Digital Commons Network^™

Strategies For Catalyzing Supply Chain Innovation In Midsized Manufacturing Firms, Matthew J. Szukalowski Iii

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Supply chain inflexibility results in reduced efficiency and profitability. Without supply chain flexibility, supply chain managers in manufacturing firms risk the loss of competitive advantage due to reduced efficiency and profitability. Grounded in business process engineering conceptual framework, the purpose of this qualitative multiple case study was to explore strategies supply chain leaders in manufacturing organizations use to achieve supply chain flexibility. The participants were five supply chain leaders in the manufacturing industry in the midwestern United States and successfully implemented innovative solutions to achieve supply chain flexibility. Data were collected using semistructured interviews and a review of company documents …

Typhoid Fever Among Low-Income Women Living In Gujranwala, Pakistan., Tehmina S. Khan

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Approximately 21 million individuals suffer from typhoid fever (TF) globally, and most outbreaks occur in Southeast Asia. The incidence of TF is high in Pakistan, particularly in low socioeconomic areas, and a new drug-resistant strain makes it difficult to control the spread of TF. There is a pressing need for up-to-date and accurate data regarding the attitudes, beliefs, and habits leading to the spread of TF infection among individuals living in low socioeconomic areas of Pakistan. This qualitative, phenomenological study was grounded in the health belief model and explored factors that influence the spread of TF among women of childbearing …

Business Planning Strategies To Sustain Hair Salons, Charity T. Adams

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Small businesses employ most Americans in the workforce; however, more than half of small businesses fail within the first 5 years of operation. Small business owners who lack business planning strategies are at a higher risk of failure. Grounded in the sustainable activity model, the purpose of this multiple case study was to explore strategies hair salon owners used to sustain their business beyond 5 years. The participants comprised seven hair salon owners in the Southern region of the United States who successfully sustained their business beyond 5 years. Data were collected from semistructured interviews and reviews of organization documents …

Policy Sustainability Issues: Case Study Of Cassava Farmers In Ikorodu. Lagos, Nigeria, Medinat Oluwatoyin Adetunji

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The inconsistency and lack of continuity of Nigeria's agricultural policies impact the cassava sector. Despite being the world's biggest producer, the country is yet to benefit from the advantage due to a lack of sustainable growth. The situation manifests in terms of low productivity, low production level, and poor income to the farmers. The purpose of this qualitative study was to investigate the experiences and perceptions of the cassava farmers on cassava policies and the effect on their income and livelihoods in the Ikorodu local government of Lagos State. This qualitative study adopted a case study research design using participatory …

Complexity Thinking And Broadband Internet Penetration In Lagos, Nigeria, James Hyacinth Akpoja

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractConsidering the speed at which information and knowledge can transverse nations and organizations, the importance of broadband Internet connectivity cannot be overstated. The general problem is that the Nigerian broadband Internet penetration is considerably low, at 33% compared to other parts of the world. The specific problem is that community members and leaders have the behavioral intention to allow broadband Internet infrastructure deployment (BIID) at the local community level in Lagos. The purpose of this quantitative correlational study was to examine the relationship between perceived usefulness (PU), perceived benefits (PB), perceived ease of use (PEoU), and perceive security (PS), and …

The Correlation Between Laura’S Law And The Incarceration Of The Mentally Ill In A Southwestern State, Aaron Alarcon-Bowen

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Assisted outpatient treatment and involuntary outpatient treatment laws refer to the power of the court system to order community-based treatment without hospitalization to individuals with a mental illness diagnosis. Studies have linked these laws to a decrease in the use of incarceration among this population. The effectiveness of the assisted outpatient treatment law in a Southwestern state, known as Laura’s Law, has not been studied. With a theoretical foundation based on the social contract and multiple streams analysis theories, a quantitative, casual, comparative study using an independent t test was centered on determining whether the mean numbers of incarcerated individuals …

The Biopsychosocial Impact Of Racial Discrimination Among African Americans, Amy Renae Amin

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between racial discrimination and anger, stress, and obesity. The stress-disease model provided a theoretical perspective of the biological, psychological, and social pathways from stress. Past research regarding the correlation between racial discrimination, anger, stress, and obesity reported a possible connection, but results have been mixed. This research expanded upon existing literature that proposed that blatant or subtle experiences of racial discrimination are pathways to mental and physical health consequences. The hypothesis was that there was a significant relationship between racial discrimination and the levels of stress, anger, and obesity. Racial …

Relationship Of Mindfulness To Worldview Defense When Mortality Is Salient, Blake Ausmus

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Humans value self-preservation, and therefore that which is perceived to threaten survival should cause stress. However, humans have also developed the understanding of their own mortality, meaning that they cognitively understand that death is inevitable. The conflict arising from these opposing constructs holds the potential to cause anxiety. Interestingly, this anxiety is not easily observed in most. Terror management theory posits that there are buffer systems in place that help to keep death anxiety at bay so that humans are able to continue to function in their daily lives. These buffers include becoming more stringent to one’s worldviews and less …

High School Principals Supporting The Academic Achievement Of Students With Disabilities, Toni Brooks

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

In the United States, legislators have created policies to hold school personnel accountable for the academic success of all students. However, many students with disabilities working toward a high school diploma have not demonstrated progress on local or national standardized assessments. The purpose of this qualitative case study was to explore the ways that high school principals in a Mid-Atlantic school district provided leadership practices to support the academic achievement of students with disabilities. Burns and Bass’s transformational leadership theory informed this study. Data were collected via semistructured interviews with eight high school principals and a review of archival test …

Elementary General Education Teacher Perspectives Of Administrator Leadership Support In The Inclusion Classroom, Lynda Davis

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The passage of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act in 1975 was the summation of many years of advocacy for students with disabilities in the United States. Many school personnel face challenges implementing the act’s inclusion mandate, which requires that all students be educated in the least restrictive environment that provides the best services. More research is needed to understand how principals’ leadership practices support inclusion education among their staff. The purpose of this basic qualitative study was to explore general education teachers’ perspectives of administrator support in the elementary inclusion classroom. The framework for this study included elements from …

Workload, Work–Family Conflict, And Job Satisfaction For Women In Science, Elizabeth Ervin

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Job dissatisfaction among women working in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields costs the United States up to $1.5 billion per year. Understanding work-life balance is important for pharmaceutical leaders to assist in enhancing job satisfaction for women in science. Grounded in the work-life balance theory, the purpose of this quantitative correlational study was to examine workload and work-family conflict in predicting job satisfaction for women in science. Survey data were collected from 76 women employed in the pharmaceutical industry who completed a combined Minnesota Satisfaction Questionnaire and Warr-Cook-Wall job satisfaction questionnaire. The multiple linear regression results were significant, …

Potential Adverse Impacts Of The Lack Of Diversity Of African American Women On Business Operations: Diversity And The Competitive Advantage, Leilani Jasmine Evans

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Senior organizational leadership lacks diversity, with African American women elevating to senior executive positions to contribute to the competitive advantage. A lack of diversity in leadership could impact profitability and an organization’s competitive advantage. Grounded in cognitive diversity theory, the purpose of this single qualitative case was to explore strategies African American women executives used to increase diversity with other African American Women in their ranks to ensure profitability and maintain a competitive advantage. The participants were five African American women senior executives in the District of Columbia who implemented strategies to increase diversity with other African American women and …

Strategies For Competitive Advantage In Small Construction Businesses, Syheed Fields

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Walden University

College of Management and Technology

This is to certify that the doctoral study by

Syheed Fields

has been found to be complete and satisfactory in all respects, and that any and all revisions required by the review committee have been made.

Review Committee Dr. Michael Lavelle, Committee Chairperson, Doctor of Business Administration Faculty

Dr. Carol-Anne Faint, Committee Member, Doctor of Business Administration Faculty

Dr. William Stokes, University Reviewer, Doctor of Business Administration Faculty

Chief Academic Officer and ProvostSue Subocz, Ph.D.

Walden University2022

AbstractStrategies for Competitive Advantage in Small Construction Businesses by Syheed Fields

MLD, The Pennsylvania State University, …

Website Accessibility Strategies, Gary W. Hrezo

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Most websites cannot be readily used by people with disabilities, despite the internet being an essential component for people to be part of a community. Applying web accessibility strategies means that people with disabilities can better interact with the web. Grounded in Davis’s technology acceptance model, the purpose of this qualitative multiple case study was to examine strategies used by web designers to make websites accessible for people with disabilities. The participants were experienced web developers from organizations in Florida with websites that have a Web Content Accessibility Guidelines Level 2 of three levels, i.e., AA- rating. The data collection …

Perspectives On Gender Stereotypes And Glass Ceiling Beliefs Of Male And Female Corporate Professionals, Shellie Cecelia Jones

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

In the United States, as of 2021, women comprise almost half of the entire workforce (46.8%), yet only represent 24% of top earning officers and 6% of CEO positions. A phenomenon known as the glass ceiling is recognized as an unofficial barrier to advancement within a profession or a company that specifically affects minority populations, including women in business. The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between the glass ceiling barriers to career advancement for professional women and gender stereotypes. The framework used for this study was based on the role congruity theory that proposes prejudice towards …

Analyzing Secure Access Strategies To Protect Clinical-Information Systems In The Healthcare Industry, Manjit S. Kang

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Securing patient health records within cloud-based health records is a critical security challenge for hospitals and healthcare organizations. Some information technology (IT) leaders working in the U.S. healthcare industry or hospitals are concerned with their patient cloud-based health records due to data breaches in their healthcare systems. Grounded in the task technology fit theory, the purpose of this qualitative pragmatic inquiry study was to explore strategies healthcare information leaders use to implement security procedures to protect patient health records on private cloud-based clinical information systems (CIS). The participants were six IT managers in metropolitan San Francisco Bay healthcare facilities. The …

Typhoid Fever Among Low-Income Women Living In Gujranwala, Pakistan., Tehmina S. Khan

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Approximately 21 million individuals suffer from typhoid fever (TF) globally, and most outbreaks occur in Southeast Asia. The incidence of TF is high in Pakistan, particularly in low socioeconomic areas, and a new drug-resistant strain makes it difficult to control the spread of TF. There is a pressing need for up-to-date and accurate data regarding the attitudes, beliefs, and habits leading to the spread of TF infection among individuals living in low socioeconomic areas of Pakistan. This qualitative, phenomenological study was grounded in the health belief model and explored factors that influence the spread of TF among women of childbearing …

Forward-Looking Strategies For Safely Adopting Digital Transformation In Aviation, Melissa King

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Aviation leaders in the U.S. federal government face challenges in adopting technical evolution and advancing modernization while adhering to the rigor of a deeply entrenched safety culture. The purpose of this qualitative modified Delphi study was to determine how a panel of 21 aerospace experts based in Washington, DC viewed strategies for adopting to new technologies while ensuring safety. The management concepts that framed the study were safety culture and digital transformation. The study addressed the research question of how a panel of aviation experts viewed the desirability, feasibility, and importance of forward-looking strategies for adopting digital transformation while adhering …

Exploring Cyber-Physical Systems’ Security Governance In The Oil And Gas Industry, Soliman Mahmoud

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The Fourth Industrial Revolution, which utilizes modern communication-dependent technologies, including cyber-physical systems (CPS), has made exploration and production operations more efficient in the oil and gas industry. CPS in this industry should be secured against operational threats to prevent interruption of critical oil and gas supplies and services. However, these systems are vulnerable to cyberattacks, and many oil and gas companies have not incorporated effective cybersecurity measures into their corporate management strategies. This qualitative, multiple-case study, which was guided by the routine activity theory, explored how cybersecurity governance was applied to develop controls that stopped or mitigated the consequences of …

Emerging Adults' Lived Prenatal Care Experiences As First-Time Mothers: An Interpretive Phenomenological Study, Linda Mcclerklin

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractPrenatal care is fundamental in the lives of expectant mothers. Studies have highlighted the prenatal care experiences of mothers ranging from adolescents to older women, which included the experiences of emerging adults. However, emerging adults bring particular social, emotional, and developmental concerns to pregnancy experiences that are distinct from those of their counterparts. This study explored these experiences to answer the question of what are emerging adults’ lived prenatal care experiences are as first-time mothers. Interpretive phenomenology and assumptions from critical race, feminist, communication, and intersectionality theories helped frame the study. Through purposive and snowball sampling, nine participants were selected …

Experiences Of African American Parents Of Special Needs Students And School Decisions, Jennifer Selena Mccray

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractMany individuals prefer the ability to choose options as opposed to being directed toward a certain path. School choice programs in the United States allow parents to exercise their democratic right to choose what is best for their children with respect to choosing a school for them to receive their education. The problem is that many African American parents have lost faith and trust in public education due to low school safety, lack of quality education, and social/emotional issues with public schools. The purpose of this descriptive phenomenological study was to explore the perceptions of African American parents concerning students’ …

Elementary And Middle School Administrators’ Decisions About Professional Development For Bilingual Educators, Enid Montalvo

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

K–8 school administrators are expected to provide professional development (PD) to bilingual teachers that will enhance instructional practices. PD is an important factor that may lead to student academic achievement. However, it was unclear in what ways K–8 administrators provided PD for bilingual teachers to enhance instructional practices for Latino English-language learners (ELL). The purpose of this basic qualitative study was to explore how K–8 administrators used reflective practices to identify ELL-focused PD for bilingual teachers within two Midwestern school districts. The conceptual framework for the current study was Schön’s theory of reflective practice. The guiding questions asked how K–8 …

Exploring The Integration Of Corporate Sustainability Into Small-Scale Business Activities, Olushola O. Odutola

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Small and medium-scale enterprises contribute 49% of the gross domestic product in Nigeria. The lack of research studies on how small and medium-scale enterprises integrate corporate sustainability into their business operations might present challenges for policymakers in achieving Nigeria’s sustainable development goals (SDG). The purpose of this descriptive phenomenological study was to explore how managers of small and medium-scale enterprises integrate the corporate sustainability dimensions into their business operations based on the concepts of the corporate entity, corporate nature, and corporate obligations. The central research question of this study was how managers of small and medium-scale enterprises integrate the economic, …

Successful Strategies For Adopting Electronic Medical Records Systems At Hospitals, Vazi Okhandiar

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Some healthcare leaders lack strategies to successfully implement electronic medical record (EMR) systems to improve patient care efficiency and effectiveness. Grounded in the technology acceptance model, the purpose of this qualitative multiple case study was to explore strategies healthcare leaders use to implement EMR systems. The participants comprised five healthcare leaders who implemented EMRs in U.S. hospitals. Data were collected using semistructured interviews, government websites, and relevant documents and analyzed using Yin’s five-step data analysis method. Three themes emerged: (a) adequate training, (b) workflow analysis, and (c) technical support. A key recommendation is for management to provide customized training to …

Relationship Between Information System Success Model Dimensions And Electronic Health Records Use, Gloria Oshegbo

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The rise in the use of electronic health records (EHRs) in health care facilities necessitates a standardized tool for evaluating their effectiveness. Delone and McLean’s information system success model (ISSM) was the theoretical foundation, which consists of seven dimensions namely system, information, service qualities, user satisfaction, use, system usefulness, and net benefits. The purpose of this study was to examine EHRs’ efficiency and identify ISSM dimensions that influenced net benefits, the dependent variable. The research questions examined the relationship between dimensions of ISSM and the dimensions that affect net benefits. Participants were recruited using purposeful sampling via social media and …

The Relationship Of Diversity Education On Perceptions Of Criminal Justice Majors, Deborah Palicia

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractIn a world of ever-changing demographics, it is imperative that criminal justice practitioners acquire the knowledge and skills needed to effectively interact with the communities they serve. The purpose of this nonexperimental study was to ascertain the relationship between perceptions of diversity of undergraduate criminal justice majors at a Northeastern college who had taken a diversity course to those who had not. Bandura’s social cognitive theory guided this study. Data were collected using McMorris’ Perceptions of Criminality survey with a purposive nonprobability sample of 72 criminal justice majors at a Northeastern college who were 18 years of age or older. …

Pedagogical Practices And Digital Tools Used By Online Tutors With Students In Grades K-5, Alison Marie Parker

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Little was known about the experiences of K-5 online tutors. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore the lived experiences of online tutors regarding their pedagogical practices and digital tools used when tutoring students in Grades K-5. The community of inquiry model served as the conceptual framework. Data included online tutor profiles, websites, and one-to-one interviews with 16 participants. Data were coded and analyzed using NVivo. Findings were interpreted within the contexts of the conceptual framework and the literature. The study revealed five themes: K-5 online tutors as educational entrepreneurs, rewards of being a K-5 online tutor entrepreneur, …

Elementary Educators’ Perceptions Of Their Knowledge And Motivation To Support Struggling Readers, Ann Brazzel Price

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractDespite the implementation of district approved programs at Maplebrook Elementary, a Mid-Atlantic school district, students in third, fourth, and fifth grades continue to show reading comprehension below grade level as measured by standardized test scores and district-created assessments. The goal of this study was to gain teacher perceptions about knowledge and motivation when working with students who continue to struggle with reading. Bandura’s theory of self-efficacy was used to guide the research. The research questions addressed teachers’ perspectives regarding the role knowledge and motivation play when working with students struggling with reading comprehension and the teachers’ levels of confidence in …

The Statistical Significance Of Juvenile Delinquency And Learning Disabilities, Collette Erica Scandrett

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Juvenile delinquency and recidivism have been consistent issues that seem to continually produce substantial numbers. The purpose of this quantitative study was to examine learning disabilities among juveniles and determine their statistical significance to delinquency and recidivism. Durkheim’s theory of anomie and Merton’s anomie/strain theory were used as the theoretical framework to guide the study. Archived cases for 15,900 juveniles, 2,633 of whom were learning disabled, were collected from the South Carolina Department of Juvenile Justice and the South Carolina Department of Education. To provide additional context, age, race, and sex were also analyzed. Chi-square tests were used to analyze …

Secondary Content Teachers’ Perceptions About Teaching Informational Text, Scott Allan Slechta

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

As school districts adopted Common Core State Standards (CCSS), content area teachers were expected to incorporate disciplinary literacy skills into their lessons. The problem for this study was that secondary school science and social studies teachers struggle to teach students how to read and understand informational text. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore the perceptions of teachers about the challenges of using disciplinary literacy skills to teach informational text and about the training and resources that may improve their knowledge and use of disciplinary literacy skills for informational text. With the CCSS as the conceptual framework, the …