Business Commons^™

Effective Talent Management Practices Of Small And Medium-Size Businesses, Annette Murphy, Jorge Gaytan, Al Endres

International Journal of Applied Management and Technology

Effective Talent management strategies to acquire, develop, and retain employees are essential, as 73% of business leaders in the United States identified that good human resources practices favorably affect the efficiency and effectiveness of business operations. Based on the people capability maturity model and transformational leadership theory, the purpose of this qualitative multiple case study was to explore the successful strategies that leaders of small and medium-size businesses (SMBs) used to acquire, develop, and retain employees. The case population comprised five SMBs’ leaders who had successfully used talent management strategies to acquire, develop, and retain employees for more than 5 …

Determinants Of Knowledge Sharing: The Roles Of Learning Organization Culture, Empowering Leadership, And Learning Goal Orientation, Yangil Park, Baek-Kyoo Joo

International Journal of Applied Management and Technology

This study examined how knowledge sharing attitudes (KSAs) and knowledge sharing intentions (KSIs) are affected by perceived learning organization culture (LOC), empowering leadership (EL), and learning goal orientation (LGO). From the data collected, we discovered that KSA was a significant partial mediator between KSI and LGO. Furthermore, LOC and EL had moderating roles on the LGO and KSA relationship. Such moderation effects were insignificant for KSI, however. This study incorporated the knowledge sharing research fields of motivation research, leadership, and organizational culture. We comment that this study was centered on relatively highly educated management consultants, as human resource management and …

Talent Management And The Impact Of Dark Triad Personalities In The Workplace, Joseph A. Rosendale, Eliot Mastrovich, Leann Wilkie

International Journal of Applied Management and Technology

This study examines links between the Dark Triad of personality types (Machiavellianism, psychopathy, and narcissism) and workplace behaviors. The research objective seeks to confirm the relationship between the Dark Triad and several negative behaviors while investigating positive externalities that have not been previously explored. A literature review covers the background of the Dark Triad, instruments that have been used to measure it, and ongoing research streams in the field. The Short Dark Triad (SD3) survey was administered to 142 working professionals and data collected were quantitatively examined using a variety of statistical tools in SPSS. Corresponding results provide additional evidence …

Outcomes Of Enterprise Resource Planning System On Organizational Productivity, Tambei Chiawah, William G. Dzekashu, Walter R. Mccollum, Evelyn E. Fomuso

International Journal of Applied Management and Technology

Leaders within local government organizations do not understand how to achieve expected and desired benefits from the implementation of enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems. The lack of alignment between social and technical elements in ERP implementation continues to depress organizational productivity. The prime objective of our quantitative correlational study was to examine whether social and technical elements increase use and productivity in ERP implementation. Sociotechnical systems theory provided the theoretical basis for our study. We examined six dimensional variables relating to ERP implementation. Our key findings indicated positive significant relationships between ERP and information sharing, between ERP system quality and …

The Product Test Scheduling Problem, Megan Wydick Martin, Cliff Ragsdale, John Fico, Carlos G. Cajica-Sierra, Richard M. Fetcenko

International Journal of Applied Management and Technology

This research focused on product test scheduling in the presence of in-process and at-completion inspection constraints. Such testing arises in the context of the manufacture of products that must perform reliably in extreme environmental conditions. Often, these products must receive a certification from prescribed regulatory agencies at the successful completion of a predetermined series of tests. Operational efficiency is enhanced by determining the optimal order and start times of tests so as to minimize the makespan while ensuring that technicians are available when needed to complete in-process and at-completion inspections. We refer to this as the product test scheduling problem. …

Determinant Of Employee Productivity In Listed Manufacturing Firms In Southwestern Nigeria, Omoneye O. Olasanmi, Omotola O. Olajide, Olugbenga A. Ojubanire

International Journal of Applied Management and Technology

The study analyzed the level of employee productivity and identified factors influencing employee productivity in listed manufacturing firms in southwestern Nigeria. The descriptive survey design was adopted for this study. A sample of 394 respondents was selected using a simple random sampling technique. Data collected using a structured questionnaire were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. The study showed that a majority of the respondents (58.33%) had average productivity levels. Results further revealed that management and organizational factors were identified as having the greatest influence on employees’ productivity, followed by organizational/technical factors, and then production and finance factors. In addition, …

Exploring The Influential Determinants Of Iot Adoption In The U.S. Manufacturing Sector, Ronville D. Savoury, Jodine M. Burchell

International Journal of Applied Management and Technology

Manufacturers have been hesitant to adopt the Internet of Things (IoT) due to a lack of understanding of factors related to IoT adoption. This correlational study uses a combination of diffusion of innovation theory and technology–organization–environment framework to examine if a relationship exists between relative advantage, complexity, compatibility, technology readiness, top management support, firm size, competitive pressure, and regulatory support and intent to adopt IoT in U.S. manufacturing organizations. A sample of 168 IT leaders was used. Multiple regression analysis indicated significant relationships between intent to adopt IoT and three variables: technology readiness, top management support, and competitive pressure. The …

Developing Workforce Capability In Nonprofits Through Effective Leadership, Catherine Byrnes Smoyer, Rocky J. Dwyer, Janice K. Garfield, Brandon D. Simmons

International Journal of Applied Management and Technology

Leaders of nonprofit organizations in the United States must build workforce capabilities to meet increasing demands for services. This single-case study explored strategies nonprofit leaders used to build workforce capability to address increasing service demands. The conceptual lens for this study was the full-range leadership theory. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with senior executives of a single nonprofit organization located in the Midwestern region of the United States, which included internal organizational and workforce performance data, strategy plans, annual reports internal and external financial documents, and publicly available information. Four major themes related to building workforce capacity emerged from …

Enabling Sustainable Organizational Change: A Case Of Cognitive Diversity In The Automotive Industry, Tonja Blom, Yvonne Du Plessis, Hamid H. Kazeroony

International Journal of Applied Management and Technology

In diverse societies such as South Africa, organizations continue to face inclusion challenges when implementing change. This study proposes a different method and new dimension of diversity management within the cognitive diversity construct, namely human niche theory, to tackle the diversity dilemma of exclusivity. The research question asked whether human niche theory, as a defined concept within cognitive diversity, could be utilized by managers to enable inclusion and promote sustainable organizational change implementation. Conceptually, this paper relates human niche theory to seven themes in the change process, namely, communication, training, motivation, resources, control, monitoring, and feedback. An exploratory single case …

Determinants Of Effective Change Management For Software Deployment Projects, Abebaw Zeleke, Walter Mccollum

International Journal of Applied Management and Technology

Software application deployment change management is one of the emerging research themes that is gaining increased focus day by day. Our study examined the factors that affect software application deployment change management in Agile software development settings. Our study provided a systematic review and synthesized the approaches, practices, and challenges reported for adopting and implementing deployment change management. The prime objective of our study was to systematically synthesize the data extracted and formulate evidence-based practical recommendations that are influential in software deployment change management. Six research themes are proposed to evaluate the rationale of the research question. This qualitative study …

Emerging Market Firms’ Response To U.S. Economic Recession And The Subsequent Period’S Performance, Tewhan Hahn, Ravi Chinta

International Journal of Applied Management and Technology

We investigated the changes in behaviors of firms in emerging markets in response to the U.S. economic recession and the impact of those changes in strategic behaviors on subsequent periods’ operating performances. Specifically, we adopted an event-study methodology, using a sample of emerging market firms, to investigate the nature of the effects of the U.S. economic recession on firms in emerging markets. Based on 5,887 firms in nine emerging countries, our results show that firms in emerging markets exhibit changes in strategy variables, and those changes have a significant effect on the subsequent periods’ operating performance. In addition, we found …

The Linkages Between Commitment To Sustainability, Organizational Culture, Quality Management, And Organizational Performance, Lillian Y. Fok, Yun-Chen Morgan, Susan Zee

International Journal of Applied Management and Technology

The growing economic pressures, rising awareness of the importance of environmental protection, and stringent global regulations are leading to more integration of sustainability initiatives into corporate strategies across multiple industries. These sustainability initiatives can alter organization cultures and affect employee perceptions and organizational outcomes. In this study, 331 respondents from a wide variety of industries in the South were surveyed. Results showed that companies’ overall green/sustainability orientation is related to organizational culture, quality management maturity, and companies’ performance. The findings implied that it is imperative to develop an organizational culture that is supportive of quality and sustainability to ensure the …

Mediating Role Of Perceived Value On The Relationship Among Perceived Risks, Perceived Quality, And Purchase Intention Of Private Label Brands, Meenu Mathur, Sanjeevni Gangwani

International Journal of Applied Management and Technology

In the current competitive retail market, retailers constantly strive to deliver products to consumers at a better value. Consumers are becoming more price sensitive but still seeking quality products. A retailer can establish value with a brand. Consequently, retailers are introducing their own private label brands (PLBs), which also differentiate their products from competitors. The role of perceived value in the purchase behavior of PLBs and its relationship with quality and various risk dimensions has received scant consideration in the retailing literature. Our study suggests perceived value is a mediating part in associations amid perceived quality, perceived risks, and purchase …

Strategies To Improve Financial Profitability In The Banking Industry, Khalid Said, Yvonne Doll

International Journal of Applied Management and Technology

More than 50% of business failures in the United States are because of leaders’ inability to manage working capital. This qualitative, multiple case study is grounded in the cash conversion cycle theory. The purpose is to explore the strategies bank leaders have used to improve working capital management in three banks in Kentucky to increase bank profitability and improve financial stability. Data were collected using semistructured interviews with three different banking leaders who have implemented successful working capital strategies. Using methodological triangulation and Yin’s five-step data analysis resulted: (a) risk and liquidity, (b) top-down approach, and (c) investment approach. The …

How Does A Responsible Leader Win In A Competitive World?, Patricia Macneil, Rocky J. Dwyer, Maggie Matear

International Journal of Applied Management and Technology

Competitiveness demonstrates a firm’s effectiveness in achieving an advantage over others. A leader’s competitiveness can facilitate higher profits and growth. It can also lead to unethical and irresponsible corporate dealings. This paper suggests competitiveness can be responsible.

Responsible Leadership defines two main responsible leaders (RL), integrative and instrumental. Integrators are linked to social responsibility and multiple stakeholders, while Instrumentalists are associated with competitive advantage and shareholders. Missing from extant research frameworks is how the two RLs experience competitiveness.

We examined the lived experience of a group of Top 100 Leaders in Canada, finding that both RLs practiced responsible competitiveness. A …

Returning To Solvency Through Quality Improvement, Matthew Faciane, Susan K. Fan, Rocky J. Dwyer

International Journal of Applied Management and Technology

The purpose of this qualitative case study was to explore quality improvement strategies senior manufacturing production managers use to reduce Cost of Poor Quality (COPQ) to increase profit. The participants for this study were production managers within a manufacturing company located in the southeastern region of the United States who successfully developed and implemented strategies to lower COPQ to increase profitability. Six major themes emerged from the study: continuous improvement, quality assurance, employees as agents of quality improvement, communication between stakeholders, holding all firm members accountable for quality, and training. Manufacturing managers can use these strategies to lower COPQ and …

Predictor Of Turnover Intention Of Register Nurses: Job Satisfaction Or Work Engagement?, Yolanda Edwards-Dandridge, Brandon D. Simmons, Douglas G. Campbell

International Journal of Applied Management and Technology

Both employee job satisfaction (JS) and employee work engagement (WE) have been examined as possible predictors of employees’ intention to voluntarily leave a specific job or company, known as turnover intention (TI). While the body of knowledge has grown concerning the nature of TI, there remains the unsettled question of which of the two concepts most accurately predicates TI. The high turnover rate of registered nurses (RNs) in hospitals in the U.S. presented an opportunity to examine if JS and WE predict, and to what degree, among RNs. For this quantitative correlational research probability sampling was used to identify 155 …

Strategies To Address Substance-Abusing And Substance-Impaired Healthcare Professionals, Anna Marie Smith, Douglas G. Campbell

International Journal of Applied Management and Technology

This research explored strategies used by some healthcare leaders to address substance abusing and impaired healthcare professionals. The conceptual framework for this qualitative case study was the concept of due diligence. Data were collected from 40 managers and supervisors, 3 executives, and company documents, and analyzed to reveal elements of a comprehensive strategy. A effective comprehensive strategy consists of policies that address the causes, the short term and long term aspects, and both the ethical and legal aspects. Policies and procedures are equally applied, are easily accessible, are well communicated, are supported by training, provides positive encouragement. provides a path …

Leveraging Technology Through Crowdfunding To Ease Barriers Of Entry Into The Marketplace, Amye Melton, Terry Damron, Vikkie Mccarthy, William Rupp

International Journal of Applied Management and Technology

Small businesses and entrepreneurs face barriers to entering new markets, such as access to capital. Crowdfunding is one method for financing new ventures. The purpose of this article is to explore how crowdfunding can ease barriers of entry into new markets. Drawing from strategic management, planning, marketing, and technology acceptance literature, we present a conceptual model to explain the use of crowdfunding by small businesses and entrepreneurs. Factors that impact individuals’ propensity to utilize crowdfunding as a source of capital include ease of use, intention to use, attitudes toward use, and effectiveness.

Strategies To Prevent And Detect Occupational Fraud In Small Retail Businesses, Marquita V. Davis, David Harris Iii

International Journal of Applied Management and Technology

The objective of this multiple case study was to explore internal control strategies owners of small retail businesses in southeastern Pennsylvania used to prevent and detect occupational fraud. The results of this study indicated that there are areas for action that owners of small retail businesses could take to prevent and detect occupational fraud. Strategies business owners could implement to protect their businesses from occupational fraud include monitoring, employee identity documents to track employee activity, separation of duties, and communication with employees. Small business owners serve their communities by focusing on wealth distribution, including donations to local charities that foster …

Relationships Among Annual Revenue And Green Initiatives, Quality Management, And Organizational Performance, Yun-Chen Morgan, Lillian Y. Fok, Susan M. L. Zee

International Journal of Applied Management and Technology

Today’s global awareness of environmental risks and the pressing needs to compete through efficiency have led to stronger initiatives in the green movement across industries. We examine organizations’ annual revenue levels and their connections to organizational green orientation and impact, quality management programs, and employee perceptions of cultural practices and organizational performance. Results indicate high-revenue organizations use quality management tools more extensively with greater green impact and low-revenue organizations have a more informal and decentralized organizational culture

Ways To Reduce Restaurant Industry Food Waste Costs, David Blum

International Journal of Applied Management and Technology

Food waste costs U.S. restaurant leaders billions of dollars per year. The purpose of this research was to provide restaurant leaders with processes and strategies to reduce food waste costs. The research method used was systematic literature review in addressing this research question: What processes and strategies are available to U.S. restaurant leaders to reduce food waste costs? This study addresses a gap in literature related to processes and strategies to reduce food waste costs. Six processes and seven strategies to reduce food waste costs were presented.

Disruptive Innovation Within The Legal Services Ecosystem, Donald G. Billings, Douglas G. Campbell

International Journal of Applied Management and Technology

Many law firms have done little to address the opportunities and threats presented by potentially disruptive technology (DT), such as artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML). The purpose of this multiple case study was to explore strategies that some law firm leaders use to address the potentially detrimental influences of DT on their organizations. The systems approach to management was employed as the conceptual framework. Data were collected from 6 participants at 2 international law firms with offices in California, using semi-structured interviews and organizational artifacts. Data were analyzed using inductive and deductive coding and thematic analysis, resulting in …

A Qualitative Case Study Exploring Hand-Hygiene Standards In An Intensive Care Unit, Lyndon Augustine, Walter Mccollum, Richard Brown, Phoenix Mourning-Star

International Journal of Applied Management and Technology

Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) are infections that occur in patients during their time of care in a hospital. Considerable emphasis is currently placed on reducing HAIs through improving hand-hygiene (HH) compliance among healthcare professionals because HAIs are a critical challenge to public health in the United States. By focusing on meeting Centers for Disease Control and Prevention HH standards, the purpose of this qualitative research was to explore how noncompliance with these standards and lack of technology usage affect HAIs in the intensive care unit. Additionally, the goal of this research was to explore behavioral factors and best practices that influence …

Exploring Critical Success Factors For Data Integration And Decision-Making In Law Enforcement, Marquay Edmondson, Walter R. Mccollum, Mary-Margaret Chantre, Gregory Campbell

International Journal of Applied Management and Technology

Agencies from various disciplines supporting law enforcement functions and processes have integrated, shared, and communicated data through ad hoc methods to address crime, terrorism, and many other threats in the United States. Data integration in law enforcement plays a critical role in the technical, business, and intelligence processes created by users to combine data from various sources and domains to transform them into valuable information. The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to explore the current conditions of data integration frameworks through user and system interactions among law enforcement organizational processes. Further exploration of critical success factors used to …

Soft Skills Needed For The 21st-Century Workforce, Susan A. Dean, Julia I. East

International Journal of Applied Management and Technology

Technical skills are no longer enough for workers to compete in this highly competitive global work environment. Soft skills are of paramount importance. A multiple-case-study design through the lens of emotional intelligence formed the basis of the research study. The focus of the research was identification of the successful soft skills training strategies in the logistics industry. Three logistics organization leaders in the counties of Burlington, Middlesex, and Somerset, New Jersey, were participants in the study. Data were collected through semistructured interviews and the review of company documents Four themes emerged through data analysis of converging multiple data sources: (a) …

Adoption Of Self-Service Technologies Among Banking Customers: A Revisit, Irbha Magotra, Jyoti Sharma, Supran Kumar Sharma

International Journal of Applied Management and Technology

The introduction of self-service technologies (SSTs) in the banking industry has been emerging as one of the significant business drivers that facilitate customers in operating their bank accounts. Considering this, the present study has made an attempt to pierce the existing literature with reference to the adoption of SSTs among banking customers. Particularly, the intent of the present article is to explore various personal (e.g., optimism, socioeconomic characteristics) and technology characteristics (e.g., perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use) that affect the acceptance of SSTs among the banking customers. Based on a review of the literature, a conceptual model for SST …

Application Of Expanded Technology Acceptance Model For Enhancing The Hris Usage In Smes, Serkan Bayraktaroglu, Vasfi Kahya, Erhan Atay, Habibe Ilhan

International Journal of Applied Management and Technology

Rapid developments and change have culminated new applications of information technologies. This trend is reflected in the plethora of innovative studies. Literature indicates that small- to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) perceive human resources information systems (HRIS) as complicated and time consuming, resulting in resistance from both users and employees. The purpose of this article is to identify necessary acceptance conditions for a successful implementation of the HRIS software within SMEs in Turkey. SMEs compose 99% of all companies in Turkey. Fierce rivalry within sectors gives rise to increased technology use to gain a competitive advantage. This study contributes to an efficient …

Virtual Proximity To Promote Expatriate Cultural Adjustment, Innovation, And The Reduction Of Stress Levels, Tom Coughlan, David J. Fogarty, Sara R. Fogarty

International Journal of Applied Management and Technology

Given the dramatic increase in the number of expatriates living and working abroad, there is a need to advance the research into how to make sure these employees achieve success on their assignments. Often, these expatriates assume managerial roles and are intended to be the gatekeepers of information. Typically, this information is necessary for the success of their colleagues, in both their home country and their host country. The expatriate’s role is to facilitate the integration of organizational knowledge from both their home and host countries, as well as key sources in their host country’s local environment. However, historically, there …

A Structural Equation Model Of Leader–Member Exchange, Employee–Supervisor Relationship, Performance Appraisal, And Career Development, William Joseph Henkel, Al C. Endres

International Journal of Applied Management and Technology

Some employees perceive that supervisors do not accurately reflect employees’ performance or effectively differentiate among employees’ performances during performance appraisals (PAs). Other employees believe the performance feedback they receive is not valuable for supporting their career development (CD). Leader–member exchange (LMX) and the distributive and interactional justice dimensions of organizational justice theories comprised the theoretical frameworks in this study for examining the significance of the relationships among LMX and employee–supervisor relationships (ESRs) and those relationships’ potential influence on employees’ CD through the PA process. Participants consisted of 44 defense contractor employees in the United States. Results from partial least squares …