Digital Commons Network^™

Empowering Consumers: The Impact Of Awareness On Skill Development And Assertiveness In Market Engagement, Megawati Simanjuntak

Journal of Marketing and Consumer Behaviour in Emerging Markets

Consumer empowerment focuses on the knowledge, attitudes, skills, and advocacy that enable consumers to recognize and defend their rights and responsibilities. This study aims to explore the relationship between consumer awareness, skills, and assertiveness, highlighting the role of consumer empowerment in defending their rights. The study involves 2,600 respondents, consisting of 1,400 individuals from urban areas and 1,200 individuals from rural areas, analysed using Structural Equation Modelling (SEM). The findings reveal that consumer awareness significantly enhances both skills and assertiveness. Additionally, consumer skills serve as a mediator linking awareness and assertiveness. This research emphasizes that higher awareness among consumers can …

Navigating Work-Life Balance: A Study Of School Educators In Challenging Contexts, Laurent Yacoub, Sara Abou Ibrahim, Nadine Osman, Zubaida Daye, Nada Jabbour Al Maalouf

Arab Economic and Business Journal

Work-life balance has become an essential aspect of employees’ fundamental rights provided by the workplace in almost every industry. While WLB is widely recognized for enhancing employees’ productivity, motivation, and consequently, the overall success of the organization, limited research has focused on its role in the educational sector, particularly in Lebanon. In the educational sector, this concept is particularly important since this sector is known for the high amounts of workload during and after school hours. This study explores the impact of work-life balance on job satisfaction among both Lebanese and non-Lebanese teachers in private and public schools in Lebanon, …

What You See Is Not What You Get: Food Advertising Amidst The Global Overweight And Obesity Pandemic, Marija Ocokoljic

Journal of Marketing and Consumer Behaviour in Emerging Markets

The tandem issue of obesity and overweight is a serious global issue that has attained pandemic scale. Media, particularly advertising, plays an active role in shaping perceptions and behavioural patterns, influencing both how and what people eat. This paper analyses food advertising in Serbia in 2023 in the context of promoting dietary habits. Content analysis of commercials aired on a selection of television stations during the year showed the overwhelming prevalence of ads for food high in fat, sugar, and salt (HFSS), with confectionary products in lead positions. Commercial narratives centre on framing them as sources or catalysts for joyful, …

Adapting To Uncertainty: Strategic Decision Making In The Fresh Produce Supply Chain Under Fluctuating Market Conditions, Jacqueline Kelly

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The global fresh produce supply chain faces increasing uncertainty due to economic volatility, shifting trade policies, logistical constraints, and evolving consumer demand. In this dissertation, I examine industrial purchasing decision-making grounded in the Industrial Buyer Behavior (IBB) framework. The study explores how supply chain experts navigate uncertainty, mitigate risks, and implement adaptive strategies to maintain efficiency and profitability.

Using a qualitative approach, this research draws on in-depth interviews with industry professionals to identify key factors influencing purchasing decisions, including supply chain resilience, technological advancements, sustainability, and geopolitical risks. Findings indicate flexible sourcing strategies, real-time logistical adjustments, and predictive analytics are …

Beyond The Finish Line: How Mindset & Setbacks Shape Future Success In High School Sprinters, Hannah Lybbert

Student Research Symposium

Introduction

Across many domains, mindset has been shown to affect performance; however, quantifying that belief can be challenging to do empirically.

Track and Field 100m results provide a perfect environment to attempt to quantify the magnitude of the effect of mindset on performance – timing equipment and wind sensors never lie!

Bryant University Research And Engagement Day Program

Bryant REDay (Research and Engagement Day)

No abstract provided.

Students For Sustainable Fashion & The Impact Of Fast Fashion, Anne M. York

Honors Theses

This thesis report took a project-based approach, making a change on campus through Students for Sustainable Fashion (SFSF), a club I founded here at the University of Mississippi. My thesis intends to document the establishment process and record the growth of SFSF throughout its last three semesters. SFSF emerged due to a significant challenge identified through casual class conversations, observational thinking, and campus engagement. However, university students are provided with abundant information about fast fashion's detrimental effects, and many feel unable to act due to social pressures, financial constraints, and the influence of fast-paced consumer culture. While students often desire …

Child Sexual Abuse: What Utahns Need To Know, Kolene Anderson, Susan R. Madsen

Marketing and Strategy Faculty Publications

Child sexual abuse (CSA) is a significant social, criminal justice, and public health issue that impacts families, neighborhoods, and communities of all racial/ethnic, socioeconomic, and cultural backgrounds. CSA is underreported, underfunded, and often accompanied by lifelong negative impacts on survivors’ physical, mental, and emotional health. Importantly, we acknowledge that not all who have experienced child sexual abuse feel that the term survivor (instead of victim) adequately conveys their feelings and experiences. However, for the sake of simplicity and to align with the terminology used in most research, we use the term in this report. Unfortunately, most survivors do not …

Activists On Board: Shareholder Activists And Their Influence On Firm Strategic Change, Eugene See

Management and Decision Sciences

The prevalence of shareholder activism has resulted in the placement of activist-appointed directors onto the boards of firms. Extant research on this phenomenon has taken a rational approach in examining how such directors bring about change but has not accounted for the behavioral implications associated with their placement on boards. Building on theory involving alignment and legitimacy at the team level, this paper adopts a behavioral approach in theorizing how the placement of activist shareholders themselves as directors onto the boards of firms brings about firm change. The study finds that such activists lead to less firm change. Further, it …

Ua19/16/2 Ahletics Press Releases, Wku Athletic Media Relations

WKU Administration Documents

Press releases regarding general activities of the WKU Athletics Department for spring 2025.

Evolution Of Buyer Representation: Factors Reshaping Real Estate Transactions In The Boston Area, Hunter Wolters

Honors Projects in Management

This study investigates the evolving factors influencing real estate buyers' decisions to engage with real estate agents in the Boston area. By focusing on agent characteristics, legal considerations, market trends, and technological advancements, this research aims to understand how these elements are reshaping the role of buyer agents. As factors reshaping buyer’s decisions in real estate transactions remain fluid especially in the wake of the NAR Settlement, this study will research current opinions of both homebuyers and real estate agents. The objective is to provide insights into the shifting standards of buyer representation in the real estate industry and their …

Ua35/3 Provost's Message, Wku Provost

WKU Administration Documents

Spring 2025 Provost's Messages issued to faculty & staff via email. Topics include awards, budget cuts, grants, Transdisciplinary Opportunity Program and administrative decisions.

Does Ai Help Or Harm? Why And How Ai Use Influences Workplace Outcomes And Employee Well-Being, Haille Trimboli, Reka Lassu

Education Division Scholarship

Although the recent surge in excitement surrounding artificial intelligence (AI) might suggest it is a new development, AI has been applied in organizations for over forty years (Fanti et al., 2022; Markelius et al., 2024). Indeed, the term "artificial intelligence" itself emerged in the 1950s during a research project at Dartmouth College, where it was used to describe "machines able to simulate human intelligence" (Haenlein & Kaplan, 2019, p. 3). Most recently, in 2022, the landscape of AI use for laypeople greatly changed when OpenAI introduced ChatGPT, a generative AI tool, to the public; ChatGPT is an advanced AI language …

Assessing The Long-Term Impact Of Initial Market Performance On Investors’ Risk-Taking Behavior, Drew Mahoney

Honors Projects in Finance

Since World War II, financial markets have been traditionally analyzed through quantitative models, yet these approaches often fail to account for the psychological and behavioral tendencies of investors. This study examines how investors’ initial experiences with market conditions shape their long-term risk-taking behavior. Findings suggest that individual market experiences, personal background, demographics, and other factors all influence how investors perceive risk. For instance, those who enter the market during periods of volatility may develop a more risk-averse mindset, while investors who experience strong bull markets early on may become overconfident in their future decisions. These insights have significant implications for …

A Relational Approach To Workplace Leadership, Nathaniel J. Hunt

M.S. in Leadership

This research project examines relational leadership as an ethical and strategic foundation for fostering effective workplaces. Motivated by the growing importance of human connection in leadership, the study integrates philosophical insights, particularly Emmanuel Levinas’s ethics of the face of the Other, with empirical evidence on workplace relationship-building. A mixed-methods approach was used, combining a structured survey of 32 professionals with thematic analysis of qualitative responses. Results confirmed that strategies such as encouraging knowledge-sharing and cultivating positive relational climates significantly enhance employee well-being, psychological safety, and organizational performance. Knowledge-sharing emerged as the most effective strategy, while relationship-building was found to be …

Impact Of National Chain Restaurants On Small Family-Owned Restaurants, Valeria Ortiz

Honors Projects in Management

This Honors Thesis discusses the impact of national chain restaurants on small family-owned restaurants, emphasizing how the expansion of chain restaurants has negatively impacted small family-owned businesses. National chain restaurants are managed and owned by large corporations, which can potentially overpower traditional establishments, putting pressure on smaller restaurants to remain profitable and face the risk of closing. Despite the reduced pricing and greater convenience provided by chain restaurants, family-owned restaurants provide a sense of local community, a better dining experience, higher food quality, and a wider variety of food. In addition, this thesis also emphasizes the significance of customer satisfaction, …

2025- The Twenty-Ninth Annual Symposium Of Student Scholars

Symposium of Student Scholars Program Books

The full program book from the 29th Annual Symposium of Student Scholars, held on April 16-18, 2025. Includes abstracts from the presentations and posters.

Beyond Traditional Analytics: Ai's Transformative Role In Marketing Intelligence And Customer Experience Optimization, Anindita Sengupta, Prathima Shivakumar Pattada, Anasuya Sengupta

Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Does Anxiety Affect Shared Leadership? A Case Study On The Shared Leadership Practices Of A Pentecostal Denomination, Gretchen H. Abney

PhD in Organizational Leadership

This study investigates the interplay between anxiety and shared leadership within the organizational structure of a Pentecostal denomination, focusing on its One Team initiative. This qualitative case study examines how anxiety and self-differentiation affect leadership dynamics and team interactions. Using the Bowen family systems theory as a conceptual framework, the research explores organizational clarity, team roles, decision-making, and relational trust. Data collection involved three phases: analysis of organizational artifacts, focus group interviews with One Team members, and individual interviews with executives. Emergent themes included organizational experiences, expressions of anxiety, self-differentiation, commitment to future development, and the importance of training opportunities. …

Does Culture Eat Talent? A Quantitative Study Exploring The Relationship Between Organizational Culture And Turnover Intentions In Conservation Organizations, T'Noya W. Thompson

PhD in Organizational Leadership

Talent retention can be a significant challenge within organizations, especially when turnover intention (TI) is high. High TI indicates that employees experience low job satisfaction, lack organizational commitment, and perceive more opportunities outside the organization; consequently, they consider leaving, which can disrupt organizational stability and effectiveness. This study examined the relationships of perceived and preferred organizational culture (OC) and TI among a sample of 217 individuals from the conservation workforce. Of these participants, 121 were associated with 15 conservation organizations that participated, and the remaining 96 participants were acquired through conservation networks. Participants responded to an online survey that combined …

Exploring The Perspectives Of Trained Pastoral Leaders On The Perceived Role Of Mental Health Conditions In Spiritual Formation, Duane P. Roberts

PhD in Organizational Leadership

The call of the pastoral leader is to serve and lead their congregants through a process of spiritual formation in alignment with how Jesus led His disciples to fulfill the Great Commission. However, when an underlying mental health condition is present, it can play a disruptive role in the spiritual formation of congregants in unique ways. Mental health conditions are a global phenomenon that continue to significantly affect individuals across all sectors, including the church. Thus, pastoral leaders are seeking to employ the most effective leadership style to guide congregants in continual spiritual formation when an underlying mental health condition …

The Moderating Effect Of Organizational Culture On The Relationships Between Job Satisfaction, Employee Engagement, And Employee Turnover Intentions, Irene N. Agbodjah

PhD in Organizational Leadership

Retaining top talent is a growing challenge in the United States. High employee turnover, as highlighted in the study, is a significant concern for many organizations. A recent Gallup survey, revealed that nearly half of U.S. workers are actively seeking or monitoring employment prospects, with approximately 48% of U.S. workers being in this category. This quantitative, nonexperimental, and correlational study involved the Organizational Cultural Assessment Instrument, Organizational Engagement Scale, Job Satisfaction Survey, and Turnover Intent Questionnaire, drawing on the experiences of 120 participants to examine the moderating role of organizational culture in the relationship between employee engagement, job satisfaction, and …

Factors Contributing To Meaningful Work And Intention To Stay In Generation Z Healthcare Workers, Jennifer A. Sippel-Tompkins

PhD in Organizational Leadership

The COVID-19 pandemic intensified two growing workforce challenges: (a) the Great Resignation and (b) quiet quitting, characterized by rising turnover and disengagement. Generation Z healthcare workers, now emerging as a significant segment of the workforce, have entered this environment with distinct values, emphasizing meaningful work, flexibility, growth, and organizational integrity. The purpose of this qualitative bounded case study was to explore the factors contributing to meaningful work and intention to stay among Generation Z healthcare workers in a large healthcare system in the United States. Data were collected through focus groups, paired interviews, single interviews, and analysis of anonymous employee …

Who’S More Likely To Do Science Philanthropy? Research On The Factors Influencing Chinese Private Entrepreneurs’ Willingness To Do Science Philanthropy, Tsz Ho Tony Lau

Dissertations and Theses Collection (Open Access)

China’s investment in scientific research funds feature relatively small amount and unitary structure of source. In recent years, the Chinese government has constantly issued policies to encourage social capital to participate in scientific research, especially fundamental research, by charitable donations or the like, but no significant results have been achieved. China's private entrepreneurs are the main force behind charitable giving. Therefore, it is imperative to engage these private entrepreneurs.

This thesis works on the characteristics of private entrepreneurs who are more likely to donate to scientific research. It can be divided into two parts/studies of research: 1) the impact of …

On The Borders: Black Women’S Multiple And Competing Social Identities And Expectations, And The Impact On Their Intragroup Leadership And Relational Experiences, Clover Baker-Brown

PhD in Organizational Leadership

Black women in the United States are often portrayed as a monolithic and unified group—defined primarily by racial identity and expectations of a shared understanding of common experiences. However, while racial identity is frequently foregrounded in public discourse, this framing often overlooks the overlapping of Black women’s multiple identities and the influence on their sense of belonging in their various groups. This omission can be subtle yet misleading. How Black women choose to self-identify may result in competing expectations or intragroup mistrust, which can impact their overall leadership and relational experiences. Black women's social identities are diverse, vibrant, and transcend …

Borrowing In The Dark: The Role Of Financial Education In Payday Loan Dependence, Abdullah Mohammad Mahi, Solomon Wang

Posters - 2025

Payday loans, a form of short-term, high-interest credit, have become a contentious financial instrument in the United States. Though they provide immediate access to cash for individuals, they are largely criticized for reinforcing consumers' financial vulnerability. With APRs consistently surpassing 400%, payday loans not only carry high risk but continue to be widely popular, attracting an estimated 12 million Americans every year. This research delves into the relationship between financial literacy and the utilization of payday loans. The payday lending market thrives by targeting individuals in financial distress, who are typically lowincome, young, and economically marginalized, making them particularly susceptible …

Experience Accounting To Improve Strategic Decision-Making In A Rural Resort: Application Case Report, Mats Carlbäck, Ganna V. Demydyuk

Journal of Global Hospitality and Tourism

This report explores the application of Experience Accounting (EA) to enhance strategic decision making in a rural resort, focusing on improving profitability through customer-centric financial management. This study addresses the challenges faced by small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the hospitality industry, particularly the lack of tailored information systems for effective decision-making. By integrating the Resource-Based View (RBV) and the stimulus-organism-response (S-O-R) paradigm, EA aligns cost accounting with customer-perceived value, optimizing resource allocation to enhance customer experience and willingness to pay. The case study of a rural upmarket resort demonstrates the practical implementation of EA, revealing insights into resource consumption …

Enhancing Metacognitive Competencies Through Human-Centered Ai: The Role Of Custom-Trained Intelligent Agents In Workforce Upskilling, James Hutson

Faculty Scholarship

This editorial examines the integration of human-computer intelligent interaction (HCII), specifically through human-centered artificial intelligence (AI) and custom-trained intelligent agents, to foster metacognitive competencies critical for workforce upskilling. With 59% of the workforce projected to require substantial upskilling by 2030, developing personalized AI models tailored to individual cognitive and learning profiles presents an innovative pathway. These custom-trained agents leverage human-computer interaction (HCI) technologies and machine learning methodologies to enhance understanding of one’s own learning processes-metacognition-thus empowering individuals to optimize their future learning and adaptability. This approach not only enhances the individual’s ability to engage effectively with complex tasks in the …

The Board Committee Chair Effect: How Much Does It Contribute To Firm Performance?, Kalin Kolev, Donald J. Schepker, David B. Wangrow, Vincent L. Barker Iii

Management Faculty Research and Publications

Boards of directors rely on committees to perform important specialized monitoring and advising tasks. While there is general consensus that committees and their chairs influence board outcomes and, thus, firm performance, we know little about the magnitude of these effects on firm performance. Using variance decomposition, we show that audit, compensation, and nominating committee chairs explain a significant portion of variance in firm financial performance. Some of the performance variance attributed to committee chairs comes from the increased explanatory power of adding an important level of strategic leaders. However, most of the committee chair effect seems to stem from performance …

Is More Always Better? An Experimental Examination Of The Effects Of Feedback Frequency, Narcissistic Oversensitivity, And Growth Mindset On Performance Accuracy, Joseph A. Johnson, Khim Kelly, Wioleta Olczak

Accounting Faculty Research and Publications

The provision of more frequent feedback to employees is increasing, although prior research has found mixed results as to the effect of increased feedback frequency on employee performance. Narcissism research identifies narcissistic oversensitivity as a key narcissistic subdimension that may result in particularly strong responses to performance feedback. We predict and find in an experiment that increased performance feedback frequency has a more negative impact on the performance accuracy of individuals with higher levels of narcissistic oversensitivity and that this negative interactive effect of feedback frequency and narcissistic oversensitivity is mitigated by the priming of a growth mindset. These results …