Business Administration, Management, and Operations Commons^™

Global Leaders Must Be Systems Thinkers. This Is A Problem. What To Do About It., Larry M. Starr, Phd

School of Business Faculty Papers

Two cognitive approaches are described about how people including global organizational leaders understand, formulate and try to intervene and solve problems. The prevailing, conventional approach is based on analytic thinking, established 400 years ago. A second approach is systemic thinking which is less than 100 years old, and unlikely to be taught, learned or applied. Increasing evidence about the nature of problems experienced by global leaders is that the context in which problems are occurring is volatile, uncertain, complex, ambiguous and hyperconnected (VUCAH). While analytic thinking, methods and tools are appropriate and effective for problems in contexts that are stable, …

Activists On Board: Shareholder Activists And Their Influence On Firm Strategic Change, Eugene See

Management and Decision Sciences

The prevalence of shareholder activism has resulted in the placement of activist-appointed directors onto the boards of firms. Extant research on this phenomenon has taken a rational approach in examining how such directors bring about change but has not accounted for the behavioral implications associated with their placement on boards. Building on theory involving alignment and legitimacy at the team level, this paper adopts a behavioral approach in theorizing how the placement of activist shareholders themselves as directors onto the boards of firms brings about firm change. The study finds that such activists lead to less firm change. Further, it …

2025-04-03 Student Government Association Resolution - Draft, Morehead State University. Students Government Association.

Faculty Senate Records

A draft resolution submitted by the Student Government Association to the Faculty Senate on April 4, 2025.

2025-04-03 Removal Of Diversity Statement, Morehead State University. Faculty Senate.

Faculty Senate Records

A copy of the Faculty Senate Diversity Statement which was removed from the University's website by order of the institution's legal counsel on April 3, 2025.

2025-04-03 Faculty Regent's Report, Morehead State University. Faculty Senate.

Faculty Senate Records

A report submitted by the Faculty Senate Regent to the Faculty Senate on April 3, 2025.

2025-04-03 Faculty Senate Meeting Minutes, Morehead State University. Faculty Senate.

Faculty Senate Records

Faculty Senate meeting minutes from April 3, 2025.

2025-04-03 Second Reading Of Hidden Documents Resolution, Morehead State University. Faculty Senate.

Faculty Senate Records

A second reading of a proposed resolution on hidden documents and administrative transparency submitted and discussed at the April 3, 2025 Faculty Senate meeting.

2025-04-03 Policy Review And Revision Process - Second Reading, Morehead State University. Faculty Senate.

Faculty Senate Records

A second reading of the Policy Review and Revision Process submitted at the April 3, 2025 Faculty Senate meeting.

The Succession Plan: Using Competency-Based Curriculums To Educate A New Generation Of Nurse Leaders, Cheryl Green, Evelyn Jacovino Msn, Rn, Cmsnl, Beth Boyd Dnp, Rn, Cne, Amy Ashman Msn, Rn, John Cooper Rn, Michele Velush Bsn, Rn, Pccn

Posters

Framework:

The guiding framework for this study was Mentoring Up (Hale & Phillips, 2019), a grounded theory of nurse-to-nurse mentoring. The Mentoring Up Theory identifies five phases of mentoring: seeding, opening, laddering, equalizing, and reframing.

Evolution Of Buyer Representation: Factors Reshaping Real Estate Transactions In The Boston Area, Hunter Wolters

Honors Projects in Management

This study investigates the evolving factors influencing real estate buyers' decisions to engage with real estate agents in the Boston area. By focusing on agent characteristics, legal considerations, market trends, and technological advancements, this research aims to understand how these elements are reshaping the role of buyer agents. As factors reshaping buyer’s decisions in real estate transactions remain fluid especially in the wake of the NAR Settlement, this study will research current opinions of both homebuyers and real estate agents. The objective is to provide insights into the shifting standards of buyer representation in the real estate industry and their …

Ua35/3 Provost's Message, Wku Provost

WKU Administration Documents

Spring 2025 Provost's Messages issued to faculty & staff via email. Topics include awards, budget cuts, grants, Transdisciplinary Opportunity Program and administrative decisions.

Does Ai Help Or Harm? Why And How Ai Use Influences Workplace Outcomes And Employee Well-Being, Haille Trimboli, Reka Lassu

Education Division Scholarship

Although the recent surge in excitement surrounding artificial intelligence (AI) might suggest it is a new development, AI has been applied in organizations for over forty years (Fanti et al., 2022; Markelius et al., 2024). Indeed, the term "artificial intelligence" itself emerged in the 1950s during a research project at Dartmouth College, where it was used to describe "machines able to simulate human intelligence" (Haenlein & Kaplan, 2019, p. 3). Most recently, in 2022, the landscape of AI use for laypeople greatly changed when OpenAI introduced ChatGPT, a generative AI tool, to the public; ChatGPT is an advanced AI language …

A Relational Approach To Workplace Leadership, Nathaniel J. Hunt

M.S. in Leadership

This research project examines relational leadership as an ethical and strategic foundation for fostering effective workplaces. Motivated by the growing importance of human connection in leadership, the study integrates philosophical insights, particularly Emmanuel Levinas’s ethics of the face of the Other, with empirical evidence on workplace relationship-building. A mixed-methods approach was used, combining a structured survey of 32 professionals with thematic analysis of qualitative responses. Results confirmed that strategies such as encouraging knowledge-sharing and cultivating positive relational climates significantly enhance employee well-being, psychological safety, and organizational performance. Knowledge-sharing emerged as the most effective strategy, while relationship-building was found to be …

Impact Of National Chain Restaurants On Small Family-Owned Restaurants, Valeria Ortiz

Honors Projects in Management

This Honors Thesis discusses the impact of national chain restaurants on small family-owned restaurants, emphasizing how the expansion of chain restaurants has negatively impacted small family-owned businesses. National chain restaurants are managed and owned by large corporations, which can potentially overpower traditional establishments, putting pressure on smaller restaurants to remain profitable and face the risk of closing. Despite the reduced pricing and greater convenience provided by chain restaurants, family-owned restaurants provide a sense of local community, a better dining experience, higher food quality, and a wider variety of food. In addition, this thesis also emphasizes the significance of customer satisfaction, …

Cotopaxi: Stewardship To Succession, Roy Dumblauskas, Landry Geiger, John Post, Jack Smiley, Zachary Wallenburg

B-Corp Case Studies by UNL Raikes Seniors

Cotopaxi is a company built from the ground up to be socially conscious, from their governance structure to their deeply ingrained core values. Despite being in a market dominated by incumbents like Patagonia, they've done well in the past, bringing in around $160 million in revenue in 2023 while donating millions outright and carefully maintaining ethical internal business practices. But just as the company began taking off, founder Davis Smith left the company to pursue religious mission work. He spent years, starting the search in 2019 before finally stepping down in July 2022, looking for a successor, eventually finding a …

Bombas: Weaving Purpose Into Profit, Bethany Barnwell, Madelyn Craft, Emily Nau, Carina Swanson, Vaughn Thompson

B-Corp Case Studies by UNL Raikes Seniors

Bombas is a leading premium basics brand with a unique focus on socks and philanthropy. Its 'buy one, give one' model, along with a viral appearance on Shark Tank, helped propel the company into the public eye. Since the company’s inception, they have donated over 150 million essential clothing items to people in need. Bombas’s commitment to quality and product innovation has earned it a loyal consumer base. However, its production practices and business model have faced scrutiny, raising questions about whether the company is truly maximizing its impact in giving back

New Belgium Brewing: Balancing Growth And Company Values Post-Acquisition, Brooke Bode, Charlie Brockmeier, Chase Kling, Zach Hammann, Jace Ruth, Jay Selzer

B-Corp Case Studies by UNL Raikes Seniors

New Belgium Brewing was founded in 1991 by Jeff Lebesch and Kim Jordan in Fort Collins, Colorado, famously inspired by a bicycle tour through Belgium, with "environmental stewardship" viewed as a core value from day one (New Belgium Brewing, nd). From its earliest years, New Belgium had set out to prove that a brewery could be a successful business while also being a force for good. The company implemented open-book management and a profit-sharing program that allowed employees as early as 1998 to vote and give up bonuses to invest in a wind-powered brewery in the U.S. (New Belgium Brewing, …

Does Anxiety Affect Shared Leadership? A Case Study On The Shared Leadership Practices Of A Pentecostal Denomination, Gretchen H. Abney

PhD in Organizational Leadership

This study investigates the interplay between anxiety and shared leadership within the organizational structure of a Pentecostal denomination, focusing on its One Team initiative. This qualitative case study examines how anxiety and self-differentiation affect leadership dynamics and team interactions. Using the Bowen family systems theory as a conceptual framework, the research explores organizational clarity, team roles, decision-making, and relational trust. Data collection involved three phases: analysis of organizational artifacts, focus group interviews with One Team members, and individual interviews with executives. Emergent themes included organizational experiences, expressions of anxiety, self-differentiation, commitment to future development, and the importance of training opportunities. …

Does Culture Eat Talent? A Quantitative Study Exploring The Relationship Between Organizational Culture And Turnover Intentions In Conservation Organizations, T'Noya W. Thompson

PhD in Organizational Leadership

Talent retention can be a significant challenge within organizations, especially when turnover intention (TI) is high. High TI indicates that employees experience low job satisfaction, lack organizational commitment, and perceive more opportunities outside the organization; consequently, they consider leaving, which can disrupt organizational stability and effectiveness. This study examined the relationships of perceived and preferred organizational culture (OC) and TI among a sample of 217 individuals from the conservation workforce. Of these participants, 121 were associated with 15 conservation organizations that participated, and the remaining 96 participants were acquired through conservation networks. Participants responded to an online survey that combined …

Exploring The Perspectives Of Trained Pastoral Leaders On The Perceived Role Of Mental Health Conditions In Spiritual Formation, Duane P. Roberts

PhD in Organizational Leadership

The call of the pastoral leader is to serve and lead their congregants through a process of spiritual formation in alignment with how Jesus led His disciples to fulfill the Great Commission. However, when an underlying mental health condition is present, it can play a disruptive role in the spiritual formation of congregants in unique ways. Mental health conditions are a global phenomenon that continue to significantly affect individuals across all sectors, including the church. Thus, pastoral leaders are seeking to employ the most effective leadership style to guide congregants in continual spiritual formation when an underlying mental health condition …