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Optimizing Efficiency In Joint Injections In An Outpatient Orthopedic Oncology Clinic Using Lean Six Sigma, William Alexander Byrd

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Scholarly Projects - Archive

Prolonged in-room wait time in an outpatient orthopedic oncology clinic was identified as an important driver of dissatisfaction and operational inefficiency. Baseline in-room times in this setting were reported as M=96.2 minutes for patients receiving injections and M=92.9 minutes for those not receiving injections. This quality improvement project used Lean Six Sigma (LSS) DMAIC (Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve, Control) framework to streamline clinic workflow for the joint injection process. Over an eight-week period, four key interventions were introduced: a standardized order set for medications, pre-bundled supplies and portable supply toolbox, telephone pre-consenting of patients, and optimized scheduling of …

5.4.1. Cultivating Cross-Generational Leadership, Shela Ammani Sullivan

Doctor of Leadership

Need Problem Opportunity (NPO) Statement

In the current corporate landscape, there is a lack of effective leadership models for the developing Millennial and Gen Z leaders.

Key Benefits from Research

Research and prototype testing yielded several key discoveries. While digital formats such as vlogs and ePlaybooks offer accessibility and relatability, the strongest outcomes emerged from in-person engagement. Stakeholders’ feedback emphasized the importance of relational depth, experiential learning, real-time feedback, and recommended digital supplements to enhance accessibility and reduce costs. These findings confirm that leadership development initiatives must integrate adaptability with relational practice to achieve sustainable and meaningful impact. The project …

Elevating Teacher Agency In School Decision-Making Through Trust-Building: Applying Appreciative Inquiry Within A Mixed Methods Action Research Framework, Alison S. Bellamy

University of Kentucky Doctoral Dissertations

This mixed methods action research (MMAR) study examined how Appreciative Inquiry–based professional learning influenced relational trust, teacher voice, and teacher agency in elementary school decision-making within New Hanover County Schools. Grounded in Teacher Agency Theory, Distributed Leadership Theory, and Appreciative Inquiry, the study addressed the gap between teachers’ perceptions of trust and their opportunities to influence school-level decisions. The study was conducted across three mid-quintile elementary schools using a concurrent QUAN–QUAL design. Quantitative data was collected through pre- and post-intervention relational trust surveys. Qualitative data included focus groups, participant reflections, field notes, and collaborative dialogue from two professional learning sessions …

An Optimization-Driven Approach For Accurate Prediction Of Diabetes Mellitus, H El Bouhissi, Sb Xu, John H Wang

Department of Information Management and Business Analytics Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works

Diabetes mellitus is a progressive metabolic disorder requiring timely identification to prevent severe complications and reduce healthcare burdens. This paper proposes an optimization-driven deep learning framework for accurate diabetes prediction, integrating Long Short-Term Memory selection and hyperparameter tuning. The framework is conceptualized as a decision-support system embedded within electronic health records and clinical workflows, supporting physicians, nurses, case workflow integration, governance, and privacy-are addressed to ensure alignment with real-world organizational contexts. The results demonstrate both technical feasibility and practical relevance, linking predictive analytics capability with human-AI collaboration, adoption factors, and operational decision-making in healthcare organizations.

A Pull Toward Independence: Improving Pessary Removal Ease And Patient Independence Using Dental Floss, Stephanie Haly

West Chester University Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Final Projects

Pelvic Organ Prolapse and Stress Urinary Incontinence are the most common medical conditions for prescribing a vaginal pessary. Treating these conditions is vital to improve patient outcomes and quality of life. Treatment options vary from surgical options to less invasive alternatives. Due to various reasons, a patient might opt to avoid surgical management which leaves a vaginal pessary as the next best treatment option. Barriers to pessary self-management are seen frequently and can reduce patient independence and compliance. This quality improvement project sought to answer the following research question: In women using vaginal pessaries for pelvic organ prolapse or stress …

Rooted In Relationships: How Personal And Workplace Social Capital Help Sustain Principal Leadership, Megan Scelfo

West Chester University Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Final Projects

It takes five or more years to fully realize a vision for change in any organization (Fullan, 2002; Snodgrass Rangel, 2018), yet the average tenure for a public-school principal in their same school is 4.5 years (National Center for Education Statistics [NCES], 2023). This work adds to our understanding of what factors may improve principal longevity to positively impact school effectiveness. This multiple-case study (Yin, 2018) incorporated a survey and interviews to determine how components of social capital (Bourdieu,1986; Coleman, 1988; Tsounis 2022, Wang et al., 2014) may impact the retention of Pennsylvania public school principals. The survey asked about …

Preceptor Preparedness And Its Effect On Newly Hired Nurse Retention, Nena Theresa Hatchett

West Chester University Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Final Projects

Abstract

The transition from nursing student to professional practice is a high-risk period for newly graduated registered nurses (NGRNs), often associated with role strain, limited clinical confidence, and high turnover. Structured preceptor mentorship programs have been identified as critical interventions to support both preceptors and NGRNs, enhancing job satisfaction, instruction competence, and workforce retention. This Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) project employed a quality improvement design guided by Lewin’s Change Theory to evaluate the impact of a structured preceptor mentorship program in a mid-sized acute care hospital. Five preceptors and twelve NGRNs participated in an eight-week intervention that included mentor …

Preparing Students For What Comes Next: A Qualitative Study Of District Approaches To Postsecondary And Career Readiness, Amanda C. Pelsor

Dissertations of Practice

PREPARING STUDENTS FOR WHAT COMES NEXT: A QUALITATIVE STUDY OF DISTRICT APPROACHES TO POSTSECONDARY AND CAREER READINESS

This qualitative study examines how Illinois school districts support students’ readiness for postsecondary success and career planning and exploration. Despite longstanding state and federal efforts to improve college and career readiness, many students continue to face challenges after high school, including lack of workforce readiness, underpreparedness for postsecondary education, unclear career pathways, and difficulty navigating complex transitions. Using semi-structured interviews, this study explores how districts conceptualize and implement career readiness frameworks, the ways readiness work is embedded within district systems, and the barriers …

Implementing A “Naloxone Hub With Many Spokes” Model In Kentucky: Partner Agency Perspectives On Implementation Strategies, Hannah K. Knudsen, Michael Goetz, Shaquita Andrews-Higgins, Sandra Back-Haddix, Olivia A. Davis, Patricia R. Freeman, Douglas R. Oyler, Sharon L. Walsh

Behavioral Science Faculty Publications

Background: Overdose education and naloxone distribution (OEND) is a vitally important evidence-based practice for addressing the ongoing opioid epidemic. During the HEALing Communities Study in Kentucky, OEND was dramatically scaled up in eight counties using a “hub with many spokes” model and multifaceted implementation strategies. This aim of this manuscript is to describe qualitative perspectives of partner organizations regarding the utility of the implementation strategies used to expand OEND.   Method: Twenty small-group and 24 individual qualitative interviews were conducted with staff from 44 agencies that implemented OEND through partnerships with the study team. Interviews were conducted 6–8 months after the …

Experiencing Objectification In Platform Work: Food Delivery Riders’ Accounts Of Organizational Absence And Self-Valuation, Emerald Jay D. Ilac, Ma. Tonirose D. Mactal, Clarisse Aeaea M. Kilboy

Leadership and Strategy Faculty Publications

This study aimed to explain how food delivery platform riders experience objectification in the context of platform-based work, with particular attention to how organizational practices and leadership shape experiences of marginalization, dignity, and voice. A qualitative design was employed using Descriptive Phenomenological Analysis. In-depth interviews were conducted with nine food delivery platform riders to describe the essential structures of their lived experiences of objectification. Subaltern Theory was used as an interpretive lens in making sense of the findings. Five experiential themes were identified: (1) leaders’ non-presence resulting in perceived abandonment, (2) leaders’ devaluing of food delivery riders, (3) social devaluation …

Merger Crisis Role-Play: Organizational Behavior In Action, Jyro B. Triviño

Leadership and Strategy Faculty Publications

To advance professionally, students must be prepared to navigate dynamic and contentious organizational environments by articulating their varied views, protecting their personal and professional intentions, anticipating challenges, and then fostering consensus. This paper addresses a high-stakes, multi-round immersive role-play simulation of a company merger in an undergraduate Organizational Behavior course. Grounded in the core pillars of experiential learning, adaptive leadership, and organizational sensemaking, this classroom exercise places students in a pre-set, realistic post-merger leadership team facing immediate business challenges. Compared to traditional case studies, this method requires students to demonstrate real-time organizational behavior competencies, providing a powerful platform for negotiation …

Developing Reflective Capacity Among In-Service Teachers: Using A Teacher Observation Approach To Continuous Improvement, Holly A. Neill

Doctor of Education (EdD)

This Improvement Science Dissertation in Practice examined how a structured reflective-practice toolkit influenced a teacher’s demonstrated levels of reflection and perceptions of reflective growth within a Christian school setting. The problem addressed in this study was that teachers at Hope Ridge School engaged inconsistently and often superficially in the reflective elements of the school’s evaluation and coaching system. Although teachers generally valued reflection, many lacked the shared language, clear frameworks, and structured supports needed to engage in meaningful reflective practice.

Grounded in reflective-practice theory using Improvement Science methodology, this study used an iterative professional learning design implemented through multiple Plan-Do-Study-Act …

The Culturally Intelligent Higher Education Leader: Leadership Strategies Of Exemplary California Community College Mid-Level Student Services Administrators In Creating A Culture Of Inclusiveness, Marisol Alaniz

Dissertations

Purpose: It is the purpose of this sequential explanatory mixed-method study to identify and describe the leadership strategies that exemplary mid-level student services administrators in California Community Colleges use to create an organizational culture of inclusiveness using Kennedy’s (2008) five leadership qualities.

Methodology: For this study, a sequential explanatory mixed-methods design was used. The study’s quantitative part was conducted using an online survey instrument delivered to each participant. In the survey, participants were asked whether they were willing to take part in a one-to-one follow-up interview. Once identified, qualitative research was used to conduct interviews with exemplary mid-level student services …

Analyzing Barriers And Solutions In Advancing Long-Term English Learners’ Academic Communication, Tania Y. Flores Segundo

Doctor of Education (EdD)

U.S. public schools offer language services to students whose first language is not English to help them reach their full learning potential and ensure equitable educational access for all students. Despite initial support, many students remain labeled as English learners for 7 or more years, creating systemic barriers to academic reclassification. This study used raciolinguistic perspectives to examine how English was seen as a deficit when not yet mastered. The culturally responsive school leadership framework helped to understand what is needed to strengthen learning communities and optimize the academic communication skills of long-term English learners and all English learners. To …

The Impact Of Emotional Intelligence On The Leadership Of Elementary School Principals, Berteil Yousefi

Dissertations

Purpose: The purpose of this phenomenological study was to determine how the key emotional intelligence (EI) dimensions of self-awareness, self-regulation, social awareness, and relationship management impact the leadership effectiveness of exemplary elementary school principals in terms of decision making, interpersonal relationships, and overall school climate.Methodology: Thirteen elementary school principals from Stanislaus County, Northern California, with at least 3 years of experience participated in semi-structured interviews. Data were transcribed and analyzed using Moustakas’s (1994) transcendental phenomenological approach, facilitated by NVivo 15 software. Trustworthiness was ensured through member checking, peer debriefing, and interrater reliability (80%).

Findings: Seven major themes emerged. First, self-awareness …

Ai In The Workplace: Understanding Role Ambiguity, Employee Motivation, And Learning Engagement, Sheena Leah Metzger

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

The rapid integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into organizational processes has altered how work is performed and experienced by employees, yet empirical research examining the human implications of AI-driven change remains limited. This study examined the perceived impact of AI implementation on role ambiguity, employee motivation, and training engagement, and investigated the moderating role of perceived organizational support (POS). Grounded in Job Demands–Resources (JD-R) Theory and Organizational Support Theory (OST), the research examined how employees interpreted and responded to AI-related changes in their work environment.

The results offer valuable insights into a shifting perception of how employees experience technology in …

From The Margins To Presidency: The Pathways Of African American Women Into Community College Leadership, Patricia A. Edmond

All Capstone Projects

African American women hold only 7% of community college presidencies nationally, a disparity rooted not in deficits of preparation or qualification but in structural conditions shaped by the intersection of race and gender bias. This phenomenological qualitative study explored the lived experiences of six African American women currently service as community college presidents, examining how race, gender, and mentorship influence their pathways, challenges, and success strategies. Guided by the theoretical frameworks of Black Feminist Through (Collins, 2000) and Intersectionality (Crenshaw, 1989), the study collected data through semi-structured interviews, reflective narratives, and document analysis. Five themes emerged: Pathways and Access to …

Transformational Leadership And Change Management In Equity-Centered Nonprofit Organizations, Lisa M. Merchant

All Capstone Projects

This qualitative study explores how nonprofit leaders use transformational leadership strategies to respond to rapid or unprecedented change and how these behaviors contribute to resilient change management. Grounded in transformational leadership theory and change management frameworks, including Lewin’s three-stage model and Kotter’s eight-step model, this study examines leadership practices within mission-driven organizations. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with nonprofit leaders representing organizations advancing equity in areas such as education, healthcare, economic opportunity, and social justice. Findings indicate that leadership during disruption in equity-centered nonprofit organizations is not episodic; rather, it is sustained, relational, and values-anchored. Leaders sustain organizational resilience by anchoring …

Restructuring The Institutional Logics Of Taiwan's Prison Labor: A Human Rights-Based Approach, Mao-Hong Lin

Fordham International Law Journal

In Taiwan, inmates are mandated to participate in work programs, a system long criticized for its mistreatment of prisoners. Despite numerous reform efforts, substantive change remains elusive. This Article investigates the persistence of Taiwan’s in-prison work programs through the lens of institutional logics theory and proposes a human rights-based approach to address the issue. Drawing on in-depth interviews and a focus group discussion, the study identifies four key logics sustaining these programs: security and management, bureaucracy, accounting imperatives, and competitive disadvantages. These logics stem from two opposing ideologies, market-driven and state-driven, yet collectively function to resist reform. Consequently, reform initiatives …

Career Readiness Indicators In High School Influenced By Leaders In Alabama, Kevin J. Wieseman

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

This phenomenological study investigated how educational leaders conceptualize and influence Career Readiness Indicators (CRI) in Alabama high schools. As Alabama places increasing emphasis on College and Career Readiness (CCR), this research explored how leaders’ lived experiences affect initiatives designed to prepare students for postsecondary achievement. Drawing on Transformational Leadership Theory and Distributed Leadership Theory, the study examined leadership practices associated with work-based learning, soft skills development, academic preparedness, and career-readiness outcomes. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with educational leaders from Alabama school systems recognized for exemplary CCR performance. Data were analyzed using a phenomenological approach to identify shared leadership experiences and …

Learning Together At The Forefront Of Change: Gen Ai Summit 2026 (Program), Office Of Campus & Community Writing, Eastern Michigan University, Faculty Development Center, Eastern Michigan University

Learning Together at the Forefront of Change: GenAI Summit 2026

No abstract provided.

A Data-Driven Framework For Automation Readiness In Minnesota State University, Mankato Course Scheduling, Prisca Bongu Payanzo Maba

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

University course scheduling is one of the most complex optimization problems in higher education institutions. With universities growing in size and offering a broad spectrum of majors and disciplines, the number of possible course scheduling combinations increases exponentially, rendering traditional ways of scheduling ineffective.

Although operations research has extensively studied automated scheduling algorithms, there has been limited investigations into the organization readiness of academic departments to implement such systems. This paper offers a hybrid data science framework that assesses departmental readiness for scheduling automation.

The study combines qualitative Zoom interview data from 19 academic departments with institutional scheduling rules from …

90-Day Consulting Engagement Grounded In Authentic And Servant Leadership Approaches–Building Capacity For Small Business, Michon Hicks

Doctor of Strategic Leadership (DSL) Capstone Abstracts

This doctoral capstone project examined a 90-day consulting engagement designed to strengthen organizational capacity in a small, M/WBE-certified professional services firm operating in a government contracting environment. Grounded in authentic and servant leadership frameworks, the engagement used a structured 30-60-90-day intervention model to assess leadership alignment, administrative infrastructure, human resources capacity, data management practices, and marketing readiness. The project employed an organizational health check-up approach to diagnose systemic gaps, co-create solutions with organizational leadership, and implement practical tools to improve operational consistency, compliance readiness, and leadership effectiveness. Outcomes of the engagement included improved leadership alignment, standardized administrative and operational workflows, …

Analytics And Irony In Organizational Change: Agency And Emotions In The Mangle Of Practice, Uri Gal, Sean Hansen, Kalle Lyytinen

2026 Faculty Bibliography

Advanced data analytics technology has experienced an explosion of interest as firms seek to increase profits, operational efficiency, and employee engagement through evidence-based management. However, empirical evidence of the impact of this technology on organizational outcomes remains mixed, which assertions of benefits closely matched by concerns about potential adverse outcomes. In this study, we explore the adoption of a popular application of analytics technology – a people analytics system – at Everest, a leadership development consulting firm. By juxtaposing idealized and realized facets of the organizational practices mediated by the system, we highlight the emergence of situational ironies, in which …

Brewing Resilience: Cooperatives, Micro-Mills, And The Quest For Survival In Costa Rica's Changing Coffee Landscape, Leila N. Iredell

Honors Theses

This thesis examines how different organizational models in Costa Rica's coffee sector shape producers’ ability to capture value, build resilience, and sustain rural livelihoods in a rapidly changing global market. In comparing traditional cooperatives and new micro-mills, I examine specifically how control over the value chain, access to markets, and social infrastructure differ across models and what these differences mean for the farmers who depend on them. This project analyzes how the collapse of international price agreements and decades of market volatility drove producers toward new strategies, from independent processing and direct trade to coffee tourism. Costa Rica stands as …

Ceo's Influence On Top Management Team's Employee Engagement: A Qualitative Study, Wafa Damlaj, Matthew Hurtienne, Laura Hurtienne

Human Resource Development Student Publications and Presentations

This study explores how chief executives officers (CEOs) influence top management team (TMT) members' employee engagement. Using a constructivist phenomenological approach, the research examines ways CEOs shape TMT's employee engagement. Fifteen TMT professionals participated in semi-structured interviews, and the data were analyzed through a three-step coding process: open coding to identify key concepts, axial coding to refine categories by examining relationships, and thematic coding to organize the data into central themes. Findings revealed that CEOs influence TMT's employee engagement by addressing needs at three levels: individual, team, and organizational. Each level of needs aligns with specific CEO leadership styles and …

How Political Intelligence Sets Exemplary Mid-Level Military Women Leaders Apart, Rita Y. Ovette

Dissertations

ABSTRACT How Political Intelligence Sets Exemplary Mid-level Military Women Leaders Apart by Rita Yvette Ovete Purpose: The purpose of this exploratory phenomenological study was to identify and describe the political intelligence strategies that mid-level military women use as they respond to leadership challenges based on Reffo and Wark’s (2014) five facets of political intelligence (futurity, power, empathy with purpose, trust, and versatility). A secondary purpose of the study was to explore how mid-level military women explain their use of political intelligence strategies to support their career success and tenure while navigating leadership challenges. Methodology: This phenomenological study explored the lived …

Exploring Exemplary Leadership: A Phenomenological Study Of Campus Presidents, Krysten Stone

Dissertations

Purpose: The purpose of this phenomenological study was to identify and describe the strategies used by exemplary campus presidents to build and lead resilient teams in for-profit vocational colleges, grounded in Kirkman and Stoverink’s (2023) team resources framework.

Methodology: This phenomenological study explored the lived experiences of 10 exemplary campus presidents serving in for-profit vocational colleges throughout California’s Central Valley. Purposeful sampling was used to identify participants who met the study’s criteria. Data were collected through semistructured, open-ended interviews and the analysis of four organizational artifacts including strategic plans, communication workflows, meeting structures, and leadership models. Data were systematically coded …

Practices Alternative Education Principals Use To Create An Infinite Mindset In Their Schools To Inspire Extraordinary Results, Renee Gates

Dissertations

Purpose: The purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore and describe how exemplary alternative education principals perceive the practices of Simon Sinek’s Infinite Mindset Framework are embedded within their organizations to inspire the achievement of extraordinary results. A further purpose of this study was to understand the organizational supports and barriers these exemplary leaders perceive affect the development of an infinite mindset.

Methodology: Interviews were used to explore and describe how exemplary alternative high school principals perceive the five practices of Sinek’s Infinite Mindset are embedded within their organizations. The study is intended to contribute to and extend current …

Pedagogical Readiness And Adaptability In Higher Education In Egypt: An Exploration Of Generational Disparities In Ai Adoption., Maha Ahmed Zaki Dajani, Israa Lewaa, Hadia Fakhreldin

Business Administration

ABSTRACT

Dajani, M., LewaaElhamd, I., & FakhrEldin, H. (2025). Pedagogical readiness and adaptability in higher education in Egypt: An exploration of generational disparities in AI adoption. In Conference proceedings for the Annual Conference of Business, Economics and Politics in the Middle East (BEP-ME) 2025 (pp. 96,116). The British University in Egypt.

This study investigates generational differences in the adoption of AI tools in Egyptian higher education, examining how pedagogical readiness and adaptability influence engagement among students and educators. It addresses a key gap in the literature—the lack of an integrated pedagogical framework combining Kolb’s Experiential Learning Theory and Constructivist …