Digital Commons Network^™

Entropy In Leadership: Reframing Performance Decline As A Failure Of Internal Growth, Joshua M. K. Simmons

M.S. in Leadership

This project explored leadership degradation among mid-to-senior enlisted members (E5–E9) of the United States Air Force using the concept of leadership entropy, the gradual decline of psychological and relational capacity in the absence of sustained support. The topic was selected to address a gap in understanding how internal leadership resilience erodes despite continued performance. A convergent mixed methods design was used, integrating quantitative survey constructs such as burnout, psychological capital, and perceived organizational support with open-ended narrative responses. Twenty-four participants contributed data. Results showed that while leaders remain outwardly effective, internal motivation and connection often deteriorate over time, especially at …

Enhancing Multi-Step Stock Price Forecasting With Social Media Sentiment And Engagement Metrics, Damilare Olaniyan

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This thesis investigates whether social media sentiment can improve the accuracy of stock price prediction beyond traditional historical data. While financial markets have long relied on structured numerical indicators, the growing influence of public discourse on platforms like Twitter has introduced new opportunities for extracting market-relevant signals from unstructured text. The study focuses on four major technology firms and combines sentiment features derived from Twitter with historical stock prices in a hybrid machine learning framework. Engagement-weighted sentiment, linguistic complexity, and polarity intensity were extracted using natural language processing techniques and incorporated into classification and regression models. Results show that including …

How Did I Get Here? A Capstone Review, Michael Koach

University Honors Theses

In this thesis, I highlight my personal and professional growth as a college student. I use structured reflection and meta-analysis to uncover insights about how I learn and develop new skills. Over the past five years, I have built a toolbox of skills, including teamwork, public speaking, navigating uncertainty, strategic thinking, and leadership. I trace the development of each of these skills back to my coursework as a business student, my role in PSU's student-run advertising agency, and my professional experience. I show how these skills culminated in my business capstone project. My communication and leadership skills allowed me to …

How Executive Leaders Build Trust: Navigating Organizational Disruption During The Covid-19 Mega-Crisis, Marji Karish

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The COVID-19 pandemic, declared a global health crisis by the World Health Organization (WHO) on March 11, 2020, created a “mega-crisis” characterized by intersecting physiological, economic, political, social, and cultural disruptions. This study examines how senior organizational executives narrate their response to the crisis, focusing on their engagement with organizational stakeholders. Using a constructivist grounded theory methodology, I conducted in-depth interviews with 12 organizational leaders to construct the Theory of Social Crisis Leadership Communication (SCLC).

Findings highlight the centrality of trust as an interdependent relationship in which executive leaders and organizational stakeholders rely on each other to navigate crises successfully. …

The Modern Pilgrimage Of Umrah: The Convergence Of Spiritual Devotion And Pop-Consumer Culture In Indonesia, Syamsu Madyan, Habil Abyad, Imam Wahyudi Karimullah

International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage

This study explores Umrah’s significant growth as a religious tourism model in Indonesian Muslim society. The discussion examines factors that influence that growth, from the increased income levels of Indonesian middle-class Muslims to the Umrah propaganda generated by the wave of social media. This study will also capture Umrah as a solution for Indonesian Muslims to the long waiting queue for Hajj quota in Indonesia, as it is seen as a good opportunity for religious commodification through the touristic market being exercised by stakeholders such as policymakers and travel agencies. As the Umrah tourist market will be analysed in this …

Nostalgia, Trauma And Recovery: A Case Study Of Hazrat Hamza Shah Shrine, Ismail Rafik Shaikh, Subhash Kizhakanveatil Bhaskaran Pillai, Indrawati Indrawati, Irfan Syed Mirza, Yu-Fang Yen, Arina Khoirunnisa

International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage

Religious tourism, as a pillar of spirituality and faith, continues to uplift and encourage believers in times of hardship. However, religious tourism was severely disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic, which affected many stakeholders at different levels. This study explores the experiences of various stakeholders at the Hazrat Hamza Shah Shrine in Goa over three different time periods: nostalgia (before the pandemic), trauma (during the pandemic), and recovery (following the pandemic). Utilising qualitative data from interviews and social media sentiment analysis (53 posts on Facebook, 185 on Instagram, 64 on YouTube, and 102 on Google Maps), the study has identified a …

Does The Organization–Employee Relationship Matter? Linking The Organization–Employee Relationship With Employee Well-Being And Performance, Deepti Pathak, Gaurav Joshi

Economic and Business Review

The study examines the relationship between the organization–employee relationship (OER), well-being, and work performance of remote workers who were mandated to work from home because of the uncertainties and health risks brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic. This study focuses on the work performance of the employees contributed through positive psychological well-being and positive OERs. A comprehensive nationwide survey was undertaken, involving a sample size of 1289 full-time IT employees in India, with the objective of determining the impact of well-being on individual work performance. Results from the analyses indicate that though the employees with limited experience of work from …

Customer Prioritization: From Conceptualization To International Application, Maria Gracner, John William Cadogan, Gregor Pfajfar

Economic and Business Review

This study examines customer prioritization, a strategic practice where businesses allocate resources and efforts based on customer value. While its significance in international marketing continues to grow, limited research exists on how customer prioritization is understood and applied in international firms operating across diverse cultural contexts. Addressing this gap, the study explores how international-marketing managers conceptualize customer prioritization and identifies its key components. Using a qualitative methodology, the study conducted in-depth interviews with Slovene international-marketing and sales managers from 13 export-oriented firms. Thematic analysis, guided by the Gioia methodology, identified four central themes: prioritization tactics and strategies, international customer profitability, …

Lindenwood Faculty Awards Recognize Connection And Academic Passion, Lindenwood University

Archived Lindenwood Press Releases

No abstract provided.

Modelling Complex Psychological And Behavioral Dynamics: Analyzing Perception And Psychological Ownership In Gen Z'S Re-Subscription Intentions Towards Ott Platforms, David Joseph, Blesson James, Tanya Sharma

Northeast Journal of Complex Systems (NEJCS)

This study explores the complex dynamics between perception, psychological ownership, and re-subscription intentions among Gen Z users of OTT platforms, specifically examining how perceived benefits and perceived drawbacks shape user behavior and investigating the moderating role of psychological ownership in this context. The research focuses on a sample of Gen Z users from India who actively engage with OTT platforms, and data were collected through a structured questionnaire comprising three sections; a structural equation modeling (SEM) technique was applied to analyze the data obtained from 304 valid responses. The analysis reveals that perceived benefits significantly enhance Gen Z's re-subscription intentions, …

Public Relations As An Approach For Smes To Improve Business Sustainability, Nikkia Tene Mcclain

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) often lack dedicated public relations (PR) departments, limiting their ability to build brand identity, and gain market share compared to larger firms with greater resources. Small business owners need PR departments to improve their competitive positioning to satisfy buyers. stay competitive to maintain and increase employment, and satisfy customers. Grounded in the dynamic capability theory, this qualitative multiple case study explored how the development and strategic implementation of PR functions can provide SMEs with a competitive advantage. Participants included seven SME owners in fashion, real estate, beauty, business, technology, and retail, each with experience in …

Exploring The Pathway From Customer Sexual Harassment To Instigated Incivility In Service Employees, Fernanda Wolburg Martinez

Dissertations and Theses

The current study explores how and why customer sexual harassment (CSH) experienced by service workers may lead to instigated incivility towards customers in the same week. Specifically, following the tenets of Personality Systems Interaction theory (PSI) and the affective shift model, I hypothesized that week-level affective shifts mediate this relationship, such that upshifts in anxiety and downshifts in self-assurance govern changes in motivational and cognitive functions that impair the employee's ability to provide good customer service. Further, supervisor preventive behaviors and psychological detachment are proposed as interventions that may lead to a departure from the mistreatment spiral by weakening the …

Marketing De Moda Predictivo E Inclusivo: Estrategias De Segmentación Avanzada Para Audiencias Diversas Con Inteligencia Artificial, Oscar Barroso Huertas

GDI. Revista de investigación de Género, Diseño e Innovación

Introducción: El marketing predictivo, impulsado por la inteligencia artificial (IA), está transformando cómo las marcas anticipan las necesidades de sus audiencias. En Moda, la personalización es clave para conectar emocionalmente con los consumidores, pero también es esencial que las marcas sean inclusivas, respetando la diversidad y la privacidad. Este artículo explora cómo las marcas de moda usan el marketing predictivo para segmentar audiencias diversas, garantizando campañas personalizadas e inclusivas. Metodología: Este estudio adopta un enfoque mixto, combinando revisión documental y análisis cualitativo. Se revisan fuentes académicas y casos de marcas que aplican marketing predictivo inclusivo, utilizando tecnologías como machine learning …

A Century Of Servant Leadership: Jimmy Carter, Jeffrey H. Coats

Servant Leadership: Theory & Practice

This paper describes the servant leadership characteristics of Jimmy and Rosalyn Carter.

Organizational Change, Servant Leadership, And Christian Perspective, David Macauley, Randall Trent Stevenson, Helen Mitchell, David S. Fowler

Servant Leadership: Theory & Practice

In today’s dynamic business environment, organizational change is inevitable, yet with a failure rate of more than 70%, successfully navigating change remains elusive for the majority of business leaders. Effective change management requires more than just strategy, it demands a leadership approach that fosters trust, engagement, and resilience among employees. Servant leadership, with its focus on humility, empathy, and support, offers a powerful framework for guiding leaders and the organizations they serve through transformative periods, and can increase the effectiveness of organizational change efforts. By putting the needs of others first, and aligning leadership actions with values such as patience, …

Arts-Based Sustainability: From New York To Malawi, Martha B. Lerski

Publications and Research

Recognizing that libraries serve multiple constituencies and subject areas, this chapter documents and advocates for development of transdisciplinary arts-based research (ABR) and culture-related projects linked to environmental challenges. Libraries contribute collections and spaces, as well as the research of library and information scientists. Libraries are currently among invisible contributors to sustainability planning and services. The chapter will link this invisibility to the value of what visual arts refer to as negative space elements in subjects ranging from traditional ecological knowledge to environmental science. Library collections, projects, and research contribute to education for sustainable development (ESD) as required to achieve the …

Evaluation Of Social Worker Knowledge Of Human Trafficking At The Oregon State Hospital: A Qualitative And Quantitative Analysis Of Education, Training, And Victim Identification, Jamie Sue Pryde

Dissertations and Theses

The prevalence of human trafficking continues to increase worldwide, and the implementation of human trafficking education and victim identification within institutions is slow to catch up. The Oregon State Hospital is a psychiatric in-patient hospital that currently does not provide human trafficking education or a screening tool for staff and does not know how to provide treatment to trafficked victims. Interviews were conducted with employed social workers at the Oregon State Hospital to obtain a baseline understanding of their previous education, training, and knowledge of human trafficking to aid in the creation of a trafficking screening tool. Results indicate participants …

Promotions And Themes: An Empirical Analysis Of Attendance Factors In The National Women's Soccer League, Lena Gunn, Alexander Traugutt

Journal of Applied Sport Management

The National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) has experienced significant growth, making it crucial to understand attendance drivers at matches. This study evaluated the impact of themed events and promotions on attendance during the 2023 NWSL season. Using data from all regular-season home matches (N = 167), an OLS regression analyzed how various factors influenced attendance measured as a percentage of stadium capacity. Results revealed that themed events significantly increased attendance, while traditional promotions showed a positive but non-significant effect. External factors including post-World Cup timing, visiting team marquee players, and market demographics also significantly influenced attendance. These findings provide actionable …

Promoting Well-Being Among Intercollegiate Student-Athletes: The Impact Of Collegiate Sport Business Practices, Laura Kruger

Journal of Applied Sport Management

The purpose of this experimental study was to identify if the implementation of an educational gratitude workshop could increase intercollegiate student-athletes’ self-reported perceptions of well-being and reduce stress, considering sport administrators must address rising mental health concerns among athletes. Participants of various sport teams were randomly assigned to an experimental or control group to assess differences among self-reported measures of state gratitude, psychological distress, life satisfaction, athlete burnout, and perceived available support in sport. Statistical significance was found in the data analysis which demonstrated that the workshop was meaningful, and it significantly influenced the experimental group’s perceived available support in …

Stress Reactivity And Sociocultural Learning: More Stress-Reactive Individuals Are Quicker At Learning Sociocultural Norms From Experiential Feedback, Shilpa Madan, Krishna Savani, Pranjal H. Mehta, Desiree Y. Phua, Ying-Yi Hong, Michael W. Morris

Research Collection Lee Kong Chian School Of Business

When interacting with others in unfamiliar sociocultural settings, people need to learn the norms guiding appropriate behavior. The present research investigates an individual difference that helps this kind of learning: stress reactivity. Interactions in an unfamiliar sociocultural setting are stressful, particularly when the actor fails to follow its rules. Although stress is typically considered a liability, more stress-reactive individuals may be more motivated to improve, and, thus, quicker to learn these rules. Consistent with this idea, a pilot study found that people genetically inclined to stress reactivity, as computed by a genetic profile score across 59 single nucleotide polymorphisms on …

Us Food Waste, Kawika Barry

Sustainable Supply Chain Management

This essay touches on the food waste problem we have in the US and various ways to help reduce the issue at hand.

New Dentist News (June 2025), Ada Committee On The New Dentist

New Dentist News

New Dentist News offers timely information on scientific, social, educational, political and economic developments affecting new dentists. This collection is historical and items may not reflect current standards. For up-to-date information contact the ADA. The New Dentist News was alternately titled ADA Lifeline, 1997-June 2001.

Seattle's New Edition, Kyle Gray

Graphic Communication

My project is to create and develop the branding of the NBA's newest franchise: The Seattle Grunge. Grunge is a genre of alternative rock that emerged in the mid-1980s particularly in the city of Seattle. With my team, I am looking for seamless cohesion with other logos in the Association while establishing an emotional connection between the fanbase and its city. The project will consist of a complete creation of the team’s logo/branding, court, 3 jersey designs (home/away/city connect), merchandise, season ticket packaging, and a full marketing report (team logo exposure/connection to the city).

The Caitlin Clark Effect: Evidence Of Athlete-Driven Market Disruption In Women’S Collegiate Basketball, Lawrence W. Judge, Jeffrey C. Petersen

Journal of Applied Sport Management

Caitlin Clark’s emergence as a generational collegiate basketball talent triggered a profound shift in consumer behavior, known as the “Caitlin Clark Effect” (CCE) (Lucas, 2025). This study examined attendance and venue utilization data from the University of Iowa’s women’s basketball program, spanning pre-, during-, and post-Clark periods. Results from one-way ANOVA analyses showed a statistically significant increase in average game attendance (home, away, and neutral), rising from 5,387 pre-Clark to 13,877 in her senior year (p < .001), with a sustained post-Clark average of 9,890. Arena capacity utilization followed a similar trajectory, increasing from 37.3% to 92.4%. Notably, post-Clark utilization remained at 74.3%, indicating durable fan interest. These findings provide time-sequenced evidence of a singular athlete catalyzing lasting institutional and market change in women’s collegiate sports. The study advances sport business theory by illuminating the strategic implications of athlete-driven branding and challenges assumptions underpinning facility planning and resource allocation.

Understanding Gender Differences In Digital Readiness During Digital Transformation In Accounting Functions: Accounting Professionals’ Perspective, Benjamin Lee, Clarence Goh, Gary Pan, Poh-Sun Seow

Research Collection School Of Accountancy

Research aims: To examine gender differences in digital readiness during digital transformation in accounting functions, addressing a knowledge gap in current accounting literature. Design/Methodology/Approach: Survey of 297 accounting professionals (180 men, 117 women) with 27 questions on digital readiness perceptions, analysed using exploratory factor analysis and one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) tests. Research findings: Women exhibited higher overall digital readiness than men, particularly feeling more empowered by senior management and better equipped to continue job tasks during digital transformation. No gender differences were found in perceptions of knowledge and skills, barriers, or organisational strategy. Theoretical contribution/Originality: Challenges traditional stereotypes about …

Steering The Future, Shai Ganu

Asian Management Insights

Embracing the emergence of corporate stewardship.

The Competitive Advantage Of Storytelling, Jennifer V. Carroll

University Honors Theses

Ava Roasteria Company, a family-owned coffee business in Washington County, Oregon, faces the challenge of expanding in a saturated market. Despite a compelling origin story rooted in environmental remediation and community revitalization, Ava has not utilized this narrative in its branding. This capstone project applied strategic business and marketing frameworks to identify narrative storytelling as a key competitive advantage. Research shows that authentic, narrative origin stories of small businesses that align with stakeholder's values and beliefs can foster emotional connection, loyalty, and brand differentiation. Ava's history and alignment with the Portland culture of sustainability and social responsibility is an untapped …

Using Multiculturalism To Combat The Negative Creativity Effect Of Cultural Tightness: How It Is Done Matters, Jung Kiu Choi

Dissertations and Theses Collection (Open Access)

This study investigates the multifaceted influence of cultural tightness and multiculturalism on the global commercial success of pop music. Addressing an under-explored moderating effect of multicultural factors on creative output under tight culture, this research analyzes Billboard Global 200 and Spotify Top 50 chart data from 2013-2021. The empirical analysis reveals that cultural tightness negatively impacts pop song’s success. Conversely, multiculturalism, specifically through diverse languages and performance teams, generally enhances global success. A key finding is that while multicultural production teams do not directly correlate with success, they critically moderate the detrimental effects of cultural tightness, a buffering effect unique …

Mentoring: An Evidence-Based Approach To Leader Development, Robert J. Chico, Sophia R. Thoma, Tejal Wagadia, S. R. Aurora

Management Faculty Publications

Mentoring is vital for fostering the qualities and abilities necessary to expand employees’ capacity to lead. We highlight the aspects of mentoring and key considerations for implementing a mentoring program in organizations and educational institutions. We demonstrate the effectiveness of mentoring in developing emerging leaders and offer resources for readers to learn more about mentoring and implementing mentorship programs. We trust readers will understand mentoring’s benefits and acquire useful insights for establishing a mentorship program.

The Dead Internet Theory: A Survey On Artificial Interactions And The Future Of Social Media, Prathamesh Muzumdar, Sumanth Cheemalapati, Srikanth Reddy Ramireddy, Kuldeep Singh, George Kurian, Apoorva Muley

Faculty Publications - The LeMoyne Smith School of Business

The Dead Internet Theory (DIT) suggests that much of today’s internet, particularly social media, is dominated by non-human activity, AI-generated content, and corporate agendas, leading to a decline in authentic human interaction. This study explores the origins, core claims, and implications of DIT, emphasizing its relevance in the context of social media platforms. The theory emerged as a response to the perceived homogenization of online spaces, highlighting issues like the proliferation of bots, algorithmically generated content, and the prioritization of engagement metrics over genuine user interaction. AI technologies play a central role in this phenomenon, as social media platforms increasingly …