewally & Yingying Shao (ST 311) / Jorge Romero (ST 307)
10:30 A.M. Vinish Shrestha (ST 311)
11:00 A.M. Nhung Hendy (ST 311) / Tobin Porterfield (ST 307)
11:30 A.M. Philippe Duverger (ST 311)
12:00 P.M. Natalie Scala (ST 311) / Chaodong Han (ST 307)
12:30 P.M. Gema Vinuales (ST 311)
1:00 P.M. Shanshan Qian (ST 311) / Shantanu Bagchi (ST 307)
1:30 P.M. Isaac Bonaparte (ST 311) / Precha Thavikulwat (ST 307)
Abstracts
Assessing Analytics Motivation in Business and Engineering Students
Brittany Mattheu (undergraduate)
Advisors: Natalie Scala and Stella Tomasi, e-Business & Technology Management
This research examines differences in motivation and attitudes towards analytics between business and engineering students. Instructors of business and engineering analytics-based courses at two universities give the same lecture on the use of spreadsheets to both analyze trendline data and make predictions about dependent data. We assign the same individual assessment to the two groups of students and then administer an end-of-semester survey built from the established MUSIC model of academic motivation and other self-efficacy survey constructs. Student data is paired by the homework assessment and individual survey responses. This poster addresses assessment scoring, survey data coding, and descriptive statistics calculations.
A Decision Model for Automated Identification Technology Devices for Naval Seabasing
Logan Minor and Vincent Schiavone (undergraduates)
Advisor: Natalie Scala, e-Business & Technology Management
This research presents a decision model related to naval seabasing, which is loosely defined as supporting command and combat operations from the sea. Functionally, sea-based logistics requires vessel-to-vessel replenishment, selective offloading, dense storage, and ship-to-objective locations capabilities. These activities can be supported through identification technology devices and methods, such as RFID, barcoding, and GPS. We discuss these devices as alternatives to a multi-objective decision model with the goal of selecting the preferred device for seabasing logistics support. Criteria for this model include metrics and associated measures related to seabasing, which we identify and describe. Finally, we present the framework for a decision model to solve for the preferred identification technology device to support the functions associated with seabasing logistics.
Using Bibliometrics to Map a Research Community
Manish Kanjipuram
Advisor: Tobin Porterfield, e-Business & Technology Management
This study draws on the information sciences discipline to apply the bibliometric tools to quantitatively evaluate a research community. A sample of 262 humanitarian supply chain articles which cite over 4,000 articles are analyzed using publicly available software. The results identify the trend in humanitarian supply chain research and the thought leading papers. Next steps are the analysis of the seven communities of interest identified through the analysis.
The empowering role of profession-based student organizations in developing student leadership capacity
Ariana Kim ’15/’16 and Kieara Thomas ‘15
Advisor: Mariana J. Lebrón, Management
Additional coauthor: Cheryl L. Stanley
Almost all university and college mission statements focus on developing student leadership competencies. The most common student learning outcome of disciplinary-based accrediting bodies is “management and collaborative leadership”, referring to management tasks such as effective decision-making, project management, teamwork, and change-oriented leadership (Sharp, Komives, & Fincher, 2011, p 487-489). Considering that profession-based organizations (PBOs) are the second most frequently engaged organizations (Dugan & Komives, 2007) with a unique focus on developing leadership skills for career success, university administrators can more effectively operationalize their educational mission by intentionally developing PBOs as a central part of the student leadership experience. In this presentation, we discuss the two-year collaborative process through which two students from MNGT 425 Organizational Theory and MNGT 463 Organizational Leadership worked on a leadership development chapter for a leadership training book series that proposes a theoretically-based model for developing, implementing, and evaluating professional-based organizations. Further, this chapter highlights the collaborative process that student leaders, university administrators, and faculty used to develop the ENACTUS-café.
Bridging Commercial and Humanitarian Supply Chain
Samantha Quintanilla
Advisor: Tobin Porterfield, e-Business & Technology Management
Natural disasters cause billions of dollars in economic damage and effect millions of people. Non-profit organizations spend millions to provide aid to those impacted by these events and the donors that support these organizations are demanding more efficient and effective use of their resources. A possible solution is to leverage commercial supply chain resources to improve the flow of humanitarian aid. This study proposes to use a comparative case analysis to identify best practices in engaging commercial supply chain organizations in the provision of humanitarian aid. An initial model is proposed based on existing social responsibility research.
School Violence, Reporting, and Identity: Evidence from Nyarugusu Refugees Camp
Savannah Wilhelm (undergraduate)
Advisor: Seth R. Gitter, Economics
Additional coauthor: Erin K. Fletcher
Violence against children in developing countries is both prevalent and underreported, particularly for some of the most vulnerable and poorest children, those living in refugee camps. Simple survey questions of experiences with violence may not be provide accurate data due to the sensitivity of the topic. To overcome this issue we use situational vignettes given to more than 300 refugee children from Burundi and Democratic Republic of Congo in the Nyarugusu Refugee Camp in Tanzania. Each child received two vignettes regarding a hypothetical victim experiencing an act of violence. Vignette details were randomized including characteristics of the perpetrator, location, act, and victim. The randomization helps estimate these factors’ influence on the respondent’s belief that the vignette victim would report the incident to an official. We find that 67% of children believed that the vignette victim would report the violence it to an official (e.g. a teacher, medical personnel, or authorities). Children believe that victims are more likely to report in school settings. This result suggests organizations operating violence prevention programs in refugee camps might consider targeting school where the vignette suggest children are more likely to report.
Medical Expenditure Shocks and the Optimality of Social Security
Shantanu Bagchi, Economics
TIME: 1:00 P.M. | ROOM: ST 307
In this paper, we examine the welfare consequences of Social Security in an environment with partially-insured medical expenditure shocks. To do this, we construct an overlapping-generations model with incomplete markets, idiosyncratic labor income risk, uncertain medical expenditures, and both public and private health insurance. We calibrate this model to the current U.S. economy, and then examine if Social Security provides better consumption smoothing by transferring resources from early life, when health risks are lower, to retirement, when health risks are considerably higher. We also examine the micro- and macroeconomic consequences of this exercise: the effect on consumption, saving, and labor supply decisions, as well as the effect on overall capital accumulation, national income, and the government’s budget.
Managerial Opportunism and Real Activities Manipulation: Evidence from Option Backdating Firms
Isaac Bonaparte, Accounting
TIME: 1:30 P.M. | ROOM: ST 311
We examine the utilization of real activities manipulation by firms implicated in the stock option backdating scandal. We compare abnormal R&D expenditure, abnormal SG&A expense, abnormal cash flow from operations and abnormal production costs of backdating firms to matched firms (non-backdating firms) that were not implicated in the option backdating scandal. We examine the utilization of real activities manipulation by firms implicated in the stock option backdating scandal. The results suggest reductions of R&D and SG&A expenditures to manipulate reported earnings. We also find evidence of unusually high production costs among backdating firms suggesting that backdating firms overproduce to reduce the cost of goods sold and thereby increase earnings. Accordingly, we interpret our results as being consistent with the opportunistic manipulation of operational activities to increase the earnings and the stock price of the backdating firms.
Facing the Great Wall of Cash – The Impact on Corporate Investment Sensitivity
Michaël Dewally & Yingying Shao, Finance
TIME: 10:00 A.M. | ROOM: ST 311
We investigate the reaction of corporate investments to the Chinese stimulus of 2008. We ask if the large supply shock of credit affects banks’ behavior and corporate investment sensitivity. First, we show that the banking sector acts as the channel to provide the capital needed for higher capital expenditures. During the stimulus period, we find that bank lending was less tied to profitability than in the period leading to the stimulus. In addition, controlling for leverage and growth opportunities, we find that 1) capital expenditures are in general highly sensitive to internal cash flow generation and 2) the sensitivity is significantly lower during the stimulus period. We find that these results are stronger for distressed firms, firms paying a dividend and for State Owned Enterprises (SOEs).
The Economic Impact of International Adventure Tourism
Philippe Duverger, Marketing
TIME: 11:30 A.M. | ROOM: ST 311
Adventure tourism, a segment of the overall world tourism, has been growing at a double digit pace for the past 10 years (ATTA, 2013). In fact, in a speech during the Adventure Travel Trade Association world summit, UNWTO Secretary General Rifai seemed to imply that what used to be a niche market is soon to cannibalize the entire tourism sector (ATN, 2012). According to ATTA the size of adventure tourism worldwide is $289 billion, or about 26.5% of the entire tourism economy, growing at average of 41% yearly. This research seeks to provide a comprehensive model to explain GDP as a function of adventure competitiveness while accounting for heterogeneity between countries, and other controlling factors.
An Empirical Examination of the Direct and Indirect Effects of Geographic Diversification on Stock Market and Financial Performances of MNCs
Chaodong Han, e-Business and Technology Management
TIME: 12:00 P.M. | ROOM: ST 307
Using a mediating model and based on firm-level data collected from Compustat database during 2000-2011, this study examines the direct and indirect effects of geographic diversification on an MNC’s stock market performance (Tobin’s q) and financial performance (ROA), with inventory level as a mediator. Additionally, the examination is implemented under two heterogeneous economic situations: financial crisis vs. without financial crisis. Regression results show that geographic diversification enhances an MNC’s stock market performance, while deteriorating its financial performance in the presence of a financial crisis. In contrast, geographic diversification has little direct impact on an MNC’s stock market and financial performances during periods without financial crisis. The indirect effects of geographic diversification are mediated by changes in inventory levels.
Factors that explain academic dishonesty among business school students in France
Nhung Hendy, Management (coauthor Nathalie Montargot, La Rochelle Business School)
TIME: 11:00 A.M. | ROOM: ST 311
In this study, we examined the personality trait of conscientiousness as a predictor of academic dishonesty among a sample of undergraduate and graduate students in France. The results provided further support to extant meta-analysis that conscientiousness was a valid predictor of academic cheating. Using the theory of planned behavior (Ajzen, 1991), attitude toward cheating and perceived behavioral control were the largest predictors of self-reported cheating (β = .26; p < .01); followed by subjective norms (β = .13; p < .05) even after controlling for conscientiousness and justification for cheating. Altogether, the three above predictors explained 13% unique variance in self-reported cheating among 178 French business school students. Implications for research and practice are discussed.
An Empirical Investigation of the Pattern of Conversions Along the Consumer Purchase Funnel
Gauri Kulkarni, Marketing
TIME: Wednesday, May 3, 12:30 PM. | ROOM: CBE Behavioral Lab
In the current age of big data and online data analytics, search engine data have proven very valuable to marketers. Keyword metrics have been used as inputs to many managerial decisions, including advertising budget allocations, sales forecasting, and word-of-mouth management. As online retailing and e-commerce continue to grow, conversion rates become critical to the success of online firms. With many Internet users beginning their online purchase processes with a search engine keyword, the link between keyword use and conversion rates warrants rigorous analysis. This type of analysis requires individual-level data that links specific keywords to specific purchase actions. Our research project addresses this potential relationship. We aim to develop an empirical model of keyword characteristics and conversion rates to investigate possible patterns of interest. The results of our study have managerial implications for online retailers in developing effective promotions to improve their conversion rates. Our theoretical foundation builds on extant literature on search engine metrics, conversion rates, and online buyer behavior.
Using External Mechanisms to Govern Another Organization’s Salesforce
Sarah Magnotta, Marketing
TIME: 9:00 A.M. | ROOM: ST 311
Manufacturers frequently face the challenge of motivating distributor salespeople to focus their efforts on their products rather than on their competitors’ products. To address this, manufacturers often rely on incentives (e.g., financial rewards) and training (e.g., product training). These are referred to as external motivators because they reflect mechanisms by which one firm directs another firm’s employees. Unlike internal motivators (i.e., mechanisms to direct a firm’s own employees), external motivators tend to raise concerns about the appropriateness of being influenced by an outside firm. Drawing on the legitimacy literature and social learning theory, this research suggests that salespeople will address their concerns by seeking information about their managers’ external motivators. The results of a three-source, multilevel data collection and analysis suggest that manufacturers can enhance the ability of salesperson external motivators (incentives and training) to drive focused effort and subsequent sales performance by increasing similar sales manager external motivators; however, increasing sales manager external incentives reduces the positive impact of salespeople’s external training (i.e., dissimilar motivators) on their focused effort.
Effects of Weather on Diarrheal Disease in Peruvian Children: A Geospatial Investigation
James Manley, Economics
TIME: 9:00 A.M. | ROOM: ST 307
Combining information on household characteristics with data from nearby weather stations, I investigate the effect of fluctuations in temperature and rainfall from longer-term averages on the incidence of diarrheal disease among Peruvian children under age 5. Low level variation in temperature and precipitation have little effect except in one case: incidence increases by about 7-12% when low temperatures stay above freezing. This set of circumstances is a concern in the central, mountainous “sierra” region during the dry season. The analysis also affirms previously established findings such as the importance of improved water access and sanitation.
Humanitarian Logistics and Supply Chain Management Research: A Bibliometric study on central themes and trends
Tobin Porterfield, e-Business and Technology Management
TIME: 11:00 A.M. | ROOM: ST 307
“Humanitarian logistics and supply chain management research is a relatively new area with much of the published journal articles having been generated in the past fifteen years. The area of research has been evolving with motivation from major natural disasters and increased pressure from donors to improve the efficiency of humanitarian operations. In order to organize and understand the existing literature, a bibliometric analysis is conducted applying quantitative tools for the analysis of trends, citations, and co-citations. Preliminary results suggest an increasing volume but a concentration of journals and a fragmentation of contributing authors. Co-citation relationships are being evaluated using a dense network subgrouping algorithm which results in clusters or communities of interest around topics within the area.”
Supervisor-Subordinate Guanxi and Workplace Outcomes: A Meta-Analytic Review of 17 Years of Empirical Research and Future Research Agenda
Shanshan Qian, Management, co-authored with Chao Miao, George Banks, and Anson Seers
TIME: 1:00 P.M. | ROOM: ST 311
The guanxi is an indigenous Chinese construct that is multilevel and has different conceptualizations. In the present research, we focus on one type of dyadic level guanxi quality, which is supervisor-subordinate guanxi (SSG) – a non-work or personal tie that reflects the relationship between a subordinate and their supervisor. Although SSG has received considerable attention, results are fragmented and mixed. Further, how the Eastern conceptualization of SSG differs from the Western conceptualization of leader-member exchange (LMX) remains nebulous. We meta-analytically integrated 71 samples that contain 238 effect sizes. We found that: (1) SSG has a strong relation with LMX (ρ ̂ = .56); (2) SSG has non-significant relation with its correlates (age, gender, education, and tenure); (3) SSG consistently demonstrates smaller relative weights than LMX in predicting all eight outcome variables (task performance, organizational citizenship behavior, job satisfaction, organizational commitment, turnover intention, distributive justice, procedural justice, and trust in supervisor); and (4) SSG contributes statistically significant, yet very small (ranging from .00 to .03), incremental validity above and beyond LMX in predicting all of the aforementioned outcome variables except for distributive justice. Implications, limitations, and future directions were discussed.
Effects of Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) on Productivity
Jorge Romero, Accounting
TIME: 10:00 A.M. | ROOM: ST 307
ERP systems integrate and synchronize several key components of firms, including accounting information systems, and are considered to help in increasing productivity and profitability. Both ERP systems and accounting information systems are key tools used by auditors and accountants in daily operations of mainly large firms. This study contributes theoretically to the business value of information technology and the literature on accounting information systems by blending theory from both streams into one model. It also has applied value to enterprise resource planning systems and productivity research.
Value Models for Cybersecurity Metrics
Natalie Scala, e-Business and Technology Management
TIME: 12:00 P.M. | ROOM: ST 311
Recently, cybersecurity has received increased attention, as the quantity and severity of breaches continues to rise. Most research examines fundamental architecture and practices from a computer science or network infrastructure perspective and does not consider methods to measure performance of a system or probabilities to predict the next breach. This research applies decision analysis perspectives to cybersecurity and creates a value model for performance metrics that is supported by survey data from IT professionals and CIOs. The survey gauges professionals’ perceived cybersecurity of their networks, identifies valued attributes of cybersecurity, and assesses the relative importance of those attributes. The utility-theory based value model includes attributes and value from the survey and literature, scores metrics on their contribution to value, and provides a rank ordered list of important metrics for implementation. We illustrate the value model with data from the supply chain sector but contribute a framework that can be customized for any industry. Results will enable companies to assess the performance of their systems and will serve as inputs to a larger study that aims to estimate value functions for an adversary. This is joint work with COL Paul Goethals, PhD, of the United States Military Academy.
Intergenerational Effect of Education Reform Program and Maternal Education on Children’s Educational and Labor Outcomes: Evidence from Nepal
Vinish Shrestha, Economics
TIME: 10:30 A.M. | ROOM: ST 311
We examine a potential intergenerational determinant of child labor by investigating the effect of maternal education on children’s educational and labor outcomes. To account for endogeneity of mother’s education, we use the Nepal Education System Plan (1971), one of the first education reforms in the country, as an exogenous source of variation. We find that NESP increased educational outcomes among females that are most likely to be affected by the reform due to their birth year and district of birth. Furthermore, an increase in mother’s highest level of schooling increases a child’s probability of finishing 5th grade only among mothers from a higher caste households. Although we fail to reject the null hypothesis that mother’s education has no effect on child labor participation, we find modest reductions in comprehensive measures such as hours worked per week. Our findings indicate that exclusion based on social hierarchy should be considered when promoting maternal education as a medium to improve children’s well-being in developing nations like Nepal.
Antecedents and Outcomes of Work Engagement: Impact of Personal and Organizational Resources
Filiz Tabak & Mariana Lebron, Management
TIME: 9:30 A.M. | ROOM: ST 311
We propose and partially test a model of work engagement, defined as a positive, fulfilling mindset accompanied by energy, commitment, and absorption of employees in work. Our paper’s purpose is to investigate the predictors, moderators, and outcomes of work engagement by integrating the Conservation of Resources Theory and the Social Exchange Theory. One contribution of the study is the exploration of variables such as organizational justice and dispositional envy within the context of work engagement. In addition, integration of two distinct research streams and investigating both the antecedents and outcomes of engagement adds a dimension of depth to our findings. The study findings aim to contribute to literature on stress/occupational health by investigating an uncharted domain, in that higher levels of engagement may deplete one’s resources and can interfere with occupational health and increase stress.
Applying Operations Management to Stock Markets
Precha Thavikulwat, Management
TIME: 1:30 P.M. | ROOM: ST 307
The standard electronic stock market involves continuous-time trading flanked by opening and closing batch auctions. Continuous-time trading disadvantages those with large orders, which has led to market fragmentation. I show how the disadvantage can be ameliorated by applying inventory theory to determine the target inventory level for triggering intermediate batch auctions.
Collecting for a Cause: How Pay-What-You-Want with Charitable Giving Benefits the Partnering For-Profit
Veronica Thomas, Marketing
TIME: Wednesday, May 3, 1:00 PM. | ROOM: CBE Behavioral Lab
The objective of this research is to investigate, from the perspective of a for-profit partnering firm, the effectiveness of Pay-What-You-Want (PWYW) with charitable giving, whereby consumers pay any amount for a good/service with proceeds going toward a charitable cause. Three studies are presented which explore relationships between donation format, attitude toward the for-profit firm, and purchase intentions. Results indicate that PWYW with charitable giving is effective at enhancing purchase intentions and attitudes toward the for-profit partner. Further, this relationship is mediated by inferences of manipulative intent with PWYW with charitable giving resulting in lower inferences of manipulative intent and, ultimately improving consumers’ attitudes and behaviors toward the firm. However, if firm-cause fit is low, perceptions of manipulative intent increase, ultimately negating the positive impact of PWYW with charitable giving.
Comparing Blogs with Print Ads for Corporate Branding
Gema Vinuales, Marketing
TIME: 12:30 P.M. | ROOM: ST 311
The explosion of new media and usage represents one the most significant trends in marketing communications today. One of the major challenges in this environment is which type of media is most effective at communicating a message. Across two studies, we demonstrate that a message in a blog generates a more positive corporate-brand attitude and higher engagement than the identical one in a print ad, and that source credibility mediates this effect. A blog is perceived as having higher source credibility than a print ad.
