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Title: Category management: theory and implementation in an organization
Contributors: Daniel Christian Hansen (author), Elizabeth Croft (Thesis advisor), University of Northern British Columbia (Degree granting institution)
Abstract: The Category Management process has assisted retailers with achieving sales and profitability growth during advantageous economic periods while maintaining profitability during economic declines. Through a comprehensive literature review of the Category Manager position as prescribed by AC Neilson compared with practical training of the Customer Product Manager position from within the Overwaitea Food Group the author will review the Eight Steps of Category Management to find parallels and deviations between the two roles. Through analysis of the two positions strategies that are aligned will receive minor review while those strategies that have belong to only one party will be revisited in an attempt to achieve consistency between the two very similar roles and responsibilities. It is observed that the Customer Product Manager position is imitative of the fundamental Category Manager position with minor alterations. The fundamental findings of this research will be designed is such a way as to assist future Customer Product Managers with an additional tool to further understand the roles and responsibilities of a new career path. The study will clearly address the relevance of such a role in the industry, while exposing areas for further development. Recommendations will include methods to educate all facets of the Overwaitea Food group retail operators about the Customer Product Manager duties and responsibilities in an attempt to align the two separate entities to share one common goal. Through research, key areas of inadequacy will be addressed such as the elimination of any education by AC Neilson pertaining to Vendor meetings, merchandising contribution fund attainment and SKU rationalization for the category review chapter. Recommendations of key findings will not be limited to either party, as the purpose is to find the most practical business solutions to accommodate future growth. --Leaf i.
Discipline: Business Administration

Title: Business planning for a small firm's success: Northern Catski adventures
Contributors: Leigh Clasby (author), Elizabeth Croft (Thesis advisor), University of Northern British Columbia (Degree granting institution)
Abstract: This paper sets out to survey a substantial amount of research on the importance of business planning for small business success. Two areas of interest are examined. The first looks at how and why different types of planning contribute to the success of a small business. The second examines variables found outside of planning such as decision making propensities and characteristics of an entrepreneur. The principles in the planning section will be applied to a specific business idea. Northern Catski Adventures (NCA) is a developing small business idea. Various researchers would contest that planning for a small firm is a poor use of company resources however the majority of research suggests otherwise. --P. ii.
Discipline: Business Administration

Title: Prioritizing clinical services for telehealth: the development of a model
Contributors: Paula Young (author), Deborah Poff (Thesis advisor), University of Northern British Columbia (Degree granting institution)
Abstract: An increase in the demand for telehealth services has caused an issue in the availability of sufficient resources to meet all the desired service implementations. This is causing the belief that it has become necessary to prioritize the selection of new telehealth services. It is anticipated that it is feasible to develop a model that would facilitate an accurate assessment of program opportunities. The model would assist in the selection of the most appropriate projects based on evidence. There is much literature on evidence-based decision-making in healthcare. There is however limited literature with respect to the utilization of these methodologies to prioritize the telehealth industry. This project assesses the need of doing so and the feasibility of developing a model to facilitate this need. It also takes a preliminary assessment of the necessary criteria and format required to best meet the immediate needs within the Northern Health Authority.
Discipline: Business Administration

Title: Managing the demographic shift: retention and recruitment of the public servant
Contributors: Melony Forster (author), Rick Tallman (Thesis advisor), University of Northern British Columbia (Degree granting institution)
Abstract: The public service will be experiencing a shortage of workers with the demographic shift as baby boomers leave the workforce over the next 5-10 years. This study has been conducted to investigate the determinants of job satisfaction and establish the importance of job satisfaction in determining retention and recruitment of public servants. Hertzberg's two factor theory will be used. According to Hertzberg's two factor theory, long term motivation determinants of job satisfaction include achievement, recognition of achievement, the work itself, responsibility, advancement or promotion and growth. Short-term factors or hygiene factors include organization policies and administration, supervision, interpersonal relations, working conditions, salary, status and security. The purpose of the study is to review whether the federal government is meeting the satisfaction needs of its current employees and new hires in order to retain and recruit them. The results of the data confirm that on average the public servant employees are satisfied but that there is significant room for improvement.
Discipline: Business Administration

Title: Recruitment, retention and development of managers in northern British Columbia
Contributors: Stacey Gibbs (author), William Cave (Thesis advisor), Robert Ellis (Thesis advisor), University of Northern British Columbia (Degree granting institution)
Abstract: No abstract available.
Discipline: Business Administration

Title: Change and innovation at the Canada School: an investigation into the antecedents of organizational ambidexterity
Contributors: Jeremy J. White (author), Rick Colburne (Thesis advisor), Steven Cronshaw (Thesis advisor), University of Northern British Columbia (Degree granting institution)
Abstract: This case study examines the antecedents present in the transformation of the Canada School from its founding to its present state characterized by structural ambidexterity. It provides insights into how an organization's history affects the development of a shared value and belief system focused on continuously searching for new innovations, seizing upon them, and reconfiguring organizational assets to capitalize upon them. Through the use of a single case, the history of the Canada School is traced through five stages of growth. The Canada School was founded in order to deliver education to children with learning difficulties. This school was one of the first of its kind to be developed specifically for children with these challenges. In the beginning stages, the Canada School was forced to constantly move from location to location, culminating in its near closure. Because of an explicit decision to survive and grow, the senior leaders and employees of the Canada School developed a shared system of values and beliefs that led to a constant need to develop incremental innovations (exploitation) along with radical innovations (exploration). This need ultimately led the Canada School to adopt structural ambidexterity. This research finds evidence concurrent with hypotheses in ambidexterity research, including that (1) structural ambidexterity is superior to contextual ambidexterity in the simultaneous pursuit of exploration and exploitation (2) inter-organizational relationships can act as a conduit of new knowledge that enhances an organization's ability to innovate and (3) organizational history deeply affects and influences the beliefs and values of an organization, including management cognition as it related to balancing exploration and exploitation activities. --Leaf ii.
Discipline: Business Administration

Title: Evaluating a logistics proposal at the Port of Prince Rupert
Contributors: Nathan J. Lauer (author), Balbinder Deo (Thesis advisor), University of Northern British Columbia (Degree granting institution)
Abstract: The Prince Rupert Port Authority (PRPA) is examining the feasibility of developing Ridley Island port land into a value added cluster of logistics service providers. At question is the kind of transportation model that could be created to link the Fairview Container Terminal and its deep sea container port capabilities to the logistics cluster on Ridley Island in a time and cost efficient manner. --P.1
Discipline: Business Administration

Title: Business cycles and profit warnings: over and under reaction of U.S. firms, according to size and industry 1995-2009
Contributors: Daniel Joseph Levy (author), Han Donker (Thesis advisor), University of Northern British Columbia (Degree granting institution)
Abstract: This study examines whether investors overreact to bad news during good times (economic expansion) and under react to bad news during bad times (economic downturns). The study examines the investors' overreactions and under reactions to bad news during business cycles. It is found that the immediate price reaction to a firms' profit warning (bad news) is much stronger during periods of economic expansion than during periods of economic contraction. Firms that issue bad news during good times are severely punished by investors as opposed to firms that release negative news during bad times. Furthermore, the size of the company and the sector in which it operates is a major factor in the reaction of these firms' price shares due to the issue of the profit warning. --P. ii.
Discipline: Business Administration

Title: Exploring a carbon strategy for a public forest products company in Canada
Contributors: Marty Hiemstra (author), Elizabeth Croft (Thesis advisor), University of Northern British Columbia (Degree granting institution)
Abstract: As forest companies in Canada are struggling to come through a period of record low commodity prices, US exchange rate challenges, and worldwide recession, it is unlikely that a carbon strategy would be a top priority. This paper explores the reality that even as a company operates in a harsh business environment, a carbon strategy is helpful in moving to a more sustainable and financially competitive future. In the context of stakeholder theory and competitive forces both inside and outside the company's industry, there is evidence to show that moving toward a low carbon future is in their best interest over the long term. Considering this, the study looks at the possibility of direct investment in forestry carbon projects from a financial perspective. Specifically, the analysis is based on hypothetical afforestation, fertilization, and select seed projects with harvesting treatments based in the interior of British Columbia. The results indicate that due to the substantial uncertainty and poor expected returns, forest carbon projects may not be a wise investment for forest companies at this time. However, there are various steps that companies can make to transition themselves to a low carbon future. These include carbon footprinting and the development of green programs, targets, and goals within the company's operations. These actions can lead to first mover advantages within the forest industry and prepare the firm for more onerous demands in the future. These demands would include regulatory emission constraints or preparing for the implementation of a cap and trade system. --P. ii.
Discipline: Business Administration

Title: Inventory shrinkage in a chain retailer: a case study
Contributors: Salah Yousif El Sheikh (author), Balbinder Deo (Thesis advisor), University of Northern British Columbia (Degree granting institution)
Abstract: Inventory shrinkage is a costly issue that confront retailers all over the world as it diminish their profitability. While many researchers have studied this phenomenon at an industrial level in general, however, only a few researchers have documented their findings based on store level. The retail study at store level can help better understand the operational parameters in a detail for making suitable practical suggestions to combat inventory shrink and that is the reason a case study is chosen as a method to examine and analyze inventory shrinkage in depth at a retail outlet level. --Executive summary.
Discipline: Business Administration

Title: What is the impact of the crude oil price index on the performance of oil and gas firms?
Contributors: Yousef El Kalush (author), Han Donker (Thesis advisor), University of Northern British Columbia (Degree granting institution)
Abstract: This paper empirically investigates the impact of fluctuations of crude oil prices on the financial performance of the 200 largest oil and gas companies which are listed on the US stock exchange for the period ranging from 1990-2008. The empirical results provide evidence that an increase in crude oil price positively influences the performance of oil and gas firms. Results from the panel data regression analysis show a statistically significant relationship (at 1% level) between the oil and gas index, return on equity (ROE), the return on asset (ROA), earning before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization (EBITDATA), and net-income (NI).
Discipline: Business Administration

Title: Marketing strategies to successfully sell voice over internet protocol to mainstream Canadian markets
Contributors: Morris Ivan Bodnar (author), Patrick Mann (Thesis advisor), Rick Tallman (Thesis advisor), University of Northern British Columbia (Degree granting institution)
Abstract: No abstract available.
Discipline: Business Administration

Title: BID Group of Companies: selecting a strategic location for expansion to the south eastern United States
Contributors: Kane Kelly (author), Rick Tallman (Thesis advisor), University of Northern British Columbia (Degree granting institution)
Abstract: The owners of the BID Group of Companies (BID) want to establish a manufacturing operation within the high growth southern United States (US) sawmilling industry. The purpose of this project was to gain an overall understanding of the southern US in order to determine the best strategic location and the best mode of entry. A major challenge was determining where the industry was situated within this vast geographical area. A detail map of the southern US sawmill industry was developed to obtain a better understanding of the market concentration. This mapping exercise indicated that the top four states to consider for expansion were Florida, Alabama, Georgia, and South Carolina. In terms of entry mode, analysis indicated that buying and refurbishing an existing building was the most economical choice due to the high availability of affordable commercial real estate compared to the substantially higher costs to build new. The best building choice from each state was selected and examined against a top ten criteria of preferred attributes of both the building and the surrounding amenities. This process resulted in the recommendation of the building located in St. George, SC. The physical attributes of the St. George building combined with the amenities of the surrounding Dorchester County indicate that this is the right building in the right location and should contribute greatly to the success of BID's expansion into the southern US. --Leaf i.
Discipline: Business Administration

Title: Development of a business tool to evaluate the Northern Health Connections program
Contributors: Karen Nagra-Atwal (author), Steven Cronshaw (Thesis advisor), University of Northern British Columbia (Degree granting institution)
Abstract: Organization and program self-assessments are important tools for enabling companies to learn and improve. Much like an annual health physical, they help managers better understand both what is working well and what areas require attention. Self-assessments also are effective for communicating priorities to various stakeholders and for monitoring progress over time, and their greatest value is their ability to enable organizations to improve their performance and produce positive results. Self-assessment tools are well evaluated in the literature, and Northern Health -- as an organization striving for excellence -- can make good use of them to meet the needs of it Northern Health Connections patient transportation program. Ideally, tools would already exist that can be easily modified to suit the program's needs however, because Northern Health Connections is a unique, multi-faceted program, it needs a new tool developed using existing self-assessment frameworks. This project proposes a tool consisting of a Route Evaluation Flow Chart (REFC) and accompanying questionnaire. The tool will assist managers at Northern Health Connections in the essential task of allocating transportation resources for moving patients to and from northern British Columbia's medical facilities. In this paper, I will present an overview of the relevant literature and then discuss the tool's conceptualization, design, and development. Finally, I will recommend that Northern Health Connections integrate the REFC tool into their daily operations.
Discipline: Business Administration

Title: Forecasting future consumption of coniferous wood in India: a quantitative approach
Contributors: Krzysztof Sas-Zmudzinski (author), Balbinder Deo (Thesis advisor), University of Northern British Columbia (Degree granting institution)
Abstract: Over the last few years, Canada has been very successful in increasing its trade in wood products with China. India however, still remains an elusive market. There is a large amount of peer reviewed literature on the specifics of the Indian wood market, and the potential for trade in softwood products. Whereas the majority of studies describe in great detail the opportunities and constraints in dealing with India, very little quantitative information is available about the trends and patterns that determine the Indian wood market. This study uncovered and described one such trend by identifying the relationships between the level of imports of softwood products and such factors as India's Gross Domestic Product (GDP), domestic production, the price of lumber on international markets, tariffs, and the price of Teak logs as a substitute for softwood products. This study analyzed 13 years of quarterly data using the ordinary least square regression technique. Diagnostics were conducted using Akaike and Schwartz criterions, the Durbin-Watson test, and the Breusch-Pagan-Godfrey test for heteroscedasticity. Results suggest that the indicated variable collectively explain 74% of variability in import levels. Two variables in particular, real GDP and the price of Teak have a significant, positive impact on the level of imports of softwood products with 0.45 and 0.49 as respective elasticities. Continuing growth of India's GDP will ensure an ever increasing demand for imported wood products in the years to come. To maximize this opportunity, North American exporters should not compete with New Zealand's low quality pine, but should instead focus on competing with dark coloured tropical hardwoods that are becoming prohibitively expensive as world wide supplies of Teak and other tropical hardwoods continue to diminish. --P. i.
Discipline: Business Administration

Title: Adult day centre respite care: research design of a study to assess the efficacy of caregiver respite
Contributors: Ashley Stoppler (author), Steven Cronshaw (Thesis advisor), University of Northern British Columbia (Degree granting institution)
Abstract: Persons diagnosed with dementia have been recognized as a client group within Northern Health that requires specialized care. Care is currently provided through long-term care case management, residential complex care and assisted living, home support, adult day centres, in-home and facility respite, and in the client's home by family members and private caregivers. With an aging population predictive of an increased number of dementia clients, Northern Health recognizes that the current methods of providing care may not be sufficient to sustain clients and caregivers in the future. This project designs a study that examines the effects of respite care for dementia clients on the burden felt by their caregivers. It is hypothesized that mean scores of caregiver burden reported by primary informal caregivers of dementia clients, as measured by the Zarit Burden Interview, will be lower for members of the treatment group (consisting of caregivers utilizing the respite services of the Rainbow Adult Day Centre) than for members of the control group (consisting of caregivers who are not utilizing the respite services of the Rainbow Adult Day Centre).
Discipline: Business Administration

Title: Financial and operational performance of banks in Ghana: 2004-2012
Contributors: Isaac Fordjour (author), Ajit Dayanandan (Thesis advisor), University of Northern British Columbia (Degree granting institution)
Abstract: The study examines the empirical and financial performance of the leading major banks in Ghana over the period of 2004-2012 based on their financial statements. On the basis of profitability and cost based parameters, the leading six (6) major banks were investigated. The banks were used for the study because they control about 42.5% of the share of industry total assets and 42.2% of the industry's deposits. An empirical study was conducted on the performance of the six (6) major banks based on their profitability margins and operating cost parameters. In analyzing the banks' performance, comparisons were made with major banks from developed countries as well as banks from emerging market economies to verify the Ghanaian banking sector performance with banks from developed and emerging market economies. The study concluded that Ghanaian banks recorded a higher profitability margins than banks from developed economies due to relatively less competition of the banking sector 42.2% of the share of industry total assets is being controlled by few major banks. Inter-bank performance indicated that foreign owned banks were profitable and efficient than domestic banks and this was due to profitable line of business and economies of scale. Finally, the study further establishes that the banks needed to expand their operations to embrace the large number of the people who are not saving with formal banks which will enhance performance growth and development of the banking sector. --Leaf iii.
Discipline: Business Administration

Title: Privatization of Crown Corporations (CCs) and State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) in Canada: goals and aspirations of government and participating businesses
Contributors: Kwabena. Owusu-Nyamekye (author), Greg Halseth (Thesis advisor), University of Northern British Columbia (Degree granting institution)
Abstract: Privatization of Crown Corporations (CCs) and State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) has become an important worldwide phenomenon. Over the last few years, CCs and SOEs have been privatized in both developed and developing countries. In Canada, privatization emerged in the 1970s however, it became fully operational as a federal policy in the mid 1980s when a number of both federal and provincially owned corporations were sold to private companies. From 1985 to 2005, federal government has collected close to $12 billion from the proceeds of privatization and more than $1.5 billion in lease revenues from airport authorities. There has been a lot of discussion as to whether privatization has succeeded in meeting the goals and aspirations of the policy initiative as well as of participating businesses. In evaluating the program, the original objectives of privatization have been achieved and the goals and aspirations of both government and participation businesses have been met. However, these were not without some challenges. Some recommendations and solutions to these challenges, and how to make privatization policy more effective, have been made in the study which the writer believes will enhance the policy initiative in future privatizations of CCs and SOEs. The study relied on exploratory, secondary, and primary sources data and information. Exploratory research took the form of casual discussions around privatization with professionals from the public and private sectors to design a framework for the study. Secondary data was gained through a review existing literature. Primary data was mainly used to answer the research question by interviewing senior and middle managers of public-to-private companies, public institutions, and private companies were interviewd. It is hoped that the study will add to the existing knowledge on privatization of CCs and SOEs, as well as other forms that exist in public institutions, and local governments --P.ii.
Discipline: Business Administration

Title: The construction of employee competency developmental plans for a private residential youth care facility
Contributors: Jason Jaswal (author), Rick Tallman (Thesis advisor), University of Northern British Columbia (Degree granting institution)
Abstract: Staffed residential youth care homes have been in existence in one form or another in North America since the 1700's. As time has passed, the field of child and youth care work has evolved considerably. The substance abuse issues, developmental, and behavioural conditions that afflict youth in care are often quite pronounced. Ever increasingly, practitioners working with at-risk youth populations require a more specialized skill set and knowledge. This paper qualitatively reviews past literature on competency model development and approaches, as well as linkages to organizational performance, retention, and morale. Utilizing past research and experience working in the child and youth care field, competency development plans were created for implementation at a private residential youth care facility. Specific organizational competencies identified as priorities for development included knowledge, teamwork, relationship building, conflict management, and leadership. --P. ii.
Discipline: Business Administration

Title: Stock market reactions to announcements of ERP system implementation in the US
Contributors: Sapan Kumar Patnaik (author), Ajit Dayanandan (Thesis advisor), University of Northern British Columbia (Degree granting institution)
Abstract: Research on the impact of announcements of investments in enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems has so far yielded divergent results. The present study, using data on ERP system implementation announcements of 112 predominantly Fortune 350 firms during 1990-2010, examines the impact of ERP implementation announcements on stock returns in the United States. The empirical result shows that abnormal returns of the US firms for the event window (-1, +1) on ERP system implementation announcements are positive and statistically significant. Our empirical results reveal that publicly traded companies in the US generate significant reactions in the positive direction in the stock market. The reason of this positive announcement effect is that the market stays hopeful of larger returns for the years to come with the streamlining of business processes in line with the industry's best practices. The capital market anticipates positive net future cash flows from the use of ERP systems. ERP systems enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of the firms through increasing their production flexibility and streamlining critical business processes such as sale and inventory management. Accordingly, stock market participants react positively to the announcements of ERP system implementations as is proven in this study. --P. ii.
Discipline: Business Administration