Digital Commons Network^™

Sports And Corporate Innovation, Bing Qin

Dissertations and Theses Collection (Open Access)

Driven by the digital economy and intensifying global competition, corporate innovation has become a core driver of sustainable growth. Topmanagement members are key strategic decision-makers, and their individual characteristics critically influence the formulation and implementation of innovation strategies. While existing studies have examined the impact of topmanagement’s cognitive and psychological traits on innovation performance, significant gaps remain in understanding how their routine behavioral preferences—particularly running, a globally prevalent exercise—affect innovation performance through psychological mechanisms. The systematic relationship between running preferences, top management’s psychological traits, and organizational innovation outcomes remains underexplored.

Against this backdrop, the study investigates the mechanismthroughwhich top management’s …

Allyship And Social Support Networks: Examining Feelings Of Safety And Confidence Among Lgbtq+ Sports Officials, Jacob K. Tingle, B. L. Jacobs, A. C. Baeth, M. Katz, C. C. Zvosec

School of Business Faculty Research

For LGBTQ+ employees, research has indicated they feel othered, isolated, and unwelcome within their work communities. In other settings, social networks have been shown to provide stability and a sense of belonging that increases factors associated with mental health, such as self-care, stress moderation, and increased coping behaviors. Because of this, we examined the social networks of self-identified LGBTQ+ sports officials utilizing egocentric network analysis to better understand the influence of LGBTQ+ officials’ social networks on their feelings of safety and confidence and decisions to continue officiating. Participants responded to questions about people (alters) they considered to be allies in …

Exploring Shared Experiences As Citizen Sport Diplomats: A Collaborative Self-Ethnography, Randall J. Griffiths, Jacob K. Tingle, Angela Breidenstein

School of Business Faculty Research

Research purpose: This study was a critical analysis of the lived experiences of three American university professors who served as volunteer citizen diplomats in a bi-lateral U.S. State Department sport exchange program with North Macedonian volleyball coaches.

Research methods: With the aim of capturing the experience of serving as citizen sport diplomats and making sense of it to inform future practice, this research utilized a collaborative self-ethnography approach. This reflexive approach brings together: (a) analytic autoethnography as individuals themselves are engaged in the ethnography and study, and (b) collective ethnography as a team collects and makes sense of shared data …

Affordable Infill Housing For Zillennials: Enhancing Urban Mobility Through Walkable And Bikeable Access In Jakarta Metropolitan Area, Mewan Indra, Arif Kusumawanto, Agus Hariyadi

ASEAN Journal on Science and Technology for Development

Rapid urbanization in developing countries has intensified housing challenges for younger generations, particularly Zillennials (aged 24–34), who demand affordable, accessible, and sustainable living environments. This study investigates the optimal location for small-scale housing integrated with large-scale developments in the Jakarta Metropolitan Area (JMA), emphasizing mobility as the primary criterion. The research is guided by a conceptual framework that synthesizes compact city principles, the 15-minute city concept, and Zillennial lifestyle preferences, with walkability and bikeability serving as mediating variables. Mobility simulations were conducted using the Urban Modeling Interface (UMI), applying Walk Score parameters to evaluate walking and cycling accessibility. Six simulation …

Leadership Studies In The Master Of Divinity (M.Div.) Curricula Of The Southern Baptist Convention (Sbc) Seminaries, Todd Stinnett

Dissertations

This dissertation chronicles the pursuit of an answer to the following question: In what ways have Southern Baptist Conventions (SBC) seminaries incorporated leadership studies into the curricula of their Master of Divinity (M.Div.) programs? This dissertation is a qualitative, multi-site case study that utilized a descriptive method of research. The research also utilized a qualitative interview that asked seminary administrators about their understanding of leadership studies and the place of those studies in the leadership courses that each seminary provided. One administrator from each of the six SBC seminaries was interviewed for this research. Content analysis was used to discover …

Gamification Of Online And Onsite Corporate Trainings In The Philippines, Jyro B. Triviño, Kylie Rayne S. Cai, Jan Angeli G. Cane, Clarissa Marie R. Fernandez, Faith D. Goli Cruz, Kleid L. Pedraja

Business Insights Laboratory for Development (BUILD)

This study examined Filipino corporate trainers’ views on the effectiveness of gamification in onsite and online training. Using Clark and Braun’s thematic analysis, eight trainers shared their insights into its impact on engagement, motivation, and reinforcement. Results showed gamification can boost participation and structure learning, but its success depends on deliberate integration of game elements and digital tools. This varied slightly between modalities, especially when involving inductive and deductive assessments. Trainers emphasized the importance of incorporating interactive activities, providing feedback, enhancing competition, and offering rewards to strengthen engagement. The study also identified the complementary benefits of online and onsite training …

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, …

Bare Bones Creamery/Ice Cream, Hanna Pope, Mason Dexter, Stephen Parker, Evan Trumpower, Logan Miller

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

Essentially, our project focuses on the fictional company, “Bare Bones Creamery.” Bare Bones Creamery is a company that sells all natural, affordable, no nonsense ice cream targeted towards people between the ages of 18 to 40. Our main goal is to document the process to grow and scale this company to 100 employees in about 10 years. Outside of this, we’ll also develop different departments of the company including finance, accounting, supply chain, IT/ data analytics, human resources, legal, sales, and marketing. Each department will grow with the company and will become more detailed as time progresses. Certain variables such …

Pawpulse Dog Collar, Sean Graham, Hailey Barger, Connor Mulichak, Addison Towne, Kieran Nolan

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

PawPulse is revolutionizing pet care through innovative technology that enhances pet health, safety, and well-being. Combining advanced hardware designs, AI-driven analytics, and IoT integrations, PawPulse offers a comprehensive ecosystem that empowers pet owners with actionable insights into their pets' health and activity. As a global leader in pet health technology, PawPulse integrates features like real-time health monitoring, predictive analytics, and location tracking into a seamless mobile app experience.

This project examines the growth and scaling strategies of PawPulse, focusing on critical areas such as Information Systems, Analytics, and Legal frameworks. It details the company's strategic evolution from a startup to …

A Strategic Analysis Of Project Learn Of Summit County, Alex Kennedy, Tyler Hutchinson, Haley Guest, Zach D. Thomas, Lizzie Sisler

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

Our group is working with Project Learn of Summit County, a GED and ESL assistance program located in the Akron Public Library. Our group will be performing a strategic analysis and providing them with a strategic plan, to be presented to them at the end of the term. We aim to increase awareness for the program, point out areas of growth, and increase functionality.

Project Learn Strategic Analysis Project, Isabel Ladaika, Kalpana Ghimire, Noah Johnson, Caleb Keiper

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

This honors project involves working in a team to conduct a comprehensive strategic analysis of Project Learn of Summit County. We will evaluate the organization’s external environment (such as industry trends, competition, and community factors) and internal operations (including strengths, weaknesses, resources, and capabilities). Using strategic management frameworks, as a team we will develop actionable recommendations to strengthen the organizations marketing, financial sustainability, and community outreach efforts. Throughout the semester, we will engage directly with the client organization to gather data and insights that inform our analysis. Final deliverables include a formal written strategic analysis paper and a professional presentation …

Project Learn Strategic Analysis, Kendall Hegan, Hunter Kay, Abigail Miller, Rina Xayasy

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

The strategic analysis of Project LEARN seeks to analyze the background, purpose, internal structures, and external factors of the organization. After further analysis the team will propose strategic recommendations backed by academic research and concepts learned throughout the strategic management course. Through consistent personal communication and documents provided by the Project LEARN staff the team will develop an in-depth analysis that seeks to add creative new initiatives as well as highlighting the current core competencies of the organization.

Adaptive Leggings For Crohn’S/Colitis/Isbs Patients With A Colostomy/Ileostomy Bag, Evie Liebbe

2026 Research Poster Competition

Individuals living with Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and related gastrointestinal conditions often face significant physical and emotional challenges following colostomy or ileostomy surgery. While ostomy bags are essential medical devices that support health and survival, they frequently create difficulties related to clothing fit, comfort, discretion, and self-expression. Despite growing conversations around inclusivity and adaptive apparel, the contemporary fashion market offers limited stylish, affordable, and functional clothing options for individuals with ostomies, particularly younger consumers who value both comfort and personal style. This lack of inclusive design can negatively impact confidence, body image, and overall quality of …

Evaluating Machine Learning Models For Corporate Financial Forecasting: A Study Of The Dow Jones 30, Faizan Arjamand Ali

Senior Honors Theses and Projects

This research seeks to determine the effectiveness of machine learning models in predicting revenues of corporations compared to conventional models of financial forecasting. The investigation is based on a group of 21 companies that maintained membership in the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) between 2010 and 2025. Two machine learning algorithms are assessed: Random Forest and XGBoost. They are compared with the naïve growth model and deterministic linear trend, which serve as benchmarks. To check for statistical significance, the Wilcoxon signed-rank tests are used to compare the mean absolute percentage error (MAPE) and the root mean squared error (RMSE) of …

Modern (Networked) Warfare: Its Concepts, Evolution, And Issues, Ramesh Subramanian

Journal of International Technology and Information Management

The on-going Russo-Ukraine war (February 2012-present), the recent India-Pakistan war (May 7-10, 2025), and the Israel-US attacks on Iran (June 13, 2025) have become interesting for a variety of reasons, and garnered a lot of attention in international defense publications and weapons manufacturers. To many defense analysts and defense industry professionals, these wars have become real-life testing platforms to examine and evaluate various present-day war technologies. They have opened up discussion on the future of war, the increasing use of inter-connected networks in warfare, and the increasing use of remote-operated drones in conducting surveillance and in offensive actions against …

Making Sense Of Membership: Organizational Socialization Of African Immigrant Employees In U.S. Workplaces, Ikeola J. Bodunde

Theses and Dissertations--Communication

This dissertation examines how African immigrant employees make sense of organizational socialization in U.S. workplaces. As global mobility reshapes the labor force, nearly one in five U.S. workers is foreign-born, making organizational socialization an increasingly complex communicative process. Classic socialization models assume linear, uniform adjustment, yet international employees often face ambiguity, cultural mismatch, and racialized expectations that complicate early workplace experiences. Guided by sensemaking theory, this study conceptualizes socialization as an ongoing, nonlinear process through which newcomers notice cues, construct interpretations, act on provisional understandings, and revise meanings as contexts shift. Using a qualitative, interpretive design, I conducted semi-structured interviews …

The Concrete Picket Fence: Reconnecting Interstate-Straddled Urban Communities, Brian J. Koluch

Pell Scholars and Senior Theses

Within the ongoing dialogue on substantive equity, the circumstances regarding enduring issues faced by black urban neighborhoods are called into question. Cities across the United States typically have major automotive arteries that tend to cut through or past said neighborhoods. Advocates argue that it is increasingly apparent that these systems of infrastructure especially in regard to these neighborhoods have been constructed in racist manners. Urban Interstates majorly contribute to equity disadvantages, as well as environmental hazards such as increased rates of asthma and respiratory disease. By mixing and matching various forms of equitable infrastructure, such as with cap parks, public …

The Protective Power Of Psychological Resources In Mitigating Burnout And Enhancing Flourishing, Dylan R. Polkinghorne, David J. Radosevich, Deirdre M. Radosevich, Dianne D. Murphy, Laken James, Sue S. Craver

Management Faculty Research and Publications

Purpose

This study explores how burnout mediates the relationships between critical psychological resources, specifically resilience, flow and self-efficacy, and flourishing in contemporary work environments.

Design/methodology/approach

Data from 374 participants, including undergraduate students at a regional comprehensive university in the Midwest and full-time working adults in the USA, were analyzed using mediation analysis in MPlus 8.11 to assess the indirect and direct effects among burnout, psychological resources and flourishing in a work environment.

Findings

Results indicate that self-efficacy significantly predicts lower burnout levels and higher flourishing. Resilience and flow were negatively associated with burnout, reducing its impact; however, the direct effects …

Hear Me Out: A Lesson In Civil Discourse, Cheryl Black

Funded Scholarship

This article describes an innovative and engaging lecture and class exercise designed to 

teach students how to think critically about issues from different perspectives and communicate effectively with those who disagree with them. The interactive lecture and class exercise introduce a civil discourse framework to encourage constructive dialogue. Developed for business law and ethics courses, the civil discourse framework enhances any curriculum that addresses controversial topics or different perspectives on complex issues. The lecture and class exercise offer a concrete, replicable model to teach civil discourse

(Not So) Common Courtesy, Michael Saba

Journal of the Macomb Dental Society

This article features a monthly column from the Macomb Dental Society's editor, Dr. Michael Saba. This month Dr. Saba shares a story that reminds readers to both be courteous and to enforce it early with patients.

Going Green: Can We Save Teeth And The Planet?, Stuart Segelnick Dds, Ms

The New York State Dental Journal

You might not think you have a role to play in combatting climate change, but dentists can make a difference by reducing plastics in their offices.

Predicting The Effect Of Transformational Leadership On Job Performance: The Intervening Role Of Happiness At Work, Jean Paolo Lacap, Angela Denise S. Pojanes, Erika Joyce V. De Guzman, Jose Angelo P. Culala, Janelo D. Mariamonte, Patrick S. Carangan

DLSU Business & Economics Review

Happiness at work (HAW) plays a pivotal role in enhancing employee outcomes by fostering a positive work environment and significantly boosting job performance (JP). This study investigates the relationship between transformational leadership (TL) and JP, with HAW serving as a mediating factor. This research involved 230 business process outsourcing (BPO) employees from the National Capital Region in the Philippines. A predictive-causal approach and partial least squares (PLS) path modeling were used to analyze the hypothesized relationships. The results revealed that TL positively and significantly influenced JP and HAW. Furthermore, HAW was found to have a substantial positive impact on JP …

Happy New Year To You And Your Team!, Kyle Katynski Dds

Journal of the Macomb Dental Society

This article features a monthly column from the Macomb Dental Society President, Dr. Kyle Katynski. This month Dr. Katynski discusses reoccurring themes from 2025, such as simplifying, and lessons from the past year.

Stakeholder Perceptions Of The Feasibility Of E-Portfolio-Based Assessment Of Physical Literacy In Primary Health And Physical Education, Jaxon Hogan, Dawn Penney, Eibhlish O’Hara, Joseph Scott

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Background: Physical literacy (PL) is widely acknowledged as an integral component of high-quality physical education programmes. However, what constitutes appropriate assessment of PL remains a contested issue. This study drew on Whitehead’s conceptualisation of PL as a lifelong journey and investigated how primary school teachers can support students’ PL learning through innovative and engaging assessment methods. The study specifically examined the feasibility of using e-portfolios to facilitate quality PL learning and quality assessment in Physical Education (PE), from different stakeholder perspectives. Methods: This interpretive study employed a qualitative design and methods to investigate aspects of feasibility with three purposive participant …

Gastronomy Tourism Destinations: Developing A Scale To Measure Tourists’ Perceived Attributes, Ganghua Chen, Jingmei Xu, Songshan (Sam) Huang

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Purpose: This study emphasizes the growing significance of destination attributes in shaping the experiences and behaviours of gastronomy and culinary tourists. Understanding both core and complementary attributes of a gastronomy tourism destination is crucial for its sustainable development. However, there is a lack of a reliable measurement for tourists’ perceived attributes of gastronomy tourism destinations (PAGTD). Therefore, the purpose of this study is to develop a scale to measure tourists’ PAGTD. Design/methodology/approach: The study systematically followed the scale development and validation process, using three samples (Sample 1, n = 200; Sample 2, n = 204; and Sample 3, n = …

Designing And Evaluating Quality Transdisciplinary Work-Integrated Learning: Insights Into Practice, Denise Jackson, Claire Lambert, Sonja Coetzee

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Higher education’s role in fostering innovation and enacting social change is increasingly important. Transdisciplinary Work-Integrated Learning (TWIL) offers opportunities to prepare students to address societal issues by transcending disciplinary boundaries and collaboratively tackling real-world global challenges. While extensive literature exists on established WIL models, research on the critical aspects of designing, implementing and evaluating impactful TWIL activities remains scarce. This paper draws together insights from 15 TWIL academics across 14 Australian universities, highlighting important design elements such as training for small group collaboration, open-ended projects, design thinking, sustained mentorship and reciprocal partnerships. Emerging challenges related to online delivery, teamwork, scalability, …

The Factors Influencing Organisational Responsiveness For Sustainable Projects, Richard Hughes, Bradley Baker

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Purpose: This study investigates how organisations respond to sustainability when it becomes a central strategic priority, particularly through project environments. The research seeks to understand the factors influencing organisational responsiveness to sustainability imperatives in projects, addressing a key gap in sustainable project management literature. Design/methodology/approach: The study employed a thematic meta-synthesis of qualitative case studies from multiple countries and different economic sectors. Using grounded theory, data were coded to identify first-order concepts, second-order themes and aggregate dimensions, culminating in the development of a conceptual model of dynamic adaptation. Findings: The analysis revealed three interrelated dimensions that shape organisational responsiveness: strategic …

A Critical Review Of The Theory Of Planned Behaviour In Tourism Research, Kourosh Esfandiar, Arghavan Hadinejad

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

The Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB) has received considerable attention across various academic disciplines and remains one of the most widely applied–yet increasingly critiqued–theoretical frameworks in tourism research. Despite its widespread use, there is a notable lack of critical reflection on its adequacy in capturing the complexity of tourist behaviour and a limited exploration of alternative theoretical pathways. This paper addresses this gap by critically evaluating the appropriateness and limitations of the TPB in tourism research. Special attention is given to the Theory of Reasoned Goal Pursuit (TRGP), a recent extension of the TPB, alongside complementary frameworks from parent disciplines …

Advancing Sustainable Tourism Behavioural Research: A Metacognitive Perspective, Arghavan Hadinejad, Kourosh Esfandiar, Liubov Skavronskaya

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

The current scholarly inquiry on sustainable tourism behaviour research predominantly relies on cognitive behavioural approaches, particularly exemplified by the widespread application of the theory of planned behaviour among other theories. Given recent advancements in psychology underscoring the necessity to expand beyond conventional cognitive frameworks, the current research aims to integrate metacognitive perspectives in sustainable tourism behaviour scholarship. This perspective explores the reflective awareness and control individuals exert over their cognitive processes which can uncover nuanced factors shaping sustainable tourism behaviour that may be overlooked in traditional cognitive models. Using a critical review approach, this research proposes the adoption of alternative …

Configurations Of Work Design: A Person-Centered Perspective Of Job Demands And Resources In The Healthcare Sector, Arian Kunzelmann, Mina Askovic, Vivien W. Forner, Nate Zettna, Anupama Jolly, Shanta Dey, Helena Nguyen, Anya Johnson, Sharon K. Parker

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Work design is fundamental Human Resource Management (HRM) responsibility, which is crucial for employee well-being. Current HRM research on work design largely relies on variable-centered approaches. We argue that a person-centered approach uncovers more complex interaction patterns that are often obscured and provides a more holistic view of work design. Additionally, work design research often neglects occupational specificity, focusing on universal work characteristics. While this is important for generalizability, it can miss important industry and occupational variations, such as in healthcare. In this research, we focus on both universal work characteristics (feedback, autonomy, and support) and a dominant occupation-specific work …