Research
thought leadership
The world-class faculty in the John B. and Lillian E. Neff College of Business and Innovation are committed to cutting-edge research and thought leadership in their fields of expertise. They bring relevance to the classroom and continuously advance core knowledge of various topics and issues by translating their research contributions into classroom applications.
fACULTY RESEARCH FEATURES

Finance Professor and John B. Neff Endowed Chair Receives 'Best Paper in Finance' Award at Academy of Economics and Finance Conference
Dr. Marc Simpson
This paper extends current mean reverting models of profitability by substituting a variable coefficient for the constant coefficiaent of mean reversion. The varying coefficient is a function of a proxy for the competitive incentive, the distance between current profitability and the competitive equilibrium.
Our work reinforces economic theories like the competitive environment hypothesis which suggest that speed of profit convergence to a competitive equilibrium is a function of the distance between current profitability and the equilibrium.Ìý
Using an original construct which is a function of that distance, k, we investigate the speed and strength of the regression of profitability toward the equilibrium in a portfolio context.
A linear form of the model is most promising in low profit groups during earlier periods and high profit groups later in periods.
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Title: Competition and Profitability. The paper is not yet published.Ìý
Dr. Elizabeth Napier, assistant professor of marketing and international business, has had an article published in the Harvard Business Review. The article, entitled "Lessons in Longevity from an 88-Year-Old Zipper Company," analyzes howÌýYKK, an 88-year-old Japanese manufacturer of zippers, has quietly maintained its impressive reign atop the global fastener industry despite not being a household name.Ìý
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To read the research on how YKK managed to remain relevant for so long and how other companies might emulate their success, visit the link below.
Are Cryptocurrencies the Future of Investing? Dr. Collin Gilstrap Discusses the High-risk, High-reward Strategy
Want to learn more about cryptocurrencies? Dr. Collin Gilstrap, assistant professor of finance, is an expert in financial markets and institutions as well as hedge fund trading strategies. He recently joined WGTE Public Media's Kristi Hoffman within our Neff Trading Room to talk about this rapidly evolving medium of exchange. Visit the link below to learn more about the crypto world and how you might be able to capitalize on high-risk, high-reward investments.
Ongoing Global Supply Chain Issues and Changes in consumer behavior
Curious about how the COVID-19 pandemic continues to affect supply chains around the world? Dr. Shaun Yan and Dr.ÌýHao-Wei ChenÌýdiscuss this issue, as well as the ongoing adaptations in consumer behavior and demand levels.

Emotional Intelligence Proves Significant to Remote Leadership in a Crisis
From employee morale to virtual fatigue and people not using their cameras, managers navigated a wide variety of issues when thrust into leading remotely during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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New research from The University of Toledo John B. and Lillian E. Neff College of Business and Innovation's Dr. Jenell Wittmer,Ìýassociate professor of management, and Dr. Margaret Hopkins, professor of management conducted during the pandemic found that individuals with higher levels of emotional intelligence experienced lower levels of concern for leading remotely during the crisis.
New Study Explores Digitally Native, But Technologically Illiterate Students
The younger generation of workers, although raised with and on technology, are not as technology savvy as the older generations believe. A new study by Dr. Gary Insch, professor of management at ¹û¶³´«Ã½, and Daniel Pfaltzgraf, visiting instructor of business technology and managementÌýin The University of Toledo John B. and Lillian E. Neff College of Business and Innovation published in theÌýÌýanalyzes the interesting paradox, and outlines methods to bridge the technology gap and better prepare students for the realities of the workplace, including the Microsoft Office suite and beyond.
How Far Will Managers Go To Look Like A Good Steward?
Congratulations to Dr. Heba Y. Abdel-Rahim, assistant professor of accounting in the
¹û¶³´«Ã½ John B. and Lillian E. Neff College of Business and Innovation, for her recent
publication in Ìý(one of the Top 6 Accounting Journals and listed in the Financial Times 50 List).
The research study is co-authored with Dr. Jeffrery Hales and Dr. Douglas Stevens.
The study's title is:ÌýHow Far will Managers Go to Look Like a Good Steward? An Examination of Preferences
for Trustworthiness and Honesty in Managerial Reporting.
It examines how reporting disaggregation and discretion impact managerial stewardship
and opportunism within organizations and has important implications for research and
practice.
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Faculty Publications Submissions