The Impact Of Technology-Driven Supply Chain Systems On Market Penetration Of Smes In Developing Economies: A Study Of Nigerian Smes, Olawale Temowo

Business Administration Dissertations

The adoption of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) in supply chain management (SCM) has transformed businesses globally, from large corporations to small enterprises. Emerging market economies have not fully exploited the opportunities technology affords to improve their SCM practices. This lag constitutes a competitive disadvantage for emerging market businesses and economies in global markets, and in domestic economic growth. These economies, whose markets and workforces are dominated by SMEs, can catch up through technology deployment in SCM. Technology adoption offers benefits in scale, efficiency, geographic reach, and market insights.

There exist barriers to technology adoption, which SMEs must surmount. To …

Outsourcing Auxiliary Services In Higher Education: An Integrated Risk Management Model, Alfonso Quinones

Business Administration Dissertations

ABSTRACT

Outsourcing Auxiliary Services in Higher Education:

An Integrated Risk Management Model

By

Alfonso A. Quinones

May 2024

Chair: Lars Mathiassen

Major Academic Unit: Executive Doctorate in Business

Managers can explore outsourcing as an alternative to in-house provisioning of various services. Within the realm of higher education on college campuses, institutions deliver auxiliary services directly or indirectly to students, faculty, and staff. These services typically stand apart from the core business of the institution. Outsourcing auxiliary services in higher education has, therefore, been a prevalent practice for decades, encompassing a range of services from food and housing to mental health …

Twitter Sentiments And Stock Prices: An Event Study On The Role Of Influencers, Denys Wincel Lu

Business Administration Dissertations

For many companies, some consumers enthusiastically follow brands and may have insights rivaling those of professional financial analysts based on their knowledge of the companies. Often, these brand-loyal consumers express their thoughts and opinions on social media may be received by others in their communities, driving users to follow them based on the perception of expertise and trustworthiness. In academic literature, such users are referred to as Social Media Influencers (SMI).

The present study investigates the relationship between sentiments of Twitter posts and abnormal stock price returns. It further explores if source credibility operationalized as followership affects this relationship. SMIs …

Diversity In Clinical Trials: The Case Of Drug Development For Rare Diseases, Allison Bowen

Business Administration Dissertations

Background: Approximately 40% of the population in the USA is comprised of minority racial and ethnic groups. However, despite this demographic representation, a study by Gray et al., (2022) found that out of the 53 novel drugs approved in 2020, 75% of the 32,000 participants were white. A study done by Woods-Burnham, et. al., (2021), found that enhancing racial and minority enrollment in clinical trials holds significant promise for improving survival outcomes within these communities. By prioritizing and dedicating resources to inclusive clinical trials, we can ensure greater access to state-of-the-art therapies for minority populations at high risk.

Patients afflicted …

Exploring The Impact Of Leadership Styles On Work Force Dynamics In The Healthcare Industry, Derek Marbell

Business Administration Dissertations

Organizations and leaders today face challenges related to strategically retaining critical employees. As such it is important to understand effective leadership styles practiced and their effect on employee turnover. This study explores the relationship between transformational leadership style, job satisfaction, and job turnover intention of equipment operators in the healthcare industry. The moderating effect of gender on this relationship is then examined. With the growing need and demand for diversity across healthcare organizations, understanding the moderating role of gender on these relationships is essential. Knowledge of how gender moderates these relationships can aid in developing and implementing targeted human resource …

Exploring The Impact Of Transformational Leadership On Job Turnover Intention: A Study Of Plant Operations, Christopher Bernard Edwards

Business Administration Dissertations

"Problems are opportunities." This familiar phrase encapsulates the essence of our study. It is an invitation to improve, to venture into uncharted territories, and to surpass our previous limits. One such problem, the "People Problem," looms large over numerous organizations in various industries. The U.S. mining industry, in particular, is grappling with this issue, striving to transform it into a catalyst for new growth and possibilities. This study aimed to contribute to the employee retention literature and equip practitioners with insights to combat the escalating job turnover rates.

The current study examined how transformational leadership, a powerful tool, impacts an …

Implementation Of A Mandated Technology In A Highly Distributed Organization: A Case Study, Teresa Janel M. Paulk

Business Administration Dissertations

The imposition of government mandated technology has presented challenges to organizations that must overcome barriers to implementation. As such, there is empirical and theoretical relevance in understanding how organizations can implement government-mandated technology. The current research investigates how a highly distributed Human Health Services organization (HHS Inc.) implemented federally mandated technology through the lens of the Technology, Organization, and Environment (TOE) framework. The mandate, the 21^st Century Cures Act, was signed into law in December 2016, and required that all personal care and home health care services must be electronically verified using global positioning system technology to record location …

Linked Decisions: A Data Standard For Distributed Decision Support Systems, Jaroslav Klc

Business Administration Dissertations

This dissertation addresses a critical challenge in the domain of decision support systems: synthesizing real-world decision information in a way that's coherent, accessible, and actionable—particularly when decision-making occurs across multiple people, systems, and locations, known as "distributed decision-making contexts." The crux of this challenge lies in designing an effective "information architecture" that connects and organizes data to enable efficient decision-making in these complex, interconnected settings.

By employing distributed cognition as a theoretical framework, this research explores the pivotal role that a well-structured information architecture plays in enhancing collective decision-making. Distributed cognition, which perceives cognitive processes as extending beyond individuals to …

The Influence Of Founder Age In Early-Stage New Venture Funding: A Configuration Perspective, Michael A. Hakimian

Business Administration Dissertations

Founder age is a significant signal influencing investors’ funding decisions for early-stage new ventures. Older first-time founders are starting more new ventures than ever before due to the aging of the workforce coupled with employment instability for long tenured employees. However, research findings regarding how founder age drives funding decisions are mixed. Ambiguity exists as some scholars emphasize the importance of youthfulness in driving entrepreneurship and innovation, while others advocate for the value of seniority in leading the new venture to success. A multiple case study of six angel investors was conducted using a uniquely constructed dataset of thirty-eight new …

Public Health Practitioners’ Adoption Of Artificial Intelligence: The Role Of Health Equity Perceptions And Technology Readiness, Angela Hernandez

Business Administration Dissertations

Artificial Intelligence (AI) applications are expanding to many industries and sectors, including public health. An increased interest in AI has resulted in research on user acceptance; the existing acceptance models still need to be expanded to understand user acceptance of AI technologies. This empirical investigation uses the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) to test the relationships between UTAUT constructs and extended factors that may impact public health practitioners’ intention to adopt AI-driven applications. The results suggest that facilitating conditions, effort expectancy, social influence, and health equity perceptions represent predictors of a positive intention to use AI …

Framing Central Bank Digital Currency: Design And Diffusion For Cross-Border Payments, Andrew C. Haskell

Business Administration Dissertations

We are undergoing a period of change whereby analog structures are yielding to their electronic successors, known as digitization. This change envelops much of society, including the currency we use to transact, as it lacks the immunity to resist this evolution underway. In response, Central Banks around the globe are exploring digital versions of currency – known as Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs) – with many in research and development, and some that have launched and are live in production. In parallel, we are also undergoing change through globalization as commerce and communications span international boundaries to bring people and …

Examining The Effect Of The Covid-19 Pandemic On Patient Experience Rating And Recommendation: A Longitudinal Study, Emoy Reid

Business Administration Dissertations

As measured by interactions with doctors, nurses, and other staff, patient experience is a crucial indicator of quality of care. Hospital leadership is faced with the continued challenge of improving patient experience on a day-to-day basis. The COVID-19 pandemic further exacerbated an industry already riddled with many obstacles that prevented desired patient outcomes. With incentives, reimbursements, and the hospital's reputation tied to these publicly reported scores, the improvement of patient experience is a top priority.

This longitudinal quantitative study, guided by the SERVQUAL theory, investigates the comparative impact of pre-COVID and COVID-19 pandemic periods on patient experiences, overall hospital ratings, …

The Power Of Reflection: Understanding The Impacts Made Upon Employees Who Have Managers Who Reflect On Their Professional Development, Ryan Heath Jordan

Business Administration Dissertations

No matter the level, managers who reflect on their professional development will impact their careers in various ways. But what impact can this same reflection have on those individuals who are led by those managers? It is widely known in the literature that professional development reflections can have positive effects on one’s career. With that knowledge, it is intended to drill down into this concept to help identify how a manager’s professional development reflection can have the same impact on their employees. The impact of managers’ professional development reflection on their employee’s increased interest in career development, improved job performance, …

Smart Technology Adoption’S Impact On The Value Of Logistics Service Providers’ Firms, Raziel Bravo

Business Administration Dissertations

Although it took a pandemic to raise awareness about supply chain issues in the minds of the public at large, industry players have long understood supply chain complexities—particularly in the face of continually evolving technologies and ever-more interconnected global enterprises. With Logistics 4.0 and the rapid developments in smart technologies, these complexities make the ongoing need for technology adoption even more complicated for logistics providers. While the literature regularly reports on the adoption of specific technologies, there is little research on the adoption process and even less that might guide providers in prioritizing their technology targets. This research examined the …

Increasing The Awareness Of Black Women To Promote Medical Research Engagement, Stephanie M. Malone

Business Administration Dissertations

Medical research in the United States has drastically improved over the past forty years with the implementation of policies and procedures through government regulation and significant technological advancements. Despite these measures, there are still low participation rates among minority groups, especially Black women, who have proven to suffer the most drastic effects from underrepresentation in medical research. Despite their willingness to participate in medical research, a leading barrier to participation is the need for more knowledge and awareness about how to engage in medical research.

This research is a field experiment conducted at a Black Women’s Health Symposium in urban …

Path Constitution In Family Business Succession: Evidence From A Longitudinal Case Study, Toney L. Duckworth-Chambless

Business Administration Dissertations

Family businesses balance profit with family, employee, and consumer needs and touch almost every facet of the private and public sectors. At the same time, family businesses must manage the challenging processes attributed to the critical, never-ending succession task. Against that backdrop, we aim to explore how family businesses thrive through multiple successions, focused on how critical path junctures work to create succession trajectories over time. Based on close collaboration with Kinsmith Finance, we researched how family businesses can secure successful successions and increased business longevity across several generations through combinations of path creation episodes adapted to new, emerging circumstances …

An Empirical Study On The Influence Of Ict-Based Tools On Team Effectiveness In Virtual Software Teams Operating Remotely During The Covid-19 Lockdown, Uday Kumar Kanike

Business Administration Dissertations

Aim: The research aims to examine the impact of the usage of Information-and-Communication Technology tools on Software Team Effectiveness, especially the virtual teams, during work from home because of the Covid-19 outbreak.

Variables: The research has considered the Salas et al. (2005) model with eight constructs (adaptability, mutual performance monitoring, mutual trust, team orientation, closed-loop communication, leadership skills, shared mental models, and backing-up behavior) for measuring team effectiveness. The usage of ICT tools has been measured using the instrument developed by Nagi and Habok (2018). In addition, the moderating effects of the variables ‘age’ and ‘gender’ have also been …

Unintended Consequences Of Organizational Error Culture: Does The Strive For Perfection Cause Employees To Put On A Façade And Consider Leaving?, Scott Crumpton

Business Administration Dissertations

In an increasingly digital world, and further amplified over the last two years by COVID, customer expectations have never been higher. Facing intense competition, B2B technology providers are under growing pressure to deliver a frictionless customer experience to their clients (Baliga et al., 2021). Striving for perfection, organizations naturally operationalize how they manage their customers and how they handle errors as they occur. But as organizations work through their cultural error practices, are they considering the well-being of their employees and how their error culture practices may inadvertently influence the ways that employees look at their organizations?

In this study, …

Leader Emotional Exhaustion: The Moderating Role Of Leadership Style, James Davis

Business Administration Dissertations

Personality and burnout are highly complex constructs that researchers continue to refine and understand through iterative testing. The present study responds to calls for more research on possible moderators of the personality-to-burnout relationship by investigating the interacting effect of a leader's adopted leadership style, thus, answering the question: Does the adopted leadership style moderate the relationship between a leader's personality and emotional exhaustion? Many leaders adapt their leadership behaviors based on their organization's needs without understanding how this might impact their emotional or physical well-being. Frequently, the leadership style needed for an organization or team extends outside the leader's regular …

The Impact Of Social Media Sentiment On Market Share For Higher Education Institutions, Brandi Nicole Newkirk

Business Administration Dissertations

In recent years, university enrollment and market share have been discussed among administrators. With declining populations and increased educational pathways for students, the need to capture the attention of prospective students is of increased interest. At the same time, social media has become a significant factor in the lives of current and potentially future generations. This factor influences not only trends but also decision-making. As a result, higher education institutions must ensure a requisite social media presence and manage their social media reputation to impact potential students’ intent to enroll. This study explores these components and how one influences the …

How Safety Leadership Styles Impact Employee Safety Behaviors, Michelle Mcrae Payne

Business Administration Dissertations

How Safety Leadership Styles Impact Employee Safety Behaviors

by

Michelle McRae Payne

April 2023

Chair: Peter Zhang

Major Academic Unit: Doctorate in Business Administration

Job-related injuries continue to be a salient problem facing many organizations. Achieving zero recordable injuries in the workplace is something that many companies endeavor to accomplish. Prior research has examined the role of leadership in influencing and improving workplace safety. However, studies of safety leadership have focused on the styles or behaviors of leaders without taking into account the influence of context on leader activities or practices. In this research, I perform a multi-case study with …

Vanishing Without A Trace: Measuring Job Applicant Ghosting Attitudes Across The Stages Of Job Pursuit, Christine Davis

Business Administration Dissertations

Ghosting, a phenomenon regularly referred to as ‘no call, no show’ by hiring managers (Cutter, Weber, & Smith, 2022), has become a common trend among job applicants during recruitment (Whitacre, 2019). Job applicant ghosting is defined as an “extreme form of applicant withdrawal in which applicants…completely cease all communication” (Karl, Peluchette, & Neely, 2021: 49) and fail to appear for scheduled appointments, such as interviews, screening activities, or the first day of work. Employers are spending unfruitful time making unanswered or unreturned phone calls, scheduling interviews for individuals that disappear (Driscoll, 2021; Gurchiek, 2019; Express Employment Professionals, 2019a), and offering …

Organizational Resilience: An Exploratory Study On Eldercare And Support Responses To Covid-19, Darren G. Franklin

Business Administration Dissertations

Unexpected events are part of the nature of business for organizations as they operate in a world awash with uncertainty. Businesses must be able to successfully navigate incidents that seek to threaten their viability, create ways to survive, and, at times, take advantage of the opportunities these disruptions bring and thrive, despite these events and their operational effects. Organizational resilience is a dynamic-capability and is also a vital component that supports entities managing their way through disruptive events and, at times, even making the most of them by way of lessons learned and/or the development or enhancement of their organizational …

The Role Of Spirituality For Successful Established Women Entrepreneurs, Valaurie Bridges Lee

Business Administration Dissertations

What drives entrepreneurs to persevere? Particularly, what drives women entrepreneurs to endure given they are faced with sexism, discrimination, and racism? What do they attribute their success to? What sustains them and motivates them to continue to maintain their businesses? Why established women entrepreneurs (EWEs) remain business owners is an under-researched phenomenon. This study aimed to examine the role of spirituality in the success of EBEs. Studies have been dedicated to nascent entrepreneurs as it relates to why many of them begin the journey, but why they remain entrepreneurs is not completely clear. It has been shown that women are …

Transforming Leader Selection In The U.S. Army--The Battalion Command Assessment Program, Joseph Williams

Business Administration Dissertations

ABSTRACT

Transforming Leader Selection in the U.S. Army—The Battalion Command Selection Program

by

Joseph Michael Williams

December 2022

Chair: Dr. Satish Nargundkar

Major Academic Unit: Doctorate in Business Administration

As an institution, the Army has not always done a stellar job of recognizing and retaining the most talented individuals including not investing sufficient time in identifying what qualities were most desirable. This is even more true in the methods utilized in selecting officers for battalion command. Many argue battalion command is one of the most consequential assignments because of the outsized impact on a unit’s mission accomplishment and its people. …

Using Consumer-Generated Social Media Posts To Improve Forecasts Of Television Premiere Viewership: Extending Diffusion Of Innovation Theory, Robert Casey Goodman

Business Administration Dissertations

Billions of US dollars in transactions occur each year between media companies and advertisers purchasing commercials on television shows to reach target demographics. This study investigates how consumer enthusiasm can be quantified (via social media posts) as an input to improve forecast models of television series premiere viewership beyond inputs that are typically used in the entertainment industry. Results support that Twitter activity (volume of tweets and retweets) is a driver of consumer viewership of unscripted programs (i.e., reality or competition shows). As such, incorporating electronic word of mouth (eWOM) into forecasting models improves accuracy for predictions of unscripted shows. …

Sustainable Investing: Navigating The Inefficiencies Of An Inefficient Market, Dale Herndon

Business Administration Dissertations

Over the past decade, sustainable investing, also known as socially responsible investing, ethical investing, or responsible investing, has experienced heightened popularity worldwide. This popularity reflects the increasing awareness of investors of social, environmental, ethical, and corporate governance issues. However, while retail investors' interest has increased, their actual participation has been nominal. This paper explores the question: How do individual investors incorporate sustainability-related experiences, information, learning, or a combination of these in deciding to invest in sustainable investments? This study aims to identify the barriers and enablers that may inhibit or facilitate participation in sustainable investments.

The study follows a grounded …

Assessing B2g Customer/Contractor Relationships Using Social Exchange Theory During The Search And Selection Stage, Mitchell Lee Reed

Business Administration Dissertations

Social Exchange Theory (SET) is used widely to explain commercial business-to-business (B2B) relationship exchange. However, very little literature is dedicated to SET’s use in explaining business-to-government (B2G) relationship exchange. More specifically, little if any literature explores:

• How customer/contractor relationship is developed during the SET search and selection process
• The influence exerted by contractors to shape customer’s requirements and selection criteria (Positioning)
• Impact of contractors’ communication interchange on development of perceived customer relationship (trust and commitment)
• Success competing for contract award as measured by reputational trust and reputational performance satisfaction

This ethnomethodology match pair study utilizes Wilson’s (1995) search and selection …

The Impact Of Values Congruence On Sales Personnel Performance And Retention: A Person-Organization Fit Analysis, Jason Duke

Business Administration Dissertations

Sales performance and salesforce turnover are vital concerns for businesses and organizations everywhere. Too, much work has been performed within academic research on the impact of performance on companies and the antecedents to predicting individual salesperson performance and intent to remain. Much work has also been committed to further the concept of Person-Organization Fit (P-O Fit) related to organizational success or failure. In this paper, I will conduct a quantitative analysis of a cloud services company’s sales personnel to establish the impact of values and normal congruence on individual salespeople's performance and intention to remain. This research will fill an …

Entrepreneurship In Rural Areas: Examining The Influence Of Postsecondary Education, Cathy Hill

Business Administration Dissertations

Almost nineteen (19) percent of the United States population lives in rural areas according to the 2010 Census. Deficiencies in diversity of skilled labor, business support networks, and consumer demand have resulted in major barriers to economic prosperity in many of these areas. State and local governments commit valuable time and resources to economic development programs to revitalize rural communities. While post-secondary education institutions significantly augment the ecosystem, research has shown that the framework of the institution will determine the extent of the institution’s impact on entrepreneurship and economic growth. This study undertakes the research questions “Does post-secondary education influence …