Business Commons^™

Identifying Effective Attributes And Trends In The Evolution Of Enterprise Architecture In Healthcare, Brian Gaul

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine which attributes within existing Enterprise Architecture frameworks are trending in recent, successful implementations within healthcare. The research questions were: Q1. What attributes were used within Enterprise Architecture in the healthcare industry? Q2. What are the limitations of those attributes? Q3. How can those attributes assist in successful Enterprise Architecture implementations? To uncover these attributes in practical work, this study used a trend analysis of current qualitative data of the healthcare industry and in recent implementations. The findings were as follows: Q1. Eight attributes were identified in practical healthcare work, the two most …

Essays On Operations Management Problems In Service And Retail Systems, Ruijie Zhang

Dissertations and Theses Collection (Open Access)

Customers' waiting experiences are crucial in service and retail systems, and this thesis investigates their impact in various contexts. In the service system, long waiting time causes customers' no-show behavior, and negative feedback from existing customers, which in turn results in low conversion and loss of revenue for service providers. However, waiting is not always a negative presence. In the online retail system, with the innovation of the sales model, long waiting can earn more time for online retailers to ease the logistics pressure although it may reduce customers' willingness to pay at the same time. Against this backdrop, in …

Essays On New Business Models In Operations, Liling Lu

Dissertations and Theses Collection (Open Access)

This dissertation consists of three essays about problems of managing operations with emerging new business models that are broadly related to anti-counterfeiting, car subscription programs, and on-demand ride-hailing services. In the following three chapters, each studies one type of new business model with opportunities and challenges, and builds analytical models to explore the implications on firms' operational decisions.

Chapter 2 studies the emergence of “super fakes,” and investigates the effectiveness of the new anti-counterfeiting measure — converting counterfeiters to authorized suppliers. We employ a game-theoretic model to examine interactions between a brand-name firm with its home supplier, and a counterfeiter …

Factors That Affect The Motivation And Satisfaction Of Emiratis Workforce In Critical And Key Positions: The Case Of The Uae Media Sector, Afra Sulaiman Al Mheiri

Dissertations

With the economic boom of the UAE in recent years, the country has seen a major change in terms of employment of Emiratis and expatriates and influx of foreign job-seekers into UAE market. Despite the federal government's continued efforts to promote Emiratization and create a favourable business environment that attracts Emirati job-seekers, a slight improvement in the employment situation of Emirati workers, especially in key positions in private media sector. Although the UAE media sector plays a key role in reshaping the sociocultural landscape and is used as a soft tool of public diplomacy, it is slow in achieving Emiratization …

Human Capital Advantage From Fortitude, Resilience, And Perseverance Of Minority Ceos In Stem Organizations: A Phenomenological Study, Torin Mordel Malone

Theses and Dissertations

This research study explored how the inherent lived experiences of minorities can foster the attributes of strength and stamina, collectively referred to as the fortitude, resilience, and perseverance (FRP) of minority executive-level leadership. Specifically, this research considered the lived experiences of ten minority CEOs and assessed the influence of how they lead and communicate within their organizations. The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to discover if and how the attributes of FRP could distinctively serve as a human capital advantage for organizations to consider with regard to utilizing minority executive-level leadership. The implication is that the greater understanding …

Organizational Culture During The Era Of A Black Swan: A Phenomenological Examination Of New Hire Sales Training Within A Medical Diagnostic Company, Maelyn Zweben Lessard

Theses and Dissertations

Traditional sales training in a medical diagnostic organization takes place in multiple locations over the period of many months. New hires attend classes with a set group of other new hire employees establishing a cohort. It is the responsibility of the sales training department and the new hire’s direct supervisor to incorporate training into the organizations culture. This is done by bringing the new hire into the corporate office and, through the months of training, exposing the new hire to leadership, support functions, manufacturing, and multiple departments that will support their job moving forward. COVID-19 created a rapid market increase …

Artificial Intelligence Superteams & Augmentation Strategies: Increasing Performance Of High-Functioning Virtual Team Members Via Human Machine Teaming Enhancements, Eric Lawrence Demirjian

Theses and Dissertations

Artificial intelligence (AI) can impact future workforce business operations in extraordinary ways through human-machine teaming. A human-machine teaming revolution will unleash enormous change upon businesses by merging humans and AI. For years, scholars and mainstream thought leaders have argued that firms must embrace AI and human-machine teaming to advance employee performance and deliver a high-performance, cost-effective, comprehensive business strategy (Raisamo, Rakkolainen, Majaranta, Salminen, Rantala, & Farooq, 2019). The era of human inadequacy, human-only teams, and human performance ceilings is disappearing as AI rapidly augments work and teams (Ashley & Sahota, 2019). AI augmentation and human-machine teaming will drive tomorrow’s blended …

A Focus On Followers: Examining Relationships Between Elements Of The Leader-Follower Relationship From The Follower’S Perspective, David James Ross

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation examines followership style, leadership behaviors, and LMX-quality from the follower’s perspective. This research used Kelley’s followership framework, the full range leadership model, and the LMX-6 instrument to analyze each dimension of the leader-follower relationship. Using a sample of 89 followers from various backgrounds, the study collected data regarding each of the followers’ unique relationships with their leader. These data provided insights into the followers’ current followership style (i.e., their current levels of independent critical thinking and active engagement), their leaders ‘behaviors, and the quality of their individual leader-follower relationship. The researcher used the statistical program JASP to measure …

Mega-Threats And The Impact Of Traumatic Stress On Mixed Race Leader-Member Exchange Dyads, Alana M. Bell

Graduate Theses and Dissertations (2019 - present)

This dissertation explores the consequences of mega-threats - defined by Leigh and Melwani (2019, p. 564) as large-scale negative identity related episodes that receive significant media attention - on the exchange relationship between employees and supervisors in mixed race dyads. Drawing specific attention to mega-threats centered around Black Americans, I propose that race-based traumatic stress leads minority (i.e., Black) subordinates, to experience a decrease in leader-member exchange (LMX) quality with their majority identifying (i.e., White) leader. I further propose that leader intercultural sensitivity will moderate the relationship between race-based traumatic stress and LMX quality, with high leader intercultural sensitivity helping …

Rattus Norvegicus As A Biological Detector Of Clandestine Remains And The Use Of Ultrasonic Vocalizations As A Locating Mechanism, Gabrielle M. Johnston

Master's Theses

In investigations, locating missing persons and clandestine remains are imperative. One way that first responder and police agencies can search for the remains is by using cadaver dogs as biological detectors. Cadaver dogs are typically used due to their olfactory sensitivity and ability to detect low concentrations of volatile organic compounds produced by biological remains. Cadaver dogs are typically chosen for their stamina, agility, and olfactory sensitivity. However, what is not taken into account often is the size of the animal and the expense of maintaining and training the animal. Cadaver dogs are typically large breeds that cannot fit in …

To Serve And Deplete: Exploring Outcomes Of Emotional Exhaustion In Servant Leadership And The Moderating Role Of Self-Leadership, April E. Mondy

Graduate Theses and Dissertations (2019 - present)

This study explores the outcomes of emotional exhaustion in servant leadership, a leadership style through which leaders enact influence by serving, empowering, and developing others—that is, 'leading from behind.' Drawing on conservation of resources theory, I explored how servant leadership behaviors may adversely affect the practicing leader through emotional exhaustion and laterally influence the subsequent outcomes of work disengagement and work–family conflict. Additionally, I investigated the moderating influence of self-leadership on the relationship between servant leadership and emotional exhaustion. I tested a moderated mediation model with regression analysis using two independent samples of organizational leaders surveyed at two different time …

How Monetary Incentives And Loyalty Affect Goal Realization, Lawrence E. Goehrig

Graduate Theses and Dissertations (2019 - present)

Monetary incentives are widely known to help motivate employees. Mostly these monetary incentives are used to increase the effort of the employees to attain the goals of the firm. Attaining firm goals will increase revenues, profits, market share, and similarly valued outcomes. These monetary incentives are often a gamble for the firm as there is no direct method to show the impact monetary incentives will have on goal attainment. Other variables come into play when monetary incentives are used. Employee loyalty, locus of control, and dishonest behavior are three that were researched. Employee loyalty can help the firm attain goals …

Project Foresight Annual Report, 2021-2022, Paul J. Speaker

Faculty & Staff Scholarship

Project FORESIGHT is a business-guided self-evaluation of forensic science laboratories across the globe. The participating laboratories represent local, regional, state, and national agencies. Economics, accounting, finance, and forensic faculty provide assistance, guidance, and analysis. Laboratories participating in Project FORESIGHT have developed standardized definitions for metrics to evaluate work processes, linking financial information to work tasks, and functions. Laboratory managers can then assess resource allocations, efficiencies, and value of services—the mission of Project FORESIGHT is to measure, preserve what works, and change what does not.

The benchmark data for the 2021-2022 performance period includes laboratory submissions for a variety of fiscal …

Lululemon Athletica Inc. Backhaul Strategic Audit, Hadley Hiatt

Honors Program: Senior Projects (Public)

Lululemon Athletica Inc. (Lululemon) is an athletic apparel company headquartered in Canada. Lululemon targets consumers who strive to live a healthy, active lifestyle. Its business model is based on the “Power of Three x 2” focusing on three strategic pillars, product innovation, guest experience, and international expansion. This analysis seeks to understand Lululemon’s face paced growth and unique business strategy through the use of a PESTEL analysis of macro environment, Porter’s Five Forces analysis of the competitive environment of the industry, analyzing the company’s strategy, major strategic objectives, competitive advantages, resources that may lead to a sustainable competitive advantage, and …

Lululemon Athletica Strategic Audit, Nolan T. Rinn

Honors Program: Senior Projects (Public)

Lululemon Athletica Inc. (Lululemon) is principally a designer, distributor, and retailer of technical athletic apparel, footwear, and accessories with a vision to create transformative products and experiences that build meaningful connections, unlocking greater possibility and wellbeing for all (Lululemon). This paper will examine Lululemon to understand its market position and competitiveness within the athletic apparel industry. The analysis uses PESTEL and Porter’s Five Forces analyses to evaluate the changing external environment and industry Lululemon operates in.

Diageo Strategic Audit: A Deep Dive Into The Management Strategies Of Diageo, Hailey Hoogers, Maria Alessandro, Joel Myers, Abigail Grimm, Harrison Gates

Honors Program: Senior Projects (Public)

Diageo is a multinational premium drink producer and supplier with over 200 brands and sales in over 180 countries. A conglomerate since its founding, Diageo controls and operates some of the world’s well-known and loved drinks, like Guinness, Johnnie Walker, Smirnoff, Bailey’s, Captain Morgan, and Crown Royal. The firm is an industry leader in consumer insight, innovation and creativity, and sustainability efforts. Diageo believes pursuing sustainability, efficiency, and positive drinking allows them to compete, now and in the future. This audit analyzes the history, leadership, business model, mission, external environment, internal environment, core competencies, recent performance, competitive dynamics, business level …

Simulation Modeling For Robust And Just Public Policy Decision-Making, Jack Mitcham

Graduate Doctoral Dissertations

Public policy decision-making is challenging for several reasons. First, the outcomes of pulling a public policy lever are often deeply uncertain because of the complexity of the social and physical systems involved. Second, even if outcomes can be predicted, there are multiple points of view to consider, and the same outcome can be viewed anywhere from very positively to very negatively by different stakeholders. Because of this, public policy decisions should be both robust and just. Robustness helps with the uncertainty in outcomes and justice helps with differences in worldview. In this dissertation, I employ system dynamics and agent-based simulation …

Two Essays On Industry Tournament Incentives, Sarah Almisher

Theses and Dissertations in Business Administration

A large body of literature has developed on the disparities in compensation among chief executive officers. Financial media has highlighted the fact that CEOs in the United States receive excessive pay and that the gap among executive compensation is soaring. High compensation creates incentives for CEOs to take higher risk in firm policies to land a more attractive position managing another firm and attaining higher pay which is considered the ultimate prize (Kale, Reis, and Venkateswaran 2009; Coles, Daniel, and Naveen 2006). This creates a tournament in the managerial labor market. We define this tournament as the pay differential between …

Firm Capabilities, Great Power Competition, And The Structural Reshaping Of Globalization, Samuel Wilson

Theses and Dissertations in Business Administration

The changing nature of modern globalization has given rise to strategic competition between great power states, who utilize global firms and policy interventions in commercial markets to pursue state-level objectives. Multinational executives operating in global markets must contend with the consequences of great power competition between countries like the US and China, developing novel strategies and capabilities to defend firm performance in the face of trade wars and geopolitical confrontation. Through the analysis of risk factor disclosures of foreign multinational firms operating in China, as well as cases of Chinese economic and industrial espionage against US firms, this study utilizes …

Exploring The Role Of Soft Skills Amongst African American Women Navigating Barriers To Achieving Corporate Leadership, Latoya Newell Burke

Theses and Dissertations

This study sought to explore the role of soft skills in African American women's ascension to corporate leadership as they navigate and overcome barriers. The disparity of African American women in corporate leadership is longstanding. African American women's corporate American experience is distinct and often fraught with difficulties. In order to overcome the obstacles they encountered while pursuing executive leadership, this study investigated if soft skills were thought to be a crucial skill required. The study fills a gap in research that addresses African American women specifically. Previous studies have addressed the barriers that African American women face in corporate …

High-Functioning Virtual Team Members & Quality Of Work Life: A Mixed Methods Analysis Of Subgroups, Performance, And Standard Occupational Classification Factors, Kate Ashley Hill

Theses and Dissertations

Historical events such as industrialization, the advent of computers, and the dawn of the internet have consistently impacted the employee workforce and created risks and opportunities for increased performance and quality of work life (QWL) (Guest, 2014; O’Halloran, 2015). Modern worldwide businesses are increasingly turning to virtual team members (VTMs) to create efficiencies, lower costs, and adapt to the changing implications of the COVID-19 and worker environment (Garro-Abarca, Palos-Sanchez, & Aguayo-Camacho, 2021). At this intersection between global change and altering work practices, the VTM faces changing societal views on QWL. Therefore, the individual VTM is the unit of analysis and …

Finding Calm Amidst Chaos, Lisa Knowles Dds

The Journal of the Michigan Dental Association

This commentary on mindfulness and wellness provides the practitioner with strategies to achieve peace amidst chaos.

Stakeholder Power And Sustainability Disclosure: Stakeholder Salience Perspective, Suria Majdi, Norman Mohd Saleh, Maizatulakma Abdullah, Norazlan Alias

The South East Asian Journal of Management

Research Aims: This study tests the effects of different stakeholder power (shareholders, employees, customers, business partners, community, government, NGOs, and media) on sustainability disclosure using stakeholder salience theory. Extending from this perspective, this study makes separate assumptions for each stakeholder and determines which one had the most power over sustainability disclosure.

Design/Methodology/Approach: The study adopts a journalism (i.e., news framing) approach and observes the element of power in sustainability disclosure using content analysis. The sample comprises of panel data of 140 listed firms in the construction and property sector in Malaysia.

Research Findings: The results show that the employees, community …

Portland State University Spring Symposium Report, Stephen Percy, Amy Mulkerin, Anna Ruby, Andria Johnson, Rowanna L. Carpenter, Jill Emery, Jennifer H. Allen, Kevin Neely, Lindsey Wilkinson, Cara Meyer, Michelle Janke, Jen Gray-O'Connor, Brad Simmons, Kelly Fry

Office of the President Publications and Presentations

The 2023 Spring Symposium arose in response to a request to PSU administrators in a Faculty Senate Resolution. That resolution noted the high level of interest by the Faculty Senate in both understanding and engaging in the university’s budgeting processes.

The Symposium offered an opportunity for all PSU employees to come together to identify priorities and shared purpose regarding the university’s approach to long term financial planning. The recommendations created during the symposium are being shared with incoming president Ann Cudd to inform her thinking as PSU pursues a path toward financial sustainability.

Table of Contents

04 Statement from President …

Lucky’S Legacy: Determining An Effective Relationship Between Music And Business Management Principles, Jacob Joseph

Honors Projects

The Recognition-Conversation-Reflection (hereafter “RCR”) framework is modeled after popular change management frameworks for accomplishing projects and goals, utilizing concepts found often in business management and strategy. While traditionally these ideas are found in the workplace, they also serve as complex practices that can be used in various contexts. The music industry is composed of a plethora of professions exploring vast genres and interpretations of melody around the world. Despite its diverse perspectives, music is rooted in performance involving ensembles of varying capacities. With the complexities of the RCR framework and the diversity of the music industry, the question I looked …

Challenging Perceptions: Actual Vs Perceived Generational Differences In Workplace Concepts Conducted During Covid 19, Jacob Slide

Honors Projects in Management

With three different generations in the workforce (Gen X, Millennials, and Gen Z), it is important for managers to understand what each generation expects in the workplace. This is especially important when managing intergenerational teams. As the only true digital natives enter the workforce, employers must select managers who can manage the conflict that arises from differences, actual or perceived, that often stem from poor communication and a lack of understanding. This study, grounded in Generational Cohort Theory and replicating the Lester et al. study conducted in 2012 with Baby Boomers, Gen X, and Millennials, aims to examine whether participants’ …

Women In The Construction Industry, Olivia Emond

Honors Projects in Management

The construction industry is a male dominated field that has been known for its masculine culture. Women have faced many barriers when entering this field of work due to this culture and being the minority. This study will look into the motivational factors that make women want to pursue a career in the construction industry. This research will look at female construction workers and how their experiences have helped shape their perception on the industry. The following study will analyze how females have combated the masculine culture in the industry and what makes females want to obtain leadership positions. This …

Case Study Summary: Johnson & Johnson And Macy's Inc., Cameron Richardson

Honors Theses

This thesis, over a one-year period, covers conclusions derived from research on two different companies: Johnson & Johnson and Macy’s Inc. Through a two-semester course taken within the scope of the honors college alongside Dr. Victoria Dickinson, I, alongside my respective group members for each company, were able to compile a thorough analysis of risks and business strategies the two corporations could identify and implement to manage present and future complications. This analysis followed standard conventions of the accounting profession, as our research was focused on identifying risks and strategies affiliated with audit, tax, and advisory services, modeling how professional …

Why Time Management For College Students Is Essential For Goal Setting, Anthony Mihok

Liberty University Research Week

Graduate

Three Minute Thesis

Role Of Service Quality Factors In Word Of Mouth Through Student Satisfaction, Rizwana Rasheed, Aamir Rashid

Publications and Research

Purpose

Service quality in academics is imperatively crucial. Therefore, the purpose of the current research is to examine the effect of academic service quality factors in higher education institutions which mainly focuses on students' satisfaction and the extent of recommending the same institution to other students.

Design/methodology/approach

This research evaluated the effect of service quality on student satisfaction and word of mouth (WOM). Data were collected from 200 respondents from various business schools, and hypotheses were tested through a quantitative method using partial least square-structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) with the help of SmartPLS to validate the measurement model.

Findings

The …