Business Commons^™

Changes In Consumer Market Preference And Purchase Frequency In Response To The Covid-19 Pandemic, Sean Thomas Dial

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Research literature throughout 2020 indicate consumer behavioral changes in response to the systemic effects of the global COVID-19 pandemic, but these studies investigate transient adaptations in consumer behaviors during the early quarantine period of the pandemic. This study intends to investigate lasting or permanent changes in consumer market preference and purchase frequency between BAM and online retail due to the effects of the pandemic. The principal investigator designed a survey for participants to estimate purchase frequencies and market preferences for apparel, electronics, groceries, and general purchases before and after the pervasive effects of the pandemic (N = 1195; n = …

Faraway Flix: Connecting To International Students Through Film, Laura Bohuski

DLTS Faculty Publications

WKU has, at any given time, about 20,000 students enrolled in university programs across four campuses. WKU is a campus that is actively engaged in making international connections, so much so that its current vision statement asserts that WKU is “a leading American university with international reach.”1 Western’s drive to establish and maintain international connections has been successful: of the 20,000 students currently attending WKU, 1,300 are international students from 70 seventy different countries.2 With such a diverse student population, many of the departments at Western are actively engaged in developing programs to help connect our extensive international population with …

Lasting Experiences: Taking Galleries From Glass Cases To Online Access Repositories, Joseph J. Shankweiler, Todd J. Seguin

DLTS Faculty Publications

This chapter outlines the process of creating a permanent online presence from a curated gallery exhibition. Creating an open access version of the exhibition on an institution’s repository preserves the experience for the future and extends its engagement to a growing online community of students, interested community members, and others beyond campus. Through the use of video and audio, as well as images and documents, we strive to create an equally engaging experience for those who are unable to attend the original installation in person. The permanent online exhibit thus extends learning opportunities and preserves important scholarly work that would …

Perceptions On The Status Of Lean-Manufacturing In Thermoplastics-Manufacturing Industry, Ning Jin

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

The current study gathers thermoplastics professionals’ perceptions on the implementation of lean-manufacturing in the Thermoplastics-manufacturing industry through Qualtrics, which is a survey website. From the professionals’ perceptions, the current study infers the current status of lean-manufacturing implementation in the thermoplastic-manufacturing industry and identifies the best lean theories and tools for the industry. However, the results of the current study are not generalizable to the entire thermoplastic-manufacturing industry.

The current study reviews thermoplastic-manufacturing processes from the house of lean’s perspective. The foundations of the house are stability and standardization, the pillars are Just-In-Time (JIT) and Jidoka, the roof is customer focus, …

Garment Workers In Kentucky Oral History Project (Fa 865), Manuscripts & Folklife Archives

FA Finding Aids

Finding aid only for Folklife Archives Project FA 865. Interviews conducted by Lisa Karen Miller containing details about the lives of garment workers in Kentucky and Tennessee. Some of the topics included were technological changes, job layoffs, and labor unions.

Using Building Information Modeling (Bim) And The Last Planner System (Lps) To Reduce Construction Process Delay, Zaid K. Ai Hussein

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

The construction industry suffers from many practical problems and challenges; most being related to construction management. One of the most common recurring problems in construction projects is delay. Delay is a primary factor that can have an effect on project duration, scheduled delivery date, as well as the overhead cost of the project. This study investigated the problem of delays in construction projects. The research focused on the combination of Building Information Modeling (BIM) and Last Planner System (LPS) together to measure the execution time of construction projects. The aim of this study was to determine whether using BIM and …

Talking To Ourselves: Internal Communication Strategies For Reference Services, John Gottfried, Laura Delancey, Amanda Hardin

DLTS Faculty Publications

At many academic libraries, spiral notebooks and three ring binders have given way to blogs and wikis as a means of facilitating communication at the reference desk. Western Kentucky University Libraries opted instead to create a custom internal website to log reference transactions, highlight current issues, and manage scheduling changes. This solution incorporated numerous platforms and technologies, including LibGuides, Facebook, and Google Calendar. It avoided some of the pitfalls described in the literature, such as relying too heavily on user-generated content, and has been successful largely because it is embedded in the reference workspace and contains features that librarians will …

Virtual Conference And Meeting Systems: Resources For Online Connections, John Gottfried, Laura Delancey, Carol L. Watwood, Amanda Hardin

DLTS Faculty Publications

Librarians have always tried to stretch the limits of applicable technologies to create effective connections among researchers and resources. We thrive on the tools and tactics that help us do this, and we are always on the prowl for newer, better alternatives. This is one of the best ways we have of keeping high service standards in the face of shrinking budgets and skeletal staffing. Fortunately, there have never been so many technologies to choose from, and there have never been so many challenges calling out for technological intervention.

Hosting online instruction sessions is, for example, an excellent opportunity for …

Assessing The Accuracy Of Vendor-Supplied Accessibility Documentation, Laura Delancey

DLTS Faculty Publications

Purpose

Design/methodology/approach

Findings

Java City: Developing A Successful Cultural Center, Jack G. Montgomery Jr.

DLTS Faculty Publications

Introduction:

Western Kentucky University Library had a large two-level, but largely unused lobby that had once been the library’s entrance but had been closed as a new entrance was created. By 2002, it sat empty and all but devoid of human traffic just outside our Reference area. Also, in 2002, Reference statistics were down, as was Circulation and library usage in general. Dean Binder believed that with the renovation and development of this former lobby, the library would realize an increase in campus visibility and library usage would increase.

A Problem Solving Approach To Enterprise Filevault 2 Management And Integration, Nicholas Cobb

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Consumer technology adoption into large enterprise environments is occurring at an unprecedented rate. Employees require the flexibility and efficiency of using operating systems, computers, and mobility products they are familiar with and that enable their productivity. Due to this industry phenomenon, one large shipping enterprise must work to create solutions to integrate Apple’s OS X operating system into its traditional Windows-based operating environment. This level of integration must take place carefully to enable usability and foster the continued data security of enterprise assets. This paper describes the steps and methodology taken, as well as the rationale used, to accomplish the …

An Analysis Of Public Education Informatics, Brandon Moss

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

Information systems and informatics technologies are employed to increase profitability and efficiency of business models. The most common mistake made by managers, when incorporating informatics into their business model, is under-utilizing the technological capacity of their resources and investing in extraneous functions. This thesis will examine the usage of information systems and informatics principles in the United States public education system. Approaching the case from a consultant’s perspective, this paper will map out the business model theory, its actual implementation, and identify key failure points and areas of improvement in informatics usage. The structure of the thesis follows the first …

Computer Information Technology, Tyler Sigman

Undergraduate Research Award

No abstract provided.

Perceptions And Rankings Of Technology Management Competencies, Mark Doggett, Pam Mcgee, Sophia Scott

Mark Doggett

2012 Association of Technology, Management, and Applied Engineering (ATMAE) Conference Proceedings In 2010, the ATMAE Management Division set out to define an applicable technology management body of knowledge using a collection of core competencies. The research incorporated existing models, industry opinions, and educator experts. ATMAE members at both the 2010 and 2011 conferences reviewed initial versions of the competency model. In addition, the model was benchmarked against existing literature and research. The researchers found consistency within the initial versions of the competency model. Interested scholars may find the initial model and supporting rationale in the 2011 ATMAE conference proceedings. This …

Changing The World From Classrooms To Communities: Designing And Disseminating A Service-Learning Curriculum For Teaching In A Formal Education Setting, Amanda English

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

To change the world is a growing desire among many of today’s student populations, portrayed increasingly across the spectrum of media, social trends and career pursuits. While the demand grows among students for community-oriented and socially-responsible opportunities, the offerings in educational institutions must respond to these emerging requests with new and innovative academic programs. This text emphasizes the role of the developing discipline of service-learning in channeling these energies and providing students with deep and meaningful academic experiences. Its content seeks to combat misconceptions of service-learning as simply an extra-curricular activity and provide tangible methods for incorporating its concepts into …

An Analysis Of Factors Impacting K-12 Technology-Infused Design, Wesley A. Waddle

Dissertations

Public education in the 21st Century can be characterized as being in a period of unparalleled change, including the adoption of Common Core State Standards, increased public accountability, and renewed emphasis on the educational needs of every student. Simultaneously, as public education seeks to address these demands, the digital divide between traditional classroom instruction and learning needs of 21st Century students continues to grow, despite considerable fiscal investments in educational technology.

This study examined two questions: What teacher-related factors positively impact the level of technology-infused lesson design? and To what degree does the use of an instructional framework to guide …

Creating A State-Wide Transfer Program For Engineering Technology And Technology Management Studies, Gregory Arbuckle, Mark Doggett

SEAS Faculty Publications

The primary purpose of the Western Kentucky Pipeline for 2+2+2 Engineering Technology and Technology Management (ET/TM) students program is to significantly increase degree production and workforce preparation in central and western Kentucky through the construction of a long-term sustainable, reproducible model bridging program of cooperation between Western Kentucky University (WKU), Murray State University (MSU) and the Kentucky Community and Technical College System (KCTCS). The program will significantly increase industrial and technology education opportunities, technology enrollment and two and four-year degree completion. Additionally, this project supports the Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education’s (CPE) goal to double the overall number of undergraduate …

Creating A State-Wide Transfer Program For Engineering Technology And Technology Management Students, Greg K. Arbuckle, Mark Doggett

Mark Doggett

The primary purpose of the Western Kentucky Pipeline for 2+2+2 Engineering Technology and Technology Management (ET/TM) students program is to significantly increase degree production and workforce preparation in central and western Kentucky through the construction of a long-term sustainable, reproducible model bridging program of cooperation between Western Kentucky University (WKU), Murray State University (MSU) and the Kentucky Community and Technical College System (KCTCS). The program will significantly increase industrial and technology education opportunities, technology enrollment and two and four-year degree completion. Additionally, this project supports the Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education’s (CPE) goal to double the overall number of undergraduate …

Resource Discovery Tools: Supporting Serendipity, Tammera M. Race

DLTS Faculty Publications

Serendipity, the accidental discovery of something useful, plays an important role in discovery and the acquisition of new knowledge. The process and role of serendipity varies across disciplines. As library collections have become increasingly digital faculty lament the loss of serendipity of browsing library stacks. Resource discovery tools may have features that support serendipity as part of information seeking. A comparison of four commercial Web-scale discovery tools, Online Computer Library Center (OCLC) WorldCat® Local1, Serials Solution2® Summon3™, ExLibris4® Primo Central5™, and EBSCO Discovery Services (EDS)6™, links product features to characteristics that support serendipitous discovery. However, having such features is only …

Graduate Faculty Workloads: Recognizing Scholarship And Student Engagement At The Comprehensive Institution, Mark Doggett

Mark Doggett

No abstract provided.

Toward A Technology Management Core: Defining What The Technology Manager Needs To Know, Mark Doggett, Pam Mcgee, Sophia Scott

Mark Doggett

No abstract provided.

One-To-One Laptop Project: Perceptions Of Teachers, Parents, And Students, Matthew D. Constant

Dissertations

One-to-one laptop programs are becoming more prevalent across the world in K-12 institutions. School districts are searching for more engaging tools that seek to have impact on school success, such as grade achievement, college/career preparation, and/or 21st-century skill preparation and attainment. Additionally, boards of education continuously want some positive indication of the return on their substantial financial investment.

This study utilized surveys of three important stakeholder groups (parents, students, and teachers) related to a one-to-one laptop project in a moderately-sized rural Midwestern school district. Perceptions about how often laptops were used in the classroom setting and across content areas (Language …

Social Media For Social Good, Charlie Harris

Fair Trade Universities' National Convergence

No abstract provided.

Avatars, Blabberize, And Cell Phones: Abc's Of The Digital Age [Paper], Kay S. Gandy, Rebecca Stobaugh

School of Teacher Education Faculty Publications & Presentations

The Digital Age is revolutionizing education. Educators need to be well-trained on the variety of technology tools available. Technology tools captivate the interest of students and encourage high-levels of engagement. Often, the daily lives of students are rich in technology, while teachers lack the knowledge or skills to integrate technology into the curriculum. Two university teacher education professors will share innovative technology tools to enhance instruction. The tools were modeled in education courses for preservice teachers and transferred into K-12 classrooms. Technology tools included: Skype, PhotoPeach, Prezi, Blabberize, Xtranormal, Poll Everywhere (voting with cellphones), Tagxedo, GPS, and GIS. For example, …

Toward A Technology Management Core: Defining What The Technology Manager Needs To Know, Mark Doggett, Pam Mcgee, Sophia Scott

SEAS Faculty Publications

With the increasing demands on organizations to do “more with less,” and produce acceptable market results, productivity and performance standards continually raise the expectations on competitive success. To meet these expectations, organizations should create learning opportunities that combine the application of technical management skills along with the softer skills involved in people management. Technical managers with little training or past experience with nontechnical skills often perform poorly in technical management positions (Kroecker, 2007). Because this generation lives in a highly technical environment, managers need to be proficient in dealing with knowledge workers and systems; therefore, there is a growing emphasis …

Access To Business Research Resources Through Academic Library Web Sites: A Survey, John C. Gottfried

DLPS Faculty Publications

This study is an examination of access to business research resources through academic library Web sites, including research databases, catalog services, research guides, and business librarians. The Web sites of 114 academic libraries serving top business programs in the United States were studied. Results reveal a wide range of access to business research databases among the schools studied (anywhere from 11 to 100 business databases available). Over 95% of the schools provided business research guides, and nearly all schools provided at least some contact information for business librarians.

Fishing For Leadership: A Service Philosophy In Library Technical Services, Connie Foster

DLTS Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Web Page Design - Student-Community Collaborations, George Kontos

George Kontos, Ed.D.

A collaborative project is described. Students in a web design class were asked to contact local businesses and help them create their web site (collection of related and interconnected web pages). Two phases of the project are described, planning and implementation. Planning defines the purpose and the target audience and also includes a sketch of the website's organization. The project is suitable for both traditional and online classes. Ideally, session participants should have some experience or interest in teaching web design but anyone who wants to know how to help students work collaboratively with the community is welcome to attend.

Web Page Design - Student-Community Collaborations, George Kontos

Business Division Faculty Publications

A collaborative project is described. Students in a web design class were asked to contact local businesses and help them create their web site (collection of related and interconnected web pages). Two phases of the project are described, planning and implementation. Planning defines the purpose and the target audience and also includes a sketch of the website's organization. The project is suitable for both traditional and online classes. Ideally, session participants should have some experience or interest in teaching web design but anyone who wants to know how to help students work collaboratively with the community is welcome to attend.

Intricacies Of Professional Certifications For Quality Management (Qm), Edmund R. Martelli

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

The modern manufacturing marketplace is extremely complex and constantly changing. Career professionals often seek job placement, career advancement, and continuing education through professional certifications. Professional certifications in the United States (U.S.) have been evolving since 1911. In the 1950s, engineering groups established professional certifications and licenses. In the 1980s, administration of accreditation of certification programs proliferated, and by the 1990s, many government and professional organizations sought to standardize procedures for the industry. Currently, professional certifications are available for virtually every profession and issued by multitudes of organizations.

Quality management (QM) encompasses an extensive combination ofprofessional abilities. Providers of professional certifications …