Business Administration, Management, and Operations Commons^™

Effects Of Supplemental Bid Documentation, Alexis M. Bynum

Construction Management

As the complexity of construction projects increases, more work is being subcontracted out by general contractors who oversee the construction of the project. Research suggests that a variety of factors are impacting subcontractors when putting together a bid. These factors were considered in determining a proposed solution for simplifying the bid process. This case study attempts to analyze the bidding process of construction projects in order to improve the accuracy of bids. Traditionally, bid documents include plans and specifications. This study analyzes the effects of adding a scope of work, as ascertained by the general contractor for each trade, to …

Strategic Agility, Business Model Innovation And Firm Performance: An Empirical Investigation, Thomas Clauss, Michael A. Abebe, Chanchai Tangpong, Marianne Hock

Management Faculty Publications

Despite the robust literature on the nature of business models and their implications for firm performance, research on the organizational antecedents of business model innovations (BMIs) is still evolving. In this paper, we empirically examine the extent to which firm-level strategic agility predicts the adoption of three (value creation, value capture, and value proposition) types of BMIs. Furthermore, we propose that the relationship between firm-level strategic agility and BMI adoption is contingent on the degree of environmental turbulence. Finally, we explore the mediating role that BMI plays in the relationship between firm-level strategic agility and firm performance. Our analysis of …

Leadership’S Influence On Environmental Sustainability, Stallar Lufrano-Jardine

International Conference on Gambling & Risk Taking

A phenomenological study within the gaming industry is currently being conducted to determine influential indicators within business operations. Based on interviews of executive leadership at global companies, participants disclosed the environmental developments at their organization based on industry norms and the ability to develop/execute environmental initiatives. Four themes emerged: the leader’s ideology and the political climate; the company’s founding principles; support from the industry and/or within the company; and the ability to change industry dynamics. Each leader touched on these four points. Regardless of department type, level of leadership, and the desire to be globally conscious, all participants remarked on …

Job Transitioning Experiences Of Blue-Collar Employees After Federal Downsizing, Eduardo Hurtado

Walden Faculty and Staff Publications

Downsizing, realignment, and closure of military bases have forced many low-skilled, blue-collar federal employees into involuntary job loss and job transition. The impact of involuntary job loss on blue-collar workers has been linked to stress and other adverse psychological effects. There is gap in the literature regarding the lived experiences of federal blue-collar employees following downsizing of military bases. The purpose of this qualitative, interpretive phenomenological study was to examine lived experiences of job loss and job transition for federal blue-collar employees following downsizing of military bases. Schlossberg’s transition theory provided a conceptual framework for the study. Ten ex-federal blue-collar …

Building Momentum For Collectivity In The Digital Games Community, Johanna Weststar, Marie-Josee Legault

Management and Organizational Studies Publications

Studies of digital game labor have tended to document problems in the working lives of developers while devoting relatively limited attention to solutions, or to collective representation as a step toward solutions. An increasing number of game developers are dissatisfied with their working conditions, and dissatisfaction is a necessary condition for workers to engage in collective action to gain the representational power needed to achieve change in the workplace. Noting that the landscape of collective mobilization in the game industry has not yet been systematically mapped, this article documents collective actions over the past five decades, and asks, “Are the …

Illness And The American Workplace: Issues And Implications For Employers And Employees, Victoria R. Dolan

Student Theses and Dissertations

This project aims to identify American employee experiences and existing workplace policies and cultures surrounding illness, disability, and sick leave. This approach was taken in order to closely examine what looks to be working well for companies and workers, and what could benefit from a more human centric approach in regards to workplace policy and employee support programs. The study of employee experiences in particular represents a gap in the current scholarly literature regarding illness and illness policy in the American workplace, and more accurately represents the experiences for both employees and employers. Furthermore, it assists with distinguishing the types …

Together Apart: Influences And Barriers To Engagement Among Remote Workers, Stacey-Robin H. Johnson

Student Theses and Dissertations

Organizations recognize the importance of having employees who do more than 'show up' for work. Rather, the goal is to have employees who will adapt to, embody, and promote the values, agenda, and strategic purposes of the organization beyond their work life. In the efforts around engagement, there are key influences in the organizational lifespan of an employee that can inspire or discourage engagement attitudes and behaviors.

Remote workers (defined here as those who work outside of a central, collective work setting) present unique challenges, the most pressing being maintaining a sense of connection and inclusion among the group in …

Relationship Management Communications By Nhl Teams On Twitter, Kelsey M. Baker

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The sports industry is massive, bolstered by its relationship with media. A recent development in the sport industry is the advent of social media, which offers the potential for two-way communication between sports organizations and their relevant stakeholders. Relationship management theory helps cultivate an understanding of social media as a vehicle for value creation for an organization and its stakeholders. This thesis is a content analysis of relationship communications strategies on Twitter using the accounts of five National Hockey League teams.

This study builds upon existing literature by identifying stakeholder groups targeted on Twitter by NHL teams, defining subcategories in …

Sports Betting And Indian Gaming: Overcoming Barriers To Market Entry And Integration Of Sports Books Into Tribal Casinos, Steve Light

International Conference on Gambling & Risk Taking

Abstract

Even before the U.S. Supreme Court issued its decision In Murphy v. NCAA (2018) permitting states to legalize sports wagering, the biggest brand-names in gaming worldwide were positioning themselves to capitalize on the fan base for America’s most recognizable sports leagues.

Sports wagering already is up and running in five states; analysts predict that more than half the states will legalize it within five years. Many will be among the 29 states that currently have casinos owned and operated by American Indian tribes in this $32.4 billion market segment.

There is no firm sense and little data pointing to …

Entrepreneur-Venture Fit And Burnout: Moderating Effects Of Entrepreneurial Passion, David Witt

PhD in Business Administration Dissertations

Entrepreneurial burnout is a worrying problem because it is related to reduced performance and venture failures. Existing models do not adequately explain the causes of burnout among entrepreneurs. Exploring the antecedents and mechanisms leading to this significant issue can thus enhance our understanding and facilitate the design of interventions.

This study proposes an entrepreneur-venture fit model to explain burnout among entrepreneurs. Regulatory focus orientations of promotion and prevention are proposed as defining the characteristics of entrepreneurs and their ventures that determine fit, and passion is proposed to moderate fit effects.

The model was tested using a survey-based field study to …

Closing Keynote, Theresa Coleman-Kaiser

Annual Copper Country Lean Conference

No abstract provided.

Track A: Building Your House Of Lean: Standard Work And Effective Communication - Active Learning Session, Laurie Stark, Annelise Doll

Annual Copper Country Lean Conference

This session will introduce the concept of standard work through a hands-on activity. Attendees will learn the importance of clear communication and language choices in growing a sustainable Lean environment. Presenters will share their experiences regarding how the Van Pelt and Opie Library has grown Lean through the use of standard work and effective communication.

Track B: Growing Continuous Improvement: An Example Of Pdca On Student Employee Visual Management Boards - Case Study, Dominique Aleo

Annual Copper Country Lean Conference

Visual Management and the Plan, Do, Check, Act (PDCA) Cycle are well known Lean methods. The Student Process Improvement Coordinators in the Office of Continuous Improvement at Michigan Technological University use white boards to track progress on recurring performance duties.These boards cover multiple areas of work and showcase how many students with different schedules keep track of their workload within the office. This case study examines how the Visual Management boards have changed through multiple cycles of PDCA, in pursuit of perfect visual communication between the students who work in the office, and also perfect performance. Specifically, this presentation will …

1st Annual Conference Program, Michigan Technological University

Annual Copper Country Lean Conference

Full conference program, including presenter bios and presentation descriptions.

Examining Inter-Relationships Between Supervisor Full-Range Leadership, Organizational Climate Strength, And Employee Job Satisfaction Using Multi-Level Modeling, Bharat Mohan

Dissertations

Employee job satisfaction, organizational climate, and supervisor leadership style have long been researched due to their influences on critical metrics for measuring organizational success. While the relationships between these three variables have been investigated, current research suffers from two major issues. First, no existing study has explored the inter-relationships between the aforementioned components within the same model. Second, existing studies are fraught with levels-of-analysis issues that yield findings that are either incomplete or inaccurate. This study addresses these issues by introducing organizational climate strength as a mediating variable (between supervisor leadership and employee satisfaction) and by employing multi-level modeling techniques. …

Navigating Chinese Culture And Politics: The Destinies Of Companies In China, Vicki Chen

Master's Projects and Capstones

It is generally accepted that the colossal Chinese market offers great opportunities for dynamic entrepreneurial businesses, as well as individuals, but it also means that there are more potential obstacles to be aware of and to overcome than in smaller countries. This study will show how successful businesses in the Chinese market are directly influenced by China’s unique culture, religious beliefs, codes of behavior and political policies. It will also show ignorance or unawareness of these influences can lead to a loss of business or even total failure.

Indeed, a lack of understanding of these influences has been the downfall …

Moosejaw Market Expansion Into France, Rachel Renou

Honors Projects

This research project examines the Moosejaw brand, the outdoor apparel industry, and an overview of France’s political, economic, and cultural environment. The research goal is to analyze key aspects of France that would influence a business’s decision to expand into the country. The information regarding France’s fit for new businesses would then be tailored to Moosejaw to implement. Data found throughout the research process that characterize France as a good fit or not for new foreign business include the current political state of rioting by the Yellow Vests, Macron’s future pro-business plans, the French high quality of life standard, shifting …

Collaboration In Social Hobby Groups: Transferring Qualities Of Teamwork From The Social Sphere To The Professional Sphere, Emily M. Mccormick

Graduate Theses/Dissertations

Workplace collaboration has been the subject of much research and writing. Social collaboration can help inform our understanding of how people prefer to work together and should be studied for its aspects that could be transferred to the professional sphere. This research examines how members in social hobby groups collaborate with each other and what aspects of that collaboration can be applied to the workplace. I observed and surveyed five local hobby groups to better understand how the members worked together and what made this type of socializing appealing to members. One of the primary aspects of this social collaboration …

Changemakers Bend The Beam Inward: Contemplative Practices In Social Innovation Education, Catherine Northcutt

M.A. in Higher Education Leadership: Action Research Projects

Why, as a global community, are we collectively creating results that nobody wants such as poverty, hunger, and inequality? Learning about the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the leadership learning and change theory known as Theory U by Otto Scharmer (2009), led to a profound shift in my awareness of the global challenges we face as a species and a strong desire to study Theory U. This action research report includes an explanatory account of my collaboration with the University of San Diego Global Social Innovation Community to cultivate vertical literacy (capacity for awareness of self and …

Barriers Women Face At Work: A Cursory Review Of The Literature, Jessica Curran

Honors Program Theses and Projects

“Whether there are female leadership styles…is not really the right question. It is more important to ask why there has been so little attention paid to women leaders over the years as well as why the styles of leading more often exhibited by women are particularly useful at this critical moment in history” ~Charlotte Bunch

In the United States, women have been making steady gains in the workforce for more than 40 years (Ho, 2018).Despite this fact, women continue to face discrimination when it comes to leadership roles in the upper ranks of organizations (Ho, 2018). Noting these challenges, this …