Digital Commons Network^™

Integration Of Ai In Project Management World And Impacts, Shravani Ramaiah, Keerthivasan Kumar

School of Professional Studies

In organizations, effective project management is crucial to achieving business objectives. The ability to gain real-time insights from dynamic data across areas such as finance, resource allocation, and performance metrics can significantly enhance decision-making. Instead of relying on manual report generation, the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) can enable managers to access actionable insights instantly. AI-driven analytical tools provide live data analysis, allowing managers to make more informed and timely decisions. This is especially important when paired with Agile methodologies, as AI can help streamline processes, reduce manual effort, and maximize efficiency by automating routine tasks and providing predictive analytics. …

An Integrative, Systematic Review Of The Situational Judgment Test Literature, Sven Kepes, Sheila K. Keener, Filip Lievens, Michael A. Mcdaniel

Research Collection Lee Kong Chian School Of Business

Situational judgment tests (SJTs) are popular assessment approaches that present scenarios describing situations that one may experience in a job. Due to its long history and cross-disciplinary nature, today’s SJT literature is quite fragmented. In this integrative review, we start by systematically taking stock and synthesizing the SJT literature from the different scientific disciplines via bibliometric techniques on 524 unique documents. We identify six literature clusters (i.e., SJTs in the medical sciences, SJTs in personnel selection, methodological issues and SJTs for specific constructs, SJTs to assess emotional intelligence and related constructs, technological advances in SJTs, SJTs for teacher assessment and …

Exploitative Labor In Los Angeles' Fashion Industry: A Path Towards Ethical Supply Chains, Magali Rodriguez

Sustainable Supply Chain Management

This chapter explores exploitative labor practices within Los Angeles' fashion industry and proposes pathways toward ethical supply chains. The fashion industry, particularly in Los Angeles, relies on labor-intensive production, which often leads to low wages, unsafe conditions, and systemic inequality. The complexity of global supply chains, power imbalances, and consumer demand for cheap clothing contribute to the persistence of exploitative practices. More than half of garment contractors in Los Angeles fail to meet minimum wage standards. The chapter emphasizes the importance of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and ethical sourcing, which includes accountability, transparency, and respect for human rights. It examines …

Personality Dynamics Turn Positive And Negative Mood Into Creativity, Ronald Bledow, Jana Kuhnel, Julius Kuhl

Research Collection Lee Kong Chian School Of Business

Introduction: Research on the link between affect and creativity rests on the assumption that creativity unfolds as a stimulus-driven response to affective states. We challenge this assumption and examine whether personality dynamics moderate the relationship of positive and negative mood with creativity. Theoretical Model: According to our model, personality dynamics that generate and maintain positive affect and down-regulate negative affect energize creativity. Based on this model, we expect high creativity in response to negative mood if people engage in self-motivation and achieve a reduction in negative mood. We further derive that individual differences in action versus state orientation moderate the …

Assessing Divergence And Convergence In The Design Process: Results From Two Experiments, Arlindo Silva, Tamas Makany, Matt Chiu

Research Collection Lee Kong Chian School Of Business

It is often assumed that the design process comprises divergent and convergent thinking cycles. Although many authors studied the design process in depth, a quantification of divergence and convergence is yet to be established. This paper attempts to quantify divergence and convergence in the design process for teams of design students. Student submissions from two independent design-related courses from two Universities are analysed for divergent and convergent thinking. Such an approach uses Natural Language Processing to harvest existing student submissions in written documents and converts them into a 'real-time' dashboard for feedback that can be used in multiple ways: searching …

Organizational Toxicity: Exploring Factors That Cultivate Toxicity In Air Force Maintenance Organizations And Their Impact On Enlisted Airmen, Bryan Keith Wong

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Workplace toxicity negatively impacts organizations and harms employees within those organizations. However, each organization is subject to various influences and contexts, and understanding toxicity within specific contexts provides practitioners with the knowledge of its origin, influential factors, and how to respond. The U.S. Air Force is rich in culture and subcultures; it is also subject to toxicity, which is affected by several military-unique factors. Yet, toxicity in the military has been primarily explored through the leadership lens with limited insights into other influential elements, such as followers and the workplace environment. Additionally, little attention has been placed on the effects …

Are Leaders Born, Or Made?, William R. Chase D.D.S.

The Journal of the Michigan Dental Association

The debate over whether leaders are born or made persists, but effective leadership often results from a combination of innate traits and learned skills. Transformational leaders inspire and motivate others, while transactional leaders focus on tasks without fostering personal connections. Servant leadership, particularly valued in the dental profession, emphasizes service to others, aligning naturally with patient care. Leadership styles, such as coercive, authoritative, and affiliative, demonstrate the complexity of leadership dynamics. Renowned authors like John C. Maxwell and Daniel Goleman emphasize adaptability and the importance of being a leader whom people want to follow. Effective leadership transcends settings, offering focus, …

Advocacy Spotlight: Understanding The Mda's Role With Dental Insurance Reimbursement Rates, Daniel Miller D.D.S.

The Journal of the Michigan Dental Association

The Michigan Dental Association (MDA) is dedicated to advocating for members and advancing the dental profession. While federal laws prohibit the MDA from negotiating reimbursement rates with dental insurers, it provides significant support through education, advocacy, and resources.

Key initiatives include enhancing transparency in network leasing, endorsing PPO Negotiation Solutions to help practices optimize contracts, and offering educational programs on billing and coding. The MDA also facilitates peer networking and equips dentists with tools to navigate insurance challenges effectively.

Looking ahead, the MDA remains committed to empowering members through advocacy, guiding future dentists on contract literacy, and fostering a resilient …

J Mich Dent Assoc December 2024

The Journal of the Michigan Dental Association

Each month, The Journal of the Michigan Dental Association provides news, information, and features about Michigan dentistry to our state's oral health community and the MDA's 6,200+ members. It stands as the primary publication reaching Michigan dentists.

The December issue includes a timely cover feature on evidence supporting community water fluoridation, a clinical feature answering questions on patient dental records, a guest editorial on leadership by former MDA Journal Editor Dr. Bill Chase, and a Back Page article on how a personal touch makes a difference. We also provide our annual 2024 Author/Title Index and regular departments: The New Professional, …

2024 December, Morehead State University. Office Of Communications & Marketing.

Morehead State Press Release Archive, 1961 to the Present

Press releases for December of 2024.

Audit Firms' Entry Into H-Share Audit Market And Mainland Audit Pricing: Evidence From China, Rui Zhang, Gaoliang Tian, Zichen Tian, Liuchuang Li

Research Collection School Of Accountancy

Purpose: This study aims to investigate whether mainland Chinese audit firms’ entry into the H-share market to provide audit services affects their mainland audit pricing. Design/methodology/approach: Using data on A-share listed companies in China from 2008 to 2018, a difference-in-differences model to test the research question is designed. Robustness tests are conducted to rule out alternative explanations and additional tests to shed light on the extent and inner workings of the main effect. Findings: The entry of mainland audit firms into the H-share audit market leads to a significant decrease in mainland audit pricing. Moreover, this main effect is (i) …

Understanding Immigrant Entrepreneurship In Ireland, Thomas M. Cooney, Martina Brophy, Toluwani Akaehomen

Reports

Understanding immigrant entrepreneurship in Ireland involves examining the diverse contributions that entrepreneurs from various backgrounds bring to the Irish economy. Immigrants from EU countries, Asia, Africa, the Americas and elsewhere come with different entrepreneurial traditions and experiences, enhancing the Irish business landscape with new ideas and practices. These entrepreneurs have a significant economic impact, introducing new products and services, creating jobs, and contributing to economic diversity and resilience. However, they often face distinctive challenges such as cultural and language barriers, difficulties in accessing finance, and navigating local regulations. The aim of this report is is to enhance understanding of immigrant …

The Forgotten S.O.P., Kamille Stevens

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

The Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship Development (iiED) is dedicated to cultivating entrepreneurship and economic growth within the Monterey Bay. Its goal is to create a pipeline of entrepreneurs from the Monterey Bay region who remain local and are able to increase the number of businesses and high-paying jobs in the area. To reach this goal, iiED provides multiple opportunities to its participants and tailors those opportunities based on their feedback.

Recently, iiED’s management has begun to experience turnover as individuals retire or reduce their work hours. As a result, iiED has begun to depend on the specialized knowledge of …

21st Century Community Learning Centers: Program Evaluation Evidence From Texas, Rosilyn Jackson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Texas afterschool programs strive to enhance academic performance and meet students' needs, yet gaps in program quality persist. This study evaluated 21st Century Community Learning Centers’ performance in reading, math, GPA, attendance, in-school suspension, and engagement, both within these categories and against program goals and demographics. Theoretical frameworks used in this study include the logic model, social justice theory, and cultural relevance theory. This quantitative study utilized a nonexperimental and secondary data research design which utilized five statistical tests: the Pearson Product-Moment Correlation, One-Way repeated ANOVA, Spearman Correlation, the Independent Samples t-Test, and the Mann-Whitney U Test. Results showed that …

Training-Informed Air Traffic Control Workforce Scheduling, Eli Winett

Theses and Dissertations

The Radar Control Facility (RCF) at Eglin Air Force Base creates monthly workforce schedules. Adherence to regulations must be verified manually and no evaluation criteria exist to compare schedules. A mixed-integer program model for air traffic controllers allocates workers across 19 positions for a user-defined number of weeks of 24-hour operations. Across eight consecutive months, this model produced schedules to nearly eliminate all shifts with critical shortages from the reference schedules. Without civilian overtime work, gains in positional coverage require a 35% increase in overtime work for military workers and 35% reduction in monthly training instances. We recommend users adopt …

Ecolabel Persuasion Effect Across Cultures: A Comprehensive Meta-Analysis, Franklin Velasco, Omar S. Itani, Paul Cajina

Marketing Faculty Publications

Purpose: Companies around the world have included ecolabels as a marketing strategy to convince consumers to choose products with lower environmental impact. However, the literature lacks a consensus on the effectiveness of ecolabels in persuading consumers to choose green products. The present meta-analysis addresses this gap by, first, evaluating the net persuasion effect of using ecolabels and, second, investigating the role of cultural orientations, operationalized at the country level, in this effect.

Methodology: This cross-cultural meta-analysis analyzed data from 26,116 consumers across 18 countries, encompassing 75 papers published between 1995 and 2023. Univariate and meta-regression analyses were utilized.

Findings: …

Addressing Grand Challenges Through The Bottom-Up Marketing Approach: Lessons From Subsistence Marketplaces And Marketplace Literacy, Madhubalan Viswanathan, Arun Sreekumar, Srinivas Sridharan, Gaurav R. Sinha

Marketing & Business Law Faculty Works

We present a bottom-up marketing approach as a pathway to addressing the grand challenge of poverty and inequality for the marketing discipline. We derive this approach from the research stream on radically different contexts of subsistence marketplaces. Research on subsistence marketplaces has typically explored micro-level phenomena but also traversed upward and explained aggregate phenomena at higher levels. We present a conceptual framework to encapsulate general and granular elements of the bottom-up marketing approach. Study 1 demonstrates general elements of the framework through a retrospective examination of the global diffusion of a marketplace literacy program. Study 2 demonstrates the more granular …

An Investigation Into The Perceptions Of Female Employees In The Abu Dhabi Government Sector On The Relationship Between Work And Family Life And Its Effect On Their Well-Being, Mouza Mohamed Alqubaisi

Thesis/ Dissertation Defenses

Due to a radical shift in the employee’s workforce interests, work-life balance (WLB) with its several policies and theoretical implications, has gained importance over the years. This study examines the interaction between family responsibilities and work duties, how it influences women's well-being and the impact this has on work performance, personal well-being and private life. The study applies a theoretical framework that combines elements of Job Demands-Resources (JD-R) theory and Resource Conservation Theory (COR) to highlight how these women deal with and relate to significant work-family imbalances reflected in their personal well-being. Qualitative interviews were conducted with 20 senior female …

Benchmarking Pretrained Models For Speech Emotion Recognition: A Focus On Xception, Ahmed Hassan, Tehroom Masood, Hassan A. Ahmed, H. M. Shahzad, Hafiz Muhammad T. Khushi

Business Faculty Publications

Speech emotion recognition (SER) is an emerging technology that utilizes speech sounds to identify a speaker’s emotional state. Computational intelligence is receiving increasing attention from academics, health, and social media applications. This research was conducted to identify emotional states in verbal communication. We applied a publicly available dataset called RAVDEES. The data augmentation process involved adding noise, applying time stretching, shifting, and pitch, and extracting the features zero cross rate (ZCR), chroma shift, Mel-Frequency Cepstral Coefficients (MFCC), and a spectrogram. In addition, we used many pretrained deep learning models, such as VGG16, ResNet50, Xception, InceptionV3, and DenseNet121. Out of all …

Navigating Market Volatility: Risk And Return Insights From Indian Mutual Funds, Davinder K. Malhotra, Rahul Singh, L. Ramani

School of Business Faculty Papers

This study evaluates Indian mutual funds using a variety of criteria, demonstrating a historical tendency of lower monthly returns and volatility when compared to benchmark indexes. This positive risk profile implies that it will appeal to investors who want stability. Despite COVID-19-induced market volatility, mutual funds persistently outperform benchmark indices in terms of average return per unit of risk, highlighting their potential as a dependable investment option for stability seekers. Furthermore, Indian mutual funds routinely beat benchmark indexes in risk-adjusted terms. Despite having a positive alpha, it lacked statistical significance, indicating a possible reliance on market volatility rather than managerial …

Social Capital, Post-Industrial Society, And Faulty Industry Experience: Higher Education’S Engagement Opportunity In Applied Disciplines, Asa B. Wilson, Steven A. Stovall, Edward Crowley

Journal of the North American Management Society

Higher education faces two currents - declining social capital support and the post-industrial transition. Both impact the academy and its students. The associated challenges are discussed as engagement opportunities for the academy in applied disciplines. Also, the instructional value of faculty industry experience (IE) is defined as an attribute of social capital. It fosters student engagement while building an experiential learning bridge from the classroom to the workplace. A composite case based on faculty social capital backgrounds illustrates how faculty IE augments program development, academic rigor, student readiness, research creativity, industry linkages, and community impact. Follow-up research opportunities are identified.

Building A Better Future For Christian Higher Education, Maria Ll Lam

Journal of the North American Management Society

This paper is an exploratory study concerning the perceptions of 16 diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) officers at nine Protestant evangelical Christian universities and six Catholic universities. Among these 16 DEI officers, 15 are people of color. 13 possess Ph.D. degrees and hold the highest administrative positions at their institutions. They are often required to address justice issues in their diversity initiatives if they don’t want to reproduce systematic institutional injustices in historically white-dominated Christian universities. They are working across multiple boundaries (i.e., boundary spanners) for institutional-level diversity changes. They all voice motivations to make institutional changes and 11 DEI …

Next-Gen Hr: How People Analytics And Business Acumen Drive Leadership In Strategy, Wistaria J. Joseph

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Quantitative research within the Human Resources (HR) field is scarce, specifically for HR professionals. This study aimed to add to the body of HR professional research focusing on professional development of HR professionals to ascend to significant leadership roles and gain a seat at the company’s strategic decision-making table. This research tackled the moderating role of people analytics and business acumen to determine if they drove Human Resource Management (HRM) strategic propensity from transactional HR expertise and transformational leadership, with upper-echelon and strategic leadership theories providing the backdrop. To this end, a survey was deployed to obtain responses from a …

Organizational Intentionality: Enhancing Business Engagement With Black Entrepreneurs Through Purposeful And Inclusive Strategies, Willye G. Shaw

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Motivated by demands for greater business diversity and proactive efforts of organizations to improve their inclusive engagements with minority stakeholders, this research contributes to the academic body of knowledge related to Black-owned business value by highlighting the impacts of organizations committed to shifting the conventional approach to diversity with this business community. The objective is to delve more into the need for enhanced relationships between organizations and Black-owned businesses, offering insights into the intentional actions, decisions, and strategies that lead to purposeful initiatives by the organizations to refine their business practices, with a focus on sustainable success for Black entrepreneurs. …

Micro And Nano Plastics: Contaminants In Beverages And Prevention Strategies, Chang Ma, Karna Ramachandraiah, Guihun Jiang

School of Public Health Faculty Publications

The widespread use of plastics in beverage packaging has led to the accumulation of microplastics (MPs) and nanoplastics (NPs) in beverages, which poses significant environmental and health hazards. This review explores the sources, entry pathways, and risk factors for MPs and NPs in beverages, emphasizing their toxicological profiles and harmful effects on human health and the environment. Methods for detecting MPs and NPs in beverages are discussed, highlighting the need for standardized testing protocols. Furthermore, future solution strategies, challenges, and preventive measures for mitigating MP and NP contamination in beverages are proposed, including advanced filtration systems, the development of alternative …

My Superpower: Research Collaborator Strategies Among Faculty Members Who Are First-Generation College Graduates, Faye Farmer

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This inductive study examined the intersectional experience within research collaborations of tenure-track faculty who are both first-generation college graduate students and from racial and ethnic groups (as defined in the United States) that are underrepresented in STEM fields (as defined by the National Science Foundation). I interviewed twelve current and former faculty members from doctoral-granting universities in the United States. I used identity as the theoretical lens to explore research collaborations at the individual level. The interviews revealed three themes reflecting identity's role in selecting and being selected as a collaborator and working with a collaborator. The themes are: an …

2024-November-22-Fall 2024 Semester Update, Bill Gatton College Of Pharmacy, East Tennessee State University, University Marketing And Communication, East Tennessee State University

ETSU News

Nov. 22, 2024

As the Fall semester winds down and we approach Thanksgiving next week, I want to share with you some college highlights and achievements that I’m thankful for this semester. I encourage each of you to reflect on this time, as well, and think about what you’re thankful for.    

The devastation in our region after Hurricane Helene was heartbreaking, but it was inspiring to see our students, faculty, and staff step up to serve our region in countless ways including through ETSU’s “Bucs Rebuild Together” campaign. There are too many stories to tell here, and many remain anonymous, …

Towards An International, Generalizable Marketing Strategy Maturity Model, Juan Manuel Harraca

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

In an increasingly dynamic business environment, organizations face relentless pressure to adapt their strategies and optimize value propositions to maintain competitiveness. The formulation of effective marketing strategies has emerged as a critical factor in achieving sustainable competitive advantage and ensuring long-term success. However, many firms struggle to refine their marketing capabilities in response to evolving market demands. Addressing this challenge, the Marketing Strategy Maturity Model (MSMM), introduced by Harraca in 2023, offers a structured framework to assess and improve a firm’s marketing strategy formulation processes.

The MSMM provides a dual approach, emphasizing the enhancement of both the processes and the …

2024-11-22 University Graduate Committee Meeting Minutes, Morehead State University. Faculty Senate., University Graduate Committee.

Faculty Senate Records

Meeting minutes from the University Graduate Committee from November 22, 2024.

2024-11-21 Fall Fep Reviews, Morehead State University. Faculty Senate., Evaluation Committee.

Faculty Senate Records

Evaluation Committee FEP reviews report submitted to the Faculty Senate on November 21, 2024.