Statistical analysis is very much dependent on the quality and type of a data set. There are three types of data - continuous, categorical and mixed. Of these three types, statistical modeling on a mixed data had been a challenging job for a long time. This is due to the fact that most of the traditional statistical techniques are defined either for purely continuous data or for purely categorical data but not mixed data. In reality, most of the data sets are neither continuous nor categorical in a pure sense but are in mixed form which makes the statistical analysis quite difficult. For instance, in the medical sector where classification of the data is very important, presence of many categorical and continuous predictors results in a poor model. In the insurance and finance sectors, lots of categorical and continuous data are collected on customers for targeted marketing, detection of suspicious insurance claims, actuarial modeling, risk analysis, modeling of financial derivatives, detection of profitable zones etc. In this work, we bring together several relatively new developments in statistical model selection and data mining. In this work, we address two problems. The first problem is to determine the optimal number of mixtures from a multivariate Bernoulli distributed data using genetic algorithm and Bozdogan's information complexity, ICOMP. We show that the results of the maximum likelihood values are not just sufficient in determining the optimal number of mixtures. We also address the issue of high dimensional binary data using a genetic algorithm to determine the optimal predictors. Finally, we show the results of our algorithm on a simulated and two real data sets. The second problem is to discovering interesting patterns from a complicated mixed data set. Since mixed data are a combination of continuous and categorical variables, we trans- form the non linear categorical variables to a linear scale by a mechanism called Gifi transformation, [Gifi, 1989]. Once the non linear variables are transformed to a linear scale (Euclidean space), we apply several classical multivariate techniques on the transformed continuous data to identify the unusual patterns. The advantage with this transformation is that it has a one-to-one mapping mechanism. Hence, the transformed set of continuous value(s) in the Gifi space can be remapped to a unique set of categorical value(s) in the original space. Once the data is transformed to the Gifi space, we implement various statistical techniques to identify interesting patterns. We also address the problem of high dimensional data using genetic algorithm for variable selection and Bozdogan's information complexity (ICOMP) as our fitness function. We present details of our newly-developed Matlab toolbox, called Gifi System, that implements everything presented, and can readily be extended to add new functionality. Finally, results on both simulated and real world data sets are presented and discussed. Keywords: Gifi, homals, regression, multivariate logistic regression, fraud detection, medical diagnostics, supervised classification, unsupervised classification, variable selection, high dimensional data mining, stock market trading, detection of suspicious insurance claim estimates.

Spirituality has received increased attention in the management field over the past few decades. However, there has been little empirical work supporting the benefits of bringing spirituality to the workplace. This dissertation aims to examine the effectiveness of an intervention (the Buddhist Mind Development Program (BMDP)) that is designed specifically to promote spiritual well-being in an Eastern context. First, workplace spirituality was defined to be grounded in the literature. Second, a workplace spirituality measurement was developed relying on conventional psychometric approaches. Third, a quasi experimental study—a pretest and a posttest with nonequivalent comparison groups design—was employed. The data were collected at a large Thai company (S&P) who employs the BMDP for the purpose of enhancing spirituality in the workplace. The sample consisted of 60 S&P employees: 30 in the experimental group and 30 in the control group. Subjects in the experimental group attended the BMDP, and the control group consisted of people who never attended the BMDP but worked in the same unit and had jobs similar to the experimental group subjects. The participants in the experimental group completed spirituality assessments before the BMDP, one week after the BMDP, and one month after the program. The participants in the control group also completed spirituality assessments at the same times as the experimental group (before and one month after the BMDP). Supervisors completed performance evaluations one month following the employees’ attendance at the BMDP. While the findings did not reveal an effect for the spiritual intervention (BMDP), workplace spirituality was positively and significantly associated with work performance. Indeed, this dissertation filled a gap in the literature by providing an empirical link between spirituality and work performance. Additionally, the findings revealed that meditation practice was the mechanism that explained the positive relationship between spirituality and work performance. The findings suggest that to promote positive work performance, organizations should encourage employees to continuously practice meditation and create spirituality in terms of compassion, mindfulness, meaningful work, and transcendence. Future research is needed to determine whether the different contexts, in terms of different samples and across the times, yield similar results.

The purpose of this dissertation was to explore the phenomenon of consumer interaction with mobile technology devices (MTDs). MTDs include electronic “gadgets” such as personal digital assistants (PDAs) and smartphones that are carried and used frequently by consumers. The emphasis in this dissertation was on developing an explanatory framework to account for everyday experiences of MTD consumption. In light of limited consumer research on the pervasive phenomenon, an inductive, theory-building approach was taken, employing the constant comparative methodology of grounded theory (Glaser and Strauss 1967; Glaser 1978). Data was gathered primarily through in-depth interviews with 20 participants who had extensive familiarity with the phenomenon. Convergence on a “core category” of Cultivating the Self explained the majority of variance in participants‟ social psychological processes while interacting with MTDs. By Cultivating the Self, consumers interact intimately with mobile technology devices in myriad ways over time, investing “psychic energy” (Csikszentmihalyi and Rochberg-Halton 1981) into the products in order to actualize goals and therefore actualize themselves, all the while becoming closer to the devices, both figuratively and literally. The core category is comprised of three interrelated stages: Transitioning, Integrating and Bonding. By Transitioning to their devices, consumers undergo a fundamental and totalizing “ecological” change in their lives as they come to understand and assimilate interactions with MTDs. Through Integrating their devices, consumers select and align activities in their daily lives with capabilities that arise from interacting with their MTDs, “offloading” tasks to the products in a process that blurs the distinction between “personal” and “professional” lives. By Bonding, consumers make the products “their own” as they become increasingly proximate and intimate with their MTDs through customizing, personifying and interacting playfully with them. Extant theory was considered in extending properties of the core category, with special attention given to the ontological and epistemological differences between structuralist and interactionist paradigms underlying prior research on human-object relations. A symbolic interactionist view of human behavior was demonstrated as supporting emergent conceptualizations of the phenomenon. The interactionist approach and emergent theory developed through this dissertation provides support for the Service-Dominant Logic views currently evolving in contemporary marketing thought.

The complexity found in supply chains draws on the combined capabilities of multiple firms. Success in this environment requires the coordinated efforts of both a supply chain leader organization, and one or more supply chain follower organizations. Supply chain leadership has traditionally been ascribed to the most powerful, dominant organization in the supply chain. The theory of supply chain leadership presented in this dissertation redefines leadership in the supply chain context as a relationship between leader and followers described by the behaviors exhibited through each organization’s actions. The theoretical model was developed from literature in the leadership, logistics, and strategic management disciplines. The nomological network is derived from five constructs: supply chain leadership, supply chain followership, information availability, communications, and rewards. Empirical testing was facilitated by data collected through an interactive simulation. Findings were evaluated across two distinct environments: transactional networks and transformational networks. The results suggest supply chain leadership and followership both have a significant effect in transactional networks. Interestingly, supply chain followership was discovered to make a greater contribution to overall supply chain structural development and performance than supply chain leadership in transformational environments. The structural model demonstrated good fit and all six hypotheses were at least partially supported.

This paper examines whether complying with U.S. GAAP impacts non-U.S. firms’ cross-listing decisions and listing choices. The capital market consequence of U.S. GAAP compliance is also evaluated. Using two constructs (reconciliation and disclosure) established at the firm level to proxy for foreign firms’ U.S. GAAP compliance costs, I find that complying with U.S. financial reporting requirements is a significant cost factor when non-U.S. firms consider whether they should issue or list their shares in the U.S. This finding is consistent with previous survey or case studies which recognize that complying with U.S. GAAP is an important consideration when foreign firms contemplate U.S. listings. However, the significance of compliance costs diminishes as foreign firms decide whether or not they should cross-list on an organized stock exchange. The lack of finding is likely attributable to the fact that cross-listing, especially exchange-listing, gives foreign firms various benefits, such as cross-listing premiums, which potentially outweigh the compliance costs. The valuation analyses confirm the existence of cross-listing premiums. I further find that disclosure costs negatively affect the value of cross-listed firms; i.e., cross-listed firms that disclose less accounting information (incurring higher disclosure costs) are valued less by the market. This result is consistent with the general theme in the literature that disclosure matters. This study extends prior research by directly examining a major cross-listing cost, offering a more comprehensive measure of U.S. GAAP compliance, and measuring the costs at the firm level. It contributes to the understanding of the role accounting plays in non-U.S. firms’ cross-listing activities.

The purpose of this dissertation is to examine the phenomenon of risk management in global supply chains. Drawing from logistics, supply chain management, operations management, economics, international business, and strategy literatures and a qualitative study, a comprehensive conceptual model of environment-strategy fit for risk management in global supply chains was developed. External environmental conditions comprising of supply and demand risks, four risk management strategies, namely hedging, assuming, postponement, and speculation, and a moderator in the form of a port disruption were chosen for further investigation. The model was quantitatively tested using a simulation. The findings from this dissertation study reflect mixed results. Findings that conform to existing research, primarily related to hedging and speculation strategies, provide empirical support for extant knowledge that is primarily conceptual or experience-based. On the other hand, findings that are contrary to existing knowledge or are supported under very select conditions, primarily related to assuming and postponement strategies, provide interesting new insights into the phenomenon. The findings add to both theoretical and practical understanding of the phenomenon. This research opens up several new research directions that indicate that continued research is needed to facilitate both theoretical and empirical progress in better understanding of risk management in global supply chains.

Introduction: Adam Smith stated that the division of labor is a forerunner of and a necessity to a successful economical system.2 Extended and refined, the division of labor results in the type of job specialization that Drucker refers to above - "... split up the operation into its constituent motions ..." - but job specialization goes one step farther and assigns only a few of these motions to any one operator. The division of labor of Smith's day resulted in some men being blacksmiths, some being carpenters, some being millers, etc.; but the job specialization as pioneered by Taylor, Gantt, and Henry Ford resulted in a much finer breakdown of tasks. Taking the blacksmith as an example, the specialization found in some mass production industries of today would find one man assigned to hold the shoe on the anvil, another to beat it to its proper shape, a third to quench it while a fourth would apply it to the horse's hoof the blacksmith as an example, the specialization found in some mass production industries of today would find one man assigned to hold the shoe on the anvil, another to beat it to its proper shape, a third to quench it while a fourth would apply it to the horse's hoof. In the years that have elapsed since Drucker noted that the task of job design is only half complete a number of individuals from the fields of psychology, industrial engineering, and personnel management have contributed toward the completion of that task. This paper examines those contributions which comprise the broad area of job design called "job enlargement."

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Indiana University, School of Health, Physical Education, and Recreation, 2006. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 67-04, Section: A, page: 1529. Adviser: Craig Ross. "Title from dissertation home page (viewed March 22, 2007)."

This thesis was designed to investigate and identify key characteristics of successful camps, outdoor centers, and retreat centers. The study utilized a survey of selected camps and centers within the United States, in the Spring of 1996. The results were analyzed individually and as a whole. The findings indicated that certain key characteristics did exist and that these characteristics were major contributing factors to the success of the camps or centers. These findings were supported by the review of literature and the results of the survey, which highlighted these major areas of importance: Land and facilities, strategic planning and expansion, staffing, risk management, fiscal planning and administration, programming, and accreditation and certification.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Indiana University, Kelley School of Business, 2007. / Title from dissertation home page (viewed Sept. 24, 2008). Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 69-02, Section: A, page: 0660. Adviser: Dean A. Shepherd.