Barrett, The Honors College at Arizona State University proudly showcases the work of undergraduate honors students by sharing this collection exclusively with the ASU community.

Barrett accepts high performing, academically engaged undergraduate students and works with them in collaboration with all of the other academic units at Arizona State University. All Barrett students complete a thesis or creative project which is an opportunity to explore an intellectual interest and produce an original piece of scholarly research. The thesis or creative project is supervised and defended in front of a faculty committee. Students are able to engage with professors who are nationally recognized in their fields and committed to working with honors students. Completing a Barrett thesis or creative project is an opportunity for undergraduate honors students to contribute to the ASU academic community in a meaningful way.

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Description
As two students who have benefitted immensely through engagement in the ASU Professional Sales Program, Emily Herring and Lauren Coles attempt to address the ASU Professional Sales Program as a brand. This is accomplished through an extensive investigation into the current brand in terms of brand inventory and positioning, integrated

As two students who have benefitted immensely through engagement in the ASU Professional Sales Program, Emily Herring and Lauren Coles attempt to address the ASU Professional Sales Program as a brand. This is accomplished through an extensive investigation into the current brand in terms of brand inventory and positioning, integrated marketing communications and digital brand strategy, landscape data collection and consumer brand perceptions, and brand development strategies. For this investigation, primary and secondary research via online resources, including competitor websites, articles, etc., was used to analyze the brand and competitors. We collected primary research for the landscape data and consumer brand perceptions via a survey of sales students and coaches from other schools as well as a survey of incumbent participants of the various parts of the program. From this analysis of these data using brand management theory sourced from academic texts, we concluded that there are issues with our brand awareness and consistency. In order to mitigate this, we recommend many changes, the most pertinent and current of which are amalgamated within a holistic 3-pronged positioning campaign. The rest are included in considerations for the future. Within the holistic 3-pronged positioning campaign, the internal and external positioning drive, the customer-driven communications, and the various co-branding initiatives include strong and decisive changes, like changing the name of SPARK, the general student sales club at ASU, and using recaps of events to drive engagement on social media. We hope these changes will engage more students with the ASU Professional Sales Program earlier in their career, with increased dedication to and interaction with the various program offerings.
ContributorsHerring, Emily Nicole (Co-author) / Coles, Lauren (Co-author) / Montoya, Detra (Thesis director) / Dietrich, John (Committee member) / Department of Supply Chain Management (Contributor) / Department of Marketing (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2018-05
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Description
The rising age of the Baby Boomer generation has made a significant impact on the workforce, leaving leadership gaps that Generation X is unable to fill. This leaves an opportunity for the Millennial generation to step up and use their strengths and skills to become stronger leaders of the business

The rising age of the Baby Boomer generation has made a significant impact on the workforce, leaving leadership gaps that Generation X is unable to fill. This leaves an opportunity for the Millennial generation to step up and use their strengths and skills to become stronger leaders of the business and sales industry.
To bridge the gap between the growing sales industry there is the ability to properly train Millennials so they are successful and stay within their roles longer. By attacking this problem from a university level by strengthening sales programs as well as having employers understand and respond to needs of the Millennial generation, this will create an overall successful Millennial salesperson that will stay with their employer long term.
Strengths and weaknesses of this generation are also important to understand. Millennials are known to be tech-savvy, open-minded, collaborative, and connected, resourceful networkers. They also carry weaknesses and stereotypes of being lazy, lacking communication skills, impatient, entitled, and demanding of feedback and work flexibility. From an employer, they expect a large salary as well as a good culture, manager feedback, a mentor, work-life integration, an employer with a social responsibility mindset, and a sense of purpose.
An analysis of 12 sales programs at various universities across the country helped to understand what is being taught and offered to students as well as commonalities and differences that make a strong sales program. Commonalities among these programs include, about 250+ students, high job placement, sales labs, hosting and competing in sales competitions, and a desire to expand and grow their programs. Unique aspects of various programs were partnerships with the sales industry, hosting fundraisers, student ambassadors for the sales program, CRM courses, and internships and competition requirements.
Primary research was conducted to understand various sales development programs from companies in the sales industry. The 12 companies that participated in this research were from Arizona State University’s Sales Advisory Board. These companies completed a survey that provided detailed information of their onboarding and training process as well as their opinions of Millennial employees.
From this research, recommendations were formed for employers,
• creating a collaborative and innovative culture
• A mentorship program
• work flexibility
• continuous learning
• sense of purpose
As for Arizona State’s Sales Program, recommendations include,
• a mentorship program between Sales Scholars and the Sales Advisory Board
• creating a sales lab
• implementing CRM curriculum in classes
• continued support from the Board and alumni of the sales program
ContributorsQuinn, Jacklyn Michelle (Author) / Montoya, Detra (Thesis director) / Dietrich, John (Committee member) / Department of Marketing (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2017-05
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Description
This paper discusses the levels of job satisfaction amongst practicing lawyers, with a distinction between government-employed lawyers (public) and those in the private sector. The purpose of this report is to provide insight into the joys and sorrows of practicing law and provide those who are curious about becoming a

This paper discusses the levels of job satisfaction amongst practicing lawyers, with a distinction between government-employed lawyers (public) and those in the private sector. The purpose of this report is to provide insight into the joys and sorrows of practicing law and provide those who are curious about becoming a lawyer with the tools to be the happiest lawyer that they can be throughout their career. The paper includes analysis of a primary research survey, comparisons with existing research, and a brief overview of happiness based research. It concludes with personal applications of the knowledge gained. Findings of the project conclude that publicly employed lawyers are, on average, slightly happier than lawyers in the private sector. On a scale from 1-7 public lawyers held an average happiness rating of 6.8, while private lawyers came in at a 6.06. Both factions were found to be satisfied in their work, which can dispel the myth that lawyers in general are unhappy with their job or field. Research into happiness shows that only 40% of an individual's overall happiness can be directly affected by their mindset and actins. The other 60% is comprised of genetic and circumstantial factors. Steps and advice to increase happiness derived from a profession or life are offered. The key to finding satisfaction in the workplace lies in aligning one's strengths with one's values. This paper concludes by imploring those who seek a job in the legal field to spend time understanding what their values are, and pursuing satisfaction in the workplace instead of prestige or pay.
ContributorsGattenio, Scott Robert (Author) / Koretz, Lora (Thesis director) / Dietrich, John (Committee member) / Department of Marketing (Contributor) / W. P. Carey School of Business (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2017-12
Description

This paper examines how marketing has been used as a tool to promote awareness among consumers about environmental issues and to encourage them to make sustainable choices. Marketing campaigns have been instrumental in the widespread adoption of sustainable practices such as recycling, second-hand shopping, and reducing personal waste. As consumers

This paper examines how marketing has been used as a tool to promote awareness among consumers about environmental issues and to encourage them to make sustainable choices. Marketing campaigns have been instrumental in the widespread adoption of sustainable practices such as recycling, second-hand shopping, and reducing personal waste. As consumers become more conscious of their choices, companies use green marketing to capitalize on these social trends. While many companies do have the intent to sell a truly sustainable product to fulfill customer needs, others simply use the label to profit, without putting forth a sustainable product. This practice is referred to as “greenwashing.” The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has put forth regulatory guidelines to combat this issue, but does not seem to have the necessary resources to penalize companies who do not follow the regulations. In fact, there are many guidelines that are optional for companies to follow, but not mandatory, making it difficult to spot false claims. We conducted two surveys of over 300 college students to assess their perceptions of sustainability and how it influences their everyday choices. We asked questions about perceived sustainability of various brands, some of which with known sustainability campaigns, and others without. We found that many students hold similar perceptions of sustainability and saw interesting trends in how sustainability affects their day-to-day purchase habits.

ContributorsChrisemer, Quinn (Author) / Hussen, Sahra (Co-author) / Eaton, John (Thesis director) / Dietrich, John (Committee member) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor) / Department of Supply Chain Management (Contributor) / Department of Marketing (Contributor)
Created2023-05
Description
For my Barrett Honors Creative Project, I created a guide titled, Digital Marketing and Social Media Branding Guide for Newly Established and Growing Pediatric Therapy Companies in 2022. I created this guide as I have noticed a lack of knowledge regarding social media and digital marketing within pediatric therapy companies

For my Barrett Honors Creative Project, I created a guide titled, Digital Marketing and Social Media Branding Guide for Newly Established and Growing Pediatric Therapy Companies in 2022. I created this guide as I have noticed a lack of knowledge regarding social media and digital marketing within pediatric therapy companies due to a lack of resources. As a Social Media Specialist for a small pediatric therapy company, I know that pediatric therapy companies that are new or rather small can benefit from a visual, research, and example-based guide so they can succeed on various digital marketing platforms. The purpose of my guide is to assist owners and marketing professionals within the pediatric therapy industry who are starting their journey or need a little extra help with marketing by helping them set and attain their marketing goals and develop strategies, tips, and tools that can support them in their marketing efforts. My guide will have everything they need to know - right at their fingertips. In order to create this guide, I obtained secondary research from various online sources and guides to identify the industry background and supporting information for the guide, analyzed it, and derived common facts, themes, tips, and advice. Second, I conducted primary research by surveying 365 marketing students at Arizona State University through Qualtrics and analyzed that research. The purpose of this survey was to discover how familiar respondents are with pediatric therapy, services, companies, as well as their social media usage, types of content they would interact with, and to see if they would follow a pediatric therapy company. Third, I created my 57-page digital guide via Canva.com using the information I found through my secondary and primary research. The guide has a total of six sections: Section 1) Starting Steps, Section 2) Social Media, Section 3) Digital Marketing, Section 4) Management Tools, Section 5) Advertising, and Section 6) Final Tips. This paper component explains the pediatric therapy industry, my reasoning and methodology for creating the guide, the information that is in the guide, recommendations, and next steps.
ContributorsLynch, Shelby (Author) / Eaton, John (Thesis director) / Dietrich, John (Committee member) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor) / Department of Marketing (Contributor)
Created2022-05
Description
As graduation season approaches each year, companies are seeking to hire the top talent from different universities all over the world. The battle to hire recent college graduates stems from the desire to hire young, hungry, and excited employees. However, with young age comes a lack of experience and exposure

As graduation season approaches each year, companies are seeking to hire the top talent from different universities all over the world. The battle to hire recent college graduates stems from the desire to hire young, hungry, and excited employees. However, with young age comes a lack of experience and exposure to the work force. The purpose of this thesis is to understand how recruiters from large corporations decide which candidates to hire, specifically candidates who are recent college graduates. Given that recent college graduates have little to no experience, it can be challenging for recruiters to determine their potential performance in each role. In comparison to seasoned professionals who have years of industry experience under their belts, it can be challenging for a recruiter effectively determine a young professional’s skills, work ethic, and industry knowledge.

I have identified and explained the different hiring methods that companies use when recruiting new talent to provide background information for my research. Furthermore, I have also interviewed several recruiters from large corporations in order to gain a further understanding of the university recruitment process, including what works and what doesn’t work. From the gathered research, I discovered key findings surrounding the topics of the interview process itself, how to properly assess a candidate, key components of the process and suggestions for enhancing the process. With this information, I have established recommendations for interviewing college graduates such as incorporating a pre-hire assessment into the process, implementing an on-site experience, condensing the process and clearly defining the interview protocol.
ContributorsThurman, Brittney Victoria (Author) / Montoya, Detra (Thesis director) / Dietrich, John (Committee member) / Department of Management and Entrepreneurship (Contributor) / Department of Marketing (Contributor) / Department of Information Systems (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2020-05
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Description
Companies are constantly looking for a way to increase sales and productivity from their workforce. A popular way to spark motivation and competition is through employee sales contests or incentive-based plans. In theory, these contests are geared to include every employee at the sales level in the organization and are

Companies are constantly looking for a way to increase sales and productivity from their workforce. A popular way to spark motivation and competition is through employee sales contests or incentive-based plans. In theory, these contests are geared to include every employee at the sales level in the organization and are thought to boost motivation across the board. But, sales contests receive substantial attention regarding their effectiveness from the academic and professional press due to some unethical incidents happening at large corporations. There have been many studies regarding the effectiveness of contests, but many have inconclusive results and do not produce a definite answer. Because of this, further research is needed to confirm the effectiveness of such contests used in the professional world. Further research would require a study that is much longer in length, as there are many variables that are behind the psychological factors associated to sales contests.

I conducted a study on the effective design, implementation, motivational factors, and takeaways upon completion of such contests. The purpose of this study is to find out whether or not sales contests are an effective way of motivating a diverse workforce. The results suggest that sales contests are a hyper-efficient tool to increase employee motivation but must be prepared for and implemented correctly in order to achieve efficient results. I recommend that sales managers use contests as a tool to gauge the motivational and behavioral changes in their employees resulting from such contests, instead of just trying to gain more revenue. Also, to combat the growing threat of unethical behaviors as a result of running sales contests, leaders need to implement appropriate measures, like unethical behavior diversion courses.
ContributorsWitt, Tyler Lee (Author) / Montoya, Detra (Thesis director) / Dietrich, John (Committee member) / Department of Marketing (Contributor) / Department of Management and Entrepreneurship (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2019-05
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Description

For my Barrett Honors Creative Project, I created a guide titled, Digital Marketing and Social Media Branding Guide for Newly Established and Growing Pediatric Therapy Companies in 2022. I created this guide as I have noticed a lack of knowledge regarding social media and digital marketing within pediatric therapy companies

For my Barrett Honors Creative Project, I created a guide titled, Digital Marketing and Social Media Branding Guide for Newly Established and Growing Pediatric Therapy Companies in 2022. I created this guide as I have noticed a lack of knowledge regarding social media and digital marketing within pediatric therapy companies due to a lack of resources. As a Social Media Specialist for a small pediatric therapy company, I know that pediatric therapy companies that are new or rather small can benefit from a visual, research, and example-based guide so they can succeed on various digital marketing platforms. The purpose of my guide is to assist owners and marketing professionals within the pediatric therapy industry who are starting their journey or need a little extra help with marketing by helping them set and attain their marketing goals and develop strategies, tips, and tools that can support them in their marketing efforts. My guide will have everything they need to know - right at their fingertips. In order to create this guide, I obtained secondary research from various online sources and guides to identify the industry background and supporting information for the guide, analyzed it, and derived common facts, themes, tips, and advice. Second, I conducted primary research by surveying 365 marketing students at Arizona State University through Qualtrics and analyzed that research. The purpose of this survey was to discover how familiar respondents are with pediatric therapy, services, companies, as well as their social media usage, types of content they would interact with, and to see if they would follow a pediatric therapy company. Third, I created my 57-page digital guide via Canva.com using the information I found through my secondary and primary research. The guide has a total of six sections: Section 1) Starting Steps, Section 2) Social Media, Section 3) Digital Marketing, Section 4) Management Tools, Section 5) Advertising, and Section 6) Final Tips. This paper component explains the pediatric therapy industry, my reasoning and methodology for creating the guide, the information that is in the guide, recommendations, and next steps.

ContributorsLynch, Shelby (Author) / Eaton, John (Thesis director) / Dietrich, John (Committee member) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor) / Department of Marketing (Contributor)
Created2022-05
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Description

For my Barrett Honors Creative Project, I created a guide titled, Digital Marketing and Social Media Branding Guide for Newly Established and Growing Pediatric Therapy Companies in 2022. I created this guide as I have noticed a lack of knowledge regarding social media and digital marketing within pediatric therapy companies

For my Barrett Honors Creative Project, I created a guide titled, Digital Marketing and Social Media Branding Guide for Newly Established and Growing Pediatric Therapy Companies in 2022. I created this guide as I have noticed a lack of knowledge regarding social media and digital marketing within pediatric therapy companies due to a lack of resources. As a Social Media Specialist for a small pediatric therapy company, I know that pediatric therapy companies that are new or rather small can benefit from a visual, research, and example-based guide so they can succeed on various digital marketing platforms. The purpose of my guide is to assist owners and marketing professionals within the pediatric therapy industry who are starting their journey or need a little extra help with marketing by helping them set and attain their marketing goals and develop strategies, tips, and tools that can support them in their marketing efforts. My guide will have everything they need to know - right at their fingertips. In order to create this guide, I obtained secondary research from various online sources and guides to identify the industry background and supporting information for the guide, analyzed it, and derived common facts, themes, tips, and advice. Second, I conducted primary research by surveying 365 marketing students at Arizona State University through Qualtrics and analyzed that research. The purpose of this survey was to discover how familiar respondents are with pediatric therapy, services, companies, as well as their social media usage, types of content they would interact with, and to see if they would follow a pediatric therapy company. Third, I created my 57-page digital guide via Canva.com using the information I found through my secondary and primary research. The guide has a total of six sections: Section 1) Starting Steps, Section 2) Social Media, Section 3) Digital Marketing, Section 4) Management Tools, Section 5) Advertising, and Section 6) Final Tips. This paper component explains the pediatric therapy industry, my reasoning and methodology for creating the guide, the information that is in the guide, recommendations, and next steps.

ContributorsLynch, Shelby (Author) / Eaton, John (Thesis director) / Dietrich, John (Committee member) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor) / Department of Marketing (Contributor)
Created2022-05