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Sex, Personality, and Mate Preferences
Get PDFIn this study, we examined demographic, ideological, and personality difference correlates of ratings of 27 characteristics in a potential mate. In all, 288 mainly middle-aged adults completed two questionnaires: one assessing personality (high potential trait indicator) and one on mate preference (Mate Preferences Scale). Sex differences, where p 0.40, revealed only one on personality (competitiveness) but five other factors (attractiveness, earnings, emotional stability, height, and sexiness) in line with previous studies. Correlations indicated that participant trait ambiguity tolerance and competitiveness (low agreeableness) were most closely related to mate choices and preferences for normality, good genes, and religious compatibility. A factor analysis of the ratings indicated five interpretable factors. Regressions, with the mate choice factors as criterion and demography, ideology, and the six traits as predictor variables demonstrated many of the traits related to mate preference ratings. Implications and limitations are noted.Sex, Personality, and Mate PreferencesacceptedVersio
Optimising Advertisement Styles on Social Media: Evaluating the Comparative Effects of UGC- Style versus Traditional-Style Advertisements on Brand Recall, Recognition, and Consumer Perceptions
Get PDFMasteroppgave(MSc) in Master of Science in Strategic Marketing Management - Handelshøyskolen BI, 2024Following the recognition of social media advertising as a key component of advertising success, there is an increasing interest in the topic of user-generated content. Although existing literature acknowledges user-generated content as a valuable resource for brands, a knowledge gap persists regarding firm-generated UGC-style advertisements and its potential impact on key advertising metrics. The aim of this master thesis is to unveil the undisclosed effects of the newly emerged and self-defined advertisement style, UGC-style advertising. This study finds that UGC-style advertisements exhibit distinct tendencies and implications compared to traditional advertisements on social media. By employing measures such as the persuasion knowledge model, brand genuinuity, and purchase intention, this study effectively investigates and elucidates consumer behaviour in relation to our hypotheses. To examine these effects, we conducted an experimental study involving manipulations of advertisement style (traditional vs. UGC-style) within brand communication. The first part of the study disclose that traditional advertisements significantly enhance brand recall and recognition, boosting brand awareness. The second part of the study finds that traditional advertisement style enhances perceived acceptability of persuasion attempts, and this further has a positive impact on brand genuinuity. The study also discloses there is a positive relationship between perceived brand genuinuity and purchase intention, and lastly that traditional advertisement style has a positive effect on purchase intention, compared to UGC-style advertisements. This thesis identifies both theoretical and practical implications for advertising strategies. It also discusses the limitations of the current study and suggests directions for future research
Taxation in Norwegian Salmon Aquaculture
Get PDFMasteroppgave(MSc) in Master of Science in Business, Accounting and Business Control - Handelshøyskolen BI, 2024The newly introduced Salmon Tax in Norway has been a hot topic since its
announcement in 2022. Shifting the spotlight from political discussions to
economic consequences of this taxation – this thesis takes on the topic of how this
announcement has affected the leverage among the affected firms within the
aquaculture industry. We therefore outlined our research question as follows:
"Does the announcement of the salmon tax affect capital structure decisions of
Norwegian salmon farming companies?"
Based on The Trade-Off Theory, we predicted our results to show an increase in
leverage after the post-announcement period. According to this theory, firms
balance the costs of financial risk against the tax advantages of debt. With a
sample of 297 firms that represents all firms listed on the Oslo Børs, and a sample
period from 2018 to 2023, we used a Difference-in-Difference approach to
capture the effect on leverage from the pre period to the post period. In general,
the evidence fails to provide support for the Trade-Off Theory. And on average,
leverage does not change significantly following the announcement of the tax. It
is only when we condition the analysis further on profitable firms and leave out
fixed effects, that we find some evidence supporting the idea that profitable firms
increase book leverage in response to the tax announcement. However, this effect
depends on regression specifications and is not robust through all regressions
The dark side of dedication: Conditions that may trigger workaholic behaviour. A qualitative study
Get PDFMasteroppgave(MSc) in Master of Science in Leadership and Organizational Psychology - Handelshøyskolen BI, 2024This master’s thesis addresses workaholism, a phenomenon that has gained
increasing attention with the advancement of technology and changing work
habits. The study examines how factors such as attachment style, self-esteem,
guilt, and technology use contribute to workaholic behaviour. Employing a
qualitative research design, the thesis delves into the experiences of six informants
with high workloads across various industries. The study aims to understand the
complex interplay between psychological factors and workaholic behaviours. The
thesis has utilized in-depth interviews with individuals in demanding professions
to map personal experiences and perspectives on workaholism.
The findings confirm that workaholism is a multidimensional phenomenon, where
psychological factors can play a central role. The informants’ self-esteem and
workplace achievements appear to have an impact on their work behaviour, and
guilt related to work and family obligations emerges as an inner conflict which
may be drawn to workaholic behaviour. Additionally, the study shows that
attachment style may prevent employees from seeking help which contributes to
higher workload. The role of technology is twofold. On one hand, it can
contribute to increased efficiency and flexibility, while on the other, it can lead to
increased workload and stress.
The thesis contributes new insights into how internal and external factors interact
and influence workaholism. Our findings highlight the importance of addressing
these factors and triggers to promote healthier work culture and better balance
between work and private life
Korleis Tomax; eit selskap basert i olje og gass næringa tilpassar seg det grøne skiftet
No full textBacheloroppgave i Økonomi og administrasjon fra Handelshøyskolen BI, 2024Vi lever i ei verd som er i stadig vekst. Dei siste hundre åra har verdas ressursbehov auka eksponentielt. Ein konsekvens av dette er at klodens sine ressursar har byrja å minke. Dette gjeld og for olje og gass. Vi nyttar no fossilt brensel for å dekke 81% av vårt energibehov. (BP p.l.c., 2023) For å sørge for at kloden skal halde fram som tilhald for komande generasjonar må me endre denne trenden slik at vi ikkje går tom eller endrar klima. Hovudtiltaket for å oppnå dette er Parisavtalen utvikla av FNs klimakomisjon i 2015. Ein av hovudbransjane som vart påverka av denne problemstillinga er oljebransjen. Ser ein på Noregs BNP utgjer olje eksport 41% av landets eksport inntekter. (SSB, 2024) Oljeindustrien står ovanfor store endringar og stadig aukande krav frå statlege organ. Bransjen som før vart ein av dei desidert mest lukrative er nå sett på som ein risiko bransje med redusert stabilitet på mange måtar. Dette reiser eit spørsmål om korleis selskap som opererer i oljeindustrien har tilpassa seg denne endringa. For å belyse dette spørsmålet valde eg meg ut eit norsk olje teknologiselskap som caseobjekt. Problemstillinga som blir reist er som følger:
«Korleis vil det globale oljeservice selskapet Tomax tilpasse seg det grøne skiftet?»
For å belyse problemstillinga har eg vald å fokusere på to teoriar: Sirkulær økonomi og Organisatorisk resiliens. Dette er teoriar som både belyser bedriftas berekraftige eigenskapar, samstundes som dei ser på selskapets evne til å takle marknadsrelaterte endringar. Gjennom kvalitativ forsking og opparbeiding av tilstrekkeleg primær og sekundærdata via dokument analyse, kvalitative intervju og eksterne kjelder.
Dei empiriske funna gjort i denne oppgåva har blitt nøye analysert og presenterte med å sette dei i lys av det teoretiske rammeverket. All drøfting er også gjort i lys av problemstillinga samt ulike spørsmål den reiser. Med bakgrunn i dette har eg sett på korleis Tomax ytlegare kan forbetre sin posisjon i Markedet, samt auke deira berekraftseigenskapar. For å sikre relevans nytta eg ytlegare ein teori knyta til organisatorisk resiliens: Resiliens i forsyningskjeden. Gjennom dette drøfta eg korleis Tomax kan optimalisere si drift knyta til dei fem hovudpunkta utarbeida frå denne teorien. Det konkluderast med at Tomax stiller sterkt når det kjem til resiliens ved gjennomgang og tolking av forskingsdata, men at dei kan forbetre seg ytlegare ved å evaluere og eventuelt implementere nokre av desse tiltaka
Working Capital Management: The Impact of the Cash Conversion Cycle on Profitability and Financing for US Firms
Get PDFMasteroppgave(MSc) in Master of Science in Business, Accounting and Business Control - Handelshøyskolen BI, 2024This thesis investigates the impact of the Cash Conversion Cycle (CCC) on profitability, debt, and cash holdings among US firms from 2002 to 2022, utilizing regression models and data from the CRSP/Compustat Merged Database. Contrary to prior research, our findings reveal no robust evidence that a shorter CCC increases profitability. Additionally, we find no consistent support for the pecking order theory or the static trade-off theory of cash holdings in the context of working capital management.
Our results underscore the complexity and variability of CCC, suggesting that the benefits of efficient working capital management are not as consistent as previously posited in the literature. The study identifies that profitability and CCC might influence each other simultaneously, which complicates the interpretation of their direct relationship. For instance, while more profitable firms can afford to maintain higher inventory levels, less profitable firms might manage their inventory more efficiently due to liquidity constraints.
In terms of financing, our study does not find consistent evidence that firms with a longer CCC rely more on debt, nor do we find evidence that they hold more cash. Future studies should consider more industry-specific analyses and case studies to better understand the nuances of working capital management and its financial implications.
In conclusion, this thesis contributes to the body of knowledge on working capital management by providing a detailed examination of the CCC and its impact on key financial metrics. Our findings suggest that the relationship between CCC and profitability is more complex than previously thought, and efficient working capital management should be tailored to the specific context of each firm and industry
Exploring Unconscious Gender Bias in the Job Analysis Process: An Investigation into the Factors Influencing and Mitigating Bias in the Evaluation of Job Roles and Requirements
Get PDFMasteroppgave(MSc) in Master of Science in Leadership and Organizational Psychology - Handelshøyskolen BI, 2024In today’s pursuit of workplace equality, our master’s thesis delves into a critical yet often overlooked aspect of recruitment: the job analysis process. Despite organizational efforts toward diversity, unconscious gender biases continue to infiltrate and skew hiring practices from the very first step.
This study investigates how gender biases manifest during job analysis, influencing role descriptions, competence assessments, and ultimately, hiring decisions. Through in-depth qualitative research, including semi-structured interviews and thematic analysis, we uncover the phenomenon of gender biases and how they shape recruitment outcomes.
Our study reveals that using a variety of sources for the job analysis, rather than just the hiring manager’s perspective, may lead to a clearer and more unbiased understanding of the position. This approach smooths out the differences between how managers and employees describe positions, ensuring a fairer portrayal. Additionally, consistent, and clear communication of key job attributes among everyone involved is crucial. We also found that being aware of and actively managing unconscious gender bias is essential to creating fair recruitment processes. By refining the job analysis stage, organizations can set the stage for more unbiased and effective hiring practices.
Dive into our research to discover how your organization can lead the charge in promoting gender equality right from the start of the recruitment process
En analyse av børsmeldingene ved rettede emisjoner på Oslo Børs
Get PDFMasteroppgave(MSc) i Master i Forretningsjus og økonomi - Handelshøyskolen BI, 2024Studien har som formål å foreta en analyse av hvordan børsnoterte selskaper på Oslo Børs begrunner rettede emisjoner, og vurdere når disse begrunnelsene vil være innenfor det juridiske rammeverket som selskapene er bundet av. En utfordring i en slik studie er at størsteparten av litteraturen på området gjelder aksje- og allmennaksjeselskap generelt, snarere enn børsnoterte allmennaksjeselskap spesielt. Dermed vil det vies betydelig oppmerksomhet på å definere rammeverket de børsnoterte selskapene skal operere innenfor. Analysen av børsmeldingene viser at selskapene på Oslo Børs i stor grad benytter likelydende argumenter for hvorfor en rettet emisjon er innenfor det juridiske rammeverket i deres konkrete tilfelle. Studien viser ytterligere at de mest brukte argumentene har reservasjoner og begrensninger for hvilke tilfeller de kan rettferdiggjøre et unntak fra aksjeeiernes fortrinnsrett. Det er ikke et mål med studien å være dommer over hvilke emisjoner som er innenfor lovens krav, da dette vil forutsette en dypere innsikt i selskapsinterne forhold. Studien er snarere et bidrag i forskningen av hvilke rammer som gjelder for et børsnotert selskap som skal hente kapital gjennom en rettet emisjon
Fra klikk til kake: Den digitale markedsføringens innflytelse på nettkakesalg
Get PDFBacheloroppgave i Digital markedsføring fra Handelshøyskolen BI, 2024Denne bacheloroppgaven er skrevet i forbindelse med fordypning i digital markedsføring. Vi har valgt en praktisk tilnærming i samarbeid med ‘Kaker på nett’, - et initiativ fra Mesterbakeren AS i samarbeid med Rema 1000 AS. Dette har vi gjort med et ønske om bidra til å utvide eksisterende forskning på området. Basert på prosjektets formål har vi utformet problemstillingen:
Hvordan kan betalt annonsering på digitale plattformer optimalisere markedsføringsaktivitetene til KPN, og hvilken rolle spiller produktfokuserte landingssider i denne sammenheng?
Etter å ha gjennomført omfattende forarbeider, har vi i dette eksperimentet gjennomført tre ulike A/B-tester. Den første testen fokuserte på to sosiale medieplattformer, Facebook og Instagram. Hovedfunnet er at Facebook er mest egnet til å drive betalt annonsering. Deretter testet vi betalt annonsering i sosiale
medier opp mot søkemotormarkedsføring på Google. Konklusjonen er at sosiale medier er effektivt for bred spredning og trafikk, mens søkemotormarkedsføring er egnet for konverteringer. Avslutningsvis testet vi hvilken rolle en produktfokusert landingsside ville ha for konverteringer fra de betalte annonsene. Den produktfokuserte landingssiden ble utformet med formål om å forenkle den digitale kundereisen, samt å bidra til økt konverteringer. Eksperimentet indikerte at landingssiden presterte bedre enn hjemmesiden til Kaker på nett med tanke på konverteringsrate.
Gjennom forskningen har vi fått en dypere forståelse for hvordan man kan utnytte ulike digitale kanaler for å realisere høyere avkastning på markedsføringstiltak. Videre har vi erfart at suksess krever innsikt i og forståelse for plattformens funksjoner, og at gode resultater kan oppnås ved å skape synergier mellom dem. Ved å spore potensielle kunder fra klikk til kjøp gjennom den digitale kundereisen kan dette bidra til forbedret målretting basert på hvor forbrukere befinner seg i kjøpsprosessen. Analyseverktøyene Ads Manager og Google Ads var svært nyttig for å analysere hvem annonsene har blitt eksponert for og hvem som engasjerte seg gjennom klikk. Vi støtte på utfordringer i sporingen på Google Analytics, noe som medførte underutnyttelse av verktøyets potensial og vanskeligheter med å analysere brukerne som foretok kjøp.
Det ønskede utfallet var å øke trafikk og salg i nettbutikken. Eksperimentet genererte inntekter på 55.171 kroner som tilsvarer en avkastning på 2203%. Vi anerkjenner prosjektets suksess og anbefaler ytterligere testing for å kontinuerlig optimalisere aktivitetene for å øke avkastningen på investeringene.
Selv om vi har måttet avgrense med tanke på prosjektets størrelse, vil vi supplere med et innsiktsbasert grunnlag for videre forskning, som vi håper vil bidra til å optimalisere Mesterbakerens markedsføringsaktiviteter. Til tross for feilkilder og usikkerhet i datainnsamlingen, som vi har avdekket, anses disse som verdifull innsikt for å effektivisere fremtidige markedsføringsaktiviteter. Oppgaven bærer preg av informasjon fra interne dokumenter som vi henviser til underveis i besvarelsen
The Perceived Impacts of Short-Term Rental Platforms: Comparing the United States and United Kingdom
Get PDFShort-term rental platforms such as Airbnb have enjoyed considerable success in recent years. However, critics accuse the platforms of having negative impacts, leading to gentrification, disruption, and increased rent and house prices. While research has investigated actual impacts of short-term rental platforms, we lack systematic, generalizable, and comparative evidence on the perceived impacts of such platforms, especially from a social exchange perspective. To address this shortcoming, we conducted a representative survey in the US and UK with a holistic set of perceived impacts. Using social exchange theory (SET) and applying a range of multi-variate statistical analyses, especially exploratory factor analysis and cluster analysis, we systematically compare these two contexts to identify clusters that perceived the social exchanges derived from STRs as distinct. The findings indicate that US residents assess short-term rental platforms more positively than UK residents, especially for recreational, amenities-oriented and economic impacts. Among respondents who have used short-term rental platforms as guests, the perceptions are more alike between the two countries, suggesting a homogenization effect. We discuss the theoretical and practical implications of the results.The Perceived Impacts of Short-Term Rental Platforms: Comparing the United States and United Kingdom publishedVersio