Business Commons^™

Diversity And Job Satisfaction: Reconciling Conflicting Theories And Findings, Douglas Campbell

International Journal of Applied Management and Technology

This is a multidisciplinary study on reconciling the conflicting theories and research concerning whether a person’s gender, race, or ethnicity affects his or her overall job satisfaction or degree of satisfaction with any element of the job. A disciplined baseline survey was performed. Statistical techniques, including a stepwise regression, were used to identify significant relationships. The findings and observations resolve what had appeared to be conflicting theories and research findings. The author concludes that in some instances, a legitimate correlation between gender, race, or ethnicity and job satisfaction or the degree of satisfaction with a particular job element may be …

Improving The Cme Accreditation And Implementation Process Through “Lean” Methodology, Karen Craig, Jane M. Grube

Department of Education

No abstract provided.

Experimentally Analyzing The Impact Of Leader Positivity On Follower Positivity And Performance, James Avey, Bruce J. Avolio, Fred Luthans

Department of Management: Faculty Publications

This field experimental study examined the role that positive leadership plays in producing effective leader and follower outcomes. Specifically, a sample of engineers (N = 106) from a very large aerospace firm were randomly assigned to four experimental conditions. Two conditions involved assigning these engineers to a low and high problem complexity condition. The other two conditions represented high versus low conveyed leader positivity. The results indicated a positive relationship between the leaders’ positivity and the followers’ positivity and performance, as well as a negative relationship between problem complexity and follower positivity. The study limitations, needed future research, and practical …

Decoupling Of Standard Implementation From Certification: Does Quality Of Iso 14001 Implementation Affect Facilities’ Environmental Performance?, Deepa Aravind, Petra Christmann

Publications and Research

The literature on certifiable management standards has not paid sufficient attention to implementation of standard requirements in certified firms. Firms that obtain standard certification to achieve the legitimacy benefits of certification may not implement standard requirements sufficiently to realize the standard’s intended performance outcomes. We argue that such decoupling of implementation from certification threatens the effectiveness of certifiable standards as governance mechanisms for firms’ environmental conduct because standard certification may not accurately signal firms’ superior environmental performance to external stakeholders. Empirical findings based on the ISO 14001 standard at the facility level support this view: Quality of standard implementation affects …

“Choice Of Service, Choice Of Cost”- A Transformational Change Program In It - The Case Of A Global Consumer Products Company: Case Study, Barbara M. Tarasovich, Bridget Lyons

WCBT Faculty Publications

This paper presents a framework for development of a transformational change management program (Flamholtz and Randle, 2008) in an information technology (IT) organization of a global Fortune 200 consumer products company. The goal of the transformation was to build leading edge global IT service offerings, to internal and ultimately external customers. The program played a pivotal role in the company’s "Path to Growth" Strategy. This strategy included very specific targets for sales, margins and earnings growth over a five-year period. The case illustrates how a well conceived change program, integrated with an organization’s overall strategic plan, is a competitive advantage.

Problem-Based Learning Leadership Development Program In A Multi-National Company, Stephen M. Brown, Petra Garnjost, Stefan Heilmann

WCBT Faculty Publications

This paper reports on the development and implementation of a team leadership training program in a multi-national company. The European Engineering Company (EEC Group) had grown and expanded into many countries in a relatively short time frame as a result of increased demand for the company's products and services in newly developing countries. The EEC Group and the training program had additional issues of culture and basic institutional knowledge. The paper reports on the program, the conceptual framework of the International Leadership Development Program (ILDP), results, and lessons learned. The authors advocate use of a Problem-based Learning (PBL) methodology to …

Narrative Approach To Corporate Strategy: Empirical Foundations, Michael S. Carriger

WCBT Faculty Publications

Purpose - This paper aims to present theoretical and empirical foundations for the use of a particular type of narrative skillfully deployed by senior leaders in an organization as an effective tool for creating, disseminating and executing corporate strategy. Design/methodology/approach - The paper presents original research on the effectiveness of the use of a "springboard story" as a leadership tool. Findings - Data are presented to substantiate that a "springboard story" presentation of corporate strategy and competitive advantage is more effective at producing a consistent and confident choice of competitive advantage among an audience than a presentation of corporate strategy …

Examining Perceptions Of Managers And Financial Advisors Of A Mentoring Program On Productivity And Retention, Marston A. Thomas

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Researchers have found that 90% of financial advisors leave the life insurance industry in first year, 68% in the second year, and 50% in the third year. Researchers have noted the importance of mentorship aimed at work attitudes, yet there is a lack of research concerning attrition and its effects on the industry. The purpose of this quantitative study was to examine managers' and financial advisors' perception of a mentoring program on advisors productivity and retention. Social learning theory was applied as the theoretical framework for this study. Data were collected from financial advisors and their managers across 13 branch …

A Review Of The Department Of The Army's Decentralized Cost Benefit Analysis Process, Gerard M. Acosta

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

From 1996 to 2006, the number of Department of Defense (DoD) contract transactions increased, leading to over expenditures and the need for agencies to determine benefit estimation to improve risk management of a project. The purpose of this qualitative case study was to apply a total quality management theory to explore if a standardized versus decentralized benefits framework within the cost benefit analysis process could improve the Department of the Army acquisition selection process. The two central research questions addressed (a) the differences between successful and failed acquisition systems cost benefit analysis, and (b) whether a standardized or decentralized cost …

Factors Affecting The Job Satisfaction Of Registered Nurses Working In The United States, Ann Marie Huffenberger

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

As the health care sector in the United States undergoes transformation, job dissatisfaction has become a problem that is confounded by the challenge that nurse executives encounter in understanding the aspirations of an increasingly diverse workforce. A quantitative survey was conducted online using a representative sample of registered nurses (RNs) nationwide. Approximately 127,000 RNs from across the nation received an invitation, and 272 RNs participated. Factorial ANOVAs were performed to answer the research questions of whether aspects of job satisfaction differ across the demographic factors of a diverse RN workforce. No differences exist in personal satisfaction or satisfaction with workload …

A Mixed Methods Examination Of The Influence Of Dimensions Of Support On Training Transfer, Laura A. Schindler

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Organizations invest a significant amount of time and money on training; however, most employees do not transfer what they learned in training to the specific tasks required in their job. While extant research suggests that supervisor support may facilitate training transfer, the influence of specific types or dimensions of support is still unknown. The purpose of this mixed methods sequential explanatory study was to examine how specific dimensions of support (mentoring, coaching, social support, and task support) influence training transfer. Organizational support theory and the theory of planned behavior served as the theoretical framework for this study. Quantitative data were …

The Potential Role Of Business Intelligence In Church Organizations, Charmaine Felder

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Business intelligence (BI) involves transforming data into actionable information to make better business decisions that may help improve operations. Although businesses have experienced success with BI, how leaders of church organizations might be able to exploit the advantages of BI in church organizations remains largely unexplored. The purpose of the phenomenological study was to explore the perceptions of pastoral leaders concerning the potential usefulness of BI in church organizations. Conceptual support for the study was based on the premise that churches may also benefit from BI that helps improve decision making and organizational performance. Three research questions were used to …

Leadership Styles And Faculty Satisfaction In The State University System Of Florida, Justin Ted Bateh

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Universities must retain satisfied employees to enhance productivity and reduce turnover. Leadership represents one of the fundamental factors in job satisfaction. The purpose of this correlational study was to examine the relationship between perceived academic administrator leadership styles and the satisfaction of faculty members. The independent variables were the transformational, transactional, and passive/avoidant leadership styles of academic administrators as evaluated by faculty members. The dependent variable was job satisfaction of full-time faculty members. The Multifactor Leadership Questionnaire was used to identify the leadership style of an administrator as perceived by faculty members. Spector's Job Satisfaction Survey was used to assess …

Exploration Of The Project Management Practitioner's Emotional Intelligence Competencies, Linda A. Hooper

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The success rate of information technology projects is on a downward trend, with reported losses in the billions of dollars. Recent studies indicate a 50--56% project success rate based on quality, budget, and on-time criteria. Building upon the conceptual framework of the emotional intelligence and knowledge management theories, the purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore how project management practitioners apply self- and cultural-awareness competencies to affect project outcomes. Using a purposeful sampling method, 24 experienced U.S.-based project management practitioners participated in a web-based questionnaire. Following Giorgi's data reduction process resulted in numeric data coding. Thematic analysis revealed themes …

Learning Without Onboarding: How Assessing And Evaluating Learning Benefits New Information Technology Hires, Dory L. Morris

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Onboarding ensures learning success through sharing and acquiring knowledge to remain competitive. However, little is known about new Information Technology (IT) hires' learning needs in the absence of onboarding; therefore, the purpose of this case study was to examine, increase, and retain their technical knowledge at the Unified Communications Company (UCC). Following the theoretical model of knowledge management, which holds that knowledge is the key to confirm learning and knowledge sharing, the research questions were used to examine how the company assessed and increased their technical knowledge and how they taught their culture in the absence of onboarding. A qualitative …

Asset Reuse Of Images From A Repository, Deirdre Herman

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

According to Markus's theory of reuse, when digital repositories are deployed to collect and distribute organizational assets, they supposedly help ensure accountability, extend information exchange, and improve productivity. Such repositories require a large investment due to the continuing costs of hardware, software, user licenses, training, and technical support. The problem addressed in this study was the lack of evidence in the literature on whether users in fact reused enough digital assets in repositories to justify the investment. The objective of the study was to investigate the organizational value of repositories to better inform architectural, construction, software and other industries whether …

Evolution Of Physician-Centric Business Models Under Patient Protection And Affordable Care Act, Tanya Nix

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

For several decades, the cost of medical care in the United States has increased exponentially. Congress enacted the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) of 2010 to ensure affordable healthcare to the citizens of the United States. The purpose of this case study was to explore physicians' perspectives regarding physician-centric business models evolving under the requirements of PPACA legislation. Complex adaptive systems formed the conceptual framework for this study. Data were gathered through face-to-face, semistructured interviews and e-mail questionnaires with a purposeful sample of 20 participants across 14 medical specialties within Northeast Texas. Participant perceptions were elicited regarding opinions …

The Impact Of Industrial Technician Skill Losses At A West Tennessee Manufacturer, Kenneth W. Moten

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Business survival requires that decision makers understand the critical knowledge resources that support the business' core competencies, while also facing the challenges of current labor trends. The purpose of this study was to explore the lived experiences of the management staff at a west Tennessee manufacturing facility about industrial technician skill losses. This phenomenological design included semistructured interviews of 20 managers, supervisors, and engineers and was an exploration of the potential losses from skilled worker attrition. The foundations of labor theory; knowledge management; and accounting measurements of intangible assets in advanced technology, communications, and economic systems provided the key elements …

Identity Negotiating: Redefining Stigmatized Identities Through Adaptive Sports And Recreation Participation Among Individuals With A Disability, Neil R. Lundberg, Stacy Taniguchi, Bryan P. Mccormick, Catherine Tibbs

Faculty Publications

The purpose of this study was to investigate the meanings and outcomes of adaptive sport and recreation participation among individuals with disabilities. In-depth open-ended interviews were conducted with 17 individuals. Analysis of the data followed qualitative data analysis and classical grounded theory utilizing line by line coding, identification of emergent themes, and identification of a core category grounded in the data. Results indicated that participants felt stigmatized and stereotyped, but their adaptive sports and recreation participation provided them with opportunities to build social networks, experience freedom and success, positively compare themselves with others without disabilities, and feel a sense of …

Firm Size Matters: An Empirical Investigation Of Organizational Size And Ownership On Sustainability- Related Behaviors, Peter Jack Gallo, Lisa Jones Christensen

Faculty Publications

The phrase “corporate sustainability” is increasingly prevalent in both the industry press and management journals (Engardio, 2007; Montiel, 2008). Corporate sustainability pledges and reports are also increasingly prevalent, yet empirical studies on how top managers define and enact the construct are lacking. To address this deficiency, we investigate how firms define, support, and report their sustainability efforts. In a large sample (N = 922) study of accounting executives at U.S.-based firms, we find evidence that organizational size, ownership, and industry are strongly related with support mechanisms and reporting of sustainability.

Psychological Need Satisfaction Through Sports Participation Among International Athletes With Cerebral Palsy, Neil R. Lundberg, Diane G. Groff, Ramon Zabriskie

Faculty Publications

Research indicates that people with disabilities who participate in sports and are physically active rate themselves higher in psychological well-being. The primary purpose of this study was to observe differences in the satisfaction of psychological needs through sports participation based on one’s impairment level. Participants in the study included 50 English-speaking individuals with cerebral palsy who were 18 years of age or older and who were competing in the 2005 World Cerebral Palsy Championship in New Haven, Connecticut. Descriptive statistics were gathered and a simple one-way ANOVA was used to test the differences in psychological need fulfillment. Results indicated a …

Positive Youth Development Within A Family Leisure Context: Youth Perspectives Of Family Outcomes, Peter J. Ward, Ramon B. Zabriskie

Faculty Publications

Family leisure involvement may provide the first and most essential context for positive youth development in today's society.

Structured and organized programs and activities provide valuable settings for youth development. However, the primary setting of the home should be considered the fi rst, and perhaps the most essential, context for positive youth development. Within the home environment, the parents are often the most invested adults in the lives of youth. Parental involvement is one of the strongest protective factors an adolescent can have related to maximizing his or her potential. Evidence supports that strong, positive parental infl uence contributes to …

مدى تطبيق واعتماد المصارف المحلية العراقية للحوكمة المصرفية.. دراسة ميدانية لعينة من المصارف العاملة في القطاعين الحكومي والخاص في بيئة العمل العراقية, محمد سمير دهيرب

Muthanna Journal of Administrative and Economics Sciences

تهدف الدراسة إلى التعرف على الحوكمة المصرفية وفقا لمبادئ وقواعد الحوكمة الصادرة عن منظمة التنمية والتعاون الاقتصادي (OECD) ولجنة بازل Basel) ) للرقابة المصرفية، حيث جاءت الدراسة لتسلط الضوء على مفاهيم وأهداف ومزايا الحوكمة, وقد تم تطبيق الحوكمة المصرفية في عينة من المؤسسات المالية ومنها المصارف المحلية العاملة في البيئة العراقية باعتبارها الركائز الأساسية للاقتصاد الوطني واحد دعائمه وذلك باستخدام أسلوب استمارات الاستبانة في مجتمع الدراسة المتكون من (30) موظف. إن أهم ما جاء بالدراسة من استنتاجات، أن مبادئ الحوكمة عند تطبيقها من شأنها أن تؤدي إلى تحقيق العدالة والشفافية وحماية حقوق المودعين وتعمل على تخفيض معدلات الفساد المالي والإداري …

Improving The Detection Of Narcissistic Transformational Leaders With The Multifactor Leadership Questionnaire: An Item Response Theory Analysis, Dale Frederick Hosking Martin

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Narcissistic transformation leaders have inflicted severe physical, psychological, and financial damage on individuals, institutions, and society. Multifactor Leadership Questionnaire (MLQ) has shown promise for early detection of narcissistic leadership tendencies, but selection criteria have not been established. The purpose of this quantitative research was to determine if item response theory (IRT) could advance the detection of narcissistic leadership tendencies using an item-level analysis of the 20 transformational leadership items of the MLQ. Three archival samples of subordinates from Israeli corporate and athletic organizations were combined (N = 1,703) to assess IRT data assumptions, comparative fit of competing IRT models, item …

The Power Of “We”: Effects Of Psychological Collectivism On Team Performance Over Time, James Belohlav, Erich Dierdorff, Suzanne Bell

College of Business Faculty and Staff Works

No abstract provided.

Institutional Compliance Vs. Client Loyalty In The Consideration Of Ambiguous Issues: The Social Construction Of Tax Advice, David E. Jones

Student Scholarship

Tax professionals are required to serve two masters equally: their client and the tax law. Often, serving these two masters creates conflicts that put the tax professional in a tension filled environment. We interviewed 29 tax professionals to generate a grounded theory about how tax professionals use their experiences, tools, training, judgment and decision-making processes to manage the tension they feel. Research is scant about how adherence to professional requirements and responsibilities weigh on tax professionals' advocacy attitudes and behaviors and about how tax professionals understand or define client loyalty and its relationship to regulatory and professional standards. Our data …

Using A Positive Lens To Complicate The Positive In Identity Research, Jane Dutton, Laura Morgan Roberts, Jeffrey Bednar

Faculty Publications

We appreciate the opportunity to respond to Learmonth and Humphreys’ commentary on our article, “Pathways for Positive Identity Construction at Work: Four Types of Positive Identity and the Building of Social Resources” (2010). In this rejoinder we clarify our motivation for studying positive identity, make explicit our a priori assumptions, and engage our colleagues’ ideas about employee resistance to demonstrate how our typology of positive identities enriches understanding of identity-based mechanisms in organizational research. We hope this exchange will stimulate discussion and open new pathways for future research.

Relative Pricing Of Publicly Traded U.S. Electric Utility Companies, Nicholas Stephen Jewczyn

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

In the financial turmoil of 2008, U.S. firms reported debt-ratios that differed from the debt-ratios calculated from balance sheets. The problem is that investors bought common stock expecting initial investment return and lost money when companies delisted. The purpose of this quantitative study was to determine sample securities pricing with the application of synthetic assets and debt accrued. Addressed in the research questions was whether those securities were (a) underpriced compared with return-on-assets (ROA), (b) overpriced compared with ROA, (c) a debt-ratio higher than 60% and also overpriced, (d) underpriced with a synthetic asset added, or (e) related by relative …

What Influences The Changes In Reit Ceo Compensation? Evidence From Panel Data, John M. Griffith, Mohammad Najand, H. Shelton Weeks

Finance Faculty Publications

This study examines what influences the changes in REIT CEO compensation using the following performance measures: average three-year total returns to shareholders, market value added, Tobin's q, and change in funds from operations. The impact of managerial power on the change in compensation is also examined. The empirical evidence indicates that firm performance and size do not influence the change in CEO salary, while risk, tenure, title, ownership, and age have significant impacts. Bonuses are not influenced by risk, size, or CEO power; however, they are influenced by performance. Option awards are affected by performance and CEO power.

An Approach To Theory-Based Youth Programming, Mat D. Duerden, Ann Gillard

Faculty Publications

A key but often overlooked aspect of intentional, out-of-school-time programming is the integration of a guiding theoretical framework. The incorporation of theory in programming can provide practitioners valuable insights into essential processes and principles of successful programs. While numerous theories exist that relate to youth development practice, they often remain inaccessible to practitioners. Therefore, the goal of this article is to synthesize two theoretical perspectives, the social development model and self-determination theory, into a practitioner-friendly programming framework. The resulting social development programming model outlines specific components, processes, and outcomes of effective and intentional youth development programs.