Business Commons^™

The Problem Child Of Defense: A Comprehensive Historical Analysis Of The Inherent Imbalances And Structural Contradictions That Have Plagued The United States Military Acquisitions System For Eighty Years, Shepherd E. Dollahon

Finance Undergraduate Honors Theses

This thesis examines the structural contradictions and systemic failures that have defined the United States defense acquisitions system across eight decades of reform. Beginning with the creation of the Department of Defense in 1947 and proceeding through the Hegseth-era reforms of 2025, this analysis traces the cyclical pattern by which each successive administration identified procurement dysfunction, issued legislative remedies, and declared progress — only to produce new failures while leaving the underlying pathologies intact.

The central argument is that the defense acquisitions system has never suffered primarily from mismanagement or insufficient oversight, but from a structurally embedded incentive architecture that …

Integrating People And Technology: Exploring The Validation Of The King And Hughes Hrd, Technology Ethics, And Leadership Scale, Hannah King

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

People and technologies have coexisted within organizations for centuries. In the wave of the fourth and fifth industrial revolutions, however, organizations must place an emphasis on ethically integrating new technologies, like artificial intelligence, alongside people in order to sustain a competitive advantage in the marketplace. A review of the literature identified a need for more research examining ethics in the use of technology by HRD professionals. The purpose of this descriptive research study was to assess the relationship between HRD activities, ethics, and technology and examine the influence that an organization’s code of ethics has on their integration. This study …

Popular Protest And Corporate Reputation: Exploring The Impact On Recruitment And Retention, Heather Miller

Dissertations

In today’s sociopolitical climate, popular protest has become a powerful force shaping how organizations are judged and how people decide where to work. This qualitative study took place during a period of heightened sociopolitical activity and public unrest in the United States, when organizational responses to contested issues were especially visible and consequential. This study explored how popular protest affects corporate reputation (CR) and, in turn, influences employee recruitment and retention. Drawing on stakeholder theory (ST), corporate social responsibility (CSR), and corporate social advocacy (CSA), the study situated popular protest as an external pressure that exposes alignment or misalignment in …

Workload As A Tipping Point: A Serial Mediation Model Examining The Roles Of Job Crafting And Workload On Work Engagement, Affective Commitment, And Turnover Intentions, Jessica E. Langston

Dissertations

Job crafting is one way in which employees can boost their performance and satisfaction, and organizations can reap the benefits of high performance. Job crafting refers to an employee’s ability to proactively redesign a job to foster their satisfaction, engagement, and resilience toward work (Wrzesniewski & Dutton, 2001). After twenty-five years of study, the positive impacts of job crafting are well-established (Bhagat & Arora, 2021; Bruning & Campion, 2018; Wong et al., 2017; Wrzesniewski & Dutton, 2001). Recently scholars have noted the potential downsides and have called for more research into the nuances of job crafting when explored through the …

The Perceived Cultural Intelligence Of Leadership And Its Impact On Employee Organizational Commitment And Workplace Well-Being, Melinda Bowens

Dissertations

In today’s continuously evolving workplace, the role of leadership has expanded beyond traditional management competencies to encompass the ability to recognize, navigate, and leverage cultural differences. This quantitative study examines the relationship among perceived leader cultural intelligence, employee workplace well-being, and organizational commitment. Recognizing that workplace well-being and organizational commitment are critical to the overall health and success of organizations, it is essential to gain a greater understanding of the factors that influence these constructs. Accordingly, this study collected from 410 participants to investigate the relationship between perceived cultural intelligence of leadership, employee organizational commitment, and workplace well-being. Employing a …

Generations At Work: Examining Differences In The Nonprofit Sector, Cory J. Bergeron

Dissertations

This non-experimental quantitative dissertation examined generational differences among non-management employees in the United States nonprofit sector, where multiple generational cohorts work side by side. The problem addressed is that nonprofit leaders’ limited understanding of how distinct generational experiences shape employees’ work-related attitudes and preferences can contribute to conflict, reduced engagement, and costly turnover in already resource-constrained organizations. Grounded in Mannheim’s generational theory and Becker’s human capital theory, the study conceptualized generational cohorts as groups whose shared formative experiences influence what they value in their work context and how those values translate into human capital that affects organizational outcomes.

Using a …

Flipping The Format: A Comparative Analysis Of Pedagogy’S Performance On Comprehension In Introductory Financial Accounting Education, Allison Drozd

Theses/Capstones/Creative Projects

Education is an ever-evolving field, and accounting education is no different. Introductory financial accounting is a required business course at universities that is characterized by high failure rates (Kealey et al., 2005). Evidence suggests that active learning and constructivist approaches improve comprehension of introductory financial accounting concepts as measured by exam performance. All methods studied produced statistically significant positive results on comprehension learning outcomes. Many professors' experiences support the studies' sentiment that active learning is important for teaching course concepts. The evidence reviewed in this thesis supports positive learning outcomes for comprehension of accounting concepts through active learning and constructivist …

Podcasting As A Marketing And Communication Modality: Exploring Its Impact On Potential New Members’ Satisfaction, Attitudes, And Decision-Making In Utc Sorority Recruitment, Britain Meyers

Honors Theses

This study explores podcasting as a marketing and communication modality within the context of sorority recruitment, specifically examining its impact on Potential New Members’ (PNMs) preparedness, satisfaction, attitudes, and decision-making. Centered around Scrappy’s Sorority Scoop, a four-episode podcast created by the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga 2025-2026 Panhellenic Council, this research investigates how podcast engagement influences the recruitment experience. Using qualitative interviews with eight participants who both joined a Panhellenic chapter and listened to the full podcast series prior to recruitment, the study identifies key themes related to the podcast’s effectiveness. Findings indicate that podcasting enhances PNMs’ understanding of the …

A Creative Climate Framework For Developing Leaders Who Can Navigate Complexity, Uncertainty, And Change Now And Over Time, Christa M. Heydt-Hernandez

Creativity and Change Leadership Graduate Student Master's Projects

As organizational environments grow increasingly volatile and complex, leaders face a widening gap in the skills hardest to cultivate in adults: creative thinking, systems thinking, and human-centered design thinking. Yet leadership development has prioritized culture over climate, overlooking a more direct lever for change. This project argues the gap is fundamentally developmental: the skills most demanded of today's leaders are best introduced across childhood, adolescence, and early adulthood—long before the workplace—through what the author terms the Long Game of Leadership Development. In response, this project introduces the Creativity Steward™ framework, a longitudinal model grounded in developmental psychology, creative climate research, …

Techno-Imagination: Elevating Creativity Through Xr And Ai, Christopher Spitzer

Creativity and Change Leadership Graduate Student Master's Projects

Techno-Imagination: Elevating Creativity Through XR and AI explores the history of creativity and computing technology, supported by research and academic literature, and looks at the possibilities of a convergence between the two. In parallel, a brief biographical story of the author shares how a passion for creativity emerged, along with a growing interest in science and technology—specifically extended reality—which ultimately came together in the creation of this master’s project. The project also highlights how the Creative Problem Solving (CPS) process was used alongside AI bots and twenty research-based creative thinking skills in developing the business model canvas. Finally, the outcome …

The Effects Of Private Equity Ownership Of Acute Care Hospitals On Patient Experience, Abigail M. Huffman

Theses and Dissertations

In 10 years, private-equity firms' share of hospitals has grown from 2-3% to 8%.  Using data from two sources: the Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCAHPS) patient surveys and the Private Equity Stakeholder Project (PESP), I demonstrate a causal effect of private-equity ownership on patient satisfaction using difference-in-difference methods.

A Fine Arts Program For No. 1 Chase Manhattan Plaza, Paul Richert-Garcia

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis reads Chase Manhattan's 1959 art program as a reconstitution of ornament. The spatial and affective work historically performed by murals, carved stone, and mosaic was now performed by collecting—contemporary art, ethnographic holdings, folk art—deployed by committee across a corporate modernist master plan stripped of the handcraft tradition.

A Behavior Analytic Blueprint For Rapport-Building: Investigating The Key Elements For Success, Nelmar Jacinto Cruz

Theses and Dissertations

Rapport can be defined as a positive relationship between people built through specific actions. Building rapport can benefit organizations by improving performance and increasing work satisfaction. Despite these benefits, research on rapport remains scarce. Curry et al. (2019) completed the most recent rapport study and found that rapport-building led to increased productivity and discretionary effort. The present study replicated and extended Curry et al. (2019) and addressed three limitations of their research: the lack of a control group, the large disparity in time spent with the experimenter, and the rigidity of their rapport conversation script. The study was completed in …

Creative Brief For Upkept, Angela Cheng

Marketing Undergraduate Honors Theses

The repair and alterations market is currently outdated and fragmented, despite the demand for repair services. Consumers are willing to spend money on repairs, but there isn’t currently a convenient solution that makes the process easy. Upkept is trying to change this market by offering a more modern, tech-enabled, online solution that makes garment repair simple and accessible. Instead of going to a tailor in person, the process is streamlined. The goal is to make clothing repair feel like an easy, everyday option rather than an expensive inconvenience. Helping consumers save time, be more sustainable, and get more value and …

Cultural Intelligence Recruitment: A Reflection Of Communication And Marketing At Wallace Myers International, Emily Salazar Coutino

Marketing Undergraduate Honors Theses

In an increasingly interconnected global economy, effective international talent acquisition hinges on the ability to navigate cultural diversity and communicate authentically across borders. This reflective thesis, anchored in a two-month internship at Wallace Myers International, a Dublin-based recruitment agency, examines how the cultural backgrounds of consultants and interns from Germany, France, Italy, Hong Kong, and the U.S. influence workplace communication, employer branding, and recruitment marketing. Drawing on Hofstede’s Cultural Dimensions Theory and Inglehart’s Theory of Cultural Transformation, the study analyzes observed communication dynamics among a diverse multinational team and their impact on candidate engagement and client relations. It explores the …

Make Fashion Circular: Extending Brand Loyalty By Extending The Life Of Garments, Madelyn Schillinger

Marketing Undergraduate Honors Theses

This research targets the fashion industry and its journey towards sustainability and circularity, specifically through the rise of clothing resale. It discusses the environmental impact of the overall fashion industry, as well as how secondhand shopping can offset the production of new items. This research also compares third party marketplaces with private, brand-operated resale platforms, exploring how each one benefits both the environment and consumers. Each resale model provides variety in user experiences, profits, and sustainability outcomes. These findings reveal that peer-to-peer platforms have helped normalize secondhand shopping, but brand resale initiatives have a greater control over sustainability and customer …

Creative Brief For Upkept, Ashley A. Wheeler

Marketing Undergraduate Honors Theses

My thesis is a creative brief and pitch for the client Upkept along with an appendix. Upkept is a tech-enabled, affordable, sustainable, online repair and alterations service. The current market for the repair and alterations industry is fragmented and outdated. Consumers want a different solution like Upkept. Our goal was to help Upkept build trust, awareness, increase accessibility, and make repair feel easy, like an everyday option rather than an expensive inconvenience. Our three deliverables for the brand were partnerships with the university and influencers, in-person touchpoints, and expanded drop-off locations and lockers.

Shopper Marketing Thesis For Upkept, Chesney Cox

Marketing Undergraduate Honors Theses

This shopper marketing brand thesis focuses on Upkept, an online tailoring and alterations company based in Rogers, Arkansas. Using research gathered through in-depth interviews, empathy maps and user personas are created to better understand customer motivations, behaviors, and perceptions surrounding clothing repair. Based on these insights, three strategic deliverables, partnerships, in-person touchpoints, and expanded services, are designed to increase brand awareness and encourage a shift in target market attitudes toward clothing repair as a valuable, accessible, and sustainable solution.

Not Just A Drink: The Cultural Evolution Of A Beverage Turned Lifestyle And Its Adaption To Spain, Ava Axtell

Marketing Undergraduate Honors Theses

This research explores the rise of dirty soda in the United States and how a simple customizable beverage evolved into a cultural ritual shaped by social media, treat culture, and the lifestyle norms of the LDS community. It analyzes the cultural meaning behind Swig’s popularity, including how influencers and online aesthetics transformed the drink into a status symbol and daily indulgence. This study also compares U.S. and Spanish cultural values, including individualism, indulgence, and social rituals, to determine how Swig must adapt its product, branding, and store model for successful expansion into Spain. Findings reveal that while dirty soda thrives …

Artificial Intelligence In Video Production, Jonathan Ringor

Theses

This project examines the role of artificial intelligence in video advertisement production and explores whether AI can help bridge the gap between everyday users and professional advertising. The project combined both creative production and audience research. To do this, three original AI-generated advertisements were created in distinct commercial formats: a pharmaceutical advertisement, a petcentered narrative commercial, and a lifestyle montage advertisement. After the advertisements were completed, audience response was measured through a survey of U.S.-based participants. Participants evaluated each advertisement on realism, emotional engagement, trustworthiness, polish, and authenticity. The results showed that the advertisements were not perceived equally. The pet …

The Dynamics Of Trust: Exploring The Unique Antecedents Of Firm Versus Executive Level Trust, Hameeda Sharifi

Executive DBA Dissertations

No abstract provided.

The Impact Of Change In The Legal Definition Of Confidentiality On The Redaction Behavior Of U.S. Firms, Alexey Alferov

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

U.S. public companies may redact information from material contracts in SEC filings as long as such information is not considered to be material by the SEC and when it is the type of information that the registrant treats as private and confidential. In 2021, the SEC revised redaction regulations in response to the expansion of the legal definition of ‘confidential’ by the Supreme Court of the United States. In this paper I examine whether these changes, referred to as FMI Amendments, impact companies’ decision to redact information from their material contracts filed with the SEC. In addition, I extend Thompson …

"Forward Together, Not One Step Back": Southern Women, Joy, And The Revitalization Of A Movement, Katelyn Holly Johnson

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This study seeks to illuminate the ways that working women across the Southern United States organize labor within their communities both in and outside of the traditional union space. Due to the repressive nature of labor policy across the Southern US, this study focuses on how both unions and non-union organizations in the South generate feelings of collective identity and sustain solidarity. This study explores one central question: How do women in unions and worker-organizations in the South build solidarity and sustain collective action under restrictive labor conditions. Early findings reveal that working women in the South navigate multiple barriers …

Unlocking Innovation: The Impact Of Psychological Safety, Organizational Structure, And Rigidity On The Pursuit Of Innovation Within The Firm, Robert Kyle Rudd

Theses and Dissertations

Innovation is often a competitive advantage generator, growth, and organizational success. However, there is relatively little empirical literature that describes how organizations may be designed such that employees also feel significant freedom to innovate. This dissertation investigates the role of psychological safety and organizational design conditions, perceived organizational structure and perceived organizational rigidity as joint predictors of perceived freedom to innovate (PFTI) of employees.

The quantitative, cross-sectional survey design was used to gather data of 425 full-time U.S.-based employees who were recruited through CloudResearch. Respondents undertook validated scales of psychological safety, perceived organizational structure, perceived organizational rigidity and perceived freedom …

Unpacking American Reception Of Glocalized Non-English Content In The Netflix Era, Sur Govindarajan

Dissertations

The swift growth of streaming services has revolutionized the worldwide distribution of media, making it possible for non-English and non-English-adjacent content to reach American consumers on a never-before-seen scale, which is sometimes perceived as an indication of increasing cultural tolerance. However, while a lot is known about what audiences see, far less is known about how they really understand and assess these stories. There is a fundamental vacuum in our understanding of audience reception as a lived, meaning-making process because previous research has mostly focused on consumption patterns. In order to close that gap, this study examines how American audiences …

Self-Efficacy Through The Use Of Ai-Video Simulations And Video Feedback (Goreact) For Medical Interpreting Training, Ricardo Tienda-Pérez

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

In today’s diverse and modern healthcare systems, medical interpreters play a critical role in clinical safety and quality care. However, a pedagogical gap exists between classroom vocabulary mastery and the self-advocacy skills required in real-world clinical settings. This research evaluates the impact of AI-generated video simulations and GoReact’s time-coded feedback on the self-efficacy and self-advocacy of student interpreters enrolled in the Spanish Medical Interpreting Training course (SPAN 4081) at Utah State University’s Logan campus – as part of the Spanish Medical Interpretation & Translation certificate program during the Spring 2026 semester. By utilizing a mixed-methods research design, this study collected …

A Phenomenological Study: Examining Organizational Change Initiatives Within The U.S. Army To Influence Racial Climate, Reginald Gerald Dash Ii

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This research study was aimed at examining organizational change initiatives influencing the racial climate among African American soldiers in the United States (U.S.) Army. African Americans comprise a significant portion of the U.S. Army. However, African Americans’ significant contributions do not readily translate into “equal treatment”, which includes proportional representation at the highest levels of leadership. African Americans in the U.S. Army face career navigation challenges rooted in systemic racial division. The goal of this qualitative phenomenological study was to add African American soldiers’ voices to the existing literature by interviewing African American soldiers with at least five years of …

The Effects Of Ai Adoption On Digital Entrepreneurial Intention: A Meta-Analysis, Xandra Precious Okori

Theses and Dissertations

AI adoption and its widespread use have sparked debates about the future of work, job displacement, and the evolving entrepreneurial landscape. While AI is often seen as a threat to traditional employment, research shows that this emerging technology is more likely to change task structures rather than eliminate entire occupations or industries. This shows that there are new entrepreneurial opportunities, particularly digital, that potential entrepreneurs can venture into. This thesis uses a meta-analytic approach to study the relationship between AI adoption and digital entrepreneurial intention, addressing inconsistencies in current research.

Following PRISMA guidelines, a comprehensive search was conducted across Web …

The Application Of Natural Language Processing Towards Auditing Of Unstructured Data: A Design Science Approach, Dennis K. Amoatey

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Financial auditors must manually review large volumes of unstructured text that may include contracts, internal policies, footnotes, and journal entry descriptions. This time-intensive process introduces risk of human error and inconsistency. Despite advances in automation, no systematic approach exists for applying Natural Language Processing (NLP) to this problem at scale. Using a design science approach, this study develops a framework that demonstrates how NLP techniques can be incorporated across key phases in the audit process, including planning, internal controls evaluation, evidence gathering, and reporting. Initial evaluation through expert feedback had a mix of responses. While some argued difficulty with data …

Rainbow Row: Tourism, Color, And The Making Of A Civic Icon, 1930s – 1960s, Samantha E. Threlkeld

All Theses

This thesis investigates the emergence of Rainbow Row in Charleston, South Carolina, as a civic and tourism icon through an integrated analysis of visual culture, preservation governance, and material evidence. While Rainbow Row has become one of the most recognizable images of Charleston’s historic district, the chronology and cultural mechanisms through which its colorful façades were produced, interpreted, and disseminated have remained largely unstudied. This study addresses the primary research question: How Rainbow Row’s painted façades were leveraged in marketing and tourism narratives between the 1930s and the 1960s, and what those representations reveal about the construction of Charleston’s civic …