Research Insights for a Better World - College of Business, Colorado State University
Dean Beth Walker

Welcome to Research Insights for a Better World

Colorado State University College of Business faculty have produced a multitude of scholarly contributions over the past months. I am pleased to highlight their research efforts below that reflect our collective motivation to use business as a force for good and support young scholars in their endeavors to do the same. 

- Dean Beth Walker

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Kelly Martin, PhD

Shedding Light on the Dark Side of Firm Lobbying: A Customer Perspective

Journal of Marketing  |  Kelly Martin, PhD

The body of financial research suggests that lobbying activity always yields positive returns for firms, however, Martin's newest research finds links between lobbying and declines in customer satisfaction ratings. The insights may force companies to rethink the issues and their approach to lobbying.

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Elizabeth Cowle, PhD

Auditors’ leniency may be tied to firm growth, research suggests

The Accounting Review | Elizabeth Cowle, PhD

Accounting firms that issue negative opinions see less growth in business than those with a history of fewer critical audits, suggesting audit committees may avoid certain audit firms and undermine investor protections in the Sarbanes-Oxley Act.

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Robert Mitchell, PhD

The Story Behind Entrepreneurial Change

Academy of Management Review | Robert Mitchell, PhD

Applying literary theory and stakeholders’ attitudes about the future may help take much of entrepreneurs’ and other innovators’ guesswork out of how to generate buy-in across multiple groups with differing viewpoints and increase the likelihood of expressing entrepreneurial vision.

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Rob Schonlau, PhD, MSBA

Shareholder Perks and Firm Value

Review of Financial Studies  |  Rob Schonlau, PhD, MSBA

Through an investigation of Japanese company shareholder rewards programs, Associate Professor of Finance & Real Estate Rob Schonlau found that companies with shareholder perks see an increase in stock prices and an increase in retail investor interest. 

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Business for a Better World

College of Business Awards Funding for Business Sustainability Research

The 2022 Business for a Better World Dissertation Proposal Competition will provide $6,000 in funding to three students whose proposals are judged as having the greatest potential for enhancing societal well-being. Winners will also be invited to participate in a virtual research workshop along with leading scholars.

Last year, winning proposals addressed oil industry stigma, environmental health innovations and sustainable products’ contributions to firm value. Learn more about the projects with a retrospective look at the workshop.