Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations Commons^™

Heartbeats: Sustainable Practices In Business, Natalie Pham, Shareef Awadallah, Lily Lisco, Logan Blissenbach, Nikolaos Verginis

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

HeartBeats Co. LLC is a premier audio and software technology brand that brings renewed character and performance to a stagnant space, revolutionizing the listening experience by engineering a digital music platform and headphones that possess distinct style and exceptional performance. While our team identifies and tracks trends in the market, we strive to establish market trends rather than to follow them. We are a company founded on innovation, redefining the music streaming market by combining the importance of wellness with the latest audio and software technologies and innovative functionalities. This document outlines a ten-year plan for efficient and impactful scaling, …

Too Warm To Win Big? Unpacking The Backer Dynamics Behind Female Crowdfunding Success Using A Warmth And Competence Perspective, Dan Liu

Journal of International Technology and Information Management

While crowdfunding is often heralded as a democratized funding avenue that empowers women with higher success rates, this study reveals a more nuanced picture of gender dynamics. The Stereotype Content Model suggests that women are often perceived as warmer but less competent. Using a large dataset from Kickstarter, we find that female-led projects can attract more backers, likely due to warmth-driven appeal, but receive smaller average contributions, potentially due to concerns about risk linked to lower perceived competence. However, the total funding raised by female-led campaigns is comparable to that of male-led ones, showing no clear advantage or disadvantage. This …

Design Thinking For Corporate Social Responsibility Program Proposal Creation, Michelle "Mindy" D. Danovaro

University of the Pacific Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative study used action research to explore how the use of design thinking engaged employees in the creation of a corporate social responsibility (CSR) program proposal in a small- to medium-enterprises (SME) in the Sacramento region of California. The purpose of the study was to assess whether employee participation in a design thinking exercise could improve employee perception of engagement, inclusion, and reciprocity during the CSR program proposal creation. The study was grounded in social exchange theory, stakeholder theory, and design thinking methodologies. The iterative research process followed action research cycles (i.e., plan, act, observe, and reflect) integrated with …

A Methodological Framework For Modernizing Engineering Course Content With Large Language Models, Katherine Smith, Dalya Ismael, Otilia Popescu, Murat Kuzlu, Adel El-Shahat, Vukica M. Jovanovic

Engineering Technology Faculty Publications

The rapid evolution of technology presents challenges for engineering educators. While the core engineering methods often remain relevant over time, course materials rapidly become outdated in presentation and pedagogical approach. This paper presents a methodological framework for using large-language models (LLMs) to modernize engineering course content with a case study in an advanced technical analysis course.

The methodology follows a phased approach that is designed to be repeatable and verify the accuracy and completeness of course content. During the first phase, an LLM is used to map outdated text-heavy content to a modern format using a LaTeX template. The second …

Founder Ceo Leadership And Financial Resilience In U.S. Critical Infrastructure Firms: Evidence On Solvency, Stability And Bankruptcy Risk, Md Asif Ul Alam, Md Maruf Ul Alam, Toufiq Nazrul

Business Administration

This study investigates the role of founder CEO leadership in enhancing corporate financial resilience and its broader implications for economic stability in the United States, focusing on utility firms as a critical component of national infrastructure. The financial health of these firms is closely tied to the reliability of essential services, infrastructure continuity, and U.S. economic security, as emphasized by the U.S. Department of Energy and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. Drawing on agency theory, stewardship theory, and founder imprinting theory, the study argues that founder CEOs, due to their long-term orientation, concentrated ownership, and strong organizational commitment, are more …

Mistreatment As Instrumental Or Obstructive? How Appraisals Of Customer Mistreatment Impact Entrepreneurial Action, Nicholas A. Smith

Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations

Theory on entrepreneurial action emphasizes the role of cognition in guiding when and how entrepreneurs act. Research in this area has accordingly focused on identifying antecedents of entrepreneurs’ cognitive processes, often emphasizing environmental or economic conditions that broadly influence how entrepreneurs evaluate opportunities. Yet, much less attention has been given to how everyday social interactions spark cognitive processes that influence venture-directed behavior. This dissertation integrates the transactional theory of stress to examine customer mistreatment, defined as low-quality interpersonal treatment from customers, as a social stressor that impacts entrepreneurs’ cognitive appraisals and resulting venture-directed behavior. Here, I argue that mistreatment from …

First Portfolio – Mngt 475: Business Strategies, Lisa Tschauner

UNL Faculty Course Portfolios

MNGT 475: Business Strategies serves as the undergraduate strategic management capstone course in the University of Nebraska–Lincoln College of Business. The course integrates knowledge from accounting, finance, economics, marketing, management, supply chain management, analytics, and entrepreneurship while providing students with opportunities to apply strategic frameworks to authentic business challenges. This portfolio documents the design, implementation, assessment, and continuous improvement of the course, with particular attention given to experiential learning and the comparison of two instructional models: a traditional case-study project and a real-world industry-partner consulting project. Drawing upon Kolb’s Experiential Learning Theory, self-reflection, self-efficacy, and teamwork constructs, the portfolio examines …

N Y State Dent J January 2026

The New York State Dental Journal

In the January 2026 issue, the reader will find the following feature articles:

• No Need to Travel the Road to Licensure Renewal Alone
• IPS Subperiosteal Implant for the Maxilla and Mandible
• Amyloidoma of the Palate
• Titanium Hypersensitivity as Possible Cause of Dental Implant Failures

This issue includes regular columns with regional news impacting the New York membership including editorial and perspectives columns, legal, association activities, component news, continuing education opportunities, and classifieds.

The Role Of Emotional Intelligence In Entrepreneurial Leadership: A Mixed-Methods Case Study On Fostering Resilience And Sustainable Performance In Chinese Tech Startups, Mei Wang

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

This study examines the relationship between emotional intelligence (EQ) and entrepreneurial leadership in Chinese tech startups through an explanatory sequential mixed-methods design. Guided by a primary research question—how EQ functions within the leadership team under sustained crisis—and a sub‑question examining the specific competencies to Navigate Emotions, Exercise Optimism, Increase Empathy, and Apply Consequential Thinking—the study uses the Six Seconds Emotional Intelligence (SEI) Assessment and semi‑structured interviews with five leaders within one company (identified by the pseudonym BTI), a Beijing‑based SaaS startup. The findings reveal that the abilities to manage emotional reactions and maintain a positive outlook serve as the “twin …

Discovering The Power Of Invention Education Workshops: An Examination Of Entrepreneurial Mindset And Self-Efficacy Among Rio Hondo College Students., Marissa Young

Doctor of Business Administration (DBA)

A profound symbiotic relationship exists between innovation and entrepreneurship; entrepreneurs have changed the world through dynamic innovations and inventions that drive economic success. Two factors central to this development are entrepreneurial self-efficacy (ESE), or confidence in one’s entrepreneurial abilities, and entrepreneurial mindset (EM), the thinking and attitudes that support entrepreneurial action. Both are linked to entrepreneurial success. Invention Education (IvE) is a pedagogical approach that enables students to develop creative solutions to complex problems. IvE remains more common in K-12 settings, with a limited presence in postsecondary institutions. Rio Hondo College, a community college in Whittier, California, has been developing …

Przedsiębiorczość: Praktyczny Przewodnik Dla Sukcesu W Biznesie, Jalleh Sharafizad, Violetta Wilk, Kerry Brown, Aglae Hernandez Grande, Fleur Sharafizad, Dorothy Wardale, Arkadiusz Gwarda, Artur Korkoszkiewicz, Marta Komorska, Bartosz Sobotka, Michał Wójcik

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

This book is tailored for entrepreneurs in their startups or moving to the next stage of their businesses, micro and small business owners, as well as individuals who are considering starting their own ventures. It brings together essential insights, practical tools, and valuable resources developed through two Western Australian government initiatives focused on entrepreneurial training and support. In addition, it draws on a range of business concepts from other sources, refining and simplifying them to suit the specific needs of emerging and growing enterprises.

Designed to be both flexible and supportive, the book serves multiple roles throughout your entrepreneurial journey. …

Blending Minds, Balancing Goals: Tmt Heterogeneity And Sustainable-Innovation In Family Firms, Mahdi Vesal, Muhammad Aftab Alam, Mohammad H. Rahmati

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Family firms often prioritize profitability and growth, but balancing these with environmental sustainability is challenging. While TMT heterogeneity shapes various performance outcomes, its role in addressing the profitability–environmental sustainability dilemma in family firms remains unclear. Building on the upper echelons theory, we investigate how TMT heterogeneity drives the simultaneous pursuit of financial and environmental performance, which we refer to as hybrid financial–environmental performance, through sustainable-innovation practices. Additionally, we examine how family-firm governance mechanisms influence these relationships. Analyzing data from two matched samples of CEOs and senior production managers of Australian family firms, we find not only that TMT heterogeneity enhances …

Capitalising On The Social Interactional Nature Of Digital Entrepreneurship: An Agenda For Digital Entrepreneurs, Llandis Barratt-Pugh, Fang Zhao, Yuli Suseno, Janice Redmond, Peter Standen

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Digital entrepreneurship (DE) is transforming traditional entrepreneurship (TE). This article investigates how social network interactions underpin DE development by harvesting knowledge for venture growth. A review of DE literature revealed few empirical social interaction studies exploring strategies for DE development. This study focused on that knowledge gap, using social network and social capital theories for the conceptual framework. Forty-one interviews with experienced DEs were analysed using a novel application of social network and social capital theory as an analytical framework with an iterative grounded theory approach. The findings validated a social interaction research approach. The evidence indicated that DE is …

What Makes An Internationalizing Firm Entrepreneurial?, Daniel R. Clark, Robert J. Pidduck, Nicole E. Coviello

Management Faculty Publications

Zahra et al. (2024) argue that prior research has insufficient understanding of the entrepreneurial nature of internationalization. To address this, they integrate theories from management and international business to develop a firm-level typology that incorporates (1) the degree of radicalness of the firm’s entrepreneurial behavior and (2) the firm’s level of foreign market commitment. We advance these efforts by proposing that, to understand what makes an internationalizing firm entrepreneurial, researchers will also benefit from direct insights from entrepreneurship research. We retain Zahra et al.’s (2024) behavioral focus in our arguments but shift attention to the individuals …

The Differential Impacts Of Internal And External Corporate Social Responsibility Activities On Consumer Trust After Covid-19, Kennadi C. Mccoy

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This dissertation explores the strategic role of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) in helping small businesses recover from crises, with a specific focus on the COVID-19 pandemic. Different from many traditional studies that highlight the ethical or reputational aspects of CSR, this research will examine its practical effects: how CSR initiatives during crises influence business success by enhancing consumer trust, particularly by examining the differential impact of Internal CSR versus External CSR. The study suggests that, compared with internally focused CSR, external CSR activities will have a greater impact on consumer trust. In addition, the dissertation suggests that this effect is …

90-Day Consulting Engagement Grounded In Authentic And Servant Leadership Approaches–Building Capacity For Small Business, Michon Hicks

Doctor of Strategic Leadership (DSL) Capstone Abstracts

This doctoral capstone project examined a 90-day consulting engagement designed to strengthen organizational capacity in a small, M/WBE-certified professional services firm operating in a government contracting environment. Grounded in authentic and servant leadership frameworks, the engagement used a structured 30-60-90-day intervention model to assess leadership alignment, administrative infrastructure, human resources capacity, data management practices, and marketing readiness. The project employed an organizational health check-up approach to diagnose systemic gaps, co-create solutions with organizational leadership, and implement practical tools to improve operational consistency, compliance readiness, and leadership effectiveness. Outcomes of the engagement included improved leadership alignment, standardized administrative and operational workflows, …

Fostering Student Innovation Through Entrepreneurship Education: The Roles Of Alertness, Proactivity, And University Support, Emmanuel Mensah Kparl

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Although widely studied, the way entrepreneurship education drives innovative behavior in resource-limited contexts is still unclear. While prior research has explored its influence on entrepreneurial intention, few studies have examined how individual traits and institutional contexts shape the link between education and innovation. Drawing on Entrepreneurial Alertness Theory and Social Cognitive Theory, this study investigates how entrepreneurship education influences innovative behavior through the cognitive pathway of entrepreneurial alertness and the dispositional factor of proactive personality. It also examines how university support strengthens these relationships. A three-phase survey design was employed among 718 undergraduate students, using structural equation modeling for analysis. …

Dental Professionalism In A Changing World: Challenges & Opportunities, Robert P. Iovino, Dds, Ma Dds, Ma

Journal of the American College of Dentists

This manuscript examines the erosion of traditional dental professionalism amid rising educational costs, declining membership in professional associations, and the growing influence of corporate ownership and private equity in dentistry. Drawing perspectives from economics, sociology, philosophy, law, and ethics, it traces the historical development of professional licensure and its role in safeguarding clinical autonomy, ethical integrity, and public trust. The analysis highlights how deregulation and profit-driven practice models challenge the profession’s social contract. The manuscript argues that preserving strong civic institutions, restrictive licensure standards, and humanities-informed education is essential to sustaining dentistry as a learned profession rather than a commodified …

Case Study: The Economic And Legal Challenges Moving From A Township To A City, George F. Dierberger Dr., Ibrahim Keita Dr., Cory Erickson

Journal of the North American Management Society

The paper examines the economic and legal challenges moving from a township to a municipality in the state of Minnesota. One of the authors was a member of the township board as they went through the process of educating the citizens on the risks and rewards of changing from a township to a municipality.

Maximizing Online Intersession Enrollment Through Targeted Course Offerings, Heather S. Mcmillan, Charles D. Mcallister

Journal of the North American Management Society

Abstract

Online winter intersession courses have become an increasingly important strategy for universities seeking to support accelerated student progression while generating incremental tuition revenue. This study examines ten years of winter intersession enrollment data from a public, master’s-level comprehensive university in the Midwestern United States to identify course characteristics associated with higher student enrollment. Using 12,520 individual enrollment records, the analysis focuses on course type (general education versus major requirement), course classification (lower level, upper level, blended undergraduate/graduate, and graduate), and course discipline. A series of ANOVAs and Bonferroni post-hoc tests reveal significant differences in enrollment across these dimensions, with …