Digital Commons Network^™

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 …

Approaching The Wine Tasting Lexicon, Angela Dumford

Honors Theses - Providence Campus

There has been an increase in demand for wine knowledge in all sectors of the business. Whether you are a sommelier striving to improve your extensive comprehension of the world of wine, a server aiming to provide guests with a more personalized wine experience, or a simple customer that is curious about learning the basics; wine can be explored and enjoyed by anyone. Despite this, understanding where to begin in the wine world can be extremely intimidating. There are countless books, articles, and infographics available to the average wine enthusiast, but the intensity and quality of information varies dramatically. Furthermore, …

The Customer Is Always Right Philosophy, Gbassah Doman

Honors Theses - Providence Campus

The philosophy “the customer is always right” has long influenced customer service practices by emphasizing attentiveness, satisfaction, and loyalty. While originally intended to promote respectful engagement and trust‑building, contemporary interpretations of the philosophy often encourage unconditional customer accommodation, raising concerns about employee well‑being, ethical boundaries, and organizational sustainability. This study examines the historical foundations, strengths, limitations, and ethical implications of philosophy within modern business environments.

Using a qualitative research approach, the study analyzes academic literature, industry research, and organizational case studies to evaluate how rigid customer absolutism affects employees, customers, and organizational performance. Case studies of Amazon, Ritz‑Carlton, and Southwest …

Addressing Author Misconduct, Christopher J. Smiley

AADEJ - The Communicator

This feature article addresses the growing need for clear editorial policies on author misconduct, especially with the rise of Generative AI (GAI). Editors are vital gatekeepers who ensure the accuracy and transparency of dental literature, thereby protecting patient safety. The author distinguishes between unintentional misconduct, such as inadvertent plagiarism, and intentional misconduct, like data fabrication or deliberate non-disclosure of AI use. Remedial measures emphasize author education for honest mistakes, while severe violations require zero-tolerance actions such as formal retraction and institutional notification. Implementing these protocols is vital for maintaining reader trust and upholding professional integrity.

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.

Commercial Determinants Of Health Revisited: Integrating Business Scholarship For Greater Public Health Impact, Junghoon Park, Bryan W. Husted

Management Faculty Works

In her influential 2020 review in Globalization and Health, Mialon synthesizes the commercial determinants of health (CDOH) literature and underscores how commercial actors are connected to public health through the institutional environments in which they operate. Much of this research conceptualizes firms as institutionally embedded but relatively homogeneous actors, emphasizing external practices such as the production and promotion of harmful commodities, lobbying, and corporate social responsibility initiatives. While recent CDOH scholarship has begun to recognize the importance of organizational-level factors, few studies analyze the internal processes through which corporate conduct with public health consequences emerges. We argue that integrating insights …

Strategic Peer Region Selection For Economic Development, Xiaobing Shuai, Riley Ford

School of Professional and Continuing Studies Faculty Publications

Benchmarking against peer and aspirational regions is essential for economic development because it provides meaningful context for evaluating performance and shaping strategy. These comparisons help highlight regional advantages that attract new investments, as well as uncover gaps that may represent opportunities for future growth. ...

This article provides a practical, data-driven framework that economic development organizations can use to identify peer and aspirational regions, strengthen benchmarking efforts, and support strategy development. A case study illustrates how this can be applied to better interpret economic indicators and inform decision-making. For EDOs, this approach offers a more consistent way to evaluate competitiveness, …

Early Stem Impressions, Student Engagement, And Readiness For Digitalization, Myron Sheu

Journal of International Technology and Information Management

This study examines how early impressions of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) shape business students’ learning behaviors and, ultimately, their readiness for organizational digitalization. Focusing on gender differences, subgroup identities, and perceived obstacles, the analysis uses survey data processed through correlation matrices, regression models, and subgroup heatmaps to trace the relationship between initial attitudes toward STEM and subsequent engagement patterns. The findings reveal consistent links between positive early impressions and active participation in structured STEM activities, along with gender-based distinctions in action preferences. Subgroup analyses further uncover nuanced patterns where stereotypes or perceived barriers correspond with reduced engagement. Collectively, …

Does Digital Innovation Matter For Hospital Efficiency? Evidence From U.S. Hospitals, C. Christopher Lee, Shihui Fan, Jung Young Lee, David W. Hwang

Journal of International Technology and Information Management

Purpose – This study examines the impact of digital innovation on hospital performance, providing evidence to guide healthcare administrators and policymakers in making informed decisions regarding digital investment.

Design/Methodology/Approach – Using data from the 2020 American Hospital Association (AHA) U.S. Hospital Survey and the 2019 AHA Information Technology Survey, we empirically analyze the relationship between five dimensions of digital innovation—automation, cybersecurity, telehealth, health information exchange (HIE), and IT spending—and three efficiency indicators: occupancy rate, capacity productivity, and manpower productivity.

Findings – The results show that digital innovation has varying effects on hospital efficiency. Automation is positively associated with capacity and …

The Crowdfunding Paradox In Crisis: Rising Funder Demand Vs. Declining Entrepreneur Supply, Dan Liu, Guangzhi Shang, Cynthia Fan Yang

Journal of International Technology and Information Management

This study investigates how the crowdfunding marketplace responds to major crises, focusing on behavioral shifts among funders and entrepreneurs. Results show a dual impact on platform dynamics. On the demand side, funders become more engaged, with notable increases in the number of backers, average contributions, and total pledge amounts. This heightened activity suggests stronger altruistic motivations, as individuals view crowdfunding as a way to support others during difficult times. On the supply side, however, entrepreneurs act more cautiously, leading to a decline in new project launches. This drop likely reflects increased risk aversion and uncertainty as creators navigate volatile conditions. …

A Holistic Approach To Country Branding: Examining A Master Brand And Sub-Brand Framework, Musa Pinar, Aycan Duran Tekoglu, Tulay Girard

Atlantic Marketing Journal

Recently, nation branding has drawn the attention of policymakers worldwide, as nations recognize its strategic importance in achieving and sustaining success in the global competitive landscape. This study provides a conceptual framework based on master brand and sub-brand architecture to examine country branding holistically by integrating macro and micro perspectives, country brand equity, and their effects on consumer preferences. The specific objectives are to 1) identify the dimensions of master brand, sub-brand, and country brand equity and develop reliable and valid measurement scales for each dimension, and 2) develop a conceptual framework that integrates the master brand, sub-brand, and brand …

When Social Inflation Pushes The "Good Neighbor" Away: How Market Exit Behavior Triggers Brand Betrayal And Trust Erosion, Waros Ngamsiriudom, Mohan Menon, Mitra Devkota

Atlantic Marketing Journal

Social inflation, marked by rising litigation severity, shifting jury attitudes, and expanding third-party litigation funding, has intensified financial pressures on insurers operating in disaster-prone markets. In response, many insurers have withdrawn or restricted coverage, creating a sharp disconnect between long-standing brand promises and current market behaviors. This article examines how these systemic pressures produce “brand betrayal,” a consumer perception arising when insurers’ market exit actions contradict their relational positioning as reliable, community-oriented partners. Drawing on signaling theory, relationship marketing, and institutional perspectives, the article develops a conceptual framework linking social inflation to brand trust erosion through market exit behavior. The …

Leading With Integrity: Ethical Leadership, Quota Fairness, And Salesforce Retention, James Deconinck

Atlantic Marketing Journal

This study examines how ethical leadership, ethical climate, quota difficulty, distributive quota fairness, and person–organization (P–O) fit jointly shape salespeople’s turnover intentions and actual turnover. Survey data from 203 salespeople in a national computer-industry firm were paired with organizational turnover records collected one year later. Ethical leadership strengthened ethical climate, distributive quota fairness, and P–O fit, while ethical climate further enhanced fairness and value alignment. Quota difficulty strongly reduced fairness. Fairness also contributed to P–O fit, indicating that justice experiences tied to quota allocation shape value congruence in meaningful ways. Both fairness and P–O fit predicted lower turnover intentions, and …

Workplace Appearance Norms And The Shame Of Baldness: Implications For Consumer Behavior, Shiyun Chen, Achira Mudiyanselage, Terry S. Damron, Jaycie Luster

Atlantic Marketing Journal

In this research, we investigate how shame can affect consumer behavior. Specifically, we examine how baldness induced shame from workplace expectation and norms can affect consumer decision making related to the purchase of hairpieces and consumers’ preferences towards packaging of the product. Drawing on self-discrepancy theory, identity theory, shame and compensatory consumption research, we investigate the direct connection of shame and purchase intention, and the mediating roles of self-efficacy and the devaluation of masculine identity in shaping consumers’ responses to shame. We tested our hypothesis using survey-based experiments. Across two studies, we demonstrate that shame associated with baldness, positioned as …

Slow Fashion Behavior In Young Consumers, Melissa Clark

Atlantic Marketing Journal

The purpose of this research is to better understand the gap between Generation Z’s (Gen Z) knowingness and attitude toward sustainable clothing and their behavior including repair and disposal. A theoretical model was created based on the known relationships among Knowledge-Attitude-Behavior (KAB), specifically considering environmental sustainability knowingness (ESK), environmental sustainability attitude (ESA), and slow fashion behavior (SFB) while extending it with the addition of repair and disposal. The data were collected via online survey of consumers identifying as Gen Z and analyzed via regression analysis in SPSS. The findings suggest that the established construct relationships (ESK, ESA, and SFB) held …

Sweet Skepticism: Health Consciousness And Consumer Resistance To Health-Oriented Gummy Products, Raghava Gundala Dr, Kathleen Mckee, Pritosh Kumar

Atlantic Marketing Journal

Health consciousness is usually modeled as a driver of demand for healthier food. This study asks what happens to that relationship when the product itself is indulgent. Survey data were collected from students at a public university in the United States, and a first-stage moderated mediation model (PROCESS Model 7) was estimated on the 231 respondents with complete data. After adjustment for perceived marketing effectiveness and demographic covariates, health consciousness was negatively related to perceptions of health-oriented gummy products and to purchase frequency, although its zero-order correlation with product perception was near zero. Part of the health-consciousness relationship with purchase …

Good News For The Poor And More: Reclaiming Martin Luther King, Jr.'S Radical Gospel Of Economic Justice In Pursuit Of The Beloved Community, Lester A. Mccorn

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

This dissertation, Good News for the Poor and More: Reclaiming Martin Luther King Jr.’s Radical Gospel of Economic Justice in Pursuit of the Beloved Community, argues that Martin Luther King Jr.—one of the most transformational American leaders of the 20th century—should be best understood as a central figure within the Black Social Gospel tradition whose rhetoric constitutes a sustained socio-political and theological critique of economic injustice. Moving beyond interpretations that limit King to racial integration and civil rights, this study demonstrates that his preaching confronts the structural realities of poverty, racial capitalism, and militarism as interrelated forms of systemic …

Lease Capitalization And Financial Flexibility: An Empirical Investigation Of Asc 842’S Impact On Liquidity In The Us Telecommunications Industry, Caleb J. Martin

Doctor of Business Administration Dissertations

Measures of liquidity are some of the most important financial ratios to analyze when measuring a firm’s overall financial health and its ability to pay both creditors and dividends. The US telecommunications industry is an industry that has become synonymous with dividends, mergers, and acquisitions, all of which are possible due to industry wide and firm specific liquidity. With the implementation of ASC 842 and the new standard of placing operational leases on the balance sheet, additional research may be warranted to determine the effect ASC 842 may have on firm liquidity. This study investigated whether there was evidence to …

Blame It On The Algorithm (But Sue Them Both): Joint Enterprise And Agency In Ai-Driven Hiring Discrimination, Khushi Palan

American University Business Law Review

The proliferation of artificial intelligence (AI) in hiring processes has created a significant accountability gap in employment discrimination law. While federal statutes like Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, and the Age Discrimination in Employment Act focus on finding liability for traditional employers, they fail to adequately address the unique role of third-party AI vendors whose algorithms often drive discriminatory outcomes. This Comment examines the emerging legal landscape through the lens of Mobley v. Workday, where the District Court for the Northern District of California recognized that AI vendors can function as “agents” of …

The Investor Perspective Of Materiality, Sam Lessinger

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Often auditors are asked to adopt the reasonable investor perspective in their materiality evaluations however, there is no consensus regarding what investors deem to be material. This can lead to confusion in the markets. In fact, past studies have shown how taking an investor perspective can backfire and may result in more leniency and fewer misstatements being deemed material by auditors. This leniency can, potentially, result in financial statements that mislead investors. The aim of this paper is to address the reasonable investor perspective to achieve a more complete understanding of an investor’s viewpoint. This study also incorporates the effect …

Brief #2: Collaborative Aggregation & Marketing Of Local Farm Food: A Qualitative Analysis Of Customer Relations Strategies, Evan England, Rachel Filippone, Hannah Stokes-Ramos, Cindy (Luyue) Zheng, Olivia Burton, Analena B. Bruce

Food Practice Research

No abstract provided.

Core Standards For Leadership In Oral Healthcare, Sir Nairn H.F. Wilson Cbe Dsc(H.C.) Ddent(H.C.) Phd Msc Bds Fcgdent Fds Rcs Edin, Eng(Hon) & Rcps Glasg(Hon) Ffd Rcsi(Hon) Fcdshk(Hon) Fracds(Hon) Drd Fhea Facd Ficd Fadm Fpfa Frsm Fkc

Journal of the American College of Dentists

This article introduces the American College of Dentists’ core standards for leadership in oral healthcare, grounded in well-established ethical principles and in response to ever-increasing expectations for patient-first care. It is suggested that the new standards must be consistently upheld to maintain patient trust and professional credibility. Effective leadership, in contrast to management, improves patient engagement and outcomes, team performance, and resilience. The article calls for more leadership training in dentistry, beginning in dental schools, and highlights the need for effective leadership in oral healthcare to strengthen the profession’s standing and status.

Standards For Leadership In Oral Health Care. A Project Of The Board Of Regents Of The American College Of Dentists, Robert A. Faiella Dmd, Mmsc., Mba, Teresa A. Dolan Dds, Mph, Facd, N. Karl Haden Phd, Facd, Sreenivas Koka Dds, Ms, Phd, Mba, Mas, Facd, Sir Nairn H.F. Wilson Cbe Dsc(H.C.) Ddent(H.C.) Phd Msc Bds Fcgdent Fds Rcs Edin, Eng(Hon) & Rcps Glasg(Hon) Ffd Rcsi(Hon) Fcdshk(Hon) Fracds(Hon) Drd Fhea Facd Ficd Fadm Fpfa Frsm Fkc

Journal of the American College of Dentists

This section of the Journal of the American College of Dentists presents professional conference proceedings and/or published guidelines relevant to dentistry, ethics, education, leadership, policy, or clinical care. Conference proceedings may also include documents from affiliate organizations in dentistry.

Navigating Role Conflict: Implications For Service Sabotage In Customer Success Management, Amit Mahimkar, John Hadjimarcou, Edward Ramirez

Faculty Publications – Marketing

Drawing on the self-determination, conservation of resources, and self-regulation theories, this research examines the impact of role conflict faced by customer success managers (CSMs) in regard to service sabotage through a structural equation modeling (SEM) analysis. Results from testing a moderated mediation model provide support for the relationship between this role-stressor and service sabotage, the mediating effects of job dissatisfaction on this relationship, and the moderating effects of the respondent's emotional intelligence on the mediated relationship. As such, business-to-business (B2B) suppliers should develop strategies to mitigate role conflict faced by CSMs by aligning internal teams to prevent excessive task delegation …

Agile And Lean Frameworks For Enhancing Accountability And Efficiency In Public Financial Management Systems In Emerging Economies, Mercy Amuna, Eunice Acheabea Offei, Omowumi Folorunso, Charles Zormelo

Student Publications

Findings: This review reveals that Agile and Lean frameworks dramatically improve public financial management by improving fiscal accountability, budgeting efficiency, and service delivery. Drawing on 49 studies published between 2010 and 2025, the majority from emerging economies with selected comparative OECD cases, budgeting and procurement reforms emerged as the dominant sectors analysed. Agile’s iterative and adaptive approach allows governments to make real-time adjustments to budgets, enhancing the economy’s response to economic developments and crises. They focus on reducing waste and financial planning to ensure that public funds are allocated efficiently and effectively. Similarly, Rwanda and Nigeria demonstrate the benefits of …

Evolving Paradigms Of Sustainability In Luxury Fashion: Evidence From An Emerging Market, Sandipan Sen, Sphurti Sewak, Swati Singh, Moutusy Maity, Aniruddha Pangarkar

Faculty Publications – Marketing

The global fashion industry is both an economic driver and a major contributor of environmental and social challenges. This research examines how sustainable luxury fashion is constructed and adopted within an emerging market context by integrating perspectives from entrepreneurs, industry managers, and consumers. Utilizing a mixed-methods approach and drawing upon Self-Identity Theory and need for uniqueness, this research explores how identity-based motivations shape sustainable luxury consumption. Study 1 employs in-depth interviews with luxury fashion entrepreneurs and practitioners to uncover how sustainability is embedded within luxury value propositions. Building on these insights, Study 2 quantitatively tests a conceptual model examining the …

Exploring Management Strategies To Reduce Workplace Violence: Perceptions Of Illinois Healthcare Professionals, Mary Mack

All Student Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative study examined how managers of nonprofit healthcare facilities in the Chicago metropolitan area implement strategies to reduce workplace violence, what these strategies are and how they are carried out, and what organizational factors facilitate or impede their implementation. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with seven healthcare professionals in management or safety-oriented roles across seven facilities, purposefully sampled through the researcher's professional network. Findings revealed four recurring patterns across the sample. Prevention infrastructure was installed reactively, following specific triggering incidents rather than anticipating documented risk. Facilities consistently favored lower-cost mitigation measures over more resource-intensive prevention strategies. Reliance on short-tenure contract …

Building The Foundation: Retention And Recruiting Strategies For Small Handyman Companies, Shaunne U. Hall

Doctor of Education Dissertations

This dissertation examines the dire release of retention and recruiting strategies within the context of small handyman companies, a sector often overlooked in existing literature. The foundation of any successful handyman establishment lies in its ability to attract and retain skilled personnel amidst a competitive market landscape, yet small handyman businesses face unique challenges in this regard, including limited resources and a lack of comprehensive strategies tailored to their individual needs. Drawing upon a mixed methods approach, this study explored the factors shaping employee retention and recruitment within small handyman companies. Through qualitative interviews with key stakeholders and quantitative surveys …

Letter From The Dean, Jeff Edwards

Discovery, The Student Journal of Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences

No abstract provided.

Instructions For Authors, Discovery Editors

Discovery, The Student Journal of Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences

No abstract provided.