Pub Date : 2023-09-20DOI: 10.3390/businesses3030031
Devin Naidoo, Andrea Echarri-Gonzalez, Sarah Levitt, Alexander Mass, Eric Smith, Daryle Lamonica, Julianne Hall
Children’s access and opportunities to play sports are influenced by categories of difference, such as gender, race, and socioeconomic status. In order to provide an inclusive community and facilitate the recruitment and retention of diverse youth, athletic organizations should be aware of implicit bias and how this can affect the relationship between volunteers and the children they serve. This paper presents a formative process evaluation of a diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) training program for a non-profit athletic organization. Training was implemented in person in a group setting with multiple opportunities for group discussion. Mixed methods were used to monitor (1) the implementation of training, (2) its effects on attitudes throughout training, and (3) impact one month after training. Findings demonstrate that the program increased participants’ ability to identify DEI initiatives and sense of belonging to the organization, but these effects had declined by the end of the first month after training. However, participants’ self-beliefs regarding DEI and overall willingness to engage in DEI activities remained enhanced one month after training. Qualitative data were helpful in providing insight into how training impacted participants and their interactions within and outside of the organization. Through this mixed methods approach, we can conclude that DEI training did in fact have a positive impact on the organization, but further evaluation and training may be necessary to address the decline in some effects seen one month after training.
{"title":"Evaluation of a Multipart Implicit Bias Educational Program Designed for a Non-Profit Organization","authors":"Devin Naidoo, Andrea Echarri-Gonzalez, Sarah Levitt, Alexander Mass, Eric Smith, Daryle Lamonica, Julianne Hall","doi":"10.3390/businesses3030031","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/businesses3030031","url":null,"abstract":"Children’s access and opportunities to play sports are influenced by categories of difference, such as gender, race, and socioeconomic status. In order to provide an inclusive community and facilitate the recruitment and retention of diverse youth, athletic organizations should be aware of implicit bias and how this can affect the relationship between volunteers and the children they serve. This paper presents a formative process evaluation of a diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) training program for a non-profit athletic organization. Training was implemented in person in a group setting with multiple opportunities for group discussion. Mixed methods were used to monitor (1) the implementation of training, (2) its effects on attitudes throughout training, and (3) impact one month after training. Findings demonstrate that the program increased participants’ ability to identify DEI initiatives and sense of belonging to the organization, but these effects had declined by the end of the first month after training. However, participants’ self-beliefs regarding DEI and overall willingness to engage in DEI activities remained enhanced one month after training. Qualitative data were helpful in providing insight into how training impacted participants and their interactions within and outside of the organization. Through this mixed methods approach, we can conclude that DEI training did in fact have a positive impact on the organization, but further evaluation and training may be necessary to address the decline in some effects seen one month after training.","PeriodicalId":476120,"journal":{"name":"Businesses","volume":"31 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-09-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"136374464","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2023-09-11DOI: 10.3390/businesses3030030
Stanko Dimitrov, Régis Y. Chenavaz, Octavio Escobar
In this paper, we explore the importance of accounting for climate when determining the impact of weather on product sales. Using a France-wide scanner panel dataset provided by our industry partner, we show that if climate is not accounted for, product categories may be misclassified as being weather sensitive when they are not, and vice versa. This is motivated by previous research and industry reports that suggest a relationship between weather and retail sales. However, these studies often fail to distinguish between weather and climate, leading to inaccurate conclusions. Our results highlight the need to control for climate in order to accurately assess the effects of weather on retail sales. We use ordinary least squares regression to estimate the relationship between temperature and sales for 29 different product categories. The regression models control for various factors, including shelf space allocation, week of observation, quantity purchased, promotion, store brand, store surface area, store competition, and consumer behavior measures. We find that when accounting for climate, only a subset of the product categories is sensitive to weather. Additionally, we show that climate can be approximated using a week index, eliminating the need for additional data collection and approximation efforts. Our findings have implications for both researchers and practitioners. Researchers should be aware of the importance of accounting for climate when studying the impact of weather on retail sales, as failing to do so may lead to erroneous conclusions. Practitioners can use our results to inform their marketing and sales strategies, taking into account the weather sensitivity of different product categories and the role of climate in shaping consumer behavior. Overall, our study emphasizes the need to consider climate when determining the impact of weather on retail sales, and provides practical insights for retailers and economists.
{"title":"Accounting for Climate When Determining the Impact of Weather on Retail Sales","authors":"Stanko Dimitrov, Régis Y. Chenavaz, Octavio Escobar","doi":"10.3390/businesses3030030","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/businesses3030030","url":null,"abstract":"In this paper, we explore the importance of accounting for climate when determining the impact of weather on product sales. Using a France-wide scanner panel dataset provided by our industry partner, we show that if climate is not accounted for, product categories may be misclassified as being weather sensitive when they are not, and vice versa. This is motivated by previous research and industry reports that suggest a relationship between weather and retail sales. However, these studies often fail to distinguish between weather and climate, leading to inaccurate conclusions. Our results highlight the need to control for climate in order to accurately assess the effects of weather on retail sales. We use ordinary least squares regression to estimate the relationship between temperature and sales for 29 different product categories. The regression models control for various factors, including shelf space allocation, week of observation, quantity purchased, promotion, store brand, store surface area, store competition, and consumer behavior measures. We find that when accounting for climate, only a subset of the product categories is sensitive to weather. Additionally, we show that climate can be approximated using a week index, eliminating the need for additional data collection and approximation efforts. Our findings have implications for both researchers and practitioners. Researchers should be aware of the importance of accounting for climate when studying the impact of weather on retail sales, as failing to do so may lead to erroneous conclusions. Practitioners can use our results to inform their marketing and sales strategies, taking into account the weather sensitivity of different product categories and the role of climate in shaping consumer behavior. Overall, our study emphasizes the need to consider climate when determining the impact of weather on retail sales, and provides practical insights for retailers and economists.","PeriodicalId":476120,"journal":{"name":"Businesses","volume":"34 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-09-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"135981311","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2023-09-08DOI: 10.3390/businesses3030029
Ying Liu, Martyn Polkinghorne
This study examines the influence of founder characteristics on the selection of business growth strategies in companies undergoing an initial public offering (IPO). The research is based upon quantitative analysis of data from entrepreneur-led IPOs on the London Stock Exchange. The study investigates the impact of founder’s work experience, external directorships, education, age, ownership, and the presence of a founder–CEO, on the choice between mergers and acquisitions (M&A) and research and development (R&D) as growth strategies. The results show that founders with a throughput functional background and extensive external directorships are more likely to adopt M&A as a growth strategy. Moreover, founders with higher education levels and a PhD are more inclined towards R&D investment. The findings also suggest that older founders are more likely to invest in R&D, whilst higher levels of ownership tends to deter R&D expenditure. Interestingly, the presence of a founder–CEO is associated with a lower likelihood of investing in R&D and a higher propensity for M&A, although these correlations are not statistically significant. These results shed light on the influence of founder characteristics on strategic decision-making during the IPO stage and provide implications for understanding the dynamics of business growth strategies in transitioning companies.
{"title":"Unraveling Interconnections: Analyzing the Impact of a Founder’s Characteristics on Business Growth Strategy","authors":"Ying Liu, Martyn Polkinghorne","doi":"10.3390/businesses3030029","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/businesses3030029","url":null,"abstract":"This study examines the influence of founder characteristics on the selection of business growth strategies in companies undergoing an initial public offering (IPO). The research is based upon quantitative analysis of data from entrepreneur-led IPOs on the London Stock Exchange. The study investigates the impact of founder’s work experience, external directorships, education, age, ownership, and the presence of a founder–CEO, on the choice between mergers and acquisitions (M&A) and research and development (R&D) as growth strategies. The results show that founders with a throughput functional background and extensive external directorships are more likely to adopt M&A as a growth strategy. Moreover, founders with higher education levels and a PhD are more inclined towards R&D investment. The findings also suggest that older founders are more likely to invest in R&D, whilst higher levels of ownership tends to deter R&D expenditure. Interestingly, the presence of a founder–CEO is associated with a lower likelihood of investing in R&D and a higher propensity for M&A, although these correlations are not statistically significant. These results shed light on the influence of founder characteristics on strategic decision-making during the IPO stage and provide implications for understanding the dynamics of business growth strategies in transitioning companies.","PeriodicalId":476120,"journal":{"name":"Businesses","volume":"84 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-09-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"136362382","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}