Business Commons^™

A Plan To Revitalize The Domestic Superconducting Radio-Frequency Industry, G. Ciovati, M. Schuchman, W. Donaldson, A. Murokh, M. Naughton, D. Osha, D. Packard, J. Rathke, A. Todd

Physics Faculty Publications

Superconducting radio-frequency (SRF) cavities are essential building blocks of modern particle accelerators for scientific research, and they offer unique capabilities that could be transformative for commercial applications. Growth of the domestic SRF industry in North America has faced several challenges over the past decades, as most of the international demand for cavities was supplied by European vendors. This contribution provides a brief review of the domestic industrial vendor space, an outlook of the global demand for SRF cavities and an outline of the challenges leading to this supply chain deficiency. One of the main challenges towards establishing a robust domestic …

Cyberattacks On Port Infrastructures: A Decade Of Trends, Incidents, And Mitigation Strategies (2011-2024), Minodora Badea, Olga Bucovetchi, Adrian V. Gheorghe, Gabriel Raicu

Engineering Management & Systems Engineering Faculty Publications

Port infrastructures are critical to global trade, handling over 80% of the world's cargo by volume. However, their increasing reliance on digital technologies has exposed them to a wide range of cyber threats. This paper provides a comprehensive analysis of cyberattacks targeting port infrastructures from 2011 to the present. We examine the types of attacks, geographical distribution, notable incidents, and underlying vulnerabilities. Additionally, we discuss mitigation strategies and future directions for enhancing cybersecurity in the maritime sector. Our findings highlight the urgent need for robust regulatory frameworks, advanced technological solutions, and collaborative efforts to safeguard critical port operations.

A Comprehensive Academic And Industrial Survey Of Blockchain Technology For The Energy Sector Using Fuzzy Einstein Decision-Making, Umit Cali, Annabelle Lee, Barry Hayes, Claudio Lima, D. Jonathan Sebastian-Cardenas, David Flynn, Emre Kantar, Farrokh Rahimi, Kaung Si Thu, Marco Pasetti, Marthe Fogstad Dynge, Merlinda Andoni, Muhammet Deveci, Murat Kuzlu, Raquel Alanso, Kim-Kwang Raymond Choo, Sambeet Mishra, Shammya Shananda Saha, Sonam Norbu, Srinikhil Gourisetti, Ugur Halden, Vahid Hosseinezhad, Valentin Robu

Engineering Technology Faculty Publications

The global energy sector is undergoing a significant transformation driven by decarbonization and digitalization, leading to the emergence of Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT) — particularly blockchain — as a promising tool for enhancing transparency, security, and efficiency in modern power systems. This study aims to provide a comprehensive academic and industrial survey of blockchain applications in the energy sector and develop a robust decision-making framework to identify and prioritize the most promising real-world use cases based on multidisciplinary criteria. A three-stage methodology was adopted: (i) a literature and market review encompassing over 300 academic publications and commercial blockchain initiatives in …

Sounds Of Silence: Using The Stereotype Content Model To Understand Perceptions Of Introverts And Extraverts At Work, Mallory A. Mccord

Psychology Faculty Publications

This paper drew on the stereotype content model (SCM) to clarify cultural stereotypes about introverted and extraverted people at work to increase our understanding of the stereotype-driven process that may lead to negative responses to introversion and subsequent detriment to employee health and well-being. The hypothesis that introverted workers would be rated as lower in warmth and competence than extraverted workers was examined across three studies. Study 1 used qualitative content analyses to assess open responses that freely described introverted and extraverted colleagues. Study 2 tested the hypothesis quantitatively using established measures of warmth and competence. Finally, Study 3 tested …

Are Csr Incidents Truly Bad News?, Chen Chen, John A. Doukas, Rongyao Gloria Zhang

Finance Faculty Publications

We revisit whether disclosures of negative Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) incidents adversely affect firms' stock prices. While univariate tests reveal significant negative abnormal returns around incident announcements, the effect disappears once firm characteristics, industry, and time‐fixed effects are controlled for. We find no robust evidence that CSR incidents or firms' Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) commitments influence stock price reactions on the event day or across broader windows. These results suggest that previously documented negative market responses may be attributable to endogeneity. Our baseline results are consistent with informed trading behavior: short‐sellers do not increase activity in incident‐related stocks relative …

The Impact Of Short-Term Rental Activity On House Prices: Evidence From Coastal Virginia, Navid Safari, Lei Zhang, Timothy M. Komarek

Finance Faculty Publications

Short-term rentals such as Airbnb have grown substantially in recent years. In this study, we investigated the effect of Airbnb rentals on neighboring house prices in Hampton Roads, Virginia. We focus on three different measures of Airbnb activity to obtain more robust results. Our measures include active Airbnb listings, active listings with at least one reservation, and the sum of reservations over three different periods. Consistent with previous literature, our main results show that prior Airbnb rental activity has a positive impact on the surrounding housing sales prices. Furthermore, the localized impact diminishes over geographic space (i.e., distances greater than …

Labor Heterogeneity, Labor Adjustment Costs, And Externally Financed Firm Growth, Enxi An, Kenneth Yung

Finance Faculty Publications

Highlights

• Because skilled workers entail higher hiring and firing expenses, firms tend to retain skilled workers in the face of the high labor adjustment costs (LACs).

• The retention of skilled workers imposes inflexibility on business operations and exposes firms to cash flow shocks.

• Firms with high LACs hoard precautionary cash in the face of higher cash flow risk.

• We find a positive relationship between LACs and externally financed firm growth.

• Equity is the major source of external funds for firm growth in the face of high LACs.

• The retention of skilled workers elevates conflicts …

The Role Of Intangible Assets In Shaping Firm Value, Feng Dong, John Doukas

Finance Faculty Publications

This study introduces a new metric to evaluate a firm's intangible asset intensity, focusing on its ability to generate revenue from nonphysical assets. It finds a strong positive correlation between firm performance and both internally generated and externally acquired intangible assets. Firms with high intangible intensity outperform peers by 3% annually. The oversight of intangible assets is identified as a factor in value stocks' underperformance. Rigorous tests, including endogeneity checks, confirm these firms exhibit superior accounting quality, labour investment efficiency and acquisition returns. A framework highlights how managerial attributes enhance firm value through decision-making.

Artificial Intelligence And Digital Technologies In Finance: A Comprehensive Review, Soudeh Pazouki, Mohamad Jamshidi, Mirarmia Jalali, Arya Tafreshi

Finance Faculty Publications

This study explores the transformative impact of artificial intelligence (AI) and digital technologies on the financial technology (FinTech) industry, highlighting their role in fostering business growth, operational efficiency, and enhanced customer engagement. AI-driven strategies have unlocked new avenues for streamlining workflows, boosting productivity, and expanding financial inclusion by reaching underrepresented populations. However, these advancements also pose challenges, including navigating complex regulatory frameworks and adapting to the rapidly evolving technological landscape. This paper delves into the macroeconomic effects of AI, examining its influence on labor markets, consumer behavior, and organizational success. Furthermore, the paper discusses blockchain applications and their potential to …

Transformative Impact Of Ai And Digital Technologies On The Fintech Industry: A Comprehensive Review, Soudeh Pazouki, Behdad Jamshidi, Armia Jalali, Arya Tafreshi

Finance Faculty Publications

This paper examines the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) and digital technologies on the financial technology (FinTech) industry and demonstrates how AI- enabled strategies are increasing the ability of businesses not only to grow, but also to better serve their customers through operational efficiencies. But as immersive as the technological advancements may be, they present challenges in connection with increasingly complicated licensing regulations and a constantly evolving technological landscape. We examine the way AI and algorithms are streamlining workflows, enhancing productivity and expanding access to financial resources for traditionally under – served populations. The paper also discusses the macroeconomic implications …

Does The Acquirer's Complexity Affect The Market Reaction To M&A Decisions?, Rajib Chowdhury, John A. Doukas

Finance Faculty Publications

We examine whether and how acquiring firms' complexity affects investor perception at the announcement of M&A decisions. Using well-established data of firm complexity developed through combining machine learning and a lexicon of words, we find a significant positive relationship between acquiring firm complexity and cumulative abnormal returns (CAR), indicating that more intricate firms are viewed as more valuable or competent in mergers and acquisitions. This association is stronger for acquirers with high operating risk, organizational capital, R&D intensity, large and independent boards, and larger targets. We also present evidence that high-complexity bidders offer higher takeover premiums. Our study contributes to …

What Role Do Finance Ministers Play In Political Business Cycles? Evidence-Based On A New African Dataset, Christine Olivia Strong

Economics Faculty Publications

This study investigates how the personal characteristics of finance ministers influence political budget cycles in Africa. Using a new dataset covering 300 finance ministers across 23 countries from 1980 to 2020, we find that political budget cycles primarily take the form of increased government consumption during election years. Ministers with prior central banking experience are less likely to amplify spending in election years, effectively curbing political budget cycles. These results remain consistent after accounting for institutional quality, ministerial tenure, and other confounding factors. The findings contribute to the literature by showing that the appointment of finance ministers in African countries …

Academic Clustering For Athletes, Reginald Overton, Bob Case, Michael Ross

Human Movement Studies & Special Education Faculty Publications

A trend is developing in academia as it relates to Student-Athletes and advisement practices. With the NIL deals and transfer portals on the continually evolving forefront of collegiate athletics it is difficult to keep the athletes not only eligible to compete but also on track to obtain a degree. A student athlete may be advised to take the track of an Integrated Studies degree and then a transfer to or from a Sport Management Degree. This occurs throughout both the undergraduate and graduate levels of higher education. In addition, certificate programs in athletic administration, sport marketing, sport management, and sport …

Global Horizons: International Considerations Within Sport Management, Michael Ross, Reginald Overton, Bob Case

Human Movement Studies & Special Education Faculty Publications

As experiential learning becomes increasingly prioritized within sport management curriculums found across the nation, an emerging need for a more in-depth understanding of the globalization of sport has become evident. Professional, collegiate, and even high school sports are displaying a global footprint though international competition and experiencing increased numbers of international players within their rosters.

While those of us in the academic realm continue to bridge the gap between academia and industry, it is essential to enhance the global perspective of our students by incorporating more international opportunities, such as study abroad programs, that blend academic components with real-world sports …

Athletic Trainers' Perspectives On Resources And Preparation Needed For Successful Salary Negotiation, Kimberly R. Detwiler, Cailee E. Welch Bacon, Indigo B. White, Leanne E. Jones, Julie M. Cavallario

Rehabilitation Sciences Faculty Publications

Context

Many athletic trainers (ATs) work under high stress, long hours, and low pay. These conditions often lead ATs and athletic training students to leave the profession. Previous studies show that over half of ATs do not negotiate salary, often because they feel the offer is fair or fear losing the job. Additional support is needed to help ATs prepare for negotiations, as current resources are limited.

Objective

This study explored ATs’ views on the resources need to prepare for salary negotiations during the hiring process.

Design

Consensual qualitative research.

Setting

Individual video interviews.

Patients or Other Participants

Twenty-eight participants …

Exploring Vr User Experiences, Sarah Ferguson, Demetrice Smith-Mutegi, Brett Cook-Snell

Teaching & Learning Faculty Publications

Virtual reality (VR) has unique potential for simulating environments and situations beyond real-life experiences. This study investigates the limitations of VR equipment design for learning spaces, specifically online environments. Presented are the findings of an exploratory study that examined the immersion, ease of use, and physiological and emotional experiences of seven university students participating in a 30–60 min VR session. Given the small sample size, the findings were analyzed with descriptive statistics and qualitatively. The results revealed that participants recognized the potential of VR as a teaching and learning tool, while also identifying certain limitations associated with health and safety. …

Insights In Adaptation: Examining Self-Reflection Strategies Of Job Seekers With Visual Impairments In India, Akshay Kolgar Nayak, Yash Prakash, Sampath Jayarathna, Hae-Na Lee, Vikas Ashok

Computer Science Faculty Publications

Significant changes in the digital employment landscape, driven by rapid technological advancements and the COVID-19 pandemic, have introduced new opportunities for blind and visually impaired (BVI) individuals in developing countries like India. However, a significant portion of the BVI population in India remains unemployed despite extensive accessibility advancements and job search interventions. Therefore, we conducted semi-structured interviews with 20 BVI persons who were either pursuing or recently sought employment in the digital industry. Our findings reveal that despite gaining digital literacy and extensive training, BVI individuals struggle to meet industry requirements for fulfilling job openings. While they engage in self-reflection …

Quickque: Enabling Quick Access To Information In User Reviews For Screen Reader Users, Mohan Sunkara, Akshay Kolgar Nayak, Sandeep Kalari, Yash Prakash, Sampath Jayarathna, Hae-Na Lee, Vikas Ashok

Computer Science Faculty Publications

Efficiently perusing online customer reviews is presently challenging for blind users, who rely on a screen reader that supports predominantly one-dimensional narration of content via keyboard shortcuts. To address this, with restaurant reviews as seminal case study, we developed QuickCue, a browser extension prototype that enables screen reader users to quickly obtain the positives and negatives regarding different aspects of a restaurant (e.g., food quality, hygiene, ambiance), without having to sift through numerous reviews containing redundant information. At its core, QuickCue utilizes a large language model to perform aspect and sentiment-based joint classification of reviews to group them based on …

Adapting Online Customer Reviews For Blind Users: A Case Study Of Restaurant Reviews, Mohan Sunkara, Akshay Kolgar Nayak, Sandeep Kalari, Yash Prakash, Sampath Jayarathna, Hae-Na Lee, Vikas Ashok

Computer Science Faculty Publications

Online reviews have become an integral aspect of consumer decision-making on e-commerce websites, especially in the restaurant industry. Unlike sighted users who can visually skim through the reviews, perusing reviews remains challenging for blind users, who rely on screen reader assistive technology that supports predominantly one-dimensional narration of content via keyboard shortcuts. In an interview study, we uncovered numerous pain points of blind screen reader users with online restaurant reviews, notably, the listening fatigue and frustration after going through only the first few reviews. To address these issues, we developed QuickCue assistive tool that performs aspect-focused sentiment-driven summarization to reorganize …

Data Security In The Apple Ecosystem: An Evaluation, Kayrene Woods

Cybersecurity Undergraduate Research Showcase

This study provides a comprehensive evaluation of data security within the Apple ecosystem, focusing on the company’s privacy policies, user perceptions, and the effectiveness of its App Store review processes. Employing an interdisciplinary methodology, the research examines Apple’s commitment to data protection, emphasizing transparency and user trust. A survey of user experiences revealed varying levels of engagement and understanding of Apple’s privacy practices, with only 32.8% of respondents having read the Privacy Policy and mixed opinions on its clarity. Additionally, concerns persist about third-party app security, with 39.7% of users expressing apprehension and skepticism about Apple’s App Store review process. …

Estimating The Economic Impact Of A Natural Disaster On The Workforce Resiliency: An Analysis Of The Virginia Beach - Chesapeake - Norfolk Metropolitan Statistical Area, Robert M. Mcnab, Yin-Hsuen Chen, George Mcleod

Presentations, Lectures, Posters, Reports

In this paper, we explore the potential economic impacts associated with a major hurricane making landfall in Hampton Roads. We estimate the direct damages from a Florence-like Category 3 hurricane with a 3.6 feet tidal offset are estimated at $15.6 billion, equivalent to 10% of the 2022 regional GDP. If we apply existing flood insurance rates to these projected damages, we estimate that the total economic impact would exceed $12 billion with a short-term loss of more than 76,000 jobs. The job losses are concentrated in sectors that provide services to households which would bear the brunt of damages during …

Competing In The Stress Olympics: Mid-Level Managers And Their Experiences Of Work Stress As Impacted By Their Supervisors And Organizational Climate, Melissa Jane Hecker Scott

Educational Leadership & Workforce Development Theses & Dissertations

Student affairs has a problem due to staff attrition (Rosser & Javinar, 2003). Most professionals leave the field due to job dissatisfaction, unhealthy work environments, high stress, and low morale (Marshall et al., 2016; Rosser & Javinar, 2003). Researchers have identified a relationship between job stress and burnout and intentions to leave the field of student affairs (Mullen et al., 2018). Turnover of positions is financially detrimental to the institution due to the cost of recruitment, hiring, and training the replacement employee (Agovino, 2019). In addition to the financial impact, when mid-level managers leave, there is a loss of institutional …

Does Job Satisfaction Take A Hit? The Relationships Between Employee Cannabis Use, Job Satisfaction, And Absenteeism, Caroline Jordan Moughan

Psychology Theses & Dissertations

Despite the frequency of cannabis use, limited research has examined how employees’ cannabis use relates to job attitudes and behaviors. This study responds to calls to examine the effects of employee cannabis use on work-relevant outcomes by exploring how employee cannabis use relates to job satisfaction and voluntary absenteeism by analyzing a sample of 526 employed young adults from the most recent three waves of the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth (NLSY) Child and Young Adult Cohort. Through estimating cross-lagged panel models, this study clarifies the direction of relationships between employee cannabis use and job satisfaction, and how these relate …

Career Pathways Program Annual Report For Ay 2023/24, Wie Yusuf

Career Pathways

Career Pathways was launched in August 2017 as the university-wide initiative to provide professional development to graduate students. It encompasses the Preparing Future Faculty (PFF) and the Preparing Future Professionals (PFP) Certificates. The Career Pathways program prepares graduate students for successful transition into thriving careers by serving as a gateway to resources, programs, events, and planning tools for ODU graduate students and post-doctoral fellows. With the increased emphasis on recruiting and supporting post-doctoral scholars at ODU, Career Pathways has also focused on connecting post-doctoral scholars with the program and supplementing their training with career development programming.

For AY 2023/24, Career …

A Study Of Learnability In Software As Perceived By Practitioners In User Experience And Learning Design Professions, Courtney N. Miller

STEMPS Theses & Dissertations

In the technology space, there are many factors that contribute to the marketability of software, including pricing and overall usefulness of the product (Jayathilaka, 2021). Many factors contribute to how usable a software is, including satisfaction, error prevention, memorability, efficiency, and learnability (Nielsen, 1994b). Learnability is one factor that may be affected or addressed by both user experience (UX) and learning design (LD) professional groups. While both fields address learnability, very few studies have been conducted to look at the UX interpretation of learnability as it relates to the LD interpretation (Elliott et al., 2002; Li et al., 2023). This …

Two Essays On Asset Prices Around Securities Class Action Lawsuits, Sounak Saha

Theses and Dissertations in Business Administration

Essay 1: Prior studies on securities class action lawsuits have found that there are large negative abnormal returns and an increase in short-selling activity in the days preceding the lawsuit filing. These findings have largely been attributed to anticipatory inference and private information. However, our analysis of a large sample spanning 2009-2019 reveals that more than half of the lawsuits had a public announcement about the law firm investigation in the days leading up to the lawsuit filing. Strikingly, we find that the average cumulative abnormal return during the 10-day pre-filing period was: (1) over -17% for lawsuits with a …

Two Essays On Labor Heterogeneity, Enxi An

Theses and Dissertations in Business Administration

Labor heterogeneity limits firm flexibility, subsequently affecting a firm's capacity to adapt and grow within a dynamic economic landscape and to formulate effective financial strategies. Firms with high labor heterogeneity tend to incur significant labor adjustment costs, making it costly and challenging to adjust their workforce in response to economic changes. While retaining skilled labor can be advantageous in preserving valuable human capital, it also incurs considerable economic costs that significantly influence firms' financial strategy and decision-making processes. This dissertation comprises two essays that explore the implications of firms' dependence on skilled labor.

The first essay empirically investigates how labor …

Work-Life Balance Fantasy Logics Of Mothers Working In Community Colleges: A Glitch Methodology Using Intimate Inquiry And Aesthetic Mediation, Emily Hanson Moore

Educational Leadership & Workforce Development Theses & Dissertations

This post-qualitative study explores work-life balance as a sustaining fantasy produced by neoliberal, patriarchal, productivity-driven systems and how this fantasy manifests affectively for mothers who work in community colleges. The study began by contextualizing the work-life balance fantasy within higher education as a gendered workscape. Using intimate inquiry (Laura, 2013) and aesthetic meditation as the primary approaches, the researcher engaged in conversations with participants about their experiences mothering and working in community colleges. The primary data sources were these conversations, participant artifacts, researcher self-reflection and artifacts, and a range of contemporary cultural texts including podcasts, poetry, television, social media posts …

Investors' Reactions To Alliance-Engendered Acquisition Ambiguity: Evidence From Us Technology Deals, Panos Desyllas, Martin C. Goossen, Corey C. Phelps

Management Faculty Publications

We study how, when target firms are engaged in strategic alliances, the ambiguity surrounding an acquisition's anticipated synergies influences investors' reactions to announcements of acquisitions. Drawing on behavioural finance research and the resource redeployment literature, we predict that investors' limited access to the information encoded in the target firms' alliances and the uncertainty around the re-deployability of their embedded resources generate a negative relationship between the number of target alliances and investors' reactions. We also hypothesize that this negative effect is exacerbated when the alliances involve foreign alliance partners but is attenuated when acquirers are experienced in acquiring targets with …

The Ethical And Legal Implications Of Iot Data In Business Organizations, Kennedy Bellamy

Cybersecurity Undergraduate Research Showcase

The Internet of Things (IoT) has transformed how our day to day lives by implementing and evolving technology that allows data to be exchanged between interconnected devices without the need for human involvement. This paper investigates the implications of IoT expansion and development in corporate organizations, focusing on both the opportunities and challenges it brings. IoT encompasses a wide range of data kinds, from sensor readings to user interactions, across industries such as manufacturing, healthcare, and retail. However, greater connection raises ethical and legal challenges, especially over data privacy, ownership, and control. Potential breaches of privacy and illegal data access …