Digital Commons Network^™

Leveraging Machine Learning And Causal Inference For Loan Default Prediction, Luca Guida

Doctoral Dissertations and Master's Theses

This research explores a systematic application of machine learning techniques combined with causal inference to predict loan defaults in peer-to-peer lending. Accurately forecasting loan defaults is crucial for mitigating financial risk and optimizing lending strategies. This analysis is based on multiple datasets of loan applications spanning over a decade, containing detailed financial and credit information about borrowers. Beginning with extensive Exploratory Data Analysis (EDA) coupled with scaling strategies, the research identifies key trends in loan performance across a large number of factors, such as interest rates or borrower creditworthiness, and one objective is to determine from the many available predictors …

Barriers And Best Practices In Diversity, Equity, And Inclusion (Dei) Initiatives: A Case Study From The United States Aerospace And Defense Industry, Jeremy A. Bailey

Doctoral Dissertations and Master's Theses

The main objective of this study was to unpack the barriers around diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, and then provide best practices to improve DEI efforts in the aerospace and defense (A&D) industry. There has been a multitude of research conducted on DEI in the past few years. However, very little research has focused on DEI practices in the A&D industry. This case study focused on one large company in this industry to explore and understand various aspects of DEI initiative implementation. As organizations strive to meet industry and client objectives, as well as address employee needs, two research …

Monte Carlo Simulation Models To Enhance Air Cargo Network Resilience And Sustainability, Shereen Marie Hashemi

Doctoral Dissertations and Master's Theses

This dissertation focuses on developing and validating an empirical set of simulation models for an air cargo network under large-scale disruption to test recovery strategies that improve resilience. Understanding and quantifying network resilience and recovery strategies is critical for ensuring sustainable operations. These operations become essential during disruptive events as air cargo is used to transport time-sensitive and critical goods. The collective research steps result in a Monte Carlo simulation framework to evaluate air cargo network resilience and identify strategies that enhance performance during disruptions.

The modeled system is a hub-and-spoke network centered on Memphis (MEM) with 23 domestic airports …

Construction Of China's Online Platform Information Value Evaluation System, Shuyue Fang, Yuan Sun, Yuwei Ye, Liling Xia

Journal of Scientific Information Research

[Purpose/significance] This paper aims to explore the construction of the information value evaluation system of online platforms in China, so as to provide theoretical support and practical guidance for the information management of online platforms.

[Method/process] This paper firstly explores the connotation and dimension of the information value of the online platforms, and uses the analytic hierarchy process to distribute the weight, then,obtains the comprehensive evaluation results of the information value of each online platform through the fuzzy comprehensive evaluation method.

[Result/discussion] Through the comprehensive evaluation of the information interaction platforms, the multilateral trading platforms and the complementary innovation platform, …

The Effects Of Carbon Disclosure And Carbon Performance On Agency Cost: International Evidence, Md Abubakar Siddique, Ahmed Abdel-Maksoud, Afzalur Rashid, Sitara Karim

All Works

This study examines the relationships among carbon disclosure (CD), carbon performance (CP), and agency cost (AC) using a global sample across major industries. Employing Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM) via WarpPLS, we find that increased carbon disclosure reduces agency cost, while improved carbon performance may increase it, likely due to the capital-intensive nature of environmental investments. Carbon disclosure is shown to mediate the relationship between carbon performance and agency cost. Firms in countries with emissions trading schemes and higher environmental performance indices tend to perform better in carbon management. Unlike previous studies focused solely on firm performance, this …

Trust And Ethics In Ai-Driven E-Commerce: Persuasion Vs. Privacy, Akriti Nepal

Student Publications

This study examines how AI-driven features in e-commerce influence user satisfaction and the role of trust in these interactions. Using a survey-based dataset of 100 consumers, we investigated whether trust moderates or mediates the impact of AI persuasiveness and perceptions of bias, intrusiveness, and preference understanding on satisfaction. Results indicate that AI’s perceived ability to understand user preferences strongly predicts satisfaction, while trust partially mediates the relationship between helpful AI features and urgency messages and user satisfaction. Conversely, trust did not significantly moderate these relationships, and concerns about bias and intrusiveness had minimal impact. Findings suggest that AI-driven satisfaction is …

Click Or Skip? How Ad Format And Disclosure Shape Engagement And Purchase Intention, Emily M. Burke

Student Publications

As digital marketing continues to be the dominant channel for consumer engagement, understanding the factors that influence ad effectiveness is increasingly important. This study examined how advertisement format (image vs. video) and sponsorship disclosure (non-sponsored vs. sponsored) influence engagement and purchase intention among college students. Using a 2 x 2 experimental design within an online survey, 88 participants viewed one of four real social media ads and completed measures of engagement and purchase intention. Multiple regression results showed that video ads produced higher engagement and purchase intention than static image ads, whereas sponsored ads led to lower engagement and purchase …

An Analysis Of Consumer Behavior In The Brazilian E-Commerce Market: An Investigation Of Customer Loyalty, Seasonality, And Regional Preferences, Hai Doan

Student Publications

This paper investigates key drivers of consumer behavior within Brazil's emerging e-commerce market by analyzing the Olist Public Dataset. As technology increasingly allows for data-driven marketing strategies, understanding the nuanced behaviors of diverse consumer bases, especially in an emerging market like Brazil, is critical for firm success. This study tests three hypotheses regarding the relationship between positive customer reviews and e-loyalty, the fluctuation of seasonal sales during holiday periods, and the influence of geographic urbanization on product preferences. Utilizing regression analyses on 100,000 orders from 2016 to 2018, the results showed no significant relationship between positive review scores and repeat …

Three Cheers For Print!, Jillian Lacross

AADEJ - The Communicator

This guest feature argues that print magazines are a worthwhile and necessary investment for associations, focusing on the three pillars of expectation, engagement, and experience. Print publications establish trust because they imply an inherent vetting process; affluent consumers trust print magazines the most, and print advertisements are significantly more trusted than social media ads. Print provides a respite from digital fatigue, with Worldmetrics finding that readers spend an average of 41 minutes engaging with a printed magazine, far exceeding the 3 to 7 minutes typically spent online. Printed materials enhance retention, recall, and emotional processing, strengthening the association's brand. Ultimately, …

Counterclaim Preclusion: Foreseeability, Finality, And Fairness, Leslie C. Behaunek

Dickinson Law Review (2017-Present)

Foreseeability, finality, and fairness are some of the primary interests to balance when analyzing the appropriate scope of preclusion doctrines. Scholars like Richard Freer, Alan Trammell, Lindsey Simon, and others have recently written about defense preclusion, fictional consent to a court’s jurisdiction, and the scope of claim preclusion. Existing scholarship has long recognized the confusion experienced by courts and litigants in cases involving preclusion doctrines. These recent discussions, however, do not address the continued problem that exists with the current stateby-state patchwork of counterclaim preclusion law. After a court enters judgment against a defendant in the plaintiff’s chosen forum (F1), …

An Effective And Organized Mentorship Model: Does It Affect The Emerging Leaders’ Call To Ministry And The Longevity Of The Universal Church?, Linda F. Parker

Doctor of Ministry (DMin)

The concept of mentorship is undeniably a fundamental tool for personal and professional growth. Statistics show that mentorship has a vital impact on both individuals and organizations. Could having a strategic mentoring plan in ministry make a meaningful difference for individuals and the Universal Church? This dissertation has explored the effects of mentorship and models based on experiences and strategies from those who identify as ministry leaders. For the Apostle Paul, Christ's life serves as a model and example, as he states, “Follow my example, as I follow Christ” (1 Cor 11:1). These words are the exact phrase that Jesus …

Alfred Russel Wallace Notes 38. Alfred Russel Wallace's "Revolt Of Democracy": A Critical Analysis Of Early 20th Century Labor Theory And Its Contemporary Relevance, James Williams, Charles H. Smith Editor

Faculty/Staff Personal Papers

This article examines Alfred Russel Wallace’s political treatise The Revolt of Democracy (1913), analyzing his theoretical framework for addressing labor unrest and economic inequality in early 20th-century Britain. Wallace's work presents a comprehensive critique of competitive capitalism and proposes systematic government intervention to address structural poverty. Through close textual analysis and comparison with contemporary UK labor conditions, this study evaluates the enduring relevance of Wallace's economic theories and policy prescriptions. The analysis reveals significant continuities between early 20th-century and contemporary debates about living wages, government employment standards, and wealth redistribution, while highlighting both the prescience and limitations of Wallace’s analytical …

A Data-Driven Framework For Optimal Retail Store Location, Ming Hui Tan

Dissertations and Theses Collection (Open Access)

This study develops a data-driven framework for optimal retail store location planning that integrates road network analysis, mobility data and optimization techniques. By addressing the limitations of traditional approaches that rely on outdated census data and manual site selection, this research offers a scalable and adaptable solution for retail expansion in diverse urban environments. Chapters 1 and 2 establish the foundational context and theoretical underpinnings of this research. Chapter 1 introduces the research problem and motivation, highlighting the limitations of existing approaches and defining three key research objectives: automating candidate site identification, improving footfall estimation, and developing a scalable multi-site …

Factors Influencing Consumers’ Online Purchase Decisions: Evidence From Amazon.Com, Weiwei Li

Dissertations and Theses Collection (Open Access)

With the rapid expansion of cross-border e-commerce, platform sellers increasingly adopt diverse price formatsto influence consumer decision-making. In this context, consumers’ perceptions of and responses to price information have become a pivotal issue in understanding online purchase behavior. Using Amazon as the research setting, this study employs a dynamic panel model with monthly product-level data spanning January 2024 to June 2025 to investigate how different price formats—such as Prime-exclusive pricing and coupon mechanisms—affect consumers’ online purchase intentions when the out-ofpocket price is held constant. Furthermore, the moderating effect of promotional events is systematically examined.

Departing from prior research that largely …

Design-Led Leadership: A Mixed Methods Study On Understanding How Design Thinking Capabilities Impact Leadership Effectiveness, Tareq Waleed Muhmood

Dissertations and Theses Collection (Open Access)

“Widespread design thinking among organisation leaders is desirable for the creation of a humanly and sustainable future” (R. J. Boland et al., 2008a)

This study investigates the impact of design thinking capabilities on leadership effectiveness through a mixed-methods research design.

While design thinking is widely used in product and service innovation, its application as a leadership development framework remains underexplored.   To address this gap, the study employed both quantitative and qualitative methods, including pre- and post-intervention survey of leaders, their supervisors, and subordinates within an education business in Vietnam (EBV), as well as semi-structured interviews with senior leaders at a …

The Role Of Employee Engagement In Predicting Risk Management Outcome, Jenny Tan

Dissertations and Theses Collection (Open Access)

Risk performance is a key business performance indicator as it measures how well an organization manages its uncertainties. Well-balanced risk performance instills confidence in stakeholders (including investors) and improves organizational performance broadly speaking. This dissertation studies the relationship between Perceived Organizational Support, employee engagement and risk appetite and how that relates downstream to organisational risk performance. Using the lens of Social Exchange Theory (SET; Blau, 1964) I examine how perceived organizational support (POS) predicts employee engagement and how this then relates to risk appetite and subsequent levels of risk taking in an organization. I then make predictions about how exchange …

Is Doing-Good-Enough (Dge) Related To Quitting Or Thriving: Organizational Support Moderates The Link Between Dge And Employee Well-Being, Job Satisfaction And Job Crafting, Yun Zhuo

Dissertations and Theses Collection (Open Access)

This research introduces the construct, Doing-Good-Enough (DGE), a work strategy in which employees consciously meet, but do not exceed, core job expectations. It is a satisficing approach aimed at prioritizing well-being and managing work demands. Three studies were conducted to build the DGE scale and examined its outcomes. Study 1 developed the new measurement scale of DGE by integrating its initial work definition with the existing Quiet Quitting (QQ) scales. Items composing the DGE scale were identified through an exploratory factor analysis (EFA). Study 2 validated the DGE scale as unidimensional via confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and established its discriminant …

From Altamont To Astroworld: An Analysis Of Management Issues In Large Scale Music Festivals, Jennifer Morriss

Honors College Theses

The most common problems in music festivals can largely be broken into two categories: risks to the individual and risks on a grand scale. It is the responsibility of event managers to consider how to best keep everyone safe and maintain proper organization. Risks to the individual are often things like substance use and abuse, harm reduction, and sexual assault or harassment. Meanwhile, broad risks tend to be issues of evacuation and emergency management, crowd safety, stampedes, and casualties or violence. It is crucial to reflect on prior common safety and security issues when setting out to produce a large …

Unpacking Singapore's Leasehold Relativity Table: An Empirical And Legal Analysis, Koon Shing Kwong, Jing Rong Goh, Seng Wei, Edward Ti

Research Collection School Of Economics

In Singapore, most land is state-owned, with the state generally issuing leasehold estates via state leases of not more than 99 years1, depending on the intended land use. Naturally, the value of a leasehold estate, which erodes over time as the lease approaches the end of its term, is a key component of the premium charged for lease renewals, or the tax imposed for permission given in relation to a development that would increase the value of the land. By law, the state valuation of leasehold land is prescribed by a leasehold relativity table colloquially known as ‘Bala’s Curve’ or …

Product Technology Adoption And Aggregate Innovation, Qiugu He, Xuan Luo, Fan Zheng

Research Collection School Of Economics

We document that a firm's research and development (R&D) expenditure depends on its product diversity. Combining with the fact that Chinese manufacturers often enter new product markets via technology adoption, we develop a quantitative framework of innovation and technology adoption, allowing firms to expand their product scopes. Firms adopt technologies across multiple fields to expand their knowledge base, which in turn serves as an input for subsequent innovation or adoption. Counterfactual analysis from the 2000s reveals that two-thirds of knowledge privately held by all firms is generated through adoption, accounting for one-third of aggregate innovation.

Dissociation Of Subjective And Objective Measures Of Trust In Vehicle Automation: A Driving Simulator Study, Samuel Petkac, Tetsuya Sato, Kun Xie, Yusuke Yamani

Psychology Faculty Publications

Trust is a crucial factor that influences human-automation interaction in surface transportation. Previous research indicates that participants tend to display higher levels of subjective trust toward lower-level automated systems compared to high-level automated systems. However, administering subjective trust measures via questionnaires can interfere with primary task performance, limiting researchers' ability to measure trust continuously in a real-world manner. In the current driving simulator study, 25 drivers using an advanced driving system (ADS) were randomly assigned to either an active (L2) or passive (L3) automated driving condition. Participants experienced eight near-miss driving scenarios with or without obstructions in a distributed driving …

Populism And Its Effect On International Business Strategy, Julio Cesar Martinez Suarez

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation investigates the complex relationship between populism and international business strategy, with a particular focus on how populist mobilizations influence firms' location decisions and strategic planning. As populism continues to shape political dynamics globally, it presents significant challenges for businesses operating in or considering entry into markets governed by populist regimes. Utilizing institutional theory, this study examines the distinct political risks associated with populism, including anti-establishment ideology, the weakening of democratic institutions, and a tendency toward short-term, reactive policymaking. The research explores the consequences of these risks for firms, particularly in emerging markets, where populism often exacerbates uncertainty and …

Apple Inc.: Strategic Audit, Huy Le

Honors Program: Senior Projects (Public)

An audit and analysis of Apple Inc.'s strategy and positioning within its industry. Recommendations were made based on Porter's Five Forces Analysis for Apple to maintain and grow its market share.

Factors That Influence The Implementation Of Effective Succession Planning In Nonprofit Organizations, Sharon L. Cook

Human Resource Development Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore factors influencing the implementation of effective succession planning (SP) in nonprofit organizations within a specific traditional industry—the electric utility industry. This study adopted the concept of SP as a process or system, and systems theory was selected to examine the SP process. Rothwell’s (2016) seven- pointed star model for systematic SP and management provided the conceptual framework for this study. This study used an inductive, qualitative approach to collect information from participants, with semi-structured, open-ended interviews. Face-to-face interviews were preferred, but some online interviews via Zoom were necessary. Interviews were conducted …

Performances In Last-Mile Deliveries Involving Cyclic Services Of Shuttles And Cargo Bikes, Byung Kwon Lee, Young Joo Kim, Joyce M. W. Low

Research Collection Lee Kong Chian School Of Business

This study introduces a novel approximation model that integrates the ideologies of order statistics and max-plus algebra in representing the collection and distribution service schemes of a last-mile delivery system. Under the respective schemes, electric cargo bikes (e-bikes) perform the last-mile delivery near a microhub with shuttles collecting packages from multiple local logistics hubs (or local hubs, for short) and/or distributing packages to multiple microhubs. The framework is designed to estimate the cyclic capacity under varying cargo carrying capacities of the e-bikes and service network configurations. Real-world data, such as the geographic conditions of the streets around the microhubs in …

Minority Farmer And Rancher Delinquency And Local Cultural Climate: Evidence From Farm Service Agency's County Office Committees, Lawson Connor, Bruce L. Ahrendsen, Charles B. Dodson, Logan Moss

Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness Faculty Publications and Presentations

Farm delinquency is linked to many negative indicators of farm survival, including increased risk of bankruptcy and farm failure. Minority farmers and ranchers (MFR) have been found to exhibit higher rates of delinquency on U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) loans compared to their non-Hispanic White male counterparts. These findings persist even after accounting for economic/financial factors expected to predict loan repayment performance. In this study, to further explore the existing discrepancy between loan default rates for MFR and White, non-Hispanic borrowers, we look more broadly than financial indicators and introduce MFR representation on the FSA County …

Measuring The Impact Of Hurricane Incidence On Agricultural Production Risk Using Insurance Data, Hunter D. Biram, Micah Cameron-Harp, Jesse Tack

Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness Faculty Publications and Presentations

Hurricanes are considered among the most destructive natural disasters in the United States. The exposure of agricultural production systems to hurricanes varies between regions in contrast to global risks like commodity price volatility and international trade policies. The regional differences in hurricane exposure may lead to heterogeneity in crop insurance premium rates. This work aims to measure the impact of hurricane incidence on production losses for crops grown in the Mississippi Delta. We leverage a county-month panel of insurance losses spanning 2002-2021 from the US Department of Agriculture Risk Management Agency, and daily data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric …

Marching To The Beat: The Role Of Complementor Alignment In The Architectural Evolution Of Ecosystems, Pengxiang Zhang, Liang Chen, Yang Yang

Research Collection Lee Kong Chian School Of Business

The evolution of innovation ecosystems hinges on the effective coordination between ecosystem leaders and complementors. While ecosystem-sponsored architectural innovations create new technological opportunities for complementors, they may unintentionally disrupt the performance of complementor products that were originally developed based on legacy architectural designs. This study provides empirical evidence of these disruptive effects and explores how complementors’ alignment with the ecosystem leader mitigates such challenges. Focusing on Apple’s release of Core ML—a proprietary artificial intelligence module—in its mobile ecosystem, we employ a difference-in-differences design to investigate variations in complementor performance after adopting this ecosystem-sponsored architectural innovation. Our findings reveal that complementors’ …

Would An Earlier Inception Of Omt By The Ecb Have Prevented The 2012 Greek Default?, Nicolas Mäder

School of Business: Faculty Scholarship

No abstract provided.

Personality And Personnel Selection: Going Beyond Self-Reports And Linear Relationships, Filip Lievens, Jinyan Fan, Jingyi Li

Research Collection Lee Kong Chian School Of Business

The study of personality in selection and assessment represents one of the most longstanding and voluminous literature in industrial and organizational psychology. In this paper, we review two important recent research streams. First, we review studies on alternatives to self-report personality inventories, namely the use of Situational Judgment Tests (SJTs), assessment center (AC) exercises, and a multi-rater framework. Second, we review studies that go beyond linear relationships between personality and job performance. Generally, our review reveals that these alternative approaches show promises in better understanding personality and how personality relates to performance.