Issue 3
Dear Friends of the Willumstad School,

In this third issue of the Adelphi Business Review , read four insightful stories--scholarly work of our faculty--reflecting a rich variety of subjects. An accounting historian examines the contradictions in the life and philosophy of one of America's founding fathers; a marketing professor finds that a firm known for being socially responsible can benefit from it when it introduces very different new products; a faculty member in decision sciences reports on a method to determine the right size of the smallest of components that go into electronic products; and the collecting and analysis of data on workplace fatigue to reduce injuries is the topic of another study.

Enjoy and learn!

Regards,
Rajib Sanyal, PhD
Dean
Now a 2020 Princeton Review Best Business Schoo l
What to Make of the Seeming Contradictions of Thomas Jefferson? An Authority on the History of Accounting Takes a Fresh Look
Thomas Jefferson, a principal author of the Declaration of Independence and third president of the United States, could never get his struggles with debt under control despite maintaining remarkably detailed financial records for 60 years. From that, Charles Richard Baker, PhD , professor of accounting, gleaned that keeping detailed financial data may not be enough to understand assets and liabilities, without appropriate analysis. It's likewise challenging to reconcile Jefferson's ownership of enslaved persons with his idealistic words in the Declaration of Independence.
‘Doing the Right Thing’: Social Initiatives Boost Company Success
When it comes to a company’s bottom line, is supporting social causes a better investment than fostering a reputation for delivering quality products? Zachary Johnson, PhD , associate professor of
marketing, says yes, under certain circumstances. In the case of new products that are substantially different from a brand’s existing lines, a company’s social responsibility reputation can often inspire greater consumer approval than does being known for product quality. This is what Dr. Johnson calls “a reputational advantage for doing the right thing.” A study by Dr. Johnson and others reveals how developing a strong reputation for social responsibility can be an excellent investment for companies planning new product categories beyond their established offerings.
Tiny Yet Precise for the Right Fit
Eunji Lim, PhD , assistant professor of
decision sciences, uses computer simulation to solve complex, behind-the-scenes problems. One such challenge: achieving the exact correct size of the components inside electronic circuits to boost the efficient operation of devices such as laptops—even though these components are so small, they’re not even visible. Dr. Lim and others designed a new method to quickly and reliably determine the optimal sizes of circuits using a mathematical algorithm along with computer simulation, resulting in a precise fit for optimal performance. This is good news for semiconductor manufacturers and consumers, because achieving optimal circuit sizes means making devices with improved performance and having higher-quality, more reliable products. 
Measuring Fatigue Can Reduce Workplace Injuries
Recent research by Zahra Sedighi Maman, PhD , assistant professor of
decision sciences, and colleagues on preventing worker injuries is attracting attention from manufacturing companies. Worker fatigue in the factory setting can result in employees being hurt or killed on the job; so addressing fatigue is vital for workers and manufacturers alike. Dr. Sedighi Maman attached wearable sensors on volunteers to collect extensive data on participants’ motion to detect signs of fatigue and developed a data analytic model for predicting, detecting and monitoring the fatigue that results from employees performing typical manufacturing tasks. “We believe our research will encourage management to invest in data-driven monitoring to prevent occupational injury,” she says.
This e-newsletter is prepared by the Office of the Dean of the Robert B. Willumstad School of Business. Visit business.adelphi.edu for more information.
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