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Title: Three essays on the compensation, structure, and decision making of the board of directors.
Creator: Pham, Duong, Frye, Melissa, Turnbull, Geoffrey, Gatchev, Vladimir, Farrell, Kathleen, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: My first essay examines compensation of newly formed boards of directors following tax-free corporate spin-offs. The empirical results show newly formed spin-off boards are paid significantly more than peer boards in the same industry with similar firm size. Higher compensation is observed for spin-off firms where the CEOs are not formerly employed by the parent firms but not for spin-off firms with parent related CEOs, indicating that new directors demand higher compensation for the work...
Show moreMy first essay examines compensation of newly formed boards of directors following tax-free corporate spin-offs. The empirical results show newly formed spin-off boards are paid significantly more than peer boards in the same industry with similar firm size. Higher compensation is observed for spin-off firms where the CEOs are not formerly employed by the parent firms but not for spin-off firms with parent related CEOs, indicating that new directors demand higher compensation for the work involved in setting up the new governing system for the spun-off firms especially when there is a brand new CEO managing the spinoff firm. Differences in the structure of director compensation are consistent with better incentive alignment for the newly formed spinoff boards who have the rare opportunity to design their compensation from scratch. The paper also finds evidence that limited CEO's influence on the composition of the spinoff board leads to weaker cronyism between the board and the CEO of spinoff firms.My second essay explores the role CEO gender plays in shaping the board of directors. The literature provides strong evidence that male CEOs are more overconfident than female CEOs. I contend that a male CEO, who may overestimate his ability and/or underestimate the monitoring role of the board, will prefer to exert as much control over the board as possible and thus prefer a weaker board. I find consistent results that new male CEOs are more likely to increase board size, decrease board independence, reduce board gender diversification, have worse director attendance and have lower overall board monitoring. In contrast, new female CEOs have more gender diversified boards and are associated with an increase in overall board monitoring intensity. I also find supporting evidence in terms of CEO compensation, where new male CEOs gain more control and are compensated more in both total compensation and equity compensation post transition, consistent with what we expect from a weaker board.iiiMy third essay examines CEO's influence on the board of directors in spinoff firms. CEO's influence on the board of directors has been the main concern for shareholders who entrust the firm board with the task of monitoring the firm CEOs. Current literature shows that the more powerful the CEO, the better he is able to extract rents via his compensation at the expense of shareholders. In this study, I utilize a sample of spinoff firms that need to form a brand new board of directors from scratch to shed more lights on the CEO influence question. Particularly, I hypothesize and find that since spinoff CEOs appointed from the parent firm have more influence over the selection of spinoff directors, they enjoy higher compensation with lower pay-performance sensitivity (PPS) and have lower turnover-performance sensitivity than CEOs at similar non-spinoff firms. In contrast, spinoff CEOs hired from outside the pre-spinoff business have similar compensation, PPS and turnover-performance sensitivity to their peers. The results provide supporting evidence for the CEO influence hypothesis and show that limiting CEO's involvement in the selection of directors might help mitigate subsequent CEO rent seeking behavior.
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Date Issued: 2017
Identifier: CFE0006639, ucf:51245
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0006639

Title: Directing Stop Kiss by Diana Son within a Nontraditional Training Model.
Creator: Dilks, Rebecca, Listengarten, Julia, Weaver, Earl, Wood, Vandy, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: Despite the generally held view that the best way for a stage actor to give a strong theatrical performance is through a traditional training model, I hoped to develop a way for inexperienced actors to perform beyond expectation within the context of one production through a system of mentorship, expectation-setting, and tapping into young peoples' natural desire to identify with people and characters. I directed a production of Stop Kiss by Diana Son with a blend of experienced and...
Show moreDespite the generally held view that the best way for a stage actor to give a strong theatrical performance is through a traditional training model, I hoped to develop a way for inexperienced actors to perform beyond expectation within the context of one production through a system of mentorship, expectation-setting, and tapping into young peoples' natural desire to identify with people and characters. I directed a production of Stop Kiss by Diana Son with a blend of experienced and inexperienced actors to see if I could make this work, with mixed results. This thesis is a reflection on the process of directing Stop Kiss that was filled with multiple discoveries and challenges.
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Date Issued: 2015
Identifier: CFE0005940, ucf:50824
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0005940

Title: NONPROFIT BOARD EFFECTIVENESS, FUNDING SOURCE,AND FINANCIAL VULNERABILITY.
Creator: Hodge, Matthew, Martin, Lawrence, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: Nonprofit organizations rely heavily on their governing board of directors to provide leadership, strategic guidance, and financial oversight. The nonprofit community continues to grow, and the services provided by these organizations have become a critical part of our society, providing a wide variety of services targeting a diverse population. In this context, how the role of the board of directors impacts the financial position of the nonprofit organization is of great interest to both the...
Show moreNonprofit organizations rely heavily on their governing board of directors to provide leadership, strategic guidance, and financial oversight. The nonprofit community continues to grow, and the services provided by these organizations have become a critical part of our society, providing a wide variety of services targeting a diverse population. In this context, how the role of the board of directors impacts the financial position of the nonprofit organization is of great interest to both the academic community and the practitioner. This study examined three areas of interest: board effectiveness, funding source, and financial vulnerability. First, the association between board effectiveness and financial vulnerability was tested. Second, specific board behaviors associated with strategic planning and stakeholder management were tested to determine if they were greater predictors of financial vulnerability. Finally, the role of funding source (specifically privately funded organizations) as a moderating variable for board effectiveness and financial vulnerability was explored. The sample was composed of 112 participants, consisting of board member/executive director survey responses and financial information for the participating organizations. The sample was drawn from six counties in the Central Florida area. Data were collected from a series of mailings, and surveys were distributed at nonprofit lecture series. The Financial Vulnerability Index (FVI) was used as a measure of the financial condition of the nonprofit organization and represented the dependent variable in this study. The Board Self-Assessment Questionnaire (BSAQ) was used to assess board effectiveness and represented the independent variable in this study. Primary funding source was identified as a moderating variable, while board size, age of the organization, CEO tenure, service area, United Way affiliation, national affiliation were included as control variables. Board effectiveness as measured by the BSAQ was a significant predictor of financial vulnerability as measured by the FVI. The strategic and stakeholder behaviors associated with board effectiveness were not found to be significant predictors of financial vulnerability, beyond other behaviors associated with board effectiveness. Funding source was shown to moderate the observed relationship between board effectiveness and financial vulnerability, as the association between effectiveness and financial condition was significant in privately funded nonprofit organizations (no such significance was identified in government funded or commercially funded organizations).
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Date Issued: 2006
Identifier: CFE0000974, ucf:46690
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0000974

Title: Three Essays on Compensation and the Board of Directors.
Creator: Cherry, Ian, Gatchev, Vladimir, Turnbull, Geoffrey, Schnitzlein, Charles, Roberts, Robin, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: In my first essay, I find a statistically and economically significant director-specific component in CEO pay following the enactment of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (SOX). In the cross-section of firms, directors that award relatively higher (lower) CEO pay in one firm also award relatively higher (lower) CEO pay in other firms of whose boards they are members during the year. Based on my estimates, the director-specific component is responsible for around (&)#177;3.5% of total CEO pay or...
Show moreIn my first essay, I find a statistically and economically significant director-specific component in CEO pay following the enactment of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (SOX). In the cross-section of firms, directors that award relatively higher (lower) CEO pay in one firm also award relatively higher (lower) CEO pay in other firms of whose boards they are members during the year. Based on my estimates, the director-specific component is responsible for around (&)#177;3.5% of total CEO pay or around (&)#177;$230,000 per CEO-year on average. In addition to affecting CEO pay levels, the director-specific component also has a significant effect on the changes and the composition of CEO pay, thus affecting CEO incentives. I pursue two potential explanations for our findings(-)changes in board composition and changes in director behavior after SOX. I do not find evidence that the director-specific component in CEO pay is due to changes in board composition. Instead, I find evidence that the director-specific component in CEO pay is due to changes in director behavior related to the additional risks and employment concerns imposed on directors after SOX. My findings are consistent with the view that SOX discourages directors from taking risks when awarding CEO pay and so directors award CEO pay that they can more easily justify through direct experiences in other firms. These findings have wide implications about the importance of directors in setting CEO pay, the existence of agency problems within the board, and the consequences of regulation in general and SOX in particular.My second essay concerns the compensation of directors themselves. I find that institutional ownership is positively related to the level of director compensation and the proportion of equity based compensation that directors receive. These results are consistent with the interpretation that institutions prefer stronger links between firm performance and board compensation and are willing to pay higher levels of compensation for better governance. I also investigate the difference between the effects of active versus passive institutional investment and find that active institutions appear to have a larger economic impact on director compensation. However, I do not find a statistical difference between the effects of active and passive ownership.My third essay studies the strategies that firms follow when apportioning incentive compensation within the board of directors. Firms tend to preserve the structure of director incentives over time so that firms using equal (variable) incentives in one year are more likely to use equal (variable) incentives in the following year. I further examine whether the structure of director incentives within the board affects acquirer performance in corporate acquisitions. I find that the five-day announcement returns of firms awarding equal director incentives are around 1% higher than the returns of firms that award variable director incentives within the board. These results are robust to standard controls related to acquirer returns, to different lengths of the announcement window, and to alternative incentive strategy classification schemes. Overall, my findings are consistent with the idea that director incentives play a significant role in corporate performance and with the idea that equal director incentives dominate variable incentives in circumstances where the success of the outcome is likely to depend on the board as a whole.
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Date Issued: 2015
Identifier: CFE0005588, ucf:50265
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0005588

Title: ESSAYS ON MUTUAL FUND GOVERNANCE AND THE ADVISORY FEE CONTRACTS.
Creator: ERZURUMLU, YAMAN, Frye, Melissa, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: This dissertation consists of three studies related to corporate governance of equity mutual funds in a framework of relations between the three closely interrelated actors of mutual fund industry. The mutual fund advisers, the shareholders and the mutual fund board being the advocate of shareholders rights. The first study analyzes the advisory fee, using a survivorship bias free data set of 176 equity funds managed by 125 different advisers. The price of professional portfolio management...
Show moreThis dissertation consists of three studies related to corporate governance of equity mutual funds in a framework of relations between the three closely interrelated actors of mutual fund industry. The mutual fund advisers, the shareholders and the mutual fund board being the advocate of shareholders rights. The first study analyzes the advisory fee, using a survivorship bias free data set of 176 equity funds managed by 125 different advisers. The price of professional portfolio management provided by the mutual fund adviser depends not only on the fund characteristics but also on the fund objective, the adviser's portfolio related and management based decisions, and the portfolio performance. I find that the advisers may reduce their own costs through the use of derivatives or manipulate the actual fee contract by engaging in soft dollar agreements. Advisers actively manage the advisory fee contracts responding to the outcome of their management decisions. The advisory fee increases after voluntary fee reimbursement or if the adviser is not fully reimbursed for certain services. Risk taking behavior is the main motivation behind the structure of advisory contracts. Also, I show that non-surviving funds have higher advisory fees, suggesting competitive fee pricing may be necessary for survival. The second study focuses on the relation between general board characteristics, independent director characteristics and the advisory fee which is solely an outcome of the negotiations between the fund board and the adviser, thus a good proxy for the governance skills of the board. I also examine the impact of SEC's regulation change of 2000. Mutual fund scandals that took place after the regulation change of 2000 suggested that besides the fraction of independent seats, the individual characteristics of the members that occupy board seats are crucial for mutual fund board governance. I find that boards benchmark objective average fee but not necessarily for the best interest of shareholders. Shareholders are likely to benefit from the expertise of members with higher tenure and finance backgrounds. Although increase in board independence is likely to contribute to board governance, the effect of 2000 regulation change of board independence on its arguably target group is limited. Nominating committee improves the board governance. Although the results do not suggest that an independent chairman directly improves board governance, I find modest evidence that the impact of an independent chairman is likely to depend on the expertise of the member that would occupy the chairman seat. Third study analyzes a specific tool, soft dollar arrangements using a survivorship bias free data set of 432 equity funds managed by 129 different advisers. Soft dollar arrangements affect all three actors of mutual fund industry. They are widely used by the advisers, have to be monitored closely by the fund board and eventually affect the overall wealth of shareholders. Fund advisers determine the broker base, scope of brokerage services and whether to self produce or outsource brokerage services through soft dollar arrangements. In return, shareholders expect to benefit from better fund performance and reduction in advisory fee. I find that transaction execution not necessarily motivated by additional brokerage services is likely to be responsible for high turnover. Construction of brokerage base by the adviser is not arbitrary. Advisers ex ante construct the broker base in order to minimize the brokerage commissions and considering ex post soft dollar arrangements. Transaction execution related services lead to less brokerage commissions and soft dollar use while both increase if research is a consideration for broker participation. More concentrated broker base leads to lower brokerage fee and higher soft dollar use. Results indicate that advisers enforce competition within brokerage industry for lower cost of transaction execution. Shareholders benefit from increasing soft dollar use through performance improvement and reduction in advisory fee. Yet, the cost of soft dollar arrangements seems to exceed their benefit to shareholders. If the results indicate competition within brokerage industry for lower cost of transaction execution, the undisclosed premium paid for the additional services are likely to be responsible for this adverse effect.
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Date Issued: 2006
Identifier: CFE0001180, ucf:46874
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0001180

Title: Building a Workable Model for Youth Theatre: An Exploration into a Courageous and Complex Field.
Creator: Engstrom, Megan, Brotherton, Mark, Ingram, Katherine, Listengarten, Julia, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: As an active director of productions featuring youth actors, I find myself debating the same questions continuously: Are there clear and demonstrated differences between working with young people and adults when directing a youth theatre production? Are there approaches and methods of working with young people that differs greatly from working with adults? Are these methods supported and utilized by those working professionally in the field? Is there an ideal format for a theatre producing...
Show moreAs an active director of productions featuring youth actors, I find myself debating the same questions continuously: Are there clear and demonstrated differences between working with young people and adults when directing a youth theatre production? Are there approaches and methods of working with young people that differs greatly from working with adults? Are these methods supported and utilized by those working professionally in the field? Is there an ideal format for a theatre producing only productions with youth? I believe that directing young actors tends to require a shift in focus due to the pliability, sensitivity, and inexperience of the actors. I feel the director must take into account the emotional, developmental, and educational needs of the young people and at the same time remain focused on the creation of a product with artistic integrity and clear storytelling. Due to the didactic nature of Youth Theatre, directing young people often requires an awareness of process over product despite the similar end goal of directing adults.Since little research or literature exists about the differences between working with adults versus young people, I will pursue information by interviewing several recognized professionals in the field of Theatre by and for Youth. I will examine their multiple methods, techniques, and practices of working with young people. In addition, I will use my personal experience working with youth at the Orlando Repertory Theatre in Florida and Coterie Theatre in Missouri. Through an investigation into the emerging field of Youth Theatre coupled with my education, I plan to develop a workable and effective youth theatre company based upon these findings with the hope it might inspire others working in this field.
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Date Issued: 2011
Identifier: CFE0004107, ucf:49101
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0004107

Title: Performing Jason Robert Brown's The Last Five Years: An Exercise in Communication On Stage and Off.
Creator: Sucharski, David, Niess, Christopher, Weaver, Earl, Boyde, Melinda, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: Communication, in its most basic sense, is foundational for any personal, human interaction and relationship. As theatre artists, we are charged with communicating complex story lines, conceptual ideas, and emotion to an audience. Sound communication is paramount to every aspect of a musical production, be it communication between actors/characters, actor and director, amongst the production team, and arguable the most important, between the actors and the audience. My years of education as a...
Show moreCommunication, in its most basic sense, is foundational for any personal, human interaction and relationship. As theatre artists, we are charged with communicating complex story lines, conceptual ideas, and emotion to an audience. Sound communication is paramount to every aspect of a musical production, be it communication between actors/characters, actor and director, amongst the production team, and arguable the most important, between the actors and the audience. My years of education as a Masters in Fine Arts candidate in Musical Theatre have been spent polishing my ability to communicate physical and emotional choices with greater accuracy, depth, and truth. By staging Jason Robert Brown's musical The Last Five Years and performing the role of Jamie, this performance thesis will explore, develop, and examine my mastery of the aforementioned varied forms of communication, all of which are necessary in building a successful musical production. Research will be conducted to gather information on relevant topics, including the history of The Last Five Years, the life of Jason Robert Brown, and his musical and theatrical influences. By further understanding Brown, his life, and his ideas about his works, I hope to more fully understand and communicate the message of the musical itself. A dramatic and musical structural analysis will provide further depth and insight into the piece, with the hopes of informing my production and individual performance. A thorough character analysis will provide connective tissue that will allow myself, as the actor, to more effectively communicate the psychological and emotional make up of the character Jamie. Lastly, the thesis document will culminate with a production journal, documenting the pre-production, rehearsal, and performance process. Through the journaling process, I will document and address the journey that I have experienced with the production, giving focus and attention to its many obstacles and discoveries, successes and failures, all of which have contributed to my personal growth as a young theatre artist.
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Date Issued: 2012
Identifier: CFE0004324, ucf:49465
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0004324

Title: U.S. INTELLIGENCE REFORM: A BUREAUCRATIC POLITICS APPROACH.
Creator: Schickler, Bonnie, Houghton, David, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: This study investigates the current bureaucratic struggles that exist within the U.S. intelligence community as a result of the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act (IRTPA) of 2004. The first part of this research examines the history of intelligence reform in the United States beginning with the National Security Act of 1947. The second part provides an in-depth discussion of the 2004 legislation as well as an examination of the main bureaucratic conflicts that have arisen...
Show moreThis study investigates the current bureaucratic struggles that exist within the U.S. intelligence community as a result of the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act (IRTPA) of 2004. The first part of this research examines the history of intelligence reform in the United States beginning with the National Security Act of 1947. The second part provides an in-depth discussion of the 2004 legislation as well as an examination of the main bureaucratic conflicts that have arisen between the Director of National Intelligence (DNI) and the rest of the U.S. intelligence community. This study used the bureaucratic politics model to explain the development of the current disagreements, the reasons behind the DNIÃ‚Â's struggle for power, and the intelligence communityÃ‚Â's inability to adapt to the reform. This research determined that the current conflicts have occurred as a result of the unclear authorities issued to the DNI by IRTPA and have been further exacerbated by interest-driven intelligence agencies and a well-developed culture that has proven difficult to abandon. This research also provides insight into several alternative approaches that can be used to explain the current U.S. intelligence reform process. Additionally, recommendations were made for reducing the bureaucratic friction that currently exists within the intelligence community and to strengthen the overall authority of the Director of National Intelligence.
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Date Issued: 2010
Identifier: CFE0003422, ucf:48376
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0003422

Title: Theodore is Dying: Production of the Feature Film from Development Through Distribution.
Creator: Pomeranz, Ryan, Stoeckl, Ula, Peterson, Lisa, Schlow, Stephen, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: Theodore Is Dying is a feature length film written and directed by Ryan Ceri Pomeranz. It was undertaken as a partial fulfillment of the requirements to receive a Master of Fine Arts in Film and Digital Media from the Department of Film in the College of Arts and Humanities at the University of Central Florida. The film aims to explore both the immediate and the long-term effects of choices made by four people at specific moments of demarcation in their lives. Structurally, the film is...
Show moreTheodore Is Dying is a feature length film written and directed by Ryan Ceri Pomeranz. It was undertaken as a partial fulfillment of the requirements to receive a Master of Fine Arts in Film and Digital Media from the Department of Film in the College of Arts and Humanities at the University of Central Florida. The film aims to explore both the immediate and the long-term effects of choices made by four people at specific moments of demarcation in their lives. Structurally, the film is presented in an episodic and non- linear style that attempts to examine each protagonist's own set of conflicts, while simultaneously exposing how the choices they make affect one another. The film's production presented many unique challenges to our producing team, cast and crew such as shooting on location in Scranton, Pennsylvania over one thousand miles from home and figuring out where to allocate funds from our (")ultra-low(") budget. These challenges were met head on and often times acted as catalysts for rethinking the way that films at our budget level could be produced. As a result, the account of the making of Theodore Is Dying, from development through distribution, aims to contribute these ideas to the larger conversation about the role of Ultra-Low Budget Filmmaking in the modern filmmaking era.
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Date Issued: 2013
Identifier: CFE0004737, ucf:49846
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0004737

Title: Essays on the Effect of Excess Compensation and Governance Changes on Firm Value.
Creator: Dah, Mustafa, Frye, Melissa, Whyte, Ann, Gatchev, Vladimir, Schnitzlein, Charles, Campbell, Terry, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: This dissertation consists of three essays on the effect of excess compensation and corporate governance changes on the firm's performance. The first paper utilizes a cost minimization stochastic frontier approach to investigate the efficiency of director total compensation. Our findings suggest that board members are over compensated. We show that, on average, the director actual compensation level is above the efficient compensation level by around 63%. Our results suggest that an increase...
Show moreThis dissertation consists of three essays on the effect of excess compensation and corporate governance changes on the firm's performance. The first paper utilizes a cost minimization stochastic frontier approach to investigate the efficiency of director total compensation. Our findings suggest that board members are over compensated. We show that, on average, the director actual compensation level is above the efficient compensation level by around 63%. Our results suggest that an increase in director excess compensation decreases the likelihood of CEO turnover, reduces the turnover-performance sensitivity, and increases managerial entrenchment. Thus, the surplus in director compensation is directly associated with managerial job security and entrenchment. Furthermore, although director excess compensation is not significantly inversely related to the firm's future performance, it has an indirect negative effect on future performance through its impact on the entrenchment-performance relationship. Therefore, this essay proposes that the overcompensation of directors is directly associated with a board culture predicated by mutual back-scratching and collusion between the CEO and the board members. The second essay tests the effect of an exogenous shock, the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (SOX) of 2002, on the structure of corporate boards and their efficiency as a monitoring mechanism. The results suggest an increase in the participation of independent directors at the expense of insiders. Consequently, we investigate the implications of board composition changes on CEO turnover and firm value. We document a noticeable reduction in CEO turnover in the post-SOX period. We also demonstrate that, after SOX, a board dominated by independent directors is less likely to remove a CEO due to poor performance. Finally, we highlight a negative association between the change in board composition and firm value. We propose that our findings are predicated on an off equilibrium result whereby firms were forced to modify their endogenously chosen board composition. Therefore, contrary to the legislators' objectives, we suggest that the change in board structure brought about inefficient monitoring and promoted an unfavorable tradeoff between independent directors and insiders. The third essay examines the relationship between the firm's governance structure and its value during different economic conditions. We show that both relative industry turnover and CEO entrenchment increase during economic downturns. We also find that relative industry turnover and managerial entrenchment have opposite impacts on the value of the firm throughout the recessionary period. While industry turnover leads to an appreciation in firm value, managerial entrenchment reduces shareholders' wealth. The negative impact of managerial entrenchment on firm value, however, outweighs the positive impact of industry turnover. Accordingly, we propose that a recession provides managers with a good opportunity to camouflage their behavior and extract more private benefits and, thus, blame the poor performance on bad economic conditions.
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Date Issued: 2012
Identifier: CFE0004202, ucf:49029
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0004202

Title: RED TIDE: A FEATURE LENGTH MOTION PICTURE.
Creator: Gallina, Dino, Wolfe, Jesse, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: The following document provides insight into the uncharted process of producing a micro-budget feature length film. This paper aims to document my growth as an artist in terms of storytelling and filmmaking as well as the development and production process. Red Tide: A Feature Length Motion Picture includes elements from each phase of the production process, from story and script development to marketing and distribution. This document reflects on the obstacles we faced and the solutions we...
Show moreThe following document provides insight into the uncharted process of producing a micro-budget feature length film. This paper aims to document my growth as an artist in terms of storytelling and filmmaking as well as the development and production process. Red Tide: A Feature Length Motion Picture includes elements from each phase of the production process, from story and script development to marketing and distribution. This document reflects on the obstacles we faced and the solutions we implemented during the process of creating a feature length motion picture on an undersized budget.
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Date Issued: 2010
Identifier: CFE0003192, ucf:48586
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0003192

Title: THE STIGMATIZATION OF DEATHCARE WORKERS.
Creator: Simone, Shannon, Corzine, Jay, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: Research has indicated that Funeral Directors and Embalmers are stigmatized for their work. Studies have shown that, although the decay of dead bodies is a stigmatized process in American culture, these particular deathcare workers are able to shift the focus of their services from the dead to the living. However, there remains a lack of research regarding deathcare workers who are not employed as Funeral Directors or Embalmers- those whose positions are not as obvious to the general public....
Show moreResearch has indicated that Funeral Directors and Embalmers are stigmatized for their work. Studies have shown that, although the decay of dead bodies is a stigmatized process in American culture, these particular deathcare workers are able to shift the focus of their services from the dead to the living. However, there remains a lack of research regarding deathcare workers who are not employed as Funeral Directors or Embalmers- those whose positions are not as obvious to the general public. This research explores how, why, and to what degree stigma is placed on those individuals who spend the majority of their work time in direct contact with dead bodies, as opposed to grieving family members. Interviews with funeral employees have been utilized to provide insight into this phenomenon. Results of the analysis show that frequency of contact with bodies is only one of three major factors influencing the stigma of deathcare workers. These results are examined and directions for future research are offered.
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Date Issued: 2011
Identifier: CFE0003922, ucf:48694
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0003922

Title: THE ACTOR'S ROLE IN DEVELOPING NEW PLAYS.
Creator: Haney, Brooke, Lee, David, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: The constant development of new plays is vital for theatre to stay relevant. There is a desire, a yearning, a need to see the issues we face in our lives on stage in current contexts, and to watch characters living with them. The ability, as an Actor, to be an asset to the process of creating new works is invaluable. For my thesis, I discuss the role of the Actor in the process of developing new plays for the stage. I say "discuss" because I venture to guess that this role is constantly...
Show moreThe constant development of new plays is vital for theatre to stay relevant. There is a desire, a yearning, a need to see the issues we face in our lives on stage in current contexts, and to watch characters living with them. The ability, as an Actor, to be an asset to the process of creating new works is invaluable. For my thesis, I discuss the role of the Actor in the process of developing new plays for the stage. I say "discuss" because I venture to guess that this role is constantly evolving. There may be as many ways to approach the process as there are collaborative teams. Therefore, I do not suggest there is one right way in which an Actor can play a part in the process of new play development, nor do I intend this to be a comprehensive look at all the roles an Actor can play. However, I discovered some best practices, which I put into a list and seized this opportunity to cultivate my skills in these areas. My intent was to work and speak with Playwrights and Directors, learning from them what they value in an Actor at the various phases of new play development, and to nurture these skills within myself. I utilized my discoveries in the World Premiere of Triangle Logic by Debbie Lamedman. As theatre is a collaborative art, I learned to shift and adapt my role, depending on the other collaborators. While Triangle Logic was the larger focus of my thesis work, I also sought additional smaller projects, such as the workshop productions of Steven Christopher Yockey's play, Heavier Than, part of Orlando Shakespeare Theater's PlayFest 2010, and Orlando Repertory Theater's devised play Writes of Spring, I thinK his NamE Was rick. I applied techniques I learned while working on Triangle Logic to the other new projects, where appropriate. I endeavored to evaluate each experience objectively, while recognizing that they were, by nature, subjective experiences.
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Date Issued: 2011
Identifier: CFE0003702, ucf:48810
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0003702

Title: All of Chinese Literature Condensed: A Sourcebook from the Playwright, Director, and Biggest Fan.
Creator: Emerson, Whitney, Routhier, Mark, Tan, Huaixiang, Brotherton, Mark, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: Aristotle stated in his Poetics that theatre's dual purpose was to educate and entertain. Centuries later the Roman Horace and Indian Bharata echoed his same sentiments. I intend to realize all three theorist's ideas on the theatre by creating an original educational and entertaining work and bringing it to performance. The audience will retain information without being aware of learning if it is presented in a pleasurable way.The most important geopolitical relationship of this century will...
Show moreAristotle stated in his Poetics that theatre's dual purpose was to educate and entertain. Centuries later the Roman Horace and Indian Bharata echoed his same sentiments. I intend to realize all three theorist's ideas on the theatre by creating an original educational and entertaining work and bringing it to performance. The audience will retain information without being aware of learning if it is presented in a pleasurable way.The most important geopolitical relationship of this century will be between China and America. In order to educate the American public about the culture of The Middle Kingdom, I propose to write and direct my own play, condensing all three thousand years of Chinese literature into a one hundred and ten minute performance. I will benefit from the personal nature of this thesis by experiencing every stage of a play's production: from idea to page to performance. My thesis will be made of three major parts: conceiving and writing the play, a journal of directing the debut production, and a third section made of choices, influences, and reflection on the entire experience. In this manner, the ideas swirling in my head may be made clear to others reading this thesis. The play itself will be a comical distillation of ten selected works of Chinese literature. Four non-gender specific American actors will seem to make up the show as it performs in a tongue-in-cheek way. Taking my stated goal of entertaining and educating the audience to heart, the overarching plot of the play will center on the four actors teaching the audience about the literature and culture of China by acting out scenes and telling stories. The information in the scenes will be targeted to a normal American citizen's educational level with liberal doses of humor added. The four actors will be playing fictionalized versions of themselves and at times breaking character by explaining and setting up the theatricality of the piece to the audience. Part of the fun of the show will be seeing how these actors explain a subject as obtuse as Chinese literature to Americans. Perhaps a cooking metaphor is the best way to think of the play: I will chop up raw Chinese literature, the actors will boil it onstage, the theatregoer will consume the mix, and exit the theatre full of entertaining intellectual nourishment.My experiences directing and producing the finished play will be recorded in a journal as a resource for future directors. I imagine directing the play will be the most challenging aspect of this thesis. How is the play changed when other people interact with it? How will the audience receive it? In addition, Committee Chair Mark Routhier and my thesis Committee Members, Mark Brotherton and Tan Huaixiang, will also give written responses to the play's performances. The play will be performed October 10-13, 2013 in the University of Central Florida's Performing Arts Complex Studio 2 classroom. In the final section I will write a reflection on the entire process. This will serve the dual purpose of giving me a place to collect my thoughts and giving others a special insight to the growth they might experience when producing this play. Foremost among my influences in writing a play with this subject matter are the style and tone of The Reduced Shakespeare Company.
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Date Issued: 2013
Identifier: CFE0004993, ucf:49548
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0004993

directing (3)	+ -
director (3)	+ -
theatre (3)	+ -
Director (2)	+ -
actors (2)	+ -

board of directors (2)	+ -
directors (2)	+ -
theater (2)	+ -
Actor (1)	+ -
Board Entrenchment (1)	+ -
Board Structure (1)	+ -
Board of Directors (1)	+ -
Budget (1)	+ -
Bureaucratic Politics (1)	+ -
CEO (1)	+ -
CEO Entrenchment (1)	+ -
CEO Turnover (1)	+ -
Cao Cao (1)	+ -
Chinese (1)	+ -
Cinema (1)	+ -
Communication (1)	+ -
Corporate Governance (1)	+ -
Digitial (1)	+ -
Dino Gallina (1)	+ -
Director Compensation (1)	+ -
Director of National Intelligence (1)	+ -
Dream of Red Mansions (1)	+ -
Effectiveness (1)	+ -
Film (1)	+ -
Financial Vulnerability (1)	+ -

University of Central Florida (14)	+ -
Frye, Melissa (3)	+ -
Gatchev, Vladimir (3)	+ -
Brotherton, Mark (2)	+ -
Listengarten, Julia (2)	+ -

Schnitzlein, Charles (2)	+ -
Turnbull, Geoffrey (2)	+ -
Weaver, Earl (2)	+ -
Boyde, Melinda (1)	+ -
Campbell, Terry (1)	+ -
Cherry, Ian (1)	+ -
Corzine, Jay (1)	+ -
Dah, Mustafa (1)	+ -
Dilks, Rebecca (1)	+ -
ERZURUMLU, YAMAN (1)	+ -
Emerson, Whitney (1)	+ -
Engstrom, Megan (1)	+ -
Farrell, Kathleen (1)	+ -
Gallina, Dino (1)	+ -
Haney, Brooke (1)	+ -
Hodge, Matthew (1)	+ -
Houghton, David (1)	+ -
Ingram, Katherine (1)	+ -
Lee, David (1)	+ -
Martin, Lawrence (1)	+ -
Niess, Christopher (1)	+ -
Peterson, Lisa (1)	+ -
Pham, Duong (1)	+ -
Pomeranz, Ryan (1)	+ -
Roberts, Robin (1)	+ -

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