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A Survey-Based Quantitative Analysis Of Stress Factors And Their Impacts Among Cybersecurity Professionals, Sunil Arora, John D. Hastings

Research & Publications

This study investigates the prevalence and underlying causes of work-related stress and burnout among cybersecurity professionals using a quantitative survey approach guided by the Job Demands-Resources model. Analysis of responses from 50 cybersecurity practitioners reveals an alarming reality: 44% report experiencing severe work-related stress and burnout, while an additional 28% are uncertain about their condition. The demanding nature of cybersecurity roles, unrealistic expectations, and unsupportive organizational cultures emerge as primary factors fueling this crisis. Notably, 66% of respondents perceive cybersecurity jobs as more stressful than other IT positions, with 84% facing additional challenges due to the pandemic and recent high-profile …

Why Do Teachers Stay Or Leave?: The Relationship Of Administrative Support, Peer Perceptions, Satisfaction Of Salary And Student Behavior On The Big Career Decision, Thomas Kanwischer

Dissertations of Practice

This study explores the impact of teacher retention on the education system and possible reasons that teachers decide to leave. Exploring working conditions of salary satisfaction, student behavior, administrative support and peer perceptions, this study draws correlations between these conditions to see the impact on a teacher's decision to stay or leave. The results of this study help build a picture of the complex decision-making process that a teacher may go through in their career to stay or leave the profession. This information can be used to inform districts, boards, administrators and unions to build policy and practice that is …

"Reasonable [Cybersecurity] Measures" For Digital Trade Secrets: Lessons From Marketing, Raj Sachdev

Law Faculty Scholarship

The loss of digital trade secrets in marketing and beyond, often the source of competitive advantage, can have disastrous impacts on brands and companies. Bad actors want to get their digital hands on digital trade secrets, and other actors and factors may also cause a risk to their secrecy. The Defend Trade Secrets Act (DTSA) makes clear that “reasonable measures” must be taken to maintain the secrecy of a trade secret. Likewise, the Uniform Trade Secrets Act (UTSA) requires “reasonable steps.” However, in a digital age, the definition of what is “reasonable” is even more unclear than in offline settings. …

Examining Antecedents Of Diversity Initiative Fatigue: A Moderatedmediation Model, Anne Simpson

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

This thesis investigates the relationships between bias awareness, motivation to respond without prejudice, racialized attitudes, and diversity initiative fatigue (DIF) among employees within an academic setting, specifically focusing on faculty and staff at Western Kentucky University. Data were collected through a survey-based approach to measure these constructs and assess their relationships. This study hypothesized that bias awareness negatively correlates with DIF and motivation to respond without prejudice mediating this relationship. Furthermore, the research examines how racialized attitudes moderate the relationship between bias awareness and motivation to respond without prejudice. By examining these relationships using a moderated mediation model, the study …

Social Comparison And Pressure: Examining The Roles Of Sex And Rank, Ashley East

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Faculty in academia face intense competition and growing expectations, often shaped by perceptions of others’ performance. During the COVID-19 pandemic, these dynamics were magnified, making social comparison a critical factor in understanding academic workplace pressures. The purpose of this study is to examine the changing work pressures and social comparison tendencies among academics during the COVID-19 pandemic. It is hypothesized that social comparison tendencies will be positively related to time pressure (H1a) and telepressure (H1b), with moderation by sex (H2a and H2b) and organizational rank (H3a and H3b). Using a panel survey of 197 tenure-track and tenured faculty members in …

Exploring Internal Challenges In Internationalisation: A Case Of A Software As A Service (Saas) Internationaliser, Karl Erik Õim, Tairi Leis

European Management Studies

Purpose: The article examines the internal challenges encountered in internationalisation, focusing on Software as a Service (SaaS) companies. It aims to contribute to the literature on SaaS companies’ internationalisation by examining the unique challenges they face and the challenges they share with other types of firms.

Design/methodology/approach: It encompasses a case study of an international Estonian SaaS company. It is based on a semi-structured, in-depth interview and various additional information sources: internal information, websites, and publicly available financial data.

Findings: When the company was young, it lacked the capacity to cope with competitors. Establishing itself as a …

Utilizing Financial Modeling To Make Informed Equity Decisions Situated In The Scholarly And Public Sphere, Max Kimmel

Honors Senior Capstones and Theses

As of 2025, there is an estimated total of “US$145.4 trillion” (Olatunji-Albert and Meres) under management by institutional investors according to PricewaterhouseCoopers. This capital is primarily composed of high-net-worth individuals (individuals with liquid assets of at least $1 million (Hayes) in addition to universities' endowments and pensions. With the main intention of investing to be to preserve wealth, many retail investors believe that they are capable of outperforming the market, eliminating the need for industry professionals such as asset managers. After thorough examination and implementation of financial management concepts such as Stovall Sector Rotation and Markowitz Modern Portfolio Theory, it …

Successfully Navigating The Disruption Ai Will Bring To Survey Research, David M. Rothschild, Trent D. Buskirk, Stephanie Eckman, D. Sunshine Hillygus, Frauke Kreuter, David Lazer

Information Technology & Decision Sciences Faculty Publications

Surveys are a core methodological tool in government, industry, and academia, providing essential data for theory development and evidence-based decision-making. As artificial intelligence continues its rapid advancement, it stands to fundamentally transform the entire survey lifecycle - from design and administration to analytics and reporting. Previous transitions to new technologies, such as telephone, internet, and non-probability surveys, led to divisions within the survey research community with real consequences for both the trajectory of research and trust in the industry. We believe the survey community should take proactive steps now to avoid similar challenges with AI integration. Specifically, our paper examines …

Persistence Is Not Key: A Study On The Relationship Between The Persistence Of Going Concern Opinion Type I Errors And Investor Confidence, Christin Marie Kooti

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

This study examines how persistent Type I errors in going concern opinions impact investors’ decisions and confidence in the warning signal embedded in the opinion. Despite regulatory changes intended to improve audit accuracy and restore investors’ confidence in the audit profession, such as the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and the Accounting Standard Update 14-15, along with the StoneRidge Investment Partners vs. Scientific Atlanta Court Case verdict, persistent going concern opinions (Type I errors) weaken the perceived informativeness of audit warnings. Signaling theory provides the framework to explore the question: “Do persistent Type I errors in going concern opinions influence investors’ perceptions of …

Formal Financing Of Small And Medium Scale Enterprises In Nigeria: A Path To Economic Development?, Kingsley Onyekachi Onyele, Eberechi Ikwuagwu, Innocent Umezurike

The Journal of Entrepreneurial Finance

This investigation assessed the influence of formal financing for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) on the economic advancement of Nigeria, utilising annual time series data ranging from 1992 to 2022. Employing the Cobb-Douglas framework, control variables, including capital formation and labour, which could influence economic development, were incorporated into the empirical model to mitigate bias. Following initial tests for stationarity, it was determined that all variables achieved stationarity upon the first difference, a finding that validated the Vector Error Correction Mechanism (VECM) application. The analysis revealed that the credit extended to SMEs by commercial banks and the loans provided by …

Employee Benefit Plan Audits: Knowledge Spillover For Improving Quality, Lisa Ann Nash

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

This study provides a unique glimpse into the work of non-BigN accounting firms offering Employee Benefit Plan (EBP) audit services for single employer defined contribution plans. The study examines knowledge spillover from joint services and EBP auditor specialization to improve EBP audit quality. EBPs often incur low-quality audits, resulting in penalties assessed by the Department of Labor (DOL) for deficiencies. Companies may feel a sense of comfort hiring the same auditor they used for their company financial statements, but the EBP audits require the auditor to possess specialized knowledge beyond the requirements for the financial statements to confirm compliance with …

Factors That Impact Customer Loyalty As Examined In Integrated Marketing Communications Agencies, Terry L. Hapney Jr.

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Integrated Marketing Communications (IMC) agencies report high customer turnover, making it difficult for them to retain customers in the B2B realm. Relationship Marketing Theory informs this study, which centers on IMC firm growth from market share. Market share is a result of customer loyalty. There are factors that IMC agency leaders, such as CEOs and CMOs, can leverage to strengthen customer loyalty, including satisfaction, trust, quality, value, habit, engagement, attachment, image, and reputation. This study examines these concepts collectively for the first time in any context; it also examines them specifically in the IMC agency context for the first time. …

Collecting Financial Data From Online Sources: Enhancing Large Language Models With Real-Time Search, Yang Li

Department of Information Management and Business Analytics Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works

Timely and accurate access to financial data is crucial for empirical research in accounting and finance. However, current data collection processes are often manual, inconsistent, and difficult to scale. This study asks: How can large language models (LLMs) be effectively used to automate financial data collection? Using design science research methodology (DSRM), the author develops a modular architecture that integrates a real-time search API and auxiliary information processing into LLM workflows. The study applies the model to two tasks: extracting ESG report release dates and identifying customer firm tickers from COMPUSTAT. The system achieves 96% and 95% accuracy, respectively, comparable …

Reimagining Compliance: Explainable Ai Models For Financial Regulatory Audits, Hrishikesh Desai

Faculty Publications

This chapter develops an analytical model for Explainable AI (XAI) designed to support major types of banking regulatory compliance audits. Financial institutions increasingly rely on AI for efficiency in compliance tasks, but the opacity of complex models creates challenges in meeting regulatory transparency requirements. The proposed mathematical framework incorporates explainability as a quantifiable constraint in the optimization of AI models across five critical audit categories: CAMELS examinations, BSA/AML compliance, Consumer Compliance, IT Audits, and Internal Audits. By quantifying explainability through information- theoretic measures and Shapley values, the model balances predictive performance with regulatory requirements. The methodology is validated through a …

Investing In Leaders To Support Neurodiversity At Work, Beth M. Houran

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Neurodiversity-focused hiring initiatives, such as those pioneered by JP Morgan Chase, DXC Technology, and Microsoft, are addressing talent shortages by harnessing the unique strengths of neurodiverse individuals. This research investigated the role of emotional intelligence, servant leadership, and organizational resources in supporting neurodiverse teams. Grounded in the conservation of resources theory, the findings reveal that EI is a significant antecedent to SL, enabling leaders to foster stronger relationships and engage in extra-role behaviors with neurodiverse employees. Notably, while SL positively impacts leader-member exchange and organizational citizenship behavior toward individuals, the hypothesized moderating role of resources was not supported, suggesting that …

Shaping Strategy In The Digital Age: The Impact Of Consumer Electronic Word Of Mouth On Firm Strategic Emphasis, Brandon Holle, Hang T. Nguyen, Hieu V. Phan

Faculty Scholarship

This research explores how consumer electronic word of mouth (eWOM) influences a firm’s strategic emphasis, focusing on the distinct effects of positive and negative eWOM on value appropriation (e.g., advertising) versus value creation (e.g., R&D). Analyzing over 33 million social media posts covering 39 corporate brands from 2010 to 2020, the authors find that positive consumer eWOM influences firms to prioritize a strategic emphasis on value appropriation, while negative consumer eWOM is associated with a strategic emphasis on value creation. These effects are moderated by product category, market competition, and industry instability. Firms in hedonic categories have attenuated responses to …

Anatomical Depiction: How Showing A Product's Inner Structure Shapes Product Valuations, Seo Yoon Kang, Junghan Kim, Arun Lakshmanan

Research Collection Lee Kong Chian School Of Business

Anatomical depiction is a technique where the product is decomposed into components that are spatially arranged in a layer-by-layer manner to visually explicate its inner structure. The authors demonstrate that anatomical depiction, compared to non-anatomical depiction, enhances product valuation. This effect occurs because anatomical depiction elicits a ‘coming together’ of the inner components in consumers’ minds thereby evoking a gestalt image of the product – a process labeled simulated assemblage. The elicitation of simulated assemblage in turn boosts their confidence in the product’s performance. Two field experiments first demonstrate that anatomical depiction leads to greater engagement in online settings such …

2025, 2(21)

Journal of Marketing and Consumer Behaviour in Emerging Markets

Full Issue 2025, 2(21)

Legal Expertise And The Litigation Risk From Carbon Emissions, Mahmud Rahman

Accounting Dissertations - Archive

The increasing frequency of climate-related litigation presents significant risks for high-emitting firms, leading many to adopt strategies that reduce legal exposure and associated costs. General Counsel (GC), due to their legal expertise, are increasingly integrated into top management to help firms navigate this complex regulatory environment. Using an ordered logit model, this study finds that firms with higher greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions are more likely to have a GC to their executive team. The presence of a GC in top management leads to a lower likelihood of the firm being fined for violations as well as lower penalties of federal …

Insights In Cybersecurity Of A Smart Campus - A Review, Mircea Ţălu

Journal of Cybersecurity Education, Research and Practice

The profound impact of the Internet of Things (IoT) on various fronts, is driven by technological advancements, the ubiquitous spread of information, and the emergence of transformative events. IoT presents a diverse array of possibilities within university environments, fostering a more connected and enhanced educational experience. This research undertakes a comprehensive review of existing literature to provide context to the IoT and underscore its crucial significance in the realm of smart campuses. Additionally, the paper explores the intricate connections between IoT and key concepts such as cybersecurity and wireless sensor networks to present a holistic perspective. It delves into the …

Upward Distortion And Organizational Culture, Benjamin Gellerman

Dissertations and Theses

The “MUM effect," a social phenomenon in which people prefer to avoid sharing bad news, can cause “upward distortion,” as employees give incomplete information to their supervisors to avoid reprisal. Organizations require upward communication to transmit critical information, and disruptions to this process have implications for both workplace efficiency and job satisfaction. Strauss (2011) developed the Upward Communication Distortion Index (UCDI) to measure the propensity of individuals to distort upward organizational communication. The UCDI was compared with the subscales for LMX (leader-member exchange) and Locus of Control. This project analyzed upward distortion in American businesses, specifically how four different organizational …

Rethinking Retained Earnings In The Additional Funds Needed Formula, James E. Larsen

Finance and Financial Services Faculty Publication

This paper critically re-evaluates the traditional application of the Additional Funds Needed formula by analyzing alternate interpretations of retained earnings. It illustrates how definitional shifts influence capital forecasts with a more nuanced approach to financial modeling in growth scenarios. The approach emphasizes numerical clarity, policy realism, and adaptability for financial planning. The paper challenges conventional AFN usage by embedding definitional flexibility and temporal awareness, offering decision-makers clearer visibility into funding sensitivity. It reframes AFN as a dynamic planning tool rather than a static formula, with implications for forecasting, policy-setting, and strategic finance.

The Budget, Fiscal Year 2025-2026, Tennessee. Department Of Finance And Administration

Budget Volume 1

This document is the final budget for the coming fiscal year.

Solving The Proxy Advisory Problem: Minimum Regulation For Maximum Competition, Dominic P. Keilty

Michigan Business & Entrepreneurial Law Review

The proxy advisory industry is often criticized on two primary accounts: the lack of accountability for informational accuracy in the development of voting standards and the conflicts of interest faced by advisors when they make proxy voting recommendations on issuers to which they have previously provided corporate governance consulting services. The industry has also been accused of having “anemic” levels of competition, since only two advisors command a vast majority of the market share. While much has been written about curtailing the prevalence and effects of proxy advisor conflicts of interest through increased regulation, the regulatory route toward increased informational …

The Causes And Impact Of Evictions In Southern Nevada, Mohit Pande

Student Research

As the Southern Nevada region continues to quickly grow, evictions have become a structural feature of the region’s rental market. The region has one of the highest eviction filing rates in the country and this trend has continued to increase in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic. This paper examines the availability of market-rate affordable housing and the expansion of subsidized affordable housing to understand how the local housing conditions contribute to the number of evictions in Southern Nevada. Additionally, the paper studies local legal processes, such as the summary eviction system and habitability procedures, to understand the relationship between …

The Impact Of Artificial Intelligence On Staffing: A Qualitative Study Of Hr Professionals Across Industries, Batoul Bazzi

Senior Honors Theses and Projects

Artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly being integrated into staffing and recruitment processes across industries. Organizations are using AI-powered tools to support tasks such as résumé screening, interview scheduling, candidate assessments, and data organization. While these technologies offer efficiency and consistency, they also raise important questions related to bias, fairness, privacy, and the continued role of human judgment in hiring decisions. The purpose of this study is to examine how AI is currently used in staffing practices and how organizational leaders perceive its benefits and limitations. This study employed a qualitative research design using semi-structured interviews with three business owners and …

The Impact Of Audit Quality On Earnings Management In Publicly Listed U.S. Companies, Blessing Chidiebere Uwakwe, James N. Mohs

Accounting Faculty Publications

This study examined the effect of Audit quality on Earnings management of publicly listed US companies. The dependent variable; Earnings management, was measured using discretionary accruals, while the Independent Variable; Audit quality, was proxied by factors Auditor size (Big Four), audit fees, and auditor tenure. The study adopted a quantitative research design to investigate the relationship between audit quality and earnings management. A sample of publicly listed U.S. companies was selected from the SandP 500 index, spanning a period of five years (e.g., 2018-2022). Financial data were sourced from publicly available databases such as SEC filings, annual reports, and audit …

W.O.R.K. Towards Inclusivity In Employment, Chloe N. Tinklepaugh

Entry Level Occupational Therapy Doctoral Capstone Projects Class of 2025

W.O.R.K. Towards Inclusivity in Employment was a doctoral capstone project focused on promoting sustainable employment for neurodiverse individuals. Despite their capabilities, neurodivergent individuals often face barriers to employment due to employers’ misconceptions about their abilities (Bonaccio et al., 2020). This project addressed these challenges through three main components: researching employers’ perspectives, curriculum revision, and educating employers. For research, Luzerne and Lackawanna county employers were surveyed to assess their training, resources, and perspectives on neurodiversity in the workplace. Findings indicated that employers were open to receiving more education and training on how to support their employees, but they currently lack the …

Llm-Guided Multimodal Information Fusion With Hierarchical Spatio-Temporal Graph Network For Sentiment Analysis, Yujie Jin, Yong Wang, Yuzhe Wang, Qiyang Chen, Bin Hu, Yanling Han, Chaoyin Ma, Witold Pedrycz

Department of Information Management and Business Analytics Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works

Multimodal sentiment analysis aims to attain a precise comprehension of emotions by integrating complementary textual, visual, and audio information. However, issues such as sentiment discrepancies between modalities, ineffective integration of multi-modal information, and the intricacy of order dependency significantly constrain the models' efficacy. The authors propose an LLM-guided Hierarchical Spatio-Temporal Graph Network (L-HSTGN). By multimodal large model feature enhancement, bidirectional spatio-temporal joint modeling, and dynamic gate fusion mechanism, they effectively address the aforementioned problems. Firstly, they produce cross-modal emotion pseudo-labels based on the multimodal large model, and the single-modal representation was optimized by combining adversarial regularization. Secondly, they develop a …

Crop Insurance And Weather Risk: Decision Tools And The Effects Of Rising Temperatures In Kentucky, Enil Serrano

Theses and Dissertations--Agricultural Economics

This thesis investigates how rising temperatures and climate variability affect crop insurance decisions and premium rates for corn and soybean farmers in Kentucky. It introduces a new decision-support tool, the "Crop Insurance Decision Maker" (CIDM), which helps producers evaluate the financial trade-offs of various crop insurance products under different risk preferences. The first chapter details the tool’s development, function, and potential to improve farmer understanding of insurance options. The second chapter quantifies how +1°C and +2°C warming scenarios impact yield risk and crop insurance premium rates using 73 years of corn yield data, 51 years for soybean yield, and weather …