Matching Items (97)
Description
This thesis provides an analysis of company culture in well-known and relevant businesses to identify a successful company culture and create an outline for businesses to follow when designing or revamping their culture. This included research and analysis of successful and unsuccessful company cultures and the affect they have on customers, employees and employers. This analysis created measurements to use to identify good company culture and bad company culture. These were identified through evaluations of employee reviews, secondary research and business articles. From there, different parts of company culture were identified as key components to building a strong, prideful and successful company culture and alternatively, what deteriorates a company culture. As a result of this thesis I uncovered measurements to use to identify a good company culture and six critical success factors to outline a successful company culture that can be tailored to any business. The measurements were surrounding retention rates, innovation, company development, employee perks, a fun atmosphere and an overall attention to employee needs. The critical success factors of company culture are to set the mission and vision of the company, define the company's core values, set a budget for company culture expenses, add special perks or actions that make your culture unique, hire and train right from the start and most importantly follow through. These factors create an outline for how to structure a great company culture, but do not set boundaries for any company. The best company culture is authentic to a company's mission, goals, customers and employees.
ContributorsHauck, Mariah Shelby (Author) / Eaton, John (Thesis director) / Mokwa, Michael (Committee member) / Department of Marketing (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2017-05
Description
Entering into my final year of W. P. Carey, I decided I wanted my thesis to combine what I've learned over the course of my undergraduate Marketing degree with my passion for baseball. Furthermore, I wanted my thesis to contain both a research element and creative application. I felt the best way to achieve the integration of these goals was to research and then select an MLB team to relocate to a more attractive American market. After performing research to determine an ideal team and city for relocation, I created a comprehensive marketing strategy to best cater this team for its new market. The first half of my thesis focuses entirely on the research required to select an optimal team and attractive market for relocation. I begin my thesis by performing an external analysis of the current MLB landscape. To elaborate, I gathered W-L records and fan attendance records for all 30 MLB teams between 2000 and 2016. I also collected the most recent team revenues and valuations before putting all of this data in Excel to create visual graphs. Using this data, I determine a list of the top 4 most attractive teams for relocation based on consistently poor performance in the metrics I collected data on. After selecting the Tampa Bay Rays as the ideal team to relocate, I then dive deeper into the organization through an internal analysis. Then, I focus on performing an external analysis of the most attractive markets for relocation before ultimately selecting Charlotte, NC as the best city. My research ends with a comprehensive external analysis of the Charlotte, NC market to help in creating a brand that caters to the makeup and culture of the distinct city. My analysis of Charlotte focuses on the city's demographics, population growth, local economy, political environment and trends that could impact target market segments. After performing extensive research on identifying the best team and city for a relocation, I switch gears to developing a comprehensive marketing strategy to best help the team achieve success in its new market. This begins with creating a unifying segmentation, targeting, and positioning strategy to outline the direction the team will take. These strategies place tremendous emphasis on the need for the Charlotte team to create an "irresistible cultural experience" that expands the traditional MLB mold to attract young Millennial fans to games that normally wouldn't be interested in attending games. Next, I begin by developing key elements of the brand including the team name, logos, uniforms, sponsors, and stadium. With the stadium, I even go as far as determining an ideal location along with unique features, such as lawn seating and even local vendors that have appeared on Food Network to add to the cultural experience of the brand. Then, I focus on a unifying initial marketing campaign through TV/print ads, radio ads, social media, and public relations to help the team seamlessly transition into its new home. My thesis ends with recommendations for future steps to take to ensure the relocated organization achieves lasting success in its new city.
ContributorsSchwartz, Justin David (Author) / Eaton, John (Thesis director) / Mokwa, Michael (Committee member) / Department of Marketing (Contributor) / Department of Supply Chain Management (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2016-12
Description
As the third-largest source of revenue, sponsorships play an integral role in the world of sports business. Sports are the fastest growing category among all sponsorship spending, with the North American sports sponsorship revenue expected to grow to $18.7 billion in 2020. Identified as the most valuable benefit for sponsors, category exclusivity rights allow a sponsor to be the only company in a certain category to have an official relationship with the property. However, the popularity of category exclusivity has been declining due to the high fee associated with it. This has led to sports properties splitting up previously exclusive category to allow multiple partners to hold rights. As a result, sponsors are finding exclusivity rights at a smaller level: specific marketing platforms. This strategy permits only one corporate partner to activate in a specified channel. Although not as prominent as in professional sports, category exclusivity is still a key factor in collegiate athletics sponsorships. Sponsors concentrate mainly on creating brand awareness as college students are at the age where they begin to make their own decisions. By increasing brand awareness, these companies are also increasing the probability that the students will purchase from it, and eventually become loyal, long-term consumers. As an intern for Sun Devil Athletics Corporate Partnerships, my experience guided me through a study of the exclusive sponsorships of Sun Devil Athletics. Through an analysis of ASU students' attitudes toward and knowledge of the official sponsors of Sun Devil Athletics, this thesis discusses the effectiveness of the exclusive sponsorships with a special focus on how being aware of a company's relationship to ASU affects students' intent to purchase that company's products or services.
ContributorsSmith, Lauren Rose (Author) / Eaton, John (Thesis director) / Mokwa, Michael (Committee member) / W. P. Carey School of Business (Contributor) / Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law (Contributor) / Department of Marketing (Contributor, Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2017-05
Description
The purpose of this project was to create a brand identity for an expansion Major League Soccer team in Arizona. We identified and analyzed the numerous components that combine to create a sports brand, as well as a brand's impact on a soccer club's location and community. We determined that visual identity is the dominant aspect of a sports brand that is designed, and we limited our work accordingly. We defined the visual brand identity as being made up of the color palette, team name, logo, typography, and uniforms of a prospective soccer club. In order to create a strong brand, we chose to develop four unique visual identities and gain feedback from an expert panel of trusted colleagues to select a preferred brand. Using panel responses allowed us to identify the brand that most excited and captivated existing Arizona sports fans, thus ensuring the selected brand would be successful when implemented. The creation of each brand identity was constrained by four assumptions. These limitations were inspired by research of the current Arizona sports landscape and Major League Soccer branding, and ensured that our four proposed visual identities successfully assimilated into Arizona and MLS. After presenting our brand proposals to our expert panel, we learned that the AZFC brand proposal had the most popular assets, yet the Arizona SC brand proposal was the most popular overall. From this we discovered that providing a connection between brand and location is critical in order to capture attention. We also learned that this connection must be applied across a unified brand identity, rather than being expressed through individual assets.
ContributorsCambron, Reece (Co-author) / Hyland, Chelsea (Co-author) / Mokwa, Michael (Thesis director) / Eaton, John (Committee member) / Department of Marketing (Contributor) / Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts (Contributor) / J. Denny Sanford School of Social and Family Dynamics (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2016-12
Description
Over time it is clear that consumer trends will shift due to many different factors. During our lifetime we are able to observe a new generation of consumers that will soon take over the entire consumer landscape within the United States. This new generation of consumers are currently attending or about to finish their college education, but the lack of income does not stop them from following their consumer trends. This generation grew up in one of the most interconnected and impressionable societies the world has ever seen. These new consumers are now worried about where they are socially classified based on the products and services they seek. When focusing on the retail market, we see the world's largest retailer somehow falling behind its largest competitors. Therefore, we ask ourselves why Walmart, the world standard for the retail industry, is struggling to stay relevant in the upcoming consumer markets. By analyzing research conducted with 676 Arizona State University students and researching Walmart's overall position within the United States, we came to the conclusion that the only setback Walmart is currently facing is not their public image but the social perception from consumers. Walmart does not lack the processes or resources to appeal to the college consumer but what we found was a lack of communication and true connection with younger consumers. In this day and age, a physical store on a college campus is no longer convenient to the typical college student. After our research, we determined the areas in which Walmart must maximize marketing efforts to help develop the Walmart college brand. Our goal is to create a bridge between the world’s largest retailer and the number one school for innovation in the United States to help have access to knowledge, resources and development to the college consumer while also helping consumers realize that just because a product is more expensive, it does not mean it is any better.
ContributorsPille, Karolyn Ann (Co-author) / Monroy, Demi (Co-author) / Eaton, John (Thesis director) / Mokwa, Michael (Committee member) / Department of Marketing (Contributor) / Department of Management and Entrepreneurship (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2019-05
Description
Marketing to the Hispanic Demographic: A Case Study in Major League Baseball According to the 2010 U.S. Census, a rough estimate of the current Hispanic population in the U.S. is 16.3% of the total population roughly 50.5 Million residents. Hispanics also currently have $1.5 Trillion in buying power. This number is only expected to grow at an exponential rate in the near future, and marketers need to understand what this means and how to prepare to market to the Hispanic demographic. Marketers need to be able to answer the vital question: "How do I market effectively to Hispanics?" Major League Baseball was chosen as the reference point for examples of how to market to Hispanics due to the large number MLB players that identify as Hispanic. MLB has recognized that their fans like to identify with players that look like them or know and understand their culture. Hispanic fans continue to grow a strong connection to the team and players through the common denominator of culture. Careful investigation of secondary sources, and direct interviews with front office employees from seven different Major League Baseball franchises allowed for a set of overall conclusions to be formed. The overall conclusions formulated were: the need to incorporate language, traditions, family, and above all culture into marketing when seeking to target Hispanics. The most successful teams who have implemented great Hispanic marketing initiatives have hired specific employees who are bilingual and bicultural. Hiring these employees and encouraging creativity and innovation is ultimately what will bring about success in marketing efforts. The last conclusion formulated was that the utmost important fact to remember is that marketing efforts need to show individuals being targeted that the institution targeting them cares about them as people in a sincere manner.
ContributorsYslas, Lizette Miranda (Author) / Mokwa, Michael (Thesis director) / Eaton, John (Committee member) / Department of Marketing (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2017-05
Description
For decades, the National Football League Draft has served as a corner piece for professional football franchises to climb out of the proverbial basement of the NFL and for all teams to improve their competitive position. Teams, especially those that were not able to find success during the previous season, are able to offer their fans hope, which, in some instances, is all that a fan base has to look forward to. High expectations and tremendous pressure result. Front offices must be thorough and decisive in their scouting and selection-making processes in order to make good on their promises of a brighter future for their team. Over the course of the NFL Draft's tenured existence, teams have used distinctive strategies that aid them in making their selections each year. These are the key to either sustained success or potential failure, depending on the execution on the part of the front offices. For as long as I can recall, I have been fascinated with the NFL Draft. To be sure, the NFL season itself is riveting, but I have always had a deep interest in the process of scouting, evaluating, and ultimately selecting prospects to strengthen a roster. In order to arrive at a greater understanding of the ever-evolving value and dynamics of the NFL Draft, I have chosen to study its past. By examining the history of the NFL Draft, I hope to uncover how franchises have arrived at their selection strategies to bolster the talent on their rosters each year. It is my goal to then apply these strategies to make more educated predictions of my own. Throughout the course of this project, I plan to elucidate the widely perceived value of the draft through both a marketing and leadership strategy lens. I ultimately hope to extract the lessons of the past in order to make more conscious decisions in the future \u2014 both as a young professional and an aspiring NFL General Manager.
ContributorsStaloch, Nicholas Phillip (Author) / Mokwa, Michael (Thesis director) / Eaton, John (Committee member) / Department of Marketing (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2018-05
Description
Humans have traveled since the dawn of humanity over 200,000 years ago. As time progressed and technology increased, so too did human motivations and drivers for travel. This thesis aims to understand these human motivations and drivers, ultimately answering the question, "Why Travel?" To answer this question, this research starts from the earliest of humans, classifying groups of individuals across time into respective buckets based on a similar motivation. In doing so, four traveler segments were identified: the Survivors, the Inventors, the Adventurers, and the Colonists. Each segment describes an era in time of a specific group of humans, each distinctly aligning with a specific reason for travel. In the early 1800s, the advent of commercial travel altered the future of travel. This began with the invention of the locomotive and was followed by the airplane and automobile. With this onset of commercial travel, transportation arrives to its current state in 2018 with a new type of traveler: the Modern Traveler. This is a turning point in the history of travel, as prior to commercial travel, groups of individuals could be grouped under one specific reason. Post commercial travel, human motivations and drivers become diverse and discrete, with no two individuals sharing the same motivations. To further understand this human desire for travel in a modern sense, a survey was administered to uncover these drivers. The findings revealed one broad reason: humans travel for the experience. With this overarching view of travel, five drivers were also apparent. First, humans travel to visit friends and family. Secondly, family vacations are an important factor in the motivation to travel. Third, humans desire the ability to experience a culture different than their own. Fourth, humans are intrigued by new places and can be motivated to travel by the ability to have new experiences. Fifth and finally, rest and relaxation are a key driver in human travel. With a greater understanding as to "why humans travel," and the drivers behind the "experience" individuals seek through travel, such understandings could be used to segment these individuals into distinct traveler profiles. These segments, the Backpacker, the Solo-Traveler, the Groupie, the Cultural Traveler and the Party Lover, were used to better group motivations for travel. One conclusion can be drawn from this research: travel is diverse and so are travelers. One reason cannot define the motivations of a modern traveler, rather today's traveler is bound by multiple. However, segmenting an individual provides valuable insights into their own diverse traveler persona.
ContributorsCheney, Elizabeth Marie (Author) / Eaton, John (Thesis director) / Mokwa, Michael (Committee member) / Department of Supply Chain Management (Contributor) / Department of Marketing (Contributor) / School of Film, Dance and Theatre (Contributor) / W.P. Carey School of Business (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2018-05
Description
For decades, corporate firms have included corporate responsibility initiatives in their regular business functions in an effort to communicate a priority toward the communities they operate in, rather than just the customers they serve. These actions \u2014 whether implemented through financial or human resources \u2014 have grown to be a common addition to business models across industries. In recent years, however, the simple addition of a community-oriented campaign to a firm's regular business proceedings have become less effective in positioning a firm as a devoted corporate citizen. Today, consumers have access to more information and opportunities for substitutes than ever before, and as they make buying decisions, they are interested in seeing the firms they support orient themselves at the heart of community engagement, rather than interacting with the community through passive support. This study and discussion highlights the trends that several corporate responsibility professionals have seen emerge in recent years regarding their respective employers' corporate responsibility initiatives. Thoughts and reactions from corporate responsibility managers representing financial, education, insurance, and technology companies will be synthesized and analyzed for trends and shared positive and negative experiences related to their common work in initiating corporate responsibility programs at their respective firms. The discussion will also illustrate the specific challenges each of the professionals face daily in implementing successful CR programs within their firms. In aggregate, this discussion will provide a comprehensive look at what exactly firms are doing in today's CR sphere: it will demonstrate what trends are working well, which have yet to be tailored to have the best impact, and what is to come of the corporate firm's relationship with its community.
ContributorsRoberts, Katelyn J. (Author) / Mokwa, Michael (Thesis director) / Eaton, John (Committee member) / School of Community Resources and Development (Contributor) / W.P. Carey School of Business (Contributor) / Department of Management and Entrepreneurship (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2018-05
Description
The NBA has experienced success because of its ability to adapt and reform business operations to reflect dynamic economic conditions. This critical analysis uses the Collective Bargaining Agreement to explore the NBA operational structure, examine the current state of affairs, and propose solutions to fundamental issues. Included is an in-depth investigation into correcting team financial reporting and fixing market inequality across the league. Most notably, a proposal to restructure the current revenue sharing system is presented. By progressing the system to correlate winning with team financial performance, there is potential to improve competition and alleviate existing conflict. This will produce a better overall product for the NBA that drives more consumer interest, yields more revenue, and supports stronger international growth opportunity.
ContributorsHensel, Nathaniel Elijah Jeremiah (Author) / Koretz, Lora (Thesis director) / Mokwa, Michael (Committee member) / Department of Management and Entrepreneurship (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2018-05