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Full-Text Articles in Physical Sciences and Mathematics

Return On Investment Of The Cftp Framework With And Without Risk Assessment, Anne Lim Lee Jan 2017

Return On Investment Of The Cftp Framework With And Without Risk Assessment, Anne Lim Lee

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

In recent years, numerous high tech companies have developed and used technology roadmaps when making their investment decisions. Jay Paap has proposed the Customer Focused Technology Planning (CFTP) framework to draw future technology roadmaps. However, the CFTP framework does not include risk assessment as a critical factor in decision making. The problem addressed in this quantitative study was that high tech companies are either losing money or getting a much smaller than expected return on investment when making technology investment decisions. The purpose of this research was to determine the relationship between returns on investment before and after adding risk …


Information Technology Training To Promote Collaboration Among Multiple Generations, Gregg Foster Jan 2017

Information Technology Training To Promote Collaboration Among Multiple Generations, Gregg Foster

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The decision to implement information technology (IT) initiatives to enhance collaboration among veterans, baby boomers, Generation X, Generation Y, and Fifth Generation employees continues to challenge organizational leaders. The purpose of this nonexperimental study was to identify how the implementation of information technology initiatives, coupled with the knowledge of learning styles, might enhance collaboration among generational cohort employees. The generational cohort theory, Maslow's hierarchy of needs theory, and the technology acceptance model were the theoretical frameworks used to develop an understanding of the relationships among the cohorts and the acceptance of technology to enhance collaboration. Data were collected from a …


Strategies To Improve Engagement Among Public Sector Information Technology Employees, Michelle Dawn Benham Jan 2017

Strategies To Improve Engagement Among Public Sector Information Technology Employees, Michelle Dawn Benham

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Disengaged employees decrease organizations' efficiencies and profitability. Engaged employees provide greater productivity and performance while being less likely to incur job burnout and exhaustion. However, public sector organizational leaders still struggle to engage their information technology (IT) employees. Partnering with a large public sector organization in the Phoenix, Arizona, metropolitan area, in a case study design, this study explored the strategies that public sector business leaders use to increase productivity through engaging IT employees. The conceptual framework for this study was the job demands-resources framework. Four participants were selected through purposeful sampling from a population of 7 IT leaders who …


Assessing The Influence Of Smart Mobile Devices On How Employees Work, Adam L. Gorski Jan 2017

Assessing The Influence Of Smart Mobile Devices On How Employees Work, Adam L. Gorski

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The smart mobile device market penetration reached 50% and has been increasing an average of 39% per year in the United States. More than 70% of the smart mobile device owners use such devices for personal and work activities. The problem was the lack of management's understanding of the effect smart mobile device use has on how employees work when they are in the office, while traveling, or during the off-hours to improve productivity and customer service. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to understand why, when, and how employees used smart mobile devices. The transformational technology conceptual framework …


Exploring Strategies For Successful Implementation Of Electronic Health Records, Richard Alton Warren Jan 2017

Exploring Strategies For Successful Implementation Of Electronic Health Records, Richard Alton Warren

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Adoption of electronic health records (EHR) systems in nonfederal acute care hospitals has increased, with adoption rates across the United States reaching as high as 94%. Of the 330 plus acute care hospital EHR implementations in Texas, only 31% have completed attestation to Stage 2 of the meaningful use (MU) criteria. The purpose of this multiple case study was to explore strategies that hospital chief information officers (CIOs) used for the successful implementation of EHR. The target population consists of 3 hospitals CIOs from a multi-county region in North Central Texas who successfully implemented EHRs meeting Stage 2 MU criteria. …


Effective Competitive Strategies Of U.S. In Vitro Device Manufacturers, Sofia M. Beglari Jan 2017

Effective Competitive Strategies Of U.S. In Vitro Device Manufacturers, Sofia M. Beglari

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Medical manufacturing leaders struggle to maintain their competitive position due to inefficient business strategies. The purpose of this multiple case study was to explore strategies that in vitro diagnostics (IVD) medical manufacturing's leaders have used to gain and maintain a competitive advantage in the global marketplace. Porter's competitive advantage theory was used to understand how IVD medical business leaders maintain their competitive edge. Data were gathered through interviews with a purposive sample of 3 IVD medical device leaders from companies in California, Connecticut, and New York who had run IVD medical businesses for at least 10 years and who attended …


Information Communication Technology Management As A Gdp Growth Contributor Within Arab League Nations, Jamal Alexander Thompson Jan 2017

Information Communication Technology Management As A Gdp Growth Contributor Within Arab League Nations, Jamal Alexander Thompson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The general problem addressed in this study was Arab League nations' over-reliance on fossil fuels as a gross domestic product (GDP) growth driver. Arab League nations that depend primarily on fossil fuel production lack alternative resources for growth in times of fossil fuel usage or price decline. Overdependence on fossil fuels has led to minimal development in other economic sectors, primarily in skilled domestic labor, and to a high dependency on foreign skilled labor for skilled domestic jobs. The purpose of this study was to examine to what extent information communication technology (ICT) management can be a viable GDP growth …


Small To Medium Enterprise Succession Planning: Millennial Employee Development, Mark Tarmann Jr. Jan 2017

Small To Medium Enterprise Succession Planning: Millennial Employee Development, Mark Tarmann Jr.

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Increased mobility and a growing presence in the workforce by millennial employees are pushing sustainability to the forefront of concerns for business leaders. Especially for small to medium enterprises (SMEs) with limited human capital resources and no formal succession plans. Thus, increasing the need for insight on millennial employee development to mitigate voluntary turnover. The purpose of this multiple case study was to explore successful millennial employee developmental strategies employed by 3 SMEs leaders in southern New Jersey. These SMEs leaders were the ideal population with millennial employees with 3 or more years of employment and not solely family-run organizations. …


Strategies To Support Survivors Of Corporate Downsizing, Joseph Linton Jan 2017

Strategies To Support Survivors Of Corporate Downsizing, Joseph Linton

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Between 2003 and 2011, 1.2 million U.S. workers were laid off every year. Some organizational leaders of information technology/telecommunications organizations lack strategies to improve affective commitment to the organization after downsizing events. The strains of overwork, organizational changes, anxiety over job insecurity, and lack of choice often result in physical illness, emotional trauma, and extreme disengagement termed survivor syndrome. The purpose of this single case study was to explore strategies organizational leaders in the Midwest United States in information technology/telecommunications organizations used to improve affective commitment to the organization after downsizing. The conceptual framework was Herzberg's 2-factor theory. Data were …


Strategies For Small And Medium-Sized Enterprises In Geoeconomic Crisis, Hicham Jaroudi Jan 2017

Strategies For Small And Medium-Sized Enterprises In Geoeconomic Crisis, Hicham Jaroudi

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Lebanon are at risk of failure because of the geoeconomic crisis. The purpose of this single case study was to explore strategies that successful leaders of SMEs use to sustain their businesses during tenuous economic conditions. The target population for the research comprised 6 business leaders of SMEs in Beirut, Lebanon: 3 in the civil security field and 3 in the facilities management field. Kotter's change model theory provided the conceptual framework for this research. Data were gathered from company documents and interviews with SMEs leaders in Beirut. Data were analyzed using Yin's data …


The Core Competencies Necessary For Global Information Technology Project Management, Gregory Michael Von Schleh Jan 2017

The Core Competencies Necessary For Global Information Technology Project Management, Gregory Michael Von Schleh

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Global information technology (IT) project management organizations can create more value in their operations by presenting the core competencies possessed by global IT project managers (PMs) who are successful in their respective projects. The purpose of this multiple case study was to explore the core competencies and business strategies that IT PMs use to meet global IT project deadlines and budgets. This study involved 5 IT PMs from the Pacific Northwest (United States and Canada) who increased the quality of outsourced IT projects from 4 different companies. The data collection method included in-person semistructured interviews of participants and review of …


The Relationship Between Ethical Leadership And Sustainability In Small Businesses, David Amisano Jan 2017

The Relationship Between Ethical Leadership And Sustainability In Small Businesses, David Amisano

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Since the 2008 financial crisis, business leaders' ethical behaviors have been under scrutiny. These leaders face uncertainty regarding ethical leadership behaviors and their impact. Because small business leadership involves multiple facets of behavior and decision-making, small business leaders may have an insufficient understanding of the impact of ethical leadership behaviors on the sustainability of their businesses. The purpose of this correlational study was to examine the relationship between ethical leadership and financial, social, and environmental sustainability in small businesses. Integrated social contracts theory was the theoretical framework. The participants consisted of 80 members of a chamber of commerce located in …


Strategic Cyber-Risk Implications Of Cloud Technology Adoption In The U.S. Financial Services Sector, Olatunji Mujib Arowolo Jan 2017

Strategic Cyber-Risk Implications Of Cloud Technology Adoption In The U.S. Financial Services Sector, Olatunji Mujib Arowolo

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

According to research, the risks of adopting new technology and the technological and organizational factors that influence adopting it are not clear. Thus, many financial institutions have hesitated to adopt cloud-computing. The purpose of this quantitative, cross-sectional study was to evaluate the cyber-risk implications of cloud-computing adoption in the U.S. financial services sector. The study examined 6 technological and organizational factors: organization size, relative advantage, compliance, security, compatibility, and complexity within the context of cyber-risk. Using a combination of diffusion of innovation theory and technology-organization-environment framework as the foundation, a predictive cybersecurity model was developed to determine the factors that …


A Complex Systems Simulation Study For Increasing Adaptive-Capacity, Kadambari Ram Jan 2017

A Complex Systems Simulation Study For Increasing Adaptive-Capacity, Kadambari Ram

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Examination of empirical research confirmed that climate change is a complex problem of anthropological origin and revealed the need for a management framework to facilitate strategic decisions aimed at mitigating a rise in global temperatures of 2-°C linked to irresponsible and unsustainable business practices. The purpose of this simulation study was to develop a management framework of resilience, robustness, sustainability, and adaptive-capacity (RRSA) for organizations viewed as complex systems to address the current unsustainable state. As such, the evolutionary-RRSA prisoner's dilemma (PD) simulation was developed using an evolutionary game theory approach to agent based modeling and simulation, to generate data. …


Information Technology Management Strategies To Implement Knowledge Management Systems, Mary Jane Mcgee Jan 2017

Information Technology Management Strategies To Implement Knowledge Management Systems, Mary Jane Mcgee

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

More than 38% of the U.S. public workforce will likely retire by 2030, which may result in a labor shortage. Business leaders may adopt strategies to mitigate knowledge loss within their organizations by capturing knowledge in a knowledge management system (KMS). The purpose of this single case study was to explore strategies that information technology (IT) managers use to develop and implement a KMS. The target population consisted of IT managers in a small-sized organization located in northwestern Florida who had implemented a KMS successfully. The conceptual framework for this study was organizational knowledge creation theory. The collection of public …


The Relationship Between Sustainable Supply Chain Management, Stakeholder Pressure, And Financial Performance, Zulfiya Tchaikovsky Jan 2017

The Relationship Between Sustainable Supply Chain Management, Stakeholder Pressure, And Financial Performance, Zulfiya Tchaikovsky

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Corporate sustainability confronts significant challenges when supply chain managers pursue short-term financial performance to meet stakeholders' expectations. To achieve sustainable economic success, organizational managers need to understand the relationship between corporate sustainability and long-term financial performance. Based on the resource dependence theory, the purpose of this correlational study was to examine the relationship between sustainable supply chain management (SCM), stakeholder pressure, and corporate sustainability performance. The population consisted of worldwide public organizations from Newsweek Global Green Ranking 2016 list engaged in sustainable SCM. The secondary data for the study were collected from databases hosted by Sustainalytics and Standard & Poor's. …


Pathways For Improving Nigeria's Procurement System, Donald Osebhawe Areguamen Jan 2017

Pathways For Improving Nigeria's Procurement System, Donald Osebhawe Areguamen

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The manual procurement processes used by some private companies result in increased costs and contract fulfillment delays. The focus of this multiple case study was to explore the strategies procurement managers use to reduce costs and contract fulfillment delays. The population for this study was three procurement managers of private plastics companies located at Maitama, in Abuja, Nigeria. Weiss's theory of change was the conceptual framework for this study. Data collection included semistructured face-to-face interviews and an exploration of company archival financial documents. Data were transcribed, coded, and then validated through member checking, resulting in the emergence of 5 themes: …


Relationship Between Oil Theft, Pipeline Vandalism, And Security Costs With Revenue Losses, Ijeoma Ogechi Nwachukwu Jan 2017

Relationship Between Oil Theft, Pipeline Vandalism, And Security Costs With Revenue Losses, Ijeoma Ogechi Nwachukwu

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The oil and gas multinational companies (MNCs) in the Niger Delta continue to face numerous challenges operating in the region, especially concerning the loss of revenue. Based on the resource dependence theory, the purpose of this correlational study was to examine the relationship between oil theft, pipeline vandalism, security costs, and revenue. Eighty-eight mid- to high-level managers of oil and gas completed the Factors That Affect Company Revenue instrument. The results of the multiple linear regression analyses indicated the model was able to significantly predict revenue, F(3,88) = 947,279.44, p < .001, R2 = 1.000. All 3 predictors contributed significantly to the model, with pipeline vandalism recording the highest beta value (Ã? = .553, p = .000), the oil theft predictor with the next highest beta weight (Ã? = .451, p = .000), and the security costs predictor with the next highest beta weight (Ã? = .387, p = .000). The leaders of the oil and gas MNCs could use the outcome of this study in creating strategies and policies that guide their operations in the region, which would improve the relationship with host communities and mitigate their efforts in reducing the loss of revenue. Improved relations would result in a reduction of oil theft, pipeline vandalism, and security costs, thereby reducing revenue losses. The implication of positive social change includes implementation of more corporate social responsibility strategies and improving the economy of the region and the livelihood of the host communities.


Strategies For Implementing Advertisements In The Green Industry, Ashley Deal Castle Jan 2017

Strategies For Implementing Advertisements In The Green Industry, Ashley Deal Castle

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

After a growth in sales of 30% from 2007 to 2010, green product market sales declined 2% from 2010 to 2014 in the United States. Business leaders need to incorporate sustainable business practices and use green messaging within advertisements and marketing campaigns to assure that present needs do not compromise the ability of future generations to meet their needs. This qualitative case study explored marketing strategies that business leaders in the green advertising industry use to increase the sale of green products. The social cognitive theory was the conceptual framework used in this study. In-depth interviews with 5 purposively selected …


Offshore Outsourcing Of The United States Semiconductor Manufacturing: Management Approaches And Strategies, Oscar Mostofi Jan 2017

Offshore Outsourcing Of The United States Semiconductor Manufacturing: Management Approaches And Strategies, Oscar Mostofi

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The United States manufacturing employment decreased 33% from 1985 to 2014. During the same period, the United States semiconductor manufacturing, accounting for 1.7% of the total of the United States manufacturing workforce, lost 35% of its employees. The decline in semiconductor manufacturing jobs began in 1985 when semiconductor firms began offshoring product manufacturing overseas because of low cost of qualified labor force and facilities. This qualitative case study explored the analytical approaches and strategies business leaders of semiconductor firms that offshore manufacturing use in making informed strategic outsourcing and offshoring decisions conducive to sustainability and profitability of operations. The location …


Social Media Strategies For Increasing Sales, Loretta N. Ezeife Jan 2017

Social Media Strategies For Increasing Sales, Loretta N. Ezeife

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Social media have transformed business commerce and consumer communication, yet organizational leaders lack clear strategies for using social media platforms to their advantage. The purpose of this qualitative multicase study was to explore social media marketing strategies for increasing sales. The relationship marketing conceptual framework grounded this study. Data collection included semistructured interviews with 5 organizational leaders from 5 different organizations in the San Francisco, California, Bay Area and a review of participants’ documents including marketing materials, social media posts, and published sales reports. Data analysis included coding, categorization, and identification of major themes. The thematic assessment approach revealed 5 …


The Relationship Between Technology Threat Avoidance And Innovation In Health Care Organizations, Melvin R. Fenner Jr Jan 2017

The Relationship Between Technology Threat Avoidance And Innovation In Health Care Organizations, Melvin R. Fenner Jr

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Most leaders of healthcare delivery organizations have increased their rate of technological innovation, but some still struggle to keep pace with other industries. The problem addressed in this study was that senior leaders in some rural ambulatory healthcare facilities failed to innovate, even with recent healthcare technological innovations, which could lead to increased medical errors and a loss of efficiency. The purpose of the study was to examine if a relationship exists between the avoidance of technology threats by senior leaders in ambulatory healthcare organizations and the innovation propensity of the organization. Technology threat avoidance theory served as the theoretical …


Strategies For Integrating Technological Innovations In Small Businesses, Petra Samuel Jan 2017

Strategies For Integrating Technological Innovations In Small Businesses, Petra Samuel

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The effective integration of technological innovation is vital to the success of small businesses and can catapult growth and profitability. Some business managers and supervisors, however, may not have a firm understanding of strategies for integrating technological innovations in businesses; this lack of knowledge may result in employee frustration and costly roadblocks to achieving business objectives. This case study was conducted to identify the strategies used by business managers and supervisors to integrate technological innovations in small businesses. Christensen's theory of disruptive innovation and Rogers' theory of diffusion of innovation served as the conceptual framework. Ten business managers and supervisors …


Overcoming The Adverse Impact Of Internal Subculture Communications Within Organizations, Terrence Lee Farrier Jan 2017

Overcoming The Adverse Impact Of Internal Subculture Communications Within Organizations, Terrence Lee Farrier

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The need for clear and organizationally effective communications is necessary to maintain sustainability as competition increases. Current research has not addressed problems associated with senior managers' clarity and intent and the misinterpretation by midlevel managers of that intent, causing division managers to misinterpret the company plans. Unresolved miscommunications may lead to destructive subculture development. This mixed methods design focused on how to minimize the confusion that manifests between senior and midlevel management within diverse and decentralized decision support structures. The secondary purpose was to advocate for the identification of divisional misalignment and provide information for a tool to help senior …


Cyber-Security Policy Decisions In Small Businesses, Joanna Patterson Jan 2017

Cyber-Security Policy Decisions In Small Businesses, Joanna Patterson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Cyber-attacks against small businesses are on the rise yet small business owners often lack effective strategies to avoid these attacks. The purpose of this qualitative multiple case study was to explore the strategies small business owners use to make cyber-security decisions. Bertalanffy's general systems theory provided the conceptual framework for this study. A purposive sample of 10 small business owners participated in the interview process and shared their decision-making methodologies and influencers. The small business owners were vetted to ensure their strategies were effective through a series of qualification questions. The intent of the research question and corresponding interview questions …


Strategies To Manage Enterprise Information Technology Projects, Mario West Jan 2017

Strategies To Manage Enterprise Information Technology Projects, Mario West

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Since 2005, most midsize company information technology (IT) projects had a 62.4% failure rate because of wrong project team communication skills or cost overruns. IT leaders expect negative IT project outcomes will cost over $2 billion by 2020. Using the actor-network theory, the purpose of this single case study was to explore strategies used by IT leaders from a midsize IT company in Washington, D.C. to plan and execute projects under budget and on time. Using purposeful sampling, 5 IT leaders were selected for this study because of their experience in implementing successful strategies for projects. Data were collected using …


Relationship Between The California Drought And Almond Demand, Wayne E. Lacy Jan 2017

Relationship Between The California Drought And Almond Demand, Wayne E. Lacy

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Areas of California's Central Valley are sinking at rates up to 1 foot per year due to subsidence caused, in part, by the state's years-long drought, challenging growers to locate additional water sources for their crops. Supply and demand theory guided this correlational study. The purpose of the study was to examine the financial impact of drought on almond demand. This study included annualized historical almond industry data for the United States (N = 97), downloaded from a United States Department of Agriculture database. The results of multiple linear regression analysis indicated that the model was capable of predicting almond …


Exploring Strategies For Early Identification Of Risks In Information Technology Projects, Nina Michele Mack-Cain Jan 2017

Exploring Strategies For Early Identification Of Risks In Information Technology Projects, Nina Michele Mack-Cain

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Project managers must ensure risk management and business justification for their projects. Approximately, 53% of IT projects failed due to project managers not identifying risks early in the projects' lifecycle. The purpose of this single case study was to explore strategies IT project managers utilize to identify risks early in the project's lifecycle. The study population consisted of 5 lead IT project managers from a telecom company located in the Midwest region of the United States who had managed IT projects. The conceptual framework that grounded this study was the general systems theory. The data collection process involved semistructured interviews, …


Educator's Technology Integration Barriers And Student Technology Preparedness As 21st Century Professionals, Joy Anne Pine-Thomas Jan 2017

Educator's Technology Integration Barriers And Student Technology Preparedness As 21st Century Professionals, Joy Anne Pine-Thomas

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Millions of dollars have been spent to acquire educational computing tools, and many education, government, and business leaders believe that investing in these computing tools will improve teaching and learning. The purpose of this quantitative study was to determine whether charter school educators face technological barriers hindering them from incorporating technology into their classrooms. If they experienced self-efficacy issues integrating technology in their classrooms and if they believed their students were technologically prepared as 21st century professionals. A 5-point Likert scale survey, validated by a pilot study, was completed by 61 charter high school teachers. Their responses were analyzed, scores …


Sustainability And Social Responsibility In Small Food Enterprises: Barriers And Enablers, Aurora Dawn Reinke Jan 2017

Sustainability And Social Responsibility In Small Food Enterprises: Barriers And Enablers, Aurora Dawn Reinke

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Small to medium enterprises (SMEs) in the food industry contend with a variety of corporate sustainability and social responsibility (CSSR) issues, ranging from the environmental impact of food waste to human health concerns about specific ingredients and production methods. In this qualitative multicase study, based on the conceptual frameworks of strategic development, stakeholder management, and institutional theory, I explored barriers and enablers for Washington, DC-based food SMEs as they proactively addressed CSSR issues. I interviewed five SME owner-managers. The transcripts were then coded and analyzed. Three themes emerged. Strategic development tended to be ad hoc and experimental, but with equal …