Sport, Unity And Conflict: An Enduring Social Dynamic, Paddy Dolan, John Connolly

Articles

The purpose of this article is largely to serve as an introduction to this special issue on sport, unity and conflict. This was the theme of the European Association for Sociology of Sport conference in 2015, held in Dublin, Ireland. The special issue contains articles by the three keynote speakers of the conference – Randall Collins, Anthony King and Roberta Sassatelli. Each dealt with the theme in different, yet compatible, and highly thought-provoking ways. This article will also attempt to elaborate on the theme and argue for the continued significance of the place of unification and conflict processes within sport, …

Accelerating Cyber Security Improvements For Critical Infrastructure Industrial Control Systems, James Edward Lerums

Open Access Theses

This thesis study introduces operational concepts for accelerating necessary cyber security improvements for critical infrastructure industrial control systems. National critical infrastructures’ industrial control systems experienced a 20% annual increase in cyber incidents during fiscal year 2015 (DHS ICS-CERT, 2015). Industrial control systems are used in several critical infrastructure sectors to include energy, transportation, manufacturing, and water utilities. Critical infrastructures support public health and life safety, economic vitality, national defense, and overarching societal well-being. Significant damage or disruptions to a critical infrastructure could result in potentially catastrophic and cascading consequences. For example, a disruptive cyber-attack on a water utility would have …

Usability Of Real Time Data For Cold Chain Monitoring Systems, Arush Saxena

Open Access Theses

One in every nine people on earth do not have enough food to lead a healthy life, according to The World Food Programme. That's nearly 800 million people. In addition to that, billions of tons of perishable food products are wasted during transportation and logistics before it reaches the end consumers as thousands of people die every day due to hunger related causes. Perishable foods, medicine and other goods impose severe challenges on inventory management. Businesses debate on whether to keep limited stock just to meet demand and fear losing additional customers or keep excess stock and face the risk …

A Study Of The Success Of Group Formation In Virtual Teams Using Computer-Mediated Communications, Eliel Melón-Ramos

CCAC Theses and Dissertations

In the digital domain, virtual teams within organizations and corporations are becoming common. Restructuring an organization or corporation is vital because competition and globalization are increasing. In this era of globalization, distributed working groups need to develop a competitive advantage in these ever-changing environments. Historically, teams had experienced problems stemming from geographical and temporal limitations. With the increase of technology in telecommunications, organizations are increasingly forming virtual teams, which have become critical to the survival of nearly any corporate entity.

Virtual teams have some of the same problems that regular teams have. One of the key challenges is the method …

A Big Idea: The Rollout Of Open Suny, Karen E. Case

CCAC Theses and Dissertations

Leveraging technology may be a viable solution in the higher education industry as enrollments decline and institutions have a hard time meeting their projected budgets. One innovative approach to mitigating this problem was approved in March of 2013 by the Board of Trustees of the State University of New York (SUNY). It is called Open SUNY. Open SUNY consists of nine components: the creation and expansion of online programs to meet workforce development needs, the development of online credit-bearing experiential learning experiences, support for training of faculty who opt to use emerging technologies, support for student access to online courses, …

Patient Portals: Achieving Technology Acceptance And Meaningful Use In Independent Physician-Managed Practices, Kimberly W. Bartholomew

CCAC Theses and Dissertations

As the bulk of medical health records shift from paper-based file systems to electronic formats, the promise of the transformation process called healthcare reform included adding efficiencies to medical practice workflows, lower costs, improved quality of care and most important, and the freeing of patient information from traditional propriety silos. With this incoming largess of protected health information data now viewable through online patient portals, patients can be empowered to become educated and active in their own health care decisions, but only if they have admission to their information. A digital divide currently exists in many medical practices where only …

Studying School Improvement Teams To Analyze Multiple Stakeholder Engagement In Decision-Making In Public Education, Julie A. Dibari

Open Access Dissertations

Since the Industrial Revolution, when schools became larger and the missions broader, there has been an attempt by a wide range of stakeholders to have a voice in public education. More recently, through No Child Left Behind and Race to the Top, the federal government began to increase requirements for multiple stakeholder engagement in decision-making for schools requesting Title I funds. As the need for a more educated workforce has grown, businesses have also sought to have a voice in improving education. Additionally, experts in the field of parent, school and community engagement, have called for the inclusion of parents, …

Does The Way We Measure Fit Matter? : Predicting Behaviors And Attitudes Using Different Measures Of Fit, Jennifer A. Cavanaugh

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

The literature on person-organization (P-O) fit has been plagued with inconsistencies in the conceptualization, operationalization and measurement of P-O fit. Despite numerous studies examining the relationship between P-O fit and outcomes, these inconsistencies in measurement and operationalization have led to mixed findings concerning specific individual outcomes. The goal of this dissertation was to address some of these inconsistencies by examining the relationship between P-O fit, using perceived and subjective measures of fit, and attitudinal and behavioral outcomes. In addition, previously unexplored mediators of the P-O fit-outcome relationships were examined.

How Do Students Appraise And Cope With Episodic Stressors : A Four-Wave Study, Jingyi Huang

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Stress is a dynamic process. For episodic task-related stressors, four stages – the anticipatory stage, the confronting stage, the waiting stage, and the outcome stage – can be defined. Using a student sample, in this study I employed a longitudinal design to examine how exam-related coping unfolds across these stages, how perceived control predicts the use of coping strategies, and how personality moderates the relations between perceived control and the selection of coping strategies. The results show that across time behavioral disengagement and substance use had a convex trajectory, and that seeking of emotional social support and positive reinterpretation had …

Hurricane Sandy : Public Health Staff Perceptions Of Impact And Recommendations For Future Preparedness, New York State, Asante Shipp Hilts

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Abstract

Examining Law Enforcement Analysis And Intelligence Capabilities : A Case Study Of Urban Policing, Shelagh Dorn

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Extant research, concerning police use of intelligence analysis, hypothesizes that police culture and information-sharing partnerships may affect outputs of intelligence analysis. Previous efforts have provided overviews of criminal intelligence analysis, without examining organizational and structural factors which might affect the genesis and use of intelligence and crime analysis. Examining the role and impact of both analysis and information sharing in law enforcement has been largely absent, and based on current research, it is difficult to determine what accounts for law enforcement variation in the knowledge, use, and demand for crime and intelligence analysis. Ashton Police Department’s (APD) Information Coordination Unit …

Pursuing Kingdom Growth By Intentionally Engaging Our Culture, Florin Docea

All Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The goal of this research project was to strengthen the church’s ability to effectively engage the culture and expand the kingdom of God. This project is important because American Churches have invested time and resources looking for ways to transform the culture. In the process many discovered that the culture has also transformed the church with mixed results. This research project showed that new churches continue to face difficulties engaging the culture without compromising the mission of the church or disrupting the unity of the body. Using the attractional or missional models, churches have struggled in the tension created by …

Theology, Race And Libraries, Anita Coleman

Faculty Publications

Recent theological research into the origin of race and the presence of structural racism in library systems of knowledge organization will be presented. Using examples from the open access Anti-racism Digital Library and International Anti-racism Thesaurus participants will learn how to overcome current limitations in library catalog subject headings in order to offer anti-racist and "just library service."

Barriers To Use Of Social Media By Emergency Managers, Linda Plotnick, Starr Roxanne Hiltz

Research, Publications & Creative Work

Social media (SM) are socio-technical systems that have the potential to provide real-time information during crises and thus to help protect lives and property. Yet, US emergency management (EM) agencies do not extensively use them. This mixed-methods study describes the ways SM is used by county-level US emergency managers, barriers to effective SM use, and recommendations to improve use. Exploratory interviews were conducted with US public sector emergency managers to elicit attitudes about SM. This was followed by a survey of over 200 US county level emergency managers. Results show that only about half of agencies use SM at all. …

Investigation Of Teacher Education Delivery Of Bicultural Education, Chris J. Jenkin

Australian Journal of Teacher Education

The national bicultural early childhood curriculum in New Zealand, Te Whāriki, and the Graduating Teacher Standards require that graduating teachers are competent in Māori language as well as English, and have an understanding of aspects of Māori knowledge. However, research shows that teachers are not yet proficient in the skills needed to deliver the bicultural curriculum effectively. This paper explores the role of teacher-education providers in equipping their graduates to deliver that curriculum. Framed by an appreciative inquiry approach, data were collected from courses displayed on the websites of ten early-childhood tertiary teacher-education providers, followed by interviews with four participants …

Reflections On Recent Recommendations On The Use Of Science In Disaster Risk Reduction Using Case Studies From Bangladesh And The Western United States, Susanne Sargeant, Eric Lindquist

Public Policy and Administration Faculty Publications and Presentations

The valuable role that science has to play in disaster preparedness and risk reduction is widely recognized and was highlighted during the development of the successor to the Hyogo Framework for Action for disaster risk reduction that was adopted in March 2015. However, there are many factors that limit how effectively science can inform both disaster risk reduction policy and practice. Understanding these factors and taking steps to overcome them require a broad view, and a comparative approach can be instructive. We focus on two projects that were independently completed by the authors: earthquake risk management in Bangladesh and flooding …

Organizational Transformation: Guiding Principles For Community Providers (Bringing Employment First To Scale, Issue No. 6), Jaimie Ciulla Timmons, Amie Lulinski, Cindy Thomas, Thinkwork! At The Institute For Community Inclusion At Umass Boston

All Institute for Community Inclusion Publications

A key area of focus for our Rehabilitation Research and Training Center (RRTC) is organizational transformation, leading to improved employment outcomes for those served by community provider organizations. Community provider organizations and their staff are the primary source of day and employment supports for people with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities (IDD). Among this large provider community, variation of services and employment philosophies exists. Many believe that facility-based programs are essential for individuals with disabilities who are having difficulty getting or maintaining competitive work in the labor force, and have limited plans to expand competitive integrated employment. Others believe that all …

Policy And State-Level Strategies To Promote Employment (Bringing Employment First To Scale, Issue No. 3), Thinkwork! At The Institute For Community Inclusion At Umass Boston

All Institute for Community Inclusion Publications

At the national level, integrated employment has become an important policy priority. Greater expectations are being placed on those charged with delivering employment supports, and disability systems are responding. However, the promise of integrated employment has yet to be realized for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). The number of individuals supported in integrated employment by state IDD agencies has remained the same since 2000, participation in non-work services has grown rapidly, and promising practices for employment supports identified in the research are not widely implemented. What are the state-level strategies that can change this trajectory?

This brief: Describes …

Exploring Teacher Readiness: What Features Of Professional Development Enhance Motivation To Implement Technology Innovations?, Robert S. Markle

Theses and Dissertations

Several studies suggest that if evidence-based school innovations are to be successful, schools must possess adequate capacity to implement them with quality. This paper utilizes a framework of organizational readiness called R=MC2, positing that readiness to implement with quality consists of three components: general capacities, innovation-specific capacities, and motivation. Specifically, this paper investigates whether certain key characteristics of professional development (active learning, integration, time for practice, collaboration, tailoring, coaching, and provision of feedback) can impact teacher motivation to implement novel educational practices. The paper answers two major research questions: 1) Which characteristics of quality professional development (PD) are related to …

Business And Security In The Age Of Terrorism: The Long-Term Effects Of The September 11 Terrorist Attacks On Seaport Governance And Control, Daniel J. Ostergaard

Theses and Dissertations

The primary research goal of this dissertation is to improve our theoretical understanding of the longterm effects of major transnational terrorist events on securityrelated institutional changes for business. To accomplish this goal, the September, 11, 2001, terror attack was chosen as the starting point for this research. The research context is the governance of seaport security. Using grounded theory to develop comparative case studies of several major security initiatives in the maritime industry after 9/11, this dissertation shows that a terrorist event initiates a process of institutional change that emerges over time as initial securityrelated ideas cascade into concrete actions. …

How Female Social Studies Department Chairs Navigate Their Roles As Leaders, Jeffrey C. Eargle

Theses and Dissertations

During the past four decades, state and federal education policy in the United States has focused on standardization and increased accountability. In contrast, education researchers advocate elevating the status of teachers through the professionalization of education. Teacher leadership is a concept that is used to reform schools and increase student achievement. The high school department chair is a formal teacher leadership role in the school hierarchy. Because research indicates that a majority of social studies teachers are male, female social studies department chairs are in a position to lead predominantly men.

A gap exists in the research on social studies …

A Mixed Methods Assessment Of The Implementation Of Electronic Health Records In Local Health Departments, Karmen S. Williams

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

Background: Electronic Health Record (EHR) implementation has seen great advances in health care, but the movement is leaving public health agencies behind. EHRs have shown improvement in operational and societal outcomes when implemented. Scarce allocation of resources, lack of trained staff, and security are limiters to implementation, despite the varied benefits of EHRs. The objective of this research is to establish a comprehensive view of EHR implementation in local health departments (LHDs) through assessing the status of implementation, benefits, barriers, and strategies to overcome challenges. Methods: This research uses a mixed methods approach to assess 49 key-informant interviews and 324 …

African Americans And The Communication Of Religious Exit, William P. Cooper

Wayne State University Theses

This exploratory study investigates Christian disaffiliation, or deconversion, in a sample of African American ex-Christians living in the metro-Detroit area. The data obtained from 15 interviews were used to address the following research questions: (1) How do participants recall the religious socialization process? (2) What are some catalysts for African Americans disaffiliating from their former Christian denominations? (3) How does the Christian disaffiliation process unfold communicatively for African-Americans? Specifically, did participants utilize any strategies of SMC in their communication of exit? Jablin’s (2001) Model of Organizational Exit and Meisenbach’s (2010) Stigma Management Communication Strategy Typology were used as theoretical frameworks. …

The Necessity For Communicative Engagement Capability In Corporate Mergers And Acquisitions, Elizabeth Ann Duwaldt

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Frequent organizational change has become inescapable in postmodern organizations. While thousands of articles and texts have been written on the topic of organizational change offering models and strategies for accomplishing planned change, the majority of change initiatives fail to meet expectations (Burnes and Jackson; Keller and Aiken). What, then, is a business leader to do when change is an imperative in the postmodern business world, but the majority of change initiatives fail to succeed in the manner predicted?

Mergers and acquisitions are a common type of planned change organizations pursue to survive in the postmodern, hypercompetitive marketplace. Mergers and acquisitions …

Chief Executive Officers’ Perspectives On Characteristics And Conditions Associated With Hospital Financial Distress And Risk Of Closure, James Alan Kent

MUSC Theses and Dissertations

Previous research into hospital closures has been unable to identify causal factors in advance. Twelve experienced hospital chief executive officers were interviewed using a semi-structured questionnaire to identify tractable and intractable factors associated with hospital financial distress and risk of closure and to learn how CEO assess and prioritize these factors. Results were coded and analyzed using a grounded theory approach. Five primary themes emerged: 1. Intractable and tractable factors are highly interrelated and are addressed through systems thinking. 2. Intractable issues of local context are among the most significant determinants of hospital viability. 3. Physician culture issues are becoming …

Teachers As Leaders: ​Action Research In The Classroom, Teresa Lester, Stephanie Mccabe

Instructional Modules for Professional learning Responding to Opportunities and Valuing Educators (IMPROVE)

The purpose of this module is to explore means in which teacher leaders can utilize the process of action research to improve outcomes for students. Participants who utilize this module will learn the "habits of mind" --assessing performance, analyzing problems they encounter in the classroom, prescribing an intervention, monitoring performance, learning from experience (Sagor, 2000) --to continue the work of professional educators. Additionally, the use of action research as professional development assures teacher leaders and school administrations that their teachers will use new knowledge for the pursuit of effective strategies for student learning.

Visit professional learning module.

Eliminating Silos In Regionally Distributed Organizations To Encourage Knowledge Sharing, Todd H. Talsma

Senior Projects

This study explores silos and their effects on knowledge sharing in business. When a business has functional areas working in isolation, knowledge is not shared amongst the entire organization. This study uses secondary analysis research to explore how silos are created in business and how collaborative leadership has the ability to counteract the effects these silos have on knowledge sharing. The findings show the need for leadership to work toward creating a collaborative culture in which team members are empowered. Organizations, which implement a collaborative culture require leaders who are willing to empower other team members. The scope of this …

Comparison Of Intercultural Competency Between Russian And American University Students = Сравнение Межкультурной Компетенции Студентов Российских И Американских Университетов, Elizabeth J. Sandell, Olga Victorovna Klypa, Elizabeth A. Lohrenz, Oleg Voskresensky

Elementary and Literacy Education Department Publications

Intercultural competency influences the quality of international relations as cultural and global perceptions impact individual and collective attitudes and levels of participation. Research addressing differences and causes of varying levels of intercultural competency could ultimately provide insight, understanding, and progress towards enhancing global awareness. The purpose of this study was to compare American undergraduate university students' intercultural competency to that of Russian undergraduate university students. This study was theoretically based on the Developmental Model of Intercultural Sensitivity (DMIS), developed by Bennett (1986). The DMIS described six stages of intercultural competency: (a) Denial or Unaware; (b) Polarization or Defense; (c) Minimization; …

An Examination Of The Perceptions Of Elementary School Principals, General Education Teachers, And Special Education Teachers About Supportive Inclusion Practices And Processes, Ahmed Afia Laroussi

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Abstract

This dissertation focuses on the perceptions of the school principals, general education teachers, and special education teachers about practices and processes that support the inclusion program. High stake holders in schools and parents of students with disabilities are advocating for the improvement of the quality of the inclusion as an academic service delivery model. This study is significant because the number of students with disabilities being placed in the general education classroom continues to increase, and the federal and the state mandates are holding school districts and schools accountable for all students’ academic performance, including students with disabilities. A …

Built On A Rock: A Study In The Longevity And Adaptability Of Organizational Structure Within The Catholic Church, Autumn Hubbard

SPNHA Review

The Catholic Church represents one of the longest-lasting, most expansive organizations in history. Examining five organizational theories, this paper explores how organizational elements have enabled the Church to endure and adapt over time, culture and external pressures. The Church’s system of promoting leadership internally, granting external legitimacy, and maintaining tension with society are central to their adaptability and longevity as an organization. As an example of organizational endurance and adaptability, the Catholic Church serves as a model for secular organizations interested in membership retention, change management and international expansion.