Business, Dhillon School of

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    The 2007-2008 financial crisis and accrual anomaly
    (Lethbridge, Alta. : University of Lethbridge, Faculty of Management., 2015) Wang, Ye; University of Lethbridge. Faculty of Management; Li, Yutao; Asem, Ebenezer
    This paper investigates how the 2008 financial crisis affects the accrual anomaly documented by Sloan (1996). I find that the accrual anomaly increases during the financial crisis period and the increase in accrual anomaly does not differ between firms relying and not relying on external financing. Additional analysis shows that arbitrage risk and transaction costs could have contributed to the increase in accrual anomaly during the financial crisis period.
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    The Alberta carbon market : an exploration of alternative policy options through agent-based modeling
    (Lethbridge, Alta. : University of Lethbridge, Faculty of Management, c2012, 2012) Aiyegbusi, Olufemi; Yalamova, Rossitsa
    Our study examines some design alternatives for a carbon market by exploring the fledgling Alberta carbon market. We attempt to evaluate the performance of these designs on the bases of trade volume, cost efficiency and stability. To achieve this we construct an empirically-calibrated but simple agent-based model, certain aspects of which we selectively modify to incorporate various design options. We make comparisons among these options based on data simulated from the ensuing family of models. We find strong evidence that in general, market design features such as source-of-credits, the scale of the market, and pricing-mechanism are very important considerations that influence the performance of the market. In addition, we find support for the notion that the level of the price cap relative to the average cost of abatement in the market matters, and beyond a threshold, higher price caps are associated with lower levels of performance.
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    Applying the IS success model to mobile banking apps
    (Lethbrige, Alta. : University of Lethbridge, Faculty of Management., 2014-09-25) Li, Taoting; Dobing, Brian; Kelley, Helen
    Mobile banking applications (apps) are the latest technology to be offered by the retail banking sector. However, little research has been done to understand the adoption of this technology. Building on the DeLone and McLean IS Success Model, this study investigates the impacts of banking app quality (i.e., information quality, system quality, and service quality) on satisfaction, perceived innovativeness, and intention to continue using. System quality and information quality were found to be multidimensional structures with the user interface, response time, and security contributing significantly to system quality while understandability and completeness contributed significantly to information quality. The findings suggest that system quality significantly impacts perceived innovativeness while information quality significantly influences satisfaction. Both perceived innovativeness and user satisfaction significantly affect intention to continue using banking apps. Perceived innovativeness also has an indirect impact, through satisfaction, on intention to continue using.
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    Assertiveness and leadership perceptions : the role of gender and leader-member exchange
    (Lethbridge, Alta. : University of Lethbridge, Faculty of Management., 2015) Lazenby, Corie-Lee; University of Lethbridge. Faculty of Management; Ansari, Mahfooz A.
    This study extends the recent research on the significant non-linear association between perceived assertiveness and a leader’s social and instrumental outcomes. Using a 3 X 2 X 2 between-participants experimental design (N = 469), with three levels of assertiveness (high; moderate; low), two levels of gender (male; female), and two levels of Leader-Member Exchange (LMX) quality (low; high), this study tested the main effects of assertiveness on leader social and instrumental outcomes, as well as the moderating effects of gender and LMX quality. The main effects hypotheses for assertiveness were supported, and as expected the moderate assertiveness condition was more predictive of positive leader outcomes when compared to the other two conditions. Gender did not significantly alter the main effects of assertiveness on leadership outcomes. However, LMX did interact significantly with assertiveness in predicting leadership effectiveness.
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    Assessing energy policy for sustainability outcomes: a comparative study of different regulatory market structures across North America
    (Lethbridge, Alta. : University of Lethbridge, Dhillon School of Business, 2022) Raposo, Tristan James; University of Lethbridge. Dhillon School of Business; MacDonald, Adriane; Bao, Yongjian
    Our modern world runs on electricity, and electricity is often produced using fossil fuel sources that contribute to global climate change. In a world with increasingly ambitious climate goals, it is vital to understand the relationship of energy markets where electricity is bought and sold and the renewable energy policies that exist to reduce fossil fuel generation. This thesis compares policies implemented in the continental US and Canada to explore potential relationships between renewable energy policies and energy market types (regulated markets vs. restructured markets) based on outcomes for reduced CO2 emissions, increased renewable generation, and decreased fossil fuel generation. This research uses statistical techniques to explore said relationships including OLS regression and multi-variate analysis of variance. This research contributes to Energy Policy and Sustainability literature with various findings, such as results showing there are no significant statistical differences between energy market types for impacts on renewable energy policy effectiveness. Findings are limited by the exploratory nature of this research and highlight the need for further study into the effectiveness of renewable energy policies.
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    Bank loan price reaction to dividend announcements: an empirical analysis of the secondary loan market
    (Lethbridge, Alta. : University of Lethbridge, Dhillon School of Business, 2018) Gonzalez Rodriguez, Karen Pamela; University of Lethbridge. Dhillon School of Business; Asem, Ebenezer; Shao, Pei
    In this thesis, I examine the secondary loan price reaction to dividend announcements. Using a sample of loans from 254 US firms covering the period between 2000 and 2016, I find that loans are associated with significantly negative abnormal returns around dividend cut announcements, consistent with the information content hypothesis. In contrast, there are no abnormal returns around dividend increase announcements. Further analysis shows that the information content effect of dividend increases is offset by the wealth transfer effect. The results provide evidence that the information content and the wealth redistribution hypotheses are not mutually exclusive, and loan prices react according to the combination of both hypotheses. Additionally, empirical evidence indicates that cash holdings, monitoring incentives, the structure of debt contracts, and covenants can help mitigate the costs arising from agency conflicts.
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    Barriers to local food initiatives in Southern Alberta : an intensive case study of the Cottonwood Co-op
    (Lethbridge, Alta. : University of Lethbridge, Faculty of Management, 2017) Jafri, Komal; University of Lethbridge. Faculty of Management; Usher, John
    Although there are many local food initiatives budding across the globe to support localization of the food system, they face major barriers operating in the mainstream food system. There is an existing literature highlighting barriers with suggested policies to overcome them. However there is little literature on unique barriers in Southern Alberta. This thesis explores characteristics of Southern Alberta that might inhibit operations of local food initiatives in this region through an intensive case study of a local food cooperative operating in Fort Macleod, Alberta. A comparison is then made with barriers in different cities of Alberta, Canada, and USA as discussed in literature. Policy implications, actionable by governments and local food initiatives’ management, are drawn from the findings.
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    Board effectiveness : the evidence from firm performance & risk
    (Lethbridge, Alta. : University of Lethbridge, Faculty of Management, 2016) Bhattarai, Sagar; University of Lethbridge. Faculty of Management; Baulkaran, Vishaal
    In this study I study the effect of board effectiveness, measured by Board Shareholder Confidence Index (BSCI) on firm performance and risk. I find that there is modest positive relationship between BSCI total scores and firm performance, which is similar to the earlier findings. More importantly, I show a strong relationship between board effectiveness ratings and firm risk. This relationship is tested using a panel regression, a two stage least square and simultaneous equation modelling. The findings are robust to all three econometric techniques. I further explore the relationship between individual sub-scores and find similar results in sub-score analyses. The relationship holds using multiple measures of risk and return, giving us a comprehensive picture of the hypothesized relationship.
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    Branded and non-branded tobacco counter-advertisements : an experimental study of reactance and other maladaptive and adaptive coping responses
    (Lethbridge, Alta. : University of Lethbridge, Faculty of Management, c2012, 2012) Wehbe, Michelle S; University of Lethbridge. Faculty of Management; Basil, Debra; Basil, Michael D.
    An experiment was done to investigate whether or not there is a need to treat smokers and non-smokers as separate target audiences when creating tobacco counter-advertisements. The Extended Parallel Process Model (Witte, 1992) and Reactance Theory (Brehm, 1966) were used to guide the development of predictions. The study revealed that social marketers need to have different advertising tactics for smokers and non-smokers, since smokers have reported more maladaptive coping responses and fewer adaptive coping responses than non-smokers. Moreover, based on the fact that a smoker’s brand forms an essential part of their self-identity (Goldberg et al., 1995) the experiment was also designed to see if smokers would have differing levels of reactance and other maladaptive coping responses if they saw a counter-advertisement attacking their brand, one attacking a competing brand, and a non-branded one. The study did not reveal any significant differences in reactions among the three conditions.
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    Bridging and bonding in HEI research centres : exploring the moderating influence of social capital on performance outcomes under NPM-driven MACSs
    (Lethbridge, Alta. : University of Lethbridge, Faculty of Management, c2011, 2011) Kellerman, Carolin; Usher, John
    The impact of social connectedness on the effectiveness of management accounting and control systems (MACSs) is little understood. The purpose of this study is to examine the importance of the theory of social capital for the challenges of European research centres of higher education institutions (HEIs). Based on a comparative case study design of research centres in a European NPM (New Public Management) forerunner and latecomer country, I explore how social capital can enrich our understanding in the field of management accounting and control while highlighting its implications for HEIs’ practitioners. Applying the work of Chenhall, Hall and Smith (2010) to the higher education context, I draw on Simons’ (1995) Levers of Control (LOC) framework to study how research directors proactively shape the MACSs-social capital relationship and observe contradictory effects on research performance across different research centre missions (Schubert, 2009).
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    Bridging representational gaps in functionally diverse teams: the roles of information elaboration and perspective taking on team creativity
    (Lethbridge, Alta. : University of Lethbridge, Dhillon School of Business, 2020) Wanjiru, Elizabeth; University of Lethbridge. Dhillon School of Business; Usher, John
    As a result of differences in knowledge, conflicting interpretations of new knowledge, and incompatible views among team members, problem-solving in organizations may be difficult, and be further impeded by the lack of or limited sharing of knowledge. It is vital for team members to leverage the differentiated knowledge in order to make the different perspectives more compatible and complementary to achieving team goals. With limited research on the often underestimated interaction processes between team members during problem solving exercises, this study examined information elaboration and perspective taking as interaction processes that team members engaged in during a problem-solving exercise. Data collected from an organizational behavior simulation conducted using the Lego® Serious Play™ was used to examine the interaction processes, and their effect on team creativity.
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    Celebrity Endorsement vs. Opposition of a Celebrity: A Study of Endorsement Effects in Politics Using a Balance Theory Approach
    (Lethbridge, Alta. : University of Lethbridge, Dhillon School of Business, 2019) Younas, Mustafa; University of Lethbridge. Dhillon School of Business; Basil, Debra; Basil, Michael D.
    A study to examine celebrity endorsement effects in the political sector. The focus of this study is on the likability and expertise of celebrities to see their effectiveness in situations where the celebrity either endorses a political candidate or decides to speak against a candidate. Balance Theory is used in the study to provide theoretical support for the importance of likability and expertise. Celebrity endorsement has been studied countless times from the product/services perspective and from the political advertisement perspective. This research makes an important contribution to the political realm by using Balance Theory to understand the importance of likability and expertise of a celebrity in cases of endorsement or opposition of a candidate by the celebrity. Another important contribution of this study is its focus on the celebrity opposition of a political candidate which has not been previously studied before.
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    A comparative study of the market reaction to dividend changes by banking firms and industrial firms
    (Lethbridge, Alta. : University of Lethbridge, Dhillon School of Business, 2020) Siddika, Samira; University of Lethbridge. Dhillon School of Business; Asem, Ebenezer; Tian, Gloria
    This study compares the market reaction to dividend changes (increases and decreases) by banking firms and industrial firms from 1980 to 2017. Our findings show that there is no statistically significant difference between the abnormal returns associated with dividend changes by banks and industrial firms over the last 37 years. Several different categories of the sample were tested. The majority of the scenarios show that the market reaction to dividend changes by banks was not different from the industrial firms. This result is inconsistent with previous literature that identified during short-run or crisis periods, abnormal return to dividend changes is higher for banks than industrial firms. This is the first study that uncovers that the market does not necessarily react differently to dividend change announcements by the two groups. The distinct characteristics of banks do not result in a different market reaction to their dividend changes compared to those of the industrial firms.
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    Consumers' motivations for choosing alternative food retailing modes: Interviews at farmers' markets, truck stalls, and the farm in southern Alberta
    (2014-10-02) Wang, Yuchen; Basil, Michael D.
    Interviews were conducted at various alternative markets in Lethbridge and on Granville Island to discover consumers’ motivations for making shopping choices. Experience economy theory (Pine & Gilmore, 1998) and the new dominant logic for marketing theory (Vargo & Lusch, 2004) were utilized to guide the development of predictions. The study revealed that consumers considered the products more expensive but fresher and the atmosphere more appealing at farmers’ markets than at supermarkets or grocery stores. Moreover, consumers visited farmers’ markets because they wanted to support the local economy and protect the environment. Consumers shopping at truck stalls and the farm believed the markets or their products shared the benefits of freshness, healthiness, seasonality, tastiness, as well as the costs of high prices, limited selection, and an inconvenient shopping environment, with farmers’ markets. Consumers at truck stalls and the farm were concerned about the atmosphere, the local economy, and the environment as well.
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    Corporate blogs : what factors influence blog readers and comment providers to continue using blogs
    (Lethbridge, Alta. : University of Lethbridge, Faculty of Management, c2013, 2013) Negrutu, Livia; University of Lethbridge. Faculty of Management; Dobing, Brian
    As blogs have become a new and significant way of distributing information, businesses and organizations have started looking for ways to exploit corporate blogs. With their recent evolution, little research has been conducted on the factors that influence blog readers and comment providers to continue engaging in corporate blogging activities. In this study, we analyze IT corporate blog users' motivations to continue using blogs based on an integrated technology acceptance model (TAM) and expectation confirmation model for the information technology domain (ECM-IT). Our findings suggest that confirmation, perceived usefulness, information quality and social norms are the main determinants of satisfaction, attitude and continued blog usage intention. Moreover, results indicate that some of the factors that influence users to continue using personal blogs do not apply to corporate blog visitors. Overall, our model explains 71% of the variance of continued blog usage intention.
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    Corporate sustainability in China : a content analysis of corporate sustainability reports of SOEs and non-SOEs
    (Lethbridge, Alta. : University of Lethbridge, Faculty of Management, 2017) Peng, Bo; University of Lethbridge. Faculty of Management; Escobar, Luis
    The main purpose of this thesis was to investigate how corporate sustainability (CS) initiatives undertaken by Chinese multinational corporations (MNCs) change over time, and to observe the relationship between Chinese State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) and non-SOEs when undertaking CS initiatives. A qualitative content analysis was conducted on 88 CS-related reports issued by 18 Chinese MNCs from 2010 to 2014. The behavioral pattern of each MNC was established based on Hart and Milstein’s (2003) sustainable value framework. The results indicated that, incorporating philanthropic initiatives in general and strategic philanthropy in particular can broaden Hart and Milstein’s framework to account for the CS performance observed among Chinese MNCs. Second, Chinese MNCs’ CS focus remains the same in this 5-year period. Third, the Chinese SOEs show higher commitment towards CS than non-SOEs. Furthermore, Chinese SOEs are more politically sensitive and align their CS initiatives to coercive pressure arising from the government than non-SOEs.
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    Coworkers' perceived justice of disability accommodation: the role of coworkers' trust and support
    (Lethbridge, Alta. : University of Lethbridge, Dhillon School of Business, 2021) Lamichhane, Ashmita; University of Lethbridge. Dhillon School of Business; Williams-Whitt, Kelly
    This study examined the effects of coworkers’ perceptions of fairness of disability accommodation on their behavioral outcomes (i.e., coworkers’ support, counterproductive work behavior). I used Prolific Academic to collect data from 301 participants from U.K and Canada who had experienced a coworkers’ disability accommodation within the last twelve months. I analyzed the data using confirmatory factor analysis, hierarchical regression analysis, and process macro model 3.4 in SPSS. Results showed that coworkers’ perceived justice was positively associated with coworkers’ support and perceived trust fully mediated the relationship between perceived justice and coworkers’ support. However, results did not support the negative relationship between perceived justice and counterproductive work behavior. Trust was not found to be a mediator in the relationship between perceived justice and counterproductive work behavior. This research highlights that understanding coworkers’ perceptions of justice during accommodation yields opportunities to enhance the positive role of coworkers in the accommodation process.
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    The critical mass of female directors on the board of US firms
    (Lethbridge, Alta. : University of Lethbridge, Dhillon School of Business, 2021) Monwuba, Chukwunonso; University of Lethbridge. Dhillon School of Business; Baulkaran, Vishaal; Jain, Pawan
    Following Kanter's critical mass theory, this paper argues that the relationship between gender-diverse boards and firm performance is curvilinear and that free cash flows and firm complexity moderate the relationship. Fixed effect regression and two-stage system GMM estimator are used to model the relationships and effectively control for unobservable firm and governance factors, using a sample of S&P 1500 firms, spanning from 1998 to 2018. We also use the Heckman selection model to test for the possibility of a self-selection bias. We find evidence that women directors self-select firms in which they are appointed as directors based on profitability, the firm's stock performance, and the firm's growth potential. We also find that complex firms with more than 30 per cent female representation on the board are more likely to reduce firm risk than firms with a lesser proportion of women. Theoretical and practical implications, as well as areas for further research, are discussed.
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    The decision making process for social issue behaviors : a stakeholder perspective / Katherine Carol Lafreniere
    (2010) Lafreniere, Katherine Carol; University of Lethbridge. Faculty of Management; Deshpande, Sameer
    This study argues that Stakeholder Theory (Mitchell, Agle, & Wood, 1997) can be applied from the stakeholder‘s perspective in order to understand how stakeholders perceive their claims in an organization and consequently decide how to influence an organization. Using this audience-centric perspective, organizations can influence the stakeholder‘s claims and ultimately how the stakeholder will support the organization. These arguments are supported based on the case of farmers who voted in the 2007 water transfer agreement between the Municipality of Rocky View and the Western Irrigation District (WID). Personal interviews, employing Narrative Research, were conducted to document the participant‘s interpretations. The interview transcripts were analyzed in order to test and expand Stakeholder Theory as well as determine how marketers can use this perspective to successfully target different groups of stakeholders. This understanding contributes to potential management effectiveness because it explains how managers can deal with multiple stakeholder interests.
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    Deserting the innocent: the paradoxical effects of youthfulness in influencer apologies
    (Lethbridge, Alta. : University of Lethbridge, Dhillon School of Business, 2022) Simpson, Braden R.; University of Lethbridge. Dhillon School of Business; Drollinger, Tanya; Katherine, Lafreniere
    Prior research on crisis communications predicts that apologies from youthful (vs. older) influencers generate more social support because younger influencers are perceived as more honest and innocent and therefore deserving of support. Ironically, I found that the inherent innocence of young influencers can have seemingly undesirable consequences because it reduces the amount of support extended to them in times of crisis. Specifically, youthful (vs. older) influencers on YouTube received less social support (i.e., fewer like votes) for their apology videos. Further, this negative relationship was magnified when the influencer was perceived as less responsible for the transgression. I account for these contradictory results using the helping paradox. By exploring youthfulness in influencer apologies, I provide a more nuanced understanding of the value of like votes on social media. Thus, fewer like votes can be good or bad depending on the circumstance.