Business Commons^™

Relationships Between Organizational Commitment, Core Job Characteristics, And Organizational Citizenship Behaviors In United States Air Force Organizations, Dawn L. Banks

Theses and Dissertations

Organizational commitment is an area of concern for Air Force leaders, so much so that commitment is a subject of interest on the annual Air Force Climate Assessment Survey. The Air Force has consistently failed to meet retention goals and designates millions of dollars toward reenlistment bonuses to improve retention every year. A more economical approach to increasing commitment may be to improve the characteristics of the jobs Air Force members perform. In addition to the relationship between commitment and job characteristics, there also is a relationship between commitment and organizational citizenship behaviors (OCBs). The purpose of this research is …

Training Program To Improve Estimation Of Patients' Periodontal Pain Experience, Yoon Jeong Kim

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Background: The purpose of this study was to determine if periodontal residents could enhance their ability to appraise the pain levels experienced by their patients from probing, using Visual Analog Scale (VAS) to record pain. We hypothesized that with increasing experience by repeated comparisons of the patients' VAS pain ratings with independent ratings by the residents, they would improve their ability to appraise their patients' pain experiences.

Methods: For each of three periodontal residents, 40 consecutive periodontitis patients were asked to express the degree of pain they experienced during the probing. Independently, the residents rated the pain level they perceived …

Development Of An Instrument To Identify The Virtues Of Expert Nursing Practice: ‘Byrd’S Nurses Ethical Sensitivity Test’ (Byrd’S Nest), Lisa Marie Byrd

Dissertations

The purpose of this research was to develop and analyze the psychometric properties of Byrd’s Nurse’s Ethical Sensitivity Test (Byrd’s NEST). An instrument to evaluate nurses’ ethical sensitivity in practice by examining choices of action in ethical dilemmas based on nursing virtues: compassion, fidelity to trust, moral courage, justice, self-confidence, resilience, practical reasoning, and integrity (Benner, Tanner, & Chelsa, 1996; Volbrecht, 2002). Benner’s theory of skill acquisition-novice to expert was the theoretical framework for this research which surveyed for correlations between a nurse’s ethical sensitivity and educational level, years of experience, certification, and work setting. Until now, there have been …

Assessing The Impact Of Ethical Training On Law Enforcement Personnel, Tina L. Lee

Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to investigate the opinions of police officers in regards to satisfaction with ethics training. The participants in this study were police officers in city/municipal and county law enforcement agencies. Ethics training is very important in the field o f law enforcement because of the many temptations that officers face and the tremendous amount of authority that society gives to the police. In order to investigate officer’s satisfaction with ethics training, the Ethics Training Questionnaire (ETQ) was developed. This questionnaire contained two parts. The first part was completed by police administrators, and the second part …

School Web Sites And Teacher Employment Interest, David Theodore Freeman

Dissertations

The Internet has changed the way many organizations, including public and private schools, recruit and select employees. It has also changed the way many people research and pursue employment opportunities, including those seeking positions in education. The school Web site is often the medium of first contact between a school or school district and a potential employee. That first contact can influence the potential employee’s decision to actively pursue employment with a school or a school district.

This research measured the reactions o f preservice teachers who visited three grade-level appropriate school Web sites of “poor,” “average,” and “best” distinction. …

An Assessment Of Family And Medical Leave Policy, Stefanie Wilde

Honors Theses

The US Family and Medical Leave Act (Public Law 103-3, or 29 CFR 825) and similar policies throughout the world, such as maternity leave policies (PL507 Rev 4) in the UK, or Maternity and Parental leave in Canada, are policies that require employers to provide an employee with a period of leave for the birth or adoption of a child, family and dependent health needs, or personal illness. Under these acts, typically the employer must allow the employee to return to the same position or a position similar to that held before taking the leave. In the United States, an …

A Comparative Analysis Of Human Rights Laws In The United States And Australia, Emily F. Chalifoux

Honors Theses

Discrimination does not make good business sense; it causes tension and a decrease in productivity. Even though human rights laws vary from country to country, conforming with these laws makes business more cohesive and productive. Some of the many benefits include:

• Increase the pool of potential employees and, therefore, the chances of getting the best person for the job,

• Build morale and productivity of employees

• Minimize complaints, disruptions and legal wrangles, leaving employees to focus on their work, and

• Add to the bottom line and build the company's reputation in the community.

The purpose of this paper is to analyze …

Hotel Employee Morale During Periods Of Low Occupancy, Nicholas J. Thomas

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

According to the Monterey County Chamber of Commerce, each year an estimated 3 million tourists, who spend nearly $2 billion and create 36,600 jobs, visit the Monterey Peninsula in California (Monterey Peninsula Chamber of Commerce, 2000). Unfortunately, this area suffers from hospitality industry-wide low occupancy from late fall until early spring, mainly due to the cooler, rainy weather (Boerner, 2004). During these periods of low occupancy, I believe that there is a challenge in maintaining employee morale. The impetus of this research is my belief that there is a correlation between an increase or decrease in employee morale and the …

Embracing Uncertainty: The Passing Of A Legendary Casino/Hotel — Tropicana Resort And Casino, Bill Hiers

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Las Vegas is on the cutting-edge of today’s world, showcasing the newest and best of everything that can be offered at premium hotels. In this one isolated location of the United States, there have been dramatic changes to the philosophy of conducting business. In the past ten years Las Vegas has defined to the world that new innovations to hotel projects can be developed to achieve maximum profitability. Casino companies strive to build the next premier, exciting, state of the art, five star hotels. Change in the casino industry is always exciting with the prospect of a better way to …

Teleconference Training Within Commercial Customer Service At Us Bank, Christy Snyder

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Research suggests that effective employee training methods are of key importance in the service industry today. The service industry uses customer service as a means of differentiating its product (Davis, 2005; Farrell, 2005; Feiertag, 2005; Furunes, 2005; Higley, 2004a; Jenkins, 1984; Simons, 2005; Walsh, 2004). “Friendliness and a willingness to serve others are the tools of the hotel trade, and training is the sharpener that refines the tools into hospitality machines” (Higley, 2004b). Training is integral in creating a positive environment for customers. If organizations want to ensure customers have this type of environment, employees must have both service and …

Moderating Effects Of Perceived Organizational Support On The Relationship Between Job Satisfaction And Turnover Intentions For Recently Retrained Usaf Enlisted Members, Jennifer A. Phelps

Theses and Dissertations

The U.S. Air Force uses a variety of human resource practices to manage nearly 350,000 personnel worldwide. Programs already in place, such as enlistment bonuses, base of preference selection, and voluntary retraining, are some of the methods currently utilized to retain Air Force personnel. One program, the Noncommissioned Officer Retraining Program (NCORP), allows for the movement of mid- to senior-level enlisted members to critically manned career fields. In recent years, this program has not met its quota of volunteers and has relied on involuntary retrainees to fill training slots. This study assessed the attitudinal variables of job satisfaction, perceived organizational …

High Performance Individuals And How They Manage Their Personal Knowledge For Decision-Making: An Exploratory Study Of Us Air Force Leaders, Kenneth M. Ivey

Theses and Dissertations

The ability of Colonels, Generals, and Chiefs to effectively manage their personal knowledge may lead to better decisions; however, the Air Force does not have an understanding of how these high performance leaders manage their personal knowledge. This research used a multiple-case study methodology to explore how USAF leaders manage their personal knowledge when making routine and novel decisions. Viewing personal knowledge management as it related to sociotechnical theory provided the basis to determine how the need to accomplish the tasks associated with personal knowledge management impacted the people, technology, organizational structure, and the tasks associated with managing personal knowledge. …

Contemplating A New Model For Air Force Aerospace Medical Technician Skills Sustainment Training, Robert M. Corrigan

Theses and Dissertations

Two decades ago, Aerospace Medical Technicians received robust skills sustainment training through exposure to multifaceted patient treatment environments. Available training environments included inpatient care, outpatient care, and emergency services. This diverse training environment made possible through large operating budgets and an extraordinary infrastructure could not last. Today (after five separate base closure and realignment initiatives), medical funding and infrastructure is but a shadow of what it once was. Budget constraints and the rising cost of healthcare have necessitated a purposeful movement away from inpatient and emergency care, toward outpatient and preventative medicine. Although changes in Air Force health care delivery …

An Asymmetrical Look At Air Force Human Capital Management: More Emphasis On Qualifications And Less On Rank, Daniel M. Romano

Theses and Dissertations

This research explored an asymmetrical concept of personnel management, specifically whether status, rank, is an artificial barrier to employing qualified enlisted personnel in some company grade officer duties. It takes the approach under the Human Capital Theory and questions whether rank plays a roll in effective performance and whether eliminating rank as a criterion to employment, in some duties, can support Air Force transformation efforts, without negatively affecting culture (i.e. chain-of-command, customs and courtesies). It describes a concept where more emphasis is put on meeting the knowledge, education, experience, and training qualifications and the required rank be interchangeable between enlisted …

Afmc Civilian Retention: Forecasting Policy On The Future Of The Civilian Workforce, Dex Y. Landreth

Theses and Dissertations

The Department of Defense's (DoD) achievement of its mission is dependent in large part on the skills and expertise of its civilian workforce. DoD's civilian workforce develops policy, provides intelligence, manages finances, and acquires and maintains weapon systems, to name a few areas of work. During its downsizing in the early 1990s, DoD did not focus on reshaping the civilian workforce in a strategic manner. This resulted in a workforce characterized by a growing gap between older, experienced employees and younger, less experienced ones. With more than 60 percent of its civilian personnel becoming eligible to retire by 2010, DoD …

Putting The Pieces Together: Effective Characteristics Of An Hr Internship Program, Matthew Gillim

Senior Honors Theses and Projects

Many organizations often use students as interns in their human resource (HR) departments. What are the factors that make this successful for both the student and the organization? This report will look at characteristics for successful HR internships from both the student and the organizational viewpoints. It will show how to create an effective program as well as display recruiting techniques to attract and retain top notch candidates.

An Investigation Of The Impact Of The Pace Of Change In Post -Ipo Corporate Governance On Firm Performance, Son A. Le

Doctoral Dissertations

In this study, I examine the impact of changes in post-IPO corporate governance on firm performance. Changes in corporate governance affect firm performance in various ways. Some theories such as agency and resource dependence theories predict that fast-paced change in post-IPO corporate governance will enhance firm performance. Other theories such as the resource-based view offer the opposite prediction that slowpaced change is more beneficial for firm performance. I, therefore, develop competing hypotheses regarding the impact of change in post-IPO corporate governance on firm performance.

IPO firms have unique characteristics. They are often small, young firms. As a matter of fact, …

Factors Which Influence Client Satisfaction With The Services Of Community Development Corporations, Shanta Harrison-Proctor

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

The primary purpose of this study was to determine factors which influence client satisfaction with the services of community development corporations (CDCs) in metropolitan regions of Louisiana. The CDCs were evaluated based on five specific criteria: housing, social services, workforce development, educational enrichment, and community outreach. The objectives addressed were: description of clients, levels of client satisfaction, and relationships between satisfaction and selected demographic characteristics. The instrument used in this study was a researcher-designed survey questionnaire used to collect client information. It was comprised of two sections – demographics and client satisfaction. The target population for this study was adult …

Factors Related To The Developmental Experiences Of Youth Serving As Louisiana 4-H Camp Counselors, David Nathan Carter

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to investigate the developmental experiences of Louisiana high-school-aged 4-H youth who volunteer as counselors at Louisiana 4-H summer camps. A total of 288 counselors from 10 different camping sessions participated in the study from June through August of the summer of 2006. The Youth Experiences Survey 2.0 and Developmental Experience Survey were utilized to measure the personal characteristics and developmental experiences of 4-H camp counselors. The Youth Experiences Survey 2.0 was developed by Hansen and Larson of the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign and the Developmental Experience Survey was developed by the researcher. Results from …

Health Literacy: The Knowledge And Experiences Of Senior Level Baccalaureate Nursing Students, Catherine M. Cormier

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to assess the health literacy knowledge and experiences of senior level baccalaureate nursing students enrolled at state universities in Louisiana. Three hundred and sixty-one students from eight baccalaureate nursing programs agreed to participate in the study. The Health Literacy Knowledge and Experience Survey (HL-KES) was utilized to measure the health literacy knowledge and experiences of participants. Participants were able to identify low socioeconomic groups as high risk for low health literacy skills and were strongly aware of the consequences associated with low health literacy skills. Knowledge gaps were evident in the following areas: identifying …

The Meaning Of Masculinity For Male Baccalaureate Nursing Program Graduates, Kenneth Tillman

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Previous researchers have reported that societal definitions of masculinity may act as a barrier to men entering the nursing profession, and that men who do enter nursing may hold a different view of masculinity. The purpose of this study was to describe the meaning of masculinity for recent male baccalaureate nursing program graduates. In addition, the study explored how the participants’ perceived meaning of masculinity shaped or influenced their nursing education experiences, and in turn how their nursing education experiences may have shaped or influenced their perceived meaning of masculinity. A phenomenological research design was used to study eight male …

How Voice Affects Perceptions Of Relationship Wih Adults, Ownership, And Engagement In Youth, Melissa D. Wade Cater

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine if youth voice affects the ownership and engagement experienced by youth in a county 4-H program. For the treatment group, a youth-led approach was used where "having a voice" included youth sharing decision-making power with the adults in the program. The comparison group consisted of 4-H members in three other clubs in the county. These youth experienced an adult-led approach where the decisions about the club programming were made strictly by the adults. The Youth Voice Survey instrument was developed to assess youths' perceptions of ownership, engagement, and relationship with adults at …

Suicide And Community Traumatic Events: Is There A Connection?, Regina T. Praetorius

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine if a relationship exists between community traumatic events (CTEs) such as the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks and the temporal distribution of suicide in a metropolitan Louisiana parish (county) in the Southern United States over the period of January 1, 1994 to December 31, 2004. The researcher used data on suicides (homicides and accidental deaths were used for comparison) in the selected parish to describe the distribution of suicides over the 11 year period. A procedure was developed for identifying and categorizing CTEs sustained by the selected parish (county). A spectral analysis …

Level Of Youth Voice In The Decision-Making Process Within The 4-H Youth Development Program As Perceived By State 4-H Program Leaders, State 4-H Youth Development Specialists, And 4-H Agents/Educators, Todd Anthony Tarifa

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

This study aimed at determining the level of inclusiveness of youth voice in the decision-making process in the 4-H youth development program. It described the 4-H program’s position on youth voice among State 4-H Program Leaders, 4-H State Youth Development Specialists, and 4-H Youth Agents/Educators. The information gathered was utilized in identifying the level of inclusiveness of youth voice in the decision-making process to better understand how to suit youth’s needs, identify promising practices, and barriers. Three underlying constructs were identified that represented State 4-H Program Leader’s, 4-H Youth Development Specialist’s, and 4-H Agent’s/Educator’s personal views on youth voice in …

Factors That Influence Traditional-Age, High-Achieving Students To Enroll At A Research-Extensive University In The Southern Region Of The United States, Roy Cleveland Brooks, Jr.

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

The primary purpose of this study was to determine if a model existed that significantly increased the researcher's ability to accurately explain the enrollment status of high-achieving freshmen based on the influence of selected demographic and academic characteristics. Since World War II, the need for students to obtain an outstanding postsecondary education in order to compete for the best positions in today's job market has become increasingly important. Thus, the need exists for higher education institutions to offer competitive academic programs that will attract top students and faculty. Since the number of graduating high school students is predicted to decline …

Louisiana Cotton, Rice, Soybean And Sugarcane Farmer Stakeholders: Who Are They And What Are Their Perceptions Of Farming Practices As Related To The Environment, Robert James Soileau

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

This study identified the stakeholders of Louisiana plant commodity farmers and rated them in terms of importance. Findings of this study show that farmers/ranchers, LSU AgCenter Experiment Station Research personnel, family, consumers, farm labor and agriculture chemical, fertilizer and seed dealers are the most important stakeholders. The second aspect of this study was to discover the stakeholder perceptions of agricultural practices and their relationship to the environment. An environmental perceptions survey was conducted with two of the most important stakeholder groups identified – Experiment Station Research Faculty associated with plant commodities and Louisiana consumers. LSU AgCenter Experiment Station Research Faculty …

The Lived Experience Of Nurses Working With Student Nurses In The Acute Care Clinical Environment, Donna Coffey Hathorn

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

The purpose of this phenomenological qualitative study was to describe the lived experience of nurses’ who work with baccalaureate student nurses in the acute care clinical environment. Because of the nursing shortage nursing education is challenged with equipping a safe qualified workforce while preventing or reducing student attrition. Students may choose to leave the profession or receive less than optimal learning experiences when exposed to negative socialization behaviors of nurses while in the clinical environment. Findings from this study can be used to foster collaboration between nursing education and nursing service in the development of positive clinical environments for nurses …

The Influence Of Tobacco Merchant Education And Enforcement Activities On The Rate Of Tobacco Use Among Youth In Louisiana, Leslie Hope Brougham

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

The purpose of this study is two-fold: 1) to determine whether a relationship exists between the self-reported tobacco use by secondary students in Louisiana and the tobacco sale rate to persons under the age of 18 in those parishes; and 2) to investigate the relationship between merchant education in a parish and the parish tobacco sale rate to persons under the age of 18 in those parishes. Multiple data sources were utilized to include tobacco use among secondary students, education provided to merchants, and tobacco sales to minors compliance checks. Aggregated parish data for each of the data sources were …

Factors Influencing The Importance Of Incorporating Competencies Regarding Mass Casualty Incidents Into Baccalaureate-Degree Nursing Programs As Perceived By Currently Employed Faculty, Kristin Whitty

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Whether they are naturally occurring, caused by environmental forces, or generated by humans, disasters have placed extraordinary stresses on society. Following September 11, 2001, the Department of Homeland Security was created to protect the nation and coordinate responses to future emergencies at the federal, state, and local levels. However, Governmental agencies can’t handle all aspects of mass casualty events. Healthcare professionals, such as nurses, who are knowledgeable and trained in mass casualty incidents (MCIs) are needed to provide competent care to the victims. Although others expect a knowledgeable nursing response, the majority of nurse educators have not received mass casualty …

Agriscience Program - Using The No Child Left Behind Principles Of Education, Tiffany Ann Popps

LSU Master's Theses

The purpose of this study was to determine the extent of use of the eight educational principles included in the No Child Left Behind act (NCLB) by currently employed Agriscience teachers in Louisiana. Specific objectives formulated to guide the research were to describe: 1) Louisiana’s Agriscience teachers on selected demographics; 2) professional activities of Louisiana’s Agriscience teachers; 3) how often Louisiana’s Agriscience teachers ascribe to the NCLB principles; 4) determine if a relationship exist between the NCLB principles and selected demographics and, finally, 5) determine if a relationship exist between the NCLB principles and selected professional activities of Louisiana’s Agriscience …