Business Commons^™

A Phenomenological Study Of Flourishing In Mid-Career Professionals, Sohyun Lee

Theses and Dissertations

Prior research shows that mid-career professionals experience more negative emotions such as regret, confusion, disappointment, frustration and anger than positive feelings. Yet, many mid-career professionals are flourishing in their careers and not experiencing such negativity. The purpose of this qualitative, phenomenological study was to explore the lived experiences of five professionals who self-identify as flourishing in mid-career. This study also addressed the literature gap concerning mid-career professionals who are flourishing. Prior studies did not utilize the up-to-date model of flourishing and specifically, Seligman's well-being theory and its PERMA-H (positive emotions, engagement, positive relationships, meaning, achievement, and positive physical health) model, …

Understanding Gender Roles In The Workplace: A Qualitative Research Study, Andrea Michel

Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative study explored female leaders' experiences with gender norms, implicit bias and microaggressions that they have experienced over the course of their careers. Research questions explored what gender norms exist, how they show up behaviorally in the workplace, and how gender norms, implicit bias and microaggressions impact women. 12 women participated in the study and were asked 12 interview questions. Participants' answers to these questions were coded to highlight themes. Themes were identified as communication diplomacy, leadership style, family commitments, physical appearance, and pink roles for data analysis. Key themes were summarized, and key research findings were discussed. Key …

Assessing The Impacts Of Work-Related Applications Of Improvisation Training On Psychological Safety In Teams, Marne Maykowskyj Nordean

Theses and Dissertations

This paper discusses improvisational training (IMPT) and psychological safety and seeks to find if the former impacts the latter. For this study, improvisation has four main tenets: ensemble / co-creating, 'yes, and' / accept and heighten, authenticity / celebrating failure, and listening and communication skills. Psychological safety is defined as the shared belief held by members of a team that the team is safe for interpersonal risk-taking and a sense of confidence that the team will not embarrass, reject or punish someone for speaking up. This confidence stems from mutual respect and trust among team members. It is described as …

Re-Thinking Risk Management Of Auction House Guarantees And Third-Party Irrevocable Bids, Nathan Krasnick

MA Theses

This paper addresses the question of how deviations between expected and actual art auction results impact the auction guarantees made within an artist’s market and among multiple artists, and whether those impacts can be identified and quantified. To do so, I use a theoretical pricing model based on datasets of historical auction records going back to the earliest available date for a specific artist but no further than 2010. I find that, in comparing the model’s expected and actual results to empirical price deviations at auction, we can identify and quantify the impact of those deviations on guarantees.

The Art Of Marketing Luxury, Aiho Tan

MA Theses

Luxury businesses face the paradoxical challenge of growing a business whilst upholding an aura of exclusivity. The objective of this thesis is to examine the key marketing strategies employed by leading luxury brands ranging from fine art to real estate. This paper examines whether luxury brands need to embrace digital innovation and technology in order to remain leaders of luxury. First-hand insight from industry leaders and case studies reveal that luxury brands need to embrace digital, utilize the power of experiential marketing strategies, invest in creative talent, strategically partner and collaborate with brands and individuals, and craft an authentic narrative …

The Old Masters Market And The Salvator Mundi: What Did It Do, What Can Be Done?, Mary Sullivan

MA Theses

On 3 November 2017, within the Post-War & Contemporary Evening Sale at Christie's auction in New York, nestled between a Vija Celmins and Jean-Michel Basquiat, was a painting attributed to Leonardo da Vinci, the Salvator Mundi (1490-1500.) The work quadrupled the estimated sale price of 100 million USD, hammering at 400 million (for a total of 450.3 million with buyer’s premium.) This work, setting the record for the most expensive work of art ever sold, at auction or private, creates a curious case for the Old Masters category. What appears to be a shrinking, potentially dwindling category of art, now …

Penjanaan Ekonomi Masjid Menerusi Aktiviti Perniagaan: Kajian Di Masjid-Masjid Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur, Adnan Amru Alhaz

Student Works (2020-2029)

Hubungan di antara masjid dan ekonomi amat berkait rapat mengambil kira sebahagian fungsi asalnya sebagai pusat perkembangan ekonomi masyarakat Islam. Namun begitu kebergantungan institusi masjid kepada sumber pendapatan tradisi mengakibatkan institusi masjid tidak mampu melaksanakan fungsinya secara menyeluruh. Oleh yang demikian, penjanaan ekonomi masjid menerusi aktiviti perniagaan merupakan alternatif terbaik dalam memastikan kelestarian sumber pendapatannya. Justeru kajian ini bertujuan untuk menganalisis sumber pendapatan, aktiviti serta faktor kejayaan perniagaan masjid-masjid kariah di Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur (WPKL). Dalam kajian ini, data-data penyata kewangan tahunan rasmi selama tiga tahun (2014-2016) bagi dua belas buah masjid yang mewakili enam buah pusat pentadbiran zon …

Feminism And Message Alignment Within Girl Scout Camps, Emily Susan Hinrichsen

Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations

There has been a recent move in the United States for individuals and organizations toactively empower girls and women, provide them with equal opportunities, and help them build confidence. One organization that has been pursuing these goals is Girl Scouts of the USA (GSUSA), and Girl Scout camp is a specific setting in which the organization communicates empowerment, leadership, and inclusion to its members. This study utilized a feminist lens to explore message alignment within GSUSA, focusing on Girl Scout campers and Girl Scout camp staff as two important stakeholders who receive messaging from the organization. The researcher evaluated the …

Understanding And Measuring Net Positive Business Strategies, Luke Ruffner Robinson

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

Despite their attempts to mitigate ecological impacts through sustainability initiatives, businesses are a major cause of the world's ecological problems. Some progressive businesses are attempting to move beyond “net zero” in terms of achieving neutral environmental impacts and instead are now pursuing a goal of net positive. Net positive refers to the idea that business activities could contribute value-added benefits to earth’s ecological systems, for example, by using technologies that sequester and store carbon. However, except for a handful of high-profile corporate case studies, little is known about how companies are developing their strategies to become net positive and …

Business Leader Strategies That Fulfill Corporate Social Responsibility, Franklyn Abraham

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Ineffective corporate social responsibility (CSR) strategies harm the organizational brand, reputation, and financial growth. Business leaders who lack strategies to achieve CSR initiatives risk the profitability of their organizations. Grounded in stakeholder theory, the purpose of this qualitative multiple case study was to explore CSR strategies leaders of small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) use to sustain profitability. Four SME leaders who implemented successful CSR strategies and improved profitability in Maryland and Virginia participated in semistructured interviews. Other data collected were company profit and loss statements. A thematic analysis was used to analyze the data. The 3 primary themes that …

Public Service Employee Perceptions Of Leadership Behaviors That Engage Or Disengage, Beverlyn A. Banks

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

A high percentage of U.S. employees do not engage in their work, resulting in lower productivity. U.S. corporations are losing more than $400–$500 billion per year because of low productivity at work. This phenomenological study involved an examination of leadership behaviors that engage or disengage employees in public service organizations. Kahn’s conceptual frame of engagement and Maslow’s hierarchy of needs motivation theory guided this study. The purpose was to determine why disengagement behavior continues despite extensive literature on the benefits of engagement and what organizations can do to encourage leadership behaviors that engage employees and discourage leadership behaviors that disengage …

Workplace Incivility Of Female Managers On Self-Confidence, Self-Awareness, And Self-Esteem Of Female Workers, Dwan L. Bryant

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Workplace incivility has been a focus of scholars since 1999 and a rising phenomenon among women within various organizations. Women represent more than half of the workforce in the United States, indicating that it is very likely that a woman will have a woman manager and/or employee at some time during her work experience. Researchers have demonstrated that women workers are very likely to experience workplace incivility during their work life more than men. Researchers have not yet established how workplace incivility impacts the female workers self-confidence, self-esteem and self-awareness when perpetrated by their female manager. The purpose of this …

Aviation Maintenance Technician Decision-Making, Dominic Hemingway

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Aircraft accidents caused by human decision-making errors cause property loss and fatalities on a global scale in the aviation industry. Aviation repair technician decision-making perceptions influence aviation safety. The purpose of transcendental phenomenological study was to explore the lived experiences of aviation repair technicians related to decision-making perceptions regarding aviation safety. The central research question and sub-question focused on the lived experiences of repair technicians’ decision-making perceptions. The naturalistic decision-making framework, decision theories, and decision-making models comprised the lens to assess the impact of aviation maintenance technician decision-making perceptions in aviation safety. Data were collected using semistructured interviews with 12 …

Strategies To Implement Organizational Changes In Middle East And North Africa, Ilham Hiyari

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Organizational change initiatives often fail in the implementation phase resulting in decreased productivity affecting the net profitability of the organization. Grounded in Kotter’s 8-step change model, the purpose of this qualitative multiple case study was to explore strategies used by business leaders to implement organizational change initiatives successfully. A purposeful sample of 10 business leaders from 2 organizations located in the region of the Middle East and North Africa participated in the study. Data were collected from semistructured interviews and secondary sources including strategic business plan presentations, change tracking tools, meeting minutes, financial statements, and archival records. Data were analyzed …

Successful Balanced Scorecard Implementation Strategies For A Manufacturing Organization, Timothy J. Zorek

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Up to 90% of businesses fail to execute their business strategies. Still, the effective implementation of a performance measurement system like the balanced scorecard (BSC) often leads to the implement a more successful execution of a business strategy. The purpose of this qualitative single case study sought to explore the successful strategies used by business leaders to implement a BSC effectively. Change theory was the conceptual framework for the study. Participants consisted of 3 business leaders of a manufacturing organization in Southeast Wisconsin, who successfully implemented the balanced scorecard within their business. Data were collected from face-to-face, semistructured interviews, and …

Communication Of Fiduciary Risk For Workplace Retirement Plans, George Blount

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

More than 100 new 401(k) plan complaints were filed between 2016-2017, the highest two-year total since 2008-2009. Plan sponsors of retirement plans face personal financial liability for the risks associated with litigation focusing on their fiduciary responsibility. Grounded in the behavioral governance framework, the purpose of this qualitative case study was to explore the communication of risk for workplace retirement plans. The participants comprised 10 business leaders who are fiduciaries responsible for their company’s retirement plan with a national geographic footprint. Data were collected from semistructured interviews. Thematic analysis was used to analyze the data. Themes of benchmarking, the efficacy …

Corporate Social Responsibility And Organizational Performance Of Oil Companies In Southern Nigeria, Powei Martin Daubry

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

In this study, the relationship between corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities and organizational performance (OP) of international oil companies (IOCs) operating within the Niger Delta Region of Nigeria was investigated. Grounded on the stakeholder theory, the problem being investigated involved the extent to which dimensions of CSR in terms of centrality, visibility, and voluntary contributions impact measures of OP (relational capital and employees’ commitment) specifically within the oil industry in Nigeria. Data for the study were obtained through a quantitative survey instrument from a sample of a population of individuals (N=270) living in host communities who are impacted by IOC …

Modern Costing Strategies For Improved Profitability In Small- And Medium-Sized Businesses, Jennifer Kelly Demoras

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Small- and medium-sized enterprise (SME) accounting managers use little to no modern costing strategies which can negatively impact profitability. Advances in technology, innovations in product design, and increases in globalization mean SMEs could benefit from modernizing their internal costing systems. This study is important to SME accounting managers because of offering new information and practical methods that SMEs might use for improved profitability. Grounded in the contingency theory of management accounting, the purpose of this qualitative multiple case study was to explore the modern costing strategies SME accounting managers used to improve profitability. Seven SME owners, CFOs, and administrators who …

Comparison Of Diagnosis And Hospital Referral Rates Between Physician And Non-Physician Practitioners, Joshua Alan Fisher

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Physician extenders as support in healthcare facilities has been increasing in the United States and has the potential to help in currently under served communities. This study evaluated the quality of care provided by physician extenders through the examination of average diagnosis and referral rates that may inform healthcare leaders and policymakers in future decisions. The literature review pointed to a gap in the research related to the quality of care based on patient diagnosis and referral rates by physicians and physician extenders. The conclusions were based on a quantitative analysis of secondary data from the National Ambulatory Medical Care …

Afterschool Program Directors’ Leadership Challenges In Developing Community Partnerships For Program Sustainability, Dr. Kartina Doretha Jackson-Roberts

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

In 2019, researchers reported that 80% of afterschool program directors in high poverty neighborhoods felt insecure about program sustainability. Afterschool program staff serving marginalized populations are also failing to build collaborative community partnerships to offset restricted funding due to inadequate professional training. The purpose of this qualitative narrative inquiry study was to gain a deeper understanding of afterschool program directors’ narratives of daily experiences with leadership challenges in building community partnerships aimed at program sustainability in low-resource communities. This study was framed by 3 concepts focused on afterschool leaders building school–community partnerships: Bourdieu’s concept of social capital, Nocon’s concept of …

An Exploration Of Women Experiences In Leadership Positions Within African Immigrant Churches In The United States, Abraham Simon Obodai Wentum

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Little research has been conducted to understand the experiences of the women in leadership positions in the African immigrant church in the United States. The purpose of the study was to explore the experiences of women in leadership positions in African immigrant churches in the United States to inform efforts toward enhancing representation of women in church leadership. The study used an interpretative phenomenological analysis research approach, guided by Bass and Riggio’s transformational leadership theory. Data were collected through face-to-face interviews with 12 women in leadership positions in African immigrant churches. Thematic analysis was used to analyze data. Women leaders …

Strategies To Retain Employees Within An Organization, Chawana Anderson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Some organizational leaders are unable to retain talented employees, which results in productivity loss and increased costs associated with employee recruitment and training. The purpose of this qualitative single case study was to explore the strategies leaders of an oil and gas organization use to retain employees. The participants comprised 5 leaders located in Houston, Texas, with successful experience in implementing strategies to retain employees. The conceptual frameworks for this study were Argyris and Schon’s organizational learning theory and Herzberg, Mausner, and Snyderman’s 2-factor theory. Data were collected through semistructured interviews and archival company documents. Yin’s 5-step analysis guided the …

Relationship Between Csr Reporting, Csr Indices, And Financial Performance Of Hardware And Software Organizations, Cesar Castellanos

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Organizational leaders around the world spend millions of dollars on ineffective corporate social responsibility (CSR) programs and CSR reporting strategies. Understanding the relationship between CSR reporting, CSR indices (CSRi), and financial performance is necessary to minimize unnecessary expenditures among organizational leaders. The purpose of this quantitative correlational study, grounded in Frederick’s CSR theory and Freeman’s stakeholder theory, was to examine the relationship between CSR reporting, CSRi, and financial performance of hardware and software organizations. Data were collected from the Security Exchange Commission and the official websites of 25 hardware and software organizations that were part of Fortune 500 between the …

Healthcare Organizational Design Strategies To Improve Performance, Katherine Madonna Chubbs

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Business leaders are exploring ways to improve organizational performance through organizational design, including reviewing the structures of their organization. Grounded in McKinsey’s 7S framework, the purpose of this qualitative single case study was to explore organizational design strategies healthcare leaders used to improve organization performance. Participants were 6 leaders within a healthcare organization in Alberta, Canada, who successfully developed and implemented organizational design strategies to improve organizational performance. The data collection techniques included a review of internal and external documents, a reflective journal, and semistructured interviews. I used methodological triangulation and thematic analysis to complete the data analysis. The data …

Corporate Trainers’ Intent To Adjust Training Programs For Fostering Employee Self-Efficacy, Peter Cronrath

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

To stay current on technology trends, trainers are tasked with providing cost-effective training to meet the needs of the organization. It is not known if to develop employee self-efficacy, organizational trainers should consider making changes to their programs in accordance with (a) generational needs of employees, (b) methodology of training, and (c) position levels of employees in an organization. The purpose of this quantitative cross-sectional correlational study was to determine whether there is a correlation between organizational training professionals’ intent to make changes to training programs and if self-efficacy development is considered in generationally different individuals at different position levels …

Probation And Parole Officers’ Experiences Addressing Criminogenic Needs Of Adult Felony Offenders, Maria L. Stephenson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Probation and parole officers (PPOs) deviate from evidence-based practices implemented to reduce recidivism among adult felony offenders. PPOs fail to adhere to risk-need assessment results during case management, but prior research has not established the reasons for this deviation. This qualitative phenomenological study explored the lived experiences of PPOs implementing the risk needs responsivity (RNR) model by addressing the criminogenic needs of adult felony offenders. The theoretical framework for this study was based on Lipsky’s street-level bureaucracy theory, Becker’s labeling theory, and Andrews and Bonta’s RNR theory. This study involved in-depth, individual, semistructured interviews with 6 participants. The data were …

Development Strategies For Privately Owned Fashion Boutiques, Tommy White Jr

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Abstract

Many privately owned brick-and-mortar fashion boutiques in the United States fail to succeed beyond the first 5 years of business. The knowledge of the factors responsible for the decline in the survival rate of traditional or brick-and-mortar fashion boutiques may be essential to these entrepreneurs’ survival. Grounded in the general systems theory, the purpose of this qualitative multiple case study was to explore strategies used by successful brick-and-mortar fashion boutique owners to negate the threat of online retailers. Data were collected through interviews with 5 brick-and-mortar fashion boutique owners, who operated businesses in the southeast region of the United …

Leadership Strategies And Millennial Organizational Commitment, Louis Wilford

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Managing millennial employees may present challenges to managers as the workforce demographics shifts to a population of employees who have management needs that differ from previous generations. Managers who struggle with retaining millennial employees may experience business failure. Grounded in the transformational leadership theory, the purpose of this qualitative single case study was to explore the strategies managers in the financial management industry use to harness the creativity and commitment of millennial employees to increase organizational profitability. Two financial management industry managers who successfully retained talented millennials to improve profitability were interviewed; organizational documents were a secondary data source. A …

Strategies To Create Value Through Innovative Business Models For Community Energy, Abhijeet Acharya

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The low-carbon-energy transition from the sociotechnical perspective involves citizen engagement at a grassroots level to develop renewable energy systems. Leaders of community energy cooperatives (CECs) who do not use business models driven by innovative ecosystems and new ventures miss opportunities to create value. Grounded in the theoretical triangulation of sustainable entrepreneurship and the quadruple helix innovative model, the purpose of this qualitative multiple case study was to explore strategies that community energy business leaders employ to create value through business models driven by innovative ecosystem and new ventures. The participants included leaders from 6 community energy companies in the United …

Strategies To Reduce Voluntary Employee Turnover, Patricia M. Alexander

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

High voluntary turnover negatively impacts an organization's profits, resulting in high expenses for businesses. The findings contribute to practical ways for small business leaders to maintain long-term employees, minimize operational costs, and enhance local economic stability. Grounded in the concept of transformational leadership theory, the purpose of this qualitative multiple case study was to explore the strategies small business leaders use to reduce voluntary employee turnover. The participants comprised 5 private industry leaders in the state of Virginia, who were successful in reducing voluntary employee turnover. Data collected through semistructured face-to-face interviews and analysis of company documents. Based on Yin's …