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Full-Text Articles in Business

Strategies For Managing A Multigenerational Workforce, Ronald Lee Iden Jan 2016

Strategies For Managing A Multigenerational Workforce, Ronald Lee Iden

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The multigenerational workforce presents a critical challenge for business managers, and each generation has different expectations. A human resource management study of organizations with more than 500 employees reported 58% of the managers experiencing conflict between younger and older workers. The purpose of this single case study was to explore the multigenerational strategies used by 3 managers from a Franklin County, Ohio manufacturing facility with a population size of 6 participants. The conceptual framework for this study was built upon generational theory and cohort group theory. The data were collected through face-to-face semistructured interviews, company documents, and a reflexive journal. …


The Correlation Of Leader Traits And Learning Organizational Culture, Mark Reginald Porter Jan 2016

The Correlation Of Leader Traits And Learning Organizational Culture, Mark Reginald Porter

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Many researchers in numerous studies have focused on leadership style and organizational cultures, but there is an absence of research regarding leader personality traits and productive work cultures in Alberta's oil and gas industry. The purpose of this correlational study was to assess the relationship between leader traits and preestablished learning organization culture benchmarks within Alberta's oil and gas industry. Learning organization culture is an extension of Senge's learning organization theory. Simple random sampling was used to attain a population comprised of 52 employees in Alberta's oil and gas industry who were accountable to an organizational supervisor. Data were collected …


Frontline And Middle-Level Nursing Leader Transition Within The Military Health System, Rudolph George Newman Jan 2016

Frontline And Middle-Level Nursing Leader Transition Within The Military Health System, Rudolph George Newman

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Healthcare delivery within the military requires a multifaceted approach to achieve the desired outcomes of safe, effective, patient-centered, timely, efficient, and equitable health care. The prospect of maintaining a cycle of continuous process improvements within military clinical settings hinge on frontline leaders and middle-level managers who must be prepared to execute the mission and motivate, supervise, coach and mentor the staff. This project showcases a review of current literature translated into the development of an evidence-based Transformational Leadership Induction Program (TLIP) module that consisted of 4 subsections: the environment of care, clinical decision support systems, human resources management, and change …


An Exploration Of Leadership Styles And Motivation In Egyptian Business Organizations, Nady Ahmed El-Zayaty Jan 2016

An Exploration Of Leadership Styles And Motivation In Egyptian Business Organizations, Nady Ahmed El-Zayaty

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Leadership styles can have a profound impact on employee motivation and performance. The changing global business landscape has drawn much attention to transformational leadership as an approach that addresses the demands of organizations in this complex environment. The purpose of this qualitative grounded theory study was to understand the nature of employee motivation with regard to leadership styles and the role of transformational leadership in Egyptian business organizations. Seventeen Egyptian professionals were recruited through a combination of e-mail and telephone procedures and were interviewed regarding their experiences with organizational leaders; their perception of the ideal organizational leader; their feelings about …


Benefits Of Conducting Postproject Reviews To Capture Lessons Learned, Olayemi Fadairo Jan 2016

Benefits Of Conducting Postproject Reviews To Capture Lessons Learned, Olayemi Fadairo

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Organizational learning has been a focus of scholars since 1970. Researchers have demonstrated that conducting postproject reviews to capture lessons learned significantly improves organizational learning. Guided by the concept of organizational learning, the purpose of this case study was to explore how 6 New York metropolitan organizational leaders used postproject reviews to prevent project managers from repeating the same mistakes, increasing cost and time overruns, and experiencing project failure. Semistructured face-to-face and phone interviews were conducted with a project sponsor and 5 project managers in the New York metropolitan area. Data were analyzed using the process of coding and condensing …


The Effect Of Healthcare Reform On The Sustainability Of Nonprofit Hospitals, Carmela Josephine Lynch Jan 2016

The Effect Of Healthcare Reform On The Sustainability Of Nonprofit Hospitals, Carmela Josephine Lynch

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Healthcare spending in the United States has continued to rise with annual healthcare cost of $3.8 trillion in 2014. While costs and the population continue to rise, resources continue to dwindle. Consequently, Congress has imposed various price controls and healthcare reform measures over the past 20 years, including the recent Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA), which aims to decrease spending while enhancing quality and safety of care delivery. As a result of the implementation of the PPACA, 34 million additional Americans may be eligible for healthcare in a system already needing additional resources, increased access to care, and …


Valuing Commercial Finance Companies, David Earle Coit Jan 2016

Valuing Commercial Finance Companies, David Earle Coit

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Stakeholders are increasingly insistent that companies increase firm value. The problem is that stakeholders of financial services firms are unable to accurately determine firm value. The purpose of this correlational study was to examine the accuracy of 4 valuation models in predicting the market value of equity of commercial finance companies. Study participating companies were 8 listed U.S. or Canadian commercial finance companies. The theoretical constructs of the study included the accuracy of valuation models, modern portfolio theory, and the correlation of book value of equity to market value of equity. Financial information on participating companies obtained from public filings …


Innovation Strategies Of Small And Medium-Sized Central North Carolina Discount Retailers, Godwin Oseloka Okonkwo Jan 2016

Innovation Strategies Of Small And Medium-Sized Central North Carolina Discount Retailers, Godwin Oseloka Okonkwo

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

In central North Carolina, small and medium-sized discount retailers have had a high failure rate, which is troubling considering that small businesses create jobs and drive successful innovation that is critical for economic development. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore experiences regarding successful innovation strategies of 20 discount retail industry owners and general managers located in central North Carolina. This study was grounded in Rogers`s diffusion of innovations conceptual framework and Christensen`s disruptive innovation theory. Data collection occurred through semistructured face-to-face interviews with owners and general managers of discount retail industry. Data analysis strategies included a modified …


The Impact Of Transformational Leadership Style On The Success Of Global Virtual Teams, Shery Wojtara-Perry Jan 2016

The Impact Of Transformational Leadership Style On The Success Of Global Virtual Teams, Shery Wojtara-Perry

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Organizations in the age of modern technology have a diverse workforce, who are spread around the globe, and the business leaders of the 21st century need to understand how best to manage, overcome new challenges, and know the various skills of team members to capitalize on their differences and unique skills. To allow those geographically dispersed workers to reach their full potential and facilitate team success. Global virtual teams (GVTs) operate in complex environments characterized by diverse cultural and organizational elements. The primary purpose of this correlational and nonexperimental quantitative research was to examine the impact of transformational leadership on …


Comparative Analysis: Successes And Failures Of St. Louis, Stephen Anane-Boakye Jan 2016

Comparative Analysis: Successes And Failures Of St. Louis, Stephen Anane-Boakye

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The St. Louis School District (SLSD) provided its students with a virtual education program (VEP) but abandoned it following a cut in federal funding, omitting an alternative pathway for students to complete their education. The problem addressed in this study was the effect of technology and management's decision to discontinue the VEP. The purpose of this qualitative study was to determine management's role and the effect of the technology in discontinuing the VEP. Dewey's theory of education and Koskela and Howell's theory of management established the theoretical foundation for the study. A purposeful sampling selection approach was used to recruit …


Emotional Intelligence, Leadership Style, And Job Satisfaction In Contrasting Workplace Environments, Jason Allen Downing Jan 2016

Emotional Intelligence, Leadership Style, And Job Satisfaction In Contrasting Workplace Environments, Jason Allen Downing

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Managers in direct contact with employees in operational and organizational settings have a profound effect on employee satisfaction and performance. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) indicated distinctly different levels of occupational stress between blue- and white-collar workers. A quasi-experimental design tested if the levels of emotional intelligence and transformational leadership style of managers had different effects on employee job satisfaction between blue- and white-collar workers. The theories of emotional intelligence, transformational leadership, and employee job satisfaction grounded the framework of the study. Data was collected using the Multifactor Factor Leadership (MLQ) questionnaire, the Job Satisfaction Survey (JSS), and the …


Corporate Social Responsibility And Financial Performance Of Banks In The United States, Waidi Alani Gbadamosi Jan 2016

Corporate Social Responsibility And Financial Performance Of Banks In The United States, Waidi Alani Gbadamosi

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Corporate social responsibility has evolved as a business strategy, but the business worth of voluntary social conduct has not been well understood. The contradictory research findings mean that social performance is not maximized, which constrains economic growth and sustainable development. Grounded by stakeholder theory, this correlational study was aimed at examining the effect of social responsibility factors on the market-based Fama-French cost of capital. Within a sample of 71 United States banks, the publicly available ethical ratings, financial data, and stock market data were analyzed using multiple regression models. Contrary to the positive effect of social conduct on financial performance …


Conflict And Diversity Associated With Four Generations In The Workforce, Rodney S. Milligan Jan 2016

Conflict And Diversity Associated With Four Generations In The Workforce, Rodney S. Milligan

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Four generations of workers share the workforce for the first time in history. Business leaders' failure to address generational conflict may lead to low productivity, high turnover rates, employee frustration, and reduced profits. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore the experiences of business leaders, managers, and supervisors in leading a multigenerational workforce within their companies. The conceptual framework was based on McClelland's theory, identifying key motivators that drive characteristics of people, including affiliation. A purposive sample of 20 local employees, spanning 4 generations from the retail grocery industry in Hampton Roads, Virginia, were interviewed to explore general …


Strategies To Improve Marine Inspection Performance In The U.S. Coast Guard, Joshua Buck Jan 2016

Strategies To Improve Marine Inspection Performance In The U.S. Coast Guard, Joshua Buck

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

U.S. Coast Guard leaders have received feedback concerning gaps in performance management of the Marine Inspection Program (MIP) from maritime industry stakeholders, Department of Homeland Security representatives, and internal agents over the past decade. The purpose of this case study was to explore strategies to improve performance in the U.S. Coast Guard MIP. Data were gathered through a review of documentation pertinent to marine inspection (i.e., policy, requirements, analyses, reports, and job aids) and 13 semistructured interviews with personnel from 3 distinct organizational levels. Study participants represented civilian and active duty personnel from all geographical U.S. Coast Guard districts, as …


Multinational Corporations' Return On Investment Optimization In Nigeria's Business Environment, Funlola Francesca Fajinmi Jan 2016

Multinational Corporations' Return On Investment Optimization In Nigeria's Business Environment, Funlola Francesca Fajinmi

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Trade between the United States and Africa decreased 32% from US$125 billion, in 2011, to US$85 billion, in 2013; however, MNCs from other regions have continued to increase investments in Africa. Multinational corporations (MNCs) generate most of their return on investment (ROI) from the Western world. Globalization, increasing middle classes in emerging markets, and decreasing population in the Western world have lead to unsustainable ROI. Nigeria, the most populous and largest economy in Africa and the 27th largest economy in the world, offers new opportunities with an annual growth rate forecast of 6% to 8%. Utilizing the diamond theory of …


A Qualitative Evaluation Of Leader-To-Millennial Relationship Development, Tywana Williams Jan 2016

A Qualitative Evaluation Of Leader-To-Millennial Relationship Development, Tywana Williams

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Generational conflicts affect socialization practices needed for knowledge transfer and Millennial retention. Because of failed socialization practices, organizations will face significant losses in knowledge capital as Boomers retire and Millennials began to take active roles within the workplace. This interpretative phenomenological study explored Millennials' perceptions of leader-to-employee relationship development that may influence organizational learning and retention practices. Millennial retention is a primary concern in that knowledge acquired is a result of longevity and work experience. The leader-to-member exchange theory was used to navigate this qualitative inquiry. The reflexive approach was implemented to explore 20 Millennial participants' experiences with their managers. …


A Qualitative Phenomenological Study Of Employee Perceptions Of The Impact Of Layoffs, Linda Carrington Jan 2016

A Qualitative Phenomenological Study Of Employee Perceptions Of The Impact Of Layoffs, Linda Carrington

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Millions of Americans were terminated from their employment in massive layoffs in 2013, which not only created outrage among employees. but also opened the door for retaliatory lawsuits. However, profitable companies are still engaged in restructuring and layoffs, which have a negative effect on employees, managers, and survivors. Such actions create mistrust in management and continue to plague the workforce and the economy. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore the impacts that layoffs and downsizing have on employees' trust, work performance, behavior, and health. Informed by Sarker's theory on management and employee trust, the research questions explored …


Strategies For Responding To Generational Differences In Workplace Engagement, Amanda Delane Crowe Jan 2016

Strategies For Responding To Generational Differences In Workplace Engagement, Amanda Delane Crowe

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Small business managers are experiencing a 30% turnover of employees, costing U.S. businesses $41.3 million per year. The purpose of this case study was to explore the strategies that experienced business managers use in small accounting firms to respond effectively to generational differences in workplace engagement. Using a purposeful sampling technique, 5 managers possessing successful experience in issues related to generational differences in the workplace were recruited from small accounting firms located in Midwestern United States to participate in semi-structured interviews about engaging a multi-generational workforce. Methodological triangulation was used to analyze the data collected through semi-structured interviews and observations, …


Small Aviation Business Success Strategies For Profitability, Christina Hiers Jan 2016

Small Aviation Business Success Strategies For Profitability, Christina Hiers

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Ninety-five percent of all aviation businesses are small businesses; from 2009-2012, small aviation business operations decreased by 10.2% and resulted in a loss of $4.4 billion in revenue. The purpose for this multiunit case study was to explore what strategies small aviation businesses leaders used to reduce or control operating expenses for profitability. The sample comprised 3 small aviation businesses located in Middle Tennessee. The conceptual framework for this study built upon systems theory and sustainability theory. The data were collected through semistructured interviews and company documents. Member checking was completed to strengthen creditability and trustworthiness. Based on the methodological …


Relationship Between Destructive Leadership Behaviors And Employee Turnover, Craig Michael Hyson Jan 2016

Relationship Between Destructive Leadership Behaviors And Employee Turnover, Craig Michael Hyson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The loss of 6 million U.S. manufacturing jobs since 2000 has severely affected communities that have lost a vital source of employment. Voluntary employee turnover has compounded the problem. The purpose of this correlational study was to examine the relationship between employee turnover and destructive leadership behaviors of managers in small and medium enterprise (SME) manufacturing businesses in Warren County, New Jersey. The constructive-destructive leadership model formed the theoretical framework for the study. A random sample of 96 SME manufacturing firm employees completed the destructive leadership scale (DLS), multifactor leadership questionnaire (MLQ), and the turnover intention scale (TIS-6) via an …


Core Leader Competencies For Implementing Sustainability Strategies In Small And Medium-Sized Enterprises, Alan William Jackson Jan 2016

Core Leader Competencies For Implementing Sustainability Strategies In Small And Medium-Sized Enterprises, Alan William Jackson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Because small- and medium-sized enterprises contribute as much as 70% of the world's pollution, small-business leaders need to develop and implement strategic approaches to sustainable development. Global sustainable development spending may reach $5 trillion by 2030. Guided by leadership competency theory, this qualitative multiple case study explored the core competencies of 5 independent small business leaders who had successfully implemented environmentally sustainable initiatives in their manufacturing firms in eastern Nebraska. Interviews and company planning documents including strategic business plans were gathered, coded, and cross-case analyzed, and member checking was periodically conducted to strengthen the trustworthiness of interpretations. Thematic analysis identified …


Leadership Styles And Learning For Performance Within Commercial Banks In Kenya, Teckie Michelle Karoki Jan 2016

Leadership Styles And Learning For Performance Within Commercial Banks In Kenya, Teckie Michelle Karoki

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The literature indicates that leaders influence the establishment of organizational learning culture (OLC) by the application of transformational (TFO), transactional (TAC), and passive-avoidant (PAV) styles. Further, the literature links OLC to the financial performance of organizations by leadership involvement in establishing learning organizations. However, the manner in which the practice of OLC occurs and the relationship of OLC with TFO, TAC, and PAV is unclear, as is the link between OLC and financial performance (ROA); especially for growing economies outside North America. The purpose of this study was to address this gap in the literature through a quantitative study of …


Strategies To Retain Employees In The Insurance Industry, Marilyn Martin Jan 2016

Strategies To Retain Employees In The Insurance Industry, Marilyn Martin

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Employee turnover costs can be 100%-200% of the total compensation package of an employee who leaves the organization, depending upon their position and experience. Leaders in the highly competitive insurance industry should emphasize the importance to retain talented employees with managers in an effort to minimize costs and diminish productivity levels associated with employee turnover. The purpose of this qualitative multiple case study was to explore strategies to retain employees used by insurance managers in the Charlotte, NC metropolitan area. The conceptual framework included Herzberg's motivator-hygiene theory to explore motivator factors that encourage employee retention. Seminstructured interviews were conducted with …


Predictive Factors Of Organizational Support Communication In Volunteer Mentor Retention, Jennifer Kristin Stukey Jan 2016

Predictive Factors Of Organizational Support Communication In Volunteer Mentor Retention, Jennifer Kristin Stukey

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Research has shown that long-term volunteer retention is critical for sustaining the viability of youth mentoring programs such as Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS). Data from recent studies have indicated that volunteers must continue their service for at least 1 year in to have a sustainable effect on the mentee. Results from prior studies have indicated that the support provided by the agency to the volunteer can predict volunteer retention. However, a gap in current literature exists regarding the effect of support communication on volunteer retention. Therefore, the purpose of this quantitative study was to assess the relationship between organizational …


Exploring Strategies Required For Small Business Sustainability In Competitive Environments, Christian Ozioma Akaeze Jan 2016

Exploring Strategies Required For Small Business Sustainability In Competitive Environments, Christian Ozioma Akaeze

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Owners of small businesses contribute approximately 39% of the gross domestic product and create 2 out of every 3 new jobs, but only 25% of startup small businesses stay afloat after 5 years. Guided by the resource-based view theory of the firm, the purpose of this multiple case study was to explore strategies small auto dealership business owners use to sustain businesses in New York City. Data were collected through semistructured interviews from 3 participants who owned small auto dealership businesses and succeeded beyond 5 years. Data analysis entailed using coding techniques and cluster analysis. Member checking was used to …


Knowledge Sharing Intentions In Wholesale Distribution Organizations, Andrew E. Roth Jan 2016

Knowledge Sharing Intentions In Wholesale Distribution Organizations, Andrew E. Roth

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Millions of American employees are eligible to retire through 2026, which may contribute to lowered organizational performance stemming from the resultant void in knowledge. Increasing knowledge sharing (KS) among organizational members may improve employee efficiency and company performance, and therefore may be of value to wholesale distribution leaders. Although researchers have suggested that sense of self-worth, subjective norms, and attitudes influence employees' inclinations to share knowledge, researchers have not analyzed the relationships between a subset of predictor variables and KS intentions in wholesale distribution organizations. The purpose of this correlational study, grounded in the theory of planned behavior, was to …


The Relationship Between Knowledge Management Tools And Interprofessional Healthcare Team Decision Making, Lisa Simon Jan 2016

The Relationship Between Knowledge Management Tools And Interprofessional Healthcare Team Decision Making, Lisa Simon

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Rising costs and continued risks in patient care indicate that knowledge management (KM) tools have not been fully recognized in healthcare. A case study was conducted to determine how KM tools might support the decision-making process of interprofessional teams. The study was predominately qualitative with a quantitative supplemental component. A questionnaire was used to collect data; this questionnaire contained open-ended questions along with Baggs' Collaboration and Satisfaction about Care Decisions and Anderson & West's Team Climate Inventory instruments. Responses to open-ended questions were reviewed, categorized, and coded as part of the qualitative analysis. Descriptive statistics were completed from Likert scale …


Factors Involved In Successful Second-Generation Legacy Perpetuation In Independent Insurance Agencies, Christina Marie Rosensteel Jan 2016

Factors Involved In Successful Second-Generation Legacy Perpetuation In Independent Insurance Agencies, Christina Marie Rosensteel

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The purpose of this study was to examine the factors involved in successful second-generation legacy perpetuation in independent insurance agencies. This study examined the role of parent and child throughout the process in an effort to thwart the current high failure rates. This research aims to promote healthy business activity, improve success and sustainability, and add positive social stewardship in communities. Education and preparation of successor, timing of transition, financial considerations, and processes of succession were addressed. Two frameworks guided this study: Bertalanffy's systems theory and Bandura's theory of self-efficacy. Nonrandom, purposeful samples of 3 profitable, second-generation agency owners of …


Nurses' Experiences Transitioning From Staff Nurse To Management In A Community Hospital, Jennifer Sylvia Buffenbarger Jan 2016

Nurses' Experiences Transitioning From Staff Nurse To Management In A Community Hospital, Jennifer Sylvia Buffenbarger

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This project study addressed the problem of frequent turnover of nurse managers at a Northeastern community hospital. The lack of retention of nurse managers has led to attenuated support for the nursing staff who continued to hold the front line in patient care. The purpose of this qualitative bounded case study was to explore nurse managers' experiences with turnover in order to identify strategies for enhancing retention. Work empowerment and servant leadership theories served as the frameworks for the study. Research questions focused on nurse managers' perceptions of empowerment and servant leadership characteristics that were important in decisions to assume …


Strategies For Small And Medium-Sized Enterprises To Engage Third-Party Logistics Providers, Masoud Malakoti-Negad Jan 2016

Strategies For Small And Medium-Sized Enterprises To Engage Third-Party Logistics Providers, Masoud Malakoti-Negad

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) managers struggle to stay competitive. The purpose of this multiple case study was to explore the strategies SME managers located in Canada use to engage third-party logistics (3PL) providers to improve their supply chains. Porter's value chain theory formed the conceptual framework for this study. Data collection included semistructured interviews with 3 managers from 3 different SMEs in the province of Ontario and a review of the documents related to the use of 3PL providers. Member checking was conducted to enhance credibility of interpretation of the data collected. Data analysis was used to identify key …