Digital Commons Network^™

Navigating Challenges For Locally Produced Food, Paul Cook

SACAD: John Heinrichs Scholarly and Creative Activity Days

There is much interest in locally produced food and the benefits it can have on communities across the state of Kansas. By interviewing city managers, we have identified some of the unique factors and challenges that city officials face when considering their community’s local food systems. Through interview and survey data, we sensed that there is a desire for more local food in communities but lack of resources, lack of policies and the nature of large commodity agriculture in Kansas appear as challenges. Ad-hoc groups coming from schools, churches, and committees at the county level make up the majority of …

An Exploratory Study On The Use Of Artificial Intelligence For Tourism Marketing In The Midwest, Callyn Anderson, Marisol Banda, Katie Hale

SACAD: John Heinrichs Scholarly and Creative Activity Days

Rural tourism plays a significant role in fostering economic development, preserving cultural heritage and promoting sustainable practices. It creates employment opportunities for local residents, both directly in the tourism sector and indirectly in supporting industries. Marketing tourism in rural communities requires a strategic approach that highlights the unique aspects of the area, promotes sustainable practices, and engages potential visitors. A strong understanding of marketing tools and techniques are critical in the usage of marketing ("); border-bottom: 1px solid transparent; background-size: 5px; font-size: 18pt; font-family: "Book Antiqua", "Book Antiqua_EmbeddedFont", "Book Antiqua_MSFontService", "Book Antiqua_MSFontService", Calibri, sans-serif; letter-spacing: 0px; font-kerning: normal; line-height: 6px; …

Understanding Implications Of Restaurants In A Post-Pandemic World:​ A Tourism And Hospitality Case Study For La Tasca, Callyn Anderson, Marisol Banda, Katie Hale

SACAD: John Heinrichs Scholarly and Creative Activity Days

The impact of COVID-19 has had implications for every single lifestyle and business (Sharma et al., 2022). Not only did it impact the economy, but the service industry took the brunt of it. The industries most affected by COVID-19 over the period January 2020 to January 2022 included “airlines, automobiles, energy equipment and services, hotels-restaurants-leisure, and specialty retail (Vidovic, 2022). When airlines and recreation parts of the industry did not return to pre- pandemic levels in November of 2021, the United States saw a reflection of the appeal for more local tourism (Linn et al., 2022). Local tourism, including restaurants, …

Games To Grades: Evaluation Of Psychological Capital, Emotional Intelligence, And Virtual Team Performance Among Project Teams, Ryan Will, Brent J. Goertzen, Magdalene Moy

SACAD: John Heinrichs Scholarly and Creative Activity Days

Group projects are frequently used in higher education courses to facilitate collaboration; however, group effectiveness can vary greatly, resulting in individual stress and poor academic performance. To alleviate this, some instructors utilize peer evaluation. While instructors are well intentioned these rubrics rarely, if ever, are grounded in the constructs of collaboration that they wish to foster. This research poster reports on an ongoing project to develop a self and peer evaluation grounded in psychological capital and emotional intelligence, the EQ-PSY Evaluation. These constructs were selected based on their dimensions for individual and social capacities to capture effective teamwork.

This poster …

Is Average Home Stadium Attendance Determined By A Team Payroll?, Jessica Saunders, Nate Egan, Samuel Schreyer

SACAD: John Heinrichs Scholarly and Creative Activity Days

We investigate how owner spending (team payroll) affects team attendance in 2022 in Major League Baseball. There are many factors that determine win percentage, so we controlled for win percentage, number of all-stars per team, city population, and which league the team is affiliated with (American League or National League). Attendance is an important revenue generator for teams, and MLB would like to enhance its ability to generate revenue. Average fan attendance is the dependent variable, while team payroll is the primary explanatory variable. The model provides evidence that indicates there is a relationship between team payroll and attendance numbers …

Does The Budget Of A Movie Have An Impact On Income?, Luciana Mendoza, Fiorella Mendez, Samuel Schreyer

SACAD: John Heinrichs Scholarly and Creative Activity Days

Numerous sources in the field have discussed the positive correlation between movie budgets and the box office income of movies. This research paper aims to examine further the effects budget has on the income success of movies. To achieve this objective, we have extracted data on the most popular movies globally from the International Movie Database (IMDb). The data utilizes information between the years 2019 to 2022. The dependent variable, INCOME, is controlling for various independent variables, which are BUDGET (in millions of dollars), RATING (on a scale of 1-10), and RUNTIME (in minutes). Furthermore, our categorical variables are MONTH …

A Pragmatic Approach To Investigating The Digital Existence Of Food Bank Users, Yaprak Dalat Ward, James Ward, Li-Jen Lester

Advanced Education Programs Faculty Publications

This study investigated the digital existence of the food bank users in a university town in Texas, and subsequently, aligned with the research's pragmatic focus, the researchers designed a training model for these food bank users. Two research questions guided the study: What are the digital existence levels of the food bank users, and what training model would best serve these food bank users? Data were collected by means of a survey from 230 individual food bank users representing households. Additional data included observations and conversations with food bank staff, and documents and materials from the site which provided deeper …

Superior Performance Competencies Achieved Through Destination Imagination Experiences, James Ward, Yaprak Dalat Ward, Johnny Wells, Kimberly Bejot

Applied Business Faculty Publications

Today’s workforce not only requires specific content-area knowledge and skills achieved through formal education but also, and most critically, superior performance competencies including distinguishable behaviors. While formal education prioritizes easily detectable and measurable content-specific knowledge and skills, superior performance competencies such as cognitive, affective, and motivational skills remain secondary unless students engage in extracurricular activities in real-world settings. This qualitative study investigated the phenomenon of achieving an array of superior performance competencies through learning by doing, at one of the 2023 Destination Imagination events. This study marked the first fieldwork in which the principal researcher directly observed the event in …

Writing The Literature Review, Robert Lloyd, Matthew Vollrath, Daniel Mertens

All Open Educational Resources

The purpose of this book is to help you write your next literature review. This is true whether you are crafting one for an undergraduate midterm paper, a doctoral dissertation, or working on your first manuscript for a peer review publication. For years, as professors we have read the best and worst of what students have written in our classes. We have witnessed in a handful of instances, undergraduate writers write more masterfully than doctoral students. We have witnessed doctoral students write first year papers which were ready for publication. And of course, the opposite is true. This begs, the …

Brew Fest: Communication Agility In Rural America, Rachel Dolechek, Stacey L. Smith, Karen Thal

Applied Business Faculty Publications

Business communication is vital to solving any business problem. Yet, the uncertainty of the future makes business communication complex and requires organizations to be strategic and have communication agility. This pedagogical case study is used in the collegiate business communication classroom to help frame a business problem. Students reading the case will gain an understanding of a real-life business scenario involving the importance of communication agility and cultural events in a rural community. Students are then challenged to use best practices in business communication to help ensure the future of the community event, Brew Fest.

Chapter 10 : Developing World:Class Internationalized Universities: Double Tops Construction In China, Abeni El-Amin Ph.D., Cai Yuzhou

Management Faculty Publications

Effective higher education leadership is a movement in internationalized higher education. Moreover, incorporating principles of internationalized higher education is a contrast from traditional graduate educational practices, because new assessment methodologies are utilized to demonstrate institutional aptitude. Additionally, there has been a critical move in cutting-edge economies on how to attract students, grants, and funders. Globally, access to internationalized higher education has grown exponentially. Innovation is changing the idea of how people define internationalized higher education. Centralized leadership, information sharing, cooperation, and advancement are more prevalent than prior. Internationalized higher education has superseded traditional educational notions. Achievement lies in the capacity …

Chapter 6 - Empowerment Programming: Case Study Of How Intentionality And Consideration Create Breakthrough Elevating Graduate Programs, Brendon Fox

Management Faculty Publications

Administrators in the upper echelons of higher education face an array of dilemmas that impact and inform institutional priorities around how to serve various student populations best. Chief among those considerations is how to empower historically disenfranchised students toward a deeply substantive experience that inspires them intellectually and involves them in areas of social justice. This chapter provides an explanatory case study of a successful program launched by two vice presidents of a small, Predominately White Institution (PWI) in rural Kansas. It shows how deeply impactful outcomes for black male students can be achieved through intentional Elevating Educational Intentional Practice …

Chapter 13 : Organizational Stakeholder Management Develops Intentional Education Ethos, Abeni El-Amin Ph.D., Quinton L. Marks

Management Faculty Publications

Ethical leadership with regards to diversity, equity, inclusion, belonging and stakeholder management impacts institutional and departmental culture. Formalized leadership ethics and compliance initiatives improve institutional structures. The importance of graduate leadership that embraces ethics and compliance programs ensures adherence to policies set forth by institutions and mitigates bias. Stakeholder management is key because adherence allows leadership to develop strategic plans with stakeholders in mind, while decreasing quality issues. As a result, there is value to executing stakeholder management plans within graduate education.

Engaging The Aging Process: Unlock The Fountain Of Youth, Abeni El-Amin Ph.D.

Management Faculty Publications

Employment for aging is a significant aspect shaping the aging processes during formative years. Therefore, work opportunities combined and consequential impacts later in life merit special consideration. Given that population aging has become a global pattern with ensuing changes in labor markets far and wide, there is increased concern about the impacts of retirement around the globe and the macroeconomic advantages frequently connected with delaying retirement. It is fundamental for nations with aging populations to maintain profitability, given an aging workforce. Governments must make it simpler for individuals to maintain a significant presence in the workforce. This contribution focuses on …

Preface: Elevating Intentional Education Practice In Graduate Programs, Abeni El-Amin Ph.D.

Management Faculty Publications

Educational leaders must institutionalize, implement, execute, and review initiatives to ensure graduate programs exceed performance metrics of educator quality, educational services, activities, technology, continuous improvement, and intentional education practice. Likewise, leaders must recognize that stakeholder engagement is invaluable to alleviate challenges in developing, assessing, and improving graduate program performance.

Chapter 1 : The Foundations Of Intentional Education Practice, Abeni El-Amin Ph.D.

Management Faculty Publications

The problem related to teaching effectiveness includes failure of institutions to identify process improvements, ascertain appropriate stakeholders to accomplish institutional goals, and implement streamlined classroom processes to ensure instructors have the appropriate professional support needed to apply intentional educational practices in graduate programs. Consequently, current performance measures of educational programs illuminate issues in processes within instruction, quantity of trained instructor mentors, professional support networks, and existing programming which may need improvement, yet is not being addressed in educational environments. Performance measurement factors impact long-term institutional effectiveness service quality of HE (educator quality, educational services, activities, technology, continuous improvement, educational leadership, …

Chapter 12 : Effective Leadership Practices Transform Graduate Education, Abeni El-Amin Ph.D.

Management Faculty Publications

Educational leadership requires more than designing a plan of action and persuading others to adopt the vision. Educational leadership is about encouraging others to be a part of the solutions that persist in innovative ways. Utilizing feedback communication with stakeholders (students, parents, teachers, administrators, community, policy makers) improves initiatives and legal compliance implementation, which is a value- added to organizational excellence. Principled leadership fosters transparency in daily interactions. Educational leadership requires that one consistently communicates the vision to those above and below. Educational leadership must be diligent in both stating visions clearly and following up with written documentation. Evaluation allows …

Chapter 8 : Evaluating Intentional Education Practice In Graduate Programs, Abeni El-Amin Ph.D.

Management Faculty Publications

The purpose of this chapter was to examine whether the six variables of graduate educational quality predict intentional education practice (IEP) (teaching style) in United States graduate university programs. The issue is that graduate student engagement, student satisfaction, and matriculation diminish without IEP. Consequently, current performance measures of graduate higher educational programs illuminate issues in processes within instruction, quantity of trained instructor mentors, professional support networks, and existing programming, which may need improvement. Indeed, past researchers have noted limitations in higher educational and graduate school environments. Performance measurement variables impact long-term institutional effectiveness and remain largely unknown within educational institutions. …

Zero-Defect Manufacturing Utilizing Autonomation In Aerospace, Quinton L. Marks, Abeni El-Amin Ph.D.

Management Faculty Publications

Multifunctional manufacturing processes are comprised of zero-defect manufacturing (ZDM), which is inherently a complex process because of the simultaneous operations needed to accomplish zero defects. The application of the ZDM philosophy, together with autonomation, presents significant challenges and opportunities for the implementation of new processes that contribute to innovative manufacturing production processes. An emphasis must be on developing fully integrated, operative solutions, employing many quality systems, digitization, data analytics, and industry standards such as AS9100, ISO 9001, and Advanced Product Quality Planning.

Inspiring Cultural Awareness And Developing Cultural Intelligence (Cq), Abeni El-Amin Ph.D.

Management Faculty Publications

The capacity of instructors to inspire cultural awareness and cultural intelligence (CQ) in the classroom provides instructor effectiveness and engages students in the diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB) narrative. Specifically, the objective of this conceptual research highlights institutional DEIB and instructional methods in teaching cultural awareness and intelligence (CQ).

The Impact Of The Project Manager To Develop Stakeholder Management, Abeni El-Amin Ph.D.

Management Faculty Publications

In this research paper, this summation on strategic concepts and managing the strategic process derives from objectives guiding an organization to utilize high-level execution relative to rivals.

Introduction To Professional Development: A Business Communication Approach, Rose Helens-Hart Ph.D., Rachel Dolechek Dba

All Open Educational Resources

This book was created to service the BCOM 210: Introduction to Professional Development course in the Department of Applied Business Studies (ABS) in the Robbins College of Business and Entrepreneurship (RCOBE) at Fort Hays State University (FHSU). The course is required for several ABS majors and a popular elective among RCOBE students. BCOM 210 uses concepts from business communication to assist students in understanding their professional desires and forming a plan for their career futures.

Revised June 2023

Chapter 15 - Digitization And Equity: Digital Inequities In Education And Strategies To Improve Digital Inclusion, Babu George, Yaprak Dalat-Ward, Elodie Jones

Advanced Education Programs Faculty Publications

COVID-19 exposed a wide range of challenges hidden unnoticed in the promise of digital education. Digital education was once promised as the grand equalizer of access and inclusion in education. However, the massive deployment of digital tools in the educational realm during COVID-19 provided significant counterevidence to this promise. If education is a fundamental right and if digital technologies are the only way to gain access to education, it is important that these technologies be made available to everyone for effective use. However, as COVID-19 would demonstrate to us, this has not been the case. There have been stark and …

Chapter 10: Improving Organizational Commitment To Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, And Belonging, Abeni El-Amin Ph.D.

Management Faculty Publications

This chapter aims to provide useful information about the implementation of diversity equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB) to improve organizational performance. This chapter provides a conceptual framework for organizational leaders who desire additional awareness and knowledge regarding the nature, extent, and impact of diverse employees’ barriers. Further, the purpose of this endeavor is to demonstrate that the persistent lack of recruitment, promotion, and retention of diverse employees is due to systemic, structural, organizational, institutional, cultural, and societal obstacles. Further, the theory of generative interactions (TGI) supports how obstacles must be acknowledged and eliminated through increased awareness of the issues linked …

Chapter 9: Building An Iron-Clad Supplier Diversity Program, Quinton L. Marks, Abeni El-Amin Ph.D.

Management Faculty Publications

There are critical issues identified with reconciling parity in supplier diversity initiatives. Supplier diversity programs (SDP) are an instrument utilized to facilitate the process. This endeavor analyzes the best techniques to develop diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB) strategy to develop manufacturing suppliers. Moreover, quality control frameworks for developing supplier diversity programs in manufacturing necessitates strategic planning, which is necessary to support supplier diversity initiatives. For instance, questions that supplier diversity managers must ask include, Does the company have an existing minority supplier program? If so, what are its pros, cons, and evaluative measures? If not, why hasn’t there been …

Chapter 7: The Business Case For Implementing A Diversity And Inclusion Quality-Based Strategy, Abeni El-Amin Ph.D.

Management Faculty Publications

Diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB) strategy consists of theories, concepts, and methods that managers can use to ensure organizations achieve profitability and long-term growth. A DEIB strategy utilizing quality management principles helps leaders make better decisions to improve competitive position and create value for its key stakeholders. This chapter provides managers and leaders a perspective on organizational development. Further, DEIB strategic thinking applies to organizations regardless of their activities. This chapter introduces DEIB leaders to the main theories, concepts, and models of strategic analysis from a quality perspective and emphasizes their role in diversity management practices.

Preface: Implementing Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, And Belonging Management In Organizational Change Initiatives, Abeni El-Amin Ph.D.

Management Faculty Publications

Implementing Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging Management in Organizational Change Initiatives is an indispensable reference source that provides an interdisciplinary perspective of how issues and challenges pertaining to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging Management (DEIB) affect organizational performance. Additionally, there has been a fundamental shift in the importance of DEIB initiatives in organizations. Further, as leaders navigate change management, they must ask themselves critical questions: what went right, wrong, and what can be improved? Leaders must encourage stakeholders’ to openly share their experiences when DEIB issues arise. Leaders may find challenges engaging stakeholders’ due to a myriad of concerns yet …

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, And Belonging: Who’S Holding Whom Accountable?, Abeni El-Amin Ph.D.

Management Faculty Publications

Attributes of work environments that have the greatest influence in determining whether an environment becomes hostile or not is why an organization should start implementing the 5 Cs of Awareness (color, culture, class, character, and context) and the 5 Cs of Change (confidence, courage, commitment, conflict, and community) (DeRosa & Johnson, 2002). Regarding challenges to collaborative work experiences, Cascio and Aguinis (2011) indicate many organizations fail because of poor leadership and communication. As a result, any individual in a leadership role is significant in inspiring others to maintain appropriate behavior and effective working environments.

Junior Faculty Advising For Effective Student Growth And Academic Success: A Qualitative Study, Noreen Powers, Russell Wartalski

Teacher-Scholar: The Journal of the State Comprehensive University

Supporting the academic advising needs of adult learners is paramount for colleges and universities. Research suggests that the faculty advisor's role is pivotal in students' academic progress. At both the undergraduate and graduate levels, faculty advisors are tasked with supporting adult learners in achieving their professional goals and providing resources to ensure their academic success. Specifically, they help students navigate curriculum requirements and provide support both inside and outside the classroom. The tasks and responsibilities associated with faculty advising can vary based on the institution type and program needs. However, junior faculty who take on advising responsibilities at regional public …

The History Of Human Resources In The United States: A Primer On Modern Practice, Robert Lloyd, Wayne Aho

Management Open Educational Resources

This book details the elements of modern labor practices in the United States and includes a comprehensive review of the history of human resources in the United States. Chapter 2 describes the inexorable link between human resource practices and the laws and regulations guiding them. Chapter 3 provides an overview of the modern HR practices of talent acquisition, total rewards, diversity and inclusion, U.S. employment laws, technology and data, employee relations, employee engagement, organizational effectiveness and development, learning and development, HR structure, HR strategy, risk management, global context, and corporate social responsibility (CSR). Chapter 4 provides an in-depth summary of …