Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

Business Commons

Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

2018

Liberty University

Discipline
Keyword
Publication
Publication Type

Articles 1 - 30 of 50

Full-Text Articles in Business

A Quantitative Examination Of The Relationship Between Leadership Style And Employee Job Satisfaction In Registered Nurses In The Pittsburgh Msa Region, Jeffrey Belsky Dec 2018

A Quantitative Examination Of The Relationship Between Leadership Style And Employee Job Satisfaction In Registered Nurses In The Pittsburgh Msa Region, Jeffrey Belsky

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Healthcare worker jobs, particularly in the nursing profession, are among the fastest growing occupations in the United States. However, the nursing field is overwhelmed with an aging workforce, low morale, ineffective leadership practices, employee dissatisfaction, and increased worker turnover. Healthcare organizations have witnessed an increase in employee job dissatisfaction amongst nurses, which ultimately has led to increased employment turnover among other negative consequences such as lack of organizational commitment, absenteeism, reduced patient care, and disgruntled employees. This quantitative, nonexperimental, correlational research examined the relationship between perceived Registered Nurse (RN) job satisfaction and leadership styles in the Pittsburgh Metropolitan Statistical Area …


A Quantitative Examination Of The Relationship Between Organizational Commitment, Work-Life Balance And Voluntary Turnover Intention Of Women Faculty In The Stem Disciplines Within The United States, Sherry Lynn Mathews Dec 2018

A Quantitative Examination Of The Relationship Between Organizational Commitment, Work-Life Balance And Voluntary Turnover Intention Of Women Faculty In The Stem Disciplines Within The United States, Sherry Lynn Mathews

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Higher education institutions in the United States experience high levels of faculty turnover (Klein & Takeda-Tinker, 2009). Colleges and universities have allowed the phenomenon of high turnover of faculty to become a cultural norm (Figueroa, 2015). Colleges and universities within the United States are specifically facing challenges retaining women faculty in the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) disciplines (Burnett, Bilen-Green, McGeorge, & Anicha, 2012; Carrigan, O’Leary, Riskin, Yen, & O’Donnell, 2017; Hill, Corbett, & St. Rose, 2010). In this quantitative, correlational study, the relationship of organizational commitment, work-life balance and voluntary turnover intention of women faculty in STEM disciplines …


Examining Emergent Systems Management Strategies In Overseas Operations, Kristofer Hawbaker Dec 2018

Examining Emergent Systems Management Strategies In Overseas Operations, Kristofer Hawbaker

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Stadler, Mayer, and Hautz (2015) believed that most global companies did not possess the right management capabilities to make overseas movement profitable. Businesses must manage a bevy of internal and external organizational and process interdependencies to achieve success globally (Dynes, 2008), and these organizational processes have become increasingly more complex and adaptive (Anderson, 1999; McKelvey, 2001; Stacey, 1992; Wheatley, 1999). Today’s business leaders still develop reductionist solutions to solve complex problems despite this type of thinking's practical limitations (Menkes, 2011). Comstock (2016) foresaw emergent management as a necessity in the current era, which requires organizations to unify around information flows …


Student Perceptions Of The Online Customer Experience: A Phenomenological Investigation Of The Behavioral And Experiential Factors That Influence Online Student Retention, William Delaney Dec 2018

Student Perceptions Of The Online Customer Experience: A Phenomenological Investigation Of The Behavioral And Experiential Factors That Influence Online Student Retention, William Delaney

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The acquisition of the accounts blended and online students experienced formed the foundation for this phenomenological investigation. Emanating from the foundation, the findings of the phenomenological investigation suggested both experiential and behavioral factors influenced the blended and online students’ customer experience. The phenomenological investigation concluded that the mechanics of the blended and online students’ customer, experience effected the blended and online students’ persistence to complete the online program.


The Relationship Between Organizational Commitment And Transformational And Transactional Leadership Styles In Government Contract Employees, Alethia Gardner Dec 2018

The Relationship Between Organizational Commitment And Transformational And Transactional Leadership Styles In Government Contract Employees, Alethia Gardner

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This study sought to determine if a relationship exists between leadership styles and organizational commitment in government contract employees. The psychological contract theory, expectancy theory, and transactional and transformational leadership theories framed the study purpose. The quantitative research method using the Pearson correlational statistical design was used to assess variable relationships. The Multifactor Leadership Questionnaire (MLQ) and the Three-Component Model (TCM) of Commitment were used to collect data from a sample of government contract employees. The results revealed weak but no statistically significant relationship between transformational and transactional leadership styles and organizational commitment. The study also found weak but no …


Faith-Based Organizational Values And International Business Transactions, David Ralph Pennington Dec 2018

Faith-Based Organizational Values And International Business Transactions, David Ralph Pennington

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The general business problem is conflicting values between faith-based businesses and hosting countries can adversely affect business performance. The problem may be the gap between business leaders and organizational values and host country values. The specific business problem is some faith-based business leaders lack strategies to mitigate incongruousness between the core values of their organizations and the contrary values of foreign cultures to effectively conduct international business. The purpose of this qualitative case study research is to explore what strategies biblically based business leaders use to mitigate incongruousness between the core values of their business and contrary values of foreign …


How The Introduction Of Streaming Has Changed The Financial Focal Points Of The Music Industry, Nathan Kiss Nov 2018

How The Introduction Of Streaming Has Changed The Financial Focal Points Of The Music Industry, Nathan Kiss

Senior Honors Theses

For this thesis, the gathered research will demonstrate how the introduction of music streaming has made a monumental impact on the music industry and the financial effect it has had on various aspects of the creation and distribution of recorded music. The areas of research will range from the music labels in charge of producing and providing the music to the streaming services in charge of distributing the music. Focus will be on how music streaming developed in the late 1990s and took the music media world by storm, devaluing and diluting the power of the physical music industry in …


Seeking Excellence: Improving Objectivity In Player Analysis In Professional Basketball, Nathan Cook Nov 2018

Seeking Excellence: Improving Objectivity In Player Analysis In Professional Basketball, Nathan Cook

Senior Honors Theses

This thesis details the creation and testing of an original statistical metric for analyzing individual basketball players in the National Basketball Association (NBA) by both their commonly measured statistics and their so-called “intangibles.” By using existing methods as both guides and a caution against potential shortcomings, an inclusive statistic with multiple layers of data can be built to best reflect an individual player’s overall value to his team. This metric will be adjusted to account for the differences across multiple eras of NBA play and the levels of talent with which a player played in order to avoid penalizing a …


Project Manager Confidence And Risk Awareness, Carol S. Davis Nov 2018

Project Manager Confidence And Risk Awareness, Carol S. Davis

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this quantitative study was to examine the relationship between project manager confidence and the ability to assess risk during the early planning stages for a new product development project in a business environment. The problem addressed was that a project manager’s confidence level may lead to insufficient risk awareness and contribute to project failure. The study was conducted among 257 project manager practitioners in the US. The study expanded on the research conducted by Fabricius and Büttgen (2015) which found that project manager overconfidence affects expectations of project success and plays a critical role in the inaccurate …


A Quantitative Examination Of The Relationship Between Project Management Training And Project Management Self-Efficacy Among Faculty/Staff In Higher Education, Alan W. Stanfield Nov 2018

A Quantitative Examination Of The Relationship Between Project Management Training And Project Management Self-Efficacy Among Faculty/Staff In Higher Education, Alan W. Stanfield

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Project management techniques are common within a number of construction related industries, however, higher education is not a field to which the practices of project management are routinely applied. Although multiple factors could lead to the lack of project management application in higher education, this study focused on faculty/staff self-efficacy and project work experience. The purpose was to determine if self-efficacy and project work experience contribute to the lack of project management techniques applied in higher education. The study was based upon Bandura’s theory of self-efficacy and how project work experience may affect faculty/staff venturing into applying project management techniques. …


Globalization And The Flattening Of The World: A Book Review Of “The World Is Flat”, Shannon L. Wade Oct 2018

Globalization And The Flattening Of The World: A Book Review Of “The World Is Flat”, Shannon L. Wade

The Kabod

There is no doubt the world is changing. In cultures, in politics, and in economies, increased awareness of foreign and domestic practices has become a focal point of society. Trade has always proven beneficial to a nation due to the laws of absolute and comparative advantage, but in the modern world, international relations go beyond the boundaries of exchanging products. Now, services and collaboration are added to that realm. In his book “The World is Flat,” Thomas Friedman pinpoints the history and future of globalization in economics. Highlighting how globalization has made the world “flat” by allowing fair competition between …


State Appropriations And Allocation Ratios To Predict Financial Condition At Public Higher Education Institutions, Cassandra Bennett Oct 2018

State Appropriations And Allocation Ratios To Predict Financial Condition At Public Higher Education Institutions, Cassandra Bennett

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The higher education industry has faced increased competition in recent years from new institutions and learning platforms entering the marketplace. Public higher education institutions, in particular, have been forced to develop strategic plans due to limited state funding in recent years. These colleges and universities face the challenge of allocating their limited financial resources in a manner that will optimize financial strength and ensure long-term sustainability. Institutions classify their operating expenses into several different functional expense categories, including instruction, academic support, student services and operations and maintenance of plant. This paper analyzed the relationship between changes in state appropriations, allocation …


Effects Of Mismanaged Condensed Project Life Cycles In The U.S. Consumer Ready Meat Industry, John E. Johnson Oct 2018

Effects Of Mismanaged Condensed Project Life Cycles In The U.S. Consumer Ready Meat Industry, John E. Johnson

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Projects have been undertaken by the United States (U.S.) consumer ready meat industry to advance strategic objectives and provide consumers with desired food products. The management of the projects’ industry life cycles was impacted by diverse consumer groups’ continual demands for new and varied products. The problem addressed was the inefficient management of projects’ costs, scopes, and deliverables because of the shortened projects’ life cycles for consumer ready processing lines in the U.S. meat industry. The purpose of this study was to explore the effects inefficient management of condensed project life cycles had on stakeholders and deliverables. This study used …


Community Bank Leaders' Perception On Maintaining Values In Decision Making, Jennifer H. Matheny Oct 2018

Community Bank Leaders' Perception On Maintaining Values In Decision Making, Jennifer H. Matheny

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This qualitative study explored community bank leaders’ perception of conflicts between their personal values and core corporate values when negotiating critical decisions. At this stage in the research, the negotiating of decisions were generally defined as resolving conflicts between personal and organizational values. Results provide an understanding of how values-based leadership affects executive level decisions in community banks. A purposeful sample of community bank leaders participated in qualitative interviews. These leaders were selected based on their responsibility to make decisions that influenced their corporate culture and/or had a significant impact on their company. Based on the study, there was a …


Business For The Glory Of God, Abigail Daniels Oct 2018

Business For The Glory Of God, Abigail Daniels

Senior Honors Theses

The grand narrative of the Bible could be broken into three distinct parts- Creation, Fall, and Redemption. The main focus of this paper will go through the distinct parts of Creation and the Fall, but the focus will be on Redemption specifically in the realm of work and how it relates to business marketing. In Creation, God created us in His image meaning we were gifted with the ability to create and to form relationships. We express God’s image through the dominion mandate, which is God’s command to us to be stewards of the earth through the act of work. …


The Effective Return Of Biblically Responsible Exchange Traded Funds, Stacie Rhodes Sep 2018

The Effective Return Of Biblically Responsible Exchange Traded Funds, Stacie Rhodes

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This dissertation research study was designed to contribute to the growing body of knowledge regarding the efficacy of a recently popular investment vehicle (ETFs; Ben-David et al., 2017) and the impact of values-based investment strategies on performance (Bidisha et al., 2017). Specifically, this research examined the risk-adjusted returns of biblically responsible ETFs, a subset of the larger category of socially responsible investment funds. The results of this study indicated there was no statistically significant difference between the intraday risk-adjusted return yields of the mid-cap and world large stock BRI ETFs and their respective benchmark indexes or the average intraday risk-adjusted …


A Quantitative Descriptive Case Study On The Alzheimer's Nonprofit Marketing Methods, Stephaine Buffaloe Sep 2018

A Quantitative Descriptive Case Study On The Alzheimer's Nonprofit Marketing Methods, Stephaine Buffaloe

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The problem to be addressed was the deficiency of financial support, as a result of dwindling effectiveness of fundraising using traditional methods needed to meet the Alzheimer’s Association goal of finding a treatment by 2025. The purpose of this quantitative descriptive case study was to examine the current traditional marketing approaches of fundraising for the Alzheimer’s nonprofits. The significance of the study was finding that the survey participants preferred the traditional approach to the nontraditional approach. An entertainment event was the most favored approach. The implication on organizational change was that age, gender, and past donations to religious organizations were …


Donor Stewardship And Repeat Giving, Faith Hoelscher Sep 2018

Donor Stewardship And Repeat Giving, Faith Hoelscher

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This quantitative correlational study evaluated the strength and direction of relationships between the dependent variables: major giving since September 1, 2009 and average elapsed time between major gifts in relation to the independent variables: number of stewardship activities, stewardship activities occurring within one-month of a major gift, and duration of major giving relationship. Using a multiple regression, a relationship was found between the independent and dependent variables. These results were then affirmed by Pearson r evaluations in an effort to reinforce the importance and significance of the independent variables in spite of the multicollinearity shown for the subset of stewardship …


How Might Servant Leadership Principles Impact Employee Turnover At A Solid Waste Management Firm?, Clifton Thacker Sep 2018

How Might Servant Leadership Principles Impact Employee Turnover At A Solid Waste Management Firm?, Clifton Thacker

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This study analyzed the impact servant leadership had on employee turnover at an SWM firm. Many authors were reviewed with literature pertaining to leadership, servant leadership, and SWM. Multiple interviews were conducted with current personnel at an SWM firm that utilizes servant leadership in order to gain a better understanding of the experiences of these employees. The results of the study indicate that servant leadership has a profoundly positive impact on employee satisfaction and, consequently, decreased turnover. The researcher developed many themes based on data analysis, which included culture, accountability, support, and commitment.


21st Century Desirable Leadership Characteristics For Professional Services Firms In North American Metropolises, Ralph Baeza Sep 2018

21st Century Desirable Leadership Characteristics For Professional Services Firms In North American Metropolises, Ralph Baeza

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Professional services firms (PSFs) in North American metropolises are facing challenges in doing business in a fast pace global society with environments which require them to cope with increasing size, complexity and conflict management, to shape and coordinate the right culture that meets their strategic goals, and creates sustainability with legacy. This requires to address retaining and developing leaders and emerging leaders, and pursue their commitment to a long and productive career, in their organizations. Thus, this case study is an exercise of depth that reflects the uniqueness in the lives of leaders in PSFs similar to the organization where …


An Examination Of Alternative Trading Techniques Using Intraday Eur/Usd Currency Prices, Brock Vaughters Sep 2018

An Examination Of Alternative Trading Techniques Using Intraday Eur/Usd Currency Prices, Brock Vaughters

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Global financial institutions provide a mechanism for multinational corporations to hedge against exchange rate risk via currency futures contracts and spot exchange rates. Currency managers working at these global financial institutions overseeing EUR/USD spot currency traders lack adequate data to determine if alternative trading tools could increase net gains for their respective firms. The purpose of this quantitative study is to examine the net gains from alternative trading techniques that can be utilized by currency managers working for international banks and hedge funds when trading the EUR/USD currency on an intraday basis. A buy and hold strategy, sell and hold …


An Exploration Into The Efficacy Of Christian Servant Leadership In Facilitating Organizational Change In The Automotive Aftermarket, Christopher Shadrick Sep 2018

An Exploration Into The Efficacy Of Christian Servant Leadership In Facilitating Organizational Change In The Automotive Aftermarket, Christopher Shadrick

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Changing market dynamics is threatening the viability of stores in the automotive aftermarket. To provide business leaders strategies with strategies to implement organizational change and address shrinking revenue, this phenomenological study explored the lived experiences and perspectives of 20 front line, retail store managers in the automotive aftermarket. The information gathered during the interview process was analyzed using Moustakas’ modified van Kaam method. In addition, the researcher used NVivo 12, a qualitative analytic software, to group, reduce, validate, and organize the data into themes. Six themes emerged that demonstrate the applicability of Christian servant leadership to the automotive aftermarket. These …


Sustainable Leadership And The Relationship To Profitability In U.S. Banking Institutions, Kendra Harvey Sep 2018

Sustainable Leadership And The Relationship To Profitability In U.S. Banking Institutions, Kendra Harvey

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This study examined if sustainable leadership in U.S. banking institutions had a statistical correlation to profitability between the period of 2008 and 2017. The problem addressed was the impact of sustainable leadership on the profitability of banking institutions in the U.S. was not known. The study was significant because of the increased amount of pressure within the financial sector to increase long-term stability while maintaining profitability. The research applied a quantitative correlational study to conduct the research. The study found there was no statistically significant correlation between net income or market value but did find a positive correlation for return …


Project Management And The Temporary Relocation Of The Decoupling Point: Hermeneutical Phenomenological Study, Christopher Hicks Jul 2018

Project Management And The Temporary Relocation Of The Decoupling Point: Hermeneutical Phenomenological Study, Christopher Hicks

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This study investigates, understands, and describes the value of engaging a project manager to support a customer-driven project that creates a random supply chain demand event. Specifically such an event would require the temporary re-positioning of the decoupling point between the supply push and demand pull within the supply chain. In response to the challenges of this type of event, this study will focus on two specific project manager roles. First, the project manager would act as an extension of a customer-driven project and serve as a conduit for the voice of the customer (VOC) into the supply chain. Secondly, …


An Analysis Of Fraud Prevention And Detection In Not-For-Profit Organizations In The State Of South Carolina, Mary Gibson Jul 2018

An Analysis Of Fraud Prevention And Detection In Not-For-Profit Organizations In The State Of South Carolina, Mary Gibson

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This study analyzed fraud detection and prevention techniques and analyzed if there was a relationship between the techniques and the detection of fraud. The combined techniques were fraud risk assessment, fraud risk register, code of conduct, fraud assessment training, whistle-blower policy, fraud control plan, fraud control policy, and internal control review. Nonprofits are vulnerable to fraud and costly for the organizations that rely heavily on donations to provide needed services or goods to a community. Through analyzing 109 nonprofits surveyed in South Carolina, the researcher found 59 reported fraud occurrences and 86 percent were using fraud detection and prevention techniques. …


Employee Perceptions Of Succession Planning Within Higher Education: A Qualitative Case Study, Matthew Swanson Jun 2018

Employee Perceptions Of Succession Planning Within Higher Education: A Qualitative Case Study, Matthew Swanson

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Higher education institutions provide programs and services in support of personal, professional, and community development. The positive impact of higher education is threatened by the imminent departures of experienced employees responsible for implementing institutional programs and services. Research suggests succession planning assists organizations in responding to the potential departures of experienced employees while successfully serving stakeholders, yet a majority of higher education institutions do not possess adequate succession planning programs. Employee perceptions are essential to developing and evaluating programs, however, there is currently a lack of available insight into employee perceptions pertaining to succession planning within the field of higher …


An Exploration Of Internal Controls And Their Impact On Employee Fraud In Small Businesses, Kent Lachney Jun 2018

An Exploration Of Internal Controls And Their Impact On Employee Fraud In Small Businesses, Kent Lachney

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative study was to gain greater understanding of the current practices of the internal control systems of small businesses and to explore the effectiveness of their systems in comparison with anti-fraud activities recommended by forensic accountants. The researcher selected five small businesses that were members of the Central Louisiana Regional Chamber of Commerce and had fewer than 100 employees. The researcher interviewed the owners and/or managers of the businesses, reviewed and analyzed company documentation, interpreted data, made observations, and offered recommendations. The researcher asked each participant to respond to questions related to the five elements of …


Goliath Sized Campaign: Promoting Leadership Principles To The Millennial Generation Utilizing A Guerrilla Design Campaign, Ryan Smith Jun 2018

Goliath Sized Campaign: Promoting Leadership Principles To The Millennial Generation Utilizing A Guerrilla Design Campaign, Ryan Smith

Masters Theses

We are nearing a critical juncture with the retirement of the Baby Boomer generation. The growing demand to replace this workforce with the millennial generation causes us to consider if millennials are up to the challenge. Although this next generation is tech-savvy, resourceful and innovative, many millennials have shared shortcomings including a sense of entitlement, demand for attention and praise and a poor work ethic. Lack of experience and no sense of direction, causes other generations to patiently wait to see what will come of millennials. But through strong leadership development there is hope. By instilling leadership characteristics and encouraging …


How To Make It As A Maker: Maximizing Customer Experience To Increase Brand Value In The Saturated Marketplace Of Paper Goods And Gifts, Hannah K. Lynch Jun 2018

How To Make It As A Maker: Maximizing Customer Experience To Increase Brand Value In The Saturated Marketplace Of Paper Goods And Gifts, Hannah K. Lynch

Masters Theses

The following thesis investigates the saturated conditions of the paper goods and gift industry, while addressing how the problem of competition discourages start-up brands. Targeted towards rising creative entrepreneurs with ambition to enter the marketplace, the thesis affirms opportunity for breakthrough created by the Maker Movement and identifies strategies for success through attention to customer experience. Based on the trending demand for experience, suggested strategies highlight the primary areas with opportunity for visual application, including brand, product, packaging, social media, and point of purchase. Scholarly research employs primary and secondary resources, along with case studies of successful brands in a …


Determining Theme Park Attraction Attributes: An Analysis Of Factors That Impact Theme Park Attraction Popularity And Success, Danica Dvorachek Jun 2018

Determining Theme Park Attraction Attributes: An Analysis Of Factors That Impact Theme Park Attraction Popularity And Success, Danica Dvorachek

Senior Honors Theses

Theme parks have some attractions that are more popular than others, referred to as main ticket attractions (MTA). The purpose of this thesis is to create a model which can successfully predict whether or not theme park attractions are considered MTA. Data from leading USA theme park attractions has been recorded and analyzed for this thesis. A neural network model has been created using Matlab that categorizes attractions with up to 85% accuracy. However, some of the inputs are considered unstable once run through SAS JMP. To create a comparative study, a decision tree has been created in Matlab with …