Business Commons^™

Craft Beer: Manufacturing Muscle Meets Local Tastes, Jessica L. Pendleton

Chancellor’s Honors Program Projects

No abstract provided.

The Dissolution Of Effective Leadership: A Multiple-Case Study Analysis Of Destructive Leadership, Joshua B. Leonard

Chancellor’s Honors Program Projects

No abstract provided.

Hospital Competitive Strategies And Performance Outcomes, Wei Wu

Doctoral Dissertations

Hospitals are under increasing pressure to improve performance and healthcare outcomes. The existing literature does not point to a clear conclusion on whether competition can help address the performance challenges of hospitals which lead to improvements in clinical outcomes. Prior research on the effects of hospital competitive strategies usually focuses on one strategy or one type of outcome at a time. As such, there is a dearth of systematical studies on different hospital competitive strategies and their consequent performance outcomes.

The main objective of this dissertation is to examine several hospital competitive strategies and quantitatively validate the implications of each …

The Effects Of Group Personality Composition On Project Team Performance: Operationalizations And Outcomes, Mark Collins

Doctoral Dissertations

Teams are used to achieve organizational goals and objectives, and their success has led to a broad increase in their use in businesses, non-profits and NGO’s. Extant research suggests that group personality composition is related to team performance (Barry and Stewart, 1996; Halfhill, Nielsen, Sundstrom, and Weilbaecher, 2005; Peeters, Rutte, Tuijl, and Reymen, 2006; Bell, 2007). Project teams are frequently used in the business world and undertake a wide variety of tasks (Hackman, 1990). This paper investigates the relationship between the group personality composition of project teams and team performance. The study context is project teams involved in a semester-long …

The Multilingual Reality In American Business, Zachary Z. Lim

Chancellor’s Honors Program Projects

No abstract provided.

Good Partners Or Good Politicians: An Exploration Of Politics In Supply Chain Management, Ladonna Michelle Thornton

Doctoral Dissertations

This dissertation explores the impact of politics on internal and external supply chain management initiatives. From an intra-firm perspective, the impact of organizational politics and political skill on supply chain dynamics and processes is investigated in two quantitative articles. Article 1 is a constituency-based view perspective using survey methodology that explores the impact of organizational politics and political skill on cross-functional integration and supply chain orientation. This article finds that there is a negative relationship between organizational politics and cross-functional integration and a positive relationship between organizational politics and supply chain orientation when political skill of the top supply chain …

Juggling Demands: The Impact Of Middle Manager Roles And Psychological Capital, Laura Ternes Madden

Doctoral Dissertations

This purpose of this study is to assess the impact of middle managers’ activity, role conflict, and psychological capital on their job performance and turnover intentions. Because middle managers occupy organizational positions between strategic managers at the upper levels and operational managers and employees at the lower levels of the organization, I hypothesize that they will experience role conflict that will be connected to lower job performance and higher turnover intentions. Additionally, I suggest that the negative performance impacts of role conflict are mitigated by an individual’s psychological capital.

To test this moderated mediation model, this study uses a survey-based …

The Concept Of Supply Chain Agility: Conceptualization, Antecedents, And The Impact On Firm Performance, David Marius Gligor

Doctoral Dissertations

Agility has been identified as one of the most salient issues of contemporary supply chain management. Despite its importance, there has been limited theory development in the firm supply chain agility area. Elements and linkages among agility elements are underdeveloped, and it is uncommon for any two authors to adopt the same definition. A rigorously validated survey instrument is also needed to enable researchers to credibly build on theories regarding causal links among agility-related capabilities, practices and performance outcomes. The sports science and military science theoretical bases are investigated to better understand agility and identify its dimensions, and define it …

Cultural Anthropological Research In The Business Environment, Caitlin Farmer

Chancellor’s Honors Program Projects

No abstract provided.

Boards As Strategy Makers: The Antecedents And Consequences Of Board Involvement In Strategic Decision Making, Karen Ford Eickhoff

Doctoral Dissertations

This study describes the antecedents and consequences of the direct involvement of boards in forming the strategies of the organizations they serve. If boards are involved directly and early in the strategic decision making process rather than being held at the periphery, board members may become important assets to their organizations as strategy makers beyond their limited contributions as monitors or advisors. By providing a look inside the “black box” of decision making in board rooms, this research addresses a gap in the strategy and board literatures and has important practical implications for executives and board members who are interested …

Shopper Marketing And Social Networks: The Path To Integration, Hannah Joy Stolze

Doctoral Dissertations

The purpose of this dissertation is to examine the phenomenon of cross-functional integration of frontline employees supporting complex marketing initiatives. This dissertation contributes to research and managers through the exploration of how integration takes place, how knowledge is integrated across functions through social ties between people, and to begin to inspect its effects on the performance of marketing strategies. Integration captures the state of collaboration and coordination between individuals within and between a firm’s functions. To date, cross-functional integration has been conceptually developed, but not empirically evaluated.

An extensive, multi-disciplinary literature review provides the foundation for understanding integration within the …

Examining The Leadership Style And Sustainability Of Two Female Head Coaches At A Southeastern Land-Grant University, Allison Fulmer

Masters Theses

Abstract

Reflection on the influences and experiences of successful female head coaches of women sports is important to understanding the factors that have enabled them to obtain and sustain their leadership positions in a male-dominated profession. The purpose of this qualitative study was to examine the experiences of two female head coaches at a Southeastern land-grant university and to understand how they have sustained their role as a head coach in a world where female coaches are significantly declining. The specific objectives of this research were to: (a) understand female head coaches’ knowledge of what a land-grant institution was created …

Optimal Tax Risk And Firm Value, Rebekah Daniele Mccarty

Doctoral Dissertations

I use the tax reserve data available from FIN 48 to investigate whether equity market value and tax risk exhibit a concave association, consistent with an optimal level of tax risk from an equity valuation standpoint. I find a concave association between tax risk and firm value which suggests firm value is increasing in tax risk at a diminishing rate until an optimal level is reached, after which firm value is decreasing in tax risk. I do not find evidence of excessive risk taking in the context of tax avoidance. Instead almost all firms in my sample are below the …

Investigating Supplier Accommodation Of Customers: A Mixed-Method Approach, Monique Lynn Murfield

Doctoral Dissertations

The purpose of this dissertation is to investigate and begin to formulate an understanding of supplier accommodation of customers from the supplier’s perspective, its impact on supplier relational performance outcomes, and the associated impact on buyer’s perceptions and evaluation of the relationship. Supplier accommodation of customers (SAC) is defined as the supplier’s efforts to make special adjustments in response to a specific customer’s changing needs and unforeseen changes, and is conceptualized as consisting of elements of supplier flexibility and supplier adaptation. Extant research has focused on the buyer’s perspective of SAC, with little regard for the supplier’s perspective of relational …

Sailing Blue Oceans In Search Of Blue Ribbons: A Case Study Of The Application Of Reconstructionist Strategy In Collegiate Business Schools, Shay Denton Scott

Doctoral Dissertations

Business schools are facing an increasingly competitive marketplace driven by the globalization of management education and the many new entrants providing educational and research services within this space. School rankings have become a substitute for independent assessments of quality by constituencies, often driving schools toward isomorphism in bids to climb higher in the rankings. Business school leaders need to fully understand their strategic options as they lead their schools during this challenging time. The purpose of this case study was to explore the pursuit, implementation, and potential performance effects of a type of reconstructionist strategy, Blue Ocean Strategy, within the …

Antecedents And Consequences Of Supply Chain Resilience: A Dynamic Capabilities Perspective, Serhiy Ponomarov

Doctoral Dissertations

Supply chain resilience is a comparatively unexplored area of supply chain research, that is related to risk management, but at the same time differs from traditional risk management approaches in that it focuses on firms’ ability to absorb disruptions or enables the supply network to return to stable conditions faster. The increased risks that are the result of complex and geographically disperse global supply chains necessitate that companies gain a better theoretical understanding of this emerging critical topic in order to be sustainable in the long term and effectively operate in turbulent business environment. Thus, a better understanding of supply …

Shopper Value: A Framework And Examination Of The Impact Of Importance, Shopping Context And Shopping Social Situation, Robert Paul Jones

Doctoral Dissertations

This dissertation is exploratory, examining a little studied part of retail, the shopper. Shoppers are defined as: actively engaged in the pursuit of a target purchase driven by a specific need requiring a solution. The objectives of this research are to clarify the differences between consumers and shoppers, justifying the need for further study. This research also seeks to develop a values based framework of shopper behavior in order to facilitate future research. An extensive review of the literature provides a foundation for the differences between shoppers and consumers. The theory of reasoned action provides the foundation for the shopper …

The Impact Of The Patient Protection And Affordable Care Act On Middle-Sized Businesses, Charles R. Edwards

Chancellor’s Honors Program Projects

No abstract provided.

Weak Signals In American History: Applying Historical Events To Present Decisions In Business, Taylor Diane Robinson

Chancellor’s Honors Program Projects

No abstract provided.

Key Factors And Trends In Transportation Mode And Carrier Selection, Keith W. Roberts

Chancellor’s Honors Program Projects

No abstract provided.

A Resource-Based Perspective On Green Supply Chain Management And Firm Performance, Jon Frederick Kirchoff

Doctoral Dissertations

Due to the perceived performance implications of green supply chain management, research in this area has grown in recent years. However, the literature is limited on the determinants of green supply chain management and its performance implications. Thus, the literature has yet to furnish an accepted explanation for why green practices are manifested in supply chain management and, whether a positive relationship exists between green supply chain management practices and firm performance.

This dissertation responded to these challenges through exploring the antecedents and consequences of green supply chain management. This dissertation built on the theoretical base of the resource-based view …

Exploring The Effectiveness Of Environmentally Sustainable Practices In Municipal Government: A Case Study Of The City Of Knoxville’S Department Of Parks And Recreation, Anthony Michael Brown

Masters Theses

Sustainability practices produce programs and services that meet current needs while preserving the environment and natural resources for the future. City parks and recreation departments are facing budget shortfalls and increasing expectations from customers. Governments are now embracing sustainability practices to create financial savings while also fostering relations with customers.

The purpose of this single case study was twofold: (1) to examine the effectiveness of one city department’s strategies in outsourcing its environmental sustainability program through a performance contract with Ameresco; and (2) to examine the perceptions of key department employees about the effectiveness of the sustainability initiative. A …

Professional Preparation Of The Ncaa Division I Athletic Director: An Occupational Framework, Jeffrey Charles Spenard

Masters Theses

The study collected occupational data from the 99 National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I membership institutions head athletic directors. The purpose of this study was to identify common professional preparation and occupational characteristics among NCAA Division I athletic directors. Through issuing an electronic survey, the current study identified common characteristics and themes among Division I athletic directors specifically within the socio-demographical background, educational background, professional experience and career progression, and career and job satisfaction. The study also provided demographic information about the participant’s institutional athletic department. The necessity of this study is not due directly to the current lack …

Addressing Homelessness Through The Private Sector, Mindy Nakamura

Chancellor’s Honors Program Projects

No abstract provided.

Sustainability At Basf, Ariel E. Brassil

Chancellor’s Honors Program Projects

No abstract provided.

Generational Perceptions Of Productive/Unproductive Information Received From Management Through Different Communication Channels, Eva Lynn Cowell

Doctoral Dissertations

This exploratory study identified generational preferences for receiving information from management through different communication channels and determined if age predicted productivity for productive and unproductive information received through different communication channels. This is the first study to empirically examine the relationship between age cohorts, communication channel preferences, information categories, and productivity. Sample participants worked as Extension agents at a major land-grant university. The four generations represented in the sample utilized multiple communication channels and were geographically dispersed throughout the state. The survey was administered electronically and completed by 204 (74%) of the eligible 275 employees in the organization. Independent Samples …

Exploring The Career Mobility Of Women In Campus Recreation, Jessica Michelle Hobart

Masters Theses

This thesis is a quantitative research design that examines the upward mobility of women administrators in campus recreation. The purpose of this study is to examine the career mobility of women currently working in the administration of campus recreation. A criterion sampling method was used to select women currently holding administrative level positions in campus recreation as well as solicit participation using the National Intramural-Recreational Sports Association (NIRSA) Member Database. The Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS 18.0) was utilized to analyze the data. For the quantitative data, basic descriptive statistics were performed which included means, standard deviations, and …

Local Financial Services Innovation: Local Management, Strategy And Change; A Field Investigation, Ann Catherine Nave

Chancellor’s Honors Program Projects

No abstract provided.

The Impact Of Entrepreneurs’ Personal Wealth Allocations In Determining Their Firms’ Capital Structures, Tianning Li

Doctoral Dissertations

We study the effect of entrepreneurs’ wealth allocations on their firm level capital structure by using a sample of small privately owned firms from the 2003 Surveys of Small Business Finance. We find that financial leverage decreases as entrepreneurs allocate more wealth on their firm investments. We also find that wealth allocation only affects capital structure in limited liability firms. Lastly, we show that the effect of wealth allocation on capital structure does not disappear after adjusting for collateral and personal guarantees.

Patients As Consumers: The Influence Of Dtca And "Becoming Little Doctors.", Karen Michele Hood

Doctoral Dissertations

Direct to consumer advertising of prescription drugs (DTCA) accounts for approximately $5 billion in advertising spending in the US. Critics of this controversial practice cite confusing and misleading information negative effects on the physician-patient relationship as reasons to restrict or even ban DTCA, while proponents claim it empowers patients and facilitates discussions between physicians and patients that may improve overall health.

An ethnography of consumers in the most prominent target market for DTCA initially seeks to understand the meaning of DTCA among middle age adults in the US with chronic conditions. Participants in the study are skeptical about this category …