A Cross-Regional Comparison Of Fabricated Metals' Manufacturing Sector Resiliency,
2015
Walden University
A Cross-Regional Comparison Of Fabricated Metals' Manufacturing Sector Resiliency, Linda Ann Holt
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
Fabricated metals' manufacturing sector employment in the United States declined following the onset of the 2008 recession. Premium compensation and benefits afforded to employees within the manufacturing sector amplified the negative effects of recessionary job losses. Using the regional macroeconomic complex adaptive systems (CAS) framework, the purpose of this study was to examine the geographic distribution of job losses, recovery rates, and adaptive behavior after the recession for the fabricated metals manufacturing sector by measuring and comparing effects in 50 East North Central division MSAs and 50 South Atlantic division MSAs in the United States. Independent sample t tests compared …
Adelphia: An Exploratory Case Study Of Corporate Culture And Ethical Judgment,
2015
Walden University
Adelphia: An Exploratory Case Study Of Corporate Culture And Ethical Judgment, Susan Bishop
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
White collar corporate corruption continues to be prevalent in the United States, costing shareholders billions of dollars annually. This study of the collapse of Coudersport, PA firm, Adelphia Communications, explored how and why leadership of this prominent and successful company made unethical decisions, created an atmosphere of moral disengagement, and led to the downfall of the company. Taped interviews with 10 executives who were employed at the company during the years of its rise and demise (1996-2006) were transcribed, hand coded, and analyzed to explore the ethical culture and leadership practices at Adelphia. These insights offer a possible explanation for …
Preparing Senior Executives To Address Organizational Culture During An Organizational Merger,
2015
Walden University
Preparing Senior Executives To Address Organizational Culture During An Organizational Merger, Kenneth T. Hannigan
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
Executives planning for an organizational merger often neglect or overlook the importance of creating a positive organizational culture. Researchers have demonstrated that organizational culture is important to the success of mergers. Workers' compensation industry executives who managed mergers successfully often includ organizational culture in their merger strategy. The purpose of this qualitative case study was to explore the strategies that business executives used to unify organizational cultures during an organizational merger. The population for the study consisted of 3 CEOs with operations in northern Florida, who successfully merged companies within the workers' compensation managed care industry. For each of these …
Exploring Recruiting Challenges Of The Insurance Industry,
2015
Walden University
Exploring Recruiting Challenges Of The Insurance Industry, Hema Chaurasia
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
Insurance companies provide financial protection to the general population, but their workforce challenges may destabilize the companies to the point of financial distress. Senior insurance company leaders lack effective strategies to recruit skilled professionals. With contingency theory and resource-based view theory as the framework, the focus in this multicase study was the exploration of the recruiting strategies of human resources (HR) managers in New York City area insurance companies. Four insurance company HR managers were recruited via a purposeful and snowball sampling method for semistructured interviews. These interviews were analyzed through a reflective interpretation process, which was guided by the …
A Quantitative Model Studying The Effects Of Transformational Leadership On Job Satisfaction,
2015
Walden University
A Quantitative Model Studying The Effects Of Transformational Leadership On Job Satisfaction, Kenneth Uzoma Chukwuba
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
Hotels have lost $3.4 billion over the last 5 years because of high rates of employee turnover. Leaders must use the tools necessary to increase job satisfaction and retain professional employees. The problem was that insufficient data described the relationships between transformational leadership, gender, education, and job satisfaction for hotel professionals. The purpose of this survey study was to understand the relationship between transformational leadership and job satisfaction for the hotel professionals in the United States. A total of 248 hotel professionals from the Colorado Lodging and Hotel Association were surveyed using the Multifactor Leadership Questionnaire and the Job Satisfaction …
Efficient Management Of Cross-Cultural Manufacturing Teams In The Dominican Republic,
2015
Walden University
Efficient Management Of Cross-Cultural Manufacturing Teams In The Dominican Republic, Efrain Serrano
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
Companies that have moved their operations from the United States to other countries have forced top management to rely on their managers for leading overseas assignments. However, the success rate of expatriate managers is low and is a concern for top management in corporations. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore the shared lived experiences of 20 expatriate managers to identify methods which may improve the success rates of expatriate managers asked to participate in overseas assignments. Social learning, cultural shock, and experiential learning were used to support the conceptual framework linking how cross-cultural training, adaptation, problems, and …
Restaurant Revenue Management: Examining Reservation Policy Implications At Fine Dining Restaurants,
2015
Walden University
Restaurant Revenue Management: Examining Reservation Policy Implications At Fine Dining Restaurants, Nanishka Hernandez
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
In the restaurant industry, some patrons do not honor their reservations, especially on holidays. Grounded in postpositivism and system theories, the purpose of this comparative study was to examine the impact of implementing a credit card payment policy for fine dining restaurants reservations and no shows after implementation of a credit card guarantee policy at a high-end hotel located in the southeast United States. Data were collected from archival records provided by the hotel executives. According to the results of a Wilcoxon Signed Rank test, there was a statistically significant decrease in the number of no shows, p < .001, after the implementation of the credit card guarantee policy. In a paired sample t-test, there was a statistically significant decrease in the number of reservations, p < .001, after implementation of the credit card guarantee policy. The implications for positive social change include the potential to increase understanding of payment policies as they relate to the restaurant industry. Service industry managers can benefit from implementing payment policies that can vary from specific dates, seasons, and type of services. Customers will also benefit by being able to make reservations not originally possible due to demand. The current study adds to service industry knowledge, increasing the understanding of payment policies as they relate to restaurant industry. Conducting a similar study in other service industries in the future may lead to a better understanding of the nature of policies and customers' traits and behaviors.
Distinguishing Leadership Of Information Assurance Teams,
2015
Walden University
Distinguishing Leadership Of Information Assurance Teams, Bamidele Adetokunbo Bankole
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
Information assurance (IA) projects are essential components of the information technology industry and often fail due to budget overruns, missed deadlines, and lack of performance by the project teams. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore the strategies necessary to improve IA project team performance. Lewin's situational leadership theory was used as the conceptual framework for this study. Interviews were conducted with 20 IA professionals located in the Washington, DC Metropolitan area. The data were transcribed, coded, and clustered for the identification of common patterns based on the Moustakas' modified van Kaam analysis. The major themes that emerged …
Transformational Leadership For Virtual Teams In An Information Technology Organization,
2015
Walden University
Transformational Leadership For Virtual Teams In An Information Technology Organization, Russell Thomas Hogue
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
Research has shown that transformational leadership behavior impacts team performance in a traditional work environment; however, no research has evaluated the relationship between transformational leadership and team performance in a virtual setting. Building on the theoretical foundation of Bass' 1990 work, this study examined the relationship between transformational leadership behavior and 3 measures linked to team success: work effort, perceived leader effectiveness, and job satisfaction for virtual teams. The present research focused on the transformational leadership behaviors of 41 senior executives in an information technology (IT) organization and over 300 direct report employees. Employees used the Multifactor Leadership Questionnaire 5x …
The Triple Bottom Line And Social Responsibility Framework In Public Sector Management,
2015
Walden University
The Triple Bottom Line And Social Responsibility Framework In Public Sector Management, Matthew Ajiake
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
Leaders of public sector agencies must incorporate the voices of diversified stakeholders into planning and decision-making processes. With aging infrastructures around the world, public agencies are challenged to move public benefit projects forward when citizens are not engaged or empowered to participate in the process. The purpose of this triple bottom line (social, ecological, and financial) and social responsibility study was to explore whether public sector organizations are socially responsible by law. A case study was developed using data from publicly available documents and interviews that explored how the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC) implemented a social responsibility framework …
Performance Implications Of Fortune 500 Companies' Self-Interest In Corporate Social Responsibility Activities,
2015
Walden University
Performance Implications Of Fortune 500 Companies' Self-Interest In Corporate Social Responsibility Activities, Peter M. Neeves
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
Numerous prior studies examining the relationship between Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and corporate financial performance have produced mixed results. Consumers expect alignment between corporation's CSR and business activities, yet a paucity of research examines the nature of CSR activities as related to corporate financial performance. Corporate leaders lack direction as to what CSR activities are most impactful. CSR is grounded in stakeholder theory, ethical work climate, and servant leadership theories. The relationship between self-interest in CSR activities, an index of alignment between business activities and CSR activities, and financial performance as measured by return on assets (ROA), return on equity …
Exploring The Experiences Of Call Center Employees Regarding Business Scripting,
2015
Walden University
Exploring The Experiences Of Call Center Employees Regarding Business Scripting, Roman Dzuba
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
Scripting, defined as the mechanization of business processes through automated tools or orchestrated responses, has played a significant role in shaping call center activities and the resultant customer relationship. However, findings of industry research have shown that the use of scripting to maximize operational efficiency has had a disempowering effect on call center employees by lowering their job-skill and knowledge requirements. Grounded in the concepts of knowledge management and knowledge transfer, this study explored the experiences of frontline call center employees on the effects of scripting on customer problem solving. A single-case study design with semistructured interviews was used with …
The Link Between Leadership And Reduced Dropout Rates,
2015
Walden University
The Link Between Leadership And Reduced Dropout Rates, Kathy Evans-Brown
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
Urban high schools that predominantly service at-risk students have not been faring well, with disproportionate numbers of minority children and poor White children are dropping out. The purpose of this mixed methods study was to examine the relationship between leaders' successes and the number of reduced dropout initiatives in 2 urban schools. This research was guided by empirical literature that included a review of various successful leadership practices. Case study interviews were conducted with 2 principals and 3 directors and were analyzed for common themes. Quantitative survey data were collected from a purposeful sample of 195 students and 7 administrative …
A Delphi Study Of The Potential Influence Of Women In Stem Careers,
2015
Walden University
A Delphi Study Of The Potential Influence Of Women In Stem Careers, Sharyn Elizabeth Mlinar
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
American businesses are working with educational institutions to attract women into technical and scientific professions. However, less than one quarter of the people working in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) are women. The educational system as-a-pipeline model is not supplying business with skilled workers, specifically female STEM employees. Organizational change must occur and this process begins with the organization's leadership. Guided by the the conceptual frameworks of Kotter & Rathgeber and Kouzes & Posner, this Delphi study asked 54 female professionals, in various locations across the United States, about what influenced them in their education and career choices. Responses …
The Relationship Between Terrorism, Oil Prices, And Airline Profitability,
2015
Walden University
The Relationship Between Terrorism, Oil Prices, And Airline Profitability, Ubirathan Miranda
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
Given the financial challenges faced by the airline industry, understanding of the combined effect of terrorism and the price of petroleum on airline profitability is imperative. The purpose of this correlational study was to determine if a combination of terrorism and the price of petroleum significantly predicted airline profitability, and which variable was the most significant. This study collected samples of financial records from major American commercial passenger and cargo airlines on costs of fuel (n = 84) and airline profitability (n = 84). The terrorism data (n = 84) were comprised of terrorist attacks on petroleum infrastructure in oil-producing …
Employee Perception Of The Value Of Customer Focus Training In Public Transportation,
2015
Walden University
Employee Perception Of The Value Of Customer Focus Training In Public Transportation, Michael L. Dawkins
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
The number of service-oriented jobs has increased locally and nationally, and organizations are spending millions of dollars to train front-line employees to maintain customer satisfaction and compete in the service industry. Despite the financial investments of these training programs, little research has investigated the holistic effectiveness of customer-focused training (CFT) programs. Researchers found positive relationships between the constructs under investigation and reported that when CFT programs are delivered on a consistent basis with leadership support, they help build a service-oriented culture. The purpose of this case study was to investigate employee perceptions of CFT and relationships between performance, engagement, and …
The Value Of Diagnostic Software And Doctors' Decision Making,
2015
Walden University
The Value Of Diagnostic Software And Doctors' Decision Making, Babatunde Ayodele Alaofin
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
The prevalence of medical misdiagnosis has remained high despite the adoption of diagnostic software. This ongoing controversy about the role of technology in mitigating the problem of misdiagnosis centers on the question of whether diagnostic software does reduce the incidence of misdiagnosis if properly relied upon by physicians. The purpose of this quantitative, cross-sectional study based on planned behavior theory was to measure doctors' opinions of diagnostic technology's medical utility. Recruitment e-mails were sent to 3,100 AMA-accredited physicians through their database that yielded a sample of 99 physicians for the study. One-sample t tests and, where appropriate because of non-normal …
General Strain Theory As A Predictor Of Occupational Fraud,
2015
Walden University
General Strain Theory As A Predictor Of Occupational Fraud, Timothy Bergsma
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
The world economy loses an estimated $3.5 trillion annually due to fraud. A weakened economy leads to additional hardships for individuals, families, and organizations. General strain theory (GST) posits that certain strains lead to negative emotional responses, and the result is delinquent behavior. The purpose of this research was to analyze the relationship between strain and occupational fraud through the theoretical framework of GST. The research questions addressed (a) occupational frauds as measured by strain levels of perpetrators, (b) the relationship between strain scores and the different occupational fraud types, and (c) the significance of the relationship between fraud motivation …
Transformational Leadership And Safe Driving Performance In The U.S. Electric Utility Industry,
2015
Walden University
Transformational Leadership And Safe Driving Performance In The U.S. Electric Utility Industry, Mackington Joseph
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
Transformational leadership (TL) has been found popular in many industries in the United States and abroad for the perceived transformational leaders' effectiveness in improving occupational safety. There is a lack of empirical evidence to confirm these claims for safe occupational driving. This phenomenological study attempted to fill this knowledge gap in the electric utility industry where employees must drive in all weather conditions to restore power to customers. The conceptual framework for the study was based on leadership and motivation theories of Burns and Maslow. The research questions explored the influence of (a) TL on safe driving performance improvement in …
Communication Satisfaction Of Charismatic Leaders In Virtual Teams,
2015
Walden University
Communication Satisfaction Of Charismatic Leaders In Virtual Teams, Felicia Latrice Chachere
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
Over the last 2 decades of advances in technology, organizations have used virtual teams (VTs) as one way to expand globally. Strong leadership and communication skills with followers are essential qualities for successful VTs. It is important to conduct research related to charismatic leadership and communication satisfaction of team members as many organizations now use VTs. The purpose of the survey study was to examine the relationship of perceived charismatic leadership qualities in VT leaders and communication satisfaction in VT members. The research questions examined the association between charismatic leadership qualities and the subdimension of communication satisfaction. Charismatic leadership was …
