143 research outputs found
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The Importance of Mathematics Competency in Statistical Literacy
Get PDFCompetence in mathematics and statistics are related, but are not the same thing. To measure the impact of mathematical competence on statistics performance, ACT math scores together with remedial and required math grades were analyzed together with final grades in a two-course sequence of undergraduate statistics. Results indicate that math competence is correlated with success in the first statistics course, but generally not the second. In addition, success in the first statistics course does not imply success in the second. These findings support the claims that mathematics and statistics are two separate disciplines, each deserving of its own pedagogy
Factors Determining the Operational Self-Sufficiency Among Microfinance Institutions
Get PDFThis paper is to determine factors best describing a microfinance institution’s (MFI’s) operational selfsufficiency (OSS). The OSS is defined as the ratio of an MFI’s operating revenues to it operating expenses including the financial costs and impairment losses on loans. The outreach of an MFI, the writeoff ratio and regional differences are found significant in determining the OSS of MFIs. Surprisingly, neither an MFI’s depositors-to-borrowers ratio nor its deposits-to-loan portfolio ratio was found to be significant to explain an MFI’s OSS. There was no significant difference in the OSS in 2006 - before the worldwide financial crisis - and in 2008
Temperament Talk of “Managers Chosen as Leaders” in a Family Owned Corporation: From Descriptors to Dialogue
Get PDFA workshop built on temperament theory will not solve the financial woes of a company. Nevertheless, a workshop designed and based solely on temperament theory or research can diminish its outcomes. If an organization wants to change its current ways of believing, knowing, and doing, replicating the workshop’s impersonal dialogue process can help facilitate the change. At Celebration, Inc. dialogue proved to be more powerful than descriptors especially when embedded in workshop content
Sarbanes-Oxley and the Need for Audit Committee Independence: Contrary Evidence in the Textile Industry
Get PDFWe investigate whether the appearance of audit committee independence, e.g., outside membership as defined by the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (SOA), is necessarily related to effective independence, e.g., the audit committee’s support of an auditor’s going-concern opinion (Carcello and Neal 2003; 2000). The SOA makes the agency theory assumption, generally supported by current research, that seemingly non-independent audit committee members reduce the reliability of the financial reporting. Yet, prior to the SOA, other rulings permitted non-independent audit committee members to serve when it was “in the best interests of the firm,” and even the Carcello and Neal (2000) findings point to a possible industry or company-size effect in measuring audit committee effectiveness. It seems that manager-owner committee members of smaller companies may also do the right thing. Therefore, we reconsider this independence question for the textile industry, one severely stressed and possibly affected by firm size. We observe seventy-four companies during the years 2000 and 2001 when the SOA was not in effect to determine whether their non-dependent-appearing audit committees also would effectively act independent, without the constraint of the SOA. We do find at least two SOA non-independent characteristics of audit committees, what would be two apparent SOA violations in 2011, contrarily associated with two actions of effective independence. We do not find any one of the ten recommended SOA requirements correlated with these actions of effective independence. These findings suggest that measures of effective independence may not necessarily be related to appearance, and may instead depend on company or industry size, adding to the growing body of research that argues for restricting government financial regulation (Gao et al., 2009; Hayes, 2009; Hart, 2009; Dodd–Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, 2010; Orol, 2011)
Editorial Review Board - 2011
No full textThe editor appreciates the hard work of the 2010 editorial review board
Institutionalization, Coercive Isomorphism, and the Homogeneity of Strategy
Get PDFTraditional research on strategy has emphasized heterogeneity in strategy through such concepts as competitive advantage and distinctive competence. Yet firms often demonstrate homogeneity in strategy. This paper suggests that institutional forces inherent in interorganizational networks generate isomorphic process that can cause firms to pursue similar strategies. A study of firms that supply component parts and systems to auto manufacturers was performed to determine if dependence and coercive isomorphism can lead to homogeneity of strategy. Results indicated that greater firm dependence did seem to cause firms to exhibit greater homogeneity in strategy. Implications for research and practice are discussed
Sustainability in the Nonprofit Sector: Communication Strategies to Increase the Bottom Line
Get PDFThis paper explores the impact of communications management strategies in the sustainability of community-based organizations (CBOs) and faith-based organizations (FBOs). Several communication challenges prevalent among nonprofits in Southwestern PA are identified and communication strategies for improving the bottom line are provided as a viable solution. This paper will be of interest to consultants, academics and nonprofit leaders who seek to undertsand and address financial sustainability through effective communication management strategies
The Impact of Working Capital Efficiencies on the Enterprise Value Option: Empirical Analysis from the Energy Sector
Get PDFThis paper, looking within the energy sector, empirically tests the hypotheses that individual and/or net working capital efficiencies impact a company’s enterprise value (EV). The EV metric is unique for it allows an equity investor to assess the firm on the same basis as an acquirer in a merger-acquisition transaction. It represents an option or ‘right’ to buy a firm’s core cash flow or the value of claims on that cash flow. The results show there are significant negative associations between the net working capital efficiencies and enterprise value for large and mid-cap firms. From the perspective of the investoracquirer, the acquisition cost of a company is directly impacted and it shows why they need to pay attention as to how well firms simultaneously turn over their inventories, collect on trade receivables, and service their trade creditors
Evaluating Visual/Verbal Online Finance Students
Get PDFThis study attempted to determine to what extent audio, video, or some combination of audio/video portions of lecture presentations were helpful in addressing issues related to anxiety, mastering the material presented, and making the class more personal. For several different finance courses, course content with both text and audiovisual material was loaded onto a server using the Adobe Breeze and Adobe Captivate 2 Screen Capture programs on a BLACKBOARD platform. Results based on multiple regression models showed that the new visual and audio portions of the lectures allowed respondents to master the material more effectively, which lead to lower levels of anxiety. Results also showed that making the class more personal through the visual and audio material improved students’ sense that they were mastering the material
Rights and Duties of Employers and Applicants
Get PDFThe task of hiring new employees presents multiple challenges. Underlying many of these challenges is the need to balance applicant's' legal and ethical rights and duties with those of the organization. An array of federal laws faces the U.S. employer, prohibiting discrimination on a variety of bases. Additionally, ethical issues, which extend beyond legal requirements, must be considered in the hiring process. Privacy, personal dignity, and integriy are critical concerns which hiring companies and applicants must balance. This article discusses the rights and duties of employers and applicants, and demonstrates how these rights and duties can lead to better hiring decisions