Where Knowledge Meets Practice
Professors in the Sigmund Weis School of Business don’t just teach what’s known — they discover what’s next. Published in some of the world’s top business journals, their research explores how culture, leadership and communication shape the way companies make decisions. From understanding how democracy influences corporate value to uncovering how management teams fine-tune financial forecasts, their discoveries are changing the way business is studied and practiced. And because these scholars bring their findings straight into the classroom, Sigmund Weis School of Business students gain firsthand insight into the forces driving today’s global economy.
“Democracy, Dividends and Corporate Valuation”
Journal of Corporate Finance (Amsterdam, Netherlands)
August 2025
Loc Bui, assistant professor of finance & analytics, examined the impact of institutional democracy on firm value through the lens of dividend policies.
Spoiler alert: This study finds that companies in more democratic countries tend to pay higher dividends, which boosts their overall value. The effect is especially strong for firms with weaker shareholder protections or higher agency costs, suggesting that democracy itself can enhance how investors value companies.
“The US Individualism-Collectivism and Labor Investment Efficiency”
Corporate Governance: An International Review (Chichester, England)
December 2024
Anjee Gorkhali, associate professor of finance & analytics, researched how cultural differences across U.S. states — specifically levels of individualism versus collectivism — affect how efficiently companies invest in their workforce.
Spoiler alert: The study finds that firms based in more collectivist states are more likely to over- or under-hire, especially when oversight is weak or information is limited, showing that local culture can meaningfully influence corporate hiring decisions.
“Impression Management Strategy – The Relationship Between Accounting Narrative Thematic Bias and Financial Graph Distortion”
The British Accounting Review (Edinburgh, Scotland)
July 2025
In this study, Jie Hao, assistant professor of accounting, and Viet Pham, assistant professor of accounting, explored how companies shape the language and visuals in their financial reports to influence investor perceptions of the firm’s performance.
Spoiler alert: By analyzing S&P 500 filings, they find that when report narratives sound more positive, the accompanying financial graphs are often distorted in ways that reinforce that message, especially in companies with weaker oversight.
“Functional Background Diversity of Top Management Team and Managerial Forecasting Capability”
Journal of Management Accounting Research (Lakewood Ranch, Florida)
July 2024
Bo Liu, associate professor of accounting, and Dana Zhang, associate professor of accounting, examined how the mix of experiences within a company’s top management team affects the accuracy of its earnings forecasts.
Spoiler alert: The researchers find that teams with more diverse professional backgrounds tend to make more accurate forecasts, especially when predictions are complex; however, this advantage fades in larger teams or those led by dominant CEOs.
“Trade Openness, Governance Quality and Economic Growth in Latin America and the Caribbean”
International Economics (Amsterdam, Netherlands)
October 2024
Professor of Economics and Warehime Chair in the Sigmund Weis School of Business Olugbenga Onafowora researched how the quality of a country’s governance affects the link between trade openness and economic growth in Latin America and the Caribbean.
Spoiler alert: It finds that strong institutions – such as governance effectiveness, rule of law, control of corruption and regulatory quality – strengthen the growth benefits of trade, while political instability and weak accountability can limit them.
“How Do Implausible Tensile Price Claims Affect Consumer Perceptions of Deceptiveness and Consumer Willingness To Purchase in Online Environments?”
Journal of Interactive Marketing (Chicago, Illinois)
June 2024
Hualu Zheng, associate professor of management & marketing, studied how exaggerated online price claims influence consumer behavior.
Spoiler alert: The study finds that while unrealistic discounts make people more likely to click on an ad, they also make the ad seem deceptive, reducing the chance of a purchase and prompting consumers to look elsewhere for better deals.
“Inter-Organizational Networking in Emerging Markets”
Journal of Business Research (Amsterdam, Netherlands)
March 2024
Rifat Sharmelly, assistant professor of strategic management, examined how business networks evolve in emerging markets like Russia and India.
Spoiler alert: It finds that as firms grow and their institutional environments strengthen, relationships shift from personal, trust-based connections to more formal, contractual partnerships — though personal networks remain influential throughout organizational development.
“Oh, the Stories We Could Tell: A Conceptual Model for Building Shared Entrepreneurial Narratives”
International Journal of Entrepreneurial Behaviour & Research (Leeds, England)
January 2024
Professor of Entrepreneurship & Marketing Emma Fleck and Assistant Professor of Management and Marketing Joanna Pishko, with Associate Professor of English & Creative Writing Betsy Verhoeven, introduce the concept of a shared narrative — a story entrepreneurs build with their stakeholders rather than for them.
Spoiler alert: They propose a three-stage framework showing how entrepreneurs can co-create authentic, value-driven stories that strengthen connections with investors, customers and other audiences, leading to deeper trust and engagement.
READ MORE
A comprehensive list of business faculty research since January 2024 with links to full articles is featured at bit.ly/SUResearchPortal.
LIBRARY CONNECTIONS
Special thanks to Jenny Roberts-Reilley, resources & scholarly communications librarian, for researching and compiling this information.
