Business Commons^™

The Cost Of Strength: Navigating Systemic Racism And The Strong Black Woman Stereotype In The Workplace, Krystle M. Davis

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

This research defined and explored the lived experiences of Black women in leadership and the role of systemic racism on the performance of the strong Black woman stereotype in the workplace. Grounded in Black feminist thought, epistemology, and phenomenology, this qualitative study seeks to deepen understanding the lived experiences of Black women. This manuscript-style dissertation comprises two studies: Study 1 consisted of nine participants who contributed through Sista Circle focus groups and Study 2 consisted of fourteen participants who engaged in semi-structured interviews to defined and examined their workplace experiences. Situated at the intersection of race and gender, this research …

Systems Statistical Engineering – Hierarchical Fuzzy Constraint Propagation, Hengameh Fakhravar

Engineering Management & Systems Engineering Theses & Dissertations

Driven by the growing need in the 21st century for integrating rigorous statistical analysis into engineering research, there is a movement to develop an integrated statistical engineering science within statistics and quality communities (Hoerl & Snee, 2010; Anderson-Cook et al., 2012). Systems Statistical Engineering research seeks to integrate the Causal Bayesian hierarchical modeling (Pearl, 2009) and cybernetic control theory within Beer’s Viable System Model (1972, 1979, 1985) and the Complex Systems Governance framework (Keating, 2014; Keating & Katina, 2015, 2016) to produce multivariate systemic models for robust dynamic systems mission performance. Cotter & Quigley (2018) set forth the Bayesian systemic …

An Empirical Analysis Of The Pitch Clock On Major League Baseball, David Langton Jr

All Theses

The pitch clock was instituted in baseball to speed up the pace of play and make the game more watchable. While it has achieved this effect, it may have affected other areas of the sport, like the balance between offense and defense and pitching injuries. This analysis explores the results of a difference-in-difference regression comparing MLB and AAA 2015-2024 seasons. Overall, it finds that pitching statistics were not significantly affected, including elbow injuries. This includes games, ERA, and times a batter is hit by a pitch. In fact, the number of home runs and walks both went down significantly by …

Invisible Algorithms, Visible Outcomes: Roles Of Emotional Labor And Work Gamification In Gigs, Yali Zhang, Liaoliao Li, Xiaoyu Ma, Jun Sun, Yifei Dong, Zhaojun Yang

Information Systems Faculty Publications

As algorithm governance becomes increasingly crucial in gig economy ecosystems, understanding the behavioral impact of algorithmic transparency remains a key research gap. Using the stimulus-organism-response framework and uncertainty management theory, this study examines how platform algorithmic transparency affects gig workers’ in-role and extra-role service behaviors, with emotional labor acting as a mediator and work gamification as a moderator. Analyzing survey data from 325 ride-hailing drivers using partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM), the findings reveal that greater algorithmic transparency enhances both in-role and extra-role behaviors. Emotional labor mediates this relationship: deep acting strengthens both behaviors, while surface acting primarily …

The Impact Of Cultural Dimensions And Quality Of Life On Smartphone Addiction And Employee Performance: The Moderating Role Of Quality Of Life, Khaled A. Alshare, Murad Moqbel, Mohammad I. Merhi, Valerie Bertelt, Maliha Alam

Information Systems Faculty Publications

Smartphones, while ubiquitous and beneficial, can lead to problematic use. This study investigates the intricate interplay between cultural dimensions, smartphone addiction, and employee performance. Through the lens of distraction theory, attachment Theory, coping theory combined with Hofstede's cultural dimensions, and self-regulation theory and quality of life, we examine how collectivism, individualism, uncertainty avoidance, and masculinity cultural dimensions influence smartphone addiction and its subsequent effect on employee performance. The findings, based on data collected from 233 employees at a major medical center in the Midwest region of the USA and employing structural equation modeling, reveal a significant cultural influence on smartphone …

Rooted In Roses: The Blossoming Legacy Of Tyler's Floral Economy, Manuel Reyes-Loya, Cecilia Cuellar

Hibbs Brief

This brief examines Tyler, Texas's rose industry and its impact on the local economy and culture. Once the “Rose Capital of America,” Tyler transitioned from large-scale rose production to a focus on processing, distribution, and community traditions like festivals. The rose industry has played a key role in regional employment, economic growth, and maintaining Tyler's cultural identity.

The Eu Ai Act’S Impact On Artificial Intelligence Applications In Financial Services, David K. Krause, Eric Krause

Management Faculty Research and Publications

This paper examines the significant implications of the European Union’s Artificial Intelligence Act (EU AI Act) for US and other non-EU financial technology firms involved in developing or deploying AI systems within the EU. The Act’s risk-based classification and stringent compliance obligations present considerable regulatory and operational hurdles for AI applications in crucial financial services like credit scoring and algorithmic trading. The analysis details how requirements for conformity assessments, data governance, human oversight, and auditability impact these applications. Furthermore, the paper evaluates the contrasting regulatory philosophies of the EU and the US, offering strategic recommendations for firms and policymakers navigating …

Hospitality In Crisis: Evaluating The Downside Risks And Market Sensitivity Of Hospitality Reits, Davinder K. Malhotra, Raymond Poteau

School of Business Faculty Papers

This study evaluates the risk-adjusted performance of Hospitality REITs using multi-factor asset pricing models and downside risk measures with the aim of assessing their diversification potential and crisis sensitivity. Unlike prior studies that examine REITs in aggregate, this study isolates Hospitality REITs to explore their unique cyclical and macroeconomic sensitivities. This study looks at the risk-adjusted performance of Hospitality Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) in relation to more general REIT indexes and the S&P 500 Index. The study reveals that monthly returns of Hospitality REITs increasingly move in tandem with the stock markets during financial crises, which reduces their historical …

Fostering Economic Advancement Through Tourism Development In Dangriga, Belize, Ella S. Baker

Economics Undergraduate Honors Theses

This paper discusses the relationship between economic development and the development of the tourism industry, based on a two-month project in Dangriga, Belize, which existed through collaboration of four University of Arkansas students, local community members and business owners, and organizational partners. This project explored sustainable tourism with the goal of benefiting the community's continued economic advancement.

Signals Of Trust: How Privacy Disclosures And Public Responses Drive User Behavior In Digital Markets, Jose Pius Nedumkallel

All Dissertations

This dissertation examines how data privacy practices and complaint response strategies influence user behavior and market outcomes in digital marketplaces. The first study analyzes the impact of Google Play’s Data Safety Label, launched in April 2022 to standardize data collection, third-party sharing, and security disclosures. Grounded in signaling and prospect theories, the label is treated as a compound signal users interpret holistically. A difference-in-differences analysis of 23,877 top Android apps over two years shows that disclosures increase user app adoption. Internal data collection boosts adoption, while third-party sharing reduces it, reflecting behavioral loss aversion. Security disclosures moderate these effects by …

Autonomous, Yet Anchored: Exploring The Interplay Of Self-Reliance And Personal Spirituality On Employee Outcomes, Alexander Schad

All Dissertations

The modern workplace increasingly requires employees to function autonomously while managing limited psychological resources, presenting a tension between the benefits of self-reliance and its potential costs to well-being. This dissertation examined how self-reliance simultaneously influences task persistence and emotional exhaustion, and explores whether personal spirituality moderates these relationships. Drawing on the Strength Model of Self-Control (SMSC), I develop and test a theoretical framework investigating the relationships between self-reliance, work overload, task persistence, emotional exhaustion, and workplace spirituality.

Through a time-lagged field study with 453 working professionals across three measurement waves, I found that self-reliance positively predicted task persistence, supporting the …

Staff Matters: Adding Background Checks And Drug Testing To The Hiring Process, Jodi Schafer Sphr, Shrm-Scp

The Journal of the Michigan Dental Association

This article advises dental practices on legally and carefully implementing pre-employment background checks and drug testing. It emphasizes ensuring non-discriminatory practices by consistently applying policies and clearly defining screening criteria. Practices must obtain written applicant authorization and provide notification of Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) rights before conducting checks. When evaluating results, relevance to the job and timing of convictions should be considered, avoiding blanket bans. For drug testing, transparency is key. Given Michigan's recreational marijuana legality, a positive THC test does not automatically indicate impairment, requiring practices to define their approach. Using a reputable third-party provider for both screenings …

Mda Insurance: How Offering Great Benefits Makes Your Practice Attractive To Employees, Craig Start Mba

The Journal of the Michigan Dental Association

This article highlights the critical role of employee benefits in attracting and retaining staff in dental practices, particularly given the low unemployment rates for hygienists and assistants. Beyond competitive pay and flexible hours, a robust benefit package, including both employer-paid and voluntary options, is increasingly vital. The MDA Health Plan offers flexible group health insurance options for members. Voluntary benefits such as vision, life, disability, accident, critical illness, and hospital indemnity insurance are attractive, with Section 125 (cafeteria) plans allowing pre-tax premium payments and offering payroll tax reductions for employers. These benefits provide essential financial security and enhance overall compensation.

Mda Services: Endorsed Programs News

The Journal of the Michigan Dental Association

Throughh MDA Services, the Michigan Dental Association (MDA) has announced several endorsed programs aimed at supporting dental practices across Michigan: Compass Dental Gas Service is now endorsed by the MDA for its expertise in installing, maintaining, and repairing dental gas systems. Members benefit from exclusive discounts and safety compliance support. MEDVA Virtual Staffing offers HIPAA-compliant, human virtual assistants to handle administrative tasks remotely. This service helps reduce labor costs and allows in-office staff to focus on patient care. MDA Health Plan sponsors are reminded to submit overdue eligibility verification documents, which are essential for compliance and 2026 renewal preparations. DBS …

Regulatory Tension In Highly Structured Organizations, David Elliott Sr.

All Dissertations

This study examines the psychological mechanisms by which employees with a pronounced propensity for risk-taking navigate highly formalized organizational environments. Utilizing a longitudinal, three-wave cross-sectional design with temporal separation, the research surveyed 220 employees with psychometrically validated instruments to assess personality traits, role conflict, and organizational identification. Anchored in an integrative framework that combines regulatory focus theory (Higgins, 1997) and identity theory (Burke & Stets, 2009), the study hypothesized that self-verification striving and a growth mindset mediate the relationships between risk-seeking tendencies and the outcomes of role conflict and organizational identification, with organizational structure serving as a moderating variable. Structural …

Constructing A State: Canals And The Transformation Of The Economy, Politics, And Finance In Nineteenth-Century New York, Youwei Xing

All Dissertations

This dissertation consists of three essays in economic history, unified by a focus on one of America's earliest transportation infrastructures, the canal system, in nineteenth-century New York. Each chapter explores a different aspect of the state's transformation: its economy, politics, and finance, each of which helped construct New York as the Empire State.

The first chapter studies the economic impact of canals on economic modernization from three aspects: sectoral transition, urbanization, and banking development. Contrary to much of the modern literature finds transportation infrastructure leads to decentralization, I find the opposite-evidence of centralization. Specially: (1) canal towns experienced a transition …

Gender And Entrepreneurial Success: Examining The Relationships Among Risk Aversion, Loss Aversion, Risk Propensity, And Venture Performance, Kara Mcalister

All Dissertations

Gender disparities in entrepreneurship persist despite increased participation by women entrepreneurs. Traditional research has attributed these disparities to gender differences in risk-taking behavior, with women entrepreneurs typically characterized as more risk-averse. However, recent evidence suggests this oversimplifies a complex phenomenon and may reinforce harmful stereotypes. This study examined the relationships among risk aversion, loss aversion, risk propensity, and venture performance for male and female entrepreneurs, while considering moderating effects of industry gender-type and previous experience.

A quantitative cross-sectional design was employed with 157 entrepreneurs (93 female, 64 male) recruited from entrepreneurial organizations. Risk aversion was measured using the Domain-Specific Risk-Taking …

Beyond The Individual: A Dyadic Mixed-Methods Study Of Work–Life Balance In Entrepreneurial Households., Juliana Binhote

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Entrepreneurs operate at the intersection of work and family systems; yet, their experiences with work–life balance (WLB) remain underexplored—particularly in relational contexts. While existing research highlights the psychological demands of entrepreneurship, it often overlooks how family dynamics shape entrepreneurs’ experiences of balance, conflict, and boundary management. Guided by boundary theory, conservation of resources theory, and the goal attainment balance model, this dissertation investigates the question: How do entrepreneurs experience and make sense of their work-life balance? To answer this question, I designed a dyadic exploratory mixed-methods study. In Study 1, I conducted in-depth interviews with family business entrepreneurs and their …

College Students And Wearable Health Technology: A Study On Digital Health Literacy, Gavin Wright

Undergraduate Honors Thesis Collection

The market for wearable devices has seen significant growth in the last decade and is only expected to increase as the world enters a new age of health literacy known as digital health literacy. Digital health literacy, or eHealth literacy, is defined as “the ability to seek, find, understand, and appraise health information from electronic sources and apply the knowledge gained to addressing or solving a health problem.” The issue with this new age is that most consumers have access, but lack the ability to apply the knowledge that they must improve their health. The goal of this study is …

Loyal By Nature: How Uncertainty Avoidance Shapes Dispositional Brand Loyalty, Khondoker Sayeed Hossain

Theses and Dissertations

Loyal consumers are prized assets for brands, as even minor improvements in customer retention can lead to significant increases in company profits. Most research has examined brand loyalty as a brand-specific concept and explored what brands can do to develop loyal consumers, overlooking the role of individual-level psychological and cultural factors.

This dissertation aims to address this gap by examining brand loyalty as a personality disposition and investigating its relationship with cultural values. Drawing on the extensive body of research linking culture to consumer judgments and decisions, the central hypothesis proposes that cultural values, particularly uncertainty avoidance, systematically influence individuals' …

A Monte Carlo Analysis Of Cost Competitiveness Of Chinese And U.S. Fine Chemical Exports To Europe Under Europe’S Energy Crisis, Lin Luo

Dissertations

The European energy crisis, driven by geopolitical conflicts, has created a significant supply-demand gap in Europe’s fine chemical sector, necessitating reliance on imports from the United States and China. This quantitative study examined how energy, labor, and logistics costs interacted to shape the cost competitiveness of U.S. and Chinese fine chemical exports to Europe, using a Monte Carlo simulation parameterized with historical data from 2015-2023, to provide a probabilistic forecast of competitive outcomes. The findings revealed that while China holds a 76.55% probability of being the lower-cost supplier, its advantage is characterized by high volatility primarily due to its logistics …

Firm Disclosures And Retail Investor Behavior: The Role Of Information Type, Disagreement, And Social Networks, Hansol Yoon

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This paper examines whether disclosure characteristics–specifically hard versus soft information–influence disagreement among retail investors, whether due to differences in information sets or interpretation, and how such disagreement subsequently affects trading volume. Using a sample of 85,050 earnings conference calls and StockTwits disagreement data from 2010 to 2021, I find that hard information (i.e., earnings figures) is negatively associated with investor disagreement, while soft information (i.e., forward-looking statements) is positively associated with it. Further analysis reveals that the disclosure characteristics impact trading activity only indirectly, through their influence on investor disagreement. Additionally, I examine the moderating role of social network centrality, …

Evidence On The Quality Of Segment Profit/Loss Disclosures And Its Determinants, Hiba A. Abu Sammour

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Investors have recently indicated that disclosed descriptions of segment profit/loss measures are useful, but insufficient. Clear and detailed descriptions are essential for helping investors understand the segment profit/loss measure employed, especially since these measures may not align with measures from the consolidated income statement under the “management approach.” To better understand investors’ concerns, I hand-collect data from segment profit/loss disclosures and develop a measure that captures a dimension of disclosure quality specific to this setting: the extent to which segment profit/loss disclosures effectively describe the segment profit/loss measure employed. The measure considers the level of detail provided and the ease …

Between Two Worlds: A Case Study Of Third Culture Identity And Reentry For Unl International Students, John S. Tessalee

Department of Agricultural Leadership, Education, and Communication: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Third Culture Kids (TCKs) and international students share many commonalities, such as their globalized nature, adaptability, and the adoption of cultural components from their host country versus their home country. However, they contain enough differences to be considered separate groups. Traditionally, people need to be immersed in a culture different from their parents’ culture between the ages of 0 and 18 to be considered a TCK, whereas international students are typically between 18 and 24 years old by the time they attend universities overseas. The cultural absorption of TCKs in their formative years is usually greater than that of international …

Expectations In Instructional Design: A Comparison Of Hampton Roads Industry Requirements And Old Dominion University’S Curriculum, Haley Aguilar

STEMPS Master's Level Projects and Papers

This master’s thesis aims to analyze the alignment between Old Dominion University’s Instructional Design and Technology program curriculum and employer expectations for instructional designers in the Hampton Roads region. The study examined job listings from 50 positions and curriculum content from 22 courses across six skill categories: technical skills, design and development competencies, communication and facilitation skills, analysis and assessment skills, project management capabilities, and specialized skills. The findings contribute to understanding the challenges of preparing instructional design graduates for workforce entry.

Where Intangibles Travel: Essays On The Tax-Motivated Geography Of Innovation And Capital, Xuerui Kou

Dissertations and Doctoral Documents, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2023–

This dissertation explores how taxation and institutional environments shape the global strategies of United States multinational enterprises (MNEs), with a particular focus on intangible assets and the cross-border allocation of innovation. Positioned at the intersection of international trade, public economics, and innovation studies, the three chapters collectively examine firm responses to international tax incentives and regulatory asymmetries.

Chapter 1 introduces the motivation and theoretical foundations of the dissertation, reviews related literature, and outlines the core research questions and empirical strategies. It highlights the increasing policy and academic interest in the geographic mobility of intangible capital, particularly in the context of …

Three Essays On Entrepreneurial Orientation And Competitive Repertoire, Gang Fan

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

While scholars confirm the positive relationship between entrepreneurial orientation (EO) and firm performance with meta-analyses, the mixed findings with widespread effect sizes imply that this critical relationship in entrepreneurship literature deserves further inspection. In this three-essay dissertation, I integrate the entrepreneurial orientation literature with the competitive repertoire literature. Specifically, in essay 1, I develop a theoretical framework of EO, competitive repertoire, and firm performance through the lens of capability theory. In the second essay, I examine the moderating role of competitive pressure on the EO-competitive repertoire relationship with a sample of all U.S.-listed firms. Finally, I articulate and examine how …

Birth Outcomes In The Hispanic Population In The United States: Trends, Variation, And Determinants (2011–2021), Yanchao Yang

Business Analytics Faculty Publications

Background: Cesarean section (C-section) is the most common surgical procedure in the United States, yet its use varies widely across regions and institutions. Although clinical risk factors are central to delivery decisions, geographic context, health system capacity, and local practice patterns may also influence C-section use. Understanding both the determinants and predictability of C-section delivery is important for improving obstetric quality and equity.

Objective: This study aims to document geographic variation in C-section use across the United States, identify maternal and county-level factors associated with C-section delivery, and evaluate the predictive performance of machine learning models across clinically defined risk …

The Effects Of The Chief Information Officer’S Presence And Tenure On Financial Performance, Xuemei Li

Theses and Dissertations in Business Administration

CIOs should be at the core of the organization. They play more and more critical roles in organizations. However, CIOs have not been paid enough attention in many firms. This can be partially observed in a lack of studies about CIOs, for instance, how CIOs influence the organizations, and how organizations' settings influence the CIOs. Technical initiatives or innovations may be the bridge between CIOs and firm performance. Different theories have been employed concerning CIOs, innovations, and firm performance. For instance, the resource-based view (RBV) has served as a theoretical foundation in related studies.

Drawing on RBV, attention-based view (ABV), …

Exploring The Mediating Role Of Individual Performance In The Relationship Between Work-Life Balance And Attrition, Grace O. Leasure

Research Psychology Theses

Extensive research has established a relationship between work-life balance and employee attrition. However, limited attention has been given to the potential mediating role of individual performance within this dynamic. The present study aims to address this gap by examining whether individual performance mediates the relationship between work-life balance and attrition. It is hypothesized that higher work-life balance will be associated with lower attrition rates, partially explained by improved individual performance. Data will be collected via employee surveys and analyzed using mediation analysis. Anticipated results may provide organizations with a quantifiable, performance-based justification for investing in work-life balance initiatives.