VCU School of Business faculty research by department
Alisa Brink, Interim Accounting Department Chair, KPMG Teaching Excellence Professor
Fraud Reporting within an Organization and the Use of the Internal Audit Function as a Training Ground for Management
Research Summary:
Many companies place employees in internal audit positions temporarily as part of their management training. This study found that such a practice can be detrimental when fraud is discovered. First, internal auditors may be less likely to report fraud to their Chief Audit Executive, and they may feel less urgency to report fraud that is large in magnitude. Second, management accountants view internal auditors as less trustworthy. This increases their preference for reporting fraud through an anonymous hotline rather than directly to internal audit.
Citation: Brink, Alisa G., Eller, C. Kevin, Green, Y. Karen.“Fraud Reporting within an Organization and the Use of the Internal Audit Function as a Training Ground for Management” Behavioral Research in Accounting (2021, Forthcoming)
Holly Jackson, Foundations of Business Instructor
What’s Your STEMspiration?: Adaptation and Validation of A Survey Instrument Frontiers in Education
Research Summary:
The 11 partners in the Virginia-North Carolina Alliance for Minority Participation work to increase retention and graduation rates for students majoring in STEM subjects. Their current project is a survey used to identify what influences undergraduates to pursue a STEM degree and how that helps them achieve their career goals. Results of this survey will assess the Alliance’s culturally responsive intervention programs and their impact on boosting interest in STEM disciplines. This paper discusses the framework, methodology and preliminary studies used to craft that important research survey.
Citation: Jackson, Holly, Crenshaw, Jasmine, Mcdonald, G. Kevin, Feltault, Kelly, Martin, L. Marcus, Rosalyn Hobson-Hargraves, Morgan, L. Kristin and Kendra Cabler. “What’s Your STEMspiration?: Adaptation and Validation of a Survey Instrument Frontiers in Education,” Frontiers in Education (2021).
Exploring the Impact of Diversity Training on the Development and Application of Cultural Competence Skills in Higher Education Professionals
Research Summary:
This study confirmed that professionals in higher education were positively influenced by attending a diversity training program. Their training focused on creating a more inclusive workplace though shared language, shifts in policy and thoughtful interpersonal interaction. Participants felt this new cultural competence would result in a long-lasting alignment of organizational and personal commitments and might also improve their personal career trajectories.
Citation: Jackson, Holly, Crenshaw, J., Mcdonald, G. K., Feltault, K., Martin, L. Marcus, Hobson-Hargraves, R., Morgan, L. Kristin and Cabler, K.. “Exploring the Impact of Diversity Training on the Development and Application of Cultural Competence Skills in Higher Education Professionals” Metropolitan Universities Journal (2021).
Adam Blandin, Assistant Professor of Economics
Human Capital and the Social Security Tax Cap
Research Summary: This article assesses the revenue potential of removing the Social Security payroll tax cap using an overlapping generations (OLG) model featuring heterogeneous agents who endogenously invest in risky human capital. Removing the tax cap leads to a sizable increase in Social Security revenues, but also produces a decrease in federal income tax revenues. Taking both Social Security and income taxes into account, removing the tax cap does not raise sufficient revenues to offset looming demographic changes. One factor limiting revenue gains is that removing the tax cap reduces aggregate output, with human capital investment playing a central role.
Citation: Blandin, Adam. Human Capital and the Social Security Tax Cap. International Economic Review, Forthcoming.
Caleb Cox, Associate Professor of Economics
Strategic thinking in contests
Research Summary:
This paper examines motives for ‘overbidding’ in contests between individuals using a “two-headed” approach to decision-making. In “two-headed” contests, subject pairs send suggested bids and messages to a partner. Content analysis of the messages provides insight into an individual’s bidding motives. Our results suggest that analyzing communication provides a rich window into an individual’s thought process when making decisions, and can complement insights from elicited values from common decision tasks.
Citation: Bruner, D., C. Cox, D. McEvoy, and B. Stoddard. Strategic thinking in contests. Experimental Economics, Forthcoming.
Two-period duopolies with forward markets
Research Summary:
This study experimentally considers a dynamic multi-period Cournot duopoly with a simultaneous option to manage financial risk and a real option to delay supply. The first option allows players to manage risk before uncertainty is realized, while the second allows managing risk after realization. In our setting, firms face a strategic dilemma: They must weigh the advantages of dealing with risk exposure against the disadvantages of higher competition. In theory, firms make strategic use of the hedging component, enhancing competition. Our experimental results support this theory, suggesting that hedging increases competition and negates duopoly profits even in a simultaneous setting.
Citation: Cox, Caleb, Arzé Karam, and Matthias Pelster. Two-period duopolies with forward markets. Review of Industrial Organization, Forthcoming.
Chintal A. Desai, Associate Professor of Finance, Insurance and Real Estate
David Downs, Professor of Real Estate, Alfred L. Blake Chair
Banking Regulatory Constraints and Personal Bankruptcy Filings in the U.S.
Research Summary:
The findings of this study should interest policy makers involved with bankruptcy. The authors noted a rise in consumer defaults when banks were allowed to expand into new markets. This multi-branch deregulation increased not only general access to credit but mortgage lending as well. As a result, Chapter 13 bankruptcy filings mounted in areas with a higher concentration of banks.
Citation: Desai, A. Chintal, and Downs, H. David. "Banking Regulatory Constraints and Personal Bankruptcy Filings in the U.S.”Journal of Financial Regulation (2021)
Paul Brooks, Information Systems Professor and Interim Department Chair
Machine Learning Clustering and Classification of Human Microbiome Body Sites
Research Summary:
Distinct microbial signatures associated with specific human body sites can play a role in the identification of biological materials recovered from the crime scene, but at present, methods that have capability to predict origin of biological materials based on such signatures are limited. Metagenomic sequencing and machine learning (ML) offer a promising enhancement to current identification protocols. The accurate outcomes from our replicable process should encourage forensic scientists to seriously consider integrating ML predictors into their source body site identification protocols.
Citation: Al Tan-Torres, Jr., JP Brooks, B Singh, S Seashols-Williams, “Machine Learning Clustering and Classification of Human Microbiome Body Sites,” Forensic Science International, accepted September 2021.
Victoria Yoon, Information Systems Professor
Analyzing e-government design science artifacts: A Systematic literature review
Research Summary:
Design science as a research paradigm is gaining popularity in the information systems (IS) discipline. E-government research explores IS artifacts designed to improve the quality and efficiency of public administration and service. This paper utilizes the E-government Design Research Model (EgovDR Model) to review e-government designs. Through a comprehensive literature review, this paper identifies prototypical e-government tasks for design science implementation and the corresponding solutions. We demonstrate whether and how the development and evolution of e-government designs continue to gain relevance in design science research.
Citation: Carter, L., Yoon, V., and Liu, D., Analyzing e-government design science artifacts: A Systematic literature review, International Journal of Information Management, Forthcoming (accepted in September 2021)
Kweku-Muata Osei-Bryson, Information Systems Professor
Advancing the Development of Contextually Relevant ICT4D Theories: From Explanation to Design
Research Summary:
This editorial was written for a special issue of Information & Communication Technologies (ICTs) dedicated to advancing Information Systems research beyond the traditional views of rich, Western, industrialized countries. Topics ranged from finance to healthcare – all with the goal of using ICTs to advance the quality of life for marginalized people in both established and developing economies.
Citation: Osei-Bryson, K., Brown, I., Meso, P. “Advancing the Development of Contextually Relevant ICT4D Theories: From Explanation to Design”European Journal of Information Systems(2022)
Christopher Whelpley, Assistant Professor of Management and Entrepreneurship
Seeing Is Disliking: Evidence of Bias Against Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder in Traditional Job Interviews
Research Summary:
This study examines job interview performance of those with autism spectrum disorder and finds their style may bias evaluators against hiring otherwise qualified candidates. Both neurotypical and autistic job candidates were taped in mock interviews and evaluated by those who either watched interview videos or read interview transcripts. And whereas neurotypical candidates outperformed autistic candidates in the videos, they failed to do so when evaluators read the transcripts in the absence of visual and social cues suggesting that face-to-face interviews adversely impact individuals on the spectrum.
Citation: Whelpley C.E. & May, C. “Seeing Is Disliking: Evidence of Bias Against Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder in Traditional Job Interviews.”Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders (2022)
Less is more: A Conceptual and Meta-analytic Review of Construct Redundancy in Job Attitudes Research
Research Summary:
This review summarizes the existing literature on employee job attitudes in academics. Raising concerns with redundancy and attitude measurement, the author determines that some attitudes more accurately predict employee outcomes than others. In conclusion then, this review proposes a future research agenda designed to advance the field.
Citation: Woznyj, H. M., Banks, G.C., Whelpley, C.E., Bosco, F., Batchelor, J.H. “Less Is More: A Conceptual and meta-analytic Review of Construct Redundancy in Job Attitudes Research.”Journal of Organizational Behavior (2022)
Van Wood, Philip Morris Chair in International Business, Professor
Linking Public Institutions of Higher Education (Business Schools), State Trade Agencies and Private Enterprise: A Model and Method for Scaling Global Trade
Research Summary:
Since its founding in 2015, the Virginia International Trade Alliance (VITAL) has helped Virginia companies succeed in the international marketplace. Of the resulting public/private partnerships, 25 of them have involved VCU School of Business graduate students, who thereby gain a real-world education in global market analysis, strategies and management practices. In this paper, the author looks at how VITAL projects are selected, researched and completed and calls on other countries to extend the global network created by Virginia’s successful partnerships.
Citation: Wood, Van R., Vol. 9 No. 8 (2021): Archives of Business Research (2021).
Bruce Huhmann, Marketing Departement Chair, Professor
Perfect Social Media Image Posts: Symmetry and Contrast Influence Consumer Response
Research Summary:
The authors examined 610 Instagram posts for top hotel brands and found those with symmetry and image contrast received more likes, shares and comments. Vertical or horizontal symmetry is created by posting similar images on both sides of a visual post. Higher contrast is achieved through greater differences between light and dark areas of the image. Consumers preferred social media images with these two qualities because they were easier to process and more aesthetically pleasing.
Citation: Kostyk, A. and Huhmann, A. Bruce “Perfect Social Media Image Posts: Symmetry and Contrast Influence Consumer Response,” European Journal of Marketing (2021)
Jeff Shockley, Associate Professor of Supply Chain Management and Analytics
Modeling the Factors that Drive the Need for Inter-facility Transfers to Downstream Services in US Emergency Departments: The Case of Heart Attack Patients
Research Summary: TBD
Citation: Shockley, J., Turner, T. (in press). Modeling the Factors that Drive the Need for Inter-facility Transfers to Downstream Services in US Emergency Departments: The Case of Heart Attack Patients. International Journal of Healthcare Information systems and Informatics (Forthcoming Special Issue on “Transitioning to Smart Care: Opportunities, Challenges, and Solutions”).
Co-Authored with Jeff Smith, Department Chair of Supply Chain Management and Analytics
Social network analysis of publication collaboration of accelerating change in MedEd consortium.
Research Summary: The American Medical Association formed the Accelerating Change in Medical Education Consortium through grants to effect change in medical education. The dissemination of educational innovations through scholarship was a priority. The objective of this study was to explore the patterns of collaboration of educational innovation through the consortium’s publications.
Citation: Santen, S. A., Smith, J., Shockley, J., Cyrus, J. W., Lomis, K. D., Pusic, M., Mejicano, G. C., Lawson, L., Allen, B. L., & Skochelak, S. (2021). Social network analysis of publication collaboration of accelerating change in MedEd consortium. Medical teacher, 1–11. Advance online publication.
Xiaojin Liu, Assistant Professor of Supply Chain Management and Analytics
How much does the firm’s alliance network matter?
Research Summary: This study showed that a firm’s network of alliances is critical in building value. In addition to the common sources for creating profitability – ranging from industry membership to corporate parent affiliation – a firm’s network memberships can play a significant role. In fact, evidence over a 17-year period demonstrated that a firm’s various alliances contributed 11% to its profitability.
Citation: Kumar, P., Liu, X., and Zaheer, A. “How much does the firm’s alliance network matter?” Strategic Management Journal (2022).
Stephen Day, Director of VCU Center for Economic Education
Evaluating and Developing Teacher Instructional Practices in Economics Using a New Video-Based Test
Research Summary: To evaluate teaching quality in a high school economics class, the authors conducted a new, video-based, teacher/student interaction test. They found the experienced teachers demonstrated higher-level instructional skills and were more flexible in their thinking. In contrast, the inexperienced teachers felt overwhelmed by the test format, the content, confusion of roles in the study, and by inter-cultural misunderstandings. The authors suggest that video-based testing can provide useful for teacher training, feedback, and practice in a way that has not been available before.
Citation: Day, S., Kuhn, C., and Saas, H. “Evaluating and Developing Teacher Instructional Practices in Economics Using a New Video-Based Test” Journal of Social Studies Research (2021).