Business Commons^™

Digital Fashion For The Avatar Or Digital Fashion For The Self? Understanding Gen Z’S Willingness To Spend On Digital Fashion In The Metaverse, Shivam Agarwal

AMTP Proceedings 2026

This research examines Generation Z’s (Gen Z) willingness to spend on digital fashion in the metaverse, comparing preferences for avatar-based consumption versus physical consumption for the self. Drawing on generational cohort theory and identity-based consumption, the study proposes that Gen Z consumers—who are deeply embedded in digital environments—place greater value on avatar identity and self-expression in virtual spaces. Using a between-subjects experimental design, participants from Gen Z and older cohorts evaluate their willingness to purchase digital fashion for their avatars versus identical physical items for themselves. We predict that Gen Z will exhibit a significantly higher willingness to spend on …

Promoting Inclusive Tourism Via Metaverse, Shivam Agarwal

AMTP Proceedings 2026

This research explores how metaverse-based virtual tourism can be leveraged to promote inclusive tourism and enhance place branding. Drawing on emerging literature in virtual experiences and destination marketing, the study examines how immersive environments enable tourism marketers to project inclusive destination identities. In metaverse settings, users engage through customizable avatars, allowing for representation of diverse identities and accessible experiences for vulnerable populations, including older adults, individuals with disabilities, and LGBTQ communities. We propose that inclusive cues embedded within virtual environments—such as diverse avatars and accessible design—enhance perceptions of destination inclusivity, which in turn increase motivation to visit the physical destination. …

Consumer Protest In A Hyperconnected World, Cara Lewis Levin, T. Andrew Poehlman, Angeline Scheinbaum

AMTP Proceedings 2026

Consumer protest in various forms—boycotts, negative word-of-mouth, brand sabotage—has largely been theorized within an “old” broadcast model of marketing, where firms spoke one-to-many and controlled most brand-related discourse. In contrast, today’s “hyperconnected” model embeds brands in dense human–technology networks, where social media, microtargeting, and always-on feeds shape how brands enter people’s lives and how protest unfolds. This paper argues that the informational substrate shift from broadcast to hyperconnectivity requires a fundamental rethinking of consumer protest. We first contrast the broadcast and hyperconnected models, then outline hyperconnectivity’s implications at the firm, consumer, and societal levels. We then revisit canonical constructs (e.g., …

Framing Emirati Womanhood: Heritage, Modernity, And Soft Power In Tourism Discourse, Valerie Priscilla Goby

All Works

This paper examines how Emirati womanhood is framed within the tourism discourse of the United Arab Emirates, analysing how gendered representation operates as both a cultural and political instrument in nation branding. Drawing on framing theory and informed by feminist perspectives on tourism and media representation, this study explores the visual and textual portrayal of women on official online platforms, including Visit Dubai, Visit Abu Dhabi, Emirates Airlines, and the UAE Ministry of Culture and Youth. These materials constitute a state-sanctioned narrative of national identity that integrates cultural heritage with modernity. Through qualitative framing analysis, four recurrent interpretive frames were …

The Legacy Of Hosting Sport Mega-Events On Local Consumers’ Consumption Behavior: The Case Of The Qatar 2022 Fifa World Cup, Saad Alshamari

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation examined the legacy of hosting the 2022 FIFA World Cup on domestic soccer consumption in Qatar, with emphasis on long-term cognitive and behavioral outcomes two years post-event. Although sport mega-events (SMEs) are often justified by projected economic and infrastructural benefits, less empirical attention has been devoted to their enduring influence on domestic sport consumption, particularly in small host nations. This study investigated whether engagement with the World Cup, operationalized as attendance, media viewership, event-related spending, and participation in pre-game activities predicted subsequent attitudes, subjective norms, and PBC toward consuming soccer at local, regional, and global levels. The moderating …

Essays In Financial Markets And Corporate Decisions, Siwen Zhang

Theses and Dissertations

The first chapter studies the feedback effects in the loan market. Using the secondary market prices of syndicated loans, I find that information in loan prices has real effects on corporate investment decisions. For public firms, the sensitivity of capital expenditure to their loan price is significant, and this sensitivity is higher when loan prices are more informative. In making M&A decisions, public acquirers are less likely to withdraw a deal when their loan returns are higher. Without access to stock prices, private acquirers change their focus from their public peers’ valuations to their own loan prices as a direct …

Orchestrating Value In Global Supply Chains: An Ecosystem Approach To Boundary Decisions, Innovation, And Sustainability, Kijong Kim

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation builds on an ecosystem perspective to examine how suppliers strategically navigate interdependent relationships to sustain competitiveness in global supply chains. In today’s digitally interconnected and institutionally diverse global economy, suppliers operate within complex ecosystems composed of buyers, other suppliers, complementors, and institutional actors. In such environments, suppliers cannot rely solely on compliance with buyer mandates or transactional efficiency to maintain advantage. Instead, they must strategically position themselves within networks to preserve relationships, specialize innovation, and implement sustainability practices. Although international business and supply chain research increasingly acknowledges interfirm interdependencies, it continues to view supplier behavior primarily through hierarchical …

Post-Covid Update: Magic Can Still Happen, Michelle C. Dziurgot

The Journal of the Michigan Dental Association

In this editorial, Dr. Michelle Dziurgot addresses the persistent staffing shortages in dentistry six years after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. She shares personal insights on managing a leaner practice by utilizing virtual assistants, cross-training existing staff, and emphasizing the "TEAM" philosophy—Trust, Education, Accountability, and Magic. Dziurgot discusses the transition to new practice models and the importance of patient communication during times of limited personnel. Ultimately, the piece encourages practice owners to find innovative ways to maintain high standards of care and team morale despite a difficult labor market.

Yes, Dentists (And The Mda) Are Subject To Antitrust Law, Daniel Schulte Jd

The Journal of the Michigan Dental Association

MDA Legal Counsel Dan Schulte provides a critical overview of how antitrust laws apply to individual dentists and professional associations. The article defines illegal activities such as price-fixing, group boycotts, and market allocation, explaining that even informal agreements among competitors can trigger prosecution by the FTC or DOJ. Schulte advises dentists to avoid discussing fees or participation in dental plans with peers at meetings. The document distinguishes between "per se" violations and the "rule of reason" analysis, emphasizing that transparency and independent business decisions are essential to avoid severe legal penalties.

Your First Hire: Building Your Team From The Ground Up, Amrita Patel Dds

The Journal of the Michigan Dental Association

Dr. Amrita Patel offers strategic guidance for new dentists entering practice ownership, focusing on the critical decision of the first team hire. The article describes the initial employee as a "brand ambassador" who establishes the practice’s culture and patient expectations. Patel advises against rushed hiring and suggests seeking candidates with complementary strengths rather than matching personalities. The piece emphasizes that while clinical skills can be trained, integrity and empathy are innate. Consistent leadership and clear protocol reinforcement are presented as essential for turning the first hire into a stabilizing force for long-term success.

Regulatory Compliance Solutions That Save You Money, Reva Darling

The Journal of the Michigan Dental Association

This article outlines essential MDA-endorsed services that assist dental practices in maintaining regulatory compliance. It focuses on solutions for HIPAA, OSHA, and OIG requirements provided by Eagle Associates and highlights the importance of cyber liability insurance through Coalition. The document also features iCoreExchange for secure, encrypted email and iCoreRx for manual-error-reducing e-prescribing. By utilizing these trusted partners, MDA members can save significant time and money while ensuring their practices meet federal and state standards for patient privacy and workplace safety.

See These Great Speakers And Their Programs At Annual Session!, David Foe

The Journal of the Michigan Dental Association

This feature highlights the speaker lineup and curriculum for the 2026 MDA Annual Session in Grand Rapids. The program offers diverse continuing education tracks for the entire dental team, including pediatric dentistry, oral pathology, risk management, and practice growth strategies. Notable speakers include clinical experts, legal professionals, and motivational keynotes. The document also explains the transition to a simplified registration system using one-day or full conference passes, allowing attendees more flexibility to choose sessions on-site without pre-registering for individual courses.

Here Are The Candidates For 2026-27 Mda Positions, Todd Christy Dds

The Journal of the Michigan Dental Association

This document presents the official slate of candidates for leadership positions within the Michigan Dental Association and for representation in the ADA House of Delegates. It details the open officer roles, including president-elect and speaker of the House, along with various trustee positions. The article outlines the governance process for elections occurring during the Annual Session and provides instructions for members wishing to self-nominate from the floor. This feature ensures members are informed about the individuals seeking to shape the future policies and direction of organized dentistry in Michigan.

April 2026 Ce Spotlight: Mate Training To Renew Dea Licenses Available Online, David Foe

The Journal of the Michigan Dental Association

This document details time-sensitive continuing education opportunities for Michigan dental professionals. It specifically highlights eight hours of online MATE training required for DEA license renewal, available through April 26. Presented by Tom Viola, the training covers the roles of opioid and non-opioid analgesics and the clinical implications of substance use. Furthermore, the document provides resources for members to track their state CE requirements and access on-demand webinars and radiography training through the MDA website to ensure compliance with licensure standards.

J Mich Dent Assoc April 2026

The Journal of the Michigan Dental Association

Each month, the Journal of the Michigan Dental Association delivers news, information, and features about Michigan dentistry to our state's oral health community and the MDA's 6,200-plus members. It remains the main publication reaching Michigan dentists and is available worldwide through ADA Commons.

The April 2026 (Volume 108, No. 4) issue of the Journal is published in digital format to provide updates and insights for Michigan's oral health community and MDA members. Print editions occur every other month beginning with January.

This full issue provides a comprehensive overview of the Michigan dental landscape in 2026. Key features include a clinical …

2026 Lead Class Gets To Work, Angie Kanazeh

The Journal of the Michigan Dental Association

This feature introduces the five members of the MDA's 2026 Leadership Exploration And Development (LEAD) class. The year-long program is a recruitment and mentoring tool designed to build leadership skills and broaden understanding of organized dentistry. Participants engage in summer retreats, virtual sessions, and hands-on governance experiences with the Board of Trustees and House of Delegates. The article highlights the program's success in preparing new leaders for roles within the MDA and ADA, demonstrating the association's commitment to mentorship and the future development of the dental profession in Michigan.

Endorsed Programs News: Mda Insurance Receives High Honors, Reva Darling

The Journal of the Michigan Dental Association

This report covers updates on MDA-endorsed programs designed to provide value and operational support to members. It announces that MDA Insurance has won the 2025 "State Administrator of the Year" award for its professional liability programs. The document also promotes the environmental benefits of recycling dental scrap metal through D-MMEX Easyrefine and introduces the cost-saving benefits of MEDVA virtual assistants for administrative tasks. Additionally, it advertises upcoming Medicare educational seminars to help member dentists and their staff navigate retirement planning and health insurance transitions effectively.

A Comprehensive Marketing Plan For Calvary Christian Academy, Emily Piwowarski

Senior Honors Theses

Marketing strategies have been implemented by companies for years. The outline of a marketing plan requires businesses to do extensive research on the industry they plan to enter, including evaluating the political, environmental, social, technological, economical, and legal factors that are affecting it. This research helps to form the marketing mix–the product, price, promotion, and place strategies-–which determine what the business will offer the industry and how it will make this offer. A business will then use marketing tactics to reach its target audience. Tactics that have risen along with the advancement of technology are social media marketing and search …

Implementing Blockchain Into Accounting Software, Noam Kimbro

Senior Honors Theses

Accounting has been fundamentally reshaped by the use of computational systems and digital information storage. This Honors Thesis seeks to research accounting software and to build upon it through the development of fresh software implementing blockchain into the accounting system. This Honors Thesis Proposal provides preliminary research into the field of accounting to allow for better understanding of the proposed software system. This Honors Thesis will further the body of knowledge by implementing blockchain into accounting data storage to allow transactions to be retroactively verified.

Determinants Of Future Suas Adoption: An Empirical Analysis Of Organizational And Behavioral Factors Within The Commercial Aviation Maintenance Enterprise, Jordan Baus

Doctoral Dissertations and Master's Theses

The adoption of small Uncrewed Aircraft Systems (sUAS) represents a significant technological shift within the commercial aviation maintenance enterprise, offering the potential to improve inspection accuracy, enhance operational efficiency, and reduce maintenance-related risk. Despite these anticipated benefits, adoption intentions remain vague, influenced by a complex interplay of organizational structures, behavioral factors, and workforce perceptions. Limited empirical research has examined how these dynamics shape the willingness to adopt sUAS within highly regulated and institutionalized aviation maintenance environments. This study investigates the determinants of future sUAS adoption through an extension of the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology 2 (UTAUT …

Overservice Backfires: The Impact Of High Robot Attentiveness On Tourists' Discontinuous Usage Intentions, Jinwei Wang, Yingzong Tang, Xin Chen, Songshan (Sam) Huang

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

AI-powered robots can meet both functional and emotional consumer service needs through proactive engagement. Yet, excessive attentiveness may produce unintended negative outcomes. Drawing on conservation of resources theory, this research employs four studies and a single-paper meta-analysis to investigate how highly (vs. moderately) attentive robotic service influences tourists' intentions to discontinue use. Results show that highly attentive robotic service increases discontinuous usage intentions, and this effect unfolds sequentially through perceived threat to freedom and emotional exhaustion. Furthermore, information sensitivity and technology anxiety moderate the relationship between robotic attentiveness and discontinuous usage intentions. These findings offer strategic insights for tourism practitioners …

The Effects Of Covid 19 Job Demands On Public Sector Employees’ Organizational Commitment: The Mediating Roles Of Work Engagement And Job Burnout, And The Moderating Role Of Supervisor Support, Benjamin R. Kaufman

Psychology Theses & Dissertations

United States citizens rely on state government employees to provide essential public services. During the COVID-19 pandemic, these employees responded by administering both routine and novel procedures to protect public health, often placing them on the frontlines and at increased risk of contagion. Concurrently, the pandemic-driven economic downturn created budget shortfalls that threatened the job and financial security of the state workforce. Together, these conditions substantially increased job demands for state government employees.

Guided by the Job Demands–Resources (JDR) Model, this study examined how COVID‑19-related job demands influenced state employees’ work engagement, job burnout, and organizational commitment, and whether supervisor …

Extending The Job Demands-Resource Model In Classified Work Environments: A Longitudinal Analysis Of Job Demands, Resources, Job Satisfaction, And Retention Among Engineers, Gregory Gooden

Engineering Management & Systems Engineering Theses & Dissertations

The Job Demands–Resources (JD-R) model is a widely used framework for understanding how work conditions influence employee attitudes and retention-related outcomes. However, empirical evidence testing JD-R dynamics in classified technical work environments remains limited, particularly using longitudinal designs that account for structural constraints, nonrandom participation, and outcome-specific measurement challenges. Classified work is characterized by persistent demands, restricted flexibility, and security-driven limitations on available resources, raising questions about whether and how JD-R processes generalize to this context.

This study examines whether job demands and job resources predict subsequent job satisfaction and retention intent in a classified technical workforce using multi-wave longitudinal …

Collaborative Ministry Leadership: A Mixed-Methods Study Into The Application Of Collaborative Leadership In United Pentecostal Churches In The Southeastern United States., Omar A. Williams

Doctor of Ministry (DMin)

This dissertation examines how collaborative leadership, grounded in theological and practical applications, impacts ministry effectiveness in United Pentecostal Churches (UPCI) in the Southeastern United States. It employed a mixed-methods design, with in-depth qualitative interviews conducted with twelve senior UPCI pastors, and quantitative surveys administered to 63 members of their core leadership teams. Although collaborative leadership is a widely held ideal in ministry, a gap often exists between its theory and its practical implementation. The findings reveal a significant convergence in the relational, visionary, and developmental dimensions of collaboration. The pastors are theologically committed to rejecting autocratic models. They are perceived …

Beyond The Barn: An Analysis Of The Agritourism Expansion Opportunities At Butcher Family Farm, Sarah Thomas

Senior Honors Theses

Agritourism is a rapidly expanding industry full of business opportunities. From wedding barns to pumpkin patches, agritourism comprises a niche intersection of agricultural business and experiential tourism. Heavily contested definitionally over a period of years, agritourism is a continually emerging source of business for a variety of locations across the US and global economy. This unique industry is composed of a conglomerate of elements and enterprises that vary widely. One agritourism segment that has undergone the most development is family owned and operated farms, such as Butcher Family Farm in Washington, West Virginia. Standing as the perceived focal point of …

Price Endings Of Online And Offline Retailers: Round And Just-Below Pricing, Kwanho Suk, Gaeun Kim, Dongwon Lee, Xuanting Jin

Asia Marketing Journal

This study investigates and compares price-ending strategies employed by online and offline retailers. Analyzing 210,456 prices from retailers in US, South Korea, and China reveals significant differences in price-ending between online and offline retail formats. Online retailers exhibit a lower propensity to utilize round prices (e.g., ending in 0) and just-below prices (e.g., ending in 9) than offline retailers. This research discusses potential explanations for these observed discrepancies, focusing on the distinct price-setting environments and consumer purchasing behaviors of online and offline retail.

Exploring The Relationship Between Esg Activities And Firm Performance: The Carrot And Stick Approach, Jeongbin Whang, Jong-Ho Lee, Jaeho Lee

Asia Marketing Journal

This study uses stakeholder theory to investigate the impact of firms' ESG activities on performance, paying particular attention to the moderating roles of executive ESG compensation (the ``carrot'') and external ESG audits (the ``stick''). Utilizing Thomson Reuters ESG data from 1,523 US firms over six years (2017–2022) and applying fixed-effects models, the analysis reveals that environmental and social activities are positively associated with firm performance. In contrast, governance activities are negatively related to financial performance but positively related to non-financial outcomes. Furthermore, executive ESG compensation and external audits positively moderate the relationship between ESG activities and firm performance. Executive compensation …

Internal Public Relations Influence On Organizational Citizenship Behaviors: Integrating Social Identity Perspectives In Organizational Contexts, Daewook Kim

Asia Marketing Journal

This study examined how internal public relations encourages employees to participate in organizational citizenship behaviors. Using a national survey of employees (N = 339), we tested a conceptual model that proposed linkages among dialogic internal communication, organizational social capital, communal relationships, and organizational citizenship behaviors. The results suggest dialogic internal communication can enhance organizational social capital and encourage internal publics to participate in organizational citizenship behaviors. Additionally, organizational social capital mediated the effects of dialogic internal communication on communal relationships and organizational citizenship behaviors. The findings highlight a critical connection between public relations and social identity perspectives within organizational …

Temporal Dynamics Of Online Shopping: A Multidimensional Clustering Approach For Optimizing Time-Specific Advertising Strategies, Hye Ra Oh, Yunjae Cheong

Asia Marketing Journal

This study clusters consumers according to their hourly online shopping consumption patterns and develops optimized advertising strategies that can be practically applied by companies. Specifically, we considered multidimensional variables related to consumers, including demographic characteristics, shopping frequency, information search and content consumption characteristics, and lifestyle traits. We explored consumer types by comparing various clustering algorithms and applying the optimal clustering method for each time period. The analysis results show significant differences in payment amounts according to payment time periods. Regarding consumer types, consumption tendencies are distinctly differentiated by payment time periods, with each cluster showing different characteristics. This study is …

Does Ai-Driven Empathy Work In Healthcare Marketing? The Impact Of Cognitive And Affective Empathy In Chatbots And The Moderating Role Of Illness Type, Jee Won Kim, Yeonsoo Kim, Jino Chung

Asia Marketing Journal

Recognizing the growing potential of AI-generated chatbots in healthcare and healthcare marketing, this study investigates how different types of chatbot-expressed empathy influence user responses in stigmatized versus non-stigmatized health contexts. Perceived authenticity is introduced as a key mediator. Drawing on Mind Perception Theory, a 3 (empathy: none, cognitive, affective) × 2 (illness type: stigmatized, non-stigmatized) online experiment was conducted. The findings show that affective empathy reduced perceived authenticity, which subsequently decreased user satisfaction, perceived understanding, reuse intention, and follow intention. These indirect effects varied by illness type: in stigmatized contexts, non-empathetic communication was viewed most favorably, whereas in non-stigmatized contexts, …