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Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

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Full-Text Articles in Business

The Relationship Between Ethical Leadership And Sustainability In Small Businesses, David Amisano Jan 2017

The Relationship Between Ethical Leadership And Sustainability In Small Businesses, David Amisano

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Since the 2008 financial crisis, business leaders' ethical behaviors have been under scrutiny. These leaders face uncertainty regarding ethical leadership behaviors and their impact. Because small business leadership involves multiple facets of behavior and decision-making, small business leaders may have an insufficient understanding of the impact of ethical leadership behaviors on the sustainability of their businesses. The purpose of this correlational study was to examine the relationship between ethical leadership and financial, social, and environmental sustainability in small businesses. Integrated social contracts theory was the theoretical framework. The participants consisted of 80 members of a chamber of commerce located in …


Understanding Financial Value Of Cloud-Based Business Applications: A Phenomenological Study, Victor Arthur Arthur Jan 2017

Understanding Financial Value Of Cloud-Based Business Applications: A Phenomenological Study, Victor Arthur Arthur

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

An understanding of opportunities and challenges in cloud computing is needed to better manage technology costs and create financial value. The purposes of this transcendental phenomenological study were to understand the lived experiences of minority business owners who operated business applications in the cloud and to explore how these experiences created financial value for businesses despite security challenges. Historically, minority business owners have experienced high rates of business failures and could benefit from information to help them manage business costs in order to position their businesses to grow and succeed. Modigliani-Miller's theorem on capital structure and Brealey and Young's concept …


Strategies To Mitigate Losses From Product-Harm Crises In The Agri-Food Industry, Leslie Owen Paull Jan 2017

Strategies To Mitigate Losses From Product-Harm Crises In The Agri-Food Industry, Leslie Owen Paull

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Some agri-food managers of United States-based companies use strategies to mitigate product-harm crises.The loss of brand and corporate sustainability increases for companies not utilizing mitigating strategies to reduce losses from agri-food product-harm crisis.The purpose of this multiple case study was to explore the strategies managers use to mitigate losses from agri-food product-harm crises. Coombs' situational crisis communication theory served as the conceptual framework for this study. A sample of 3 managers from 3 agri-food companies in the southern United States shared their mitigating strategies to reduce losses from a product-harm crisis. Methodological triangulation assisted in reviewing and analyzing information from …


Sustainable Supply Chain: Maintaining A Competitive Advantage In Retail Organizations, Sherman M. Arthur Jan 2017

Sustainable Supply Chain: Maintaining A Competitive Advantage In Retail Organizations, Sherman M. Arthur

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Some retail managers encounter challenges with efficiency and responsiveness in their attempts to gain and maintain a competitive advantage in the retail industry. Many retail managers are receptive to changes in global markets, technology, and customer demands. The purpose of this qualitative single case study was to explore the strategies that some retail managers used to motivate their sales associates to maintain a competitive advantage in the retail industry. Maintaining a competitive advantage increases profitability and customer satisfaction. Sustainable Supply Chain Management was the primary conceptual framework for this study. The purposive sample consisted of 4 retail managers from a …


Leadership Strategies For Developing And Implementing Organizational Change, Hardy L. Delay Iv Jan 2017

Leadership Strategies For Developing And Implementing Organizational Change, Hardy L. Delay Iv

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Leaders in some narcotics treatment programs struggle with change development and implementation. The objective of this single-case study was to explore strategies used by leaders in a narcotics treatment program to develop and implement organizational change initiatives successfully. Participants included 4 leaders who had developed and implemented successful change initiatives repeatedly for more than 10 years in a narcotics treatment program in the southeastern United States. Bertalanffy's general systems theory was the basis for the conceptual framework. Data collection included semistructured interviews of leaders of a narcotics treatment program and collection of archival data, such as reports relating to strategic …


Predicting Bank Failure Using Regulatory Accounting Data, Helen Pruitt Jan 2017

Predicting Bank Failure Using Regulatory Accounting Data, Helen Pruitt

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

A liquidity shortfall in the United States triggered the bankruptcy of several large commercial banks, and bank failures continue to occur, with 50 banks failing between 2013 and 2015. Therefore, it is critical banking regulators understand the correlates of financial performance measures and the potential for banks to fail. In this study, binary logistic regression was employed to assess the theoretical proposition that banks with higher nonperforming loans, lower Tier 1 leverage capital, and higher noncore funding dependence are more likely to fail. Archival data ranging from 2012-2015 were collected from 250 commercial banks listed on the Federal Deposit Insurance …


Organizational Strategies In The Mortgage Industry, Rachelle Sutton Jan 2017

Organizational Strategies In The Mortgage Industry, Rachelle Sutton

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Mortgage managers lack the organizational strategies to evolve after the 2008 economic decline of the U.S. and the global economy. The significance in the lack of organizational strategies threaten the U.S. and global communities with challenges in defaults for homeowners, performance and profits for the mortgage industry that jeopardize solvent economies. The purpose of this qualitative single case study was to explore the strategies mortgage loan managers use to avoid mortgage crises and maintain profitability. The conceptual framework for this study was the social audit theory. The participants of the study were 7 mortgage managers, in the North-Eastern region of …


Strategies For Implementing Advertisements In The Green Industry, Ashley Deal Castle Jan 2017

Strategies For Implementing Advertisements In The Green Industry, Ashley Deal Castle

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

After a growth in sales of 30% from 2007 to 2010, green product market sales declined 2% from 2010 to 2014 in the United States. Business leaders need to incorporate sustainable business practices and use green messaging within advertisements and marketing campaigns to assure that present needs do not compromise the ability of future generations to meet their needs. This qualitative case study explored marketing strategies that business leaders in the green advertising industry use to increase the sale of green products. The social cognitive theory was the conceptual framework used in this study. In-depth interviews with 5 purposively selected …


Exploring General Career Barriers And Self-Constructed Career Impediments Of Minority Women Managers And Leaders, Octavia A. Harris Jan 2017

Exploring General Career Barriers And Self-Constructed Career Impediments Of Minority Women Managers And Leaders, Octavia A. Harris

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

In 2016, the U.S. Census Bureau indicated only 39.1% of women occupied management and leadership occupations. The absence of women in leadership roles minimizes career aspirations, reduces the benefits of gender diversity, and lowers growth opportunities for women. The purpose of this interpretive hermeneutical phenomenological study was to unveil the lived experiences of a sample of minority women managers and leaders in the finance and insurance sector in Central Florida who encountered general career barriers and self-imposed career impediments that hindered them from advancing. The conceptual framework that guided this study was the social cognitive career theory coupled with the …


Risks Management Application In Helping The Poor Through Microfinancing, Edmond Njombe Lyonga Jan 2017

Risks Management Application In Helping The Poor Through Microfinancing, Edmond Njombe Lyonga

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Poverty alleviation in Buea, Cameroon, has been a problem of concern for decades. The study is vital because managers who control the funds given to the government of Cameroon to help reduce poverty are politicians and do not equitably distribute the funds to all on the pretext that the default rate is high. The purpose of this study was to find better ways to make additional capital available to the microbusiness owners of Buea to open or improve businesses. This qualitative case study design was consistent with the aim of understanding the importance of risk management within the microfinance industry …


Business Strategies For Small Business Survival, Betty Wong Lum Jan 2017

Business Strategies For Small Business Survival, Betty Wong Lum

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Small business owners play a leading role in the United States economy by creating jobs and driving innovation. However, half of all new small business owners close their doors before their 5th anniversary. Following the entrepreneurship theory, the purpose of this multiple case study was to explore what strategies 5 small business owners in the food and beverage industry in the San Francisco Bay area used to survive beyond 5 years of operation. Data sources included semistructured interviews and company documents. Data analysis included descriptive and process coding of the data and use of NVivo to identify themes. Based on …


A Survey Comparison Of Virtual And In Situ Leadership Competencies, Christopher Wesley Wells Jan 2017

A Survey Comparison Of Virtual And In Situ Leadership Competencies, Christopher Wesley Wells

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Leaders support many workplace configurations that do not rely on the collocation of leaders and followers and may exhibit different interaction competencies with employees. There was limited understanding about these leadership competencies required in virtual work environments. The purpose of this nonexperimental study was to examine the relationship between the percentages of time spent weekly as a virtual leader (IV) and 6 leadership competencies (DVs), such as a leader's vision and values. The theoretical framework was based on Sandstrom and Smith's legacy leadership model. Study participants were randomly selected from LinkedIn.com forums (N = 93). Data were collected using the …


Workplace Antidiscrimination Policy Effect On Transgender Employee Job Satisfaction, Stacie Christian Jan 2017

Workplace Antidiscrimination Policy Effect On Transgender Employee Job Satisfaction, Stacie Christian

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Not all organizations in Wisconsin have transgender inclusive antidiscrimination policies. Leadership can use the results of this study to understand the effect of antidiscrimination policies on transgender employee job satisfaction. Quantitative data were collected from transgender employees aged 18 years or older who were employed but not self-employed in the state of Wisconsin. The relationship between the presence and absence of transgender inclusive antidiscrimination policy and job satisfaction was addressed by creating an anonymous online survey that contained demographic questions, the 1997 Job Descriptive Index (JDI) and the Job in General (JIG). Participants were notified of the study using fliers …


Internal Strategies For Assessing Organizational Communication Channel Effectiveness, Melvin Murphy Murphy Jan 2017

Internal Strategies For Assessing Organizational Communication Channel Effectiveness, Melvin Murphy Murphy

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Evolving communication technology, the increased volume of information needed by businesses, and the intensified competitive environment have made internal company communication more critical to business success. The purpose of this multiple case study was to explore strategies used by managers and leaders of 3 law firms in the Commonwealth of Virginia for assessing the effectiveness of their organization's internal communication channels. The participating firms were recognized by their peers as being exceptionally well-managed. Data from interviews and company documents were analyzed through the conceptual lens of the channel expansion theory and the use of software coding to identify patterns and …


Strategies For Small And Medium-Sized Enterprises In Geoeconomic Crisis, Hicham Jaroudi Jan 2017

Strategies For Small And Medium-Sized Enterprises In Geoeconomic Crisis, Hicham Jaroudi

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Lebanon are at risk of failure because of the geoeconomic crisis. The purpose of this single case study was to explore strategies that successful leaders of SMEs use to sustain their businesses during tenuous economic conditions. The target population for the research comprised 6 business leaders of SMEs in Beirut, Lebanon: 3 in the civil security field and 3 in the facilities management field. Kotter's change model theory provided the conceptual framework for this research. Data were gathered from company documents and interviews with SMEs leaders in Beirut. Data were analyzed using Yin's data …


African American Graduates' Experiences Of Managing College Debt, Christal Blalock Jan 2017

African American Graduates' Experiences Of Managing College Debt, Christal Blalock

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Higher education is a means to improve professional status and economic mobility; however, mounting college debt has become a hindrance to college graduates, primarily African Americans. A disproportionate number of these graduates incur significant debt while attending college. The purpose of this descriptive phenomenological study was to understand the lived experiences of African American college graduates who were managing debt incurred to pay for their education. Human capital theory and critical race theory provided the conceptual framework. Two research questions motivated this study: How do African American college graduates living in the state of Georgia manage their college debt? What …


Strategies For Increased Productivity Through Control Of Process Constraints, Fabian Aniemene Jan 2017

Strategies For Increased Productivity Through Control Of Process Constraints, Fabian Aniemene

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

In Nigeria, manufacturing businesses play a vital role in the industrial growth of the nation and have many dynamic benefits crucial for the growth of a sustainable economy. The manufacturing sector has added substantially to the gross domestic products of many countries. Nonetheless, 50% of manufacturing firms in Nigeria experience a decline in production capacity utilization and profitability because of inefficient production processes. The purpose of this qualitative multiple case study was to explore strategies leaders of manufacturing firms in Nigeria use to support efficient manufacturing operations. The theory of constraints served as the conceptual framework for this study. Eight …


Knowledge Management Strategies For Competitive Advantage In The Convenience Foods Franchise Industry, Tiffany Moses Jan 2017

Knowledge Management Strategies For Competitive Advantage In The Convenience Foods Franchise Industry, Tiffany Moses

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The lack of successful knowledge management (KM) practices significantly hinders competitive advantage in small businesses. This case study was designed to explore what effective KM strategies convenience foods franchise industry business owners or managers use to increase competitive advantage. The study population consisted of 7 fast food franchise owners or managers in or near the Research Triangle Park area of North Carolina. The cognitive model of KM was the conceptual framework that grounded the study. Face-to-face interviews were used for the data collection process. Data were organized into nodes and coded for thematic analysis. The 3 major themes that emerged …


Sources Of Financing For Small And Medium Enterprises In Nigeria, Dije Umaru Watse Jan 2017

Sources Of Financing For Small And Medium Enterprises In Nigeria, Dije Umaru Watse

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Small and medium enterprises (SMEs), which account for 96% of businesses in Nigeria are often forced to close because they lack access to funds. The purpose of this multiple case study was to explore the sources of funds available for the development and growth of SMEs in Nigeria. The conceptual framework guiding this study was the pecking order theory. Data were gathered from company documents and through semistructured interviews of a target population of 3 leaders of 3 SMEs from the oil and gas industry in Abuja, Kano, and Lagos in Nigeria, with a capitalization of between N5 million to …


Leadership Strategies For Managing Change In The Nigerian Banking Industry, Jude Ememe Jan 2017

Leadership Strategies For Managing Change In The Nigerian Banking Industry, Jude Ememe

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The Nigerian banking system is experiencing changes brought about by globalization. Operating in a changing business environment requires that bank leaders evolve strategies to manage and adapt to change. There are direct and indirect costs associated when banks are unable to adapt to change such as bank closures, and loss of economic and business opportunities. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore the lived experiences of Nigerian bank leaders regarding strategies they used to manage change in the banking industry. The conceptual framework was based on transformational leadership theory and change management theory. Data were collected from document …


Transformational Leadership Strategies For Addressing Voluntary Employee Turnover, Chris A. Osisiogu Jan 2017

Transformational Leadership Strategies For Addressing Voluntary Employee Turnover, Chris A. Osisiogu

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

For every standard deviation of increase in employee turnover, organizations could suffer a roughly 27% decline in financial performance. Current voluntary employee turnover rates hover between 15% - 40% and the associated unquantifiable indirect costs affecting customer loyalty and creating reputational risks for business leaders. Furthermore, when employees leave an organization for another, a minimum of 95% leave with trade secrets, strategic skills, and acquired knowledge. As a result, turnover has evolved into a significant concern for organizational leaders. Using the transformational leadership concept, the purpose of this single case study was to explore the leadership strategies that bank leaders …


Influence Of Succession Planning On Knowledge Transfer, Robinson Ejakpomewhe Jan 2017

Influence Of Succession Planning On Knowledge Transfer, Robinson Ejakpomewhe

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The problem was the lack of effective succession planning strategies to facilitate the transfer of technical expertise from retiring employees to younger employees. A rebound of oil exploration activities in Nigeria would adversely affect the drilling sector due to lack of preparation and succession planning to meet the demand for technical expertise. The purpose of this case study was to explore how a succession planning program contributes to knowledge transfer and development of expertise for business continuity and prevents loss of knowledge in the oil-drilling sector in Nigeria. Twenty-four participants from one oil-drilling contractor in Nigeria participated in the study. …


Effects Of Transformational Leadership On Fire Lieutenant Development, Angelo Lamar Jan 2017

Effects Of Transformational Leadership On Fire Lieutenant Development, Angelo Lamar

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Research does not sufficiently address how fire lieutenants in the central United States experience leadership development. Leadership development training, coaching, and mentoring are important processes that prepare followers to become effective leaders in public safety organizations. The intent of this qualitative research study was to explore the lived experiences and stories of fire lieutenants to obtain a clear understanding of how transformational leadership training was perceived to affect their careers. Face-to-face interviews from a purposeful sample of 7 fire suppression lieutenants queried 3 relevant areas derived from the literature, comprising of transformational leadership, critical success factors, and mentoring and coaching. …


Enterprise Risk Management In Responsible Financial Reporting, Robin B. Ewers Jan 2017

Enterprise Risk Management In Responsible Financial Reporting, Robin B. Ewers

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Despite regulatory guidelines, unreliable financial reporting exists in organizations, creating undue financial risk-harm for their stakeholders. Normal accident theory (NAT) identifies factors in highly complex integrated systems that can have unexpected, undetected, and uncorrected system failures. High-reliability organization (HRO) theory constructs promote reliability in complex, integrated systems prone to NAT factors. Enterprise risk management (ERM) integrates NAT factors and HRO constructs under a holistic framework to achieve organizational goals and mitigate the potential for stakeholder risk-harm. Literature on how HRO constructs promote ERM in responsible integrated financial systems has been limited. The purpose of this qualitative, grounded theory study was …


Leadership Transition Strategies For Medium-Sized Family Businesses' Sustainability, Okechukwu Vitalis Nwuke Jan 2017

Leadership Transition Strategies For Medium-Sized Family Businesses' Sustainability, Okechukwu Vitalis Nwuke

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Medium-sized family businesses are major contributors to economic activities and job creation in Nigeria, but more than 50% of such family businesses fail after leadership succession. The purpose of this multiple case study was to explore the strategies that owners of medium-sized family businesses use to sustain the businesses after the leadership transition from the founders. The population for this study included 3 family business leaders in Lagos and Port Harcourt in Nigeria who have sustained their family businesses after the leadership transition from their founders. The conceptual framework for the study was based on the transformational leadership theory and …


Utilizing Corporate Governance In Strategy Formulation And Execution, Oladayo Ojo Jan 2017

Utilizing Corporate Governance In Strategy Formulation And Execution, Oladayo Ojo

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Ineffective corporate governance is a leading cause of financial crises. Ineffectual corporate governance is mainly due to the lack of prudential and efficient supervision, which is symptomatic of board composition and the selection criteria of board members. The purpose of this single case study was to explore the strategies that banking leaders used to identify board selection criteria that ensures effective governance. The sample consisted of 4 business leaders at a bank located in California that remained profitable and did not have losses during the recent recession. The conceptual framework used for the study was agency theory. The data sources …


Resources That Predict Microbusinesses Winning A U.S. Government Contract, James Marshall Ensign Jan 2017

Resources That Predict Microbusinesses Winning A U.S. Government Contract, James Marshall Ensign

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The U.S. Government (USG) sets aside $133 billion annually to procure goods and services from small businesses. To increase efficiency and effectiveness, the USG employs e-commerce procedures that continually change, forcing small and microbusiness owners (MBO) to learn new technical skills. This continuum of change is adversely affecting MBO who lack technical skills. The purpose of this correlational study was to determine whether a relationship existed between the independent variables of formal training consisting of third party providers, consultants, and higher education (INTM); previous federal employment (PFE); and government-sponsored training (GST) and the dependent variable of MBO winning a USG …


Overcoming The Adverse Impact Of Internal Subculture Communications Within Organizations, Terrence Lee Farrier Jan 2017

Overcoming The Adverse Impact Of Internal Subculture Communications Within Organizations, Terrence Lee Farrier

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The need for clear and organizationally effective communications is necessary to maintain sustainability as competition increases. Current research has not addressed problems associated with senior managers' clarity and intent and the misinterpretation by midlevel managers of that intent, causing division managers to misinterpret the company plans. Unresolved miscommunications may lead to destructive subculture development. This mixed methods design focused on how to minimize the confusion that manifests between senior and midlevel management within diverse and decentralized decision support structures. The secondary purpose was to advocate for the identification of divisional misalignment and provide information for a tool to help senior …


Strategies For U.S. City Government Enterprise Resource Planning System Implementation Success, Jennifer Miller Jan 2017

Strategies For U.S. City Government Enterprise Resource Planning System Implementation Success, Jennifer Miller

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Strategies for enterprise resource planning (ERP) system implementation success have been a focus of scholars since the 1990s. Researchers have demonstrated that ERP system implementation could cause both system failures and organization failures, affecting both operations and stakeholders. The theory of constraints was the conceptual framework for this single qualitative case study that explored ERP system critical success factors (CSFs) and strategies U.S. city governments use to successfully implement ERP systems. One city government in New Mexico with a successful ERP system served as the case study's population. Data were collected from semistructured interviews and relevant documents and then open …


Leadership Adaptation To Changes In Public Funding Of Community Colleges, James Hightower Simpson Jan 2017

Leadership Adaptation To Changes In Public Funding Of Community Colleges, James Hightower Simpson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Although growth in U.S. community colleges has been exponential, a major challenge accompanying that growth has been the source of funding, which has consisted of shifting proportions of tuition, local taxes, and state aid. The shift away from state aid toward fundraising, profit-oriented research, sophisticated financing, and higher tuition presents challenges and unintended consequences. This shift could threaten the community college access mission and contribute to a perception of higher education as a private good rather than a public good. With a framework of academic capitalism and resource dependency theories, the purpose of this basic qualitative interview study with 7 …