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The Actor, The Character, And The Audience: The Impact Of Racial Alignment On Theater Audiences, Conwell Worthington Iii

Open Access Dissertations

Broadway represents the pinnacle of live theater in the USA, generating billions of dollars in revenue and serving as an international cultural icon. Despite Broadway’s prominence, it faces challenges stemming from its reliance on a relatively homogeneous audience base and a changing market. One determinant of both financial and critical success is casting. Casting also significantly impacts audience perceptions and acceptance. The recent success of Hamilton: An American Musical and Six: The Musical juxtaposed with the failure of 1776 have sparked discussion and interest into how to best utilize non-traditional casting as a strategy to broaden Broadway Audiences. This dissertation …

Trust, Literacy, And Choice: Exploring How Taxpayers Decide Between Self-Preparation And Professional Assistance, Bethany Jo Elam

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Each year, taxpayers must decide whether to self-prepare their tax return or hire a tax professional. While the decline in paper filing has made electronic filing the standard, the ease of access to both DIY tax software and tax professionals allows taxpayers to switch between these options each year if they wish. While previous research has focused on tangible predictors such as cost and accuracy, psychological factors, such as trust, remain largely unexplored in the modern tax-filing environment. This study investigates the relationship among perceived tax literacy among taxpayers, various dimensions of trust, and the intention to use tax software. …

A New Functional Setting For Term Structure Modeling Using The Health-Jarrow-Morton Framework, Michael Pokojovy, Ebenezer Nkum, Thomas M. Fullerton Jr.

Mathematics & Statistics Faculty Publications

The well-known Heath–Jarrow–Morton (HJM) framework provides a universal and efficacious instrument for modeling the stochastic evolution of an entire yield curve by explaining the interest rate dynamics in continuous time under no-arbitrage conditions. Existing implementations involve exponentially weighted function spaces as theoretical settings for the former stochastic evolution. While the choice of weight can have a drastic effect on model calibration and subsequent forecasting, it cannot be estimated from market data and does not allow for any objective interpretation. The proposed approach does not have this shortcoming as it adopts a suitably designed unweighted function space. The HJM equation is …

Leadership And Creative Placemaking In Central Appalachia: Morehead, Kentucky, Toni C. Hobbs

Theses and Dissertations--Arts Administration

In rural Appalachia, longstanding patterns of extractive economic development, coupled with limited public investment and uneven institutional support, have contributed to persistent economic stagnation and a diminished sense of pride among residents. These conditions reflect deeper structural challenges, including economies shaped by resource extraction and external control. Addressing these conditions is critical to fostering economic growth, promoting cultural heritage, and enhancing overall well-being in the region. By cultivating resilient communities, leaders can create environments in which both the economy and local pride can thrive, contributing to a more prosperous and unified Appalachian region.

This study investigates the organizational and leadership …

Mass Tourism And Sustainability Discourses: A Rhetorical Analysis Of Stakeholder Communication Across The Canary Islands, Iceland, And Puerto Rico, Carmen Collins

Theses and Dissertations

This study analyzes 123 websites from the Canary Islands, Iceland, and Puerto Rico, each including an equal number of tourism businesses, environmental organizations, and governments from each region, to examine the rhetorical digital communication strategies used and the textual differences between these websites. Thematic analysis was the methodology employed in this study. Ten themes were found inductively from the data, which are: 1) economic value framing, 2) cultural identity and heritage, 3) technological mediation, 4) inspiring guilt, awe, and urgency, 5) sustainability as an instrument, 6) intergenerational responsibility, 7) global versus local contestations, 8) accessibility and inclusion, 9) transparency and …

Emotional Valence In Sustainable Fashion Advertising And The Cognitive And Affective Drivers Of Consumer Response As Determinants Of Digital Engagement Behavior, Cassidy Jane Cisz

Theses and Dissertations

The dominance of the linear value chain and its perpetuation of overconsumption create persistent barriers to sustainable fashion brands in their effort to articulate a value proposition that justifies the price premium associated with ethical and sustainable production. To address this challenge and remain competitive within a marketplace dominated by low-cost fast fashion, these brands must differentiate through appeals that clearly reflect their values, mission, and climate commitments. While advertisements for sustainable goods use a broad set of persuasive strategies, this study evaluates two dominant emotional appeals, Positive Environmental Appeals (PEA) and Negative Environmental Appeals (NEA), both of which are …

Imposter Phenomenon And Leadership Effectiveness In Female Leaders: Exploring The Roles Of Intellectual Humility, Perfectionism, And Mentorship, Christina Clarke

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

First identified by Clance and Imes in 1978, Imposter Phenomenon describes a widespread psychological experience marked by persistent self-doubt, difficulties in accepting personal achievements, and a fear of being exposed as an unqualified "fraud" despite demonstrated competence. For over 45 years, most research on IP has primarily focused on its negative impacts, both personally and professionally, although limited recent studies have highlighted some positive aspects. While IP doesn’t differ amongst groups, most of the research and layman’s content on IP is associated with females. Drawing on empirical data that gender-diverse leadership outperforms homogeneous leadership teams, this research seeks to address …

Part Ii: Industrial Information Integration Review 2020-2025, Jinzhi Li

Information Technology & Decision Sciences Faculty Publications

Industrial Information Integration Engineering (IIIE) has become increasingly essential for improving operational efficiency and harmonizing heterogeneous industrial systems through advanced digital integration approaches. Fueled by rapid advancements in Industry 4.0 technologies—including digital twins, artificial intelligence, immersive interfaces, and IoT infrastructures—IIIE is substantially transforming traditional enterprise architecture and integration frameworks. This systematic review synthesizes recent developments and emerging trends, with particular attention to the accelerating adoption of digital twins and the deepening convergence between operational technologies (OT) and information technologies (IT) across multiple sectors. While notable progress has been made, significant challenges persist, especially in developing resilient integration architectures and fully …

Management Control Systems And Financial Stability In Nonprofit Organizations, Mary Constance Augustine

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Nonprofit organizations are critical to the United States economy, employing more than 12.8 million and providing vital services beyond what government programs can accomplish. These organizations are facing unparalleled financial challenges as competition for revenue sources increases and competitive pressure to excessively reduce overhead costs increases. Over the last three decades, managerial accounting literature has studied the effect of management control systems on innovative abilities in the commercial sector and recently, scholars have begun to apply these theories and methods to the nonprofit sector. Using Simons’ Levers of Control framework, this study employs a validated survey scale for nonprofit organizations …

The Soft Target Curriculum: Using Nigeria's 2026 Cascading Breaches To Teach Foundational Cybersecurity Failures, Chinedum Amaechi, Doris Asogwa, Samuel Alade

Journal of Cybersecurity Education, Research and Practice

SourceURL:file:///home/amaechi/Documents/ *Journal of Cybersecurity Education, Research and Practice (JCERP)*. **Title:** The Soft Target Curriculum: Using Nigeria's 2026 Cascading Breaches to Teach Foundational Cybersecurity Failures.docx

Background: Between March and April 2026, a single threat actor allegedly compromised four Nigerian institutions across banking, payment infrastructure, government registry, and power distribution sectors. The breaches exposed millions of records and disrupted critical services, yet all four exploited elementary vulnerabilities taught in introductory cybersecurity courses. Objective: This pedagogical case study analyzes the four breaches as a unified phenomenon of "normalized negligence" and provides ready-to-use teaching materials for cybersecurity educators. Methods: Using open-source intelligence analysis of …

Empowering Change From The Ground Up: Women’S Entrepreneurship In Sub-Saharan Africa’S Informal Sector, Rita Abban, Esi A. Elliot

International Business and Entrepreneurship Faculty Publications

Women’s entrepreneurship in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) is a critical driver of socio-economic development, within the informal sector where women enterprises are concentrated. Despite substantial contributions, structural and institutional barriers impede the formalization of these businesses, curbing their economic impact. This study examines how women entrepreneurs in Ghana and SSA navigate informal practices to achieve economic mobility. Employing a systematic literature review - PRISMA framework, the research synthesizes key themes including entrepreneurial capacity, sustainability, intellectual property, and institutional support. A comparative lens incorporating Rwanda and South Africa reveals Ghana’s high rate of female entrepreneurship, predominance of informal trade, and socio-cultural dynamics …

Rewards That Resonate- How Incentivized Online Reviews Shape Customer Loyalty And Review Outcomes, Sameeha Khizindar

Marketing Dissertations

In today’s competitive marketplace, online reviews have become a central feature of consumer decision-making and business strategy. Research consistently documents that online reviews have a positive impact on outcomes such as review volume and product sales, underscoring their critical role in shaping firm performance. However, the majority of consumers do not voluntarily write reviews, posing a challenge for companies that rely on user-generated content. To address this issue, companies often offer incentives to motivate customers to write reviews. Despite their widespread use, research on their impact remains limited. This dissertation is comprised of two essays that examine the impact of …

Impact Of Foreign Direct Investment On Employment In The Metropolitan Statistical Areas Of North Carolina, Matthew Y. Xiong

Doctor of Business Administration Dissertations

Foreign direct investment (FDI) is widely recognized as a catalyst for regional economic development; however, limited research has examined its relationship with employment growth at the metropolitan level within individual U.S. states. This study examined the relationship between FDI and employment growth across fifteen North Carolina Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs) from 2010 to 2019. Guided by Dunning's Eclectic (OLI) Paradigm (1988), Endogenous Growth Theory, the Human Capital/Absorptive Capacity Framework, and Institutional Capacity Theory, this quantitative study employed a balanced panel dataset of 150 MSA-year observations. Fixed-effects panel regression models with cluster-robust standard errors were used to examine the effects of …

Teaching Economics Behind The Global Covid-19 Pandemic, Chengping Zhang

Faculty Publications - College of Business

The global COVID-19 pandemic has upended our daily lives in unprecedented ways. Several extraordinary economic events have occurred and have brought some intriguing and important questions to everyone’s mind, creating an immersive teaching and learning environment. This paper shows how economic instructors may take advantage of this opportunity to educate their students with some key economic principles/theories using these COVID-19 related events. Integrating current events into economics instruction can stimulate students’ interests and inspire them to think about the economics behind each event. The relevance and relatedness of these events can also boost students’ motivation and engagement. This paper will …

The Budget, Fiscal Year 2026-2027, Tennessee. Department Of Finance And Administration

Budget Volume 1

This document is the final budget for the coming fiscal year.

Closing The Open Door: Curbing The Corporate Exploitation Of Tax Loopholes, Michael Fouladi

St. Thomas Law Review

Corporate America has long been the standard for business, serving as a beacon of hope to aspiring pioneers, entrepreneurs, liars, cheats, and frauds. With the rise of consumerism, citizens have become increasingly reliant on goods provided by corporations for their survival, as a result of local and familyowned businesses slowly disappearing due to acquisitions, takeovers, or bankruptcy filings. Subsequently, corporations today are more profitable, accounting for inflation, than ever before in American history. Ironically, however, corporate taxes are contributing less to the United States (U.S.) Gross Domestic Product (“GDP”) than ever before. Through the current system of tax collection, revenue …

Determinants Of Forward-Looking Information Disclosures Among Nonfinancial Firms In An Emerging Economy, Ikponmwosa Michael Igbinovia, Oluwaseun Joy Rapheal

Journal of Accounting Auditing and Business

The disclosure of Forward-looking information (FLI) is non-mandatory. The study investigates the determinants of FLI by examining specific corporate governance and firm-level variables known from disclosures literature to be core determinants of voluntary disclosures. The investigation relied on data from 29 non-financial listed companies in a developing country over the period 2018 to 2023. From a positivist philosophy, the study adopted a quantitative approach. The authors employed a comprehensive methodological approach, involving the use of Descriptive Statistics, Panel Correlation, Panel Hausman Test, and the Panel Random Effects Model (REM). A balanced panel of 174 firm year observations was used to …

Experiencing Objectification In Platform Work: Food Delivery Riders’ Accounts Of Organizational Absence And Self-Valuation, Emerald Jay D. Ilac, Ma. Tonirose D. Mactal, Clarisse Aeaea M. Kilboy

Leadership and Strategy Faculty Publications

This study aimed to explain how food delivery platform riders experience objectification in the context of platform-based work, with particular attention to how organizational practices and leadership shape experiences of marginalization, dignity, and voice. A qualitative design was employed using Descriptive Phenomenological Analysis. In-depth interviews were conducted with nine food delivery platform riders to describe the essential structures of their lived experiences of objectification. Subaltern Theory was used as an interpretive lens in making sense of the findings. Five experiential themes were identified: (1) leaders’ non-presence resulting in perceived abandonment, (2) leaders’ devaluing of food delivery riders, (3) social devaluation …

Merger Crisis Role-Play: Organizational Behavior In Action, Jyro B. Triviño

Leadership and Strategy Faculty Publications

To advance professionally, students must be prepared to navigate dynamic and contentious organizational environments by articulating their varied views, protecting their personal and professional intentions, anticipating challenges, and then fostering consensus. This paper addresses a high-stakes, multi-round immersive role-play simulation of a company merger in an undergraduate Organizational Behavior course. Grounded in the core pillars of experiential learning, adaptive leadership, and organizational sensemaking, this classroom exercise places students in a pre-set, realistic post-merger leadership team facing immediate business challenges. Compared to traditional case studies, this method requires students to demonstrate real-time organizational behavior competencies, providing a powerful platform for negotiation …

The Effect Of Perception & Trust: How Our Flaws Shape Prices, Institutions, Systems, And Economic Stability, David Mackinnon Butler

Senior Honors Theses and Projects

No abstract provided.

Strategic Analysis Of Project Learn, Marley Clark, Cameron Kelly, Caden Bahry, Carter Hane

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

This project will conduct a strategic analysis of Project Learn of Summit County in order to evaluate its current position and recommend ways to strengthen its long-term success. Project Learn is a nonprofit organization focused on improving adult literacy and providing educational support services that help individuals gain essential reading, writing, and life skills. Our team will analyze the organizations internal strengths and weaknesses, as well as external opportunities and threats, in order to better understand the challenges and advantages Project Learn faces in todays environment. Using strategic management tools and concepts, we will evaluate the organizations mission, objectives, and …

Nsu Business Graduate Student Catalog 2025-2026 Winter 2026 Edition, Nova Southeastern University

Huizenga Postgraduate Course Catalogs

No abstract provided.

Burnout And Workforce Outcomes Among Registered Nurses, Madeline Willcoxen

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between staffing and organizational support interventions and workforce outcomes among registered nurses providing direct patient care in hospital settings. The study focused on three measurable outcomes: emotional exhaustion, absenteeism, and annual nurse turnover. The population included hospital-based registered nurses, and the comparison involved standard staffing and support conditions.

Methods: A systematic literature review was conducted following PRISMA 2020 guidelines. Studies published between 2015 and 2026 were identified using PubMed, CINAHL, Scopus, and PsycINFO databases. Inclusion criteria required quantitative studies examining staffing or organizational support interventions among registered nurses in …

Personal Data As Exchange: An Examination And Conceptual Framework Using Social Exchange Theory, Donna Iucolano Ph.D.

Business: Faculty Publications

This paper discusses how personal data exchanges can be examined using social exchange theories. The focus in on how personal data exchanges which are often perceived by consumers as empowering, may empower firms more instead. Key privacy related concepts are explained. Personal data exchanges between consumers and firms are then examined through the lenses of eight social exchange theories thereby presenting an organizing framework for future researchers who may investigate them. The first theory examines a fundamental concept—marketing as exchange. The next three theories focus on the consumer as an independent and rational actor and look at personal data exchanges …

Nahb Production Home Competition As A Learning Tool Towards Incorporating Business Skills In Construction Management Programs, George Berghorn, Chandler Jones, M.G. Matt Syal

The Professional Constructor

There is a growing realization in the construction industry that the traditional focus of Construction Management (CM) education on technical competencies (such as scheduling, estimating, and construction methods) is insufficient in preparing graduates to meet the strategic and leadership demands of the modern construction profession. A successful construction company requires more than project execution; it demands expertise in business development, financial management, marketing, risk management, and organizational leadership. The disparity between the technical and business aspects of CM education has produced graduates who may succeed in project management yet find it challenging to engage with comprehensive business operations.

This study …

Ai In The Workplace: Understanding Role Ambiguity, Employee Motivation, And Learning Engagement, Sheena Leah Metzger

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

The rapid integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into organizational processes has altered how work is performed and experienced by employees, yet empirical research examining the human implications of AI-driven change remains limited. This study examined the perceived impact of AI implementation on role ambiguity, employee motivation, and training engagement, and investigated the moderating role of perceived organizational support (POS). Grounded in Job Demands–Resources (JD-R) Theory and Organizational Support Theory (OST), the research examined how employees interpreted and responded to AI-related changes in their work environment.

The results offer valuable insights into a shifting perception of how employees experience technology in …

The Marketability Of The Muse: Understanding The Valuation Of Muse-Artists On The Contemporary Market, Mairi Alice Dun

MA in Art Business Dissertations

The label ‘muse,’ and the attention that comes with it, has kept female artists' names in the minds and institutions of the art world for the past 25 years. The word itself carries enough intrigue to make the women behind great male artists’s works interesting. However, in the past five or ten years, while other, formerly invisible, female artists have received a massive reevaluation in the market, and collectors have trended towards adding women to their collections, the art of female muses still trails that of their male counterparts by a large margin. The gendered value gap is not just …

Artwork Or It-Bag? How Arts-Luxury Collaborations Impact Artist Cultural Visibility, Edwina Keary

MA in Art Business Dissertations

Since Marc Jacobs’ introduction to Louis Vuitton in 1997 and experimentation with artist collaboration, art and luxury collaboration has boomed. Over the years, customer demands have shifted in the wake of postmodern consumer culture, and brands must keep up with them to maintain their competitive advantage. The nature of collaborations has therefore shifted their focus to include experiences as well as products. Different collaboration types have a unique impact on both the brand and the artists involved. This research explores the impact of product versus experience-based collaboration on the cultural visibility of the artists involved through press coverage analysis. This …

Institutional Legitimation And Artistic Value In Portuguese Contemporary Art, Constança Maria Lobo De Castro Afonso

MA in Art Business Dissertations

This dissertation examines the mechanisms of institutional legitimation in the Portuguese art market, with main emphasis on museums, curatorial practices, media mediation and the ever-changing role of public participation. Drawing field theory (Bourdieu), art world sociology (Becker) and recent studies of media and symbolic capital, it positions Portugal as a ‘semi-peripheral’ market in which institutional framing and international infrastructures play a critical role in establishing value and reputation. The literature review shows that legitimacy is collectively produced by a constellation of actors, narratives and conventions, rather than solely by the intrinsic properties of artworks or straightforward market demand.

Through a …

Do Major Customers Affect Firms' Environmental, Social And Governance Activities?, Feng Dong, John A. Doukas, Stephanie Walton, Rongyao Gloria Zhang, Yiyang Zhang

Finance Faculty Publications

We examine the role of major customers in shaping firms' environmental, social and governance (ESG) practices. We find that firms with major customer relationships undertake fewer ESG activities compared to those without such ties. The association is attenuated when institutional ownership is high, firms are less diversified, customers exhibit greater bankruptcy risk and lower switching costs and during periods of elevated equity market sentiment. Taken together, our findings highlight that reliance on a concentrated customer base can weaken firms’ incentives to engage in ESG practices, with important implications for supply chain sustainability.