Business Commons^™

The Impact Of Decreasing Defined Benefit Plans On Employee Turnover, Melissa Claire Gregory

Chancellor’s Honors Program Projects

No abstract provided.

The Role Of Mentoring For Women In Upper Management In The National Basketball Association (Nba), Manuela Picariello

Doctoral Dissertations

Despite years of progress by women in the workforce, climbing the corporate ladder is still a very daunting task for most women (Eagly & Carli, 2007; Evans, 2010; McKinsey Report, 2013), and occupational segregation still exists (Davidson & Burke, 2011). Research studies have reported that mentoring in general is critical to upward mobility (Allen, Eby, O’Brien, & Lentz, 2008; Allen, Eby, Poteet, Lentz, & Lima, 2004; Eby, Allen, Evans, Ng, & DuBois, 2008). To date there has not been a study with a focus on mentoring and female executives in professional sport. In the 2014 Racial and Gender Report Card …

How To Create A Culture Of Health Through Workplace Wellness Programs, Elizabeth Griggs

Chancellor’s Honors Program Projects

No abstract provided.

A Mixed Integer Linear Programming Approach For Developing Salary Administration Systems, Taner Cokyasar

Masters Theses

Determining salary increases of executive personnel is a challenging decision process for many companies. Salary administration policies that aid in the determination of salary increases and other compensation benefits have a wide variety of advantages for both a company and its employees. This thesis develops a mathematical programming approach to create a salary administration system that recognizes the importance of performance and potential of employees for future promotions as major components of a salary increase policy for executive personnel. A number of companies all over the world use salary administration systems that integrate work performance and potential for advancement to …

Be Our Guest: A Hotel's Guide To Guest Service Hospitality Training, Abigail Ehlert

Chancellor’s Honors Program Projects

No abstract provided.

Examining The Nature And Consequences Of Interfunctional Bias In A Corporate Setting, William Adam Powell

Doctoral Dissertations

Interfunctional bias is examined in this dissertation as a potential barrier to interfunctional cooperation. Interfunctional cooperation is desirable in modern corporate organizations as a contributor to effective service delivery, operations planning, and sales performance. Interfunctional stereotyping, prejudice, and discrimination are hypothesized to relate positively, and together provide the bias-based theoretical basis through which barriers to interfunctional cooperation can be more thoroughly understood. Based on the extant literature in marketing and psychology, competing models of interfunctional bias are developed and hypothesized. In the first of three studies a questionnaire-based survey of supply chain employees’ perceptions of salespeople permitted the examination of …

A Theoretical And Experimental Investigation Of Efficiency, Equity, And Uncertainty In Tournaments, Nicholas Busko

Doctoral Dissertations

This dissertation consists of three essays centered around labor incentives that arise in relative compensation contracts. Chapter 1 poses the question: if devotion to a core competence were truly optimal, why would firms do otherwise? We argue that the behavior of drifting from the core may be motivated by the competitive incentives faced by managers who seek to rise within a firm. We find competition creates an incentive for a manager to look for less correlated opportunities that pull the firm in a new direction. In a symmetric equilibrium all managers behave this way, leading to lower expected output for …

The Relationship Between Hope And Self-Directed Learning In The Workplace, Vicki Martin Dieffenderfer

Doctoral Dissertations

This study investigated the relationship between self-directed learning and hope in the workplace. Participants completed two self-directed learning instruments, the Survey of Adult Learning Traits (SALT) (Hogg, 2008) and the Learner Self-directedness in the Workplace Scale (LSWS) (De Bruin & De Bruin, 2011), along with two hope scales, the Hope Trait Scale (Snyder et al., 1991) and the author-generated Workplace Learning Hope Scale. Correlation, ANOVA, and multiple regressions were used to test the relationship and differences between self-directed learning and hope, specifically within the domain of workplace learning. All instruments utilized in this study displayed sound internal consistency reliability. The …

Three Justifications For Support Of Female Student Affairs Professionals, Anna Filipek Adams

Masters Theses

Female student affairs professionals have experienced much advancement in the field. Yet we still suffer gender discrimination in our career paths, salaries, and work experiences. Unfortunately, this issue is not seen as important by decision makers, due to the acceptance of slow change, the past reluctances to begin this discussion, and the arguments of critics. In order to reinvigorate our growth and advancement in the field, I argue that there is value in supporting female student affairs professionals.

I justify the value of supporting of female student affairs professionals from student affairs, human resources, and cultural studies perspectives. From a …

The Multilingual Reality In American Business, Zachary Z. Lim

Chancellor’s Honors Program Projects

No abstract provided.

Work/Family Conflict As A Predictor Of Employee Work Engagement Of Extension Professionals, April B. Martin

Doctoral Dissertations

This study utilizes stress theory to explore the effects of work-family conflict and family-work conflict upon the work engagement outcomes of employees. Using a web-based questionnaire with a primary data sample of 2,782 full time Extension professionals in 46 states, this study incorporates the structural equation modeling analytic technique. This study confirmed the single, second order work-family conflict construct consisting of six first order constructs of work-family time, strain and behavior and family-work time, strain, and behavior. The bi-directionality of work-family conflict and family-work conflict was sustained, as numerous research studies have recommended. The structural equation modeling analysis found the …

The Correlates Of Work Role Stress With Employee Burnout, Engagement, Amy Rebecca Caponetti

Doctoral Dissertations

The current study assessed the effects of work role stress on burnout, engagement and turnover intention. In addition, the mediating effects of satisfaction with one’s supervisor were assessed. The Job Demands Resources theory was used as a basis for the construction of the current theoretical model. The study utilized a population of non-exempt employees from a large land grant university who worked at Research and Education Centers performing manual agricultural labor. This non-exempt population is a population that is largely overlooked in literature. Findings confirmed that work role stress does have an effect on burnout and engagement, but no effect …

A Survey Of Tennessee Extension Agents’ Perceptions Of The Tennessee Extension Agent Performance Appraisal System, Joseph Leonard Donaldson

Doctoral Dissertations

This study aimed to describe extension agent perceptions of the Tennessee Extension Agent Performance Appraisal System. A survey instrument was developed to address the research questions. The instrument had two sections: Satisfaction with the Current Appraisal System (14 items) and Satisfaction with Appraiser Performance (7 items). The instrument was reviewed by an expert panel and pilot tested with a group of 39 extension agents. The instrument was deployed online to the study population.

The population studied consisted of all extension agents employed by the University of Tennessee and Tennessee State University in January, 2010 (N=312). The total completed responses were …

Exploring The Effectiveness Of Environmentally Sustainable Practices In Municipal Government: A Case Study Of The City Of Knoxville’S Department Of Parks And Recreation, Anthony Michael Brown

Masters Theses

Sustainability practices produce programs and services that meet current needs while preserving the environment and natural resources for the future. City parks and recreation departments are facing budget shortfalls and increasing expectations from customers. Governments are now embracing sustainability practices to create financial savings while also fostering relations with customers.

The purpose of this single case study was twofold: (1) to examine the effectiveness of one city department’s strategies in outsourcing its environmental sustainability program through a performance contract with Ameresco; and (2) to examine the perceptions of key department employees about the effectiveness of the sustainability initiative. A …

Vacation Time In Europe And America: An Inquiry Into Varying Benefit Systems Across Cultures, Benjamin Hunter Southard

Chancellor’s Honors Program Projects

No abstract provided.

Examining The Relationship Between Work/Life Conflict And Life Satisfaction In Executives: The Role Of Problem-Focused Coping Techniques, Heather S Mcmillan

Doctoral Dissertations

Determining not only what makes people, but also how many people are, satisfied personally and with work has become an ongoing stream of research for both academics and practitioners. The idea of satisfaction is of such concern today that Gallup-Healthways conducts a survey, and reports, on the daily well-being of Americans (http://www.gallup.com/poll/106915/ gallup-daily-us-mood.aspx). Given the importance of satisfaction to individuals, organizations and society at large, it is imperative to understand the predictors and mediators of satisfaction. Research has been conducted on the negative (i.e., inverse) relationship between satisfaction and work/life conflict, as well as the positive relationship between coping and …

Predicting Turnover Intent: Examining The Effects Of Employee Engagement, Compensation Fairness, Job Satisfaction, And Age., Mary L. Berry

Doctoral Dissertations

The current study assessed the moderating effects of Age and the mediating effects of Job Satisfaction on the relationship between antecedents Employee Engagement and Compensation Fairness and the outcome variable Turnover Intent. The theory of reasoned action and a theoretical framework for examining age-effects on employee attitudes were used as the theoretical underpinnings for the study. The study utilized a secondary data set with surveyed population including faculty (n = 1,229) from a land-grant institution holding the doctoral/research-extensive classification from the Carnegie Classification and serving about 42,000 students each year with graduates totaling more than 9,000 per year. Findings confirmed …

Generational Perceptions Of Productive/Unproductive Information Received From Management Through Different Communication Channels, Eva Lynn Cowell

Doctoral Dissertations

This exploratory study identified generational preferences for receiving information from management through different communication channels and determined if age predicted productivity for productive and unproductive information received through different communication channels. This is the first study to empirically examine the relationship between age cohorts, communication channel preferences, information categories, and productivity. Sample participants worked as Extension agents at a major land-grant university. The four generations represented in the sample utilized multiple communication channels and were geographically dispersed throughout the state. The survey was administered electronically and completed by 204 (74%) of the eligible 275 employees in the organization. Independent Samples …

Differences In Scores On Measures Of Work Satsifaction, Parenting Satisfaction, Family/Work Roles Conflict And Marital Conflict Between Dual-Earner Husbands And Wives, Michelle Ann Parrott

Masters Theses

Dual-earned husband and wives, the most common family style in the United States, attempt to maintain healthy relationships as they juggle work and family roles. This study examined dual-career husbands and wives on the measures of work satisfaction, parenting satisfaction, family/work roles conflict and marital conflict to determine if differences existed between the husbands and wives. The findings indicated that dual-earner husbands and wives in this sample reported remarkably similar scores on the measures of work satisfaction, parenting satisfaction, family/work roles conflict, and marital conflict. These husbands and wives were very satisfied with their jobs and their parenting skills and …

The Occupational Work Ethic Of University Path And Career Path Secondary School Students, Brian Patrick Thompson

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study was to determine, using the Occupational Work Ethic Inventory (OWEI), if there were any significant differences in the work ethic of secondary high school students enrolled in vocational program of study, university program of study, and level of grade attended.

The population of this study consisted of high school students in a rural secondary school in East Tennessee. English Teachers, licensed in the state of Tennessee administered the OWEI survey during a one-class period. The researcher collected surveys as they are completed.

Based on an ex post factor design this study will use an alpha …

Spirituality And Job Satisfaction Of Social Workers At A Social Service Agency, Jennifer Johnson Stamper

Masters Theses

The primary purpose of this descriptive study was to study the effect of spirituality on job satisfaction in one child welfare agency in Knoxville, Tennessee. Social workers from Child and Family Tennessee (CFT) were the target population and all professional social workers were surveyed. A secondary purpose was to determine possible relationships between job satisfaction, spirituality, and the demographic variables of age, gender, time employed by the agency, marital status, and ethnicity.

The researcher surveyed 211 social workers employed by CFT. Social workers who were contacted at staff meetings were told about the study and received a packet that contained …

Citizen Police Academy Alumni: Attitudes And Perceptions Related To Law Enforcement, Larry E. Grant

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of training on attitudes and perceptions about law enforcement by participants of a Citizen Police Academy. The first goal was to identify any significant differences between attitudes or perceptions and demographic factors such as age, working status, education, ethnicity, gender, military experience, victimization, and relationships with officers. The second goal was to ascertain the existence of any correlation between certain variables related to attitudes or perceptions. The researcher surveyed 554 members of the Knoxville Police Department Citizen Police Academy Alumni Association. The alumni members received a three-part survey containing general …

Effects Of Self-Efficacy On Transfer Of Cross-Cultural Training And Expatriate Performance, Anne Wang Drewry

Masters Theses

The presented study focused on the effect of self-efficacy, as well as other selected demographic variables, on the transfer of cross-cultural training and expatriate performance. Selected independent variables include self-efficacy, expatriate tenure, level of education, gender, age, marital status, level of foreign language competency and level of formal cross-cultural experience. Expatriates employed by multinational company that were on their current assignments were selected to be the studied sample.

The design of this study employed a quantitative research method. A survey

instrument crafted specifically for this study was digitized and was made accessible for participants via the Internet. After the data …

The Effect Of An Introductory Computer Course On Online Instruction Self-Efficacy Of Undergraduate Students, Iryna P. Loboda

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of an introductory computer course on online instruction self-efficacy and significance of demographic variables of gender, age, formal computer training, computer experience, online instruction experience, and Internet experience in relation to online instruction selfefficacy.

This was accomplished by assessing online instruction self-efficacy beliefs of undergraduate students of the College of Human Ecology, the University of Tennessee who were enrolled in an introductory computer course in spring and summer 2002. The population sample included 92 students who completed the Tennessee Online Instruction Scale (TOIS) at the beginning and at the end …

The Relationship Among Self-Esteem, Self-Efficacy, And Training Performance At A Government-Funded Nuclear Operations Complex In East Tennessee, Garland Sharp

Masters Theses

The primary purpose of this study was to examine the relationship among self-efficacy, self-esteem, and training performance. This study was similar to a study conducted by Mone, Baker, and Jeffries in 1995. Using college students, Mone et al. (1995) tried to determine which construct, self-efficacy or self-esteem, more accurately predicted academic success. This study's purpose was to determine if relationships existed among self-efficacy, self-esteem, and training performance in an industrial training situation using employees in the workplace.

A self-esteem and self-efficacy instrument along with a written test were used to gather data from the entire population (N=75) of workers at …