Business Commons^™

Beauty Comes With A Price: But How Much Is It Worth It, Fabliha Afia

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

The global skincare market, valued at 104.24 billion dollars in the year 2022, is very heterogeneous, ranging from prestige brands to more drugstore types. Even when the same key ingredients are present, the latter often sells for much higher due to branding and packaging and the aura of prestige created. This capstone project entitled "Beauty comes with a price: but how much is it worth?" investigates if such higher costs are justified due to superior quality or are driven by non-functional factors. It systematically compared the high-end versus drugstore skincare products in categories like sunscreens, serums, and exfoliants with respect …

How Strategic Investors Drive The Transformation And Upgrading Of China's Automotive Industry, Gongwei Wang

Dissertations and Theses Collection (Open Access)

This dissertation conducts a systematic study on the successful transformation and upgrading of China's automotive industry over the past decade, especially the remarkable progress made in the field of Electric and Intelligent Vehicles, and examines how China's automotive industry chain has seized the historical opportunity of the great transformation of the global automotive industry by “Four Modernizations”—electrification, intelligentization, lightweighting and modularization along the path of "Independent Innovation", and realized the overall improvement of both corporate performance and industrial strength under the synergy of strategic investors.

China has newly become the world's largest automotive exporter and successfully built up an advantageous …

Evolving Design Critique For A Changing Industry, Sejin Hwang, Amy Ai, Leo Bang, Yuchen Chen, Kathryn Chen, Tiffany Chang, Stephen Jiang, Chloe Jo, Eileen Lee, Nicole Lu, Ray Liu, Kevin Wei, Elaine Zhang, Ellano Zhou

Student Work

This class serves as an exploratory practice in response to existing studies evaluating critique environments in the design industry. Previous studies identified three key limitations in the critique process: (1) a lack of experience for novice designers working with non-designers when reviewing their work, (2) an ineffective final review structure, and (3) a need for a more constructive and engaging feedback-sharing environment.1 To address these challenges, the course was designed to “critique” critique activities and develop strategic solutions to transform the way design work is reviewed, analyzed, and critiqued. The course was part of a pilot fall semester program called …

Organizational Readiness As A Predictor Of Successful Trauma-Informed Change Within Child Welfare Agencies, Jennette Allen-Mccombs

Journal of Human Services: Training, Research, and Practice

The literature is replete with calls to reform the child welfare system (Dettlaff et al., 2020; Lindell et al., 2020; McTavish et al., 2018). Five child welfare organizations in one northeastern state in the U.S. participated in a pilot program to implement trauma-informed organizational change (TOC). This study explored the extent to which child welfare agencies demonstrated readiness to adopt change. The researcher used a directed content analysis approach to analyze previously collected staff meeting minutes, consultant notes, and other TOC-related documents collected during implementation. Findings support Armenakis et al.'s (2000) organizational readiness for change theory, which suggests that increased …

Technology-Enhanced Personalized Learning: Lessons From Online Teaching At Three South-East Asian Universities, Kiran Kaur, Rohaida Mohd Saat, Lieven Demeester, Magdeleine Lew, Wei Leng Neo, Nopphol Pausawasdi, Thasaneeya Ratanaroutai Nopparatjamjomras

Research Collection Lee Kong Chian School Of Business

Online teaching during the COVID-19 pandemic compelled many instructors to seek efficient and effective ways to stay connected with their students and improve the learning experience by using a wide range of available technologies. This multiple-case study, in three South-East Asian universities, investigated whether the use of technology in university teaching and learning during that period influenced personalized learning, and if so, how. The study also explored the kinds of institutional support for teachers and learners that led to increased technology-enhanced personalized learning (TEPL). Using a qualitative approach, the study analyzed 23 individual interviews and 3 document analyses (circulars, announcements, …

Exploring The Dynamics Of Volitional Personality Change: A Psychoeducational Intervention Study With Young Adults Transitioning To The Workforce, Erica Baranski, Ramona L. Martinez, Zihan Liu, Kevin Hoff

Research Collection Lee Kong Chian School Of Business

College graduates transitioning to the workforce completed a 13-week, light, psychoeducation intervention designed to increase volitional personality change motivation via weekly email newsletters. Contrary to expectations, the intervention did not significantly enhance overall change motivation or consistently inspire desired trait change goals following the study period or after 6 or 10 months. However, participants in the intervention group did report increased desire to change emotional stability at specific points during the study. These findings underscore the limitations of this particular psychoeducational intervention approach and help to fill in the boundary conditions of when and how personality change is possible. Additionally, …

Something In The Air: Does Air Pollution Affect Fund Managers’ Carbon Divestment?, Thanh Huynh, Frank Weikai Li, Ying Xia

Research Collection Lee Kong Chian School Of Business

We examine whether fund managers overestimate carbon risk when they are exposed to local air pollution. We find that air pollution causes managers to underweight stocks of high-emission firms. The effects are stronger for less salient scopes of carbon emissions, among managers located in pro-environmental states, and among those likely to be surprised by air pollution—consistent with the idea that managers revise their beliefs about climate-transition risk following their exposure to air pollution. Carbon-intensive stocks sold by managers who are exposed to air pollution subsequently outperform stocks that they buy, suggesting that such underweighting is costly to fund investors.

It's Just A Game! Effects Of Fantasy In A Storified Test On Applicant Reactions, Marie L. Ohlms, Klaus G. Melchers, Filip Lievens

Research Collection Lee Kong Chian School Of Business

There is increasing attention to storification of assessments (i.e., embedding a storyline into a non-storified assessment) in research and practice and to gamified and game-based assessment in general. However, there is a surprising lack of agreement and of recommendations regarding what level of fantasy of the storyline one should choose for the storification from the perspective of applicant reactions. A distinction is typically made between fantasy (e.g., fighting aliens) and realistic (e.g., workday simulations) storylines, with both choices having their advantages and disadvantages. In this study, a sample of 195 participants was shown either a storified realistic test, a storified …

A Head-To-Head Comparison Of Situational Judgment Tests And Assessment Centers For Measuring And Predicting The Same Performance Dimensions, Iman Shakeri, Filip Lievens

Research Collection Lee Kong Chian School Of Business

To date, a limited set of studies have compared the criterion-related validity of low-fidelity (SJT) versus high-fidelity (AC) simulations for predicting job performance. Unfortunately, these studies validated these simulations through the overall assessment rating (OAR) instead of on the basis of specific dimensions. Given SJTs and ACs were compared that measured different dimensions, our understanding of the relative and comparative validity of these assessment approaches in measuring the same set of dimensions is still limited. Therefore, this study aims to conduct a head-to-head comparison of the criterion-related validity of the AC and the SJT (and their incremental validity) while keeping …

When Leaders Self-Sacrifice In Times Of Crisis: The Roles Of Employee Emotional Suppression And Leader Coping Strategies, Xingyu Wang, Xueqi Wen, Zihan Liu, Yixing Lisa Gao, Juan M. Madera

Research Collection Lee Kong Chian School Of Business

While literature articulates the relevance of self-sacrificial leadership to crisis situations, little attention has been paid to employees’ attitudinal and behavioral responses to self-sacrificial leadership. This is a particularly salient gap in the scholarship, given the decisions leaders must make to address challenges in the hospitality industry (e.g., the COVID-19 pandemic). Drawing on conservation of resources theory, this pair of field and experimental studies examines how individual differences in employee emotional suppression and leader coping strategy moderate the impacts of self-sacrificial leadership on employee perceptions of leader effectiveness. By sampling U.S. hospitality employees, the studies reveal that leaders who display …

Geographic Distance And State's Grip: Information Asymmetry, State Inattention, And Firm Implementation Of State Policy, Xiyi Yang, Heli Wang, Xiaoyu Zhou

Research Collection Lee Kong Chian School Of Business

In this study, we develop the argument that geographic distance between the state and local governments undermines the state's capacity to influence the implementation of state policies by local organizations. Drawing from information economics and the attention-based view, we propose that physical distance reduces the state's monitoring effectiveness through two interrelated mechanisms: information asymmetry and state leaders' inattention to distant issues. Using data of Chinese public firms' implementation of environmental activities between 2008 and 2016, we find that firms conduct fewer environmental activities required by the state when they are regulated by local governments that are more geographically distant to …

Producer-Oriented And Consumer-Oriented Alternative Food Networks And Rural Revitalization In China: Distinct Trajectories And Variegated Impacts, Meiling Wu, Qian Forrest Zhang

Research Collection School of Social Sciences

Alternative food networks (AFNs) have been increasingly perceived as an engine for rural revitalization, yet AFNs can differ in their founding motivations, operational methods, and organizational forms, which thus produce varying economic, social, and environmental outcomes. Despite this, the complexity of AFNs in the role of rural revitalization remains surprisingly under-researched. This study, drawing a distinction between producer-oriented and consumer-oriented AFNs in China, explores the dynamics of how producer-oriented and consumer-oriented AFNs are formed and give rise to distinct trajectories of rural revitalization. When AFNs prioritize producers' pursuit of alternatives to conventional agrifood systems over merely catering to urban consumers’ …

The Jamaica Now Leadership Council: A Study Of Stakeholder Participation In The Revitalization Of Downtown Jamaica, Queens, Melva M. Miller

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

Urban revitalization in the United States has often been characterized by uneven community development, where marginalized communities bear the costs while receiving limited benefits. This dissertation examines how the dynamics of stakeholder participation impacts the practice of Community Economic Development (CED), focusing on the Jamaica Now Leadership Council (JNLC) as a case study. Formed to oversee the Jamaica Now Neighborhood Action Plan, the JNLC represents a model of inclusive, stakeholder-driven urban development aimed at addressing historical disinvestment and promoting equitable economic growth in Downtown Jamaica, Queens.

The study explores how power dynamics, stakeholder histories, and role expectations shape participation in …

Bolstering The Startup Sector In Palestine And Its Potential Impact On Public Finance, Rabeh Morrar, Rand Jibril

An-Najah University Journal for Research - B (Humanities)

Objective: This study aimed to analyze of the ecosystem surrounding startups in Palestine in general, with a particular focus on public finance; specifically, how public authorities can enhance the regulatory framework and adopt incentive policies for startups and entrepreneurship to create a positive long-term impact on both the overall economy and public finance. Methodology: The study's methodology primarily involved conducting in-depth interviews with a sample of all stakeholders related to the Palestinian startup ecosystem. This included government entities, relevant public bodies, startups, entrepreneurs, accelerators, incubators, venture capital funds, universities, innovation centers, and legal entities. Results: The study reached several important …

Leadership Practices For High-Performing Teams: Insights From Senior Military General Officers And Flag Officers, Kimberly Mitchell

Dissertations

Purpose: The purpose of this mixed methods study was to identify and describe how senior military general officers and flag officers (GOFOs) used the three competencies of high-performance teams (HPTs; clarity, connection, and communication) to achieve objectives in their organizations. The second purpose of this study was to determine the degree of importance that senior military GOFOs perceived the three high-performance team effect (HPTE) core competencies impacted their leadership for creating HPTs.

Methodology: This mixed methods study identified and described nine senior military officers’ perceptions of strategies to lead HPTs while focusing on the three core competencies: clarity, connection, and …

Repositioning North Atlantic Treaty Organization (Nato): The New Security Dilemma On Trans–Atlantic Relations Amid Shifting Global Geopolitics, Daniel C. George, Indra Alverdian

Journal of Strategic and Global Studies

The shifting global geopolitics have led to a new security dilemma in Europe, especially in trans–Atlantic relations. NATO as the vanguard of the trans–Atlantic defense pact is faced with transitional conditions of non-conventional threats that return to conventional threats. Due to the shift in the new global order, these threats require a repositioning for NATO to counter the new security dilemma amidst shifting global geopolitics. By referring to the three asserted pillars–the return of conventional warfare on the European continent; a more assertive Russia in the European continent under Vladimir Putin; and the geopolitical of China's rise impacted trans–-Atlantic …

The History And Manifestations Of The Metaverse In Contemporary Literature, Marlon Semuel Contantin Kansil, Wanting Sun

Journal of Strategic and Global Studies

The metaverse, an interactive and immersive virtual world, has emerged as a critical theme in contemporary literature, significantly impacting narratives and character development. This paper explores the history and literary manifestations of the metaverse, investigating its influence on identity, space, and social interactions. We find that the metaverse supports flexible and individualistic identities, reshaping how characters and readers understand themselves. The digital space of the metaverse provides a dynamic setting for moral and emotional conflicts, enriching the literary aesthetics of space. Furthermore, literature plays a crucial role in both shaping and reflecting the concept of the metaverse, employing symbolism and …

Leadership Coaching And The “Mad Major”, Ray Forbes

All Faculty and Staff Scholarship

Interested in gaining some valuable lessons for leaders and leadership coaches to add to your repertoire? Want to further express your curiosity and explore the opportunity to learn more about leadership and leadership coaching from a very unusual, non-academic and very iconoclastic source? If so, this article may be for you. This commentary is essentially the abbreviated story of a single-minded, highly dedicated leader’s lifelong quest to bring needed change to a very large narrow-minded bureaucratic organization. It will briefly explore the strategy-infused approach of one of the most controversial and little known figures in modern military history. This individual …

Expectations Versus Reality In New Cairo's Gated Communities: An Interdisciplinary Analysis Of Socio-Spatial Features, Ala'a Marwan

Theses and Dissertations

This research aims to introduce a new framework to identify the disparities between gated community residents’ experiences and real estate developers' visions towards the development. As New Cairo experiences significant growth, many residents are increasingly relocating to gated communities. It has become crucial to assess users’ expectations before moving and their lived experience post-moving to allocate the gaps between their expectations and reality, otherwise, the GC developments will grow apart from users’ updated preferences. The research focuses on the socio-spatial qualities such as accessibility to services and facilities, community interaction, and vast green areas between buildings for privacy, all of …

Challenges And Opportunities In The Dissemination Of Scientific Content: Insights From Media Professionals In Jordan, Ruba Mustafa Mohammad Dr, Mahmoud Ahmad Al-Rajabi Dr, Hala Nabil Amr

Middle East Journal of Communication Studies

This study explored the challenges and opportunities in disseminating scientific content from the perspective of media experts in Jordan. Using a descriptive methodology and a questionnaire, the research aimed to understand the landscape better. The sample included 343 media experts holding master's degrees or higher in various media fields, along with several journalists actively working in the sector. The study revealed several key findings. Chief among them are the numerous obstacles hindering the dissemination of scientific content in Jordanian media. These include a lack of training for journalists on accessing new scientific information, a general absence of critical thinking skills …

The Degree Of Dependence Of The Jordanian Public On Social Media In Health Awareness Of Obesity Diseases (Survey Study), Jumana Irshiedat Dr, Kamel Khurshid Murad Prof

Middle East Journal of Communication Studies

The article aimed to reveal the dependency of social media platforms in educating the Jordanian public about obesity diseases and explore the cognitive, emotional, and behavioral effects on the Jordanian public. The survey method was adopted; an approach used in descriptive studies, and the questionnaire tool was used to a sample (357) of the Jordanian public in Amman. The study-produced results including the platform most used by the Jordanian public to receive knowledge about health awareness is WhatsApp in the first place, followed by Instagram and then Facebook. The results also showed that the health topics of most interest to …

The Energy Transition In The Jordanian Media, Hanan Al-Shiekh Dr

Middle East Journal of Communication Studies

The study aimed to clarify the role of scientific journalism towards stimulating investment in environmentally friendly renewable energy sources, which is one of the necessary challenges facing the Kingdom of Jordan for economic growth and social development, due to its heavy dependence on energy imports, which reflects negatively on the Jordanian economy. This study is one of the descriptive studies that focuses on describing a specific topic, as it is in the current reality, in terms of its general and detailed characteristics, including variables, elements, relationships, and influences, which are among the most prominent features of scientific journalism in terms …

The Role Of Television In Increasing Knowledge About Health Issues Among Jordanian Citizens, Izzat Mohammad Hijab Prof, Ahmad Oreqat Dr, Hani Al-Badri Dr

Middle East Journal of Communication Studies

This study explores the role of TV health programs in increasing the knowledge of Jordanian citizens about health issues. The study was based on the social survey methodology through a questionnaire distributed to a sample of 200 people from the city of Amman watching Jordan Television (JTV) health programs. The researcher concluded the following; a high watching for health programs, and that the Jordanians watch health programs with their family at home. The study also confirmed that the Jordanian benefits from health programs provided by JTV, and these programs are important and essential in educating citizens in health issues. Finally, …

A Critical Challenge: Understanding And Addressing Insider Threats, Alan Saquella

Publications

In today’s hyper-connected world, insider threats have become one of the most pressing challenges for organizations. While external attacks like ransomware and hacking often dominate the headlines, insider threats posed by employees, contractors, or others with internal access are equally, if not more, dangerous. Whether arising from malice, negligence or coercion, insiders have unparalleled access to sensitive systems and data, making their actions potentially catastrophic. The critical insider security issues organizations face and the actionable strategies for mitigation are actions that organizations must take.

Farm Resilience, Management Practices, And Producer Sentiment: Segmenting Us Farms Using Machine Learning Algorithms, Margaret Lippsmeyer, Michael Langemeier, James R. Mintert, Nathan Thompson

Journal of Applied Farm Economics

Farm managers possess a broad spectrum of capabilities, ranging from tech-savvy, strategically focused managers to those grappling with operational challenges. Our study examines survey data from 403 US commercial producers in order to identify subsets of producers who differ in terms of resilience, management practices, producer sentiment, and other farm characteristics. Utilizing various supervised and unsupervised machine learning techniques, we uncover key farm characteristics that capture the most pronounced variations in survey responses. We then cluster the dataset using these key variables, maximizing separation between clusters and minimizing differences within clusters using Ward’s hierarchical clustering. Fisher’s exact tests are implemented …

A Socioeconomic Analysis Of Fashion Entrepreneurs And The Use Of Self-Branding To Influence Consumer Behavior, Jasmine Gibbs-Stepter

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

The fashion industry is widely recognized as a significant sector within the global economy, crucially driving trends, creating jobs, and shaping culture. Despite its prominence, entrepreneurs from marginalized socioeconomic backgrounds often encounter considerable hurdles in establishing their businesses and sustaining them over time. These challenges manifest in various forms, including access to vital financial resources, insufficient networking opportunities, and restricted entry into lucrative markets, making it difficult for these entrepreneurs to compete in a dynamic and competitive landscape.

The rise of social media, with platforms like Instagram leading the charge, has ushered in a new era for fashion entrepreneurs. As …

Praktik Mindfulness Pada Dewasa Awal Menggunakan Gantungan Kunci “Mindkey”, Cokki Cokki, Jessisca Meidy, Natalie Ocberta, Cintya Yunetta, Anjeli Febrianti, Wellen Febriani

Jurnal Sosial Humaniora Terapan

The high level of psychological issues faced by young adults in Indonesia is a pressing problem that needs immediate attention, as it can impact an individual's life satisfaction. The strategy employed in this PKM (Student Creativity Program) is mindfulness practice using a keychain. The keychain, designed for a week-long mindfulness practice, is named "Mindkey." The implementation of this PKM involved four stages: preparation, execution, realization, and evaluation. The execution stage involved 213 young adult participants to select the final design of the Mindkey product from three available designs: one created by the PKM Team, one by a freelance design service, …

Assessing The Readiness And Awareness Of Key Stakeholders In The Egyptian Maritime Industry To Implement Smart Green Port Practices: A Case Study Of Alexandria Port, Mohamed Elhussieny, Ahmed El Kassar, Kareem Tonbol

Blue Economy

This study explores the readiness and preparedness of the major stakeholders within the Egyptian maritime sector towards the adoption of smart green port practices, with particular consideration given to Alexandria Port. With growing environmental threats, the need to support sustainable maritime operations is high. The study evaluates the current state of the ecosystem at Alexandria Port and benchmark it against international standards to highlight the critical gaps that should be covered for the effective execution of smart green port approaches. The results indicate that, although stakeholders have basic knowledge of sustainability issues, large perceived barriers, particularly regarding resource availability, limited …

Louboutin Lawfare: Exploring Conceptions Of Sanctions' Utility Through Export Controls On Luxury Goods, Vinita R. Singh

Northwestern University Law Review

There is widespread consensus amongst scholars that sanctions—the deliberate withdrawal of customary trade and financial relations—do not work. Despite this perception, states are deploying sanctions at an increasing rate. This Article explains this paradox by arguing the predominant notion of sanctions’ utility employed by scholars is unduly constrained, narrowly focusing on the ability of such measures to modify the behavior of sanctioned parties while disregarding the alternative benefits this instrument can deliver. To support this argument, this Article uses export controls on luxury goods deployed in connection with the Russo–Ukraine War as a case study. Under prevailing perceptions of sanctions’ …

One Heart, One Vessel: Unraveling The Mystery Of Truncus Arteriosus, Claudette C. Artiles

Mako: NSU Undergraduate Student Journal

No abstract provided.