Digital Commons Network^™

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 …

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 …

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

Huizenga Postgraduate Course Catalogs

No abstract provided.

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 …

Build A Global Art And Jewelry Auction Ecosystem That Integrates Offline And Online, Xiaochun Cathy Liu

MA Projects

Our success path is clear and executable: through a phased global market penetration strategy, we first deeply cultivate the Asia Pacific region to establish a lighthouse, then enter the European and American hinterland, and ultimately achieve global network interconnection; Deeply bind core collectors through the "elite membership system" and build a high stickiness community; And by competing for academic discourse power and publishing authoritative market indices, gradually mastering the pricing power of the industry, evolving from a participant to a rule maker. Arture's vision is to become a super species that integrates trading platforms, academic institutions, top communities, and industry …

Artisanal Retreats, Michelle Larose

MA Projects

Artisanal Retreats is a luxury travel provider blending holistic personal wellness with art creation, appreciation, education and collection. We offer our clients an unparalleled retreat experience at our 250-acre pastoral escape, combining traditional wellness amenities and activities with art focused pursuits to aid guests in achieving optimal Creative Wellness. Set on a gorgeous, historic farm near the bucolic town of Middleburg, Virginia, Artisanal Retreats’ guests are transported to a heightened level of relaxation and vitality through our exceptional programming and hospitality. Our team is comprised of seasoned professionals, from both the art world and the wellness industry, intent on bringing …

Arts Cures: A Business Plan For Integrating Art As A Biometric Tool For Sensory Wellbeing In Commercial Ecosystems, Xinuo Zhang

MA Projects

In an era of heightened connectivity and data-driven metrics, modern society faces a crisis of sensory impoverishment and emotional disconnection. While technology quantifies human experience, it often fails to address the visceral need for authentic feeling. This business plan proposes "Arts Cures," a venture that repositions art from a passive commodity to an active, systemic solution for well-being. By leveraging insights from neuroscience, design theory, and existential philosophy, Arts Cures develops a suite of B2B and B2C services that integrate art as functional, biometric-responsive infrastructure. Our core offerings include AI-driven sensory pods for real-time emotional regulation, data-informed curatorial services for …

Galleriax: A Hybrid Digital Platform For Art, Technology, And Community, Catherine Wu

MA Projects

GalleriaX is a curated digital platform that brings together artists, collectors, and creative audiences through an ecosystem shaped by curation, technology, and community. The platform reimagines digital art engagement by combining editorial storytelling, membership-based participation, and long-term artist support. Rather than functioning as an open marketplace, GalleriaX offers a guided and context-driven environment where artworks, conversations, and cultural programs unfold with intention. The company operates at the intersection of art and technology, using digital tools to enhance, rather than replace, the human elements of taste, dialogue, and shared experience. Its approach blends the credibility of curatorial practice with the accessibility …

Ai Art Valuation Company: Artmetric, Zhuochen Tu

MA Projects

ArtMetric is a technology company dedicated to revolutionizing the art market. We have developed an AI-driven valuation platform designed to address the inefficiencies, high costs, and subjectivity inherent in traditional art appraisal. Users upload images of artworks through our platform to quickly receive a data-driven, and affordable valuation report. This report integrates AI visual analysis, real-time market data comparison, and optional expert verification, ensuring both speed and accuracy in valuation. Our target clients include collectors, artists, galleries, and insurance companies. We monetize through subscription services, one-time appraisals, and premium B2B solutions. As the art market accelerates its digital transformation, ArtMetric …

Becoming Art Itself: A Study On The Generative Logic And Discursive Structure Of Disability Art Incubation Institutions, Gonghui Lu

MA Theses

This study employs “Becoming” as its core analytical concept to examine how disability art incubation institutions operate at the intersection of contemporary art history and social systems as mechanisms that continuously generate both art and subjectivity. Building on Deleuze’s philosophy of becoming and Guattari’s notion of the rhizome, the study constructs a generative model linking art, institutions, and discourse. Through comparative analysis of international cases, it discusses the shift in disability art from a representational logic to a generative logic, and the dynamic oscillation between deterritorialization and reterritorialization within institutional practices. The study argues that disability art should not be …

The Language Of Value: Lot Note Complexity And Auction Performance In Abstract Expressionism, Artur Sharifullin

MA Theses

This thesis asks a simple question: does the language in lot notes relate to price and to whether a lot beats or misses its estimate? I study eight Abstract Expressionist artists: Ad Reinhardt, Adolph Gottlieb, Barnett Newman, Franz Kline, Joan Mitchell, Lee Krasner, Robert Motherwell, and Sam Francis because their works are less representational and often need supporting text to explain the context. The main sample includes only lots sold for more than $1 million at Christie’s or Sotheby’s in New York or London over the past ten years. I measure a small set of writing features that are easy …

Corporate Patronage In Art And Education: A Case Study Of Bloomberg's Interventions, Xiaojun Tian

MA Theses

This study focuses on the application of corporate sponsorship in the fields of art and education, delving deep into the interventions and cases made by Bloomberg L.P. in these two domains. Corporate sponsorship for the arts acts as a significant display of Cultural Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), not only fostering diversity in the production of art institutions and artists but also having a profound effect on the educational sector. Utilizing case study methodology, this research deconstructs key projects and activities funded by Bloomberg, encompassing support for exhibitions and public art projects, as well as various initiatives aimed at art education, …

Rm Sotheby’S Construction Of Value In The High-End Car Market, Pablo Mijares Musi

MA Theses

The purpose of my thesis is to tell and enlighten any readers how the most prestigious and iconic auction house in the world, RM Sotheby’s sells more than just cars from the high-end car market and how the auction house adds value to through storytelling and provenance from each vehicle.  In today’s luxury market economics, we see somewhat of a radical shift. The high-end car market has moved into a very refined area where these beautiful machines are no longer seen and appraised just for their aesthetic design and mechanical engineering, now we see new value drivers for these works …

Wings Of Perception: Investigating Customer Sentiments In Indian Aviation Sector, Yashodhan Karulkar, Kaiwan Vaghchhipawala, Aditya Trivedi, Anushree Talekar

Journal of International Technology and Information Management

India's aviation sector, a key contributor to the nation's economy, has experienced rapid growth, supporting nearly 7.5 million jobs and contributing approximately $30 billion annually to the GDP (Gross Domestic Product). The growth, driven by increased demand for air travel and government incentives, has resulted in more competition among carriers. In the competitive market, it is necessary to understand customer preferences to enhance the quality of service and maintain a competitive edge. The dissemination of customer opinions on social media and review platforms offers airlines the opportunity to access passenger views. However, extracting useful information from this unstructured data is …

Business Process Redesign For Reducing Undelivered Product Return Losses In E-Commerce – An Explainable Ai Approach, Venkataraghavan Krishnaswamy, Deepa R, Himanshu Sharma

Journal of International Technology and Information Management

Product returns in e-commerce affect the profitability of the e-tailer. We adopt a two-stage approach to reduce undelivered product returns in an e-commerce firm. First, we develop and compare machine learning techniques—logistic regression, decision trees, Naïve Bayes, random forest, adaptive boosting, gradient boosting, stochastic gradient boosting, and deep neural networks—on their ability to predict undelivered returns. Next, we use explainable methods, such as relative importance and Shapley values, to develop insights from the best-performing machine learning model. Finally, we use these insights and the predictive model to redesign the firm’s order fulfillment and return processes. A Post-implementation evaluation of the …

Wilson, Issue 02, 2025-26, University Of Northern Iowa. Wilson College Of Business.

Wilson

Contents:

From the Dean --- 3
Auditing Students Learn Emerging Technologies and Real-World Analysis --- 4
How Real Estate Students are Learning Industry Software in the Classroom --- 8
Marketing in the Age of Data --- 14
Building Communities, Shaping Futures --- 18
Data Drives Business Success for UNI Student Entrepreneurs --- 22
Data to Assist in Iowa Stomr Response --- 23
Ethical Considerations of Data Breaches --- 24
How Ethics and Data Management Intersect In Today's Business Climate --- 26
Students Dominate Advertising Competition --- 28
AACSB Supplemental Accounting Accreditation --- 30
A New Era for Business: UNI's Wilson …

Bridging Mission And Execution: Integrating Participatory Design In Early-Phase Mission Engineering For Stakeholder Alignment And Mission Clarity, Rafi Soule

Knowledge and Creativity Expo

This research examines mission framing during the early phase of Mission Engineering. Stakeholder interpretations diverge under ambiguity. Interoperability constraints are often not surfaced early. These conditions reduce mission clarity and weaken mission-to-system mapping readiness. The study integrates a participatory design-inspired, artifact-first workflow with RAG-enabled retrieval from a closed corpus to support evidence-grounded reasoning and traceable citations.

Phase 1 uses an online survey to establish baseline patterns in practice (N = 86). Shared understanding is positively associated with mission clarity (r = 0.60, p < 0.001). Phase 2 uses a time-bounded comparative workshop with two conditions. Expert reviewers rate mission statement quality higher for the participatory design condition (mean 3.5) than the traditional condition (mean 2.8). Technical feasibility ratings are similar across conditions. Phase 3 demonstrates RAG-enabled, closed-corpus, retrieval-supported traceability using the Referencer tool. It is reported as a proof-of-concept for evidence-grounded rationale and auditability, and as a pathway …

Construction Industry Preparedness For Generation Z And Millennials: Aligning Industry Characteristics With Workforce Job Preferences, Ameenullah Amiri, Dhaval R. Gajjar, Jason D. Lucas

The Professional Constructor

The construction industry in the United States suffers from workforce shortages, partly due to younger generations being hired more slowly than baby boomers retire. Generation Z’s (Gen Z) lack of interest in joining the construction industry, coupled with the retirement of older workers, has amplified the problem. This paper investigates existing literature to identify the work and career preferences of Gen Z and Millennials and determine where the industry may focus efforts to attract these two generations. Through a systematic literature review, this study identified overlaps and gaps between the current construction industry workforce’s perceptions of the industry and the …

Multihoming And Single-Homing Complementors' Responses To Intensified Between-Platform Competition: Evidence From The Youtube–Twitch Rivalry, Niloofar Abolfathi

Research Collection Lee Kong Chian School Of Business

Research Summary: This paper examines how heterogeneous YouTube content creators-specifically, single-homing and multihoming channels-respond to a sudden increase in the exposure of the rival platform, Twitch. Contrary to expectations, I find that multihoming channels reduce their content creation efforts and underperform relative to single-homers. To make sense of these surprising results, I develop a formal model that characterizes the strategic behavior of different types of complementors operating across two platforms with varying levels of user exposure. The model offers a plausible explanation for the observed empirical patterns, suggesting that intensified competition between platforms, as a consequence of their changing exposure, …

Grading In The Digital Age: Ai Feedback Versus Professor Feedback, Latoya Russell, Andrew Zeisler, Ronald Mickler Jr.

2026 Faculty Bibliography

Feedback is a cornerstone of academic development, particularly in marketing education, where skill development often requires iteration and applied practice. While instructors spend considerable time providing effective feedback, artificial intelligence (AI) tools can significantly reduce this burden by generating timely, tailored responses. For example, AI-based chatbots can supplement instruction, providing students with timely feedback and reducing instructors’ workload. This study examines how marketing students perceive feedback quality based on its source, specifically whether it is delivered by an AI system or a human instructor. Through a scenario-based experiment, we investigate student perceptions of feedback quality and effectiveness based on the …

The Global Onboard Training Programme (Gobt) : A Comprehensive Review, World Maritime University

Reports

A stable supply of qualified seafarers is a critical component of the global maritime logistics industry, which relies heavily on maritime transportation. According to the 2021 BIMCO Manpower Report, an additional 89,510 officers will be needed by 2026. In 2021 alone, there was already a deficit of 26,240 STCW-certified officers, clearly indicating that demand continues to outpace supply. The report also noted a 45.8% increase in the number of female seafarers since 2015, although they still represent only a small share of the overall workforce. Maritime Education and Training (MET) institutions around the world continue to provide training to develop …

From Classroom To Career: Use Of Digital Collaboration Tools To Bridge Theory & Practice, Della Clark, Kristina Kaufman, Sphurti Sewak, Peter Kaufman, Rick Valentin, Hulda Black

Faculty Publications – Marketing

Teamwork and project management skills, from in-person to remote interactions, remain central to marketing graduates’ career readiness, yet students often complete team projects with limited guidance on how to organize work, especially in hybrid and technology‑mediated environments. This study explores a pilot of integrating Miro, a widely used digital collaboration whiteboard, into classroom student projects. A pre- and post-survey design was implemented across two undergraduate marketing courses at a large Midwestern U.S. university to explore if Miro can improve students’ team‑project experience and perceived preparedness for working with emerging technologies. Students completed a questionnaire at the beginning of the semester …

Validating Worst-Case System Performance Under Multi-State System Disruptions: Evidence From Supply Chain Networks, Ashish Chandra

Faculty Publications – Management

Reliable performance of large-scale engineered systems is difficult to guarantee when components experience gradual rather than complete failures. Traditional reliability approaches based on binary operational states cannot formally validate performance under such graded disruptions. This study develops an optimization-based framework for validating worst-case system performance under multi-state disruptions with linear or exactly linearizable performance measures, polyhedral adaptive-response structures, and continuous polyhedral or discrete combinatorial disruption sets. The framework models adaptive system responses, such as rerouting and resource reallocation, through a nested optimization that captures the interplay between failures and operational decisions. A dual reformulation combined with the Reformulation–Linearization Technique transforms …

Csr Disclosure In Family-Controlled And Politically Connected Firms: Do Audit Committees Matter?, Md Harun Ur Rashid, Habib, Rashid Zaman

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Purpose – This study aims to investigate whether audit committees shape the corporate social responsibility (CSR) disclosure practices of family-controlled and politically connected firms. Specifically, this study examines the extent to which audit committees mitigate the tendency of these firms to withhold CSR information and enhance transparency in an emerging market context. Design/methodology/approach – This study analyses 1, 108 firm-year observations from 140 non-financial firms listed on the Dhaka Stock Exchange over the period 2013–2023. To examine how family control, political connections and audit committees influence CSR disclosure. This study estimates several multivariate regression models. In addition, to strengthen causal …

Artificial Intelligence Agents And Agentic Systems In Hospitality And Tourism: Challenges, Opportunities And Research Agenda, Yogesh K. Dwivedi, Mohamed Youssef Ibrahim Helal, Ibrahim A. Elgendy, Mousa Ahmed Albashrawi, Laurie Hughes, Mazen Shawosh, Vincent Dutot, Il Jeon

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Purpose: Artificial intelligence (AI) agents and agentic systems have the potential to transform the tourism and hospitality (T&H) industry by automating existing processes and improving operational efficiency. This viewpoint paper aims to explore and analyze the potential opportunities and challenges, and establish a comprehensive research agenda for developing AI agents and agentic systems within the T&H industry. Design/methodology/approach: This article comprehensively analyzes current literature, user sentiment analysis and market trends assessment on AI agents and agentic systems. It identifies critical areas where these technologies can transform the T&H industries, providing valuable insights into this emerging field and its potential for …

Optimizing Subgroup Selection In Petrochemical Industries: A Robust Data Envelopment Analysis Approach For Uncertainty Management, Sadegh Niroomand, Hilda Saleh, Morteza Shafiee, Dragan Pamucar, Ali Mahmoodirad

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

This study addresses the critical challenge faced by organizations in selecting an optimal subgroup of decision-making units (DMUs). Such a selection procedure can significantly influence efficiency, profitability, and strategic development. Recognizing the limitations of existing methods in handling inexact data and incorporating managerial preferences, this study proposes a novel framework that integrates data envelopment analysis (DEA) with binary linear programming models. The model applies belief-degree–based representations of uncertainty to capture imprecise inputs and outputs. For this model, two solution approaches—namely, chance-constrained programming and expected value approaches—were developed. These approaches are suitable for real-world applications using standard optimization software. The effectiveness …

Corporate Social Responsibility In Iranian Knowledge-Based Companies: Exploring Barriers And Solutions, Mansoureh Mahdizadeh, Mehran Nejati

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Purpose: This study aims to understand the barriers to corporate social responsibility (CSR) in Iranian knowledge-based companies and explore possible solutions to address them. Design/methodology/approach: This study used a qualitative research design, comprising semistructured in-depth interviews with key informants. Findings: Study findings show that the most important barriers to CSR in Iranian knowledge-based companies include insufficient financial resources, lack of competition between companies, lack of CSR importance, lack of people’s shareholding of most companies, lack of structure, lack of awareness, knowledge and information on CSR, lack of institutionalization of CSR concept in organizational culture, lack of management commitment, lack of …

Fostering Authentic Corporate Social Responsibility Through Place-Based And Relational Methodologies In Mining Governance: A Global Synthesis, Mehran Nejati, Eduardo Ordonez-Ponce, Rumen Rachev, Belen Lopez Vazquez

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Purpose: As the global economy shifts towards low-carbon development, sustainable mining practices are becoming increasingly vital for balancing resource extraction with environmental and social responsibilities. This study aims to critically evaluate how traditional corporate social responsibility (CSR) frameworks fall short in addressing power asymmetries and territorial impacts, and to explore how place-based and relational methodologies can foster authentic corporate social responsibility (ACSR) in mining governance.

Design/methodology/approach: This review synthesises findings from 77 peer-reviewed studies published between 2015 and 2025, covering diverse global mining contexts. The analysis identifies transformative themes through a qualitative meta-synthesis approach, focusing on governance practices that empower …

Practising Digital Product Passport For Circular Supply Chain: Ecosystem Orchestration Perspective, Martin Agyemang, Daniel Faibil, Richard Asante, Cristina Iodice

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Digital product passports (DPP) are emerging as an important tool to support industries in realising circular supply chain (CSC) practices. However, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) remain constrained by various challenges in implementing DPP. Therefore, using social practice theory and ecosystem orchestration perspective, the study identifies factors essential for DPP-enabled CSC implementation by SMEs. The study proposes an actionable framework to classify and operationalise these factors. We collected data from managers and analysed it using the Best–Worst Method and Fuzzy-DEMATEL to understand the interdependence, coordination and temporal adaptation of the factors. The findings show that material factors are particularly salient …

Tourism Destination Mobile Applications: An Ai-Human Loop Analysis And Future Research Programme, Arghavan Hadinejad, Naser Pourazad, Lara Stocchi, Violetta Wilk

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Despite the rise in destination mobile applications (apps) and their significance in the tourism sector, there remains a notable dearth of critical assessments of knowledge on the topic, which is necessary to guide future academic and industry endeavours. To bridge the gap, this research conducts a systematic review to synthesise scholarly knowledge on tourism destination mobile apps. The analysis reveals topical clusters including prototyping and scoping, consolidation, and forecasting and further technological advancements between 2009 and 2023. The existing scholarship is predominantly quantitative and atheoretical, with the Technology Acceptance Model being the most frequently applied framework. The findings reveal four …