2025-2026 Projects

Explore cutting-edge research at Coles College, where research projects hone in on projects like corporate governance in the restaurant industry and the impact of CEO traits on social media strategies and corporate social responsibility. Through data analysis and rigorous methodologies, our scholars uncover insights to drive better business practices and strategic decisions. Join us in advancing business management with practical applications of innovative research.

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Management, Entrepreneurship and Hospitality (Melih Madanoglu)

Deciphering Success in Franchising: Linking Support Mechanisms to Restaurant Profitability

First-Year Scholars: Mina Minaya Guerrero, Kudzi Mutoko, & Mariah Washington

  • Franchising is a common and important business form in the restaurant industry and a major contributor to economic activity worldwide. Prior research has examined broad issues such as franchise fees, brand reputation, and expansion strategies. This project builds on that body of work by offering a fine-grained analysis of franchisor support mechanisms and their relationship to profitability. Rather than focusing on overall patterns of chain performance, the study will concentrate on the specific types of assistance franchisors provide to franchisees and evaluate how these practices influence financial outcomes.

    The observation period will cover 2017 through 2019. Focusing on this pre-pandemic window helps avoid the disruptions caused by Covid-19 and provides a clear perspective on franchisor operations under normal market conditions. The primary data source will be Franchise Disclosure Documents (FDDs) of restaurant chains, which franchisors in the United States are legally required to provide. These documents contain detailed descriptions of support systems such as training programs, marketing resources, site selection assistance, and operational guidance. Where possible, these materials will be supplemented with income statements and industry data to link support practices more directly with profitability.

    The analysis will proceed in two stages. First, thematic text analysis will identify recurring patterns in franchisor support practices. This will highlight how chains emphasize different forms of assistance and whether certain practices are more prevalent among stronger performers. Second, Qualitative Comparative Analysis (QCA) will be applied to code and evaluate how combinations of support mechanisms are associated with profitability. To enhance the credibility of the results, a robustness test will also be conducted using data from 2022 and 2023, allowing comparison between pre-pandemic and more recent conditions. This approach will reveal which configurations of support appear necessary or sufficient for financial success across different contexts.

    By combining thematic and comparative methods, this project will provide a more detailed understanding of how franchisor support contributes to chain-level profitability. The findings will generate insights useful to franchisors, franchisees, and policymakers seeking to strengthen performance and long-term success in franchising.

  • By participating in this project, first-year students will gain an introduction to research and begin developing skills that will help them in future academic and professional work. Expected outcomes include:

    1. Exposure to academic research writing: Students will learn the basics of how research papers are organized and written, giving them early experience with academic communication.
    2. Introduction to thematic text analysis and Qualitative Comparative Analysis (QCA): Students will be introduced to simple coding and comparison techniques, helping them see how researchers make sense of complex information.
    3. Hands-on practice with document analysis: By working with real Franchise Disclosure Documents (FDDs), students will practice organizing, reading, and summarizing large amounts of information.
    4. Growth in writing confidence: Students will practice writing short pieces such as notes, summaries, and parts of abstracts that could be used for conference or class presentations.
    5. Experience preparing and sharing research: Students will take part in preparing research results for presentation, giving them an early look at how scholars share their work at conferences.
    6. Understanding franchising and the restaurant business: Students will gain a beginner鈥檚 understanding of franchising as a business model, including how it works in restaurants and why it matters for company success.
    7. Practice in teamwork and project skills: Students will gain experience working with peers on a shared project, learning how to divide tasks and meet deadlines.
    • Reading and summarizing sections of Franchise Disclosure Documents (FDDs) to identify examples of franchisor support.
    • Learning how to record findings in simple coding sheets and applying basic coding rules for thematic analysis.
    • Assisting with data entry, organization, and cleaning to prepare material for analysis.
    • Participating in group discussions to compare findings and practice drawing early insights from the data.
    • Preparing small pieces of content (such as notes, figures, or draft text) that may be used later in abstract writing and presentations.
    • Meeting regularly (bi-weekly or monthly) with the faculty mentor to review progress, receive feedback, and set goals for the upcoming  periods.
  • Online
  • Dr. Melih Madanoglu, mmadano1@kennesaw.edu 

Management, Entrepreneurship and Hospitality (Louis Marino, Stacey Kessler, & Ace Beorchia)

 Neurodiversity and Entrepreneurial Action in Populations that Stigmatize Neurodiversity

First-Year Scholars: Alayna Arthur & Lincoln Hillman

  • Are you interested in how people turn personal challenges into powerful strengths? Curious about mental health, neurodiversity, and how entrepreneurship can be a path to empowerment?

    This research project explores how individuals who are neurodiverse or who experience mental health challenges use entrepreneurship to build careers that fit their unique strengths. For many, starting a business isn鈥檛 just about making money鈥攊t鈥檚 about creating a job that works for them, where they can thrive without being held back by traditional workplace limitations.

    But launching a business isn鈥檛 easy. Entrepreneurs need support鈥攆rom family, friends, mentors, funders, and their broader community. Unfortunately, in some communities, stigma around mental health or neurodiversity can make it harder for these individuals to get the support they need. This can discourage them from pursuing their goals or make their journey even more difficult.

    In this study, we鈥檒l interview entrepreneurs鈥攁nd those who aspire to be entrepreneurs鈥攚ho identify as neurodiverse or as having mental health challenges. We want to understand:

    • What motivated them to start a business
    • What obstacles they faced
    • How they overcame those challenges
    • What kinds of support helped them succeed

    As a student researcher, you鈥檒l have the chance to:

    • Learn how to conduct interviews and analyze qualitative data
    • Hear powerful, real-world stories from inspiring individuals
    • Contribute to research that could help shape more inclusive entrepreneurial ecosystems
    • This is a great opportunity for students interested in psychology, business, social impact, or simply making a difference.

    No prior research experience is required鈥攋ust curiosity, empathy, and a willingness to learn.

    If you鈥檙e passionate about mental health, inclusion, or entrepreneurship, this project is a chance to be part of something meaningful from your very first year.

  • By joining this research project, you鈥檒l gain hands-on experience with real-world research methods while exploring the intersection of entrepreneurship, neurodiversity, and mental health. No prior experience is required鈥攋ust curiosity and a willingness to learn.

    Here鈥檚 what you鈥檒l learn:

    Research & Interviewing

    • Learn how to conduct respectful, one-on-one interviews with entrepreneurs.
    • Practice designing questions that are clear, inclusive, and insightful.
    • Understand ethical research practices, including informed consent and confidentiality.

    Data Analysis

    • Analyze interview transcripts using qualitative coding techniques.
    • Identify patterns and themes in people鈥檚 experiences.
    • Develop critical thinking skills by interpreting complex, real-life data.

    Communication

    • Improve your listening skills by engaging with diverse perspectives.
    • Collaborate with a research team and contribute to group discussions.
    • Learn how to present findings clearly through writing or presentations.

    Social Impact

    • Explore how stigma affects access to entrepreneurship.
    • Understand the importance of inclusive support systems.
    • Contribute to research that can inform community programs and policies.

    These skills are valuable whether you鈥檙e interested in psychology, business, public health, sociology, or social justice. You鈥檒l be part of a project that not only builds your academic toolkit but also helps make a difference in the lives of others.

  • Specific duties will vary over the course of the project. Throughout the project activities will include:

    • Introduction to the research topic: entrepreneurship, neurodiversity, and mental health.
    • Overview of research goals, ethics, and expectations.
    • Training on interview techniques and confidentiality.
    • Practice sessions with mock interviews and feedback.
    • Finalizing interview questions and protocols.
    • Assisting in recruiting participants through outreach and networking.
    • Scheduling and conducting interviews (with supervision and support).
    • Taking notes and recording observations during interviews.
    • Transcribing interview recordings using transcription tools.
    • Coding transcripts to identify key themes and patterns.
    • Participating in team discussions to compare findings and refine coding strategies.
    • Helping identify common challenges, support systems, and strategies used by participants.
    • Collaborating on interpreting findings and connecting them to existing research.
    • Assisting in drafting summaries, reports, or visual presentations of findings.
    • Preparing materials for sharing results with academic or community audiences.
    • Practicing presenting findings in team meetings or student research showcases.
    • Presenting in the research showcase
  • Hybrid

  • Dr. Louis Marino, lmarino1@kennesaw.edu 

    Dr. Stacey Kessler, skessle4@kennesaw.edu 

    Dr. Ace Beorchia, abeorchi@kennesaw.edu 

Marketing and Professional Sales (Pramod Iyer & Nik Nikolov)

Change Management in Franchising

First-Year Scholars: Juan Coba Cevallos, Randy Williams, & Miles Wirht

  • Franchising has been a key contributor to economies of several developed countries including the U.S. For example, franchising contributed close to $897 billion in economic output and franchise stores are seen to generate close to 2x revenue and jobs (IFA, 2025). However, few scholars have addressed franchising from a 鈥渃hange management鈥� perspective. This is not surprising by itself as a franchisor鈥檚 core value proposition is selling a 鈥渟et model鈥� that is able to generate profits in a short period of time. The thrust of franchising has been towards standardization of operations and consistency, where franchisees become the operating partners for the franchisor. Yet, the changing landscape of the customer, technological and macro environment requires franchisors to tweak their operations and offerings to customers in a regular basis. Changes that are taken to adapt to the market changes can have a dire short-term impact on franchisees 鈥� increase in investments, short-term losses, higher levels of uncertainty and overall stress. In addition, the support to facilitate change can vastly differ from franchisor to franchisor. Not surprisingly, franchisees often revolt against major operational or marketing changes that are put forth by the franchisors. For example, 7-Eleven franchisees revolted against contractual changes (increase in franchise renewal fee, higher profit split, and additional store costs such as marketing and operations) in 2018. Similarly, McDonald's is currently being sued by over tighter franchise rules. Wendy's, Subway and Burger King closed multiple franchises for non-cooperation in the past two years. This situation is quite common across franchises in different industries.

    Scant research has been directed towards reducing franchisee resistance and opportunism in facilitating change (store redevelopments, technology updates, offering of new products/services, etc.). Towards this end, the current study seeks to understand the possible antecedents, intervening measures and mechanisms that can facilitate a more efficient change management process. Specifically, we plan to undertake a Qualitative study (focused on franchisees) to test our conceptual model. This study has important implications both for B2B marketing literature and practice (franchisors).

    The primary task of this study is codify the scenarios where franchisors are required to initiate change, and to address the nature and complexity of changes that need to take place. Towards this end, the current study develops a set of scenarios (cost vs. revenue) where change frequently occurs in a franchise setting, and provide strategies to address these changes based on the magnitude (micro vs. macro) and vision (tactical vs strategic). Considering that all franchisors require the cooperation of franchisees to successfully change their value offerings to meet the needs of customers, this study provides insights for both academicians and practitioners.

  • Students will learn the below skills/competencies while working on the project:

    1. Qualitative Marketing Research skills (particularly, interviews)
    2. Quantitative Marketing Research skills (survey design and basic cross tabulation analysis)* (if time permits)
    3. Understanding local business needs
    4. Conflict management between business partners
    5. Importance of managing expectations among multiple business stakeholders
    6. Communication with business owners, professionals and other stakeholders
    7. Interpretation of data and presentation skills

  • Duties will depend on the student progress of the project keeping in mind their schedule. Specifically, The duties would include (but not limited to):

    1. Perform the research/interviews based on the scheduled agreed upon with the faculty investigators
    2. Meet with franchisors/franchisees for collecting qualitative data as needed (F2F or Online)
    3. Perform basic qualitative analysis of the data in conjunction with faculty investigators
    4. Write reports based on the findings of the secondary research and qualitative data analysis
    5. Develop presentation/posters keeping in mind the various deadlines

    At a minimum, students would be required to meet with faculty once a week and discuss progress in the project. Meetings may be virtual or F2F depending on the schedule.

  • Hybrid

  • Dr. Pramod Iyer, piyer1@kennesaw.edu 

    Dr. Nik Nikolov, ann4276@kennesaw.edu 

Marketing and Professional Sales (Hyunju Shin)

Consumer Perceptions of the Fashion Brands Worn by Celebrities in Court

First-Year Scholars: Alaina Jean & Emily Lesmes

  • This project explores how fashion brands are perceived when celebrities wear them in court while facing criminal charges. Although many academic studies acknowledge the influence of celebrities as aspirational reference groups, particularly in shaping consumers' brand preferences, little is known about how such brand associations are affected when celebrities are seen in a negative or controversial context, such as a courtroom appearance with visible brand logos. Some questions may arise:

    • How does seeing a celebrity wearing a branded item in court affect audience perceptions of the brand?
    • Does this influence brand preference positively or negatively, and what explains that effect?
    • Are audience evaluations shaped by the degree to which they identify with the celebrity (e.g., someone they look up to or aspire to be like vs. someone they do not)?
    • Does the nature of the crime 鈥� such as moral (e.g., shoplifting, DUI, sex solicitation) versus non-moral (e.g., tax evasion, fraud), or the perceived severity (e.g., light vs. severe) 鈥� impact brand perception differently?

    The examination may involve secondary and primary data collection. This study aims to contribute to the marketing literature by deepening our understanding of the celebrity effect on brand evaluation. 

  • The first-year undergraduate scholar will gain valuable research experience through active participation in this project. First, they will learn the full process of academic research, including conducting a literature review, designing a study, collecting and analyzing data, and generating insights that contribute to both academic literature and marketing practice. Second, the student will have the opportunity to present their findings at a research symposium or academic marketing conference, enhancing their communication skills and learning how to prepare professional presentation materials such as posters and slide decks. Finally, the student will gain first-hand experience in research collaboration and develop an appreciation for the value of faculty mentorship in the research process.
  • We will first set a goal for this research project and agree on the deadlines for each research activity. A regular online meeting is expected, and a student will brief their progress in an email prior to each research meeting with the faculty mentor. Students will be encouraged to contact the faculty mentor with any questions at any time. 
  • Online
  • Dr. Hyunju Shin, hshin13@kennesaw.edu, 

Marketing and Professional Sales (David Roberts)

Examining the Effectiveness of Paid Social Media Marketing in Overall Brand Awareness

First-Year Scholars: Evie Hanover

  • Social media marketing is an important tool to reach audiences and optimize an organization鈥檚 communications strategy. Social media ad campaigns offer unique opportunities to deliver messaging to audiences outside an organization鈥檚 typical network and gain an understanding of the target audience. How effectively do digital ads such as Google ads and Meta ads help organizations reach their campaign goals? Student(s) will create, execute, and monitor a social media ad campaign designed to both increase awareness of the KSU Research brand and drive traffic to the organization鈥檚 website. 
  • Student(s) will gain digital marketing skills and learn how to effectively execute a social media ad campaign. 
  • Student(s) will monitor multiple social media ad campaigns, setting up a dashboard to track performance metrics. Student(s) will also set up a formal A/B test to experiment with what messaging, audience and messaging.
  • Hybrid
  • David Roberts, drobe189@kennesaw.edu