Business Commons^™

Silence In The Business World, Andrew Nedeljkovic

Honors Projects

This is a research-based paper focused on the uses of silence in business. Silence in this context refers to practices like meditation and mindfulness, rather than silencing the voices of underrepresented groups. This paper looks at the benefits that silence can have for American businesspeople and their firms. It compares the understanding of silence in the United States to the understanding of silence in other cultures.

A Uniquely Jesuit Approach To Engagement Through Social Media, Karl F. Kozlowski, Shawn M. O'Rourke

Jesuit Higher Education: A Journal

Social media is a relevant and powerful instrument of communication in higher education, especially in the college age population. The use of social media in and out of the classroom on the college campus allows faculty to meet students where they are. Content shared by faculty on social media is a means to continue to educate our students and alumni outside of the classroom and build relationships regardless of geographic boundaries. Through the use of social media platforms, we can also continue to relay and demonstrate our Jesuit ideals. This engagement can help build a relationship between faculty and students …

Learning From Experience: Sasah Communications Intern And Osborne Holdings Intern, Andrew Fullerton

SASAH 4th Year Capstone and Other Projects: Publications

I certainly learned about communications as a communications intern, and I certainly learned about copywriting as an intern copywriter at Osborne Holdings. However, what resonates the most with me a year after completing my experiential learning credits are not job-focused skills. Instead, what resonates the most with me are the things I learned about responsibility, valuing my skillset, and leadership.

As an intern with SASAH, I learned that communication is not just a skill; it is a responsibility. I learned this as I ran the SASAH Instagram page through a school year that was cut short because of the COVID-19 …

Communication Is Key To Success, Quality Improvement Center For Workforce Development

QIC-Tips

Research on organizational communication describes a connection between poor communication, negative attitudes towards the workplace, and decreased worker satisfaction. Conversely, in an environment where communication is valued by management, staff can be encouraged to participate in practice and policy change. Too often new initiatives are announced and then fade away. Clear lines of communication, involving varying levels of staff and using a variety of methods, are key to gaining staff buy-in and keeping workers informed of initiative progress.

The Quality Improvement Center for Workforce Development (QIC-WD) is working with eight jurisdictions to develop and test promising workforce interventions. Effective communication …

Communicating With Muted Groups: The Case Of Human Trafficking, Amy Matzke-Fawcett

Communication & Theatre Arts Theses

The problem of human trafficking is global, affecting men and women, adults, and children, with exploitation of various forms including (but not limited to) sex work, hospitality and entertainment, labor, agriculture, soldiering, forced begging and organ removal. While it has been the focus of movies, news articles, documentaries, legislation and research, the discussion of the communication surrounding human trafficking is still in the formative stages. What is the messaging about human trafficking in legislation, both historically and in the present day, and how did news and popular media help to frame the discourse around trafficking in the United States? Using …

The Importance Of Strategic Communication For Building Employee Resource Groups In Aviation, Lynnette Darnell

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

In this qualitative case study, the research explores the importance of strategic communication for building employee resource groups in aviation, specifically at a regional airline. To expand and develop knowledge regarding employee resource groups, the researcher looks at a widely distributed workforce to understand how the lack of strategically planned communication can impact employee resource group development and employee engagement. The data were collected through semi-structured interviews and a focus group of the employee resource group members, which provided insight on their experience engaging with the employee resource groups, preferred communication methods and tools, and their perception of leadership involvement. …

A Qualitative Case Study Examining Leader-To-Employee Engagement Techniques Within Selected Nonprofits, Isaiah Scott Stanford

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This study sought to obtain a more in-depth understanding of leader-to-employee engagement. To obtain this deeper understanding, a qualitative case study was conducted utilizing a semi-structured interview process. Interviews were carried out with leaders working for selected nonprofit organizations. Throughout the interview process, information was gathered to contribute to the current body of knowledge regarding leader-to-employee engagement. Leaders in the study felt strong commitment, open communication, employee empowerment, and honesty were techniques needed to develop leader-to-employee engagement. Participants noted they were more successful when engaging with their employees if they integrated these techniques. Leaders also identified the major challenges they …

"Airbnb Go Home:" Tourism Frictions And Short-Term Rentals In New Orleans, Madeline R. Fussell

LSU Master's Theses

This thesis examines the concerns and conflicts around short-term rental (STR) properties in New Orleans neighborhoods. Using data from collected from critical discourse analysis, semi-structured interviews and social media posts, this paper analyzes the ways the city of New Orleans, residents of the city, STR hosts, and platforms like Airbnb discuss issues of safety, displacement, rising costs of living, as well as responsible STR practices. To understand the complexities of the issues people, have with short-term rental properties, this project approaches STRs from a housing and gentrification lens to understand the role these properties play within in the daily atmospheres …

You're On Mute - How The Shift From In-Person To Virtual Board Meetings Impacts Board Governance And Communication In Nonprofit Associations, Theresa Hurley

Master's Projects and Capstones

Because of the Covid19 pandemic meeting restrictions that started in March 2020, almost all nonprofit boards had to move to virtual board meetings. Through a literature review, expert interviews and a survey of nonprofit association Executive Directors, Chief Executive Officers and board members, this capstone explores the impact of the shift from in-person to virtual board meetings on board governance and board communication and dynamics for nonprofit associations. Some findings were positive - virtual meetings are more cost-effective, are better attended and more convenient and efficient than in-person meetings. Other findings were negative - multiple communication challenges inherent in the …

La Communication Au Service De La Promotion Touristique De La Ville D’Agadir, Fatiha Makach

Dirassat

There are two spaces in every touristic city real space related to real and everyday life rlated to local people and an imaginary space relatedto the idea the advertising is giving to the distination, the picture that we make about a place befor we visit it , Agadir as a touristic destination is presented in guides in the way that the only attractive thing is the sea and the sun , in this article we present differents guides which describes Agadir,

Agadir is not weel presented in those ways of communication many efforts has to be done, we need to …

The Effect Of Cross-Functional Integration On Organizational Performance: A Look At Collaboration, Coordination, And Communication, Loraine A. Jackson

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Cross-functional integration (CFI) in organizations involves a sequence of integrated tasks and activities across multiple departments and units. Modern organizations are hierarchical and have separated functional departments. This may lead to limited reciprocal communication and poor coordination. Work is often divided, categorized, and poses a challenge for CFI personnel to be practical. This challenge continues as technology and organizational structures change.

This study is to investigate the effect of CFI on organization performance. The study also looked at CFI from a triadic level of analysis, a broader perspective involving several functional units and processes within the organization. Specifically, this study …

Priming In Leadership: Applying Communication Theory To The Speeches Of Ronald Reagan, Katherine Sakai

Senior Honors Theses

The study of priming gained traction in the 1990s when researchers such as John Bargh demonstrated the nonconscious activation of ideas, often through repeated related words or activated schema. Since then, researchers have studied the effects of priming on self-view, achievement, and teamwork. While the concept of priming has just recently begun to be applied to leadership in the workplace, no research has yet been done in finding examples of priming theory in the speeches of well-known leaders. In this study, Ronald Reagan’s persuasive tactics were analyzed and found to use similar methods of repetition and schema used in priming …

Communication, Collaboration, And Trust Within Virtual Teams, Courtney E. Boyd

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Virtual teams have gained much popularity within in the past 20 years, and the impacts of COVID-19 have only increased their popularity and usage within organizations. Virtual teams provide an organization to be adaptable, cut costs, and increase their knowledge base; however, virtual teams are not without their challenges. The purpose of this qualitative case study was to understand how leadership can impact virtual team performance through enhancing communication, collaboration, and trust. Through participant responses, three main themes were developed. These themes were issues with communication, communication and trust, and organizational culture. Two sub-themes within issues with communication were identified …

Exploring Tech Tools And Productivity Apps, Lauren Puzier

University Libraries Faculty Scholarship

Technology is continuously changing, and there are always new tools and mobile apps to test out. There are tools for everything from productivity, audio, communication, content creation and design, coding, automation, VR, video, etc. As many libraries have shifted to remote operations due to the COVID-19 pandemic, daily workflows have changed. The NMRT Online Discussion Committee asked members what tools they have found useful in their work at the library or home over the past year. Members shared tools they were interested in trying and which apps help their daily workflow.

Lessons Learned: Wendy Edelberg, Sandra Ward

Journal of Financial Crises

Wendy Edelberg served initially as Director of Research at the Financial Crisis Inquiry Commission (FCIC) before eventually being named Executive Director. Established in the wake of the global financial crisis of 2007-09, the FCIC was a bipartisan panel of six Democrats and four Republicans charged with determining the causes of the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression. Edelberg built the organization from the ground up, hiring staff, instituting operating procedures, establishing guidelines, managing communications, and reporting to the commissioners. This "Lesson Learned" is based on an interview with Ms. Edelberg.

Experiential Learning Final Report: Western Heads East X Mikono Yetu And Crhesi, Rebecca Jackson

SASAH 4th Year Capstone and Other Projects: Publications

Over the summer of 2020, I completed an internship with Western Heads East (WHE), a collaboration between Western University and African Partners. During this internship, I worked alongside two of my peers to design a website for the non-governmental organization “Mikono Yetu” to showcase the important work they are doing surrounding female empowerment and economic independence. During the Fall term of my final year at Western, I completed a placement with The Centre for Research on Health Equity and Social Inclusion (CRHESI). For this placement, I created an infographic that outlined the barriers migrant agricultural workers currently face to accessing …

The Future Of Hospitality Management: Preparing Students For A Changing Industry, Deborah Popely Dba, Michael Krause Cha, Chia, Msed, Wook Kang Cec, Mcfe, Cfbe, Ace, Paul Romer Mba

Kendall College Research

The hospitality industry has faced and continues to face major challenges in hiring and retaining the workforce needed for recovery from the pandemic and future growth. The goal of this research was to better understand these changing needs so that hospitality educators can supply the industry with well-rounded graduates attuned to the transformed hospitality operating environment. Focus group research was conducted with 22 senior hospitality managers in summer 2021; participants also completed an inventory of 28 skills and attributes commonly associated with the delivery of hospitality services. Overall analysis indicated that the skills and attributes rated “more important” or “much …

Communication At The Core: Exploring Decision-Making When Communication Is At The Heart Of An Organisation’S Strategy Development, Sinead Hewson

Theses

This investigation considers whether the position, territory and scope of the public relations function in organisations influences strategic thinking, decision-making, and results. Scholars say communication is a strategic management function and has a significant role to play (Grunig J.E., Dozier and IABC Research Foundation 1992, pp. 325–356; Kitchen, 1997, pp. 43–73). Yet, the strategic expertise of communicators is neither understood nor acknowledged outside of the sector. The study’s investigation into the issue and level of access to industry opinion-makers adds to the strategy discussion, while the proposed model of Adaptive Communication contributes to new knowledge.

A Review Of Two Decades Of Research On Language In International And Multicultural Marketing (1997 – 2020) – Supplemental Material, Yung-Hwal Park, Kevin Lehnert

Other Faculty Publications

This comprehensive review piece investigates over two decades of research, reflecting on the crucial role of language in international marketing success. In coding and summarizing 181 articles, this work highlights how language has impacted international-marketing-related outcomes across 19 specific content areas. Those content areas are then grouped into seven broad research themes relating to language: Marketing Communications; Linguistics; Branding; Consumer Behavior; Servicescape and Retailing; Internationalization, Supply Chain and Sales; Bilingualism. We synthesize these themes and the common outcomes of the research. From these themes we highlight challenges to the field and explore future research in language in international marketing.

Leader Strategies That Increase Employee Performance In The Nigerian Public Sector, Oluwashola Martha Elias-Fatile

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractLow employee performance can hinder productivity in the Nigerian public sector. Leaders of public sector organizations in Nigeria who lack strategies to increase employees’ performance experience decreased productivity. Grounded in transformational leadership theory, the purpose of this qualitative multiple case study was to explore strategies leaders in the Nigerian public sector used to increase employee performance. Participants were four public sector leaders in Nigeria who successfully developed and implemented strategies to increase employee performance. Data were collected from semistructured interviews and internal and external documents, such as training programs, training calendars, meeting agendas, staff letters of recommendation, and staff handbooks. …

Grand Theatre Internship: Final Report, Kaitlyn Lonnee

SASAH 4th Year Capstone and Other Projects: Publications

In this final report about her 2020-21 internship at London’s Grand Theatre, Kaitlyn Lonnee discusses the ups and downs of an internship in the world of an international pandemic; the work she completed as a contributor to a souvenir publication meant to document the Grand’s historic multimillion-dollar renovation and modernization by interviewing theatre staff, board members, and donors; the skill sets, lessons, and relationships she has come away from the experience with; the value of internships and community learning experiences; how SASAH contributed to her success in this position; and finally, her plans for the future.

In this presentation about …

Strategies For Increasing Information Technology Employee Work-Life Balance, Kimberly D. Seymour

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Small to medium enterprise (SME) information technology (IT) managers’ lack of strategic planning initiatives in creating a work life balance environment has created personal and financial concerns for some employees in the United States. Managers must develop and implement strategies that increase profits and productivity as well as create work life balance. Grounded in Herzberg’s motivation-hygiene theory, the purpose of this qualitative multiple case study was to explore strategies SME IT business managers used to develop and implement an employee work-life balance environment. The participants were three IT managers and two human resources business managers. Data were collected from semistructured …

Leader Strategies That Increase Employee Performance In The Nigerian Public Sector, Oluwashola Martha Elias-Fatile

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Low employee performance can hinder productivity in the Nigerian public sector. Leaders of public sector organizations in Nigeria who lack strategies to increase employees’ performance experience decreased productivity. Grounded in transformational leadership theory, the purpose of this qualitative multiple case study was to explore strategies leaders in the Nigerian public sector used to increase employee performance. Participants were four public sector leaders in Nigeria who successfully developed and implemented strategies to increase employee performance. Data were collected from semistructured interviews and internal and external documents, such as training programs, training calendars, meeting agendas, staff letters of recommendation, and staff handbooks. …

Communication Strategies For Increasing Nonprofit Organizations’ Fundraising Revenues, Peterson Mirville

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Some nonprofit organization (NPO) leaders lack communication strategies to improve fundraising revenues and ensure financial sustainability. Failure to obtain the funds necessary to support operations affects the NPO’s ability to achieve the organization mission and positive social change for organization recipients. Grounded in stakeholder theory, the purpose of this qualitative single case study was to explore strategies senior leaders of NPOs use to improve fundraising revenues. The three study participants included the founder and two senior leaders of one NPO located in San Antonio, Texas. The data collected included the NPO’s website and organizational documents, public data, governmental data, and …

Relationship Between Organizational Trust, Communication, And Team Performance Within Virtual Teams, Cornelius Thomas Session

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Virtual teams have become a cost-saving strategy for global collaboration and training, but trust and communication failures decrease overall performance. Business leaders who fail to understand the relationship between organizational trust, communication, and team performance undermine global virtual teams’ full potential. Grounded in the life cycle of virtual teams’ theory, the purpose of this quantitative correlational study was to examine the relationship between organizational trust, communication, and team performance within virtual teams in the information technology (IT) industry. Data were collected from survey responses of 48 virtual IT business leaders who work in the Washington, D.C. metro area. The results …

Preventable Error Reduction Leadership Strategies Of Nurse Managers In A Hospital Setting, Sedrick Diego Bedolla

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractPreventable medical errors in the healthcare industry account for hundreds of thousands of patient deaths annually. Nurse managers strive to develop strategies to reduce incidences of preventable medical error and increase patient safety in their organization to improve performance and reduce harm in the healthcare industry. Grounded in the complex adaptive systems theory, the purpose of this qualitative single case study was to explore strategies nurse managers use to reduce the rate of preventable medical errors among employees. The participants comprised 6 nurse managers who successfully used strategies to lower the rate of preventable errors in a healthcare facility in …

An Exploration Of Experiential Marketing In The Fast-Moving Consumer Goods Industry: Development Of The Experiential Marketing Implementation Model And The Return On Integrated Experience Formula, Holly Anne Barry

Theses

The nature of brand-customer relationships has long been the focus of marketers’ attentions, however, the competitive environment of the Fast-Moving Consumer Goods industry in the modern era, has significantly elevated the importance of that relationship in the literature. This is primarily due to the evolution of consumers’ needs and wants and their growing expectation of brands playing a key role in their daily lives. As a result, brands face the challenge of trying to communicate with their target audience through a multitude of marketing communications tools that both engages and excites them, while at the same time building effective memory …

Strategies To Increase Employees’ Morale, Shannon Gary Coffey

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Leaders who lack effective strategies to increase employee morale face an organizational decrease in productivity, sustainability, and profitability, increasing absenteeism and turnover and costing businesses millions of dollars. Grounded in Burns’s transformational leadership theory, the purpose of this qualitative single case study was to explore strategies used by successful organizational leaders to increase employee morale to improve productivity and profitability in their organization. Data were collected through semistructured interviews and a review of company documents. Participants comprised five leaders of a company located in Knoxville, Tennessee, who successfully used strategies to increase employee morale resulting in increased productivity and profitability. …

Strategies To Mitigate Natural Disaster Impact In The Auto Maintenance Business, Charles Oluande Ogutu

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Many small business owners lack strategies to mitigate natural disasters. Damage caused by natural disasters usually costs millions of dollars in injuries or lost lives, disruption to operations, and property damage. Small business owners who fail to plan and prepare for disaster frequently face closure when disasters strike. The goal of this study was to explore strategies independent auto maintenance business owners use to mitigate natural disasters. Holling’s organizational resilience theory grounded this qualitative multiple case study. Five purposively selected participants who implemented disaster mitigation strategies from Texas, Arkansas, and Louisiana participated in this study. Semistructured interviews were used to …

Strategies To Resolve Toxic Leadership Styles Which Impede Employee Innovation, Lilly Abdulrohman Mohamed

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Toxic leaders micromanage, threaten, and discourage employees from sharing their ideas,causing a decline in innovation. Export-based company executives need to understand how to resolve toxic leadership to enhance their companies’ performance. Grounded in the transformational leadership theory, the purpose of this multiple case study was to explore strategies export-based company leaders use to resolve toxic leadership styles. The participants were four senior and frontline leaders from export-based companies in Ethiopia. Data were collected from semistructured interviews and document reviews and were analyzed with thematic data analysis. Four themes emerged: open and transparent communication, sustained counseling and training, teamwork and joint …