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George C. Roberts Award Recipients

Midwest Social Sciences Journal

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Midwest Social Sciences Journal

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Midwest Social Sciences Journal

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Design And Implementation Of A Customer Retention And Voice Ai System For El Nopal, Brando Medina

Undergraduate Theses

This Honors Applied Thesis documents the design and implementation of a live Customer Retention and Voice AI System for El Nopal, a full-service restaurant, to improve customer follow-up, routine communication handling, and cross-channel engagement. The project was developed for El Nopal’s Tyler Center location on Taylorsville Road and focused on building a practical artifact rather than primarily evaluating long-term business outcomes. The completed v1 system consists of three modules: a Customer Retention System centered on a QR-based VIP rewards workflow, a Voice AI System for routine phone support, and a Cross-Channel Integration Layer that connects voice interactions to CRM-based SMS …

Geopolitical Trade Dynamics: Assessing Global Supply Chain Risks Within International Business Environments, Thomas E. Carver Iii

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

With global economics and worldwide markets changing at a rapid pace the need to review how this effects global supply operations, risk management, and operational controls is a tactical and strategic component of organizational management. These types of international business arrangements require diversification to the supply chain networks, partnerships, and value chains in all businesses that are doing trade abroad. Geopolitics brings uncertainty to any supply chain organization and having awareness of policy, compliance, and technology strategy are key contributors during the study exploration. Having highly skilled human resource talent to support operational throughput is included in this study to …

Exploring The Possibility Of A Salary Floor In Major League Baseball (Mlb), Tyler Michael Jones

Masters Theses

This non-experimental quantitative study examined the relationship between team payroll disparities, fan engagement, and perceptions of fairness in Major League Baseball (MLB). Guided by Competitive Balance Theory, the study sought to determine if perceived fairness influenced fan support for the implementation of a salary floor, and whether those attitudes differed across demographic and team context. Data were collected from 200 adult MLB fans residing in the United States and Canada using an online survey distributed via social media platforms. The instrument included demographic items and Likert-scale measures assessing fairness perceptions, fan engagement, and policy support. Data were analyzed using hierarchical …

Economic Independence And Professional Legitimacy: Colorado Businesswomen Of The 19th Century, Tyler Brinn Hobbs Freytag

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This dissertation examines the tension between legal reform and lived reality for women in Colorado during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Although Colorado became the second state to grant women suffrage in 1893 and was widely celebrated as a national leader in women’s rights, the experiences of three influential women—Augusta Louise Tabor, Mary Elitch Long, and Mary Florence Lathrop—demonstrate how legal progress often failed to translate into genuine social, economic, or professional equality. Using a multidisciplinary analysis of primary sources, including court records, newspapers, diaries, and legislative documents, this study explores the disconnect between written law, its application, …

Recognition And Rewards In Healthcare: A Qualitative Exploration Of Employee Experiences Within A Single Health System, Karen B. Brodbeck

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This qualitative study, grounded in a constructivist research paradigm, explored how enhancing recognition and reward systems within a healthcare organization improved employee morale, retention, and overall organizational success. Guided by a flexible research design, the study sought to understand the lived experiences of healthcare professionals and how they perceived recognition within their organizational environments. Data were collected through in-depth interviews with 25 to 30 participants, allowing for rich, contextualized insights into how recognition practices influenced motivation, engagement, and commitment. By examining participants’ subjective interpretations and shared meanings, the research illuminated how recognition and reward systems were experienced in practice and …

The Predictive Influence Of Management Leadership Styles On Employee Retention In The Aerospace And Defense (A&D) Industry In Northern Virginia, Shawn M. Hall

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This fixed-design quantitative study evaluates the predictive influence of management leadership styles on employee retention within the Aerospace and Defense (A&D) industry in Northern Virginia. Addressing a critical decline in industry retention that impacts organizational productivity and profitability, the research utilizes a post-positivist paradigm to analyze data (N = 773) from participants across seven major A&D organizations. The study measures four primary constructs: Intent to Stay, Management Leadership Styles, Job Satisfaction, and Leader Support. A hierarchical multiple regression analysis was performed to isolate the predictive power of leadership style after controlling for demographic factors, including age, gender, role, and years …

The Underutilization Of Executive Coaching As A Leadership Development Tool In The Financial Industry In Sub-Saharan Africa, Gladys Wahito Muga

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This study entailed an investigation of the underutilization of executive coaching as a leadership development tool in the financial sector of Sub-Saharan Africa, where leadership challenges have hindered organizational growth and transformation. The researcher aimed to identify barriers to coaching adoption, examine leaders’ perceptions of its value compared to other development initiatives, and propose strategies to enhance its acceptance and effectiveness. Grounded in transformational leadership theory, the researcher explored how executive coaching contributes to leadership and organizational performance in emerging markets. Using a constructivist paradigm and a flexible qualitative single case study design, data were collected from 139 purposively selected …

Impact Of Hierarchical Organizational Structures On Gen-Z Turnover Intention, Mason W. Doty

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This research project sought to address the influence hierarchical organizational structures have on Gen-Z turnover intention. Technological advancements coupled with Gen-Z entering the workforce with their unique perspectives and expectations have sparked a new phenomenon of “job-hopping.” This research focused on U.S. servicemembers and Department of War civilian employees that are employed at a military installation in Texas to evaluate turnover intention as a direct result of their hierarchical organizational structure. This research featured two survey instruments: the 6-item Turnover Intention Scale (TIS) and 25-item Expanded Multidimensional Turnover Intention Scale (EMTIS) to identify potential correlations in turnover intention across the …

The Effectiveness And Adaptability Of Servant Leadership Among Project Managers Managing Highly Complex Projects In Emerging Technology Domains, Fernand R. Baldonado

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This qualitative multiple case study explored the effectiveness of servant leadership practiced by project managers while managing highly complex projects in emerging technology domains. These domains included artificial intelligence (AI), cybersecurity, and information technology (IT). Servant leadership was associated with positive team outcomes, but its application in high-uncertainty and high-risk environments, such as projects in these emerging technology domains, had remained underexplored. Data were collected from 25 mid- to senior-level project managers in public- and private-sector organizations using semi-structured interviews, document review, and field notes. Thematic analysis produced 12 themes, including guided empowerment, psychological safety as a form of risk …

Examining The Relationship Between Servant Leadership, Job Satisfaction, And Turnover Intention In The Restaurant Industry, Vincent T. Domingo

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The restaurant industry continues to face significant challenges regarding labor issues and high employee turnover rates. I addressed the lack of understanding of servant leadership factors and their influence on employee job satisfaction and turnover intention within the restaurant industry. Using a fixed-design quantitative correlational approach, I examined relationships between these variables among employees of full-service small business restaurants in Hawaii. The theoretical basis for this study draws on Greenleaf’s servant leadership theory and Herzberg’s two-factor theory. Data was gathered from 80 participants using the Servant Leadership Questionnaire (SLQ), the Minnesota Satisfaction Questionnaire (MSQ), and the Turnover Intention Scale (TIS). …

Abusive Supervision In The Telecommunications Retail Sector: Effects On Job Satisfaction, Performance, And Employee Turnover, Zenitzia Siu

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

I addressed the problem of abusive supervision, which adversely affects job satisfaction and employee engagement, resulting in reduced organizational performance and increased turnover intentions in telecommunications retail. Guided by social exchange theory (SET), this qualitative single-case study explored how leaders interpret their awareness of their leadership behaviors, and how these interpretations align with or misalign with employees’ perceptions. The data collection involved 21 leader interviews and 25 open-ended survey responses, analyzed using SET’s deductive coding and NVivo's inductive theme development, with methodological triangulation across both data sources. Four core themes emerged deductively: (a) reciprocity, (b) trust and commitment, (c) cost …

The Shift In Stakeholder Attitudes Regarding The Importance Of Membership In American Evangelical Churches, Michelle Watts

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The relationship between members' perceived benefits and attendance frequency in American evangelical churches was examined using a quantitative correlational design grounded in social Exchange Theory and the Flywheel Model. Declining attendance presents ongoing organizational challenges for American evangelical churches. Using a fixed correlational research design, data were collected via an online survey administered to adult evangelical church members across geographic regions, education levels, ages, genders, and urban areas. The survey included the established and adapted Perceived Organizational Support Scale and the Perceived Relational Benefit Scale. Statistical analyses included descriptive statistics, reliability analysis, correlation analysis, multiple regression, and hierarchical regression to …

The Correlation Between Leadership Performance And Personality In Virtual Technology Workers, Henry C. Mullins

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This quantitative correlational study examined the relationship between leadership performance and personality traits among leaders in the technology sector, who work across the spectrum of virtuality. Personality traits were measured using the Big Five model: extraversion, openness, agreeableness, conscientiousness, and neuroticism, using the IPIP-NEO-60 instrument. Leadership performance was measured using the Leadership Practices Inventory (LPI) and interpreted through both the Leader-Member Exchange (LMX) and Transformational Leadership theories. Holistically this is viewed through a Transformational Christian worldview. This study also examined the role of virtuality, defined as the extent to which an individual works from an office or remotely. Participants were …

Analysis Of Local Economic Development In The Urban Informal Settlement Upgrading Programs, George K. Nyamu, Luke M. Obala, Owiti A. K'Akumu

Architecture and Planning Journal (APJ)

This study examines the role of local economic development (LED) within informal settlement upgrading, using Kibera in Nairobi, Kenya, as a focal case. As one of the most densely populated informal settlements in sub-Saharan Africa, Kibera has been the target of multiple upgrading initiatives intended to improve housing, infrastructure, and living standards. However, the integration of economic development goals into these interventions has often been overlooked or insufficiently conceptualized. Employing a mixed-methods research design—comprising household surveys, key informant interviews with government and NGO actors, and field-based observations—this study investigated the extent to which upgrading programs have influenced local enterprises, economic …

Solving Wordle Using Information Theory, Talal Aladaileh, Donald Stephens, Mallak Alqaisi, Congyu Wu

Northeast Journal of Complex Systems (NEJCS)

Wordle, a popular word-guessing game, challenges players to identify a five-letter secret word through iterative guesses and feedback on letter placement. The players must figure out the secret word within six guesses. After each guess, the letters will be color-coded based on different criteria. Optimizing the choice of guesses is critical for maximizing success within the limited attempts allowed. In this study, the application of Shannon entropy is explored as a strategy for selecting words that maximize information gain at each step of the game. By quantifying the uncertainty reduction achieved by potential guesses, this method prioritizes words that are …

A Multi-Layer Complex Adaptive System Framework For Ai-Driven Robo-Advisory Services, Jesty Mariam Philip, Mohit Boralkar, Alwin Joseph

Northeast Journal of Complex Systems (NEJCS)

The rapid integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) into investment advisory services has changed financial decision-making, giving rise to adaptive robo-advisory systems capable of real-time analysis, personal recommendations, and autonomous portfolio optimization. Existing research evaluates these systems primarily through technological performance or investor adoption, overlooking the complex feedback-driven interactions that emerge when AI analytics, data environments, and human behavior operate together. This study addresses this gap by conceptualizing AI-enabled robo-advisors as a multi-layered Complex Adaptive System comprising historical data, real-time data, AI analytics, investor perception, and decision-making layers. A simulation model grounded in machine learning dynamics, behavioral finance, and complexity theory …

Raffe Studio, Inc. Repositioning To Meet The Evolving "Influencer" Industry, Eryn V. Oft Ms.

Atlantic Marketing Association Student Proceedings

Synopsis - Since 2001, the music business Raffe Studio, Inc. (formerly Raffe Reeds) has served music communities as a multifaceted bassoon corporation. Raffe Studio is nestled in the foothills of Alabama between Atlanta and Birmingham. The founder, Eryn Oft, began the organization to cultivate growth in local music communities through educational outreach, professional performances and the sale of music materials. In 2014, Raffe Studio realized a larger global need. The organization expanded the products and services available and increased social media marketing. As platforms have evolved, Raffe Studio has recognized a need to reposition the corporate marketing strategy to better …

Geofencing In Tourism & Recreation: A Revolution In How Marketing-Centric Data Is Collected & Employed?, Aubrey B. Whiddon

Atlantic Marketing Association Student Proceedings

This study aims to delve into, analyze, and ultimately divulge what geofencing technology is and decipher whether it is an effective tool to employ in making marketing decisions. Geofencing, a location-based service that triggers actions based on visitors’ real-time location, has revolutionized tourism marketing, enhanced visitor experiences, and facilitated crowd management. Additionally, this research analyzes a study that was conducted with the purpose of proving the validity and accuracy of geofencing. This study compares primary data to data collected through Placer.AI, a geofencing platform, and how the findings from both collection methods are highly correlated.

Ideal Leadership And Marketing Strategies During Times Of Transition, Kaia S. Thomson

Atlantic Marketing Association Student Proceedings

This study investigates the effects of transitional leadership in an organization on marketing strategies. The qualitative research, gathered through semi-structured interviews with four leaders at different stages of transition, highlights key themes such as the development of trust, adaptability, relationship-building, and the importance of gradual change. The results suggest that the most successful leaders in transition prioritize humility, respect the history of the firm, and focus on developing relationships with stakeholders. Further, these leaders focus marketing strategies on the core products or services of the organization to better understand customer preferences and create long-tern relationships. The study indicates that successful …

Overconsumption And The Role Of The Marketer, Anchiella Angelle

Atlantic Marketing Association Student Proceedings

Consumers value ethical brands and are willing to pay more and repurchase from companies that hold similar values. Consequently, overconsumption initiatives from companies have been shown to benefit brand image and can lead to increased sales due to increased trust. Younger generations, particularly Gen Z and Millennials, are showing a preference for CSR and ESG claims. For this research, a study was carried out with 111 participants to measure repurchase intentions given an impulse purchase from an ethical, neutral, and unethical company. From the study conducted, it was shown that participants have a higher intention to repurchase a product from …

Symbolic Consumption As Self-Preservation: Psychological Vulnerabilities And Identity Repair In Low-Income Luxury Consumers, Aaliyah W. Wilkerson

Atlantic Marketing Association Student Proceedings

This extended abstract presents a conceptual study exploring why low-income consumers engage in luxury fashion consumption despite financial limitations. The research reframes these purchases as emotionally driven acts of identity repair, introducing the constructs of perceived social identity lock-in and moral self-validation to explain how consumers cope with exclusion and affirm self-worth through symbolic consumption. A conceptual model is proposed and a sequential mixed-methods design is outlined for future empirical testing. This work contributes to Transformative Consumer Research by centering emotional coping in aspirational consumption and offers practical insights for inclusive, dignity-based branding strategies.

Formula 1 In The United States: A Model For Growing International Sports In U.S.?, Kate Meg Eagan, Matthew Lastner, Brian Kinard

Atlantic Marketing Association Student Proceedings

Formula 1 (F1) has grown exponentially in popularity with American audiences in the past several years, in large part by deploying modern marketing practices that are reshaping the perspective of motorsport in the U.S. Marketing experts have credited this growth to marketing practices such as the launch of a Netflix docuseries, “Drive to Survive,” which offers a dramatized retelling of the season and grants viewers a behind the scenes glimpse of the sport. As a next step, F1 is funding a major motion picture named for the sport starring Brad Pitt. Despite evidence that these practices have benefitted F1, other …

Behavioral Biases As Drivers Of Complexity In Stock Markets: An Agent-Based Modeling Approach, David Joseph Dr, Alwin Joseph, Blesson James, Kajal Dass

Northeast Journal of Complex Systems (NEJCS)

By modeling financial systems as Complex Adaptive Systems, this study investigates how behavioral biases influence emergent complexity in stock markets. The study integrates heterogeneous agents, such as rational traders, herding agents, overconfident traders, and anchoring/disposition-driven investors, within a Limit Order Book framework calibrated to both U.S. and Indian market conditions using an Agent-Based Modeling (ABM) approach implemented through the high-fidelity ABIDES simulation environment. Price dynamics, volatility patterns, and liquidity structures were analyzed by Monte Carlo simulation experiments with different behavioral compositions. The results show that behavioral biases cause nonlinear price reactions, produce heavy-tailed return distributions that distort order-book complexity, and …

The Conundrum Of Industrial Policy: Incompatibility With The Rules Of International Trade Law, Yong-Shik Lee

Northwestern Journal of International Law & Business

Since the end of World War II, successful developing countries such as South Korea, Taiwan, Singapore, and, more recently China, have leveraged industrial policies—notably trade measures and subsidies—to achieve economic development. However, these industrial policy tools often conflict with the rules of international trade established under the World Trade Organization (WTO law), which aims to minimize government interference and reduce trade distortions. Paradoxically, such regulatory constraints hinder the development aspirations of many countries. Meanwhile, major global economies, including the United States, China, and the European Union, have revived industrial policies to support their key industries, such as semiconductors and electric …

The Impact Of Ai Visual Marketing On Customer Engagement And Purchase Intention In The Luxury Fashion Industry, Joumana Elkady, Rana Alfahed, Youssef Mohamed, Doaa Ayoub

Business Administration

ABSTRACT

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has become prominent in Visual Marketing with rapid integration into Digital Marketing practices. AI-driven visuals, such as Augmented Reality, Virtual Influencers, and Generated Imagery, have all influenced Consumer Behaviour, specifically Customer Engagement and Purchase Intention of Luxury Fashion Customers, by enhancing product visualization, evoking emotional reactions, and reducing purchase uncertainty. Although the impact of AI-generated visuals is primarily notable in online environments, it also offers an enhanced experience within offline settings. AI-generated visuals enable immersive and personalized experiences that transform traditional marketing practices. Correspondingly, potential concerns like over automation, data privacy breaches, and perceived authenticity loss …

Sandag’S Regional Climate Action Planning, San Diego Regional Climate Collaborative, Brenda Castruita

San Diego Regional Climate Collaborative

The San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG) is the regional planning agency responsible for transportation planning, public transit development, and environmental planning in the San Diego metropolitan area.1 Beyond these focus areas, SANDAG aims to promote sustainable growth, enhance mobility, and improve the quality of life of local citizens through comprehensive planning and collaboration with local governments, communities, and various partners. SANDAG is governed by a Board of Directors made up of elected officials from each of the region's local city councils and County Board of Supervisors. In addition to developing plans for how people and goods will move …

Spatial Future Ahead! Augmented Reality And Anticipated Life Consequences, Sergio Barta, Reto Felix, Chris Hinsch, Mahdokht Kalantari, Nina Krey, Philipp A. Rauschnabel

Marketing Faculty Publications

Purpose: This study explores how initial exposure to immersive spatial computing experiences using AR headsets generates lasting inspiration and shapes consumers expected long-term life consequences (i.e., enhancement of reality, perceived substitutability and social impact).

Design/methodology/approach: The study uses a time-lagged research design based on 148 first-time users of spatial computing devices (AR headsets). Respondents were interviewed once shortly after being exposed to AR and a few days later. Data is analyzed using partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM).

Findings: Users' immediate “inspired-by” experiences predict increased “inspired-to” intentions days later. Such inspiration translates into anticipated consequences such as virtually customizing …