Digital Commons Network^™

Book Review: The Airborne Mafia: The Paratroopers Who Shaped America’S Cold War Army, Jason A. Yanda

Parameters Bookshelf – Online Book Reviews

Author: Robert F. Williams

Reviewed by: Jason A. Yanda, assistant professor, US Army Heritage and Education Center, US Army War College

In this gripping organizational history, Robert F. Williams reveals how a tight-knit group of World War II paratroopers rose to dominate the US Army’s leadership and reshape its doctrine during the Cold War. Through bold innovation and a fiercely held airborne culture, figures like Ridgway, Taylor, and Gavin transformed civil-military relations, atomic warfare planning, and airmobile strategy. The Airborne Mafia uncovers how subcultures can wield extraordinary influence, leaving a legacy that still echoes through today’s military institutions.

©2026 Jason …

Leading With Dignity: Addressing Occupational Stigma Through Inclusive Leadership Practices In Early Childhood Education, Elizabeth Terry

Doctorate in Education

Early childhood education (ECE) leaders navigate a historically undervalued and stigmatized profession, facing unique challenges in advocating for workforce recognition. This study examined how ECE leaders enact inclusive leadership practices despite systemic constraints. By exploring leaders' experiences across diverse organizational contexts, this research contributes to understanding professional dignity and leadership in caring professions. This qualitative study used semi-structured interviews with six early childhood leaders across diverse organizational contexts in Western Washington. Through thematic analysis, five themes emerged: (a) advocacy as an integrated leadership identity, (b) confronting occupational stigma and professional invisibility, (c) relational leadership practices as a foundation for inclusion, …

Impediments To Transforming The Healthcare Delivery System: Shifting The Paradigm From Provider Centric To Patient Centric, Elizabeth A. Regan, Manasa Devi Chinta

Faculty Publications

Introduction: 

Stated aims for digital healthcare transformation frequently cite goals for better coordinated patient-centric systems. However, despite advances in medical science, digital technologies, health policies, and billions of dollars invested over the past 25 years, most healthcare providers are far from fully realizing the demonstrated benefits of today's digital technologies for improving patient care. Sharing information across healthcare systems remains challenging. Problems with fragmentation, quality, inequities, and rising costs of care delivery persist. A recent study of 1,026 U.S. hospital systems found that only 15.8 percent achieved a digital maturity level needed to provide digitally enabled healthcare services to better …

Approved Programs 3-3-26, Angela Brock

Programs Committee (PC)

No abstract provided.

Program Agenda 3-3-26, Angela Brock

Programs Committee (PC)

No abstract provided.

Ucc Minutes 3-3-26, Angela Brock

UCC Agendas/Minutes

No abstract provided.

Unapologetically Her: Leadership Lessons From Mom, Seth D. Kastle Ed.D., Courtney Imhoff

Leadership Faculty Publications

The narrative of this article is a culmination of two lived experiences of the children of Melanie Elliott: Seth Kastle and Courtney Imhoff. Our mother has been the foundational influence on who we are and has been the catalyst in our development of a bias for action, a willingness to lead and a drive to take care of others. Through the process of writing, it became evident that, rather than conflating the overall narrative of this article into one voice, the stories were better told when preserved in their individual narratives. The reader will note that above each paragraph is …

Literature Review - Orgl 547: Coaching Methods, Assessments, And Research, Jeff Bailey

Organizational Leadership and Management Department Graduate Course Papers

No abstract provided.

Ymca Changes Lives: Social Media Campaign, Savannah Nicole Rivera

Communication Studies

This project examines how the YMCA of San Luis Obispo constructs its organizational identity through digital messaging by applying framing theory (Entman, 1993). Drawing from scholarship on framing, nonprofit organizational identity, dual-identity tensions, and nonprofit storytelling, I conduct an applied framing analysis of the YMCA’s website and Instagram content. Specifically, I analyze how the organization defines community problems, attributes causes to them, assigns moral values to them, and proposes solutions in its messaging. I argue that while the YMCA references its mission, its current digital communication often makes utilitarian identity elements, such as services, memberships, and facilities, more salient than …

Information Technology Investment Efficiency In Federal Government Agencies: A Data Envelopment Analysis Approach, Angel Blanchard Littlejohn

Dissertations

Federal agencies invest over $115 billion annually in information technology, yet persistent questions remain about whether these substantial investments translate into improved operational efficiency and mission outcomes. Despite transparency requirements established by the Federal IT Acquisition Reform Act (FITARA) of 2014 and the creation of the federal IT Dashboard, agency leaders lack systematic frameworks for evaluating optimal IT investment levels and allocation patterns across different technology asset types.

This dissertation examines the relationship between information technology investment clusters and operational efficiency across 24 federal government agencies subject to the CFO Act. Using comprehensive data from the federal IT Dashboard spanning …

Bankrupt Crypto Organizations, Kara Bruce, Christopher K. Odinet, Andrea Tosato

North Carolina Law Review

No abstract provided.

Bankrupt Crypto Organizations, Kara Bruce, Christopher K. Odinet, Andrea Tosato

Faculty Scholarship

This Article provides the first comprehensive analysis of the intersection between decentralized autonomous organizations (DAOs) and American bankruptcy law. DAOs are blockchain-based entities that enable individuals to pursue common goals using decentralized decision-making and automated governance. Since their recent emergence, DAOs have proliferated dramatically—with over 20,000 organizations managing over $20 billion in assets and engaging in activities ranging from investment management to real estate and even attempting to purchase historic copies of the U.S. Constitution. Yet like any other organization, DAOs can fail, creating an urgent need to understand what happens when unstoppable code meets immovable bankruptcy law.

Our investigation …

Evaluation Of Pulse Oximetry Alarm Fatigue And The Impact Of Spo2 Thresholds On Clinical Workflow: A Prospective Observational Study In A Kenyan Neonatal Unit, Bazil Masabo, Augustine Waswa, Jesse Coleman, Morris Ogero, Grace Irimu, Dorothy Chomba, Millicent Parsimei, Cynthia Shitote, Ferdinand Okwaro, William Macharia

Paediatrics and Child Health, East Africa

Introduction: Effective pulse oximetry monitoring in a newborn unit requires clinician action. However, if thresholds are not adapted to each neonate, frequent alarms cause alarm fatigue, which impacts the quality of patient monitoring, staff workload and clinical workflow.

Methods: We conducted an observational study from October 2021 to December 2022 in a Kenyan newborn unit which enrolled neonates through convenience sampling. Data were analysed in R using default thresholds of 85% to 96% for SpO2 and 90 to 200 bpm for PR.

Results: Among the 49 neonates enrolled, median hourly alarms per patient were 12 visual and …

Research On The Influence Mechanism Of Digital Transformation On The International Competitiveness Of The Srdi Smes In China, Bo Sun

Dissertations and Theses Collection (Open Access)

With the continuous advancement of digital technologies, the digital economy is increasingly becoming the dominant force in the global economic landscape. Against this backdrop, the digital transformation of China's specialized, refined, distinctive, and innovative (SRDI) small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) has transcended beyond mere technological upgrades and evolved into a crucial strategy for these enterprises to build core competitiveness. Despite SRDI SMEs' strong willingness to pursue digital transformation, research is still lacking on how digital transformation efforts translate into international competitiveness Additionally, existing studies on the degree of digitalization have focused on large enterprises or general SMEs, leaving an academic …

Examining The Relationship Between Transformational Leadership Behaviors And Faculty Job Satisfaction At Hbcus: An Explanatory Correlational Study, Demissie L. Karorsa, Monica E. Allen

Journal of Research Initiatives

By inspiring followers to pursue and attain exceptional levels of performance, transformational leadership (TL) has been associated with high levels of follower job satisfaction and organizational commitment (Asencio, 2016; Banks et al., 2016; Bass & Riggio, 2006). The purpose of this quantitative correlational study was to examine faculty perceptions of transformational leadership behaviors of their department chairs and their own job satisfaction at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) in the southeastern United States. The transformational leadership dimensions examined were idealized attributes (IA), idealized behaviors (IB), inspirational motivation (IM), intellectual stimulation (IS), and individualized consideration (IC). Data were collected using …

Simulation Culture And Organizational Readiness In Social Work Education: Examining Faculty Perspectives., Kate Whitney

Doctor of Social Work Capstone Projects

Despite the growing emphasis on simulation-based learning (SBL), faculty perceptions of organizational readiness for this approach in social work education remain understudied. This exploratory mixed-methods study examined faculty readiness across two CSWE-accredited programs using the Simulation Culture Organizational Readiness Scale (SCORS) and qualitative open-ended questions (𝑁=21). Findings revealed modest and uneven readiness across both programs, with full-time faculty reporting significantly lower readiness scores than adjunct and part-time faculty. Qualitative data identified critical needs for foundational dialogue on SBL principles, strategic institutional investment, and targeted faculty development. Participants also expressed concerns regarding the pace of adoption and potential conflicts with the …

Enterprise Digital Transformation: An Analysis Of Value Creation From An Operational Perspective, Weiguo Ling

Dissertations and Theses Collection (Open Access)

Digital transformation has become a critical pathway for the manufacturing sector to break through growth bottlenecks and reshape its core competitiveness. However, in practice, a large number of enterprises are trapped in the transformation paradox of a “discrepancy between perceived consensus and actual outcomes”. The core issue lies in the fact that traditional investment evaluation methods struggle to effectively measure the multi-dimensional value created by digitalization. From the perspective of operational management, this study focuses on the mechanisms and evaluation methods of digital value creation in different manufacturing contexts. A four-dimensional Value Evaluation Framework is proposed, comprise of Value Identification, …

How Product Innovation And Process Innovation Impact Product Performance, Wei Wang

Dissertations and Theses Collection (Open Access)

In an increasingly competitive global market characterized by accelerating technological iteration and rapidly evolving consumer demands, innovation has become a critical means for firms to adapt to dynamic changes and achieve competitive advantage. Grounded in dynamic capabilities theory and the resource-based view, this study empirically investigates the mechanisms through which product innovation and process innovation affect product performance, drawing on survey data from 215 products. It further examines the mediating role of product flexibility and the moderating effect of product positioning. The results indicate that both product innovation and process innovation have a significant positive impact on product performance. Product …

Improving Agent Retention By Documenting The Impact Of 4-H In Kentucky, Ken Culp, Kimberly Ragland, Tori Stanton, Katherine L. Thompson

Journal of Youth Development

The purpose of this study was to improve agent retention by documenting the positive impact that 4-H agents were making by identifying the most effective program delivery methods in Kentucky. This could help agents prioritize their time, emphasizing high-impact activities. Agents indicated that while one year of 4-H makes the greatest impact, 10 years’ membership is ideal. The most impactful delivery methods were clubs and camps. The most important life skills developed in 4-H were communication, leadership, and community service. Club programming includes all highly valued core experiences identified in this study (leadership opportunities, community service, and communication).

Does Abusive Supervision Undermine Creativity? A Buffering Role Of Absorptive Capacity, Sayma H. Shetu, Md. Sanaul Islam, Abdul G. Khan, Md. Shahed Mahmud

Journal of Global Business Insights

This study investigates the underlying processes of this relationship by examining knowledge hiding as a mediator and absorptive capacity as a moderator, within the context of the Conservation of Resources (COR) theory. 385 garment sector employees in Bangladesh were surveyed using a three-wave questionnaire, and the results were analyzed using partial least squares structural equation modeling. The study's findings demonstrate that abusive supervision negatively impacts employee creativity, in part by increasing knowledge hiding. Furthermore, higher absorptive capacity mitigates these adverse effects, reducing knowledge-hiding tendencies and enhancing creative performance. Theoretically, this study advances COR theory by identifying knowledge hiding as a …

No-Show Characteristics Of Rural Clients With Mental Health Conditions, Christy R. Collins, Jose Carbajal

Journal of Human Services: Training, Research, and Practice

The purpose of this study is to report demographic characteristics and appointment compliance factors associated with no-show appointments in a rural clinical setting in East Texas. Describing these variables will expand the existing literature and offer greater clarity not only on why appointments are missed, but also on who is missing them. Therefore, understanding how sociodemographic variables relate to missed appointments may enhance appointment adherence and improve healthcare outcomes for individuals. This study used cross-sectional archival data specifically collected to examine missed appointments among clients at a rural clinic (N = 134). The results indicate that Hispanic/Latino individuals, clients aged …

Faith And Justice: Church Leadership's Impact On Prison Reform, Yaw Asamoah Akowuah Mr., Frank Y. Adusei, Eric Kaufman, Loy V. Crowder

Journal of Human Services: Training, Research, and Practice

This study examines the Church of Pentecost’s (CoP) pioneering prison reform initiative in Ghana as a faith-based response to systemic overcrowding and inadequate rehabilitation infrastructure. Through a qualitative case study design, the research analyzes in-depth interviews with church leaders and media staff, alongside institutional documents, to explore how religious leadership intersects with correctional policy. Findings reveal that CoP’s “Vision 2023” strategy positioned prison decongestion as a moral and national imperative, leading to the construction of five “Inmates Skills Acquisition and Reformation Centres.” These facilities integrate vocational training, spiritual care, and modern infrastructure, aligning with Rehabilitation Theory’s emphasis on humane, reintegration-focused …

A Narrative Study On The Resilience Of Women In Technology Careers, Gina J. Baldridge

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In spite of the promotion of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education and careers, there is a lack of women entering the STEM workforce and majoring in STEM subjects. Women can experience gender bias and workplace marginalization in STEM careers, but have learned coping strategies that have contributed to their technology career resilience. The purpose of this narrative qualitative study was to explore how women working as individual performers and leaders in technology companies told their career stories of resilience through the perspective of change acceptance, confidence, and communication, three factors in Kumar’s CR8 model of resilience. The model …

Beyond Need: Exploring Readiness To Implement Change As A Predictor Of Nonprofit Capacity-Building Success, Bridget Y. Samuel

The Foundation Review

This mixed-methods exploratory study investigates whether organizational readiness to implement change predicts capacity-building success more reliably than the level of perceived need.

Using a six-factor readiness assessment measuring clear priorities, change management resources, time investment commitment, board engagement, systems infrastructure, and cash flow, data from 10 participating organizations reveal a significant correlation between readiness scores and early capacity-building outcomes.

The findings challenge three common field assumptions: that the greatest capacity-building need should drive selection, that capacity-building works uniformly across developmental stages, and that dysfunction can be addressed through “standard” capacity-building programming.

Does Ict Use As A Strategic Response To Globalization Matter For Sme Performance In Nigeria? Mediating Roles Of Entrepreneurial Orientation, Strategic Agility, And Organizational Resilience, Uzoma H. Ononye

Journal of Global Business Insights

This study examined the effect of information and communication technology (ICT) use on small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) performance with a focus on the mediating roles of entrepreneurial orientation, strategic agility, and organizational resilience. Cross-sectional data were collected from 298 SMEs in Lagos, Nigeria, using a questionnaire based on previously validated measurement scales. Partial least squares modelling was applied to test the hypothesized five-factor model. The results demonstrate that ICT use, in response to globalization, exerts a significant and positive effect on SME performance. However, this effect is fully mediated by entrepreneurial orientation, strategic agility, and organizational resilience. The analysis …

Women Working Well: The Experiences Of Black Women Nonprofit Leaders In The Tristate Area, Erika K. Stanley Wesley

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative narrative inquiry study examined the lived experiences, challenges, and leadership practices of Black women nonprofit leaders in the northeastern United States. Guided by Black feminist thought and positive leadership theory, the study explored how participants’ identities informed leadership enactment and how positive leadership practices influenced organizational impact and change. Data were collected through semistructured interviews with 11 Black women nonprofit leaders and analyzed using thematic analysis to identify patterns across participant narratives. Findings aligned with four research questions. Participants described unique experiences characterized by identity as power, cultural bridge-building, and the weight of representation. Key challenges included funding …

Exploring The Lived Experiences Of Black Women In Undergraduate Stem Core Expansion Pathways, Lizzie L. Evans Martinez Alvarez

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The use of social incongruence in the film Hidden Figures, which juxtaposed with STEM education as the most powerful in contrast with Black women as the least powerful, supported the argument for the specific problem of practice to examine the unmet need for socially and ethnically diverse student populations in U.S. STEM higher education and careers. The purpose of this hermeneutic phenomenological research study was to identify and analyze the lived experiences of Black women regarding barriers they perceive in the STEM educational and career decision-making processes, while exploring transformational pathways to STEM academic success. The study specifically analyzed …

Advances In Culture, Tourism, And Hospitality Research: Volume 1, Cihan Cobanoglu, Hanqin Qiu, Jiaying Lyu, James H. W. Shen

University of South Florida (USF) M3 Publishing

This is the first volume of the Advances in Culture, Tourism, and Hospitality Research Book Series.

Proactive Strategies, Absorptive Capacity And Competitive Advantage Of Small And Medium Enterprise (Smes) Firms In East Java Indonesia, Ardianus Laurens Paulus

International Journal of Management, Finance and Accounting

Proactive strategy and absorptive capacity are crucial components in building a competitive advantage, particularly in the Small and Medium Enterprise (SMEs) sector. This study examines the moderating role of absorptive capacity in strengthening the relationship between proactive strategy and competitive advantage among SMEs in East Java, Indonesia. The sampling technique employed was non-probability sampling, specifically a purposive sampling method, involving 65 SME owners as respondents. Data were collected through surveys and analyzed using Smart PLS. The findings reveal that a proactive strategy significantly positively affects competitive advantage, and absorptive capacity reinforces this relationship. This research provides theoretical contributions and practical …

Navigating Compliance: Higher Education Leadership Strategies Amid Federal Government Dei Mandates, Patricia Henry

Economics Faculty Publications

Executive Order 14173 (Ending Illegal Discrimination and Restoring  Merit-Based Opportunities) has contributed to reshaping the policy  environment for marginalized populations including women,  communities of color, LGBTQ+ individuals, and people with disabilities  on university campuses. There is limited scholarly research exploring  how qualitative empirical studies probe into how higher education  leaders are navigating compliance with federal diversity, equity, and  inclusion (DEI) mandates amid heightened political and legal scrutiny  in the United States. Grounded in Viewpoint Discrimination Theory,  guided by Inclusive and Transformational Leadership frameworks, this  empirical study employs a multiple-case design integrating data from  scholarly literature, policy implementation analysis, institutional policy …