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As entrepreneurs decide to open or pursue a small business, one important option available to most entrepreneurs involves whether or not to purchase a "franchise" or "licensed" business. Many small businesses started during the last 30 years have involved either franchising or licensing. One major reason small business owners choose to become franchisees or licensees is these small business models allow individuals to function as if they were operating a much larger enterprise or corporation. Many entrepreneurs could be confused over what fees are required, what the various fees entail, and the difference between a "franchised" and "licensed" business. It seems a large number of fees and monthly expenses are based on the McDonald's Corporation fee structure. Important insights can be gained by analyzing the concepts employed by McDonald's with regard to fees and expenses as presented in an earlier paper, ASBBS Annual Conference Proceedings, February 2011 (Volume 18, Number 1). Franchise/license fees, security fees, base rent fees, percent rent fees, service fees, and royalty fees, not to mention the various purchase cost options, all come into play when analyzing a potential business such as McDonald's or Starbucks. Comparing Chick-fil-A and Starbucks licensees to McDonald's franchisees can help potential entrepreneurs identify possible issues. Based on the earlier research of McDonald's fee structures, comparisons of associated fees and expenses of franchised versus licensed companies can be analyzed in a more enlightened manner. Licensing of Chick-fil-A and Starbucks will be compared to a franchised McDonald's for base-line comparisons and analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Student involvement theory claims that students that are more involved/engaged will have increased learning over those students that are less engaged. Although this claim has been accepted at face value, there is recent criticism based on empirical results that do not always provide strong links between student engagement and learning outcomes. To investigate this inconsistency, we collected engagement data from 77 undergraduate students across three sections of a Business Communication course and one section of Current Issues in Business. Our results show that two moderators may be affecting the link between engagement and learning: engagement scale dimensions and the learning activity used to increase engagement. We used these results to provide recommendations for future studies and to discuss the practical implications for academic and business education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tobacco use continues to be a serious public health issue. Although declining in middle- to high-income countries, smoking rates are often higher in disadvantaged communities and vulnerable groups. Knowledge about tobacco-related harm also tends to be incomplete. To date, legislation has focused on public domains, but the pressure to protect children in the home and other private spaces is fast becoming a focal point for potential legislation and intervention. Negotiating the boundary between privacy and protection is likely to become a matter of professional concern. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the implications of workplace bullying and social media policy and its impact on employees in today's organizations. The paper focuses on defining workplace bullying and other types of E-harassment in the workplace. Workplace bullying has been defined in numerous ways. Two of the most recognized names in the field defined workplace bullying as "the repeated, malicious, health endangering mistreatment of one employee... by one or more employees" (Namie & Namie, 2003, p.3). Although workplace bullying continues to increase, organizations have been reluctant or may be unprepared to effectively deal with the issue (Yamada, 2008). The implications of workplace bullying can be substantial for management and the effective engagement of the employees. As employees and our society increased its reliance on social media as a means of communication, management and organizations must become more proactive in crafting policies and guidelines. The proverbial "school-yard bully" is no longer the problem of the elementary school principal but must be effectively managed by today's organizations. The over-reliance and often impersonal use of social media has created new avenues for workplace bullying. Management and administrators may not fully comprehend the ramifications that cyberbullying or E-harassment may have within their workplace (Piotrowski, 2012). The paper concludes with practical management strategies for organizational leaders to consider when handling workplace bullying. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Researchers who have worked in computer science or artificial intelligence for more than a few years will have experienced a profound shift in the public perception of their field from being something that people rarely cared about outside of sci-fi or niche academic or “geek” interest to something that is suddenly everywhere all over the world and seems to be permeating every field and every product. How should we respond to this? [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents research findings from an Australian Faculty of Information and Communication Technology (FICT) against a backdrop of declining interest amongst women in courses and careers in Information and Communication Technology (ICT). It poses the question of why research conversations around women in ICT are still pedagogically ignored, even after over twenty years of gender research and projects. In reporting the findings of this research project it seeks an understanding of and remedy for the steep decline of interest and uptake of ICT places at tertiary institutions in Australia, particularly amongst young women. In addition to understanding gender differences in educational motivation and performance, and appreciating the challenges posed to ICT education, readers must also be cognisant of the steep decline of interest in careers in ICT in general. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article looks at some issues affecting the quality of practice placements. Difficulties currently experienced in providing good quality placements are outlined and the probable effects of the impending changes in social work education are considered. Several important future issues are identified — choices of placement, limitations of placement opportunity, evidence of competence and transracial practice teaching. The article concludes by encouraging practice teachers to assert and develop their newly recognised central importance to social work education and training. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]