Digital Commons Network^™

Leadership Best Practices In Fostering Collaboration For Transformative Change In International Nongovernmental Organizations: A Phenomenological Study, Colton Manley

Theses and Dissertations

For nearly a century, International Non-Governmental Organizations (INGOs) have spearheaded humanitarian relief and development efforts worldwide. However, the increasing complexity and interconnectivity of global challenges demand a fundamental shift in the operations of INGOs. Collaboration has emerged a key strategy in driving systemic change and addressing the root causes of complex issues. Leaders play a pivotal role in fostering these essential relationships and cultivating a collaborative ecosystem. While leadership remains paramount, there is a critical need to understand how INGO leaders can cultivate transformative collaboration, a collaborative approach aimed at addressing the root causes of complex issues and driving systemic …

The Art Of Online Arbitrage: Essential Practices For Third-Party Sellers, Jesse Llamas

Theses and Dissertations

The topic of arbitrage is an essential concept in the financial world. It involves taking advantage of price discrepancies for an asset or security across different markets. The emerging third-party retail and online e-commerce arbitrage sellers industry is growing and becoming a popular income source for many individuals. While there is various research on arbitrage and its impact on the economy, there is scant literature on third-party retail e-commerce arbitrage selling. The goal of this research is to build upon existing scholarly work by examining optimal methods, tactics, and obstacles encountered by e-commerce arbitrage sellers who operate through third-party retail …

Toxin Handling In Human Resources (Hr) And Its Impact On Burnout, Cecilia J. Lee

Theses and Dissertations

These are challenging times for HR professionals. The world of work has experienced unprecedented levels of change since the pandemic. Now on the horizon is the transformative influence of generative AI on the future of work and HR sits at the center of these changes in organizations. Business executives need healthy and productive HR professionals to effectively support organizations in the future. Unfortunately, recent industry studies paint a sobering picture of waning well-being and high levels of burnout in HR. Burnout is characterized by exhaustion, cynicism, and inefficacy, experienced by individuals and caused by systemic organizational imbalances. This study was …

The Connection Between Mental Illness And Prisoner Recidivism: A Study Of The Self-Perceptions And Perspectives Of Mentally Impaired Low-Level Non-Violent Male Exoffenders, Sammie L. Stinson

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation investigates the connection between mental illness and prisoner recidivism in California and Los Angeles County. As the literature review discloses, there are various theories that claim to explain why mentally impaired offenders are reincarcerated for breaking the law after they are released. This dissertation presents five research questions based on the literature review and theoretical framework and collected survey and interview data from a sample of 30, self-reported, mentally impaired ex-offenders. The research questions and theoretical framework is intended to provide the reader with an assessment of the viewpoints of the mentally impaired survey participants regarding the connection …

A Phenomenological Study On Tokenism And Leadership Style Of Black Executives In Corporate Organizations, Alan Keith Caldwell

Theses and Dissertations

The demographic composition of the United States is changing. In relation to race, the minority is becoming the majority. This demographic shift creates a more diverse workforce, which increases executive-level opportunities for Black professionals at corporate organizations. However, data indicates that very few Black people are in corporate organizations’ executive-level (VP, SVP, and C-Suite) roles. This study investigated tokenism’s role in developing Black executives’ leadership styles at global corporate organizations. The aim of this investigation focused on uncovering the experiences of Black executives in a corporate environment, including their leadership style. Phenomenological Inquiry served as the method to collect data. …

Impact Of Supervisors’ Person-Centered Listening On Sense Of Belonging Among Occupationally Minoritized Healthcare Professionals, Nelu Nedelea

Theses and Dissertations

Significant gender and racial disparities are evident when comparing the composition of the U.S. healthcare workforce to the general U.S. population. Latinx individuals are underrepresented across all professions, while non-White individuals and women are occupational minorities in executive roles and in physician, surgeon, and advanced practitioner roles. Lack of diversity poses problems for underrepresented healthcare professionals, their organizations, and their patients. While diverse professionals experience various forms of microaggression, discrimination, prejudice, and diminished sense of belonging in their fields, these conditions can compromise communication among the various healthcare professionals involved with a patient, in turn, potentially threatening patient safety and …

Addressing Burnout: A Shift To The Progressive Work Model, Monika M. Doss

Theses and Dissertations

Worker burnout is a prevalent global issue and has persisted for decades. Commuting, traffic, and work schedules conflicting with personal responsibilities are just a few of many frustrations workers often experience as a part of the current way of working. This research brings light to a new work model that mitigates worker burnout. Maintaining focus on the worker, this study asked: Does a progressive organizational work model mitigate burnout? The Progressive Work Model (PWM) is a forward-thinking framework used to organize work activities and processes within an organization that meets the work-life balance needs of the modern workforce by mitigating …

My Secret Struggle: Starving, Purging, And Numbing My Emotions. An Autoethnographic Analysis Of My Lifelong Battle With Anxiety, Depression, And Eating Disorders, Hasmek G. Siwajian

Theses and Dissertations

Adolescent females and young adult women between the ages of 12 and 25 are at a higher risk of engaging in self-destructive and life-threatening behaviors linked to anxiety, depression, and eating disorders when they do not have access to suitable treatment options or coping mechanisms (Garcia et al., 2020). This study highlights the heightened vulnerability of adolescent females and young adult women aged 12 to 25 who engage in self-destructive behaviors associated with anxiety, depression, and eating disorders when adequate treatment options or coping mechanisms are lacking. Through an autoethnographic approach, the researcher delves into her daily struggles and breakthroughs …

Educators’ Experiences And Perspectives On Teaching Sexuality Education To High School Students In Vietnam, Tram Van

Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative phenomenological study explored experiences of teaching sex education and identified challenges to sexuality education among 10 Vietnamese high school educators. Sexuality education high-school teachers in Vietnam participated in in-depth interviews focused on (a) experiences associated with teaching sex education in Vietnamese high schools and (b) how high school educators’ experiences with professional training related to sex education influenced their teaching practices. This research explored teacher characteristics, curricula, professional development, and environmental factors. Study data were collected via Zoom interviews, enabling the researcher to engage participants in their subjective viewpoints and overcome the hurdles of long-distance travel and health …

A Systematic Review Of The Effectiveness Of Family-Based Treatment With And Without Adjunctive Treatment For Children And Adolescents With Eating Disorders, Carly Poynter

Theses and Dissertations

Family-based treatment (FBT) has been widely accepted as the first-line treatment for children and adolescents with restrictive eating disorders. While this treatment has been widely studied and accepted as best practice, most studies confirming its effectiveness focus on the treatment of anorexia nervosa (AN) and bulimia nervosa (BN). There have been many studies aimed at providing adjunctive treatment to enhance the effectiveness of this treatment, but these benefits have yet to be cumulatively studied. The primary objectives of this study were to 1) summarize the effectiveness of FBT for the wide range of eating disorders, 2) summarize the effectiveness of …

Quantitative Study On The Efficacy Of Online And Hybrid Learning Formats As Related To The Success Indicators Of Equity, Ali Kowsari

Theses and Dissertations

This research involved a quantitative secondary analysis using the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) to investigate factors leading to disparities in academic success. Focusing on the role of course modality, the research aimed to address the need to enhance equity in academic achievement, considering age, gender, race, and socioeconomic status. Special attention was given to online and hybrid modalities from 2017 to 2021, encompassing both pre- and post-pandemic data to observe shifts in higher education to more online and hybrid practices. The research was rooted in Astin’s student involvement theory and Rawls’ theory of justice, and it sought to …

Understanding Resilience With Chinese Emerging Adults Who Had Early Relational Trauma: An Integrative Systematic Review, Yuen Wu

Theses and Dissertations

This integrative systematic review aimed to enhance understanding of resilience among Chinese emerging adults with early relational trauma by synthesizing available information on how culture is incorporated into the conceptualization, measurement, and interpretation of resilience in the current body of literature. By utilizing a qualitative content analysis approach, the researcher identified main ways in which resilience was conceptualized, assessment tools used to assess, and culturally-specific elements in conceptualizing and understanding resilience. Analysis results indicated the static way of conceptualization was most common among other ways of conceptualizing. Results also revealed that the majority of literature incorporated culture in their conceptualizations …

Prevalence, Correlates, Symptomology, And Assessment Of Women With Aquired Brain Injury As A Result Of Intimate Partner Violence, Gillian Dowlou

Theses and Dissertations

Brain injury resulting from intimate partner violence is a pervasive and complex issue with substantial health and social consequences for women globally. Therefore, findings from this review aim to summarize and review the intersection of intimate partner violence-related acquired brain injury among women. This review gives particular attention to the following inquiries: (a) How prevalent is a brain injury resulting from intimate partner violence? (b) What are the risk factors and correlates (i.e., demographic, age, socio-economic status) of brain injuries among survivors of intimate partner violence? (c) What symptoms of brain injuries are observed in survivors of intimate partner violence? …

Blogging Mastery: Analyzing The Key Strategies Behind Successful Blogs, Michael Llamas

Theses and Dissertations

Bloggers in the digital landscape have the power to shape consumer behavior and influence their peers. However, successfully running a blog demands time and commitment, similar to operating a small business. Yet, there is scant literature regarding successful practices and strategies that bloggers use to build their blogs and remain successful. This study explores bloggers' most effective methods and strategies to establish themselves in their respective niches. The qualitative research study uses transcendental phenomenology to examine the lived experiences of successful bloggers, aiming to provide insights into their successful strategies, best practices, challenges, and insights for new bloggers. Twelve bloggers …

Resilience In The Face Of Sexism: Attracting, Retaining, And Promoting Women And Girls In Stem, Karin Karakhanian Moore

Theses and Dissertations

Women in Science Technology Engineering and Math (STEM) occupations comprise 27% of employees in STEM fields (Martinez & Christnacht, 2021). Their participation continues to drop even when they reach the highest levels of leadership in STEM industries (Chrisler et al., 2012; R. A. Miller et al., 2021; Worthen, 2021). There have been calls by universities and governments to bring women’s thought leadership to STEM fields given the massive impact STEM industries have on the economy and innovation (Beede et al., 2011; Fayer et al., 2017). A review of the literature shows that girls and women experience various levels of discrimination …

Mastering The Void: The Secret Sauce Of Black Female Leadership In The Ivory Tower, Laschanda Johnson

Theses and Dissertations

This scholarly inquiry delved into the enduring disparity of gender representation within leadership roles, a phenomenon persisting despite women's remarkable progress in education and professional realms in the last 50 years. Concentrating on tertiary education, this study examined the scant presence of females, with a particular emphasis on Black females, in elite leadership roles. Its primary objective is to discern and corroborate the leadership aptitudes that have been instrumental in propelling the careers of Black female administrators in tertiary educational institutions. Employing a refined Delphi methodology, this research shared insights from the career trajectories and developmental experiences of Black females …

Global Workforce Dynamics: A Quantitative Analysis Of Inclusion, Retention, And Performance Across United States And Japanese Cohorts In A Multinational Corporation, Cecil Wroton Johnson Iii

Theses and Dissertations

Globalization has lowered geographic and cultural workforce boundaries by increasing global workforce diversity (Boitano et al., 2017; Ferdman et al., 2021; Güzel et al., 2021; Weiss & Wilkinson, 2018). Furthermore, societal revelations through health and social crises have called for multinational corporations to respond with representative workforce diversity (Banks & Harvey, 2020; Dixon-Fyle et al., 2020; Kim & Roberson, 2021). The convergence of globalization, global governance and public policy are factors of global workforce dynamics that reinforce the inevitability of workforce diversity and the necessity for the intentional creation of inclusive work environments (Mor Barak, 2022; Roberson, 2006). This quantitative, …

Voluntary Employee Turnover And The Engagement Perception Of Responsibility, Troy Duerr

Theses and Dissertations

This research project investigates voluntary employee turnover and perceptions of engagement responsibility within organizations. In the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, the US workforce experienced significant pressures. Through qualitative research with semi-structured interviews of 15 professionals, key themes influencing engagement and disengagement were identified. These themes include leadership, recognition, role autonomy, team collaboration, unmet career promises, and poor communication. Participants represented various industries, from Fortune 10 companies to family-owned businesses, and held roles from individual contributors to divisional leaders. This research offers both theoretical advancements and practical solutions, emphasizing the necessity of shared responsibility between employees and organizations in managing …

Changing The Narrative: A Phenomenological Study On The Support And Practices Black Males Received For The Successful Completion Of Urban Area High Schools In Los Angeles County, Victoria Lynn Waters

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to describe the support and practices Black Males received to graduate high school successfully. This study is important because it details the challenges and experiences that young Black males who reside in urban areas and attend school in Los Angeles County describes the factors needed to meet academic success and graduate high school and understanding why graduation rates for Black males are low, to learn what can be done to increase the graduation rates for Black Males. The study produced four conclusions:

1. Black Role Models and mentors on campus elevated student’s …

Black Women Leaders Bend But Don’T Break: A Qualitative Examination Of Coping With Workplace Inequity In Fortune 500 Companies, Quennette Standford Taylor

Theses and Dissertations

Black women account for 7.1% of the United States (U.S.) population (U.S. Census Bureau,2023); however, they only comprise 2% of executive positions (EEOC, 2023), 1.4% of the Fortune 500 C-suite (Corbett, 2022), and .4% of Fortune 500 CEOs (Dawuni & Frazier, 2022). Typical advice regarding career growth and progression centers on hard work and dedication as facilitators of achievement. However, this is a broken model for Black women, whom studies show follow an inconsistent path and employ a variety of strategies to reach executive levels of leadership as they navigate inequitable systems, treatment, and behaviors in the workplace (Beckwith et …

Breathing: A Story Of Lifelong Learners’ Relationship To The Changing World, Cristina D. González

Theses and Dissertations

Holistic learning is recognized as an effective learning practice. It acknowledges the interconnections between the individual, other people, and the environment, it describes learning as an active process that transforms consciousness. This transformation in consciousness occurs through the facilitation of learning, experiences, and reflection, which lead to acts that nurture oneself, others, and the environment. Teachers face the challenge of noneducators setting unrealistic expectations, providing limited resources, and generating a culture of competition, preventing holistic learning from developing. If students are to learn, this process needs to be honored, which requires pedagogical strategies and practices that can be replicated to …

Designing And Evaluating A Framework For Assessing And Addressing Identity Threat And Integration As Part Of A Merger And Acquisition, Melanie Figler

Theses and Dissertations

Mergers and acquisitions (M&As) offer both advantages and challenges to firms that pursue this growth strategy. Although various frameworks and approaches have been designed to reduce the risks of these transactions, high failure rates continue to plague M&A events. This study investigated a lesser-examined but powerful factor in change outcomes: organization identity. This study examined the effects of M&As on organization identity and identified practices for assessing and addressing identity threat and integration as part of an M&A. The research design was a single case study, with 11 employees ranging from individual contributors to executives being recruited from an organization …

Sustainable Tourism Development In Greece: A Phenomenological Study Of Municipal Leaders, Panagiote G. Tsolis

Theses and Dissertations

The Hellenic Republic relies heavily on the summer tourism industry for economic growth (Kouri, 2012). The objective has been to increase demand for lesser-known destinations and encourage visitation outside the peak summer period. However, expanding the tourism offering is complex, as tourism destination networks are some of the most complex systems (da Fontoura Costa & Baggio, 2009). There are no official national framework for sustainable tourism in the Hellenic Republic. However, multiple national frameworks for sustainable tourism within the Hellenic Republic have been designed, focusing on tourism or regions and natural preserves. The problem is that municipal leaders' perspectives are …

Decision Satisfaction In Corporate Settings, Alison Keppler

Theses and Dissertations

While seemingly important, decision satisfaction has remained an understudied aspect of decision making. Defined as how satisfied an individual feels with a decision at the time it is made, separate from any feeling toward the chosen option or ultimate outcome, decision satisfaction has not been explored in the business context. Developing an understanding of what may lead to decision satisfaction is important as it has the potential to impact employee work experience as well as the outcomes of the decisions themselves. To explore this concept, this study conducted 10 interviews with senior employees in corporate environments. They discussed their preferred …

Exploring The Role Of The Theory Of Planned Behavior And The Intention-Behavior Gap In The Adoption Of Products And Solutions By B2b Organizations: An Analysis Of Organizational Culture As Moderators Or Mediators, Ronil Prasad

Theses and Dissertations

New product adoption by business-to-business (B2B) organizations is explored through an examination of the influence of the theory of planned behavior (TPB), organizational culture, and the presence of the intention-behavior gap. A phenomenographic design, utilizing qualitative surveys, enabled a detailed analysis of attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control as key factors influencing adoption intentions and actions within US-based organizations. The study collected responses from a purposively sampled group of experienced decision-makers with authority over new product selection. A total of 86 B2B decision-makers responded to the invitation to participate

Thematic analysis revealed perceived behavioral control as the most influential …

The Long-Lasting Credibility: A Leadership Model For Building Trust In Multinational Companies, Suelen Schneider Demaría

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this research was to examine the strategies, challenges, and measures of trust-building between leaders and team members in multinational organizations. This topic is significant because (a) the deficit of trust in leadership has spread across industries and nations over the last decades (Edelman, 2023), imposing a high penalty on organizations and society (Covey & Merrill, 2018); (b) in contrast, in a trusting environment, happiness, cooperation, and results are enhanced (Zak, 2017); and (c) trust is also an issue in cross-cultural settings because the traditional notion of trust is binary and Western, leaving out cultural awareness necessary to …

Faculty Exodus From Africa: Exploring The Experiences Of African Academic Diasporic Faculty In The United States Of America, André Crenshaw

Theses and Dissertations

African higher education institutions are experiencing a faculty shortage influenced by globalization, internationalization, and brain drain. Prior literature on immigrant African and diaspora faculty exodus from Africa focuses on the brain drain in African higher education. Still, there is a need for further exploration of faculty teaching experiences virtually from the U.S. to Africa using educational technology with multiple academic appointments. This study aimed to assist stakeholders in gaining insight into how African Diasporic faculty adopt educational technology for virtual teaching, faculty development, cross-culture university-to-university collaborations, and exchanges. This research explored the experiences of higher education faculty, Black African academic …

The Sacred And The Secular: The Impact Of Gender And Religiosity On Leadership, Carol Lusk

Theses and Dissertations

Despite strides, women remain underrepresented in leadership positions, a disparity that invites a deeper understanding of underlying factors, including the unexamined influence of religiosity. An explanatory sequential mixed methodological approach revealed unique insights. Among a nationally representative sample of men and women (n = 1150), the quantitative analysis suggested that religiosity contributed to the leadership journey for men, but the relationships were more complex for women. Religious women of all ages were more motivated to lead than non-religious women. However, once age was considered, non-religious women attained higher leadership positions than religious women. The qualitative phase, consisting of 12 interviews …

Strategies And Best Practices For Career Advancement For Female Officers In The United States Military, Kayleigh Axtell

Theses and Dissertations

Although there have been significant policies in support of advancing women in the military, they still face many challenges in advancing their careers. Nonetheless, women still have the desire and propensity to serve and work toward higher-ranking leadership positions. Prior research has utilized both qualitative and quantitative research and data from veterans and a combination of officers and enlisted personnel. This paper adds to the literature by using a qualitative, phenomenological approach leveraging the lived experience of active-duty female military officers. Appreciative inquiry and best practices frameworks create the theoretical foundation for this research. Chapter 1 introduces the advancement of …

Best Practices Of Secondary Grades 6-12 Educators Teaching Physical Computing With Microcontrollers, David E. Platt

Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative, phenomenological research study explores the best practices that secondary Grades 6-12 educators employ when using microcontrollers in the classroom. Governmental and private organizations have investigated and promoted the importance of Science, Technology, Engineering, Math (STEM) and computer science in education (Code Advocacy Coalition [CODE], n.d.-a; Fayer et al., 2017; National Science Board [NSB], 2010b, 2018, 2020b, 2022; President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology [PCAST], 2010, 2012). Computer science occupations are a leading field and will have strong growth through 2029 compared to STEM occupations (Zilberman & Ice, 2021). Organizations such as CODE, Computer Science Teachers Association …