Business Commons^™

The Effects Of Communication Modality On Teamwork Processes, Thomas D. Fletcher

Psychology Theses & Dissertations

Since the onset of the digital age, organizations have been able to make use of teams of individuals distributed geographically to remain competitive. While strides have been made to understand the effectiveness of collocated teams, research has yet to sufficiently explore the effects of emerging technologies on team processes and effectiveness. A laboratory study, where dyads were asked to create a spreadsheet by following a set of explicit instructions (i.e., a psychomotor task), was conducted to manipulate the communication modalities most commonly used between collaborators (i.e., face-to-face vs. audio) and compare the effects of adding a shared workspace application. The …

Predicting Team Performance Over Time: A Secondary Data Analysis, Hope S. Hanner

Psychology Theses & Dissertations

Teams occupy a strong presence in the modern workplace. However, few studies have tracked the evolution of team behavior over time. The use of cross-sectional team research fails to appreciate the stages that teams pass through as they evolve and mature. The present study had three goals in mind. The first goal was to arrive at a causal model of team performance via a secondary statistical analysis on the research conducted by Cunningham (2001) and Strobel (2001). Strobe1 and Cunningham tracked the performance of eleven student-learning teams over the course of a semester. A team training intervention was administered after …

The State Of The Region: Hampton Roads 2002, James V. Koch, Vinod Agarwal, John R. Broderick, Rev. Dr. James Cobb, Chris Colburn, Ellie Costulis, Steve Daniel, Tatiana Isakovski, Sharon Lomax, Trish Manthey, Deborah Miller, Gilbert Yochum, Grace Wu

Economics Faculty Books

This is Old Dominion University's third annual "State of the Region" report.While it represents the work of many individuals connected in various ways to the university, the report does not constitute an official viewpoint of the University, or it's president, Dr. Roseann Runte.

Our "State of the Region" reports maintain the modest goal of making Hampton Roads an even better place to live. We are proud of our region's many successes, but realize that it is possible to improve the region's performance. Yet, in order to improve our performance, we must have accurate information about "where we are" and a …

Creating Inclusive Organizations: Its Meaning And Measurement, Bryan Christopher Hayes

Psychology Theses & Dissertations

There is growing interest in the concept of inclusion by both scientists and practitioners. The goal of the current study was to bring empirical support to the organizational inclusion literature. Inclusion was defined as a psychosocial need and a model was developed specifying its relationship to antecedent and consequence variables. The measurement model was explored with a sample of responses from 418 undergraduate students (Study 1). The measurement model was confirmed and the structural model was assessed with a sample of responses from 609 employees of a medical center (Study 2). Results of structural equation modeling provided limited support for …

Breastfeeding And The Supportive Workplace: Integration Of Women's Productive And Reproductive Lives, Rebekah A. Cardenas

Psychology Theses & Dissertations

Although authorities advocate breastfeeding for at least six months as the ideal form of infant nutrition, employed mothers may experience barriers to breastfeeding. Using data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth, this study examined the relationship between maternal employment, workplace support, and breastfeeding duration. In general, it was predicted that paid employment following childbirth would have a negative impact on breastfeeding duration. In addition, existence of workplace support such as flexibility, childcare, and/or healthcare benefits was predicted to positively impact breastfeeding durations as well as job satisfaction upon returning to work. Hierarchical linear regression analysis offered support for some …

Aligning Hierarchical Goals In An Organization: The Path From Training To Performance, Jeanette Denise Selby-Lucas

Engineering Management & Systems Engineering Theses & Dissertations

Training is a multi-billion-dollar industry, and with the advent of the training technology revolution and the possibilities it provides to business and government, as well as to the academic community, it is important to determine if the money invested in training by these communities is providing the expected performance on the part of those who are trained. This can be done by quantitatively evaluating the relationship between training and performance.

This study extends the scholarly literature by developing the concept of organizational alignment through a combination of Human Performance Technology literature and traditional engineering methodologies. Organizational training and performance is …

Institutional Investors And Adrs: Three Essays, Deqing Li

Theses and Dissertations in Business Administration

The three essays which constitute this research study the effects of institutional investors in the ADRs' market.

Essay one studies the herding and feedback trading by institutional investors in the ADRs market. The empirical results find that there is a strong positive relation between changes in the ADRs institutional ownership and returns measured over the same period—the herding year (t = month 0 to 11). The ADR portfolios experiencing the largest increase in institutional ownership outperform those experiencing the largest decrease by 15.33 percent per year over the herding year. In addition, return continuation exists for the two years following …

Major Factors That Influence The Employment Decisions Of Generation X Consulting Engineers, Robert William Mayfield

Engineering Management & Systems Engineering Theses & Dissertations

The purpose of this research was to study Generation X consulting engineers (those born between the years 1964 and 1980) in Lynchburg, Virginia, to determine the major factors that influence their employment decisions. Engineering consulting firms throughout the United States, particularly those in Lynchburg, have struggled to recruit young engineers in recent years. The recruiting of young engineers has been regarded by managers and executives as the single greatest challenge to the consulting profession. Despite the consensus within the profession that the problem existed, recommended solutions have been mostly speculative in nature and unsubstantiated by supportive data. This study focused …

Meeting The Digital Literacy Needs Of Growing Workforce, Abha Gupta, Hassan Ndahi

Teaching & Learning Faculty Publications

Assessment of computer literacy needs from the perspective of potential workforce development is an important part of an educational program involving adult learners. About 22 percent of adults currently entering the labor market possess the technology skills that are required for 60% of new jobs. This paper describes the training provided to tutors and trainers of adult learning centers in Hampton Roads Virginia. Results showed that the trainees, prior to the training, had limited access to computer technology and needed training in incorporating computer technology in the curriculum. After the training, trainees have shown increased levels of comfort with various …

Antecedents And Consequences Of Consumer Ethnocentrism Across Russia's Three Sub-Cultures, Shawn Thelen

Theses and Dissertations in Business Administration

Shimp and Sharma (1987) extended the concept of ethnocentrism to commercial products with the development of a 17-item Consumer Ethnocentrism Scale [CETSCALE]. Consumer ethnocentrism is the belief that purchasing imported products harms the local economy, increases unemployment, and is morally wrong (Skimp and Sharma 1987). Shimp and Sharma (1987) called for studies to determine antecedents to consumer ethnocentrism and to apply the CETSCALE across geographic and regional segments. This dissertation addresses a void in the literature by examining antecedents; Inglehart's Materialism/Post Materialism (1977) and Holbrook's Nostalgia (1993), and outcome variables; product purchase preference, of consumer ethnocentrism across sub-cultures postulated to …

The Economic Impact Of A Regional Triathlon Event On The Greater Richmond Area, Yousof Al-Thibaiti

Human Movement Studies & Special Education Theses & Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine the economic impact of the Richmond XTERRA off-road triathlon event on the Greater Richmond Area. The Greater Richmond Area, according to the Greater Richmond Chamber of Commerce, consists of the City of Richmond, Chesterfield County, Hanover County and Henrico County. It was estimated that the XTERRA off-road triathlon would have a significant economic impact on the Greater Richmond Area. A survey instrument was distributed and collected, by the researcher and his assistants, during the registration time on Saturday, June 23, 2001. A total of229 out of350 triathlon participants responded for a 65.4% …

The Development Of An Enterprise Supply Chain Model For Naval Warship Construction, Rex A. Wallen

Computational Modeling & Simulation Engineering Theses & Dissertations

The utilization of computer simulation in the shipbuilding industry is not a new concept and many shipyards in the US and around the world are using simulation tools in a variety of ways with various levels of success. In other industries, computer simulation has proven itself as a powerful tool for reducing non-value added activities and promises to become more prominent in its use as a resource management tool. Its use in the manufacturing of outfitting components in the construction of Naval warships has had limited success due mainly to the inherent nature of ship construction, especially shipyards engaged in …

Organizational Climate And Commitment: A Case Study Of An Urban Nonprofit Organization, William Sawyer Grant

Theses and Dissertations in Urban Services - Urban Management

This qualitative study investigates the relationship between the two constructs: Organizational Climate and Organizational Commitment.

Litwin and Stringer (1968) suggested that a molar model is needed to explain employee behavior and motivation. Climate was proposed as this molar construct. Research concerning Organizational Climate resulted in multiple definitions and little consensus concerning the number and use of multiple dimensions of this construct. The almost exclusive use of survey methods coupled with methodological confusion with Organizational Culture created difficulty with the use of this important construct.

Organizational Commitment research resulted in a number of competing definitions. Research by Meyer and Allen (1997) …

See Me, Touch Me, Feel Me':(Im)Proving The Bodily Sense Of Masculinity, Marc Ouellette

Reconstruction: Studies in Contemporary Culture

[First paragraph]

Ultimately, this paper stems from two cultural strands which intersect in one cultural form, self-improvement advertising aimed at men. The first of these is the figure of the new man, which appeared in the mid-1980s. The novelty lies in the positioning of masculine bodies precisely for the purpose of being seen. The available criticism was not equipped to account for these positionings. The second cultural strand, the proliferation of technologies which alter the body itself, as opposed to its coverings, makes the gap in the criticism more apparent. The two cultural trends intersect most noticeably in the advertisements …

Deception In Advertising: A Content Analysis Of The Legal Parameters Of Deception, E. Carla Mitchell

Theses and Dissertations in Business Administration

One of the primary attributes of a free market economy is the uninhibited flow of truthful information regarding the goods and services available in the marketplace (Azcuenaga 1995). This free flow of information, in the form of advertising, enhances market performance by informing consumers and enabling firms to compete equitably based on the attributes of their offerings. Studies reveal that, for the vast majority of marketing managers, the regulatory environment serves as the primary influence in advertising strategy development and decision-making (Davis 1994). However, in their theory development, behavioral researchers often ignore the legal aspects promulgated by the FTC. Furthermore, …

The Effects Of Cultural Values On Acceptance Of Human Resource Management Decisions, Ying Liu

Psychology Theses & Dissertations

The present study examined the effects of six culture values, including Hofstede's (1984, 1991) power distance, individualism/collectivism, long-term and short-term orientation, Trompenaars'1994) achievement/ascription, universalism/particularism, and relationship to nature, on reactions to human resource management decisions. Data were collected from 110 Chinese students in China and 82 American students in the U.S. A questionnaire containing vignettes depicting different human resource management practices was used to measure the impact of cultural values. Omnibus multivariate analysis of variance revealed significant differences between Chinese and Americans on the cultural values of power distance, collectivism/individualism, long-term and short term orientation, ascription/achievement, and the relationship to …

Corporate Investment Activity, Industrial And Global Diversification And Internal Capital Markets, Ozgur Berk Kan

Theses and Dissertations in Business Administration

Recent empirical studies document the average industrially diversified firm trades at a discount than a portfolio of comparable single-segment firms while geographically diversified firms are shown to face similar, if not higher, discounts. They attribute the diversification discount to inefficient allocation of capital in diversified firms. Most of this literature uses aggregate capital expenditures and cash flows data across divisions obtained from Compustat industry-segment and geographic-segment data tapes. In our first paper, we employ firm-specific data to examine the pre- and post-acquisition performance of firms engaging in diversifying and non-diversifying investments in order to determine whether the diversification discount may …

The State Of The Region: Hampton Roads 2001, James V. Koch, Vinod Agarwal, Rob Baade, John R. Broderick, Michael Clemons, Steve Daniel, Jeffrey Harlow, Wil King, Sharon Lomax, Deborah L. Miller, Jim Oliver, Ken Plum, Wayne Talley, Gilbert Yochum

Economics Faculty Books

This is Old Dominion University's second annual "State of the Region" Report. While it represents the work of many individuals connected in various ways to the university, the Report does not constitute an "official" viewpoint of the University, or it's president, Dr. Roseann Runte.

This year's Report was produced with the goal of making Hampton Roads an even better place to live. Those who know and love the region of Hampton Roads frequently boast of its numerous strengths and successes, but we do so with the understanding that it would be possible for us to improve the region's performance in …

The Influence Of Affective State And Social Loafing On Teams Over Time, Amy N. Cunningham

Psychology Theses & Dissertations

Teams are a growing force in the workplace today. An interesting aspect of team research in recent years involves the maturation of teams over time and the processes teams go through as a novice team to a fully accomplished performing team. One impediment to team maturation and performance is social loafing. There were two goals in the present research and are presented in the following questions. First, do team members' effective states influence social loafing? Second, does team training affect affective state of team members, social loafing, and performance? These variables were investigated, using an interrupted time series design, as …

Determination Of The Impact Of A Human Capital Decision Cost Model On The Economic Performance Measures Of A Technical Services Company, Jeffery A. Temple

Engineering Management & Systems Engineering Theses & Dissertations

Human Capital has a major impact on cash flow management decisions in a Technical Services company. Decisions to hire or terminate employees to meet contract requirements affect the company's economic value. The objective of this research is to develop a model that assists management in establishing a starting point in making, as efficiently as possible, those decisions that impact employees' lives. To understand that impact, the operations and economic parameters of a Technical Services company are compared with those of a manufacturing company. This analysis establishes two · essential points for Technical Services organizations; first, that the capital investment decision …

Market Orientation: Towards An Understanding In Developing Marketplaces Of South America, Howard Warren Olsen

Theses and Dissertations in Business Administration

Theory development is essential for the health and wellbeing of marketing as it provides boundaries and a foundation for the growth of the discipline. Kohli and Jaworski's (1990, 1993) efforts provided the critical first step in the evolution of market orientation theory. However, evidence has not confirmed regularities in various industry circumstances as well as different international marketplaces. The literature is replete with a variety of different scales that have been used. Finally, the concept of market orientation is based upon the premise that such activities enhance business performance, but requisite performance measures have not been properly matched with the …

Strategy Implementation Effectiveness In A Nonprofit Environment: The Case Of Museum Stores, Sandra A. Mottner

Theses and Dissertations in Business Administration

The character of museums in America has changed significantly in this century as museums change how they market themselves to their constituents. One of these changes has been the growth and development of museum stores. First designed to supplement museum income museum stores are now a major source of museum funding (American Association of Museums 1999) and a source of educational enhancement of the museum's educational mission (Theobald 2000). However, despite the growth of the museum store, virtually no academic research has been undertaken.

This research seeks to help fill this void in the literature of not only museum store …

Towards A Strategy-Balanced Measure Of Business Performance: Conceptualization And Empirical Examination With The Market Orientation Construct, David William Lambert

Theses and Dissertations in Business Administration

Although previous research has theoretically asserted and provided partial empirical support for a positive relationship between an organization's market orientation and business performance, few studies have demonstrated this relationship using a broader conceptualization of business performance that extends beyond market-based and financial measures. This dissertation conceptualizes and develops valid measurements of key dimensions of a business performance construct—termed strategy-balanced measure of business performance (SBMBP)—and empirically tests this construct with the market orientation construct. To fully capture the financial and operational domain of business performance, the SBMBP construct is developed through a multidisciplinary literature review, in-depth telephone interviews, and industry and …

The Effects Of Equal Opportunity Fairness And Diversity On Work Group Efficacy, Job Satisfaction, And Organizational Commitment In The Military: A Test Of Structural Invariance, Nancy P. Emery

Psychology Theses & Dissertations

The purpose of the present study was to test the invariance of a structural equation model of equal opportunity fairness (EOF) in the U.S. military across ethnic and gender groups. Military Equal Opportunity Climate Survey (MEOCS) data drawn from four distinct sociocultural groups in the military were tested on a model that fit the MEOCS data drawn from a sample of White men. A series of multi-group analyses was conducted on the established structural model using LISREL 8 (Joreskog & Sorbom, 1996) to determine whether data from sociocultural groups other than White males would fit a White male model. Further …

Controlling Adult Oriented Businesses In Norfolk, Virginia, 1943–1998: A Descriptive Case Study, Janet Gail Nicula

Theses and Dissertations in Urban Services - Urban Management

The purpose of this case study is to analyze methods used in the city of Norfolk, Virginia to control adult oriented businesses (AOBs). Evidence is derived from several sources: interviews, analysis of government records, documents, historical photographs, and current observations.

The research examines approaches taken by the city to control AOBs in three locations: Main Street-Granby Street, the north end of Hampton Boulevard, and Little Creek Road-Shore Drive. Research questions addressed (1) how AOBs in Norfolk were controlled, (2) what or who instigated the process, (3) the Navy's role in the process, (4) role of Norfolk Redevelopment and Housing Authority, …

Economic Impact Analysis Of The Portsmouth Invitational Tournament, Michael Morris

Human Movement Studies & Special Education Theses & Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine the economic impact of the Portsmouth Invitational Tournament (PIT) on the Hampton Roads, Virginia economy. The Portsmouth Invitational Tournament is a four-day all-star basketball tournament featuring college seniors from across the United States. No study has been done on the PIT in the past and this presented an additional need for this research to be undertaken. This study provided valuable information to local officials for future planning of this and other City of Portsmouth events. A twenty-one question survey was developed and distributed through a stratified random sample of the spectators attending …

Payroll Tax Incidence: An Empirical Investigation Of Shifting The Payroll Tax Burden, Ted D. Englebrecht, Laurie J. Henry, Govind S. Iyer

Accounting Faculty Publications

The payroll tax earmarked for the financing of social security benefits has been the leading growth tax on small businesses over the past few decades. Small businesses pay more in payroll tax than in any other form of tax. Indeed, these taxes are levied on small businesses irrespective of their profits. The statutory incidence of one-half of the payroll tax being paid by the employer and one-half by the employee may be very different from the actual incidence of the tax due to employer shifting mechanisms.

While there has been considerable conjecture about the shifting of the payroll tax burden, …

A Model To Evaluate The Effect Of Organizational Adaptation, Holly A. H. Handley, Alexander H. Levis

Engineering Management & Systems Engineering Faculty Publications

When an organization’s output declines due to either internal changes or changes in its external environment, it needs to adapt. In order to evaluate the effectiveness of different adaptation strategies on organizational per- formance, an organizational model composed of individual models of a five stage interacting decision maker was designed using an object oriented design approach and implemented as a Colored Petri net. The concept of entropy is used to calculate the total activity value, a surrogate for decision maker workload, based on the functional partition and the adaptation strategy being implemented. The individual decision maker’s total activity is monitored, …

A Study Of Financial Analysis Expectations And Practices In The Engineering Management Workplace, Paul Kauffmann, Resit Unal, Andres Sousa-Poza, William Peterson

Engineering Management & Systems Engineering Faculty Publications

This paper describes an on-going study of Master of Engineering Management (MEM) students and the financial analysis related job expectations and environment they face. The objective of this effort is to provide enhanced understanding of these requirements so that instructional content in the related courses can be focused to meet these needs. To achieve this goal, the study segments findings based on a range of organizational and job level characteristics to identify critical differences in the financial work environment and the financial tools that are employed. Preliminary findings are discussed in this paper and contrasts between public and private sector …

Effects Of Organizational Climate, Feedback-Seeking Environment And Innovation Characteristics On The Implementation Of A 360-Degree Feedback System, Simon Alan Bartle

Psychology Theses & Dissertations

The present study examined the effects of organizational climate, feedback seeking environment and innovation characteristics on the implementation of a 360-degree feedback system within a large financial holdings company. The effect of user attitudes toward the 360-degree feedback system was also assessed. A sample of responses from 255 360-degree feedback system users was collected over a 14-month time period. LISREL was used to test the hypothesized structural model. Overall goodness of fit for the model was poor (using generalized least squares estimates: the Non-Normed Fit Index (NNFI) = .95, Comparative Fit Index (CFI) = .96; Root Mean Square Error of …