Business Commons^™

Interlocking Directorates: How Interpersonal Relationships Build Corporate Boards, Matthew A. Forrester

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

In an inductive network analysis research design, this dissertation seeks to understand the influence of the interlocking directorate networks on the selection of directors. Its intent is to understand both what the individual and organizational factors are and how those factors influence selection. A practice-inspired method was developed heavily influenced by my two decades within the United States Intelligence Community to create a common network structure to define an individual director’s relationship to a board in a given year. Then using manual approaches, I developed the networks of directors that form interlocking directorates from that network structure. I analyzed these …

Building A Mentor-Mentee Maturity Model, Leroy A. Alexander

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

In an exploratory, qualitative, traditional dissertation, this study proposes a framework for mentoring within federal government contractor firms. It seeks to understand how government contract firms draw value from their mentorship experiences and which aspects of mentorship programs are more important for this market segment. Two key issues have been identified: (1) government contractor firms are applying incompatible mentorship frameworks; and (2) managers responsible for developing their organizations’ capabilities through the implementation of mentoring programs are unaware of the characteristics unique to work groups within their firms. Observance of a federal government contractor firm struggling to implement a mentorship program, …

Essays On Contributions In Social Knowledge-Sharing Platforms And Their Impact On Employee Performance And Job Mobility, Moe Esmaeili

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

In recent years, the interest of practitioners and managers in social networking applications and social knowledge-sharing has increased. While these platforms allow individuals to collaborate, form/maintain social ties, and share/receive knowledge and expertise, and share/receive knowledge/expertise, they also provide a unique collaborative environment for organizations, enabling leaders to promote communication and collaboration among employee silos, engage them with others, and promote corporate core values once adopted internally.

Despite increasing efforts by scholars to uncover the underlying factors that influence members' participation in such platforms, there is still a lack of understanding of the fundamental motivating factor for such contributions and …

Designation, Stagnation, And Representation: A Qualitative Exploration Of The Self-Perception Of Power Among Ncaa Division I Senior Woman Administrators, Tayler M. Onion

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Despite significant growth and advancement for women and girls participating in sports, we have not seen the same trend for women in leadership roles in athletics – even with the introduction of the Senior Woman Administrator (SWA) designation. The SWA designation was implemented in 1989 to ensure that at least one woman would be involved with the leadership of athletic departments following the NCAA’s takeover of the Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (AIAW) in 1981. Confusion and misperceptions have surrounded the role, and, as a result, impacted the women who serve in it. This study’s phenomenological design aimed to …

Using Online Reviews To Identify How Hotels Can Satisfy Travelers With Pets While Making Money, Sonia Weinhaus

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

A Qualitative Content Analysis of user generated content in the form of online reviews reveals an opportunity for hotels to better serve Travelers With Pets and collect partitioned fees. Examining more than 3,000 reviews of 92 hotels from five geographical regions of the United States identifies how to close the gap between what customers want and what hotels offer. This study derives the Minimum and Maximum Typologies of pet policy structures from the coding of online reviews. Travelers With Pets are willing to pay partitioned fees if the fee is viewed as fair. Improving saliency of pet fees is revenue …

Microbusinesses Practices During Disruptor Events: Perceptions, Adaptations, And Performance, Debra Lynn Frank

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

During COVID-19 closures, business owners and managers experienced a disruptor event that pushed them to find new ways to navigate their businesses practices. The purpose of this qualitative study was to learn how business owners and managers adapt their business models to survive disruptor events. The objective was identification of factors owners and managers of microbusinesses perceived as critical to avoiding closures, assessment of the effectiveness of the adaptations adopted during closures that enabled businesses to remain open, and analysis of the results of those adaptations. Owners and managers of businesses in the craft brewing industry were interviewed. The four …

An Enterprise Risk Management Framework To Design Pro-Ethical Ai Solutions, Quintin P. Mcgrath

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The effective use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) has immediate business benefits for an organization and its stakeholders through efficiency and quality gains, and the potential to explore and implement new business models. However, there are risks of unintended ethical consequences. Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) focuses on managing risk while maximizing business value from exploiting opportunities. Using applied ethics as a basis and the perspective that ethics includes both enabling human flourishing and not violating accepted norms, I argue that greater business value is achieved when an organization simultaneously targets the maximization of benefits and the minimization of harms for the …

Hidden Struggles Within The Mental Healthcare Workplace, Tammy V. Smith

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

For decades, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and World Health Organization (WHO) have reported on the worldwide pervasiveness and increasing societal costs associated with Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs). A recent post on the WHO website cited recent scientific research (2022) indicating the magnitude of harmful effects attributed to ACEs, even classifying them as “violence against children.” Esaki and Larkin (2013) indicate that ACEs are prevalent among many social service professionals, including mental health clinicians.

This study uses mental health clinicians as the sample population to identify the impact of ACEs on job performance. Findings from a volunteer …

How Airline Managers Assess Their Competitive Positions: A Case Study In Turkey, Huseyin O. Aldemir, Ferhan K. Sengur

Journal of Global Business Insights

This study focused on how airline managers perceive their competitive positions. Based on the perceptions of the airline managers, strengths-weaknesses-opportunities-threats (SWOT) analyses were carried out. All scheduled and unscheduled passenger carriers in Turkey were used as sample for this research. The data were acquired through qualitative research by semi-structured interviews with senior executives of the airlines. This research demonstrated how airline managers assess their competitive positions in the market. The similarities and differences related to each airlines’ strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats were put forward. Interviews among managers of the airline companies operating in Turkey revealed varied perceptions on business …

Measuring Environmental Responsible Behavior Through Experience Quality, Perceived Value, And Tourist Satisfaction From The Perspectives Of Tourists In Natural Sites, Anil Kumar, Suman Lata

Journal of Global Business Insights

This study aims to examine environmentally responsible behavior through experience quality, perceived value, and tourist satisfaction while explaining responsible behavior of tourists towards the environment in the natural sites of Madhya Pradesh, India. The theoretical framework proposed is based on literature. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was employed using partial least squares (PLS) 3.0 software to test the model fit and hypotheses. The data was collected using random sampling from 131 tourists at these natural sites who participated in the survey through a questionnaire. The analysis showed a good fit for the environmentally responsible behavior study model. The results suggested that …

Editorial: Academic Peer Reviewers – The Good, Bad, And The Ugly, Faizan Ali, Seden Dogan

Journal of Global Hospitality and Tourism

My academic research journey started a decade ago as a Ph.D. student at the Azman Hashim International School, University Technology Malaysia. Since then, I have authored over 150 peer-reviewed journal articles, conference papers, books, and book chapters. In addition to guest editing several special issues for academic journals, I also had an opportunity to serve as the Director of Research for numerous professional organizations. Furthermore, I have served in senior editorial positions for numerous well-established hospitality and services management journals for the last three years. All these roles involve sending out invitations to review the manuscripts. The usual scenario is …

Effects Of Nutrient Claims On Consumer Purchasing Of Snacks In White-Collar And Blue-Collar Working Environments, Cecily R. Martinez, Amy M. Bardwell, Julie R. Schumacher, Jennifer L. Barnes

Journal of Global Hospitality and Tourism

The objective of this study was to examine nutrient claims signage on the purchasing of snacks in corporate foodservice operations. The effectiveness of claims among foodservice operations serving primarily administrative roles (white-collar) were compared with those serving primarily manufacturing roles (blue-collar). An experimental study was conducted through the implementation of six nutrient claims evaluated by a group of registered dietitians. The snack items were conveniently placed near the cash register to “nudge” purchases, and sales of snacks before and after the implementation of claims were examined. Paired-samples t-tests indicated that after nutrient claims were implemented, sales of snacks increased …

The Economics Of Technology In Travel, Tourism, And Hospitality, Stanislav Ivanov

Journal of Global Hospitality and Tourism

The first is an academic viewpoint, written by Prof. Stanislav Ivanov from Varna University of Management. He suggests academic research accepts and pays more attention to the economics of technologies in travel, tourism, and hospitality. According to Ivanov, travel, tourism, and hospitality (TTH) are intrinsically connected to technology. At the same time, tourists book their flights and accommodation through technology, reach their destination with the help of technology, explore the destination with technology, and share their experiences online with technology. Economic principles, like any other business, run them. Economic factors also drive their decisions to invest in technology. That is …

Evidence Of Local Gastronomy In Rural Destinations: A Cross-European Study, Michael Vieregge

Journal of Global Hospitality and Tourism

In 2020, the Coronavirus pandemic led to domestic travel to rural destinations. Local gastronomy is key to tourists' expectations, perceptions, and images of rural destinations' authenticity. Empirical data supporting evidence of local gastronomy in rural communities are lacking. This archival research focused on n=549 Cittaslow and non-Cittaslow towns and cities in 19 European countries. Rural towns offer more local gastronomy than cities, and Cittaslow-certified towns more than non-Cittaslow. All rural towns should focus on expanding their local gastronomy, and Cittaslow cities even more so.

The Role Of Management Organizations And Local Governments In Destination Marketing: The Case Of Turkey Tourism Promotion And Development Agency (Tga), Murat Toktaş

Journal of Global Hospitality and Tourism

The second viewpoint is industry-focused and is authored by Mr. Murat Toktaş. He is the founder/president of KATID (Black Sea Tourist Operators Association), the founder/president of SKAL Karadeniz, and the founder/vice-president of TUROYD (Tourism Hotel Managers Association) and a member of the Board of Directors of TUROFED (Turkish Hoteliers Federation). In his viewpoint, he explains how destination management organizations (DMOs) work with local governments in Turkey. He suggested a successful destination marketing strategy for the Turkish Tourism Promotion and Development Agency (TGA). Collaboration between local and DMOs is essential for destinations to be adequately promoted and become a successful brands. …

Covid-19 And Hospitality Services: The Role Of Information Sources, Believability, Fear, And Behavioral Intentions, Shaniel Bernard, Imran Rahman, Sijun Liu, Luana Nanu

Journal of Global Hospitality and Tourism

Based on the Social Amplification of Risk Framework (SARF) and crisis decision theory, this study examined the influence of trust in different types of information sources on the believability of COVID-19 information (BCI). Furthermore, the influence of BCI on fearfulness and the corresponding influence of fearfulness on the intention to use hospitality services and stay at home are analyzed. Structural equations modeling, using data from 1,017 American consumers, successfully confirmed the significant influences of trust in media and government on BCI and the corresponding positive effect of BCI on fearfulness. Additionally, the negative effects of fearfulness on intentions to visit …

An Analysis Of International Soccer Fans’ Knowledge Of Qatar, Perceptions Of Qatar’S Country Image, And Intention To Support The 2022 Fifa World Cup, Taleb Al-Adbah

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

International sporting competitions have become an essential tool for countries to promote a favorable image of themselves around the world. This study focuses on the FIFA 2022 World Cup, which will be hosted by Qatar - the first Arab country ever to host the event. Since 2010, when Qatar was awarded the FIFA 2022 World Cup, several studies have shown that soccer fans are hesitant to attend matches in Qatar. This study investigates the correlations between soccer fans’ level of knowledge, soccer fans’ perception of Qatar using a 4D model of country image, and soccer fans’ behavioral intention to support …

The Need To Address Religious Diversity At Work: An All-Inclusive Model Of Spirituality At Work, Ivonne Valero Cázares

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This thesis discusses the importance of embracing religion and spirituality in the workplace as an aspect of workplace diversity. This document aims to help us understand the definition of spirituality at the workplace and its constituents.

We conducted a literature review from predominant scholars about the salience of spirituality and religion at the workplace and its relevance to building meaning, connectedness, and a sense of belonging. We will also review Maslow's theory of Human Needs, his research on human peak-experiences, and its correlation to self-actualization and transcendence.

We will present a new model of Spirituality and Religion at the workplace …

Creating A Short, Public-Domain Version Of The Cpai-2: Using An Algorithmic Approach To Develop Public-Domain Measures Of Indigenous Personality Traits, Mukhunth Raghavan

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

In this study we aimed to create a short, public-domain analogue of the Cross-Cultural (Chinese) Personality Assessment Inventory (CPAI-2; F. M. Cheung et al., 1996). Emic (culture-specific) traits measured by the CPAI-2 are purportedly specific to the Chinese culture and argued to not be fully captured by the consensus Big Five personality trait taxonomy. Research suggests that CPAI-2 traits may have unique predictive power, especially in non-Western contexts. However, research has been hampered by several limitations of the measure. The inventory is proprietary and long, with 341 items forming 28 scales and four factors. Cross-cultural personality research would benefit from …

Re-Architecting The Firm For Increased Value: How Business Models Are Adapting To The New Ai Environment, Gozde Turktarhan, David S. Aleong, Chandra Aleong

Journal of Global Business Insights

This paper is an examination of how technology, specifically artificial intelligence (AI), brings about changes in business models, with corresponding impacts on the fields of economics and business. Concepts such as value creation and competitive advantage have cascading effects on organizational culture and the functional framework of a firm. Data creation, management, and curation using media platforms enable enhanced scalability and logistics management such that the firm can be re-architected around a digital core. Organizational structure with functions such as marketing and human resource management are integral links in the automated value network anticipating and responding to customers’ needs while …

Many Flowers Make A Bouquet: A Recipe For Women Entrepreneurs In Smes, Karam Zaki, Hany Shared

Journal of Global Business Insights

Women’s participation and activation of their role in societies are central goals among the UN’s global aims. This research accomplished the following objectives: first, expands the existing knowledge of women’s intentions and their startup desirability for small projects; second, explores the perceived outcomes; and third, develops an action plan based on the current constraints women face when leading small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) projects. Data were collected from an online questionnaire of 433 entrepreneurs based in Saudi Arabia (26.3% university staff, 23.1% project starters, 22.9% bank loan holders, 16.2% university students, and 11.5% leaders). The partial least squares path modeling …

Incorrect Athlete, Incorrect Woman: Ioc Gender Regulations And The Boundaries Of Womanhood In Professional Sports, Sabeehah Ravat

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Professional sports are a cornerstone of mainstream capitalist society, a site where issuesof race, class, gender, nation, and religion amongst others are produced, contested, and negotiated. In particular, gender regulation policies serve to delineate the acceptable boundaries of racialised gender and create sanctioned opportunities to surveil transgressive bodies. In this thesis, I posit that professional sports rely on and protect uniformity of gender experience to regulate and exclude trans* and intersex participation and, furthermore, that gender regulation policies delineate the boundaries of gender and particularly womanhood in a way that further marginalises nonbinary athletes. Using critical discourse analysis, a methodology …

Regenerative Tourism Model: Challenges Of Adapting Concepts From Natural Science To Tourism Industry, Asif Hussain, Marie Haley

Journal of Sustainability and Resilience

The study proposes a regenerative tourism model. The application of the natural science ideas of regeneration needs to be clarified before the tourism industry can adopt a regenerative tourism model. Without such clarification, there is a high risk of ‘green washing’ and inappropriate adaption of a regenerative model. The borrowing of natural science to industry and its application in social sciences confuse the essence of the true concept of regeneration. In a regenerative agriculture context restoring a holistic system that mimics nature and includes social and economic spheres contributes to improving the whole system. When a social system aims to …

Tourism Observatories For Measuring The Covid-19 Impact On Tourism, Georgia Zouni Dr., Stavros Hatzimarinakis, Sotirios Varelas

Journal of Sustainability and Resilience

Coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19) began at the end of 2019 and since then has led to a period of global transformations and changes for all aspects of the economy, tourism included. A fundamental action to mitigate the socio-economic impacts of COVID-19 and accelerate recovery is the setup of local sustainable tourism observatories (UNWTO, 2020). This paper proposes a system theory-based framework for measuring the COVID-19 impact on tourism at regional and local level, using a mixed qualitative and quantitative methodology combined with the UNWTO and United Nations’s recommendations for COVID-19 Tourism Recovery.