Digital Commons Network^™

Leading Organizational Learning Through Stories In U.S. “Big Technology” Companies, Stephanie R. Voss

Theses and Dissertations

Storytelling is becoming increasingly influential across various domains, particularly in executive education and leadership development, where it plays a crucial role in the concept of leadership as performance (Gonzalez & Chakraborty, 2012). Storytelling in the classroom setting provides an opportunity for learners to embed elements of narrative and identity in classroom pedagogy (Edwards et al., 2013). In the professional context, employees construct meaning in their workplace by hearing and/or participating in stories (Echeverria et al., 2017).

This qualitative exploratory study investigates the influence of storytelling in driving organizational learning. The research focuses on the U.S. Big Technology (Tech) sector, home …

Impacts Of Artificial Intelligence On The Human Workforce, Dwayne A. Henry

Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative study explored how artificial intelligence (AI) implementation was experienced by employees across organizations with varying levels of AI maturity. Drawing from semi-structured interviews with fifteen professionals across twelve organizations, including technology firms, government agencies, and healthcare providers, the research examined perceptions of AI's impact on daily work, role evolution, organizational culture, and employee learning. Thematic analysis revealed seven major themes: trust and transparency in AI, productivity and job security, training and learning support, organizational culture, customer-centric use of AI, ethical and environmental concerns, and evolving roles. While participants recognized AI’s potential to enhance efficiency and innovation, they also …

Ai For The Common Good: Exploring Global Nonprofit Framing Of Artificial Intelligence, Kathleen Teresa Scott

Theses and Dissertations

As artificial intelligence (AI) reshapes nearly every sector, global nonprofits face a distinct challenge: embracing innovation without compromising their core missions. This study investigated how three leading nonprofit organizations--the National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, the Brookings Institution, and the Center for Creative Leadership--publicly framed their AI implementation approaches between 2018 and 2025. These organizations span the fields of humanitarian aid, policy research, and leadership development, offering a cross-sector perspective on how mission-driven institutions navigate technological transformation.Using a mixed-methods document analysis, this research examined both internal implementation narratives and outward-facing thought leadership. Findings revealed that while all three organizations …

An Exploration Of Compassion Fatigue In Organization Development Practitioners, Ciara Henschke

Theses and Dissertations

Compassion fatigue is well-documented in helping professions but remains underexplored in the field of organization development (OD). This qualitative study examines the contributing factors, manifestations, and mitigation strategies of compassion fatigue among OD practitioners. Findings from interviews with experienced practitioners reveal that leadership dysfunction, large-scale change, role-based emotional labor, and personal vulnerability contribute to fatigue. Manifestations span emotional, cognitive, physical, and relational domains, sometimes spilling into practitioners’ personal lives and diminishing professional effectiveness. Common coping strategies include physical regulation, boundary-setting, peer support, and reframing — similar to those in other helping fields, yet uniquely adapted in the absence of formal …

How Does Organization Growth Affect The Organization’S Culture, Megan Howe

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to understand how organization growth affects the organization’s culture. Culture was generally defined as the behavioral norms and ways of working at an organization. Following interviews with 28 people in an organization that had been growing and was expecting to grow further, the results of the study suggested that organization growth did not have a noticeable impact on culture. Instead, the data suggest that the longer a person is a part of a culture, the more opportunity there is to see evolution or how things like growth, the passing of time, generational differences, and …

The Impact Of Decision-Making Autonomy, Sense Of Shared Identity, And Communications Strategy On Resource Retention Post-Merger And Acquisition, Randeep Rajwant Kaur

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis investigates the impact of decision-making autonomy, a sense of shared identity, and communication strategy on resource retention following mergers and acquisitions. Grounded in organizational development literature, the study examines employee experiences during post-integration periods. Using a qualitative methodology, ten semi-structured interviews were conducted with employees who remained with their organizations for at least twelve months following a merger or acquisition. The research utilizes thematic analysis to explore how autonomy constraints, leadership engagement, transparent communication, and cultural alignment influence retention decisions. The participant sample spans diverse industries such as software, healthcare, financial services, and others, with roles ranging from …

Remove The Invisibility Cloak - Let's Get Women Promoted!, Nina Echeverría Brown

Theses and Dissertations

This two-study research project uses a mixed-methods exploratory sequential research design to investigate the career journey of women in Corporate America and assess how they navigate the tensions that may impede Career Growth. Study 1 employs qualitative interviews to gather insights from 20 diverse women at varying managerial levels. Thematic analysis reveals five primary Pathways to Career Growth—Foundational Development, Social Augmentation, Adaptive Knowledge Expansion, Forward Focus, and Visibility—each associated with specific strategies that women employ to navigate tensions related to Cultural, Organizational, and Domestic spheres. Study 2 builds upon these findings and utilizes quantitative cross-sectional survey data from 385 corporate …

She Works Hard For The Money: Black Women Entrepreneurs, Business Networks, And Entrepreneurial Success, Dejuan Erica Price

Theses and Dissertations

Although Black women launched an estimated 2.08 million businesses in 2023 (accounting for 14.8% of all women-owned firms), they remain significantly underrepresented among high-growth, well-capitalized enterprises. This paradox highlights the need for deeper examination of the structural and social factors that shape their entrepreneurial experiences and outcomes. Using an exploratory sequential mixed-methods approach, this study examined how network structure, networking behaviors, personal motivations, and social contexts influence entrepreneurial success among Black women founders. The qualitative phase revealed how faith, emotional labor, social isolation, and cultural values shaped participants’ definitions of success and approaches to entrepreneurship. Founders emphasized purpose, healing, and …

Navigating The New Normal: A Grounded Theory Study Of Lessons Learned About Leadership Practices Since The Pandemic In Multimodal Workplace Settings And The Future Of Work, Jessica Arriaza

Theses and Dissertations

The global pandemic has profoundly transformed leadership and the work landscape across multimodal workplace environments (onsite, virtual, and hybrid). As organizations navigated unprecedented disruption, leaders had to respond with agility, empathy, and innovation. This qualitative, grounded theory study explored the transformative impact of post-pandemic changes on leadership practices within the evolving workplace landscape and future work trends. The overarching research question guiding this study was to what extent, if at all, leadership practices have evolved since the global pandemic across onsite, virtual, and hybrid workplace settings, and what skills, strategies, and practices will future leaders need to navigate the future …

Understanding The Mentorship Experiences Of Underrepresented Minority Stem Leaders, Elias Saade

Theses and Dissertations

There is a growing need to diversify the science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) workforce to better address complex societal challenges and drive innovation. However, persistent disparities limit the retention and advancement of underrepresented minorities (URMs) as leaders in STEM. Mentorship has emerged as a promising practice to address these challenges, yet a gap in the literature remains regarding the impact mentorship had on URM STEM leaders’ personal and professional development. This study responds to that gap by exploring the lived experiences of URM STEM leaders and their perceptions of how mentorship shaped their career development, psychosocial growth, and identity …

Purpose-Driven Curriculum For 9th-12th Grades For Adulthood Careers & Life Gratification, Destiny Krystle Chioma Nnadozie

Theses and Dissertations

A purpose-driven or purpose-based curriculum is not the standard required for high schools in the United States. Students in grades 9th-12th are educated based on a curriculum that covers mathematics, English, science, and social studies (De Roux & Riehl, 2022; Xiao et al., 2018). The unique individual purpose of each student, realized while in high school, is not considered a priority, leaving students to enter their adult careers lacking true career fulfillment due to this misalignment (Baroudi et al., 2017; S. Lyons et al., 2015; H. Wu, 2024).  Using a qualitative systematic review research design, this study aimed to explore …

The Successes Of African American Female Community College Chancellors, Erika Miller-Tate

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore how the lived experiences of African American women community college chancellors contributed to their success as leaders. Three African American female community college chancellors participated in the study. Four themes emerged from the thick, rich descriptions provided through participant responses in semi-structured interviews. The four themes were encouragement, success, problem solver/leadership, and race/gender. The conclusions of this study point to the themes which influenced the successes of African American community college chancellors. The lived experiences shared by these women offered greater insight into the professional role of an African American female …

The Influence Of Fictional Storytelling On The Student Experience In A Gamified Classroom, Arrash Jaffarzadeh

Theses and Dissertations

This exploratory case study evaluated how the use of gamification and game-based learning (GBL) with the added element of storytelling affected engagement and attitudes of children ages 9 to 13 as they participated in quests to complete their learning objectives.  Archived artifacts of a computer technology class in a northern California private school using the Applied Computer Technology Education (ACTE) framework taught to grade 4-8 provided the data for the study.  Each quest was comprised of a fictional story that tied to the lesson. These stories involved the three archetypes of the warrior (herald), healer (ally), and mage (trickster) on …

Organizational Culture Formation In Early-Stage, Mission-Driven Ventures, Janezee Bond

Theses and Dissertations

This research seeks to understand how organization culture is formed in early-stage nonprofit, mission-driven, and purpose driven organizations. Growth stage was determined by looking at Flamholtz and Randl’s “Growing Pains” stages of organizational growth and Cameron & Quinn’s Organizational Culture Assessment Instrument (OCAI) was utilized to identify the current organizational culture type. The research focused on the insights and experiences of founders of early-stage companies (defined as having been founded in the past 15 years). The research revealed that founders are integral in culture creation through their roles and especially through role modeling in the early stages. Additionally, one significant …

Employee Perception Of Manager Listening Behaviors And The Impacts On The Supervisor-Subordinate Relationship, Esther Song

Theses and Dissertations

Strong communications skills are one of the most coveted capabilities in the workplace today. Within two-way communication, listening is often overlooked as a critical skill. While there have been many theories and skill-based training around listening, it is difficult to find a consistent, global definition to listening. This lack of definition makes is challenging to assess what “good” listening skill entails. Moreover, this lack of definition creates a gap in understanding effective measures for listening in the workplace, particularly in assessing the supervisor/subordinate relationship. This study focused on understanding listening in the workplace. In particular, this study looked at employee …

Educating Outdoors: A Qualitative Case Study On School Readiness Development In A Nature-Based Preschool, Lauren Lefevre

Theses and Dissertations

Play is widely considered one of the most crucial activities for healthy early childhood development, yet many current early childhood education (ECE) programs prioritize academics at the expense of this critical activity. Despite this focus on math and literacy skills, a significant number of children arrive at kindergarten unable to demonstrate proper school readiness. Nature-based early childhood education (NbECE) is a growing alternative education option that prioritizes risky play, loose parts play, and nature play, potentially providing children with countless opportunities for school-readiness development through play. Guided by the biophilia hypothesis (Wilson, 1984), which suggests that humans are innately drawn …

Ai: A Path Forward In Education - Teachers’ Insights On Implementation, Challenges, And Future Innovations, Mercedes Cordoba Meeks

Theses and Dissertations

Artificial intelligence (AI) is a global phenomenon permeating the fabric of society and transforming the course of culture and commerce (Kishor et al., 2023; Moore, 2024). A review of the extant literature indicates that while many industries have seen significant innovations due to the infusion of AI, the field of education has witnessed a technological evolution inspired by AI-based tools and strategies (Bessen, 2018; W. M. Lim et al., 2023). Artificial Intelligence in Education (AIED) has a history that parallels the development of AI. AIED has shown steady growth and influence in educational programs around the world, with the growth …

Generative Ai's Impact On Student's Motivation And Well-Being In Online Graduate Programs: A Phenomenological Study Through Self-Determination Theory, Sohee Linda Lee

Theses and Dissertations

While higher education has increasingly embraced emerging technologies, limited research explores how adult learners at the graduate level navigate AI-driven feedback, content generation, and learning supports, particularly within online programs that require self-regulation and advanced academic rigor. To address this gap, this qualitative, phenomenological study examined how graduate students enrolled in online degree programs experience and interpret the use of generative AI (GenAI) tools, such as ChatGPT, in their coursework. Drawing on Self-Determination Theory (SDT), this study focused on how the use of GenAI tools may influence students’ perceptions on autonomy (volition and choice in tasks), competence (confidence in academic …

The Impact Of Ableist Microaggressions On The Supervisory Relationship And The Influence Of Burnout And Self-Efficacy, Berenice Contreras

Theses and Dissertations

Disabled graduate students often report experiences of ableist microaggressions in their training environment, as disability-affirming practices tend to be overlooked in higher education institutions (Kattari et al., 2019; Lund et al., 2020). Ableist microaggressions are verbal, nonverbal, and/or environmental messages that relay derogatory messages toward individuals with disabilities and normalize everyday forms of discrimination enacted toward them (Annamma et al., 2013; Kattari et al., 2019). Studies demonstrate that disabled graduate students in health psychology graduate programs report higher exposure to ableist experiences during pre internship training and supervision compared to other stages of graduate training (Lund et al., 2014; Lund …

Hydronic Parking Lots: A Solution For Urban Heat Island Mitigation, Sumeet Jinnappa Paramaj

Theses and Dissertations

The Urban Heat Island (UHI) effect has emerged as a critical challenge in modern cities. It contributes to elevated local temperatures, placing significant stress on urban ecosystems and public health. One of the primary drivers of this phenomenon is the widespread use of impervious surfaces, such as dark-colored parking lots, which absorb heat during the day and gradually release it at night. This ongoing cycle results in persistently warmer urban environments. As cities continue to expand and densify, the need for effective, sustainable strategies to reduce urban heat becomes increasingly urgent.

This project aims to explore innovative interventions, particularly in …

The Impact Of Loss Function Topology On Gradient Descent, Robert B. Skudnig Jr.

Theses and Dissertations

Gradient descent is a popular optimization method that utilizes a model’s prediction error to iteratively improve its parameters for a given task. The functions that measure this error can be defined to align with the user’s goals and sometimes satisfy metric or norm properties. It is common for these functions to measure over Rn, but any differentiable space allows for gradient descent to occur. There has been some research investigating the influence of topological spaces on optimization methods, but it is a limited field of study. This thesis further explores this phenomenon by applying a transformation prediction model to multiple …

Boys Build, Girls Glam: An Examination Of Adult Language Use In Informal Steam Education Settings, Alexandra Horton

Theses and Dissertations

Research on STEAM education has primarily focused on formal education settings such as schools, with more research needed in informal or non-traditional education settings. As children frequently engage with informal and non-traditional education settings, it is important to understand how we can transmit information in these settings to bolster and further the learning process and increase engagement. STEAM fields have been plagued by racial and gender inequities that have led to these groups being marginalized and excluded (Blair et al., 2017; Eaton et al., 2020; Martin, 2018; Martin & Phillips, 2019; Miller et al., 2018; Newall et al., 2018, Sheffield …

Genetic Relative-Finder Services: A Qualitative Study Of Consumer Experiences, Sarah A. Sciba

Theses and Dissertations

Background: Genetic genealogy is an emergent topic in sociology. To date, over 41 million individuals worldwide have tested with the top four direct-to-consumer genetic testing (DTCGT) companies: AncestryDNA, FamilyTreeDNA, 23andMe, and MyHeritageDNA (Glynn 2022). These tests provide consumers with ethnicity estimates, a list of DNA cousin matches, or both. Despite the popularity of DTCGT, there is a lack of data on consumer experiences with genetic relative-finder services (GRF) in the sociological literature. Methodology: I conducted exploratory, qualitative research in the form of in-depth interviews with eight adult women who have used GRF. I gathered data about their motivations for participation …

Metakaolin-Based Geopolymer Concrete; Synthesis, Development And Characterization, Heba Fouad

Theses and Dissertations

Geopolymers are rendered as an essential sustainable replacement to the widely used Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC) which causes immense carbon dioxide emissions, hence a detrimental impact on society’s health and the environment. Geopolymers are three-dimensional networks of polymerized tetrahedral silicate and aluminate in the form of Q4(4Al), Q4(3Al) and Q4(2Al) which act as the principal binding phase in concrete. Past research has reported the synthesis of geopolymers from different aluminosilicates precursors, their characterization, and their wide range properties. However, previous studies still have not properly investigated effective range of synthesis ratios for a particular source material, optimum curing regimes, short- …

Experimental Insights Into Friction Losses Of Post-Tensioned Precast Full-Scale Girders, Mostafa Serry

Theses and Dissertations

The use of post-tensioning in construction has revolutionized the construction industry and made way for several construction and structural applications that were unattainable before. One of the most important topics that are synonymous with the use of post-tensioning is the matter of accurately calculating the short-term and long-term losses that arise in pre-stress. One of the prominent types of losses is the friction losses that occur during the jacking of the concrete elements due to its impact on structural integrity and longevity.

The thesis examines this critical aspect of friction losses in post-tensioned concrete structures. The study focuses on full-scale, …

A Comparative Study Between Soft Structures And Hard Structures For The Protection Of Egypt’S Coastlines Against Climate Change, Donia Eldwib

Theses and Dissertations

Coastal communities worldwide face unprecedented threats from climate change, with rising sea levels, increased storm intensities, and accelerated coastal erosion posing significant risks. Egypt, with over 3,000 kilometers of coastlines along the Mediterranean and Red Seas, it is particularly vulnerable due to its densely populated and economically critical low-elevated coastal zones. With the Mediterranean Sea, and the Nile Delta specifically under huge threats, this study examines the different coastal protection strategies used to address these climate change impacts. Different coastal protection structures have been used throughout the years starting with the well-known hard structures moving on to greener alternatives such …

End-To-End Autonomous Quadcopter Using Reinforcement Learning, Mohamed Marwan Chawa

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis investigates the potential of Reinforcement Learning (RL) for achieving robust and adaptable quadcopter control, focusing on trajectory and attitude stabilization. We compare state-of-the-art RL algorithms, specifically Proximal Policy Optimization (PPO), against traditional Proportional-Integral-Derivative (PID) controllers across three tasks: hovering, slow trajectory following, and fast trajectory following. To enhance realism, we employ a modified PyFlyt simulation environment with a high-fidelity Crazyflie 2.x model, accounting for motor dynamics, noise, wind disturbances, and aerodynamic drag.

The challenge of operating a quadcopter can be divided into two distinct parts: planning a flight path and actually following that path. Our focus is on …

Narrative Engineering: Tools, Computational Structure, And Impact Of Stories, Michael A. Debuse

Theses and Dissertations

Computational Linguistics has a long history of applying mathematics to the grammatical and syntactic structure of language; however, applying math to the more complex aspects of language, such as narrative, plot, scenes, character relations, causation, etc. remains a difficult topic. The goal of my research is to bridge the narrative humanities with mathematics, to computationally grasp at these difficult topic, and help develop the field of Narrative Engineering. I view narrative and story with the same mathematical scrutiny as other engineering fields, to take the creativity and fluidity of story and encode it in mathematical representations that have meaning beyond …

Promoting And Developing Industrial Organic Clusters In Egypt: Case Study Of Damietta Furniture Cluster, Nermen Abdelmoula

Theses and Dissertations

This study examines the development of industrial clusters in Egypt, with a specific focus on the Damietta Furniture Cluster, an organic industrial cluster known for its rich tradition in furniture craftsmanship. These industrial clusters, which are primarily composed of micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), are characterized by the geographical concentration of interconnected firms and institutions, play a critical role in fostering economic growth, innovation, and competitiveness, particularly in emerging economies. The research explores the key factors affecting the development of the Damietta Furniture Cluster, identifies the challenges it faces, and provides policy recommendations to enhance its growth and global …

A Comparison Of Polymers By Layer Deposition And Open Molding Additive Processes Through Fused Granulate Fabrication, Alexander Ray Gibson

Theses and Dissertations

Additive manufacturing (AM) continues to offer new possibilities in both production and economics. Various industries have quickly adopted AM to rapidly produce parts that would be difficult or cost prohibitive otherwise. Despite ongoing innovations that expand the technology's capabilities, significant limitations persist. Most AM processes are restricted by materials available, an inability to produce large parts, or by not achieving material deposition speeds and volumes to allow for certain products feasible. In addition, tight tolerances for features and surfaces cannot be produced without substantial post processing. Some of the post-processing techniques can even affect the material properties of the finished …