Recent Submissions

  • Cosmetic Consumer Confidence: An Informed Approach To Shopping

    Jayamohen, Parvathi; Rudzis, Gabriella (2023-05-01)
    The growth of the cosmetics industry in recent years has made the purchasing of cosmetics more widespread as online shopping and social media have attracted new markets to the industry. The cosmetics industry has undergone changes to better accommodate these growing markets, and the demands of the consumers within them. So far, little research has been done on how ecommerce changes the way consumers purchase cosmetic products. This research project explores what factors currently affect consumer’s purchasing habits in the cosmetics industry. A survey was implemented to evaluate how cosmetic consumers across generations rate the significance of ingredients, production, environmental safety, labor rights, and trade practices within the cosmetics industry regarding their purchasing habits. The findings from the survey indicate that Gen X, followed closely by Gen Z, are the most active cosmetic consumers that engage in research regularly prior to their purchases. Compared to other generations, Gen X participates the most in the industry, and expresses the highest rates of interest and concern across all factors of the cosmetics industry. The data from this research also indicates that ingredient usage, environmental safety, and labor rights are the most important and most researched factors in a cosmetic consumer’s purchasing process. The insight from cosmetic consumers through this research better illustrate consumer buying power, market demands, and what factors cosmetic firms should focus on to better market their products and appeal to the most important needs and concerns of their customers.
  • An Analysis of Operating Environment & Strategy: A Case Study of Tata Motor

    Gu, Jian; Crawford, Michael J (2016-05-01)
    This report provides an in-depth study of the environment in which India-based company Tata Motors competes. In order to understand key aspects of the company, a SWOT analysis was conducted to better determine both the internal and external aspects of the operating environment. Using this analysis in combination with a summary of the conditions in the domestic environment, suggested strategies are given. The purpose of these strategies is to provide creative, beneficial, and resourceful ways Tata can continue to succeed in the highly competitive automobile industry. Along with the general strategies, a brief implementation plan is given to demonstrate how to put these strategies into action.
  • Case Study of TATA Motors: SWOT Analysis and Strategy Suggestions

    Gu, James; Colbert, Casey (2016-05-01)
    According to the case study, the company, TATA Motors wants to have a multiband approach to competing in the global car industry. Based on the case-study, I analyzed the company as a whole in the global car industry and based on my findings figured out their SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats). After figuring out their SWOT analysis, I suggested potential strategics that could possible lead to becoming stronger and having a chance in competing in the global car industry.
  • Breaking The Concrete Wall: The Challenges Facing African-American Women In The Workplace

    Mullane, Ken; Pierre, Fredna (2019-05-01)
    The glass ceiling is a term that refers to the barriers that prevent women from attaining top corporate positions within a company. This business term is used to describe the difficulties that all women face. In particular, the barriers that inhibit black women from advancing in their careers are so significant that they have been described as a concrete wall rather than a glass ceiling. The purpose of this research is to identify factors that exist within the corporate hierarchy that have led to the glass ceiling and to compare these factors with those that contribute to the concrete wall and negatively affect African-American women from attaining top managerial positions. Through an extensive literature review, this research intends to explain the work and efforts being done to reduce the disadvantages faced by black women.
  • The Power Of Persistence: Harnessing Time Management Through App Design

    McArdle, John; Cabana, Nael (2018-01-01)
    As a young adult finalizing his Bachelor’s Degree, it is important to overcome the limitations of poor time-management skills in order to prioritize one’s best performance. In this case study, I analyze the results of strategically reassessing one’s personal time-management skills through the usage of accessible task management tools alongside the development of a time-budgeting discipline. This study describes the development of this process from a rough initial adoption of software-based time-management tools to the creation of an app prototype whose purpose is to encourage time-management. This prototype is structured with proper user experience (UX) in mind while maintaining compliance with guidelines to fulfill its core feature integrity. The ongoing development of this prototype is sectioned into a sequence of design that is representative of key components of understanding time-management, and its potential if harnessed correctly within an everyday workflow. t to overcome the limitations of poor time-management skills in order to prioritize one’s best performance. In this case study, I analyze the results of strategically reassessing one’s personal time-management skills through the usage of accessible task management tools alongside the development of a time-budgeting discipline. The final results of this prototype development are represented in various graphical mockups that showcase the user experience of the application, how the prototype is compliant with self-imposed design rules, and the impacts that developing this prototype has had on personal time-management skills.
  • Market Basket: The Study Of A Company's Conflict And Resolution

    McArdle, John; Connors, Devon (2018-01-01)
    In 2014 thousands of Market Basket employees and customers stood together in what became known as one of the largest labor disputes of the decade. The purpose of this research is to understand why customers and employees stood behind Arthur T. Demoulas during the Market Basket labor dispute of 2014, and briefly explore the conflict that began that dispute. Using articles written during the time of the dispute and other secondary data collected about the company, this study examines the conflict that led to the events that transpired during 2014. Additionally, interviews conducted with both employees and customers will highlight the role stakeholders had in saving the company. Results indicate that conflict within the company began with the shareholders and that the resolution was made possible by the stakeholders.
  • The Customer Is Always Right, Right?

    Daniell, Robert; McDonough, Alex (2018-01-01)
    The phrase "The customer is always right" is one that alludes to the fact that customer service is extremely important, especially in the retail industry. However, what does it mean for the customer to be right, all the time? In order to learn more about this a survey was developed and distributed to gauge consumers' thoughts and feelings on certain aspects of shopping, management, store policies, and customer service, amongst other things. The results of the survey led to implications that customers are not actually sure what they want. Respondents of the survey contradict themselves based on their answers on multiple questions. Additionally, the respondents' answers to these questions contradict prior research. The results of the survey and how the customers answered could have a huge effect on how managers of the retail industry should handle customer problems.
  • Professional Cuddling: Stigma, Market Business Plan

    Daniell, Robert; Pike, Emily (2018-01-01)
    Professional cuddling is an emerging business that has attracted media attention from major news sources. However there is little research on professional cuddling or its industry. A twenty-seven question survey designed to research potential stigmas, market, and opinions was distributed through social media and email. Based on preliminary results there is a market and interest for professional cuddling. Both the opinions and stigmas regarding professional cuddling are mixed. Through the presentation of the study and subsequent business plan, the business world will gain the knowledge of this burgeoning field and its feasibility. The world of business will also potentially gain a new company and new jobs.
  • Are Private Nonprofit Colleges And Universities In Compliance With Unrelated Business Income Regulations?

    McArdle, John; Bedard, Danielle (2018-01-01)
    Nonprofit status is granted to entities organized for a charitable, educational, religious or scientific purpose. Nonprofits are not liable for income tax on their revenues as long as the revenues are related to their core mission. As colleges and universities struggle in an era of declining resources they often seek alternate streams of revenue; some of these look more like businesses and less like nonprofits. This created the question: are nonprofit colleges and universities complying with the unrelated business income (UBI) laws and regulations? The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) audited a sample of thirty-four college and universities and found that 90% of them were underreporting their UBI. UBI is income generated from any activity that is not related to a nonprofit institutionÕs core mission. Some examples of these activities are: selling clothing, receiving revenue from a fitness center, and offering sports camps over the summer. This study evaluated tax returns from a randomized sample of forty private higher education institutions to determine whether they were compliant with IRS regulations. Several data points were examined to assess the validity of the institution's income reported.
  • How Student Veterans at Salem State University Cope with College Challenges

    McArdle, John; Johnson, Rachel (2016-05-01)
    This is a study on how student veterans at Salem State University have been able to overcome challenges they have faced in college using the leadership skills they acquired during their service in the military. I conducted a qualitative inquiry by interviewing 4 student veterans who are currently attending Salem State University. These interviews were between 15 and 25 minutes in length and were composed of semi-structured, open ended questions involving military experience, college experience, challenges faced in college, and leadership. After conducting these interviews and analyzing the data, I found that this group of student veterans who attend Salem State University do in fact use leadership skills acquired in the military to cope with challenges. I conducted this study, because it is important that the community be aware of what positive skills student veterans have, as well as the leadership skills they are equipped with to overcome challenges. From this study I was able to find that this group of student veterans who attend Salem State University use several leadership skills to help them succeed in college and overcome challenges: self-discipline, self-confidence, endurance, determination, drive, respect, and positivity. Understanding what leadership skills these students have used to cope with difficulties they faced is significant, because it helps the university and community at large see what positive skills they have. It also can help with improving services for veterans on campus, by supporting them in using these skills in beneficial and productive ways, as in coming up with methods to get more veterans involved in events and to be overall successful. As the group of participants was small, further research should be done in order to have a more conclusive understanding of veterans at Salem State University.