Business Commons^™

Sustainable Consumption Under Structural Constraint: Insights From Indigenous Communities On The Great Plains, Glen Marshall, Rand Wergin

Mountain Plains Business Conference

Resource-constrained communities, particularly Indigenous and remote communities, remain critically understudied in the business literature despite persistent socioeconomic challenges. This study employs a mixed-methods approach to explore barriers to sustainable consumption in these resource-limited contexts. It examines consumer attitudes toward sustainability and identifies key barriers to sustainable consumption. Understanding these barriers is crucial for entrepreneurs seeking profitable and socially beneficial ventures, as well as for policymakers designing social or economic initiatives. This research provides actionable insights for tribal governments, business professionals, policymakers, and others seeking to promote sustainable economic growth, community health, and positive externalities in underserved communities.

When Generative Ai Helps Too Much: Engagement, Learning, And Student Outcomes In Business Statistics, Bruce A. Reinig

Mountain Plains Business Conference

After two decades of teaching business statistics, first in person, then online, and now in the era of generative AI, I have observed substantial shifts in how students approach learning. Many rely on ChatGPT and similar tools to produce assignment answers, sometimes at the expense of genuine understanding, which may lead to lower exam scores. Using LMS analytics, I track students’ engagement with video lectures and find this behavior more predictive of exam success than assignment completion. This presentation reports on an ongoing observational study and seeks feedback to strengthen its design and effectiveness in supporting authentic student learning.

Entrepreneur’S Functional Track Background And The Effect On Perceived Issues In Entrepreneurial Endeavors, Reed Muehler

Mountain Plains Business Conference

This paper looks at how an entrepreneur’s functional track background affects the perceived issues they focus on in their endeavor. Previous literature on this topic typically implements the resource base view. However, this paper extends the literature by utilizing the attention base view. In order to answer the research questions, publicly available data from the Panel Study of Entrepreneurial Dynamics (PSED) I & II is used. This study is ongoing, with the hope of helping new entrepreneurs understand how experience tunnel vision can affect where they place their attention and their overall success.

Stigma By Association- The Social Consequences Of Poor Delegation For Followers, Shucheng Ge, Zhen Yan

Mountain Plains Business Conference

Drawing on stigma theory, we examine how poor delegation quality affects followers' social outcomes. Study 1 (N=246 leader-follower dyads) shows poor delegation significantly reduces trust in leader, which mediates the relationship with followers' perceived ostracism. The significant indirect effect reveals that followers with reduced trust become stigmatized by association—others distance themselves from followers under poorly delegating leaders, creating social costs beyond the dyad. Study 2 (planned) will apply social learning theory to investigate whether leaders develop awareness of their poor delegation quality through observing follower ostracism patterns, completing a feedback loop. Findings highlight delegation's hidden social consequences.

From Allies To Enemies: Factors Affecting Suppliers Climbing The Value Chain, Reed Muehler

Mountain Plains Business Conference

This paper creates a theoretical model for analyzing the likelihood of a supplier climbing the value chain and becoming a new competitor. The model includes four areas of analysis, the complexity and importance of the item being sourced, and the level of total interdependence and type of strategic alliances between the firms. By using this model, a company could look at the likelihood of their suppliers climbing the value chain. This analysis involves giving different levels of strength to each factor, which will create the overall level of likelihood.

Enterprise Digital Transformation: A Study Of Success Factors, Ngan Chau, Steve Schulz

Mountain Plains Business Conference

Digital transformation (DT) has been recognized as a driver of enterprise performance, enabling organizations to enhance operational efficiency, foster innovation, and maintain competitive advantage. This study aims to identify success factors of DT initiatives by examining organizational digital readiness, digital value mapping, and implementation tactics. The empirical study involved data collection at two points in time: in 2022, prior to the widespread popularity of generative AI (genAI) such as ChatGPT, and in 2024, amid genAI's integration into business practices. This study, therefore, offers timely insights into how organizations navigate the evolving landscape of digital transformation.

Caging The Lone Wolf: The Influence Of Dichotomous Thinking And Sales Control Systems On Sales Performance And Turnover Intentions, Skyler Leonhardt, Mark Leach

Mountain Plains Business Conference

Lone wolf tendency (LWT) is defined as a “psychological state in which one prefers to work alone when making decisions and setting/accomplishing priorities and goals” (Dixon et al., 2003). Research remains uncertain about how these tendencies arise, though some salespeople appear more predisposed to exhibit them. Findings are also mixed on whether LWT enhances or undermines performance. This study proposes that dichotomous thinking (e.g., black-and-white thinking) predicts LWT and that outcome and behavioral controls function as autonomythreatening or autonomy-enhancing interventions shaping workplace outcomes, including sales performance and turnover intentions

A Simple Hope Scale Validated For Entrepreneurship, Chet Barney, Rohny Saylors, David Trafimow, Hank Strevel

Mountain Plains Business Conference

We resolve splintered theorization of hope by developing a more reliable and valid measure of hope for the context of entrepreneurship. Based on the received view of hope we tested the social psychological hope scale (SPHS) against our entrepreneurship-contextual simple hope scale (SHS), which is based on a definition of hope that gets at what entrepreneurs mean by hope. Our findings help develop and support SHS as having greater reliability (internal and test-retest) and validity (face, convergent, and predictive) than SPHS. The SHS helps advance entrepreneurship theory and practice by further developing the scholarly conversation regarding spiritual concepts in entrepreneurship. …

Consumer Response To Ai Technology In Beauty Product Marketing, Xiaoying Feng, Eunkyu Lee Dr, Liangbin Yang Dr

Mountain Plains Business Conference

This research investigates consumer interactions with AI-powered shopping assistance in skincare retailing. Skincare presents a compelling context where vast product selections intersect with consumers' diMiculty assessing skin conditions. AI technology can enhance decision quality through instant skin diagnosis and recommendations, but it requires understanding how consumers respond to such technology. Our multi-method approach combines focus groups, laboratory experiments, and field experiments using an AI-powered skin analysis system. Focus groups reveal positive responses to the technology's detailed diagnoses, with participants showing heightened sensitivity to visual information and social comparative metrics.

Our lab experiment (2×2 between-subjects design) examines how visual presentations and …

Exploring Consumers' Attitudes Toward Ai-Generated Advertising Content, Heather M. Meyer, Chaehong You

Mountain Plains Business Conference

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a growing trend in the fields of marketing and advertising. In particular, AI-generated advertising content is on the rise. But how do consumers feel about this? Four mock-up AI advertisements were created for the following categories: fast food, hand lotion, soft drinks, and athletic shoes. A survey capturing attitudes was completed by 168 participants. Both quantitative and qualitative data reveal negative attitudes towards AI-generated advertising content, regardless of product category. This pattern exposes an issue for practitioners. They want to utilize this new technology; however, their audience is resistant to it. Implications and suggestions are discussed.

Addressing Declining Enrollments In The Accounting Program With A Program Partners Campaign, Steve Hall, Sarah Borchers, Matt Bjornsen, Landon Lueshen

Mountain Plains Business Conference

Like other accounting programs, the Accounting program at the University of Nebraska at Kearney has experienced declining enrollments. Faculty addressed this problem by creating the Accounting Program Partners.

The Program Partners campaign benefits the partners and the Accounting program. The firm pays $2,500 to be a partner. Benefits include access to students through Beta Alpha Psi, inclusion in visits students make to firms, etc. One half of the money raised is used for scholarships that target business students without an emphasis and campuswide undecided students.

Number of majors in our accounting program has increased 40% in two years.

Sentiment Analysis Of Public Commentary On U.S. Farm Bills, Frank Tenkorang, Fletcher Ziwoya

Mountain Plains Business Conference

This study applies sentiment analysis to public commentary on U.S. farm bills to assess patterns of support and opposition. Using Reddit posts from relevant subreddits, we employed two natural language processing models, VADER and RoBERTa, to evaluate sentiment over time. While both models yielded differing sentiment distributions, they revealed increased public engagement during farm bill years, particularly in 2018. Most sentiments were neutral, but negative opinions outweighed positive ones. Posts with stronger sentiments tended to attract more user interaction, especially controversial ones. These findings highlight the polarized yet active public discourse surrounding agricultural policy and the potential for data-driven policy …

The Operational Impact Of Chief Information Officers: Evidence From A Two-Stage Least Squares Approach, Nicholas Jasa, Linh Le, Anh Ta

Mountain Plains Business Conference

This study investigates the causal impact of Chief Information Officer (CIO) presence on firm operational efficiency. While CIOs are widely regarded as key drivers of digital transformation and strategic alignment, empirical evidence on their operational impact remains inconclusive. Using a dataset from 2004- 2019, we employ a two-stage least squares (2SLS) instrumental variables approach to estimate the effect of CIO presence (CIO) on operational efficiency, controlling for firm fixed effects. To address endogeneity concerns, we instrument CIO presence with PEERCIODENSITY, defined as the proportion of peer firms in the same industry and year that have a CIO. On average, CIO …

Acceptance Of Central Bank Digital Currency In Pakistan In A Modified Utaut2 Framework, Hassan Raza, Danish Siddiqui

Business Review

This study investigates the factors influencing consumer acceptance of Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) in Pakistan by extending the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT2) model. This study integrates Perceived Trust (T) as moderator and Shariah Compliance (SC) and Perceived Credibility (PC) as mediator to fit the model according to unique religious and socioeconomic context of Pakistan. After collecting data from 332 respondents were analyzed using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM). The result of the study indicates that Use of CBDC is most affected by Performance Expectancy (PE), Effort Expectancy (EE) and Facilitating Conditions (FC). …

2025-10-17 Agenda Book, Morehead State University. Board Of Regents.

Morehead State Board of Regents Agenda Books and Meeting Minutes

Agenda booklet for the Board of Regents meeting of October 17, 2025, which includes the minutes of the meeting held on August 8, 2025.

2025-10-17 Faculty Regent Report, Morehead State University. Faculty Senate.

Faculty Senate Records

A summary of the Board of Regents meeting of October 17, 2025 as reported by the Faculty Regent .

Passenger Delight In Liminal Spaces: Uncovering The Dynamics Of Airport Airside F&B, Thorsten Merkle, Sushanta Das

ICHRIE Research Reports

The airport airside environment is a unique and highly consequential setting for consumer behavior, where passengers’ food and beverage (F&B) decisions are shaped by time pressure, emotional states, and spatial constraints. This study empirically validates two complementary frameworks - the CX Delightors Framework and the Airport Airside Consumption Model - in the U.S. context to deepen understanding of passenger behavior in this liminal space. Using survey data from 1,374 passengers across three major U.S. hub airports (DEN, PHX, SLC), we conducted principal component analyses to refine the original nine CX Delightors attributes into five robust dimensions: Hospitality & Ambiance, Value …

Ijtgr Volume 4 & 5 Table Of Contents, Kevin A. Griffin, Luis Miguel Brito, Glen Farrugia

International Journal of Tour Guiding and Visitor Attraction Research

Table of contents for Volume 4 & 5 of the International Journal of Tour Guiding and Visitor Attraction Research

Prevalence And Predictors Of Depression And Other Mental Health Disorders In Brazilian Adults With Intellectual Disabilities: A Population-Based Secondary Analysis, Gabriela A. Wagner, Pedro Cesar Lopes Gerum, Luiz Felipe Martins, Hugo Rafel Souza Silva, Mauricio Lima, Fernando Ribeiro Duraes, Luciene Covolan

Business Faculty Publications

Objectives To investigate the occurrence of depression and mental health disorders other than depression among Brazilian people with intellectual disabilities, analysing data from a national household survey.

Design Cross-sectional epidemiological study using data from the 2019 National Health Survey (PNS).

Setting Brazil, nationwide data collection in urban and rural private households.

Participants 272 499 individuals, among whom 1.2% (n=3198) reported intellectual disabilities.

Primary outcome measures Self-reported depression and mental health disorders other than depression (anxiety, panic, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, psychosis or obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD)), either isolated or comorbid.

Results Among people with intellectual disabilities, 43.2% reported at least one mental …

Monte Carlo Analysis For A Private Equity Transaction In Excel, Tom Arnold, Xia (Summer) Liu, Cassandra D. Marshall

Finance Faculty Publications

Monte Carlo Analysis for a Private Equity Transaction in Excel

This article demonstrates a Monte Carlo analysis in Excel for a private equity transaction. The approach provides a probability-based assessment of future outcomes (i.e., waterfall calculations), with key model inputs randomly sampled from defined probability distributions. With minimal VBA programming, numerous Monte Carlo trials are generated and recorded in a second worksheet. This output can then be analyzed to assess the riskiness of the transaction. Further, because the analysis is performed entirely in Excel, it is immediately accessible to the practitioner. It is also very “transparent” in its execution, unlike …

Project Scope And Market Share Of Selected Telecommunication Firms In Nigeria, Sunday Olufemi Akintelu

International Journal of Applied Management and Technology

To maintain market share, telecommunication operators in Nigeria invest in complex, innovative projects with large budgets and tight timelines. Managing the project scope of these endeavors is a challenge, although crucial to ensuring that viable products are released and guaranteeing market share among these firms. This study examined the project scope and market share of selected telecommunication firms in Nigeria through the quantitative method and survey research. The study employed a validated adapted questionnaire, which used a six-point Likert-type scale and was administered to the study participants to collect primary data. The reliability test of the questionnaire was achieved with …

Credit Union Member Benefits: Does Local Religiosity Matter?, Travis Davidson, Thanh Ngo, Hongxia Wang

Finance and Economics

We examine the impact of religiosity on credit union member benefits and document a positive association between local religiosity and member benefits. Members of credit unions in more religious counties enjoy lower interest rates on loans, higher interest rates on deposits, and consequently lower interest spreads. The effect varies by credit union types, and results suggest a stronger association between religiosity and member benefits for credit unions with a narrower field of membership. Further analysis indicates local religiosity is associated with improved operating performance, lower non-interest expenses, and higher quality earning assets, but increased liquidity risk. The results are robust …

The Impact Of Big Five Personality Traits On Entrepreneurial Orientation, Moustafa Haj Youssef, Nagham Sayour, Naser Valaei, Hiba Hussein, Mostafa Harakeh

All Works

Our study explores the interplay between the Big Five Personality Traits (B5-PT) and Entrepreneurial Orientation (EO) among home and international entrepreneurs in the Middle East, focusing on Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. Utilizing fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA), we investigate how different combinations of personality traits influence EO in distinct entrepreneurial contexts. The findings reveal four universal configurations and four context-specific configurations that lead to high EO, highlighting the dynamic and configurational nature of entrepreneurial behaviour. For home entrepreneurs, high conscientiousness and agreeableness are key drivers of EO, reflecting a focus on collaboration and resource management within …

Employee Turnover Intentions In Nigeria's Oil And Gas Service Industry: The Role Of Retention Strategies, Abumenre Omonkhegbe Odigie

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This qualitative multiple case study explored employee turnover intentions in the Nigerian oil and gas service industry. The study focused on exploring and understanding the reasons behind employee turnover intentions in the Nigerian oil and gas service industry, which leads to high turnover rates. It examined the retention strategies adopted by organizational leaders to curb this trend and the related impact on organizational outcomes. Current business practices are centered on achieving organizational stability, which has been plagued by high employee turnover rates, raising concerns for organizational leadership that has invested heavily in its organization. A flexible design, multiple case study …

Web3-Based Identity And Kyc Innovations For Next-Generation Fintech, Usama Arshad, Abdallah Tubaishat, Sajid Anwar, Zahid Halim, Abedallah Abualkishik, Abrar Ullah

All Works

The growing reliance on digital financial services necessitates a secure, efficient, and privacy-centric approach to identity verification and Know Your Customer (KYC) compliance. Traditional identity management systems rely on centralized databases, making them susceptible to data breaches, inefficiencies, and regulatory constraints. Over 10 billion identity records have been exposed in centralized KYC breaches, leading to a 60% increase in financial fraud cases. The rise of Decentralized Finance (DeFi) has further complicated KYC compliance, requiring innovative solutions that balance privacy and regulatory requirements. This paper proposes a Web3-powered decentralized identity framework that leverages blockchain technology, self-sovereign identity (SSI), verifiable credentials (VCs), …

2025-10-16 Faculty Senate Newsletter, Morehead State University. Faculty Senate.

Faculty Senate Records

Faculty Senate newsletter from October 16, 2025.

2025-10-16 Faculty Senate Meeting Minutes, Morehead State University. Faculty Senate.

Faculty Senate Records

Faculty Senate meeting minutes from October 16, 2025.

2025-10-16 Faculty Senate Scoop Newsletter, Morehead State University. Faculty Senate.

Faculty Senate Records

Faculty Senate Scoop newsletter from October 16, 2025.

Job Burnout And Executive Leader Turnover, David Zayas

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Executive leadership roles are characterized by increasing organizational demands that necessitate substantial cognitive and physical effort, thereby elevating the risk of emotional exhaustion, diminished work engagement, decreased job satisfaction, and increased turnover intention. This study investigates the impact of organizational and occupational stressors on executive clergy leader burnout and turnover intentions. A qualitative single case study was undertaken to delve into the challenges faced by executive clergy leaders (senior, executive, or associate pastors) in the religious sector, where demanding workloads are exacerbating role ambiguity, creating work-life balance conflicts, fostering unhealthy work practices, and influencing job burnout. Three organizational theories (e.g., …

Disruption In International Oil Supply Chains, Michael E. Everton

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The specific problem addressed by this study was the possible failure of globally integrated oil and energy supply chains in the Gulf Coast region of the United States when responding to operational disruptions, resulting in the possible inability of firms to balance risks and investments. The research, using a flexible qualitative case study, examined industry executive management perspectives on how energy supply chains balance risk and investment due to unanticipated operational risk events. This study's key findings and conclusions from literature and the research are that strategic global energy supply chains continuously seek aggressive investment in agility, resilience, and restorative …