Digital Commons Network^™

Journey Probe: Uncovering Aspirations Of Early-Career Employees Via Narrated Journeys, Sanandan Ratkal, Simran Patankar

ServDes Conference Series

Narrative mode of thought occurs frequently in the design process. The user research phases of a design lifecycle involve stories of users’ pains and aspirations. Aspirations can be abstract and highly contextual to uncover from conventional user research questions. Using journey maps can be an effective means to elicit user needs. Two designers experiment with journey-map styled worksheets i.e., journey probes as a tool for user research. The experiment was carried out to understand aspirations of early-career employees in a multi-national corporation in information technology services. The paper outlines the learnings gathered from the experiment and its potential as a …

Role Of Service Design In The Era Of Industry 5.0, Ravi Mahamuni, Sylvan Lobo

ServDes Conference Series

Industry 5.0 (I5.0) represents a major shift from automated processes of Industry 4.0 (I4.0) to systems that put people first. I5.0 calls for a deeper focus on human centricity, especially on worker wellbeing and human-machine collaboration. This paper recognizes the synergy between the goals of I5.0 and service design. It uses a semi-speculative approach to explore the role of service design as a catalyst to the transition to I5.0, integrating service design’s core principles of empathy, co-creation and holistic systems thinking intro industrial processes. It examines the key challenges to the transitions and highlights how service design can support. It …

Wedding Rituals: Shedding Light On The Hidden Values Of Rituals To Design Better Services., Michalina Fidos, Mari Suoheimo, Jonna Häkkilä, Marja Kuronen

ServDes Conference Series

Service design often aims to create meaningful experiences, while rituals offer ways to structure their symbolic, emotional, and cultural dimensions. Understanding rituals in context can help designers co-create culturally respectful solutions that transcend boundaries. This paper explores how values embedded in wedding rituals can inform the design of more inclusive and meaningful services. Drawing on an international workshop with designers, we used a specially developed template to explore wedding rituals in a multicultural context. The study identified three overarching themes: the end of an era, patriarchy, and future prosperity. The mapping activity supported participants in reflecting on underlying rules, norms, …

Determinant Factors Of Iot Adoption For Smart Cities In The United States, Nathaniel Pleasant Crews

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Even with the promise of efficiency, sustainability, and better services that IoT technologies bring, the adoption in U.S. smart cities remains uneven and hasn’t met expectations. This gap creates challenges for leaders and IT managers who depend on IoT for infrastructure, safety, and service delivery. To address this issue, it’s important to investigate the factors that impact adoption. Grounded in the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology (UTAUT) model, the purpose of this quantitative correlational study is to examine the relationship between stakeholders’ perceptions of ease of use, usefulness, user trust, security concerns, social influence, and adoption of …

Reimagining Civic Education In The United States: Integrating Research, Policy, And Practice For Democratic Renewal, Delante Clark

Graduate Scholarship and Creative Works

Civic education in the United States faces persistent challenges, including inequitable access, curricular fragmentation, and reluctance to address controversial social and political issues. This paper presents a comprehensive synthesis of research, policy analysis, and practice-based case studies to reimagine civic education for the 21st century. Drawing on core scholarship supplemented with additional peer-reviewed studies on school segregation, charter school demographics, and race-conscious student assignment policies, the study examines the historical evolution of civic education, structural inequities, political avoidance, and promising innovations. Using a qualitative synthesis approach, the findings highlight five thematic areas: structural inequities, curricular misalignment, sanitized narratives, limits of …

Leading With A Doctorate: The Impact Of Advanced Scholarship On Leadership Effectiveness, James R. Kilgore

Lynchburg Journal of Medical Science

ABSTRACT

In an era marked by rapid change and complex challenges, the demand for effective leadership has never been more critical. This manuscript explores the transformative impact of doctoral-level education on leadership effectiveness across various sectors, including healthcare and education. Through a comprehensive review of recent literature, this study examines how advanced scholarship fosters critical thinking, ethical reasoning, and strategic insight, which are essential traits for successful leadership. The methodology involves a systematic review of peer-reviewed articles, books, and other scholarly resources published within the past decade, utilizing databases such as PubMed, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, and Google Scholar. …

Beyond Compliance: Investigating The Motivational Power Of Equality, Diversity And Inclusion (Edi) In European Hospitality, Alessandro Ferrazza Dr

ICHRIE Research Reports

The base concept of this study is to explore the interrelationship between Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) practices, employee motivation and performance within the European Hospitality Industry. The research aims to identify the barriers and facilitators that shape motivational synergies stimulating performance outcomes, particularly for underrepresented employee groups. The researcher employed a mixed-methods approach underpinned by a pragmatic interpretivist framework. The findings revealed that there is wide use of discriminatory practices, limited career progression and poor work-life balance which act as significant demotivators (Siu et al., 1997). The study also reconceptualises EDI not merely as a compliance requirement, but as …

The Impact Of Generation Z At Workplace, Anubhav Mishra, Saumya Awasthi

Management Dynamics

Generation Z, born between 1996 and 2012, now makes up around 32% of the world’s population more than Millennials. They are known for being practical, hardworking, and focused on their careers. They are also the most diverse and are expected to be the most well-educated generation so far. While a lot of attention is still given to Millennials, Gen Z is quickly becoming a major part of the workforce and is expected to make up 30% of it by 2030. Gen Z is also the first truly global generation; thanks to the internet, they have access to the same news, …

Suffolk University Alumni Magazine, Fall 2025, Suffolk University

Suffolk University Magazine

No abstract provided.

Exploring The Role Of Transformational Leadership In The Health And Growth Of Nazarene Churches In The Africa East Field, Warren W. Rogers Iii

PhD in Organizational Leadership

The transformational leadership model is associated with positive outcomes in the follower experience, as well as in educational, healthcare, and business sectors. There is limited research on the impact of transformational leadership on church health and growth (George & Sreedharan, 2023; Kouni et al., 2018; Rahmatulloh et al., 2023; Tian & Guo, 2024). The purpose of this general qualitative study was to explore how transformational leadership contributes to the health and growth of Nazarene churches in the Africa East Field (comprising Burundi, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania, and Uganda). Eight pastoral leaders were interviewed to share their thoughts, perspectives, …

The Intersection Of Managing, Leading, And Coaching: A New Discipline For Management Education, Maureen L. Mackenzie-Ruppel Ph.D., Phr, Capm, Icf-Pcc

Business: Faculty Presentations

Faculty must ensure that management education remains cutting edge and relevant to the needs of organizational leaders and to students’ academic and professional goals. This paper reports on a multi-phase research agenda that included in-depth interviews with the primary stakeholders of business education: (1) senior leaders/employers, (2) business faculty, and (3) MBA graduates who are now working professionals. The results report on potential benefits of integrating coaching skills, theories, and knowledge into management education.

Your Consolation Brings Joy: How Private School Employees Support Students Experiencing Trauma, Virginia L. Rose

PhD in Education

Trauma caused by adverse childhood experiences is a growing and pervasive issue. Researchers have found trauma may have physical, emotional, behavioral, academic, and spiritual effects on children. School employees are in a unique position to teach students about resiliency and can mitigate the effects of traumatic stress. Although multiple studies have examined teachers’ definition, perspective, and experiences of trauma, few studies have taken place in faith-based schools. The following qualitative study used a phenomenological approach to discover the lived experiences of faith-based school employees in identifying and supporting students who have experienced trauma. Eleven faith-based school employees participated in a …

Followership Theory In The Age Of Artificial Intelligence: A Phenomenological Study Of How The Integration Of Ai Into An Ai-Human Hybrid Cancer Research Team Affects Followership Characteristics, John F. Carrera

PhD in Organizational Leadership

Artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly becoming part of cancer research teams, helping with data analysis, pattern recognition, and decision support. Although AI changes how work is completed, little is known about how AI changes how followers adapt when AI becomes part of the team. This study examined how AI influences followership characteristics within AIhuman hybrid cancer research teams. A qualitative phenomenological research design was used to explore the lived experiences of nine cancer research professionals who interacted with AI as part of their routine work. Semi-structured interviews were conducted, transcribed, and analyzed through multiple rounds of qualitative coding to find …

Closing The Loop On Textile Waste: Policy, Technology, And Consumer Behavior In Sustainable Fashion, Anthony Amotoe-Bondzie

Collected Student Papers

Textile waste has become one of the most visible consequences of the fashion industry’s linear production and consumption model, where materials are rapidly extracted, transformed, consumed, and discarded. This paper critically examines how sustainable fashion can move beyond isolated recycling efforts toward a more integrated circular economy framework. Rather than treating textile waste as only an end-of-life problem, the study analyzes it as a systems issue shaped by overproduction, weak product design, limited recovery infrastructure, fragmented regulation, and consumer habits that normalize short garment lifespans. The paper argues that closing the loop on textile waste requires coordinated interventions across policy, …

Determining If Trauma-Informed Practices Improve Behavioral, Academic, And Social-Emotional Outcomes For Students, Paige M.K. Newman

Master's Theses & Capstone Projects

This capstone project explores the impact of trauma-informed practices (TIP) on middle school students’ academic achievement, social-emotional development, and behavioral growth. Grounded in the understanding that adverse childhood experiences can significantly shape learning and behavior, the study investigates how intentional, school-wide trauma-responsive strategies support student success. Using a mixed-methods design, data were collected through classroom observations, academic performance measures, and social-emotional/behavioral screening tools, complemented by teacher and student surveys. Findings highlight positive correlations between consistent implementation of TIP and improvements in student engagement, emotional regulation, and on-task behavior, as well as modest but meaningful gains in academic outcomes. The project …

Understanding Career Advancement Challenges Of Mid-Level African American Leaders: A Phenomenological Case Study, Adrienne N. Long

PhD in Organizational Leadership

As workplace demographics become increasingly more diverse globally, the curation of organizational inclusion is becoming more dire (Shore et al., 2018). One workforce dynamic, however, has fundamentally remained unchanged: the underrepresentation of African Americans in executive or senior leadership roles (Beckwith et al., 2016). Despite tremendous legislative progress in gender and racial equality, a pervasive gap persists in organizational cultures that fail to intentionally and consistently provide equitable career advancement opportunities for African Americans to attain senior leadership roles. This study employed a phenomenological qualitative research methodology to examine the career advancement challenges faced by mid-level African American leaders and …

Stress Management Strategies In An Investment Firm: A Managerial Perspective, Cheri C. Nelson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative study examined how client relationship managers and market supervision managers in the investment industry experienced, interpreted, and managed workplace stress within the context of organizational culture, leadership practices, and available resources. Guided by the job-demands resources (JD-R) model, semistructured interviews were conducted with participants across multiple markets to investigate the interplay between high job demands, leadership behaviors, and employee well-being. Findings indicated that while trusted colleagues and positive leadership behaviors served as protective resources that reduced strain and fostered resilience, negative attitudes, favoritism, and lack of collaboration among colleagues amplified stress. Communication breakdowns, poorly managed organizational change, and …

Barriers And Best Practices In Diversity, Equity, And Inclusion (Dei) Initiatives: A Case Study From The United States Aerospace And Defense Industry, Jeremy A. Bailey

Doctoral Dissertations and Master's Theses

The main objective of this study was to unpack the barriers around diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, and then provide best practices to improve DEI efforts in the aerospace and defense (A&D) industry. There has been a multitude of research conducted on DEI in the past few years. However, very little research has focused on DEI practices in the A&D industry. This case study focused on one large company in this industry to explore and understand various aspects of DEI initiative implementation. As organizations strive to meet industry and client objectives, as well as address employee needs, two research …

Fundamentals Of A Sustainability Profile Of Students Based On Quantitative Community Building Analyses, Cormac Mcmahon, Julie Dunne, Catherine Barry Ryan, María J. Cantalejo, Carlos Vilches, Isabel Navarlaz, Maite Aldaya, Annapia Ferrara, Sabrina Tomasi, Chiara Mignani, Alessio Cavicchi, Sami Sami Ghnimi, Sghaier Chriki, Michael Murkovic, Barbara Siegmund, Lena Pfeiffer

Research Outputs: 2025-Present

In the context of a growing awareness of environmental challenges and the importance of sustainability values, practices, and choices, this article presents the key findings of the European co-funded NEMOS research project (A New Educational Model of Sustainability Competences through Service-learning) focused on defining the sustainability profile and competencies of students through service-learning in Higher Education. A community-building bottom-up methodology was innovatively applied to identify the competencies needed to define a sustainability profile of students in food-related degrees of five European Higher Education Institutions.The research findings highlight the need for a holistic understanding of students´sustainability, including economic, social, and environmental …

E-Governance In Public Institutions: A Systematic Review Of International Studies (2013–2024), Yazen Nahal Mahmood, Hussam Ali Mhaibes, Yousif Al-Dunainawi

Journal of Economics and Administrative Sciences

This study aims to review and compare research related to E-governance in public institutions with the aim of identifying common denominators that increase or decrease its effectiveness and to evaluate the evaluation methods used. By highlighting the factors of success and failure, the study paves the way for future research and links theory to practice. The study question addresses how E-governance is applied differently and similarly in Arabic and foreign studies, in addition to the effects of variables and the methodology used. Our study follows PRISMA rules, ensures quality and transparency of selection, and conducts a comprehensive analysis of research …

The Mediating Role Of Social Responsibility Between Sustainability Accounting And Financial Performance, Basema Hazem Mohammed

Journal of Economics and Administrative Sciences

This research aims to identify the role of sustainability accounting in improving financial performance by adopting social responsibility indicators. The research aims to clarify how social responsibility can contribute to enhancing the financial benefits resulting from sustainability accounting practices, ultimately leading to improved financial performance of companies. A mixed-methods approach was employed to analyse both qualitative and quantitative data.   A random sample of banks listed on the Iraq Stock Exchange was selected for the study, including five banks for a four-year time series, in addition to a sample of specialists for the purpose of answering the axes related to the …

Dispute Resolution Tradeoffs In Ombuds Office Design, Kristen M. Blankley

Cardozo Journal of Conflict Resolution

An organizational ombudsman (or “ombuds,” used as the preferred term in this paper) is a conflict resolution specialist who works as either an employee or contractor within the organization it serves. Unlike mediators or arbitrators, ombuds work only with a designated constituency group (often employees or other stakeholders) to solve a variety of conflicts at the lowest level possible within the organization. Ombuds, while preserving the confidentiality of the information they learn, can report trends to the organization or the public. While ombuds do not have the authority to make formal policy changes or other formal decisions, their work informs …

Implementing A Standardized Ssri Tapering Protocol In The Outpatient Setting, Chelsea Sopo-Ngwa

All Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Scholarly Projects

Problem: Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are one of the most prescribed antidepressant medications in the outpatient psychiatric setting. Abrupt discontinuation or improper tapering of these medications may result in SSRI withdrawal symptoms. Adverse effects may lead to poor patient outcomes and increase healthcare utilization. A baseline chart review and provider readiness survey within the outpatient psychiatric practice revealed inconsistency in provider documentation related to SSRI tapering plans, patient education, and follow-up planning. The gap in practice highlighted the lack of a standardized SSRI tapering protocol to guide evidence-based medication tapering practices and promote patient safety.

Aim: The …

Implementing Pain Reassessment Workflow To Improve Timely Pain Management In Hospice Patients: A Quality Improvement Project, Oluremi Omodara

All Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Scholarly Projects

Problem: Timely pain reassessment is a vital component of hospice care, directly influencing the quality of life for patients. Despite the high prevalence of pain, which affects 55% of hospice patients due to disease progression or adverse drug reactions, only 51% of those reporting moderate to severe pain at admission receive a documented reassessment. The gap highlights an organizational issue in pain management stemming from the absence of a clearly defined period and workflow for reassessment.

Aim of the Project: The aim of the quality improvement (QI) project was to improve compliance with pain reassessment documentation within 48 hours …

Ambient Artificial Intelligence In Health Care Documentation: A Review Of Tools, Integration, And Clinical Implications, Jasmin Hundal, Molly Jain Md, Joseph Mccollom Do

PCI Publications and Projects

Introduction: Ambient artificial intelligence (AAI) is increasingly being integrated into clinical workflows to address the documentation burden contributing to clinician burnout. AAI systems use automatic speech recognition and natural language processing to capture real-time clinician–patient dialogue and generate structured documentation within the electronic health record. Methods: This review examines AAI’s technical foundations, clinical applications, and implementation considerations in oncology practice. We describe how current AAI tools extract, classify, and populate relevant clinical content, such as the history of present illness, physical examination findings, and assessment and plan, while adhering to established US coding standards (e.g., International Classification of Diseases [ICD-10]). …

Developing A Comprehensive Schoolwide Discipline Plan In Title 1 Southern Schools, Rose Clark Kebe

Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative case study explored how teachers in Title I schools across the southern United States perceived and experienced school discipline practices. The study addressed the problem of inconsistent implementation of restorative and preventive frameworks, which has contributed to inequitable outcomes, teacher frustration, and lost instructional time. Although initiatives such as Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) are mandated across many districts, inconsistent use and limited fidelity have restricted their effectiveness in improving equitable discipline and school climate.

The purpose of the study was to examine teacher perspectives to inform the development of a culturally responsive, schoolwide behavioral system grounded …

Factors That Influence The Implementation Of Effective Succession Planning In Nonprofit Organizations, Sharon L. Cook

Human Resource Development Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore factors influencing the implementation of effective succession planning (SP) in nonprofit organizations within a specific traditional industry—the electric utility industry. This study adopted the concept of SP as a process or system, and systems theory was selected to examine the SP process. Rothwell’s (2016) seven- pointed star model for systematic SP and management provided the conceptual framework for this study. This study used an inductive, qualitative approach to collect information from participants, with semi-structured, open-ended interviews. Face-to-face interviews were preferred, but some online interviews via Zoom were necessary. Interviews were conducted …

Creating Meaningful And Relevant Professional Development Using Improvement Science, Jo R. Wright

Theses and Dissertations

The problem of practice focuses on how to improve professional development. Using improvement science, a team of individuals at the school engaged in problem solving techniques to discover the underlying root causes of the problem. The improvement team was composed of administrators, instructional coaches, and teacher leaders who worked in different areas of the school. Collectively, these individuals felt passionately about growing the staff members through effective professional development. Exploring the professional development sessions teachers were attending on campus, there were visible indicators that teachers were not engaged nor were they participating. Unpacking the issue further, the improvement team uncovered …

Digital Leadership: Secondary Education Principals’ Perceptions And Change Competencies Toward Implementing Digital Citizenship Curricula, Waylon M. Randolph

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Secondary education public schools are increasingly being confronted with student misuse of information and communication technologies (ICTs). Students are using these technologies to engage in disruptive and harmful behaviors like cyberbullying and sexting. As a result, some public school districts have responded by banning the use of ICTs in the classroom, while others have turned to teaching digital citizenship through a dedicated digital citizenship curriculum. However, effectively implementing such a curriculum remains a significant challenge. According to the literature, the best way to implement a digital citizenship curriculum is by fostering a positive school culture where stakeholders model and support …

Leading Employees Remotely In A Post-Covid-19 Era: A Phenomenology Study Of Remotely Working Employees, George M. Hardy Jr

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The problem addressed in this study was that remote working employees felt disconnected from their organizations, leading to post-COVID-19 studies on phenomena such as quiet quitting and the great resignation. The purpose of this study was to investigate remotely working employees’ perspectives on connectedness to gain an understanding of commitment within their organization that ultimately leads to the decision to remain or leave. A qualitative phenomenology study was used with data collected from 12 remotely working participants across multiple industries and states. Data were transcribed, coded, and analyzed using a thematic approach with member-checking and triangulation to ensure credibility. Two …