Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

Business Commons™

Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

Walden University

Discipline
Keyword
Publication Year
Publication
Publication Type
File Type

Articles 751 - 780 of 3035

Full-Text Articles in Business

Strategies To Successfully Sustain Operations For Rural Micro And Small Enterprises, Katrina S. Chance Jan 2021

Strategies To Successfully Sustain Operations For Rural Micro And Small Enterprises, Katrina S. Chance

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Only 50% of micro and small enterprises (MSEs) survive beyond the first 5 years. As a result, it is important rural MSE managers have successful strategies to sustain their business. Grounded in general systems theory, the purpose of this qualitative multiple case study was to explore successful strategies rural MSE managers use to sustain operations successfully beyond 5 years. Participants included five rural MSE managers in the southeastern United States who integrated sustainability strategies to avoid premature business failure. Data were collected from semistructured interviews and organizational documents, such as company reports, event flyers, image files, and social media platforms. …

Go to article

Impact Of Electricity On Industrial Output In Nigeria: A Systems Perspective, Chidi Vincent Ike Jan 2021

Impact Of Electricity On Industrial Output In Nigeria: A Systems Perspective, Chidi Vincent Ike

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Lack of access to electricity, both in quantity and quality, has been a recurring problem in Nigeria. Scholars have investigated the relationship between electricity consumption and economic development with diverse outcomes, but they have not considered the subsystems that constitute the electricity delivery system. The purpose of this quantitative correlational study was to examine the relationship between monthly industrial output in Nigeria and available monthly power generation capacity, available monthly power transmission capacity, and monthly power distribution capability. Systems theory was the theoretical framework for this study. Data were collected on the monthly industrial output and operational data on electric …

Go to article

Mediated Effect Of Perceived Supervisor Support On Leader-Member Exchange Quality And Employee’S Commitment, Jeffery Proby Jan 2021

Mediated Effect Of Perceived Supervisor Support On Leader-Member Exchange Quality And Employee’S Commitment, Jeffery Proby

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Social exchange relationship quality can influence an employee’s commitment to supporting continuous improvement (CI) initiatives. Researchers have established that leader-member exchange (LMX) quality and perceived supervisor support (PSS) can reduce employee commitment, affecting an organizational outcome. Based on the theoretical foundation of LMX quality theory, the purpose of this quantitative correlational study was to examine the relationship between the independent variables (LMX quality) and the dependent variable (affective commitment [AC]) through the mediated variable (PSS) and moderated mediation variable (workplace ostracism [WO]). Employee age, gender, tenure with the company, ethnicity, certification level, and the manufacturing sector were control variables of …

Go to article

Retired Military Officers’ Length Of Service And Loss Of Social Identity In Second Careers, Moriah Elizabeth Thomas Jan 2021

Retired Military Officers’ Length Of Service And Loss Of Social Identity In Second Careers, Moriah Elizabeth Thomas

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Many past researchers have reported problematic issues and challenges with militarypersonnel transitioning to civilian life and to the civilian workplace. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore the lived experiences of 20 retired military officers who had between 24 and 42 years of military service regarding how they may have experienced the losses of social identity and organizational socialization and how those losses may have impacted their second careers in civilian organizations. Data for this study were collected via semistructured interviews and the use of interview protocols. The conceptual framework consisted of a combination of social identity theory …

Go to article

Duration, Control, And Success Factors Of Nigerian Public Infrastructure Projects, Gloria Chinwe Ezeoke Jan 2021

Duration, Control, And Success Factors Of Nigerian Public Infrastructure Projects, Gloria Chinwe Ezeoke

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

In Nigeria, many infrastructural projects are abandoned before completion, representing a failure on the part of the federal, state, and local governments. There is currently an incomplete understanding of the interwoven causes of Nigerian public project failures. The purpose of this quantitative correlation research was to evaluate the relationships between project duration, control, and success. Project and control theories were the theoretical underpinnings of the study. The two predictor variables were project duration and project control, with the criterion variable being project success. A survey was administered to 74 project management professionals, construction workers, and other stakeholders in the Nigerian …

Go to article

Leader Strategies That Increase Employee Performance In The Nigerian Public Sector, Oluwashola Martha Elias-Fatile Jan 2021

Leader Strategies That Increase Employee Performance In The Nigerian Public Sector, Oluwashola Martha Elias-Fatile

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Low employee performance can hinder productivity in the Nigerian public sector. Leaders of public sector organizations in Nigeria who lack strategies to increase employees’ performance experience decreased productivity. Grounded in transformational leadership theory, the purpose of this qualitative multiple case study was to explore strategies leaders in the Nigerian public sector used to increase employee performance. Participants were four public sector leaders in Nigeria who successfully developed and implemented strategies to increase employee performance. Data were collected from semistructured interviews and internal and external documents, such as training programs, training calendars, meeting agendas, staff letters of recommendation, and staff handbooks. …

Go to article

Financial Strategies To Sustain Small Businesses Beyond 5 Years, Sandra Elizabeth Siddons Jan 2021

Financial Strategies To Sustain Small Businesses Beyond 5 Years, Sandra Elizabeth Siddons

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Inadequate financial knowledge and planning have frequently led to small business failures. Small business owners (SBOs) who lack financial strategies to sustain their organizations may contribute to the estimated closure of 50% of new small businesses, found frequently occurring within the first 5 years of formation. Grounded in the human capital theory, the purpose of this qualitative multiple case study was to explore financial knowledge and skills SBOs successfully used in support of long-term sustainability. The participants were five SBOs who used financial decision-making strategies to sustain their small business beyond 5 years in Northern Illinois. Upon completion of data …

Go to article

Workplace Psychosocial Factors, Perception Of Organizational Support, And Congregate Workers’ Quality Of Life, Claudine Alicia Cousins Jan 2021

Workplace Psychosocial Factors, Perception Of Organizational Support, And Congregate Workers’ Quality Of Life, Claudine Alicia Cousins

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Congregate care organizations employ workers across various environments from shelters, group homes, long-term care homes, and correctional facilities. Congregate care workers in the developmental services sector face numerous risks that affect their quality of life due to workplace stress from daily interactions with individuals with intellectual disabilities and organizational demands. Workers’ perception of the support received from their organization may further impact their quality of life. The purpose of this quantitative study, guided by organizational support theory, was to examine the relationship among the independent variables of workplace psychosocial factors (defined as vicarious trauma, compassion fatigue, mental stress, or burnout), …

Go to article

Corporate Social Responsibility In The United States And Nigeria, Olatokunbo Ahmed Wilfred Tijani Jan 2021

Corporate Social Responsibility In The United States And Nigeria, Olatokunbo Ahmed Wilfred Tijani

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

A recent spate of violations uncovered by international regulators has suggested an emerging social problem that the current corporate social responsibility (CSR) credibility paradigm could be decoupling between theory and practice. This development has left most stakeholders deliberating if CSR in practice is aligned with CSR in theory. This correlational research study empirically tested the CSR theory, positing improved corporate social performance (CSP) and corporate financial performance (CFP); and stakeholder theory, positing quid pro quo correlation between multinational corporations (MNCs) and their stakeholders. The purpose of this study was to identify if there is a positive association between the corporate …

Go to article

Strategies To Implement Social Media Marketing In Small Businesses, Theodora Ijang Nyamboli Jan 2021

Strategies To Implement Social Media Marketing In Small Businesses, Theodora Ijang Nyamboli

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The lack of consumer engagement can have adverse effects on business outcomes. Small business managers (SBMs) and owners who fail to engage consumers are at a higher risk of failure. Rooted in the theory of diffusion of innovation theory, the purpose of this qualitative exploratory multiple case study was to explore strategies SBMs use to develop and effectively implement marketing strategies to improve consumers' engagement. The participants comprised six business managers of six successful small businesses in Maryland who effectively used social media marketing strategies to engage consumers for at least 5 years. Data were collected via semi-structured interviews and …

Go to article

Measuring Transformational Leadership, Employee Engagement, And Employee Productivity: Retail Stores, Shamika Schumane Desilva Jan 2021

Measuring Transformational Leadership, Employee Engagement, And Employee Productivity: Retail Stores, Shamika Schumane Desilva

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Retail stores are less profitable because of poor productivity from disengaged employees. Retail store leaders must prioritize employee productivity, as low productivity can negatively impact business performance with financial consequences. Grounded in transformational leadership theory and the theory of work engagement, the purpose of this quantitative correlational study was to examine the relationship between transformational leadership, employee engagement, and employee productivity in retail stores. Survey responses were collected from 119 nonmanagerial employees in the retail sector in the eastern United States. The results of the multiple linear regression analysis indicated the model was statistically significant, F(7, 112) = 35.149, p < .01, R2 = .69. The only two significant individual predictors were individual consideration (t = 4.10, p < .01) and vigor (t = 5.36, p < .01). A key recommendation is for retail store leaders to enact strategies promoting vigor- employees who work with high energy and effort levels, and to employ a transformational leadership style, particularly showing employees individualized consideration. Creating such a positive working environment for employees will improve their productivity. Implications for positive social change include the potential for retail managers to increase competitiveness for retail stores. The success of retail businesses, driven by improved worker productivity, may ensure financial stability for workers, families, and communities.

Go to article

The Long-Term Impact Of Intimate Partner Violence On Survivors’ Employment Outcomes, Heather Stark Jan 2021

The Long-Term Impact Of Intimate Partner Violence On Survivors’ Employment Outcomes, Heather Stark

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

When women experience intimate partner violence (IPV), subsequent effects could impact their performance in the workplace, including physical illness, absenteeism, lack of focus, financial hardship, and other problems. Little information is available, however, as to whether there are long-term negative effects on the victims’ employment. The purpose of this quantitative study was to compare long-term job success as measured by the dependent variables of job satisfaction, unemployment, underemployment, and job stability among women who have experienced IPV in the past and those who have not. Trauma theory provided the framework for this study. Participants were recruited from women’s organizations and …

Go to article

Succession Planning Strategies For Small Family-Owned Businesses, Samuel Buckner Jr Jan 2021

Succession Planning Strategies For Small Family-Owned Businesses, Samuel Buckner Jr

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Some business owners lose young, skillful midlevel leaders to competitors because of limited training to prepare a potential successor for senior leadership roles. Family business owners lack succession strategies to transfer business operations to a junior leader that can lead to business closure and increased community unemployment. Using the transformational leadership framework, the purpose of this multiple case study was to explore the succession planning strategies that small family-owned business owners use to train the next generation of leaders in the southeastern region of the United States. The data sources included a semistructured interview with two business owners and leadership …

Go to article

Strategies For Implementing A Successful Customer Relationship Management System, Samuel Adebayo Jan 2021

Strategies For Implementing A Successful Customer Relationship Management System, Samuel Adebayo

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Customer relationship management (CRM) software implementation fails in thepackaging industry because of ineffective CRM implementation strategies. Effective strategies for CRM software implementation are essential to CRM managers for improving CRM project success rates. Grounded in Kano’s customer satisfaction theory, the purpose of this qualitative multiple case study was to explore the strategies CRM managers in the packaging industry used to operate a profitable business. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and documents of CRM strategies. Participants were four CRM managers located in Illinois who had a minimum of 10 years of successfully managing CRM systems with high success rates. Data …

Go to article

Leadership Strategies Of Successful Women-Owned Businesses In Cameroon, Henry Ntoko Ajieh Jan 2021

Leadership Strategies Of Successful Women-Owned Businesses In Cameroon, Henry Ntoko Ajieh

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Lack of leadership skills in women-led businesses can result in high business failure rates. Women business owners who do not know how to improve their leadership skills could face difficulties succeeding in business. Grounded in the transformational leadership theory, the purpose of this multiple case study was to explore strategies that women business owners in the events planning business use to improve leadership skills to succeed in business beyond 5 years. The participants included five women in the events planning business in Cameroon, Central Africa, who successfully developed strategies to improve leadership skills to succeed in business beyond 5 years. …

Go to article

Microfinance For Smallholder Farmers: The Lived Experience Of Borrowers In Akaki, Ethiopia, Amsalu Alemayehu Gutema Jan 2021

Microfinance For Smallholder Farmers: The Lived Experience Of Borrowers In Akaki, Ethiopia, Amsalu Alemayehu Gutema

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Microfinance was intended to help smallholder farmers (SHFs), but the results have been disastrous for some individuals who have been unable to repay loans, often displacing them from their land. A lack of understanding of the lived experiences of borrowers complicates a full analysis of microfinance as a tool for poverty alleviation. The purpose of this qualitative descriptive phenomenological study was to explore the lived experiences of SHF borrowers in Akaki District, Ethiopia, related to microfinance loan repayment decisions. Habermas's critical social theory, which divides the social world into lifeworld and system, was the conceptual framework for the study. The …

Go to article

The Efficacy Of Interpersonal Skills On Sales Production Among Pharmaceutical Salespeople, John Todd White Jan 2021

The Efficacy Of Interpersonal Skills On Sales Production Among Pharmaceutical Salespeople, John Todd White

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The pharmaceutical industry relies heavily on sales to stimulate growth, support research and development, and remain solvent. A review of the literature revealed there is limited insight on the impact of interpersonal skills on sales performance. This study addressed the role of interpersonal skills in a pharmaceutical salesperson’s performance in terms of total sales income, which includes salary, bonuses, and commissions. Gardner’s (1983) multiple intelligences theory, specifically interpersonal skills, served as the study’s framework. The Conversational Skills Rating Scale (CSRS) was used to assess interpersonal skill level. Additionally, the relationship between salesperson tenure and the number of sales meetings attended …

Go to article

Enhancing Employee Engagement To Improve Financial Performance, Christine Lamacchia Jan 2021

Enhancing Employee Engagement To Improve Financial Performance, Christine Lamacchia

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Business leaders are negatively affected when many employees are not engaged in their jobs. Business leaders who struggle to achieve employee engagement suffer decreased profitability, sales, employee retention, and customer satisfaction. Grounded in employee engagement theory, the purpose of this qualitative single case study was to explore strategies IT business leaders use to engage employees. The participants were five IT business leaders who successfully developed strategies to engage employees. Data were collected from semistructured interviews, company documents, and artifacts. Thematic analysis was used to analyze the data. Two themes emerged: creating a company culture conducive to employee engagement and using …

Go to article

Electric Cooperative Managers’ Strategies To Enhance Organizational Commitment To Increase Employee Productivity, Michael Edward White Jan 2021

Electric Cooperative Managers’ Strategies To Enhance Organizational Commitment To Increase Employee Productivity, Michael Edward White

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Lack of effective leadership strategies contributes to a reduction in employee engagement and productivity. Managers are concerned about the lack of effective leadership strategies because it negatively affects employee engagement and productivity, reducing organizational growth. Grounded in Bass’s transformational leadership theory, the purpose of this qualitative single case study was to explore effective leadership strategies used to enhance employee engagement and increase productivity. Five managers from an electric cooperative in Northwest Florida who implemented effective leadership strategies participated in the study. Data were collected using semistructured interviews and a review of organizational documents. Data were analyzed using Yin’s five-step approach. …

Go to article

Effect Of Servant Leadership On Job Satisfaction In Nigerian Mortgage Banks, Adedayo Aderemi Olatunbode Jan 2021

Effect Of Servant Leadership On Job Satisfaction In Nigerian Mortgage Banks, Adedayo Aderemi Olatunbode

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractSeveral researchers examined the relationship between servant leadership and job satisfaction in organizations and reported a significant positive correlation between the two variables. However, the generalizability of these results was limited because 97% of the studies were conducted in the West and China, and none were conducted in Nigeria or in mortgage banks. The purpose of this nonexperimental, quantitative, correlational study was to examine the relationship between servant leadership and job satisfaction in a high-power distance culture, specifically in the mortgage bank industry in Nigeria. The theoretical frameworks were the leader-member exchange theory and motivation-hygiene theory. The research questions addressed …

Go to article

Strategies For Successful Implementation Of Flexible Workplace Policies In The Middle East, Vida Moradinasab Jan 2021

Strategies For Successful Implementation Of Flexible Workplace Policies In The Middle East, Vida Moradinasab

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Flexible work schedules and remote workplace policies can increase employees’ job satisfaction, health, and productivity; however, approximately 70% of the organizational leaders fail to implement their innovative strategies successfully. Grounded in the factor-oriented conceptual framework proposed by Pryor, Anderson, Toombs and Humphrey, the purpose of this single case study was to explore strategies 7 knowledge workers of financial and accounting services in the Middle East use to implement flexible work policies in their organizations successfully. Semi-structured interviews were conducted through phone and video conferencing, and documents were reviewed to verify data. Thematic analysis and data triangulation between interviews and documents …

Go to article

Strategies For Small Business Owners To Succeed Beyond Five Years, Arielle Dawn Smith Jan 2021

Strategies For Small Business Owners To Succeed Beyond Five Years, Arielle Dawn Smith

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

In the United States, small businesses account for 99.9% of businesses and employ 47.3 % of the U.S. workforce, yet 20% of small businesses fail within the first year of operation. Small business owners who do not have a detailed strategy are at a higher risk of their small business failing before reaching its fifth year of operation. Grounded in transformational leadership theory and entrepreneurial leadership theory, the purpose of this qualitative multiple case study was to explore successful strategies used by five small business owners who have sustained and remained profitable for beyond 5 years. The participants included five …

Go to article

Strategies For Ethiopian Small Retailers Businesses To Succeed Beyond 3 Years, Samson Negash Gebrehiwot Jan 2021

Strategies For Ethiopian Small Retailers Businesses To Succeed Beyond 3 Years, Samson Negash Gebrehiwot

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

In Ethiopia, some small retail business owners (SRBOs) embark on initiatives without adequate preparation, which results in a risk of failure within the first three years. Grounded in the conceptual frameworks of resource-based views, dynamic-capabilities views, and relational views, the purpose of this qualitative multiple case study was to explore strategies used by SRBOs leaders to survive and grow beyond three years. The participants were four SRBOs from Ethiopia who succeeded in business for more than three years. Data were collected from semistructured interviews, company documents, observations, notes from data sources and analyzed using Yin’s 5-step data analysis process. Six …

Go to article

Strategies To Enhance Creative Performance In Creative Industry Firms, Shirley D. Bishop Jan 2021

Strategies To Enhance Creative Performance In Creative Industry Firms, Shirley D. Bishop

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Poor creative performance in creative industry firms adversely affects business profitability and competitive standing. Managers of creative industry firms who lack strategies to enhance creative performance risk the sustainability of their firms. Grounded in social cognitive theory, the purpose of this qualitative single case study was to explore strategies managers of creative industry firms use to motivate employees to enhance creative performance. Participants were 4 creative industry managers located in the New York tristate region of the United States, who successfully motivated employees to enhance creative performance. Data were collected using semistructured interviews and company documents. Data were analyzed using …

Go to article

Comparing The Moderating Effects Of Military Rank On Absorptive Capacity, Allen Brannan Jan 2021

Comparing The Moderating Effects Of Military Rank On Absorptive Capacity, Allen Brannan

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Many tactical-echelon military unit training programs do not reach their stated objectives for growth in organizational skills and increased mission capability due to a less than complete understanding of how the training audience transfers the training program's new knowledge into operational processes. The subsequent squandering of valuable resources, such as time, people, and materials, limits the unit's ability to accomplish its assigned tasks and overall mission. Cohen and Levinthal’s absorptive capacity theory describes how organizations transfer new knowledge. Their theory is applied here to better understand how soldiers in tactical-echelon military units perceive the transfer of knowledge from external sources. …

Go to article

How The Rise In Student Loan Debt Affects Residential Real Estate, Heather Nicole Dufour Jan 2021

How The Rise In Student Loan Debt Affects Residential Real Estate, Heather Nicole Dufour

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Student loan debt has increased significantly over the past several years. At the same time, there has been a historic drop in first-time home buyers. What remains uncertain is if these two trends are related. The purpose of this quantitative study was to determine the relationship between student loan debt and home ownership for young adults in the United States. The theoretical foundation focused on consumer behavior through Maslow’s motivation-need theory. Individual-level longitudinal data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1997 was used to examine more than 3,000 participants’ responses regarding their student loan debt and home ownership status, …

Go to article

Strategies To Resolve Toxic Leadership Styles Which Impede Employee Innovation, Lilly Abdulrohman Mohamed Jan 2021

Strategies To Resolve Toxic Leadership Styles Which Impede Employee Innovation, Lilly Abdulrohman Mohamed

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Toxic leaders micromanage, threaten, and discourage employees from sharing their ideas,causing a decline in innovation. Export-based company executives need to understand how to resolve toxic leadership to enhance their companies’ performance. Grounded in the transformational leadership theory, the purpose of this multiple case study was to explore strategies export-based company leaders use to resolve toxic leadership styles. The participants were four senior and frontline leaders from export-based companies in Ethiopia. Data were collected from semistructured interviews and document reviews and were analyzed with thematic data analysis. Four themes emerged: open and transparent communication, sustained counseling and training, teamwork and joint …

Go to article

Relationship Between Leadership Style And Innovation Performance In Small-To-Medium-Scale Enterprises In Nigeria, Emmanuel Chukwuemeka Ossai Jan 2021

Relationship Between Leadership Style And Innovation Performance In Small-To-Medium-Scale Enterprises In Nigeria, Emmanuel Chukwuemeka Ossai

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractThe Global Innovation Index recently indicated that Nigeria lags several countries in Sub-Saharan Africa in innovation inputs and outputs. It is uncertain whether leadership style in place in Nigerian enterprises is a factor in this situation. Innovation performance is the contribution of product and process innovations to profits and growth in an enterprise. The purpose of this correlational, cross-sectional, survey study was to understand the relationship between leadership style and innovation performance in small-to-medium-scale enterprises (SMEs) in Nigeria. The SME sector was selected because it is the engine of growth of the economy and the highest employer of labor, but …

Go to article

College Administrators Strategies To Implement Online Education Services For Increasing Enrollment Revenues, Denise Williams Jan 2021

College Administrators Strategies To Implement Online Education Services For Increasing Enrollment Revenues, Denise Williams

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Financial stability in higher education continues to decrease as enrollment declines. Higher education administrators who do not address declining enrollment may experience lost revenues, potentially leading to inoperability. Grounded in Kotter’s eight-stage process for leading change, the purpose of this qualitative single case, descriptive study was to explore strategies college administrators use to increase enrollment revenues. The participants were four college administrators who successfully increased enrollment revenues. Data were collected using semistructured, virtual interviews and organizational documents. Yin's 5-step approach was used to analyze the data, and five themes emerged: dedicated support from leadership, enhance online services, improve communication, reinforce …

Go to article

Business Sustainability Strategies Of Small And Medium Enterprises In South Africa, Celestine Chiedo Aharanwa Jan 2021

Business Sustainability Strategies Of Small And Medium Enterprises In South Africa, Celestine Chiedo Aharanwa

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractSmall and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) constitute a crucial driving force for global economic growth. Some SME business owners face challenges in adopting business sustainability strategies to stay in business beyond five years. The ravages of unemployment due to business closure negatively impact the socio-economic wellbeing of the local community residents. Grounded in the sustainable development theory, the purpose of this multiple case study was to explore strategies SME business owners in South Africa use to stay in business beyond five years. The participants comprised six SME business owners from six industrial sectors in the Gauteng province of South Africa who …

Go to article

First Prev Next Last