Digital Commons Network^™

Arts Leadership In The Bay Area, Antonio C. Cuyler

International Journal of Regional Issues in the Arts

This study of arts leadership in the San Francisco Bay Area addressed the following research questions: (1) What are the most predominant leadership frameworks and narratives in the local arts ecosystem? (2) What resources and opportunities are currently shaping leadership in the field? (3) To what extent do they align with the Performing Arts Program’s values of equity, justice, and self-determination? (4) How are responses to the COVID-19 pandemic, calls across the creative sector for racial justice, global warming, and ethics informing and transforming arts leadership in the Bay Area? Lastly, (5) what are some compelling visions for how the …

Reducing Emergency Room To Inpatient Disposition Time, Kyle Disney, Beyli Disney

DNP and Student Works

Prolonged boarding times in the emergency department negatively impact patient outcomes, leading to increased mortality, infection rates, and decreased patient satisfaction. Effective and timely communication during handoffs between healthcare professionals is crucial to minimize these delays and improve overall patient care, with the use of standardized handoff tools significantly reducing adverse events and length of hospital stay. This Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) project investigated the impact of implementing a handoff tool on decreasing emergency room to medical surgical unit disposition time. Kurt Lewin's three-step model of change, popular among healthcare organizations, was used as the theoretical framework for this …

Human Resources Strategies To Improve Performance In Healthcare Organizations, Rashida Ratliff

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Performance management in healthcare organizations remains an ongoing challenge for leaders. Healthcare leaders are focused on increasing performance because it is the leading indicator of improving overall patient quality of care. Grounded in Kurt Lewin’s change management theory, the purpose of this pragmatic inquiry was to explore human resource strategies healthcare leaders use to enhance organizational processes and systems to improve performance. The participants were seven leaders in healthcare organizations who incorporated human resource strategies in managing performance. Data were collected using semistructured interviews, reviews of public data of business websites, and human resource strategies for managing performance. Through thematic …

Utilizing Effective Performance Management Strategies To Advance Towards Organizational Success, Raina Nicole Johnson-Smith

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Poor employee performance has a direct impact on business outcomes. Performance management leaders are concerned with identifying and implementing efficient strategies, as organizational performance is a primary predictor of the organization’s success and sustainability. Grounded in the transformational leadership theory, the purpose of this qualitative, pragmatic inquiry study was to explore effective performance management strategies to identify and remediate performance issues. The participants were seven dynamic performance management leaders in the northeastern United States who utilized effective strategies to identify and remediate performance issues. Data were collected using semistructured interviews, performance management websites, and public records. Through thematic analysis, four …

Feeding The Cats: The Corruption Conundrum In The Failed Arab Spring-Egypt, Mohamed 'Arafa

Southern Illinois University Law Journal

The Egyptian civil society, across generational, religious, gender, and economic lines and without a charismatic leader, has organized itself at the grassroots level, evidencing the people's power in the face of a strong regime. Public order, security, and stability have deteriorated during the past two decades, with increased crime rates and other forms of abuses of power by individuals (e.g., thugs and small criminal bands), which the police have left somewhat unchecked. The people hold the military in high esteem because, in the last forty years, it has never acted against the general public. To prevent manipulation during the investigations …

Faculty Senate Executive Committee Minutes August 26, 2024, Utah State University

Faculty Senate & Faculty Senate Executive Committee

• Call to Order
• Approval of Minutes
• University Business
• Faculty Senate Business
• Information
• EPC Report
• HB 261 Compliance Efforts
• Reports
• Center for Instructional Design and Innovation
• Empowering Teaching Excellence Annual Report
• Old Business
• New Business
• Adjourn: 4:15 pm

Effective Strategies For Improving The Performance Of Underperforming Remote Federal Contract Specialists, Shaneika Imani Berryman

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

At the onset of COVID-19, federal agency leaders had to increase workforce remote work capabilities to address the underperformance of teleworking employees. Considering the employees' need for continued remote work while balancing this with the continued federal government functionality, improving employee performance regardless of work location is essential. Grounded in the job demands-resources theory, the purpose of this qualitative pragmatic inquiry was to explore the strategies that remote managers use to improve the performance of underperforming remote federal contract specialists. The participants were seven remote supervisors who manage remote working contract specialists at federal agencies. Data were collected using semistructured …

A Daca Initiative: Transformative Organizational Change At The School Of Medicine, Cynthia Chaidez

Dissertations

The purpose of this revelatory case study is to explore how the DACA Initiative (DI) transformed the School of Medicine (SOM) beyond just changing student demographics. In this research, I specifically explored if, through the DI, SOM organizationally changed enough to be considered transformative change in its efforts to enhance the acceptance and support of DACA medical students. In addition, I looked at the evolution of the financial operations at SOM to support DACA medical students. The research questions that guided this study were: As a result of the DI, did the organizational changes implemented by SOM to accept and …

Civic Engagement Through Asian American And Pacific Islander Studies: Cultivating Capacity For Social Justice Through Critical Service Learning, Jennifer A. Yee

Journal of Community Engagement and Higher Education

This autoethnographic case study analyzes how “ASAM 230 – Civic Engagement Through Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Studies,” an ethnic studies course created at a public, comprehensive university in partnership with a community-based organization, cultivates capacity for social justice through critical service learning. ASAM 230 purposefully manifests social justice principles, conscious equitable distribution of individual and structural power, and a focus on authentic, sustainable relationships, with conceptual, practical implications for social change agents and educators.

Institutionalizing Community Engagement: A Quantitative Approach To Identifying Patterns Of Engagement Based On Institutional Characteristics, Natasha Hutson, Travis York, Daesang Kim, Jamie L. Workman

Journal of Community Engagement and Higher Education

Community engagement is recognized as a high-impact practice in higher education. However, while best practices in engagement have been broadly accepted, standard metrics for engagement across institutions have not yet been established. The purpose of this research study was to explore the relationship between community engagement and a variety of institutional characteristics among higher education institutions in a Southeastern state. Findings indicated that a pattern of engagement existed among the 48 participating institutions.

Enhancing Learning, Changing The World: How Service-Learning Influences The Brain, Tracey Honeycutt Sigler, Kristi Lewis Tyran

Journal of Community Engagement and Higher Education

Service-learning helps students learn about course concepts through applying them in a setting outside the classroom. The experiences provided by service-learning create conditions that can lead to changes in the learner’s brain. In this paper, we provide support for this assertion from research in brain-based learning with suggestions of how to explicitly apply concepts from these areas of study to service-learning pedagogy so that we might increase learning.

Homelessness In The United States: Factors, Trends, Forensic Considerations, And Housing First As A Response To Traditional Housing Interventions, Amanda Lenertz

Master of Arts in Human Services

The topics of housing instability and homelessness are significant public health concerns within the United States. This review aimed to explore the problem of homelessness through the lens of forensic mental health, assessing current housing interventions and outcomes for affected populations. A literature review of over 45 journal articles was conducted; this review sought to identify relevant themes, affected populations, debates in research, and proposed interventions. Topics reviewed included the history and current state of housing interventions, contributing factors, individual and societal costs and consequences, relationships between homelessness, substance use, mental health, and incarceration, housing first initiatives, considerations for special …

A Comparative Analysis Of Teacher Innovative Practices And Principal Leadership Strategies In Microsoft Showcase Schools Implementing The Microsoft School Transformation Framework For Up To Two Years And More Than Two Years, Ibrahim Soykan

Theses and Dissertations

As global challenges such as climate change, shifting job markets, and technological advances intensify, educational systems must adapt to equip students with essential 21st-century skills. While countries like Singapore, Ireland, Australia, and Finland have created flexible education systems to meet these demands, the United States faces a fragmented and decentralized system that struggles to keep up with global changes (Wehling, 2007). This study investigates how the Microsoft School Transformation Framework (MSTF) is addressing these issues within Microsoft Showcase Schools (MSS). The purpose of this research was to evaluate how principals and teachers perceive the implementation of the MSTF and to …

Perspectives Of Female Directors On The Effectiveness Of Corporate Board Diversity Interventions, Jody Michelle Pugh

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

While women account for most of the workforce, they remain underrepresented as executives on corporate boards of directors. A review of the literature revealed there is limited research about the experiences of women currently serving on corporate boards while states and regulators pursue the application of structural interventions through gender equity initiatives. The purpose of this general qualitative study was to explore how female board members perceived the effect of gender quota mandates on corporate board membership. The theoretical framework for this study was Zucker’s institutional theory of organizations which is used to examine the influence of external pressures applied …

Book Review: Standing Up Space Force: The Road To The Nation’S Sixth Armed Service, Robert D. Bradford Iii

Parameters Bookshelf – Online Book Reviews

Author: Forrest L. Marion

Reviewed by Robert D. Bradford III, associate professor of defense and Joint processes, Department of Command, Leadership, and Management, US Army War College

Robert D. Bradford III reviews this “first history” of the United States Space Force. He overviews the author Forrest L. Marion’s resources (“primary sources and extensive oral history interviews”) and highlights the book’s value in the way it “depicts cultural and bureaucratic barriers to…organizational change.” Bradford notes the history’s universal applicability as it relates to other situations in which an institution successfully approaches change.

A Comparison Between Unit-Based Education And Centralized Education Among Staff Nurses, Marilyn J. Campbell

Dissertations

Educating staff nurses is pivotal in the evolving healthcare environment. Two staff development models used in the healthcare setting are unit-based and centralized. Unit-based education is a staff development model that places educators on individual units. These educators direct the educational development of staff nurses on their assigned units. Centralized education meets generalized learning needs and provides nursing departments with scheduled education sessions or impromptu meetings regarding changes to policies and procedures. In addition, centralized educators are assigned to address the learning needs of the nurses on several units with universal orientation (Cummings & McCaskey, 1992), coordinate and implement intravenous …

The Role Of Middle Management In Influencing Corporate Culture Change Success, Robert Aaron Parsons

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Failure of organizations’ strategic change initiatives typically leads to continued mitigated financial performance. Grounded in transformational leadership theory, the purpose of this qualitative multiple case study was to identify and explore strategies and processes middle managers use to support and implement organizational culture change initiatives to increase organizational financial performance. The participants were four middle managers from two transportation companies in Ohio that experienced thriving organizational culture changes to increase organizational financial performance. Data were collected using semistructured interviews and reviewing public financial statements. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis, and three principal themes emerged: participating in organizational culture change …

Enhancing Digital Transformation Success In Education Through Effective Stakeholder Engagement Strategies, Michael Ochieng

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Stakeholder engagement strategies have the potential for adverse education business outcomes. Education business leaders are concerned about the impact of ineffective stakeholder engagement strategies on digital transformation initiatives. Grounded in stakeholder theory, the purpose of this qualitative pragmatic inquiry was to identify and explore effective stakeholder engagement strategies that business leaders use to enhance the success of digital transformation in education. The participants were six digital transformation leaders in the western United States. Data were collected using semi-structured interviews and a review of public organizational documents and online archives. Through thematic analysis, three key themes were identified: (a) stakeholder engagement …

Managerial Strategies To Create A Diverse Workforce For Enhanced Employee Performance, Karmashia Mcduffie

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Organizations with ineffective diversity management strategies risk increased conflict and decreased organizational performance. Senior managers are concerned with workforce diversity, which is critical for enhancing employee performance in the health and human services industry. Grounded in Lewin’s force field theory, the purpose of this qualitative multiple case study was to explore strategies that senior managers in the health and human services industry have successfully used to create a diverse workforce and increase employee performance. Participants were three senior managers from North Carolina health and human services agencies who successfully developed strategies to diversify workforces to increase employee performance. Data were …

Sustainability Of A State, District, And School Professional Learning Community, Gertrude Jones Black

Theses and Dissertations

In this study, I explored professional learning community sustainability at the school, district, and state levels. Researchers have found that professional learning communities are a means of effective professional learning for teachers and a vital factor in increased student achievement. However, there is very little multi-case research involving the sustainability of professional learning communities. This multi-site case study extends the research on this topic. I used qualitative methods to clarify my understanding of the phenomenon of sustainability of PLC communities. I investigated how the PLC members’ stances and actions, perceptions of school culture, and commitment to lifelong learning impacted a …

How Can Dei Training Change The Culture Of An Organization To Achieve Belonging And Retain Diverse Employees?, Kaisa S. Holt

University Honors Theses

Studies show the need for innovation and higher productivity yields can be best achieved through workforce heterogeneity. Creating effective DEI training frameworks is crucial for belonging, sustainable social well-being and enacting real change. This is key to proactively shifting our current system from one that responds to the need for DEI on a surface level to something that is regenerative. The aim of this review is to evaluate characteristics and enhancements added to evidence-based DEI training between 2020 and 2024. Studies were identified using the Portland State advanced database of academic journals on the DEI training and impacts of the …

Prioritizing And Aligning University Efforts For Access, Opportunity And Community Engagement, Glenn Boyce

University of Mississippi News

I appreciate the members of our campus community who provided invaluable feedback and guidance. From this review, the university will undergo an organizational change, including closing the Division of Diversity and Community Engagement and creating the Division of Access, Opportunity, and Community Engagement, pending IHL approval.

“I’M Speaking”: Black Women Leading School Public Relations, Managing Communications And Personal Challenges, Keisa Gunby

Theses and Dissertations

Operationalizing feminist communication theory with a critical lens, this research analyzes virtual, semi-structured interviews with 13 Black women who are integral to impacting organizational culture through the brand management and narratives to the stakeholder groups of employees, parents and community members for a public school district. This study aims to describe the oppression and invisibility of Black women in school public relations and amplify their voices as they lead the communication, marketing, and promotional efforts in public school districts across the United States. The interview transcripts were analyzed utilizing NVivo software through the first round of coding initial and the …

Impacts Of Teacher-Led Staff Meetings On School Climate, Culture, And Teacher Voice, Alison Ely

Theses and Dissertations

A staff development team composed of four teacher leaders was chosen at a public high school to plan and facilitate two staff meetings. The purpose of this study is to determine how the use of a staff development team influences teacher voice within the school, the overall direction of staff meetings, and the culture and climate of the school. 21 teacher participants completed surveys that measured their perceptions of school climate, school culture, and teacher voice. Additionally, these teacher participants also completed post staff meeting surveys that measured their perceptions of the productivity/ effectiveness of four staff meetings. As a …

Successful Strategies Of Small Business Owners Of Coffee Shops, Tom Gates

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Many small business owners of U.S. coffee shops lack effective strategies to sustain their business beyond the first 5 years. Small business owners are concerned that the use of ineffective strategies can negatively impact the coffee shop’s profitability and competitiveness. The purpose of the qualitative multiple case study was to explore what type of skills, business acumen, and strategies small business owners of coffee shops use to be successful within the first 5 years of operation. The conceptual framework that grounded this study was von Bertalanffy’s general systems theory. The participants were five small business coffee shop owners in the …

The Heart Of School Leadership: Supporting The Health & Well-Being Of Teachers In The Face Of Occupational Pressures, Lindsay Avramovic

The Dissertation in Practice at Western University

This Dissertation-in-Practice (DiP) investigates the Problem of Practice (PoP) regarding the growing concern for teacher health and well-being within Prairie Land Catholic School (PLCS), a K-9 school in southern Alberta. Teachers at PLCS are facing increased demands, including implementing new curricula, addressing growing student complexities, and managing additional administrative duties, leading to feelings of fatigue, stress, and burnout. The persistent workload demands, compounded by limited resources and support, exacerbate feelings of emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and reduced self-efficacy. By imploring the Heart of Leadership, encompassing servant leadership, compassionate leadership, and transformative leadership principles, the intent is to analyze the interplay between …

Social Ecological Factors Influencing Participation In Workplace Health Promotion Programming Among University Employees, Emily Frank

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Workplace health promotion programming (WHPP) promotes healthy behaviors in employees, reduces negative health risks, reduces overall healthcare costs, and improves workplace outcomes. Despite known benefits of workplace health promotion, research demonstrates low employee participation rates across various settings. There is limited research examining multilevel factors that influence employee participation in WHPP and how the Coronavirus 19 (COVID-19) pandemic impacted workplace wellness offerings and employee participation. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore factors that influenced participation in WHPP among university employees through a social ecological lens. Thirteen university employees participated in semi-structured interviews through Zoom. Interview questions explored …

International Student-Athletes' Agency, Authorship, And Voice At U.S. Higher Education Institutions, Malia Nicole Schimminger

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this qualitative, case study research project is to explore international student-athletes’ experiences at U.S. higher education institutions, probing how well nonimmigrant visa holders are prepared for postgraduate success through their college experiences. Six collaborators engaged in photo elicitation interviews to provide insight into how they have navigated their international student identity and student-athlete identity. Collaborators each shared 10-15 media files representative of their experiences, and then they engaged in 90-minute interviews to talk about what their selections meant to them and why they were significant. The frameworks of agency, self-authorship, and voice were used to gauge how …

An Evidence-Based Bundle To Decrease Pressure Injuries (Pis) In Homecare, Esther Owookade

Student Scholarly Projects

Practice Problem: Pressure injuries are a significant problem in healthcare settings. The older adult patients in this home health agency have experienced an increased in incidences of pressure injuries which necessitates intervention.

PICOT: The PICOT question that guided this project was" In older adults 65years and above with pressure injuries in the home healthcare setting(P), does a pressure injury care bundle(I), compared to the current practices of standard care of repositioning alone( C),reduce the incidence of pressure injuries( O ) in 10 weeks (T)?"

Evidence: The evidence used to guide this evidence-based change project was from relevant health …

Prospectus For Expected Discharge Date Accuracy (Edd) – Prepare To Go, Mary Jane D. Esmilla Msn, Bsn, Rn

Master's Projects and Capstones

Problem: Accurate Expected Discharge Date (EDD) estimates are not just numbers on a chart. They are crucial for optimizing operations, reducing readmission risk, creating safe, timely discharge plans, identifying obstacles, providing transitional care, and enhancing patient satisfaction (Piniella et al., 2023). A hospital-based organization conducted a quality improvement project to improve EDD predictions and discharges, significantly improving patient satisfaction and outcomes. The project had shown that a 12% increase in accuracy, achieving 60% from the baseline of 48%, can be achieved through strong collaboration, transparent communication, and commitment to real-time documentation.

Context: A team analysis improved EDD accuracy, patient satisfaction, …