Digital Commons Network^™

Is Design Thinking Considered A Design Kpi? An Empirical Study Of Large Taiwanese Corporations, Jing-Yang Lin, Tseng-Ping Chiu, Ai Higo, Yuichi Washida

IASDR Conference Series

Design thinking has long been regarded as a key paradigm in design. However, in corporate practice, it often fails to be recognized as a concrete contribution to designers’ performance, revealing a persistent gap between academic theory and managerial implementation. This study investigates whether design thinking can serve as a performance indicator in organizational contexts, with a focus on the construction of evaluation systems, execution mechanisms, and the measurability of design outputs. Using a constructivist grounded theory approach, this study interviewed nine senior design managers from large Taiwanese corporations to collect practical perspectives. Based on 785 initial codes, the study identified …

From Complexity To Capability: Design-Led Transformation Of A Taiwanese Sme Under The Iddi Program, Chun-Ting Wu, Mu-En. Liang, Yu-Han Wu, Chao-Hsin Huang

IASDR Conference Series

This paper explores the design-led transformation of Kimu Design, a Taiwanese SME, through its participation in the Industrial Design-Driven Innovation (IDDI) initiative. Employing a single embedded case study and a mixed-methods approach—including structured surveys and semi-structured interviews—the research applies Maylor et al.'s Complexity Assessment Tool (CAT) to assess how public design programs influence innovation across structural, sociopolitical, and emergent dimensions. Findings show that targeted design support enabled Kimu to launch a new modular product line, improve internal workflows, and broaden market reach. While some limitations in budget flexibility and administrative processes were noted, these frameworks also enhanced project clarity and …

Improving Lung Cancer Screening Rates Through Low-Dose Computed Tomography, Pauline Adhoch

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Tobacco use is the leading cause of lung cancer and one of the most preventable causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide. The World Health Organization estimates that 1.25 billion people smoke, resulting in significant social, economic, and health burdens. Despite this, opportunities to screen and refer eligible patients for lung cancer screening are often missed in primary care, contrary to the recommendations of the United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF). This quality improvement (QI) project educated clinical staff about the USPSTF guidelines for lung cancer screening to increase referral rates. Lewin’s Change Model guided behavior change, and the Iowa …

Quality Improvement Project: Nursing Faculty Mental Health Literacy Assessment And Evaluation, Elesha Roberts

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Mental illness is a major healthcare concern affecting young adults enrolled in college. College students enrolled in nursing programs in particular face intense academic pressure due to the demands and rigor of the program. Students commonly report symptoms associated with depression, anxiety, and suicide. Nursing faculty often do not feel comfortable approaching students about these concerns and other related mental health issues. Many faculty members lack the knowledge and skill to identify mental health issues and provide resources to support students in need. Faculty should be mental health literate and aware of campus resources. The purpose of this quality improvement …

Quality Improvement Project, Communicating With The Dying Patient: A Simulation Experience For Nursing Students, Jason Weger

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Effective communication with patients near the end of life is a crucial yet often underdeveloped skill among nursing students. Previous research highlights a persistent gap in training for end-of-life communication in nursing schools. This quality improvement project implemented a simulation-based educational intervention to improve end-of-life communication skills among first-semester nursing students at a community college in Oklahoma. A needs assessment identified significant gaps in students' readiness for emotionally charged patient interactions. Guided by Prosci’s Change Model and Jeffries Simulation Theory, the project used a faculty-led simulation experience to teach evidence-based communication strategies, including appropriate word choice, therapeutic presence, and active …

Improving Self-Efficacy Among Clinical Instructors: The Impact Of Communication Education On Handling Lateral Violence, Emma Guidry

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

The quality improvement (QI) project aims to determine if clinical instructors perceive changes in self-efficacy in communication skills specific to lateral violence (LV) situations secondary to an educational intervention. Currently, clinical nurse instructors lack education specifically addressing communication strategies to utilize when LV occurs in the clinical setting. Banduras Social Cognitive Theory, Lewin’s Change Theory and the Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) were employed as frameworks in the development of this project. Methods used in this quasi-experimental design project include administration of the Self Efficacy to Address Disruptive Behaviors Scale (SADBS) survey to project participants, nursing clinical instructors. The evidence-based practice (EBP) intervention …

Resiliency For Nurse Educators: Incorporating Resiliency Training For Nursing Faculty, Rachael Holder

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Nursing faculty frequently experience high levels of stress, workload demands, and burnout, which can negatively affect teaching effectiveness and retention. Literature supports resilience as a protective factor that enhances well-being and professional sustainability. The purpose of this quality improvement project was to impact resilience levels among full-time undergraduate nursing faculty through a self-paced online resiliency training program. Guided by Pender’s Health Promotion Model and Lewin’s Change Theory, this pre- and post-intervention design used the 10-item Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC-10) to assess changes in resilience. Eleven faculty members completed the pre-survey, and two completed the post-survey. The post-survey mean CD-RISC-10 scores …

Quality Improvement Project: Educating Nursing Faculty On Medication Administration Labs To Improve Student Competency, Chelsea Pacheco

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Medication administration errors are a leading cause of preventable harm in healthcare. Faculty play a critical role in ensuring nursing students develop the knowledge and confidence to give medications safely. A needs assessment at the project site revealed that only course coordinators were teaching medication administration and dosage calculation, leaving other faculty uncertain about how to teach these skills. This quality improvement project aimed to strengthen faculty confidence and create consistency in first-year instruction through a recorded educational video. Constructivist Learning Theory provided the foundation for active, experience-based learning. Lewin’s Change Theory guided the structured implementation process to support adoption …

Organizational Diagnosis Toolkit, Ann Marie Lindley, Catherine Nolan, Connie L. Halvorsen, Franki C. Hand, Isys S. Mccormack, Jennifer A. Hance, Jess Beutler, Kelsey Spaulding Caras, Sara German Jimenez, Stephanie Graves

Capstone Projects

The complexity of organizations requires organizational diagnosis to be an iterative process tailored to the context, needs, and uniqueness of each organization. This toolkit is designed to walk a consultant or leader through a structured diagnostic approach and the various resources that can be leveraged along the way. It is organized into four sections: foundational diagnostic frameworks and models, practical consulting, case-study application, and reflection and learning. It was created by students in the Western Michigan University Organizational Change Leadership masters and doctoral programs as part of the course OCL 6460, "Organizational Diagnosis and Consulting," under the supervision of Professor …

An Autoethnography: How Professional Organizations Serve As Professional Development For Secondary Journalism Teachers, Mark R. Hilburn

Educational Leadership Theses, Dissertations, and Student Creative Activity

The purpose of this autoethnography is to provide analysis and explain the importance of professional development experiences for secondary teachers, especially for those that are singletons in a school, district, or community.

Autoethnography is a qualitive research method in which the researcher is also the subject of the study. In autoethnography, the researcher uses autobiographical stories to analyze and interpret their lived experiences with the purpose of extending sociological understanding. It reflects the interconnectivity of self, others, and culture (Hamdan, 2012).

Effective professional development is typically long-term, collegial, supported by leadership, and context-specific (Richardson, 2003; Sparks, 2002), and essential for …

A Mixed-Methods Design-Based Research: Study Of Teacher Self-Efficacy And The Implementation Of Social Emotional Learning In The High School Classroom, Avia Brown

Dissertations

The escalating mental health crisis among adolescents, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, positioned schools as critical intervention sites for supporting student well-being (K. McNamara, 2020). However, teacher capacity and self-efficacy in implementing social-emotional learning (SEL) competencies remain significant barriers to effective, sustainable practice. This mixed-methods design-based research study examined the efficacy of professional development and instructional coaching in enhancing teacher self-efficacy and supporting the implementation of SEL competencies in high school classrooms.

The researcher employed a comprehensive, five-stage design thinking framework (empathize, define, ideate, prototype, test) to develop and evaluate a structured eight-week professional development and coaching intervention targeting SEL …

Effective Change Management Strategies For Minimizing Financial Impact And Operational Disruption, Nhung K. Tran

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Ineffective organizational change strategies represent a persistent challenge for organizations undergoing transitions. Business leaders who must maintain operational stability and safeguard financial performance during periods of change need effective strategies to support successful implementation. Grounded in an 8-step change model, organizational information processing, and stakeholder theories, the purpose of this qualitative pragmatic inquiry research project was to identify effective change management strategies used by business leaders to minimize financial loss and operational disruptions during transitions. The participants were eleven leaders from nonprofit, higher education, corporate, faith-based, agriculture, and military sectors who had effective change management strategies. Data were collected through …

What Will It Take To Keep You? A Phenomenological Investigation Of Teacher Career Decisions In Title I Elementary Schools., Tonya Nicole Holt

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative phenomenological study explored the factors influencing teachers’ decisions to remain in or leave Title I elementary schools in Kentucky. Grounded in Herzberg’s Motivation–Hygiene Theory, the study examined the interplay of intrinsic motivators and extrinsic conditions that shape teacher satisfaction, commitment, and attrition. Twelve current Title I teachers participated in semi-structured interviews designed to capture their lived experiences and perceptions of work in high poverty contexts. Analysis revealed a balance of pull factors—such as purpose, relationships, and supportive leadership—and push factors—including workload, resource limitations, and inadequate administrative support. Leadership quality emerged as the central variable mediating these forces. Teachers …

Building Bridges: An Appreciative Inquiry Approach To The Development Of Professional Learning To Enhance Teacher–Student Relationships For Students With Emotional Behavioral Disorders., Renee Renz

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Positive teacher-student relationships are essential to student success yet are often difficult to create and maintain with students identified with Emotional Behavioral Disorders (EBD). Students with EBD frequently struggle with emotional regulation and disruptive behaviors, making relationships and trust both essential and challenging. This study addressed the need for professional learning that equipped educators with strategies to build and maintain positive relationships with students with EBD in secondary school settings. Guided by a participatory action research design, this study used Appreciative Inquiry as a framework for engaging expert secondary teachers from Kentucky in co-constructing professional learning. Appreciative Inquiry focused on …

Initiative Fatigue, Courtney Wildoner

All-Inclusive List of Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This quantitative study examined the prevalence of initiative fatigue in K–12 education and its relationship to emotional, mental, and physical work fatigue. The sample included 169 participants who identified as public school educators, school-based leaders, or district office staff. Participants completed the Three-Dimensional Work Fatigue Inventory (Frone & Tidwell, 2015) and the School-Wide Initiative Inventory (O’Quinn, 2018). Findings showed that initiative fatigue is most strongly rooted in concerns about the implementation process rather than the initiatives themselves. The “how” of implementation emerged as a significantly greater challenge than the “what,” functioning as a job demand that depletes emotional, mental, and …

Title I School Principals And Academic Coaches’ Perceptions Of School Strategic Planning, Implementation, And Monitoring On Plan Outcomes: A Case Study, Elizabeth A. Mize

Dissertations

This qualitative case study involved a sample of Title I elementary schools, their principal, academic coach, and district Title I supervisor, who are involved in the school strategic planning process. The study aimed to explore the strategies and processes Title I schools use to develop, implement, and monitor their school strategic plans to grow student achievement. Data collection methods included a demographic questionnaire, a document analysis of each school’s strategic plan and mid-year monitoring plan, and one-on-one semi-structured interviews. The findings highlighted the importance of well-developed plans that incorporate implementation processes and strong monitoring used to adjust, if needed, the …

Navigating The Intersection: Black Women’S Leadership Journey In Educational Technology, Monika Davis

Dissertations

Despite the significant underrepresentation of Black women in district-level leadership for public school districts, diversity in educational technology leadership has been recognized as essential for student success. This phenomenographic study investigated the experiences and perceptions of Black women in district-level educational technology leadership roles within public school districts across the United States. The study addressed two research questions about how these leaders perceive and interpret the intersectional challenges of race, gender, and technology, as well as the variations in their experiences. Using two questionnaires and in-depth semi-structured interviews with seven Black female educational technology leaders, the study explored their lived …

Institutional Isomorphism, Top Management Commitment, And Environmental Disclosure In Tanzania’S Construction Sector, Aulelius Lema, Siasa Issa Mzenzi

Business Management Review

This study examined the influence of institutional isomorphism on environmental disclosure (ED) in Tanzania’s construction sector and the mediating role of top management commitment (TMC). A cross-sectional design was employed, with data collected from 314 construction firms. Environmental disclosure was measured using content analysis of financial reports, and Structural Equation Modelling using the Maximum Likelihood Estimation (MLE) method was used to estimate the structural model. The findings reveal that coercive, normative, and mimetic pressures significantly impact ED. The result also indicates that TMC significantly affects ED and mediates mimetic pressure’s effect, but does not mediate coercive or normative pressures. Similarly, …

Making The Invisible Visible: Cultivating Contexts For Equitable Workloads, Andrea Carlile

Journal of the Association for Communication Administration

Women make up the majority of degree earners and most of those teaching at higher education institutions. Yet, women are not advancing to the highest ranks. How female faculty receive credit for their work may account for the discrepancy in women advancing to the highest ranks. This single-institution case study explored institutional practices and policies as they related to workload satisfaction and rewards for female faculty. Following the framework from the Faculty Workload and Rewards Project, FWRP, the case used the constructs of equity-minded faculty workloads to shape the analysis. Three themes emerged in the analysis: context matters, transparency practices, …

Educational Methods For Fostering Sustainability Competencies: A Toolkit For Integration Of Sustainable Education In Engineering, Clara Hallgarth

Master's Theses

This thesis proposes a framework to assist in developing educational activities targeting the longitudinal growth of sustainability skills, knowledge, and attitudes (cumulatively known as competencies), contextualized in a Toolkit for engineering educators. This framework is applied to three civil engineering classes in a teaching-oriented university to demonstrate potential applications and limitations. Sustainability integration in higher education institutions has been recognized as increasingly important as complex sustainability challenges continue to develop and arise. Sustainable education, a pedagogical framework and collection of educational methods, has been shown to produce students with the key sustainability competencies needed to address sustainability challenges and promote …

The Importance Of Leader-Member Exchange And Psychological Contracts In Highly Qualified Researchers, Robin L. Ingerick Dba

Theses & Dissertations

This study examined the significance of the relationship between leader-member exchange (LMX) and psychological contracts in United States-based research organizations. When the organization-manager-employee relationship deteriorates, psychological contract breaches can occur, negatively affecting employee outcomes and the organization's financial success and stability. Existing knowledge highlights several factors that influence relationships, including reciprocated treatment, work behaviors and reactions, trust, professional respect, affect, mutual interaction, work autonomy, communication, job satisfaction, and fulfillment. The study sought to determine to what extent is there a predictive relationship between LMX and psychological contracts (employee obligations, employer obligations, fulfillment, and contract transitions) of highly qualified United States-based …

Shared Decision Making In Women's Health: A Quality Improvement Project, Brittney Butler

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Shared decision-making (SDM) is the best practice in contraceptive counseling, yet it remains underutilized in primary care, particularly within underserved communities. Limited SDM use reduces patient autonomy, weakens satisfaction, and contributes to inconsistent documentation. This quality improvement (QI) project aimed to evaluate whether an educational intervention on SDM for contraceptive counseling improved provider self-efficacy and the electronic medical record (EMR) documentation of SDM practices. Guided by Bandura’s Social Cognitive Theory and Lewin’s Change Management Model, the project sought to enhance provider confidence and foster sustainable behavioral change. A quasi-experimental, one-group pretest–posttest design was implemented at a rural Federally Qualified Health …

Self-Effficacy And Emotional Intelligence In Young Females; Filling The Leadership Pipeline Through Youth Development Programs, Annette Cherie Vargason

Doctor of Business Administration (DBA)

The persistent underrepresentation of women in leadership positions remains a significant global concern, stemming from systemic barriers and lower self-efficacy reported by women in leadership contexts. Current trends suggest it could take another 50 years to achieve gender parity in leadership roles. This disparity highlights a need for effective early interventions to nurture leadership skills and confidence in young women. This study examined the relationship between self-efficacy (SE), emotional intelligence (EI), and leadership aspirations among young women participating in the Courageous Girls program, relying on maternal proxy reports using General Self-Efficacy Scale (GSE) and the Brief Emotional Intelligence Scale (BEIS-10). …

Relationships Among Institutional Betrayal, Adverse Healthcare Experiences, And College Student Health, Saba Mustafa

Honors Theses

Institutional betrayal is defined as the trauma experienced by an individual who feels that their trust in the ability of an institution to keep the individual safe is broken. Healthcare-related institutional betrayal has primarily been explored among working adults, individuals with chronic conditions, and individuals from racially diverse backgrounds. However, healthcare-related institutional betrayal has seldom been explored in college student samples, who may have different healthcare needs compared to other patient populations. The present study explored college students’ experiences with institutional betrayal due to negative healthcare experiences. Survey data were gathered from 157 college students. Measures included healthcare provider trust, …

Factors Influencing Employees’ Ai Adoption Intentions In Occupational Settings, Emma G. Wituk

All Theses

Artificial intelligence (AI) is a burgeoning technology whose development has many implications for organizations and employees. Using a modified version of the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) framework, this study tested performance expectancy (PE; the belief that AI will enhance personal job performance) and prior AI experience (EXP) as predictors of behavioral intention (BI) to use an AI coaching tool, Nadia. We expected both PE and EXP to be positively related to adoption intentions. Additionally, social influence (SI; respondent’s belief that other individuals think they should adopt AI) and facilitating conditions (FC; appropriate infrastructure and adequate …

Perceptions Of Leader Emotional Intelligence During Change: A Qualitative Study Of Middle Managers In Higher Education, Kirk Bennett

Doctor of Business Administration (DBA)

In a world where change is constant, organizations often struggle to adapt. Whether implementing change proactively or responding to external realities, organizational change leaders must navigate the landscape of change with awareness of the potential for follower resistance to derail their efforts. Change and emotion are not easily separated, and change leaders who ignore the emotional realities of change do so at the risk of failure. Leaders who demonstrate emotional intelligence are better equipped to understand and manage the emotions of change in themselves and others. How followers perceive the emotional intelligence of their leaders is crucial to their own …

Navigating Upstream: How Medical Educators Strategize The Unfamiliar During Their Transition Into A Leadership Role, Sarah Williams

LSU New Orleans Theses and Dissertations

As the medical field grows more complex, the need for medical educator leaders has increased, driving the integration of leadership training into medical education to help manage an increase in administrative challenges. In U.S. medical schools, the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME) standards require faculty to fill high-ranking leadership roles who must balance academic and administrative duties. Medical educators in these leadership roles must manage the tensions between teaching, research, patient care, and administrative responsibilities. Although leadership programs designed for medical educators exist, as well as faculty development opportunities, educators consistently express a lack of training as they transitioned …

Beyond The Surface: Exploring The Experiences Of Black Female Athletes At Power 4 Institutions, Michonné Leatrice Gamble-Rivers

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Black female athletes, have a long history of fighting for visibility and inclusion. They are celebrated and hyper-visible as performers on the court yet deemed invisible in the institutional decision making that shapes their holistic development and success. This Dissertation in Practice (DiP) challenges this structural problem looking to amplify voices that have been historically silenced by systems that reduce these individuals to mere athletic capital.

Beginning with Manuscript I, this three-manuscript dissertation is built on a conceptual framework anchored in Womanist Theory, Intersectionality, and Athletic Identity, providing the necessary critical lens to investigate challenges like double jeopardy and limiting …

From Vision To Practice: Implementing An Instructional Model Through Teacher Experience And Leadership Support, Stefanie Novotny

Dissertations and Doctoral Documents, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2023–

Implementing change in any organization is challenging. It requires careful planning, effective communication, and strong leadership. Principals provide support and empower stakeholders to take ownership of the change process. They create opportunities for others to contribute ideas, take on leadership roles, and drive innovation, fostering a culture of shared responsibility and collective action. Change leaders inspire creativity and encourage teachers to think outside the box, leading to the development of new ideas and processes that drive growth and success. This mixed-methods action research study investigated how teachers can enhance educational practices by implementing an instructional model to improve teaching strategies …

Air Force Institute Of Technology Research Report 2023, Air Force Institute Of Technology

AFIT Documents

This report summarizes the research activities of the Air Force Institute of Technology's Graduate School of Engineering and the Graduate School of Logistics and Acquisition Management. It describes research interests and faculty expertise; list student theses/dissertations; identifies research sponsors and contributions; and outlines the procedure for contacting either school.