Business Commons^™

Taking Time And Making Space For Patient And Caregiver Partners, R. Hamilton, L. Hives

Patient Experience Journal

Patient and caregiver engagement is a paramount element to ensure the voice of lived experience is integrated and prioritized in research. However, what it looks like to actually participate in authentic patient and caregiver engagement can be challenging without understanding the experience of our patient and caregiver partners. I had the honour of interviewing a patient and caregiver partner who bestowed rich guidance about what it means to deliver excellent patient and caregiver engagement in research. Themes of the interview included taking time to collaborate, being mindful and giving gratitude, actively listening to partner voices, leading alongside patient and caregiver …

From Fear To Hope: How Communication Transformed Our Pregnancy Journey A Personal Narrative On The Critical Role Of Healthcare Communication In Patient Experience, Valan. P, Pulidindi Venugopal

Patient Experience Journal

This article emphasises the transformative potential of compassionate healthcare communication, particularly in the context of pregnancy loss. This personal narrative illustrates how varying communication approaches can significantly alter patient experiences, transforming anxiety-laden medical encounters into empowering partnerships with healthcare providers. A ten-month journey through pregnancy after a devastating miscarriage revealed the profound impact of communication quality on both clinical outcomes and emotional healing. The narrative contrasts three distinct communication environments: dismissive administrative systems that induce unnecessary stress, insensitive support staff during vulnerable moments, and a physician whose empathetic approach fundamentally transforms the entire pregnancy experience. Through a detailed examination of …

Why We Need A Patient-Centered Innovation Renaissance: A Horizontal And Vertical Integration Of Knowledge To Transform Care Pathways, Pieter Vandekerckhove, Benjamin H.L Harris, Louis J. Koizia, Ashok Handa, Chris Brainard, Steven Howard

Patient Experience Journal

We are at a pivotal moment. The future of healthcare innovation can no longer be defined solely by technological advancement or institutional efficiency. While digital tools, therapies and platforms continue to evolve, they must be embedded within a broader transformation, one that places the human experience at the centre of how we design, deliver and evaluate care. This patient-centred renaissance calls for the integration of both horizontal and vertical forms of knowledge: connecting services across the care continuum. From the literature and our experience, an unexpected byproduct of co-production with patients in health innovation and care delivery is a reduction …

“Those Boxes Do Not Hold Me”: Using Narrative Health Experiences Research To Learn From Patients And Care Partners Beyond Surveys, Rachel Grob, Barbara Warren, Erika Cottrell, Njeri Grevious, Sara Knight, Mark Schlesinger, Kate Clegg Smith, Nancy Pandhi

Patient Experience Journal

Stories are fundamental to how we understand individual beliefs and experiences, as well as collective mindsets and institutional practices. Volunteered narratives are abundant, especially on the interweb. We in the health experiences research community, however, are challenged to develop effective, equitable approaches to moving beyond surveys by hearing and responding to not just dominant voices, but also those whom research has historically ignored, silenced, or objectified. In this commentary, we describe one such approach: the Database of Individual Patient Experiences (DIPEx) methodology as adapted by the Health Experiences Research Network (HERN) for use in the U.S. context since 2015. We …

Mastering The Art Of Listening: The Human Experience Superpower, Jason A. Wolf

Patient Experience Journal

As human beings we do not live in isolation. Our existence is framed in the context of others. We are a part of families and teams, communities and countries; all which provide us with ideas and information, most delivered through the interactions we have with others. The very definition of experience itself conveys this as it opens with the words, “the sum of all interactions.”¹ Every experience that we have is impacted by interactions with others. This give and take of connection is the breath of our humanity. Through it we transfer thoughts and beliefs, words and emotions. Moments …

Toward A Theoretical Model Of Shared Leadership And Innovation In Family Business, Pamala J. Dillon, Leslie Blake-Davis, Eugene See, Mengjie Xu, Craig L. Pearce, Charles C. Manz

EKU Faculty and Staff Scholarship

We advocate shared leadership as a key mechanism for unlocking innovation in family businesses. Family businesses, however, typically emphasize hierarchical leadership, reflecting the family power structure, which can pose challenges for successful innovation by limiting resources and knowledge sharing between family and non-family members. Shared leadership, enabled by both empowering from formal hierarchical leaders, as well as self-leadership practices across the organization, can help to overcome this challenge by leveraging the familiness, and related social capital, present in family businesses. Exploring the impact of shared leadership on innovation, familiness and social capital are proposed to improve innovation in the family …

Parliamentary Procedure Interactive Notebook: Newly Revised, P. Troy White, Amie Carter

Department of Agricultural Leadership, Education, and Communication: Faculty Publications

An interactive notebook for teaching fundamentals of parliamentary procedure. Over 120 pages of content to help teach correct principles of this critical organizational management skill. P. Troy White is a Professional Registered Parliamentarian and a Certified Parliamentarian, ensuring that the content included follows the 12th Edition of Robert's Rules of Order.

Ua21 What's New, Wku Institutional Equity

WKU Administration Documents

Newsletter created by and about the Office of Institutional Equity.

• Demir, Ena. A Message from the Executive Director
• Training Opportunities: Stay Informed & Engaged
• Understanding Title VI
• Student Accessibility Center Joins the Office of Institutional Equity
• Need Workplace Accommodations?
• Web Accessibility Regulations
• Relevant Information
• Stop Campus Hazing Act
• Meet the Team

Two Essays On The Role Of Anthropomorphism In Consumer Behavior, Faegheh (Faa) Taheran

Theses and Dissertations in Business Administration

The first essay of this dissertation investigates the contradictory findings on the relationship between anthropomorphism and self-control by focusing on how everyday anthropomorphized objects, rather than the products being used for consumption, influence consumer behavior. While previous studies have shown that using anthropomorphized products may decrease consumers’ self-control, this paper examines how unrelated [to consumption] anthropomorphized objects in a consumer’s environment—such as a water bottle with a humanlike face—can evoke a sense of social presence, increasing consumers’ perceptions that they are being negatively evaluated. Drawing on mind perception theory, I propose that this fear of negative evaluation can enhance self-control. …

The Cost Of Strength: Navigating Systemic Racism And The Strong Black Woman Stereotype In The Workplace, Krystle M. Davis

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

This research defined and explored the lived experiences of Black women in leadership and the role of systemic racism on the performance of the strong Black woman stereotype in the workplace. Grounded in Black feminist thought, epistemology, and phenomenology, this qualitative study seeks to deepen understanding the lived experiences of Black women. This manuscript-style dissertation comprises two studies: Study 1 consisted of nine participants who contributed through Sista Circle focus groups and Study 2 consisted of fourteen participants who engaged in semi-structured interviews to defined and examined their workplace experiences. Situated at the intersection of race and gender, this research …

Autonomous, Yet Anchored: Exploring The Interplay Of Self-Reliance And Personal Spirituality On Employee Outcomes, Alexander Schad

All Dissertations

The modern workplace increasingly requires employees to function autonomously while managing limited psychological resources, presenting a tension between the benefits of self-reliance and its potential costs to well-being. This dissertation examined how self-reliance simultaneously influences task persistence and emotional exhaustion, and explores whether personal spirituality moderates these relationships. Drawing on the Strength Model of Self-Control (SMSC), I develop and test a theoretical framework investigating the relationships between self-reliance, work overload, task persistence, emotional exhaustion, and workplace spirituality.

Through a time-lagged field study with 453 working professionals across three measurement waves, I found that self-reliance positively predicted task persistence, supporting the …

Staff Matters: Adding Background Checks And Drug Testing To The Hiring Process, Jodi Schafer Sphr, Shrm-Scp

The Journal of the Michigan Dental Association

This article advises dental practices on legally and carefully implementing pre-employment background checks and drug testing. It emphasizes ensuring non-discriminatory practices by consistently applying policies and clearly defining screening criteria. Practices must obtain written applicant authorization and provide notification of Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) rights before conducting checks. When evaluating results, relevance to the job and timing of convictions should be considered, avoiding blanket bans. For drug testing, transparency is key. Given Michigan's recreational marijuana legality, a positive THC test does not automatically indicate impairment, requiring practices to define their approach. Using a reputable third-party provider for both screenings …

Mda Insurance: How Offering Great Benefits Makes Your Practice Attractive To Employees, Craig Start Mba

The Journal of the Michigan Dental Association

This article highlights the critical role of employee benefits in attracting and retaining staff in dental practices, particularly given the low unemployment rates for hygienists and assistants. Beyond competitive pay and flexible hours, a robust benefit package, including both employer-paid and voluntary options, is increasingly vital. The MDA Health Plan offers flexible group health insurance options for members. Voluntary benefits such as vision, life, disability, accident, critical illness, and hospital indemnity insurance are attractive, with Section 125 (cafeteria) plans allowing pre-tax premium payments and offering payroll tax reductions for employers. These benefits provide essential financial security and enhance overall compensation.

Mda Services: Endorsed Programs News

The Journal of the Michigan Dental Association

Throughh MDA Services, the Michigan Dental Association (MDA) has announced several endorsed programs aimed at supporting dental practices across Michigan: Compass Dental Gas Service is now endorsed by the MDA for its expertise in installing, maintaining, and repairing dental gas systems. Members benefit from exclusive discounts and safety compliance support. MEDVA Virtual Staffing offers HIPAA-compliant, human virtual assistants to handle administrative tasks remotely. This service helps reduce labor costs and allows in-office staff to focus on patient care. MDA Health Plan sponsors are reminded to submit overdue eligibility verification documents, which are essential for compliance and 2026 renewal preparations. DBS …

Regulatory Tension In Highly Structured Organizations, David Elliott Sr.

All Dissertations

This study examines the psychological mechanisms by which employees with a pronounced propensity for risk-taking navigate highly formalized organizational environments. Utilizing a longitudinal, three-wave cross-sectional design with temporal separation, the research surveyed 220 employees with psychometrically validated instruments to assess personality traits, role conflict, and organizational identification. Anchored in an integrative framework that combines regulatory focus theory (Higgins, 1997) and identity theory (Burke & Stets, 2009), the study hypothesized that self-verification striving and a growth mindset mediate the relationships between risk-seeking tendencies and the outcomes of role conflict and organizational identification, with organizational structure serving as a moderating variable. Structural …

Gender And Entrepreneurial Success: Examining The Relationships Among Risk Aversion, Loss Aversion, Risk Propensity, And Venture Performance, Kara Mcalister

All Dissertations

Gender disparities in entrepreneurship persist despite increased participation by women entrepreneurs. Traditional research has attributed these disparities to gender differences in risk-taking behavior, with women entrepreneurs typically characterized as more risk-averse. However, recent evidence suggests this oversimplifies a complex phenomenon and may reinforce harmful stereotypes. This study examined the relationships among risk aversion, loss aversion, risk propensity, and venture performance for male and female entrepreneurs, while considering moderating effects of industry gender-type and previous experience.

A quantitative cross-sectional design was employed with 157 entrepreneurs (93 female, 64 male) recruited from entrepreneurial organizations. Risk aversion was measured using the Domain-Specific Risk-Taking …

Between Two Worlds: A Case Study Of Third Culture Identity And Reentry For Unl International Students, John S. Tessalee

Department of Agricultural Leadership, Education, and Communication: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Third Culture Kids (TCKs) and international students share many commonalities, such as their globalized nature, adaptability, and the adoption of cultural components from their host country versus their home country. However, they contain enough differences to be considered separate groups. Traditionally, people need to be immersed in a culture different from their parents’ culture between the ages of 0 and 18 to be considered a TCK, whereas international students are typically between 18 and 24 years old by the time they attend universities overseas. The cultural absorption of TCKs in their formative years is usually greater than that of international …

Three Essays On Entrepreneurial Orientation And Competitive Repertoire, Gang Fan

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

While scholars confirm the positive relationship between entrepreneurial orientation (EO) and firm performance with meta-analyses, the mixed findings with widespread effect sizes imply that this critical relationship in entrepreneurship literature deserves further inspection. In this three-essay dissertation, I integrate the entrepreneurial orientation literature with the competitive repertoire literature. Specifically, in essay 1, I develop a theoretical framework of EO, competitive repertoire, and firm performance through the lens of capability theory. In the second essay, I examine the moderating role of competitive pressure on the EO-competitive repertoire relationship with a sample of all U.S.-listed firms. Finally, I articulate and examine how …

The Impact Of Culture And Language On Internal Communication And Patient Care In Small To Medium-Sized Black Immigrant-Owned Healthcare Practices In Texas., Chisom Nwosu

Dissertations

This qualitative phenomenological study explored how cultural competency in small to medium-sized Black immigrant-owned healthcare practices in Texas affects internal communication and patient care. Through semi-structured interviews with nine clinical and administrative leaders in Dallas and Houston, five themes emerged: culturally competent leadership, intentional communication structures, language and interpretation practices, patient-centered cultural sensitivity, and the use of technology for adaptation. Findings suggest that culturally aware leadership and inclusive communication strategies foster team cohesion and improve patient trust and care. Participants reported adapting workflows to meet religious, language, and communication needs through human and technological tools. The study underscores embedding cultural …

The Effects Of The Chief Information Officer’S Presence And Tenure On Financial Performance, Xuemei Li

Theses and Dissertations in Business Administration

CIOs should be at the core of the organization. They play more and more critical roles in organizations. However, CIOs have not been paid enough attention in many firms. This can be partially observed in a lack of studies about CIOs, for instance, how CIOs influence the organizations, and how organizations' settings influence the CIOs. Technical initiatives or innovations may be the bridge between CIOs and firm performance. Different theories have been employed concerning CIOs, innovations, and firm performance. For instance, the resource-based view (RBV) has served as a theoretical foundation in related studies.

Drawing on RBV, attention-based view (ABV), …

What The ‘One Big Beautiful Bill’ Means For Dentists, John Looby Cpa, Theodore C. Schumann Ii Mba, Msf, Cfp, Aif

The Journal of the Michigan Dental Association

Executive Summary: The One Big Beautiful Bill (OBBB), signed July 4, 2025, significantly impacts dentists by extending and making permanent many 2017 tax policies. Key tax changes include permanent tax rates, an increased state and local income tax (SALT) cap, and new deductions for seniors, qualified tips, overtime wages, charitable donations, and auto loan interest. The qualified business income deduction is now permanent, and first-year bonus depreciation is restored. New "Trump Accounts" are established for children. Crucially, the OBBB introduces $50,000 annual and $200,000 lifetime caps on professional degree student loans, effective July 2026, and establishes the Repayment Assistance Plan …

Dentistry And The Law: Length Of Covenants Not To Compete, Dan Schulte Jd

The Journal of the Michigan Dental Association

This article clarifies the distinct legal standards for covenants not to compete in Michigan, particularly relevant for dentists selling their practice and remaining employed. A covenant in an employment agreement is enforceable if "reasonable," typically limited to two to three years and the employer's patient draw area. In contrast, a covenant within a purchase agreement, considered a commercial contract, is judged under a more lenient "rule of reason" standard. This standard is easier to satisfy, requiring only that the covenant does not adversely impact the relevant market. Consequently, purchasers often use the purchase agreement to impose harsher, longer-term restrictive covenants.

Guest Editorial: Who’S Special Now?, Michael Maihofer Dds

The Journal of the Michigan Dental Association

This editorial discusses a controversial change in Michigan's dental specialty advertising law, which occurred in 2020. Previously, only state-recognized specialists, undergoing rigorous advanced training, could advertise their specialty status. However, a new rule, resulting from an out-of-court settlement, paradoxically allows general dentists not recognized as specialists to advertise as such without following advertising rules. This change is criticized for undermining public protection and creating unethical, misleading situations where general dentists advertise as pediatric dentists, for instance. The Michigan Dental Association (MDA) is actively working to revert this law by supporting House Bills 4593 and 4594 to ensure only recognized specialists …

Mda At Your Service: What’S The Mda Doing To Help The Hygienist Shortage?, Rachel Sinacola Dds

The Journal of the Michigan Dental Association

This article details the MDA's efforts to address Michigan's dental hygienist shortage, which saw about 3,000 licensed RDHs leave the workforce since 2020. Initiatives include paid social media campaigns targeting potential and former RDHs, although enrollment impacts have been minimal. The MDA is also collaborating with hygiene schools, helping Ferris State University secure funding to double its size and working with North Central Michigan College to establish a new school. Discussions are underway to explore allowing internationally trained dentists to perform hygiene duties. Additionally, the MDA endorses MEDVA for virtual assistant staffing, promoting HIPAA-compliant human professionals who handle remote administrative …

The New Professional: Tracking Success: Essential Kpis For Owners And Associates, Amrita Patel Dds

The Journal of the Michigan Dental Association

This article underscores the importance of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for data-driven success in modern dental practices. For new practice owners, essential KPIs include production, collections, and overhead ratio to ensure financial stability and operational efficiency. Patient flow metrics, such as new patient numbers and retention rates, are vital for growth. For both owners and associates, case acceptance rate reflects treatment plan conversion, and chair time utilization measures clinical efficiency. Other critical KPIs encompass hygiene production, patient satisfaction scores, online reviews, and accounts receivable aging. Associates can also track personal production and referral patterns for career development.

Polymathy: The Foundational Source Of Creativity And Innovation., Michael Araki

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In an era of mounting complexity and a growing need to transcend siloed thinking, this dissertation advances polymathy as a critical yet underexplored construct in the management and behavioral sciences. Polymathy is framed as an expansive approach to the pursuit, development, and application of knowledge, marked by the conjunction of breadth, depth, and integration. Building on a thought lineage that stretches from Ancient Greece through the Renaissance to the present day, this work shows that polymathy is neither a relic of the past nor an achievement reserved for a few—but a mode of being, thinking, and acting in the world …

Engaging In Movement At Work: Exploring Engagement And Physical Activity., Spencer A. Cavan

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

High levels of employee engagement provide organizations competitive advantages such as increased customer satisfaction, profits, and employee productivity. Despite potential benefits, the number of engaged employees is declining and organizations need to find innovative ways to enhance engagement. Emerging evidence suggests workplace physical activity may generate organizational benefits extending beyond health improvement. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate perceptions of engagement among employees participating in a physical activity intervention at work. A qualitative design, guided by phenomenology, examined perceptions of workplace physical activity and perceived levels of engagement, as well as constraints related to involvement among university …

From Pencil To Pixel: How Leadership Shapes Organizational Responses To Competence-Destroying Technological Change, Jennifer Underwood

All Dissertations

This dissertation examines how managerial leadership enables organizations to overcome inertia during competence-destroying technological change through a historical comparative case analysis of the animation industry's transition from hand-drawn to computer-generated imagery (CGI) between 1980-2000. Drawing on archival data from Disney, Pixar, and Don Bluth Studios, I identify three distinct leadership approaches—pioneering, bridging, and preserving—that differently influenced how workforces adjusted their views of identity, process, and change. These adjustments led to three different outcomes: transformative integration, constrained adoption, and entrenched resistance. This research makes three theoretical contributions and develops a novel framework that explains how leadership can constrain or enable transformation, …

Like Footprints In The Sand: How Founders Imprint Organizational Culture Through Nonverbal Cue Signaling, Dirk M. Roskam

All Dissertations

Despite growing recognition of the significance of founders’ behaviors in shaping organizational culture, limited research has explored how founders’ non-verbal cues (NVCs) imprint culture during a venture’s formative stages. This qualitative case study examines how a founder’s NVCs, ranging from physical environment design to gestures and demeanor, are interpreted by employees and contribute to the imprinting of organizational culture. Drawing on imprinting theory, signaling theory, and the Organizational Culture Profile (OCP), the study triangulates data from semi-structured interviews, a focus group, and a literature review. Findings reveal that employees interpret 24 salient NVCs, grouped into themes of environmental values, people-centric …

Transforming Childhood Adversity Into Executive Excellence: Impact On Firm Performance, Kimberly Byars

All Dissertations

Many successful business leaders have overcome difficult childhoods, yet little research has examined how early hardships might actually contribute to leadership effectiveness. This study investigated whether CEOs who experienced childhood adversity can transform these difficult experiences into strengths that improve their companies' performance.

The research surveyed 165 business owners across two groups: general business owners and automotive dealership owners. Participants answered questions about their childhood experiences, their ability to grow from trauma, and various psychological traits like grit, mental toughness, resilience, and growth mindset. Company performance data was also collected.

The findings challenge conventional wisdom that difficult childhoods necessarily harm …