Business Commons^™

Relationship-Influenced Cyber Hygiene (Rich) In Community Banks, Monte L. Ward

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation is a research study that introduces the theoretical model of Relationship-Influenced Cyber Hygiene (RICH) through its investigation of the phenomenon the researcher experienced: how the interpersonal relationship between top management and cybersecurity personnel within smaller community banks influences the cyber hygiene of top management. Due to the value proposition of community banks to their clients and the limited budget of smaller institutions for investment in cybersecurity controls and initiates, community banks need additional strategies to achieve stronger cyber hygiene, especially as it relates the greatest weakness in most cybersecurity infrastructures—the human element. This study identifies and addresses a …

Exploring Factors That Influence Artificial Intelligence Adoption In Banks And Credit Unions, Vijaya S. Tumma

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The importance of Artificial Intelligence (AI) is exploding in the banking sector, fueled by enhanced productivity, improved efficiencies, and personalized services to the consumers. For credit unions, the adoption of AI technologies presents opportunities and challenges. This research explores the factors influencing AI adoption in the banking sector through the lens of Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) framework. This study aims to explore the influence of key aspects of UTAUT model, Performance Expectancy (PE), Effort Expectancy (EE), Social Influence (SI), and Facilitating Conditions (FC) on the intention of AI adoption among credit unions, banks, and their …

Links, Fit, And Sacrifice: How Job Embeddedness Impacts Work Modality And Intention To Stay In Public Accounting, Maryalice C. Trussell

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Historically, the public accounting profession has applied an in-person apprenticeship model to assimilate new professionals into the culture of the firm and client service profession. The COVID-19 pandemic quickly challenged this in-person apprenticeship model in early 2020 by forcing most professionals to work remotely. Initial post-pandemic research with public accountants highlighted issues related to remote work, including a lack of social bonds with coworkers, reduced organizational socialization as well as less commitment to the firm and profession. Notwithstanding the new obstacles with COVID-induced remote work, turnover and talent shortages have been persistent challenges in public accounting.

This study is the …

Integrating Risk And Vulnerability: Exploring A Unified Model For Supply Chain Resiliency, William G. Cook

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The world has entered an era of retreating globalization, mounting geo-political tensions, rising protectionism, and increasing focus on the fragility of complex supply chains. The negative impacts of supply chain disruptions have been increasingly documented since the turn of the century. Given the global scale of recent disruptions, supply chain resiliency has become a national imperative. The Global Financial Crisis, the Covid-19 pandemic, and other major disruptive events demonstrate the active role of government in mitigating damage, the enduring effects of regulation, and the resultant re-evaluation of supply chain strategies by the private and public sectors. In this environment, supply …

Operational Variations In State-Owned Hotels And International Branded Hotels In China: A Qualitative Analysis Of Practitioners' Perspectives And Implications, Wen Wei

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This study examines experienced hoteliers' perspectives on essential operational practices for delivering consistent, high-quality customer experiences, focusing on operational differences between Chinese State-Owned Hotels (SOHs) and International Branded Hotels (IBHs) in China. Through semi-structured interviews with 24 experienced hoteliers from SOHs and IBHs, the research identifies operational practices in IBHs that are perceived as more effective than those in SOHs. Additionally, the study explores operational practices that SOHs and IBHs could adopt and adapt to succeed in China’s post-pandemic hotel market. The analysis is framed by the Resource-Based View (RBV), Dynamic Capabilities (DCs), Market Orientation (MO), and the role of …

Thriving Or Surviving In Virtual Sales: The Connection Between Virtual Work And Job Satisfaction Amongst Salespeople In The Pharmaceutical Industry, Amit Garg

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The post COVID 19 sales environment for salespeople in pharmaceuticals has shifted to becoming hybridized within a continuum of face-to-face and virtual interactions, when engaging with health care professionals. This dissertation reports on a study investigating the relationship of virtual work with job satisfaction and burnout. There were two questions that were addressed in this study to understand the impact virtual work has had on overall job satisfaction and burnout. First, what is the relationship of virtuality to job satisfaction and burnout in the pharmaceutical sales environment? Second, which facets of job satisfaction and burnout are most strongly related to …

Perceptions Of Rural America: Exploring College Students' Views And Career Priorities Post-Graduation, Tom Hall

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The problems facing rural America are wide ranging and multilayered. Perceptions can often be reality for those unfamiliar with rural life, which can pose a hurdle for businesses to overcome. With an in-depth literature review and research study, this dissertation aims to provide context and understanding to the problems and misconceptions of rural America. Without context, it is easy to interpret rural America as a dying, outdated part of the country, but the reality is far more complex. A research study was conducted that surveyed 400 actively enrolled college students from schools in 19 American states on three things: 1) …

Empowering Entrepreneurial Evolution: A Beyond Founder Strategic Approach To Small Business Growth, D. Jared Knisley

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Growing a business beyond its founder’s capacities and talents presents a challenging undertaking. When a founder is no longer involved or motivated to grow the business, firm decline is a likely outcome. Small businesses often have a deep and, at times, hindering reliance on their early founders for development. Therefore, a continuous engaging plan to advance entrepreneurial success is needed to grow a small business.

My research objective aims to find methods and designs, through academic literature and practitioner interviews, that transition leadership responsibilities and increase team empowerment within a small business, enabling these firms to continue growing as the …

Advancing Sustainable Investing: A Deep Learning Model For Multi-Source Stock Prediction, Hongxuan Yu, Tingting Zhang, Murat Kizildag

Journal of Global Business Insights

The burgeoning role of the stock market within the national economy elevates the importance of precise stock price analysis and prediction, a field that has garnered substantial interest in academic research. Stock price fluctuations, influenced by many factors, including company fundamentals, market sentiment, capital flows, industry news, and macroeconomic policies, present a highly dynamic and complex challenge for predictive modeling. Addressing this challenge, our study introduces an innovative method that capitalizes on the synthesis of news text and stock price data for forecasting market movements. We employ GloVe embeddings to capture semantic nuances from news text and integrate them with …

Antecedents Of Entrepreneurial Activity And Poverty: Mediating Effect Of Entrepreneurial Activity, Bashir I. Bugaje, Azmawani Abd Rahman, Rusmawati Said, Jo A. Ho, Abubakar A. Adamu

Journal of Global Business Insights

Poverty rates in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) have risen, with 47% of the region’s population living in poverty. In Nigeria, approximately 87 million are classified as extremely poor. Existing research on the relationship between entrepreneurship and poverty in this region is fragmented and inconsistent. Traditional economic measures of poverty have proven inadequate, prompting the need for a multidimensional approach. The paper examined the mediating effect of entrepreneurial activity on the relationship between the precursors of entrepreneurship and poverty. The study used a survey method and partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) to analyze the data, which confirmed all hypotheses, revealing …

Millennials’ Perception Towards Adaption And Intention Of M-Banking: Experience From A Developing Country, Noman Hasan, Md. Shahed Mahmud, Abdul Gaffar Khan, Reshma Pervin Lima, Shiblu Miah

Journal of Global Business Insights

In recent years, m-banking has been developed rapidly around the world. The research aims to measure millennials’ perception towards adaption and intention of m-banking from a developing country’s perspective. A PLS-SEM modeling approach was performed to test the hypothetical model. The empirical results reveal that perceived ease of use, perceived security and privacy, and perceived cost significantly affect the millennials’ attitude to adopt m-banking. In contrast, perceived usefulness and perceived self-efficacy have an insignificant effect. Furthermore, attitude towards adopting m-banking significantly impacts adoption and intention among millennials. Practical and theoretical implications have been identified based on the study results.

A Comparative Study Of Argentinean And Colombian Employee Perceptions Of Managerial Behavioral Effectiveness, Carlos E. Ruiz, Melinda K. Cline

Journal of Global Business Insights

This study explores the similarities and differences among Argentinean and Colombian employees regarding their perceptions of effective and ineffective managerial and leadership behavior by conducting a qualitative multiple cross-case and cross nation comparative analysis of findings from two previous emic replication studies. The findings of this study suggest more similarities than differences in the perceptions of Argentinean and Colombian workers about effective/ineffective managerial and leadership behaviors and highlight important nuances. Although there are cultural differences among Argentineans and Colombians, the findings of this study suggest that culture may not play a substantial role in the perception of managerial behavioral effectiveness. …

The Piranhas: Endgame Of Banking In Indonesia, F. Mario Andaru, Bambang Hadinugroho

Journal of Global Business Insights

Neobank is a form of financial technology innovation that offers banking services without a branch office. This is a form of disruption in the banking industry. Therefore, this paper aims to look at the phenomenon regarding the shift in the banking industry due to the presence of neobanks and, at the same time, question whether this is the beginning of the extinction of conventional banking. Based on an analysis of the literature on fintech and digital banking from research, case studies, and news media in both English and Indonesian, this study discusses research related to neobank trends disrupting the conventional …

Intermediate Conformity Of Hrm Practices In Host Countries: Why And How They Work, Wenjuan Guo

Journal of Global Business Insights

The institutional theory suggests that multinational enterprises (MNEs) need to conform to institutional norms to gain legitimacy, thereby enhancing their survival in host countries. Conversely, from the perspective of business strategy, MNEs gain a competitive advantage by leveraging organizational capabilities worldwide. These two perspectives imply that MNEs face conflicting pressures when adopting HRM practices in their host country subsidiaries. This article discusses the rationale for why MNEs’ subsidiaries should intermediately conform to both internal and external institutional forces and adopt a combination of home and host country HRM practices. Furthermore, it suggests that intermediate conformity contributes to a higher survival …

Understanding The Motivations Behind Engaging With Hospitality-Related Facebook Fan Pages, Kunsoon Park, Xu Li

Journal of Global Hospitality and Tourism

Understanding the motivations behind social media participation is crucial for brand managers looking to enhance customer loyalty and attract new customers. This study explores the factors driving consumer engagement with hospitality brand Facebook pages, identifying key motivations and engagement patterns. Utilizing a comprehensive multi-phased methodology—descriptive analysis, factor analysis, canonical correlation analysis, cluster analysis, and discriminant analysis—data were gathered from a survey of 501 adults engaging with the Facebook page. The results show that consumers prioritize brand interaction, social integration, and information-seeking over entertainment or rewards. Two distinct consumer groups emerged: passive observers and active participants, with a preference for contributing …

Exploring New Frontiers In Hospitality And Tourism, Faizan Ali

Journal of Global Hospitality and Tourism

As we embark on the second issue of Volume 3 of the Journal of Global Hospitality and Tourism, we are presented with a rich and diverse collection of research that investigates contemporary challenges and innovations within our dynamic field. This issue features a diverse range of studies that illuminate emerging trends, address critical issues, and offer practical insights for both industry practitioners and academics.

Reducing Mega-Event Syndrome: A Case Study Of Expo 2020, Zehra Abdulla, Christopher S. Dutt

Journal of Global Hospitality and Tourism

The study was designed to explore how Expo 2020, as one of the first mega-events to be hosted in the Middle East, was undertaking steps to avoid many of the negatives of such events, termed mega-event syndrome (MES). A qualitative approach was adopted, where 5 elite face-to-face interviews were conducted with senior officials within Expo 2020 who could offer detailed insights into the planning of the event. Participants were purposefully selected based on their knowledge and experience within Expo 2020. Participants felt that Expo 2020 was not exposed to many of the symptoms of MES largely because of Dubai’s pre-existing …

Do Social Support, Supervisory Feedback, And Job Stress Matter To An Employee’S Sense Of Ownership? Context In The Lodging Sector, Aladin M. Ibrahim, Zyra R. Cabrera, Rodin S. Pescuela

Journal of Global Hospitality and Tourism

In the face of intensified competition within the hospitality sector, exacerbated by the challenges of post-pandemic recovery, organizations are increasingly focused on re-engaging employees impacted by workforce reductions and retaining those who demonstrate a strong sense of attachment, care, and commitment to their workplace. These ownership behaviors are pivotal in fostering organizational stewardship and driving performance. However, the question arises: how can organizations cultivate and enhance these positive employee behaviors? This study investigates the influence of leader- and work-related factors, including social support, supervisory feedback, and job stress, on employees’ sense of ownership towards their organization. Employing a survey methodology, …

Managing Tourist Booking Intentions: A Study Of Hotel Marketing Strategies During The Covid-19 Crisis In Cyprus, Chrystalla Markou, Giannis Theofanous, Doros Michael

Journal of Global Hospitality and Tourism

This study investigates the impact of specific marketing strategies on tourist booking intentions during the COVID-19 crisis in Cyprus, aiming to understand the effectiveness of these strategies in maintaining booking intentions. The study also investigates the challenge of maintaining tourists’ booking intentions during the financial impact of COVID-19. A quantitative, non-experimental correlational study examined the existence, strength, and direction of the relationship between all-inclusive holiday packages, room discounts, and special hotel amenities and hotel accommodations as measured by intentions to select a hotel in the Cyprus hotel industry. For the purpose of this study, 161 tourists who stayed in Cyprus …

Crisis To Success: Online Food Delivery For Restaurants’ Sales Performance And Customer Purchase Intention, Wenfang Liu, Jaewook Kim

Journal of Global Hospitality and Tourism

Identifying factors influencing food delivery sales and customers’ intentions amid pandemic restrictions aids strategic planning for restaurant business in uncertain business environments. This paper aims to explore restaurant survival strategies by examining customers’ purchase intentions towards online food delivery services. The results of this paper assist restaurant business in establish a sustainable competitive advantage amidst market crises with a focus on organizational learning for future events. This paper utilized a mixed-method approach and comprised two studies. Study one explores factors affecting online food delivery sales through multiple linear regression analysis. Study two investigates customers’ intentions under online payment concerns through …

Championing Retention In The Hospitality Industry – Leveraging The Strengths Of A Multigenerational Workforce, Laur-Ann Daley

Journal of Global Hospitality and Tourism

The hospitality and tourism industry has a long history of high turnover rates and businesses are constantly scrambling to fill vacancies. With four generations occupying the industry’s workforce, leaders are further challenged with fostering harmony in an attempt to increase their retention rates. Despite the challenges in leading a generationally diverse team, given their unique values, businesses can realize strategic advantages. This opinion paper highlights the strengths of multigenerational teams and how they can be leveraged for competitive benefits.

Bridging The Digital Divide In Hospitality And Tourism: Digital Inclusion For Disadvantaged, Xi Y. Leung

Journal of Global Hospitality and Tourism

As technology continues to revolutionize the hospitality and tourism industry, the issues of digital equity and digital divide have gained increasing prominence (Minghetti & Buhalis, 2010; Reverte & Luque, 2021). While digital advancements offer unprecedented opportunities for businesses and consumers, they also risk exacerbating existing inequalities (Wu & Yang, 2023). This is particularly evident in the growing digital divide, referring to the capabilities gap of individuals, groups and regions to access and process digital information technology (OECD, 2001). The rapid pace of technological advancement has left certain groups struggling to keep up. These digital disadvantaged groups—comprising individuals with limited access …

Digital Transformation Perceptions In Tourism Businesses: The Case Of Batman Province, Ferhat Kurt

Journal of Mediterranean Tourism Research

This study explores the perceptions of digital transformation within tourism businesses in Batman Province, with a specific focus on accommodation, food and beverage and tourism agencies. Perceptions of digital transformation are considered to have of growing influence on the tourism business, and the research of these perceptions is a critical study not only for academic research but also for practical applications. Experiences, strategies, and challenges of the businesses in digitalization are studied with qualitative research methods, specifically semi structured interviews with five businesses running in Batman, Turkey. The findings highlight the varying degrees of digital transformation awareness and the different …

The Relationship Between Communication Styles And Nonverbal Communication Level: A Study On Tourist Guides, Melike Sak, Ali Turan Bayram, Gül Erkol Bayram, Anuj Kumar, Shakeel Basheer

Journal of Mediterranean Tourism Research

Communication, a fundamental tool in human interaction, encompasses a variety of methods and techniques. One such method, non-verbal communication, is a form of expression that transcends words or language. Instead, it relies on a spectrum of non-verbal cues, such as body language, eye contact, physical posture, gestures, and facial expressions, to convey meaning. In the context of tourist guiding, non-verbal communication is a key element. The non-verbal communication skills of tourist guides are pivotal in shaping the quality of the tour experience. By employing non-verbal communication techniques, guides can significantly enhance the quality of interaction with tourists, thereby optimizing communication …

The Use Of Sustainable Energy Resources In Accommodation Businesses: The Case Of Hakkâri, Murat Tamer

Journal of Mediterranean Tourism Research

This study addresses the utilization of sustainable energy resources. It aims to uncover the initiatives taken by the accommodation businesses in Hakkâri to use sustainable energy resources. To achieve this, a field study was carried out in the Center, Çukurova, and Yüksekova Districts of the city by employing qualitative research methodologies involving interviews. In-depth interviews were conducted with a study group comprised of five managers selected through non-random snowball sampling. The data collected from the field were subjected to descriptive analysis and presented within the thematic framework. The findings revealed that accommodation businesses are not only concentrated on water conservation …

Producing Hospitality Experiences At Exhibitions, Elizabeth K. Wada, Paulo Sergio Gonçalves De Oliveira, Anderson Soares Lopes

Journal of Mediterranean Tourism Research

This study presents considerations on the production of experiences in the environment of exhibitions in the city of São Paulo - SP / Brazil. Therefore, during the first phase of this investigation, bibliographical research was carried out on the subjects of hospitality, hospitality experiences, MICE - Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions, organizations and trade fairs. In the second part, a multiple case study strategy was adopted, consisting of the use of a case study protocol, observation and interviews with exhibition representatives. The question proposed in the research is: what are the aspects observed in the production of hospitality experiences when …

Integrating Location Data Into Analytics: Methods, Applications, And Fairness In Public Healthcare, Arindam Ray

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation explores the application of location data in healthcare management, focusing on epidemic spread forecasts and fairness in healthcare access. It demonstrates the power of location data in understanding and forecasting epidemic spread with two examples, using mobility metrics derived from the location data. The second example also considers the effect of social vulnerability along with population mobility and extends a popular deep-learning algorithm to accept static anddynamic data. The dissertation also proposes health equity measures by evaluating the alignment between healthcare facility locations and people’s mobility patterns, considering demographic factors. This research highlights the valuable insight location data …

Bayesian Analysis Of Hospital Service Quality: Pre- And Post-Covid, Ling Hu

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The hospital sector is the largest revenue-generating industry in the United States, with a revenue of $1.4 trillion in 2022, accounting for 5.8% of the U.S. GDP. Its service quality profoundly impacts societal welfare, especially given the aging population reached 55.8 million in 2020 and is expected to reach 82 million by 2050. Therefore, multiple policies aim to incentivize sustained healthcare service quality improvements. As an integral component of the Hospital Value-Based Purchasing (HVBP) Program, the Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCAHPS) survey, administrated by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), serves as a cornerstone …

Bibliometric Research Of Postgraduate Theses On Technology Acceptance Model Prepared In The Field Of Tourism, Mustafa Said Kocabıyık, Engin Deniz Eriş

Journal of Mediterranean Tourism Research

Within the scope of the study, 16 postgraduate theses published in the field of tourism between 2000 and 2023 were examined within the framework of the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) concept. In line with the study, it is aimed to reveal 23-year research trends in the field of tourism. The investigations were carried out within the scope of "Technology Acceptance Model" in the Thesis Center database of the Presidency of the Higher Education Institution and the data obtained from the studies were classified. Studies obtained; It is presented with parameters according to years, number of publications, thesis type, place where …

A New Look At Consumer Responses To Certain And Uncertain Rewards, Aihui Ding

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Both certain rewards, which refer to incentives associated with a 100% probability of receipt, and uncertain rewards, which refer to incentives associated with probabilities of receipt that are less than 100%, are widely employed in marketing. Expected utility theory and prospect theory support the superiority of certain rewards over uncertain rewards. This research aims to investigate whether consumer aversion to uncertain rewards depends on the presence of consumer inference about firm immorality, which refers to the consumers’ belief that the firm could be engaging in unethical practices in promotions. Study 1 identifies two psychological mechanisms that explain why uncertain rewards …