Business Commons^™

Examining And Exposing The Darknet, Ton H. Don

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

This thesis consists of two studies; the first study is “Diving into the Darknet” and the second is “Exposing the Darknet on Mobile Devices”. The Darknet is a network of hidden sites and services which are built based on anonymity. In “Diving into the Darknet”, we applied different data science methods to establish the relationships between the data in the data set. This data set has information related to seller, drug types, and transactions. Additionally, we used Tableau to visualize the data set. For the second study, we took a digital forensics perspective of the Darknet. Orfox and Orbot, a …

The Effects Of Gender-Aware Leadership-Development Training On The Leadership- Behavioral Competencies Of Women Software Engineers In California’S Silicon Valley, Leann Pereira

Doctoral Dissertations

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of a leadership-development training workshop on leadership behaviors among women software engineers in a California Silicon Valley engineering community with a two-phase, mixed-methods research design. The training workshop was developed using a framework for developing leadership-behavioral competencies among women (LBCW), which was congruent with theoretical principles for women’s leadership development.

LBCW was comprised of four competencies: self-advocacy, social networking, psychological capital, and goal orientation. A pretest–posttest comparison-group design was used to assess the effects of the training on LCBW among 70 participants with four instruments: the Leadership Development and Activities Instrument, the …

Examining The Impact That The Locus Of Control, Emotional Intelligence, And Narcissism Have On Internet Addiction And Information Disclosure Among College Students, Antonio Avant

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Exploring Factors That Affect Adoption Of Computer Security Practices Among College Students, Amani Alqarni

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

Cyber-attacks threaten the security of computer users’ information, networks, machines, and privacy. Studies of computer security education, awareness, and training among ordinary computer users, college students, non-IT-oriented user groups, and non-technically trained citizens are limited. Most research has focused on computer security standards and guidelines in organizational contexts. Few studies have analyzed the predictors of college students’ adoption of computer security practices. Based on a comprehensive literature review, researchers have relied heavily on well-established behavioral theories, such as the technology acceptance model (TAM), theory of planned behavior (TPB), and protection motivation theory (PMT) to explain the variation in adoption of …

Applying User Experience (Ux) Design In Interior Space For Art, Science Museums, And Learning Environments, Zainab Al-Hajji

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

This research study explores the role of user experience (UX) and user interface (UI) in educational spaces: museums, science centers, galleries, libraries, and classrooms. This study examines the effects of enhancing displays in learning spaces and focuses on users’ interactions and experiences. This project observes the effectiveness of learning modes and styles applied in different museums and focuses on the users’ experiences in an educational environment, which was measured through student users’ impressions, behaviors, and performance. It was hypothesized that students would retain more information through the experience. The concepts covered included using UX/UI on websites and small devices. Results …

Communication Styles: Increasing Awareness Between Genders In The Workforce, Tammie Bellephant

All Capstone Projects

Communication differences between males and females that exist often leads to miscommunication. Miscommunication, especially in the workplace, can create negative behavior resulting in low productivity. Identifying problems and implementing solutions learned through research to improve relationships and create mindful interpersonal communication. This research will analyze how different communication styles can interfere or hinder the message sent and evaluate how this information is perceived. Training on this topic will not only educate people on how to improve workplace relationships, but it will also identify a clear path for effective communication to travel. Through effective communication skills and clear expectations, individuals will …

Labor Management Principles In The Communication Discipline: Developing A Communication Plan Based On An Organization Analysis, Michelle J. Williams

All Capstone Projects

The purpose of this research and workshop is to identify how the communication science discipline affects specific areas of the organization ranks and provide options to consider when measuring structural growth. The benefit of this analysis demonstrates how the rudimentary function of a core mission is able to work together and be compartmentalized for measurement but also explains how the implementation of communications theory and methods are able to assist in workplace diagnostics, training and development for an organization's communication plan. The importance of this workshop and literary analysis is to assist stakeholders and managers that maintain communication between organizational …

Cyber-Security Policy Decisions In Small Businesses, Joanna Patterson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Cyber-attacks against small businesses are on the rise yet small business owners often lack effective strategies to avoid these attacks. The purpose of this qualitative multiple case study was to explore the strategies small business owners use to make cyber-security decisions. Bertalanffy's general systems theory provided the conceptual framework for this study. A purposive sample of 10 small business owners participated in the interview process and shared their decision-making methodologies and influencers. The small business owners were vetted to ensure their strategies were effective through a series of qualification questions. The intent of the research question and corresponding interview questions …

Strategies To Secure Sustainable Funding For Nonprofit Organizations, Jasmine Y. Hardy

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

There are 1.4 million active nonprofit organizations in the United States; however, funding sustainability often forces nonprofit senior leaders into closure, which can lead to increased unemployment and decreased services provided to local communities. Nonprofit senior leaders seek help from scholars, at times, to identify strategies to secure sustainable funding sources, improve the sustainability of funding, or prevent or reverse losses of funding to their organizations. Through the conceptual lens of the general systems theory, the 2015-2016 Baldrige Excellence Framework and Criteria, and single- and double-loop learning, this single-case study explored strategies used to secure sustainable funding for nonprofit organizations …

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 …

Special Education Teachers' Voices On Co-Planning In A Suburban School District, Corinne Jeffers

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Limited co-planning between special education and general education co-teaching partners has been documented in professional literature as a significant problem. Special education teachers do not adequately co-plan for the implementation of accommodations for students with disabilities educated in the general education classroom. The purpose of this study was to collect and analyze the perceptions of special education teachers in one suburban elementary school district in the United States regarding co-planning with regular education teachers. The theory of self-efficacy was utilized as the conceptual framework to understand how teachers' beliefs and experiences influenced planning and goal setting for special education students. …

The Impact Of Social Presence And User Experience On Gender Sensitive E-Tail Websites, Dishi Shrivastava

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Internet has come afar, from connecting computers to connecting people. Since its early days, the use of Internet has evolved tremendously. People use the Internet today in a variety of different ways, including communicating with friends, family, co-workers and performing activities like paying bills and shopping. With the increase in electronic retailing (e-Tailing), attracting and retaining customers has become the most important part of running a successful business. However, the online shopping experience may be viewed as lacking human warmth and sociability as it is more impersonal, anonymous, automated and generally devoid of face-to face interactions. Thus, understanding how to …

Improving Search Ranking Using A Composite Scoring Approach, Larry D. Snedden

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

In this thesis, the improvement to relevance in computerized search results is studied. Information search tools return ranked lists of documents ordered by the relevance of the documents to the user supplied search. Using a small number of words and phrases to represent complex ideas and concepts causes user search queries to be information sparse. This sparsity challenges search tools to locate relevant documents for users. A review of the challenges to information searches helps to identify the problems and offer suggestions in improving current information search tools. Using the suggestions put forth by the Strategic Workshop on Information Retrieval …

The Visual And Performing Arts In The Technical Communication Classroom: Reinforcing The University's Internal Community Literacy Via Service-Learning, Richard L. Ward

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

This report details a class taught that was an exploration into the value of STEAM or science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics within the confines of Technical Communication as it applies to the business and industry of theatre. It was an experiment in service learning as it could be tied into the Arts via differing technai, as described by John Wild in “Plato’s Theory of Texnh a Phenomenological Interpretation,” demonstrating a necessity for Arts as they pertain to STEM-centric universities. This report discusses a section of Technical and Professional Communication taught at Michigan technological University that consisted of twenty-five students …

นวัตกรรมแอปพลิเคชันตามทฤษฎีพฤติกรรมตามแผนเพื่อส่งเสริมการรับรู้ความสามารถตนเอง, ฉัททวุฒิ พีชผล

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

งานวิจัยนี้มีวัตถุประสงค์เพื่อพัฒนาแอปพลิเคชันตามทฤษฎีพฤติกรรมตามแผนเพื่อส่งเสริมการรับรู้ความสามารถตนเองในการเรียนออนไลน์ และศึกษาผลการทดลองใช้แอปพลิเคชันฯ ที่พัฒนาขึ้นกับนักศึกษาระดับปริญญาตรี ขั้นตอนของการวิจัยแบ่งออกเป็น 3 ขั้นตอนคือ (1) ศึกษาเอกสารงานวิจัยและสัมภาษณ์ผู้เชี่ยวชาญสำหรับต้นแบบของแอปพลิเคชันฯ (2) สร้างต้นแบบและพัฒนาระบบแอปพลิเคชันฯ และ (3) ศึกษาผลการทดลองใช้ระบบแอปพลิเคชันฯ ต่อระดับการรับรู้ความสามารถตนเองในการเรียนออนไลน์ กลุ่มตัวอย่าง คือ นักศึกษาระดับปริญญาตรี มหาวิทยาลัยเอเชียอาคเนย์จำนวน 180 คน โดยแบ่งออกเป็นกลุ่มทดลองและกลุ่มควบคุม กลุ่มละ 90 คน มีระยะเวลาในการดำเนินการทดลอง 5 สัปดาห์ ผลการวิจัยพบว่า ระบบแอปพลิเคชันตามทฤษฎีพฤติกรรมตามแผนที่พัฒนาขึ้น มี 3 องค์ประกอบ คือ (1) ขั้นตอนการเรียนการสอนของระบบ (2) เครื่องมือของระบบ และ (3) คุณลักษณะของแอปพลิเคชันตามทฤษฎีพฤติกรรมตามแผน ซึ่งประกอบด้วย การสร้างเสริมทัศนคติต่อการเรียนออนไลน์ การสร้างเสริมการคล้อยตามกลุ่มเรียนออนไลน์ และการสร้างเสริมการรับรู้การควบคุมพฤติกรรมตนเอง ผลการทดลองใช้แอปพลิเคชันฯ พบว่าค่าเฉลี่ยคะแนนการรับรู้ความสามารถตนเองในการเรียนออนไลน์ของกลุ่มทดลองมีค่าสูงกว่ากลุ่มควบคุมอย่างมีนัยสำคัญทางสถิติที่ระดับ 0.05 ผลนี้แสดงให้เห็นว่าระบบแอปพลิเคชันตามทฤษฎีพฤติกรรมตามแผนมีอิทธิพลต่อการเพิ่มการรับรู้ความสามารถตนเองของผู้เรียนออนไลน์

เครื่องมือนวัตกรรมการบริหารจัดการสินค้าคงคลังแบบแบ่งปันสำหรับผู้ประกอบการค้าปลีกและค้าส่งธุรกิจอุปกรณ์กีฬาในประเทศไทย, ลีลาวดี พัฒนรัชต์

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

การศึกษานี้มีวัตถุประสงค์เพื่อพัฒนาแบบจำลองระบบบริหารจัดการสินค้าคงคลังแบบแบ่งปันสำหรับผู้ประกอบการค้าปลีกและค้าส่งขนาดกลางและขนาดย่อม (SMEs) ของธุรกิจเครื่องกีฬาในประเทศไทยโดยแบ่งการศึกษาออกเป็น 5 ระยะ โดยระยะที่ 1 เป็นการทบทวนวรรณกรรมเพื่อพัฒนากรอบแนวความคิดวิจัย ระยะที่ 2 ศึกษาถึงปัจจัยการยอมรับระบบการบริหารจัดการสินค้าคงคลังแบบแบ่งปัน ระยะที่ 3 ศึกษาปัจจัยที่ส่งผลถึงประสิทธิภาพการบริหารจัดการร่วมกันของร้านค้าปลีก ระยะที่ 4 เป็นการพัฒนาแบบจำลองสถานการณ์แบบมอนติคาร์โลด้วย Microsoft® Excel และระยะที่ 5 เป็นการศึกษาการยอมรับของเทคโนโลยี นำเสนอแนวทางการพัฒนาเชิงพาณิชย์และสรุปผลการศึกษา ผลจากการศึกษาพบว่าการพัฒนาแบบจำลองระบบการบริหารจัดการสินค้าคงคลังแบบแบ่งปันให้มีประสิทธิภาพได้นั้นต้องคำนึงถึงเรื่องของระยะเวลา ต้นทุน ความไว้วางใจ ความปลอดภัยและความเป็นส่วนตัวของผู้ใช้บริการเป็นสำคัญ โดยผลจากการเปรียบเทียบแบบจำลองระบบแบบเดิมกับแบบใหม่ (IIPS) พบว่าแบบจำลองแบบใหม่สามารถลดต้นทุนค่าสูญเสียโอกาสการขาย ลดปริมาณสินค้าค้างสต็อกและสินค้าขาดแคลน เพิ่มกำไรรวมให้แก่ระบบและเป็นประโยชน์ให้ผู้ใช้บริการทั้งในแง่ของผู้ซื้อและผู้ขายได้อีกด้วย และเมื่อนำแบบจำลองระบบ IIPS มาตรวจสอบการยอมรับโดยผู้ประกอบการ 30 คน พบว่าผลการประเมินด้านประโยชน์และความง่ายในการใช้งานโดยรวมอยู่ในเกณฑ์ดี ส่วนโอกาสในเชิงธุรกิจของแบบจำลองนวัตกรรมดังกล่าวอยู่ในเกณฑ์ดีมาก โดยแนวทางการพัฒนาในเชิงพาณิชย์ ได้ประยุกต์ใช้หลักการต่างๆไม่ว่าจะเป็นการใช้ตัวแบบธุรกิจ และการวิเคราะห์คู่แข่งขัน เป็นต้น

Offshore Outsourcing Of The United States Semiconductor Manufacturing: Management Approaches And Strategies, Oscar Mostofi

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The United States manufacturing employment decreased 33% from 1985 to 2014. During the same period, the United States semiconductor manufacturing, accounting for 1.7% of the total of the United States manufacturing workforce, lost 35% of its employees. The decline in semiconductor manufacturing jobs began in 1985 when semiconductor firms began offshoring product manufacturing overseas because of low cost of qualified labor force and facilities. This qualitative case study explored the analytical approaches and strategies business leaders of semiconductor firms that offshore manufacturing use in making informed strategic outsourcing and offshoring decisions conducive to sustainability and profitability of operations. The location …

Accountants And Accounting Educators' Perceptions Of Accounting Certifications/Accreditations And Communication Divides, Brigitte A. Bennerson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Global changes to business exchanges of goods, services, capital, technology, and knowledge requires accountants to have more diverse skill sets than in the past. Practitioners' documented concerns about accounting graduates' inability to function globally. The purpose of this exploratory qualitative study was twofold: (a) to explore accounting practitioners' and educators' perceptions of the Certified Public Accountant and other accounting certifications and accreditations, and (b) to explore possible communication divides between accounting academia and professionals that may be creating a gap between what employers expect and what they receive from graduates. Phone interviews were conducted with 5 practicing accounting educators and …

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 …

Effect Of Leadership Development Programs In The Workplace: Strategies For Human Resource Managers, Daniel Francisco Flores

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Business leaders face the challenge of developing their employees to assume leadership positions within their organizations. However, business leaders devote less than 10% of their time to developing employee leadership capabilities through leadership development programs, resulting in poor leadership development programs designed to prepare employees to assume leadership positions. Using transformational leadership theory, the purpose of this multicase study was to explore strategies that human resource managers use to improve their employee leadership development programs. Participants were purposefully selected for their experience improving employee leadership development programs in organizations in Silicon Valley. Data were collected via semistructured interviews over Skype …

Strategies Used By Military Spouse Small Businesses During A Military Relocation, Sandra Dee Heredia

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

There are over 615,000 women military spouses and 1,786 known military spouse business owners who relocate every 2 to 3 years to follow their active duty spouse. The research problem addressed was the lack of strategies military spouse small business owners used to sustain their business during a mandatory military relocation. The purpose of this multiple case study was to explore the strategies that 5 women military spouse small business owners, located near Shaw Air Force Base or Fort Jackson, South Carolina, used to sustain their businesses during a relocation. The sampling method used was census sampling. The systems theory …

Developing Generation Z Fast Food Service Industry Leaders Through Training, Christa Hollis

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The labor force consists of 4 generations including Generation Z with an estimated 25 million Baby Boomers leaving the workforce between the year 2010 and 2020. Franchise fast food service managers desire competent leadership in the workplace inclusive of Generation Z. Yet, many franchise fast food service managers do not have training programs to develop Generation Z's leadership behaviors. Based on Vroom's expectancy theory and Blau's social theory, the purpose of this single-case study was to explore the training programs franchise fast food service managers could implement to develop Generation Z's leadership behaviors. Data collection consisted of direct observation and …

Strategies For Reducing Employee Stress And Increasing Employee Engagement, Kumar G. Subramaniam

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Stress inside and outside of work affects employee productivity. In 2013, the estimated impact of employee absenteeism on U.S. businesses was $225 billion per year through reduced efficiency, overtime wages, fixed fringe benefits, and the cost of replacement employees. Based on the social exchange theory and the theory of planned behavior, the purpose of this qualitative single case study was to explore the strategies that HR leaders in a single organization used to reduce employee disengagement caused by stress. Using semistructured interviews, data were collected from 12 HR leaders and line managers within a single healthcare organization in eastern Tennessee. …

Creating Leadership Efficacy Through Digital Media In The Electricity Supply Industry, Kenny Moodley

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Business leaders lack transformational leadership strategies to promote the use of digital communication in the electricity supply industry. The purpose of this multiple case study was to explore transformational leadership strategies to promote the use of digital communication to mitigate electricity-related shutdowns and other electricity-related product recalls. The conceptual framework for this study aligns with general systems theory. The participants recruited in the study were business leaders, key account electricity consumers, and electricity consumers located in Johannesburg, South Africa. The rationale for the target population was their success in implementing transformational leadership strategies to promote the use of digital communication …

Engaging A Multigenerational Workforce, Schnarda R. Robinson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The U.S. Office of Personnel Management reported the productivity levels of the American multigenerational workforce decreasing as leaders strive to actively engage employees to improve organizational output. The purpose of this qualitative single case study was to explore what leadership strategies federal government managers use to engage a multigenerational workforce. The conceptual framework consisted of Kahn's employee engagement theory and Strauss and Howe's generational cohort theory. The sample consisted of 3 federal government managers within metro Atlanta, Georgia who had successfully managed a multigenerational workforce, demonstrated through the feedback they received from their employees. Data were collected using face-to-face semistructured …

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 …

Survival Strategies For Small Independent Full-Service Restaurants, Haitham Nizam

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Small businesses play a vital role in the modern economy. They represent the main catalyst for economic development. However, small businesses fail at a high rate, especially small independent restaurants. Around 25% of small independent restaurants fail within the first year of operation, and around 60% do not survive for more than 3 years. The purpose of this multiple case study was to explore what strategies small independent full-service restaurant owners in the Al Rehab District, Cairo, Egypt implemented to sustain operations for more than 5 years. The restaurant viability model provided the conceptual framework for this study. The population …

Team Member Selection Strategies, Robert Carl Stewart

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Business teams have been losing millions of dollars every year in cost and schedule over-runs from incomplete or failed projects. The purpose of this single case study was to explore the strategies that business managers use to determine team fit when selecting employees for assignment to cross-functional project teams. The participants for this study were 3 senior management personnel and a 6-member employee focus group, all from midsized, nonprofit organizations located within 200 miles of the tri-state region of Delaware, Maryland, and Virginia. The conceptual framework for this study was Werbel and Gilliland's theory of person-group fit, McCrae's and John's …

Effective Strategies Small Retail Leaders Use To Engage Employees, Dr. Janet Lynn Deskins

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Research suggests that 70% of North American employees are disengaged in the workplace. Some small retail managers lack strategies for engaging employees. Using the employee engagement framework, the purpose of this descriptive case study was to explore successful strategies that small retail managers use to engage employees. The target population was small retail leaders, purposefully selected because of their success with engaging employees at an Orlando, Florida, company. Data collection was through face-to-face interviews with 5 leaders; and a review of archived organizational documents, including company memorandums, central email software, and online customer reviews through social media websites such as …

Strategies To Promote It Project Success, Gerald Scheuchner

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Many project managers and business leaders lack effective strategies to manage information technology (IT) projects, which may inhibit business leaders from successfully implementing IT changes. The purpose of this multiple case study was to explore strategies that IT leaders use to successfully implement IT projects. The target population consisted of IT leaders in IT organizations located in the Saint Louis Metro East area. The conceptual framework consisted of the general systems theory and the coordination theory. Data collection included organizational documents and semistructured interviews with 6 qualified participants. Data analysis included coding and thematic analysis, member checking, and methodological triangulation. …