Digital Commons Network^™

Email Synthesis Assignment: Using Ai To Assist Us In Creating Effective Business Communication, Gino Perrotte

Open Educational Resources

This assignment teaches students how to distill complex financial data into a clear, professional business email by analyzing real 10-K reports. A key strength of the assignment is that it models effective AI prompting strategies—students are guided in how to interact with AI tools like ChatGPT to clarify data, summarize trends, and craft a concise email.

The focus is not just on using AI, but on developing critical thinking and communication skills. Students learn to assess what information is important, how to frame it for a workplace audience, and how to co-create with AI while ensuring the final …

Comparing Funders' Altruism Versus Self-Interest: Leveraging The Context Of Crisis, Dan Liu, Guangzhi Shang, Cynthia Fan Yang

Journal of International Technology and Information Management

While reward-based crowdfunding has widespread popularity, the motivations driving funders, balancing self-interest and altruism, have remained puzzling. Prior research has been constrained by examination methods and produced mixed findings regarding the weight of altruism versus self-interest among funders. Our study takes a fresh perspective, delving into funder behavior amid a major crisis—the tumultuous backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic. Our findings reveal that funders not only display an increased willingness to contribute but also significantly amplify their contributions, particularly to projects in crisis-affected regions, irrespective of external incentives like rewards. This underscores the prevalence of altruistic motives among funders in challenging …

Artificial Intelligence And Environmental Sustainability: Review And Research Directions, Troy Strader, Yu-Hsiang (John) Huang, Yu-Ju Tu

Journal of International Technology and Information Management

Environmental sustainability is one of the most important and complex issues currently facing our global society. One solution to some aspects of this problem could come from artificially intelligent systems and data analytics methods. The objective for this study is to identify the range of recently published research that addresses issues involving the convergence of artificial intelligence (AI) and environmental sustainability. A systematic literature review produced a sample of 62 journal articles from 2018-2024 that were each categorized into one of six research themes that included studies of AI and the ways in which it impacted natural resources, energy and …

Understanding The Determinants Of Blockchain Adoption: An Empirical Study, Amarpreet Kohli, Nihar Kumthekar, Piyush Shah, Rebecca Jauch

Journal of International Technology and Information Management

Blockchain technology (BT) has the potential to enhance security and robustness of transactions through a distributed ledger bookkeeping process. This study employs technology-organization-environment (TOE) framework and threat-rigidity theory (TRT) to examine whether perceived disruption caused by COVID-19 pandemic significantly impacted the adoption of BT, and inclination to adopt BT in the US. The COVID-19 pandemic provided a unique backdrop, as it affected businesses across all industries, sizes, and geographies. Results show a non-significant effect of perceived pandemic disruption on the current stage of BT adoption and intention to adopt BT. However, disruption readiness positively influences the current stage of BT …

Technology And Coding The Great Equalizer: A Case Study Of A Formerly Incarcerated Leader, Joni Schwartz

Publications and Research

Providing meaningful educational and employment opportunities for returning incarcerated citizens from marginalized communities contributes to a more sustainable future for all. This chapter examines the barriers faced by returning incarcerated citizens in employment and presents a case study of a Dario Peña, who is a formerly incarcerated citizen. Peña's lived experience, leadership preparation, vision, and bottom-up leadership made him a leader for the Justice through Code program, which aims to provide prisoners and returning citizens with professional skills to create a sustainable career in the tech industry. Anchored in Critical Race Theory (CRT), this chapter delves into structural inequalities like …

Introduction To The Issue, Craig S. Maher, Bruce D. Mcdonald Iii

School of Public Service Faculty Publications

This edition of Public Finance Journal brings together research exploring critical issues in public finance, from voter perceptions of fiscal health to the evolving landscape of municipal finance and intergovernmental grants. As governments at all levels navigate financial sustainability, transparency, and accountability, these studies provide fresh insights into how financial policies and practices influence governance and public trust. The articles examine the political consequences of municipal credit ratings, the practical challenges of public records laws, the complexities of managing federal grants at the local level, and the rise of green bonds as a financial instrument for sustainable development. This research …

The Sustainability Of The Outdoor Recreation Industry: Studied Through Mountaineering In Teton County, Wy, Samantha Olstein

Student Research and Publications

No abstract provided.

Fair Play? Gender Equity, Title Ix And Resource Allocation In College Athletics, Caleb Horsch

Honors Theses

Amid a period of rapid transformation in college athletics, gender equity and Title IX remain underemphasized in the discourse. This study investigates disparities in athletic expenditure by gender, finding that in 2022, Division I institutions spent approximately $1.30 on men’s teams for every $1.00 spent on women’s teams. While Title IX does not mandate equal spending, it does require that schools provide equitable experiences for male and female student-athletes. The persistence and magnitude of an expenditure gap call into question if schools are continuing to meet Title IX. This study identifies the characteristics of schools associated with less equal expenditure …

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 …

Introducing Sustainable Development Goals In College Curricula: A Way Forward, Christy Ashley, Jason D. Oliver, Hillary Leonard

Markets, Globalization & Development Review

The commentary proposes a blueprint to help guide curriculum innovations, partnerships, and teaching interventions that incorporate the United Nations sustainable development goals (SDGs) into the curriculum. It suggests the utilization of AACSB’s Societal Impact Canvas with Ancona et al.’s (2007) Leadership Capabilities (Sensemaking, Relating, Visioning, Inventing) to provide a blueprint for mission-aligned SDG integration at a local level. It provides an illustrative example from the University of Rhode Island (USA), where the focus is on the Blue Economy. It aims to provide practical guidance for how a college or university can efficiently organize to gain stakeholder input that helps enhance …

The Impact Of Key Audit Matters On Earnings Quality: The Moderating Role Of Ownership Structure In Egyptian Listed Companies., Dina Hassouna, Rasha Elhaddad, Rasha Elbolok

Business Administration

This study investigates the influence of key audit matters (KAMs) on earnings quality, measured by earnings per share (EPS), in Egyptian listed companies, with a particular focus on the moderating role of ownership structure. To address potential endogeneity concerns, the study employs the generalized method of moments (GMM) for panel data analysis. The findings indicate that KAM disclosures have a significant negative impact on EPS, suggesting that increased disclosure of critical audit matters is associated with a decline in earnings quality. However, this relationship is moderated by ownership structure, as concentrated ownership helps mitigate the adverse effects of KAMs on …

Imputation Methods Based On Cluster‑Wise Linear Regression: A Mathematical Programming, Ahmed M. Gad Prof, Mahmoud Mostafa Rashwan, Nouran M. Tawheed

Business Administration

In some applications, datasets may form several homogeneous clusters with respect to the relationship between the explanatory variables and the response variable. The presence of missing values in such datasets requires the use of two or more regression models subjected to a single objective function, which best summarizes the structure of the dataset, for imputing the missing values. This can be done using the cluster-wise linear regression model. The cluster-wise linear regression model is estimated through a mathematical programming approach based on the available data. Three imputation methods based on cluster-wise linear regression are used in this article. They are …

A Dissertation To Explore Entrepreneurial Decision-Making In High-Risk Uncertainty Using Ethical Leadership, Janice Patrick Honeycytt Hering

Dissertations

Entrepreneurs regularly face high-risk, uncertain situations. Until this study, no research had examined how entrepreneurs approach these situations. Although studies have identified the construct of courage and suggested ways for employees to take courageous action in the workplace, no study has examined how entrepreneurs approach situations perceived as high-risk and with uncertain outcomes until now. This study was based on ethical leadership, one of the major components of courage: acting for the higher good. This study conducted qualitative grounded theory research to determine what process entrepreneurs use when faced with the need for courageous actions. Participants were entrepreneurs in the …

Adaptation For Whom? Understanding The Impacts Of Dyke Policies On Small-Scale Farmers In Ca Mau Province Of Vietnam, Nguyen Minh Quang, Nguyen Van Minh, Nguyen Vo Chau Ngan, Martha B. Lerski

Publications and Research

Low-lying deltas worldwide are extremely vulnerable to sea-level rise. As the risks of climate-induced flooding become increasingly clear, the thirst for infrastructure-driven adaptation increases. This highlights a patent need to understand the impacts of engineering adaptation solutions, especially those targeting built structures such as dykes and sluices, on farmers from a bottom-up, farmer-centred perspective. The study addresses this call by examining cases where dyke policies, while successful in some dimensions, have undermined small-scale farmer livelihoods in Ca Mau ― Vietnam’s southernmost rural province. It identifies areas in need of attention and adds empirical data related to this group of farmers. …

Identifying Intangible And Biocultural Heritage Elements Toward Environmental Understanding: Engaging Stakeholders Through Art, Martha B. Lerski

Publications and Research

Grounded in a case study in Barbuda in the Caribbean, this research examines sustainability from the perspective of what arts and heritage can contribute to community engagement and local and broader understandings about the environment. This article documents a growing body of literature recognizing the role of arts and culture, including local knowledge and traditional ecological knowledge (TEK), in climate change endeavors. Art and TEK present expansive world views. Contextual information situates research done on the island of Barbuda pre- and post-Hurricane Irma. Visual arts workshops engaged community members in mixed methods research. Results documented cultural elements, particularly intangible and …

Dominance Of Leading Business Schools In Top Journals: Insights For Increasing Institutional Representation, Rodrigo Romero-Silva, Erika Marsillac, Sander De Leeuw

Information Technology & Decision Sciences Faculty Publications

The competitive push for business schools to publish in prestigious journals has resulted in a disproportionate number of papers in prestigious Management and Operations Research/Management Science (OR/MS) journals coming from a select group of institutions. Our analysis shows the Matthew effect of prestigious journals favors established schools with 51.2% of papers in 18 Management ABS 4* journals and 61.3% of papers in 3 OR/MS ABS 4* journals involving authors from the 100 top business schools identified by the University of Texas at Dallas (UTD). Citation patterns are similarly concentrated among papers authored by scholars from UTD-listed business schools, with nearly …

Why Ai Monitoring Faces Resistance And What Healthcare Organizations Can Do About It: An Emotion-Based Perspective, Karl Werder, Lan Cao, Eun Hee Park, Balasubramaniam Ramesh

Information Technology & Decision Sciences Faculty Publications

Continuous monitoring of patients' health facilitated by artificial intelligence (AI) has enhanced the quality of health care, that is, the ability to access effective care. However, AI monitoring often encounters resistance to adoption by decision makers. Healthcare organizations frequently assume that the resistance stems from patients' rational evaluation of the technology's costs and benefits. Recent research challenges this assumption and suggests that the resistance to AI monitoring is influenced by the emotional experiences of patients and their surrogate decision makers. We develop a framework from an emotional perspective, provide important implications for healthcare organizations, and offer recommendations to help reduce …

In Search Of A Sea-Life Balance In An Adverse Environment : Understanding Seafarers' Life, Work And Turnover, Bikram Singh Bhatia, Raphael Baumler, Maria Carrera-Arce

Reports

The Officers’ Union of International Seamen (OUIS) commissioned the World Maritime University (WMU) to conduct the Work & Health Balance at Sea (WHEAB) project to examine some dimensions of seafarers’ working lives.

Building on exploratory interviews, a survey was designed and administered. The current report presents findings on work patterns (onboard and home periods), working hours, work-related stress, safety management system, shore leave, mental well-being, and career intention.

The survey gathered responses from 4,372 seafarers, mainly from India (n=1,098; 25.1%), the Philippines (n=690; 15.8%), the United States (U.S.) (n=501; 11.5%), and other worldwide regions (n=2,083; 47.6%). The overrepresentation of U.S. …

Shore Leave : Rare, Brief And In Danger Of Extinction, Maria Carrera-Arce, Raphael Baumler, Bikram Singh Bhatia, Lei Du

Reports

Shore leave for seafarers is generally accepted as a custom, if not a right, essential for well- being and pressure relief from the responsibilities of life on board. However, it is clear that the ability of seafarers to take shore leave has been seriously eroded and may even be facing extinction.

The combination of workload on board and limited time in port make it virtually impossible for seafarers to make time for shore leave. Commercial pressures have increased, and there is a serious risk that facilities available for seafarers will decline due to a lack of demand.

The culprits are …

Future Of Bse Days 2025: Growing A Regenerative Bse, Derek M. Heeren, Santosh Pitla, Jennifer R. Keshwani, Mark Stone

Department of Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering: Presentations and White Papers

The Future of BSE Days 2025: Growing a Regenerative BSE brought together over 150 faculty, staff, students, and partners to envision the next quarter-century of the Department of Biological Systems Engineering. The event emphasized regeneration—not only of resources and ecosystems, but also of ideas, learning models, and relationships. Across seven major sessions—three Spark Talks and four Pillar Workshops—participants explored how BSE can thrive amid technological disruption, demographic change, and societal transformation.

Key Outcomes

Redefining Impact: This session challenged participants to evolve from counting outputs to valuing relationships, collaboration, and community well-being.

Adaptive Learning Models: This discussion introduced design studios, micro-credentials, …

Age Segmentation In The Life Coaching Industry: A Needs-Based Approach, Timothy Reisenwitz

Atlantic Marketing Journal

Life coaching is the second-fastest-growing industry in the world. Most previous research has used a results-based approach with relatively small sample sizes. The current research uses a needs-based approach to identify whether older or younger consumers are better candidates for a life coaching session or program. A hard-copy questionnaire used existing scales based on industry indicators to identify viable life-coaching clients. A multivariate analysis of covariance (MANCOVA) was used to analyze the data, with gender as the covariate or moderating variable. Results showed that younger consumers are generally better candidates for life coaching, while gender was only significant for one …

Buying Green On A Student Budget: How Sustainability Shapes Gen-Z Grocery Habits, Tyler Martin, Diane R. Edmondson, Lucy Matthews

Atlantic Marketing Journal

Sustainability is increasingly prioritized by consumers, but concerns arise about whether Gen-Z college students with limited financial means translate sustainable attitudes into purchasing behaviors. This study surveyed 496 undergraduate students at a southeastern public university to assess attitudes, motivations, and actions regarding sustainable grocery shopping. Results reveal strong environmental concerns among students but a notable gap between beliefs and purchasing behaviors, attributed mainly to financial constraints. Gender, political affiliation, and religious affiliation significantly influenced sustainable behavior. Managerial implications and future research directions are discussed.

Omnichannel Retailing: An Exploratory Study Of Limiting The Customer Journey In A Digital-First Context, Terence L. Holmes, Edward C. Brewer, Elizabeth Patterson

Atlantic Marketing Journal

A recent retail trend is the rise of “digital-first” firms, where their merchandise is sold primarily via online efforts. In this exploratory study we describe our investigation of the customer journey for a digital-first seller of cosmetics and personal care products. We collected qualitative and quantitative data from a customer survey and follow-up interviews. Results indicate that personal connections and actual product use are the two most important touchpoints customers consider in first discovering the seller and then building a relationship with the brand. We describe practical applications of the findings and suggest ideas for future research.

Teaching Social Marketing Concepts Through Prosocial Behavior Lenses, Bela Florenthal

Atlantic Marketing Journal

This study investigates the educational value of a prosocial project embedded in a college-level marketing course. Framed through a humanistic and holistic lens, the initiative integrated acts of kindness (AOKs) to engage students in real-world application of social marketing concepts. Using a mixed-methods approach, data were collected through student reflections and surveys, revealing high levels of cognitive, emotional, and behavioral engagement. Students developed empathy, compassion, and self-awareness, reinforcing the importance of integrating experiential learning into business education. The project also addressed AACSB’s emphasis on societal impact and aligned with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals by promoting emotional well-being and civic …

Budgeting For Social Equity: Exploring The (Nearly) Unknown, Bruce D. Mcdonald Iii, Sean M. Mccandless

School of Public Service Faculty Publications

Public administration has become increasingly concerned with social equity, particularly in budgetary processes. Local governments have adopted so-called equity budgeting practices, yet little is understood about how and why they are adopted; what budgeting practices are deemed social equity budgeting versus traditional budgeting; what is required to adopt and implement social equity budgeting successfully; and how success is measured. We analyzed government and nonprofit documents on social equity budgeting, followed by interviews with local government budget directors serving “early adopter cities” of social equity budgeting practices. We developed a framework of social equity budgeting practices to link the findings regarding …

The Jingle Jangle Fallacy Of Organizational Identification: An Exploration Of Its Meaning And Measurement Through Cluster And Meta-Analytic Methods, Leah Aiken Rossett

Human Resource Development Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation investigates the conceptual and operational definitions of organizational identification (OID) across primary studies included in meta-analyses, with a focus on identifying the prevalence and impact of jingle and jangle fallacies. Using a systematic literature review, definitions were analyzed and coded. Cluster analysis revealed significant inconsistencies between how OID is defined and measured, exposing widespread jingle fallacies—where distinct constructs are labeled the same—and jangle fallacies—where similar constructs are labeled differently. Meta-analytic techniques further demonstrated that conceptual and operational clusters labeled as “OID” vary in their relationships with three key outcomes of interest: specifically, job satisfaction, organizational commitment, and turnover …

Career And Technical Education: Evaluating The Benefits Of Partnerships Among Schools And Organizations, Rosalynn Tennie

Doctor of Education Dissertations

Employers are experiencing skill gaps when hiring employees. Employability skills are taught in high school through Career and Technical Education (CTE) courses. High school students receive hands-on experience through work-based learning opportunities such as internships with the help of organizations in the community. The partnership between schools and organizations is vital to the success of internships. This study investigated the lived experiences of organizations that offered internships to high school students. The study focused on a school district in the northeastern central region of North Carolina. The primary method of data collection used in the study was interviews. The interviews …

Candidates' Perceptions Of A University's Consultancy Requirements With For-Profit/Nonprofit Partnering Organizations, Candace S. Parson

Doctor of Education Dissertations

This dissertation in practice is an action research study that investigated the perceptions of students within the Doctor of Education in Organizational Leadership (DEOL) program under the University College of Education experiences in consultancy organizational partnerships in terms of key benefits, key factors, and barriers/limitations that existed in the partnership. This study provided feedback to the University College of Education that was used to understand candidates’ experiences, it identified continuous improvement and developmental opportunities that will be used to evaluate consultancy organizational partnerships. A qualitative research design was used to collect data from 10 DEOL students via one-on-one interviews. The …

Affordance-Based Information Technology Sensemaking [Abits], Arvin Mesgari, Chitu Okoli, Ana Ortiz De Guinea

Information Systems and Business Analytics Faculty Works

Information Technology (IT) use gives rise to a wide variety of outcomes. This stems in part from the divergent ways in which individuals understand technology. While the sensemaking literature unveils how meaning is attached to organizational phenomena via cognitive and social processes, it overlooks the discovery dimension of making sense, that is detecting the role of the IT artifact in bringing about outcomes. In other words, there is a need to explain how the IT artifact contributes to technology sensemaking and its outcomes. This paper presents a framework that enables scholars to analyze the IT artifact’s role in technology sensemaking …

The Moderating Role Of Hospital Staffing Levels On The Effectiveness Of Clinical Decision Support Systems In Mitigating Patient Readmission Rates, Youyou Tao, Arindam Brahma, Kevin Baldwin, Rui Sundrup, Dezhi Wu

Information Systems and Business Analytics Faculty Works

Healthcare staffing shortages and high 30-day readmission rates are pressing challenges in today's healthcare systems. While extensive studies have explored the positive impact of Health Information Technology (HIT) on health outcomes, the effect of hospital staffing on HIT effectiveness, particularly Clinical Decision Support Systems (CDSS), is underexplored. Therefore, we examine whether physician and resident staffing levels moderate the impact of CDSS on 30-day readmission rates. After analyzing data from 1,605 hospitals in the United States from 2017 and 2018, we found that the effect of CDSS implementation in reducing 30-day readmission rates is more pronounced in hospitals with lower bed-to-physician …