Barrett, The Honors College Thesis/Creative Project Collection
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
This study seeks to answer the research question of what is the optimal design for a not-for-profit that builds home libraries in the Phoenix Metropolitan area, ultimately preparing children for successful school entry, promoting parent-child engagement, and increasing literacy rates. A relationship between concentrations of poverty in neighborhoods and low achievement in public schools proves that characteristics of the home environment, including lack of access to books, significantly hinders a child's success in learning to read. The average 5 year old from a middle-income home recognizes 22 letters of the alphabet while an average 5 year old from a low-income home recognizes only 9 (Hart and Risley 1995). The development of early literacy skills through at-home experiences with books is linked to a child's success in learning to read (Snow and Ninio 1986). In direct contrast to the high value of children's books, two thirds of low-income families own no books for their children (Dickinson 2006). Further, low-income households are disproportionately comprised of communities of color and English language learning households (Milem 2016). Additional resources on this topic depict that discrepancy in reading level and language development related to families' socioeconomic statuses are present even before children enter school. One potential method of addressing socioeconomic gaps in academic achievement is to provide children from low-income families access to high-quality, age-appropriate books. This strategic marketing plan analyzes the factors influencing reading comprehension and child literacy in Arizona to determine the method best suited to providing access to reading materials for children from impoverished homes in the Phoenix area. Primary research was conducted via interviews to analyze example business models. Gaps unfulfilled by existing organizations that seek to improve literacy rates led to the design of an organization called Bookshelf. Bookshelf mirrors a non-profit structure, which operates with a small team and large community involvement to deliver new and gently used books to children enrolled in Head Start, an early childhood education program for children from impoverished homes. Bookshelf is designed to work with the existing structure of the Head Start classroom, utilizing both the teacher-parent and parent-child relationship to deliver books into the hands of the target market and promote long-term reading and learning. By accessing the educational environment in each classroom Bookshelf can both enjoy multiple points of contact with the consumer while they attend Head Start, and provide resources for existing reading development programs.
ContributorsHarding, Emily Claire (Author) / Karnos Eaton, Kathryn (Thesis director) / Schlacter, John (Committee member) / Department of Marketing (Contributor) / School of International Letters and Cultures (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2017-12
Description
Founded in November 2014, by owner Céline Rille, Rille & Co. is a creative studio that develops, implements and markets creative strategies for companies in hospitality, retail, entertainment, restaurant, and consumer product industries. Rille & Co. is coming to the end of its first year of business, and it is crucial that the company examines the previous year and evaluates its strategy to continue success in the future. Organized into three key sections of analysis, the following marketing plan is intended to set the company up to achieve, and surpass, all goals in the coming years of operation.
First, the environment in which the company was operating in during its first quarter of business is examined, along with the strategies that were in place at that time. Included in this first section is also a comprehensive competitive analysis that examines how Rille & Co. fits into the competitive market. Next, the success of the initial strategy for Rille & Co. is analyzed through a SWOT analysis of the company’s standing as of Fall 2015. Finally, the third section of analysis contains key recommendations and alterations to the original strategy in order for the company to experience continual growth and success.
In all, if Rille & Co. implements the strategies outlined in this marketing plan, it should be able to continue business for years to come. The most important aspects of operation for the business are its internal organization, finding clients with the correct fit, and boosting its website’s SEO to better implement inbound marketing techniques. For an agency, it tends to be difficult to focus on these internal problems when clients’ needs come first. In this case, Rille & Co. must prioritize its own operations to better meet the needs of clients.
As Rille & Co’s first year of business is coming to a close, it is extremely important to note how far the company has come, despite any obstacles that made for an exciting first year. The agency is well on its way to achieving the standards of success it set for itself, but the agency’s success is also measured in its resilience and adaptability – necessary traits for any agency (or company, for that matter). With huge changes on the horizon, now is the time for Rille & Co. to demonstrate its resilience and adaptability again – coping with the loss of an integral employee and adapting to the needs of clients who may not be financially sound. The team should be proud of the work accomplished, and although it is the “end of an era,” Rille & Co. should prepare itself for the adventures that have yet to unfold.
First, the environment in which the company was operating in during its first quarter of business is examined, along with the strategies that were in place at that time. Included in this first section is also a comprehensive competitive analysis that examines how Rille & Co. fits into the competitive market. Next, the success of the initial strategy for Rille & Co. is analyzed through a SWOT analysis of the company’s standing as of Fall 2015. Finally, the third section of analysis contains key recommendations and alterations to the original strategy in order for the company to experience continual growth and success.
In all, if Rille & Co. implements the strategies outlined in this marketing plan, it should be able to continue business for years to come. The most important aspects of operation for the business are its internal organization, finding clients with the correct fit, and boosting its website’s SEO to better implement inbound marketing techniques. For an agency, it tends to be difficult to focus on these internal problems when clients’ needs come first. In this case, Rille & Co. must prioritize its own operations to better meet the needs of clients.
As Rille & Co’s first year of business is coming to a close, it is extremely important to note how far the company has come, despite any obstacles that made for an exciting first year. The agency is well on its way to achieving the standards of success it set for itself, but the agency’s success is also measured in its resilience and adaptability – necessary traits for any agency (or company, for that matter). With huge changes on the horizon, now is the time for Rille & Co. to demonstrate its resilience and adaptability again – coping with the loss of an integral employee and adapting to the needs of clients who may not be financially sound. The team should be proud of the work accomplished, and although it is the “end of an era,” Rille & Co. should prepare itself for the adventures that have yet to unfold.
ContributorsChada, Rachel Anne (Author) / Ostrom, Amy (Thesis director) / Schlacter, John (Committee member) / Rille, Celine (Committee member) / School of International Letters and Cultures (Contributor) / W. P. Carey School of Business (Contributor) / Department of Marketing (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2015-12
Description
This thesis presents the strategic business plan for Soleri Skye Studios, a dynamic digital marketing and graphic design company. Beginning with a comprehensive assessment of the digital marketing and graphic design landscapes, with a special focus on the vibrant Phoenix market, the plan delves into a targeted market opportunity analysis, identifying key customer segments, including small businesses, women-owned enterprises, and Spanish-speaking organizations. Leveraging a blend of secondary research and insightful personal interviews, the plan derives valuable insights into the market opportunity, competitor strategies, and client needs.
Subsequently, a meticulously crafted implementation plan emerges, outlining tailored operational strategies, mission imperatives, and distinctive brand positioning for Soleri Skye Studios. Furthermore, the plan outlines the seven P’s of marketing, providing a robust framework guiding the company's strategic initiatives. Through this deliberate planning process, Soleri Skye Studios endeavors to carve a unique niche in the competitive arena, offering innovative, cost-effective design, marketing, and branding solutions finely attuned to client needs. Embracing a culture of creativity, collaboration, and client-centricity, Soleri Skye Studios is poised to deliver exceptional value and drive enduring success in the ever-evolving digital landscape.
ContributorsStephan, Soleri (Author) / Riker, Elise (Thesis director) / Schlacter, John (Committee member) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor) / School of International Letters and Cultures (Contributor) / Department of Marketing (Contributor)
Created2024-05
Description
In this paper, I have designed a business model for a new type of fashion retail
store. This store will perfect the personal styling experience by utilizing customer and
apparel data to make individualized apparel recommendations. The format of this store
will heavily reduce the amount of search time for customers by only showing clothing
pieces that each person is likely to purchase, based on predictive analytics. In order to
plan this business model and determine whether a company of this style could be
successful, this paper includes research on the current environment of the fashion
industry, the company’s potential target market segmentation, and tactics for developing
the best customer offering.
store. This store will perfect the personal styling experience by utilizing customer and
apparel data to make individualized apparel recommendations. The format of this store
will heavily reduce the amount of search time for customers by only showing clothing
pieces that each person is likely to purchase, based on predictive analytics. In order to
plan this business model and determine whether a company of this style could be
successful, this paper includes research on the current environment of the fashion
industry, the company’s potential target market segmentation, and tactics for developing
the best customer offering.
ContributorsTrevino, Alexandra (Author) / Riker, Elise (Thesis director) / Schlacter, John (Committee member) / WPC Graduate Programs (Contributor) / School of International Letters and Cultures (Contributor) / Department of Information Systems (Contributor) / Department of Marketing (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2020-05