Business Administration, Management, and Operations Commons^™

Validating Generative Ai For Scoring Open-Ended Training Assessments, Thomas M. Cavanagh, Christa Kiersch, A. O'Brien

Barowsky School of Business | Conference Presenations

Open-ended assessments are essential for workplace training but limited by scoring resources. This paper provides a psychometric evaluation of generative AI ratings of open-ended responses in training contexts, offering evidence for the reliability, validity, and utility of GenAI scores. The study demonstrates best practices for using GenAI as a rater through effective task design, quality rubrics, and optimized prompts. Results support GenAI as a practical solution for scaling open-ended assessments while maintaining psychometric rigor in workplace learning and development.

Ai In The Workplace: Understanding Role Ambiguity, Employee Motivation, And Learning Engagement, Sheena Leah Metzger

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

The rapid integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into organizational processes has altered how work is performed and experienced by employees, yet empirical research examining the human implications of AI-driven change remains limited. This study examined the perceived impact of AI implementation on role ambiguity, employee motivation, and training engagement, and investigated the moderating role of perceived organizational support (POS). Grounded in Job Demands–Resources (JD-R) Theory and Organizational Support Theory (OST), the research examined how employees interpreted and responded to AI-related changes in their work environment.

The results offer valuable insights into a shifting perception of how employees experience technology in …

Artisanal Retreats, Michelle Larose

MA Projects

Artisanal Retreats is a luxury travel provider blending holistic personal wellness with art creation, appreciation, education and collection. We offer our clients an unparalleled retreat experience at our 250-acre pastoral escape, combining traditional wellness amenities and activities with art focused pursuits to aid guests in achieving optimal Creative Wellness. Set on a gorgeous, historic farm near the bucolic town of Middleburg, Virginia, Artisanal Retreats’ guests are transported to a heightened level of relaxation and vitality through our exceptional programming and hospitality. Our team is comprised of seasoned professionals, from both the art world and the wellness industry, intent on bringing …

Global Art: An Economic Exploration Of The Factors Driving Sensible Gallery Expansion, James Mclennan

MA Theses

The goal of this thesis is to develop a practical and defensible decision tool to guide art gallery expansion. Focusing on four cities – New York, Hong Kong, London, and Doha – the thesis translates heterogeneous considerations into a matrix that scores each of the cities according to eight factors: Market & Demand; Regulation & Tax; Logistics & Shipping; Labor & Immigration; Legal Entity & Finance; Brand, PR & Audience; Competition & Benchmarking; and Risk. Sub-factors are scored and averaged to provide results on how each city scores against each other. The output is a ranked set of city recommendations …

Does Blue-Chip Art Genuinely Provide Diversification And Risk Mitigation Once Illiquidity, Transaction Frictions, And Survivorship Bias Are Explicitly Incorporated Into Performance Analysis, Or Is The “Safe Haven” Label Fundamentally Misleading?, Radhika Vissanji

MA Theses

Blue-chip art is widely presented as a safe haven and portfolio diversifier, particularly during periods of financial market uncertainty. This perception is reinforced by art price indices and industry reports that emphasise long-term appreciation, relatively low volatility, and weak correlation with traditional financial assets. Despite the growing prominence of these claims in advisory and institutional discourse, there remains limited agreement on whether such properties persist once the structural characteristics of the art market are fully taken into account. This thesis evaluates whether blue-chip art genuinely delivers diversification and risk-mitigation benefits under realistic market conditions. Focusing on three structural factors, illiquidity, …

Pedagogical Readiness And Adaptability In Higher Education In Egypt: An Exploration Of Generational Disparities In Ai Adoption, Maha Ahmed Zaki Dajani, Israa Lewaa Elhamd, Hadia Fakhr Eldin

Business Administration

This study investigates generational differences in the adoption of AI tools in Egyptian higher education, examining how pedagogical readiness and adaptability influence engagement among students and educators. It addresses a key gap in the literature—the lack of an integrated pedagogical framework combining Kolb’s Experiential Learning Theory and Constructivist Learning Theory to explain AI adoption across generations. Prior studies have seldom compared Generations X, Y, and Z within one empirical model, and evidence from Egyptian universities remains limited despite distinctive cultural and institutional contexts shaping AI readiness.

Using a survey-based design grounded in these theories, the study employs structural equation modelling …

Performance Outcomes Of Critical Access Hospitals: A Resource Dependence Theory Evaluation Of Change Of Ownership Versus Independence, Colette Christina Martin

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) play a vital role in sustaining healthcare access in rural communities, yet many face persistent financial and operational constraints. A change in hospital ownership is frequently seen as a strategy to sustain these hospitals, improve access to capital, supplement administrative infrastructure, and leverage system-level expertise. However, empirical evidence regarding the effectiveness of acquisition for CAHs remains limited and mixed. Guided by Resource Dependence Theory (RDT) and the Balanced Scorecard framework, this study examines whether ownership change is associated with differences in financial performance, utilization, staffing, and quality outcomes among CAHs.

Using Medicare Cost Reports, the American …

Signals Of Value: A Comparative Analysis Of Sde And Ebitda In Predicting Microbusiness Sale Price, Joseph E. Turley

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

This dissertation compares the predictive accuracy and stability of Seller’s Discretionary Earnings (SDE) and Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation, and Amortization (EBITDA) in explaining realized sale prices of microbusinesses. Microbusinesses, defined as firms with fewer than ten employees and annual revenue below $2.5 million, face persistent valuation challenges due to information asymmetry, owner dependence, and informal financial reporting. The study analyzes 5,499 completed U.S. transactions from the DealStats database (2014–2024) after applying microbusiness criteria and outlier trimming. Predictive accuracy is measured by absolute percentage error between actual sale prices and prices implied by each metric. Findings show that SDE-based predictions …

Sociocultural Outsidership In Entrepreneurship: Rethinking The Double-Edged Role In Marginalisation, Robert J. Pidduck, Susana C. Santos, Eric W. Liguori, Reginald Tucker, Alexander Newman

Management Faculty Publications

This editorial introduces the special issue on marginalisation and entrepreneurship. While entrepreneurship research has long examined the impact of economic deprivation and structural barriers, far less attention has been given to sociocultural elements of outsidership – such as status incongruence, class-based identity conflict or cultural misalignment, among other related facets. We bring these dynamics to the fore, offering a conceptually rich yet ideologically neutral lens through which to understand how outsider dynamics can shape entrepreneurial cognition, legitimacy and venture development. Further, by synthesising emerging work across fragmented literatures, we propose a research agenda that explores sociocultural outsidership not only as …

From State House To World Health Assembly: The Distinct Missions Of National And International Leadership In Oral Healthcare, Robert A. Faiella Dmd, Mmsc., Mba, William R. Calnon Dds, Facd

Journal of the American College of Dentists

Leadership in oral healthcare has long been treated as a skill assimilated over time through experience rather than intentionally defined, taught, and assessed. Unlike clinical practice, education, research, and infection control, leadership in oral healthcare lacks consistent standards despite its critical role in integrating these systems and guiding the profession’s future. As healthcare becomes increasingly collaborative and global, dentistry must deliberately develop leadership capabilities at multiple levels. This article examines leadership at the national and international levels, using the American Dental Association’s role within U.S. and global health and dental organizations as examples. It explores why these leadership contexts require …

Long-Lasting Impact Of Public Health Dentistry, Michal Herman Dds, Facd

Journal of the American College of Dentists

This article reflects on the enduring impact of public health dentistry through the author’s 25-year professional journey serving underserved and marginalized communities. It examines persistent barriers to equitable oral health care, including workforce shortages, inadequate insurance coverage, racial disparities, and limited access in rural and low-income populations. Drawing on experiences in nonprofit and community dentistry, the article highlights the importance of mentorship, advocacy, leadership, and community engagement in addressing oral health inequities. It argues that public health dentistry represents a form of professional altruism grounded in service and social responsibility, and calls on dental professionals to expand access, support workforce …

An Exploration Of Knowledge-Sharing Behaviour Within A Community-Based Service Provider: A Reflexive Thematic Analysis, Paul Mcmanus

Doctoral

This qualitative research examines the knowledge-sharing (KS) behaviour of employees within a non-profit organisation (NPO) based in Dublin, Ireland. This NPO is a community-based service provider that supports people with disabilities and their families. It operates under the aegis of the Health Service Executive (HSE). The ability of employees to share knowledge is fundamental to the sustained care of society’s most vulnerable. Research on employees’ KS behaviour remains underrepresented within the non-profit sector. This gap in knowledge aligns with the NPO’s view that its KS environment requires improvement. In response to the literature review, a developed taxonomy conceptualises the organisation …

Leadership Training Outcomes In Predoctoral Dental Education: A Narrative Review, Ayato Shigihara Ba, D4, Beatriz Bezerra Dds, Phd, Facd, Ficd, Shelia Yaghmai Dds, Mph, Facd, Marc Hayashi Dmd, Mba, Facd, Ficd, Fpfa

Journal of the American College of Dentists

Dentists are increasingly expected to serve as leaders within clinical teams, healthcare systems, organized dentistry, and their communities. Despite this expectation, leadership training remains inconsistent in predoctoral dental education. National data suggest that only 24% of practicing dentists feel adequately prepared for leadership roles in practice through their dental education, with even fewer reporting preparedness at broader organizational or systemic levels. Although CODA Standards 2-19 and 2-20 require demonstrated leadership competency, implementation across dental schools remains highly variable. A narrative literature review was conducted using PubMed, Google Scholar, and institutional reports to identify implemented leadership education initiatives in US dental …

The Ethics Of Dental Insurance Submission And Adjudication, Robert Rosenthal Dds

Journal of the American College of Dentists

Dental insurance claims sit at the intersection of professional ethics, contract administration, and regulatory oversight. This article argues that claim submission and payer adjudication should be treated as ethical practices grounded in truthfulness, fair use of shared resources, and respect for patient autonomy. Common failure modes range from misunderstandings of benefit provisions to intentional misrepresentations of diagnosis, procedure coding, dates of service, or supporting narratives. Because payer communications and attachments become part of the claim file, inaccuracies may create downstream harm, including patient financial confusion, audit exposure, recoupment, network consequences, and professional discipline. This article offers practical guidance to help …

Understanding Supply Chain Innovation, Kenneth B. Kahn, David P. Cook

Marketing Faculty Publications

Purpose – Supply chain innovation (SCI) represents a complex construct, capturing the interest of practitioners and researchers alike. There is no commonly accepted definition for the term, field research on the construct appears to be highly fragmented and industry examples demonstrate diverse ways in which it occurs.

Design/methodology/approach – Reviewing definitional literature and top winners of the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals’ Supply Chain Innovation Award, this manuscript identifies salient points about SCI to guide continued research and industry practice.

Findings – Seven points are made about SCI. These pertain to its multiple definitions, technology, relationships, performance outcomes, conceptual …

Partnerships Establishing And Sustaining High-Quality Youth Pre-Apprenticeship: Exploring Key Roles And Skills, Russel L. Parker, James E. Bartlett Ii, Michelle E. Bartlett

Educational Leadership & Workforce Development Faculty Publications

This study examined the partners, roles, structures, and skills needed to develop and operate successful youth pre-apprenticeship programs for CTE programs and explored how they were evaluated. The purpose of the study is to provide insights for CTE leaders on developing and sustaining youth pre-apprenticeship programs, pathways to apprenticeships to offer youth career opportunities and livable wages without attending four-year colleges. This study highlights the roles partners play in successful youth pre-apprenticeship programs, emphasizing collaboration between education, industry, and communities. It identifies collaborators serving business functions such as leadership, marketing, finance, human resources, customer service, general management, public relations, and …

Tele-Psychiatry Adoption And Its Effect On Rural Mental Health Service Availability, Anna Heineman, Kaylee Canterbury, Taylor Carpenter

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Purpose of study: This study examined the association between tele-psychiatry implementation and mental health service availability in rural healthcare settings. The analysis compared tele-psychiatry to traditional in-person psychiatric care among rural populations, focusing on access and utilization outcomes, including time to first psychiatric appointment, number of completed visits, and appointment no-show rates.

Methods: A qualitative literature review following a systematic approach was conducted using peer-reviewed articles published between 2016-2026. Databases included PubMed, ProQuest Health, CINAHL, Journal of Medical Internet Research, and the National Library of Medicine, with Google Scholar used as a supplemental source. The review followed PRISMA …

Too Warm To Lead? How Motherhood And Racioethnicity Shape Perceptions Of Warmth And Competence, Patricia Guerrero

Management Dissertations

Women continue to face workplace bias, including wage disparities (Fry & Aragao, 2025) and barriers to advancement like the glass ceiling (Babic & Hansez, 2021). For mothers these challenges are compounded by stereotypes tied to their maternal status, such as assumptions about reduced commitment and the motherhood penalty (Arena Jr. et al., 2023). Research shows mothers are often viewed as warmer but less competent than non-mothers, which can hinder career progression (Cuddy et al., 2004; Heilman & Okimoto, 2008). Racial and ethnic stereotypes further shape perceptions, with Black women often labeled as “aggressive” and Latinas as “nurturing” (Ghavami & Peplau, …

What Is A Standard? Perspectives On Acd’S Standards For Leadership In Oral Healthcare, N. Karl Haden Phd, Facd

Journal of the American College of Dentists

The American College of Dentists’ new Standards for Leadership in Oral Healthcare mark the first attempt in dentistry to articulate standards specifically for leadership, complementing the broader orientation offered by the Ethics Handbook for Dentistry. This article explores the basic question, “What is a standard?” Close reading of the document indicates at least three distinct but related senses of the term: an expectation, a norm, and a guiding principle. The article offers an interpretation of how these three senses fit together coherently. Referencing the Handbook, the article argues that the leadership standards are most impactful only when habituated, when practiced …

American College Of Dentists Team Leadership Standards, Julie Connolly Dds Mph Ms Facd, Sreenivas Koka Dds Ms Phd Mba Mas Facd Fcgdent

Journal of the American College of Dentists

Leadership standards elevate the profession of dentistry by establishing how leaders can be effective and impactful. The American College of Dentists presents 10 carefully curated team leadership standards that serve as guiding principles for team leaders in dental settings. When these standards are followed, leaders increase the likelihood of creating and sustaining a high-performing, mission-focused team. The importance of each standard is described and, where appropriate, examples are provided.

Standards For Leadership In Oral Healthcare: Applying Local And Regional Standards In Practice, Teresa A. Dolan Dds, Mph, Facd, Robin Henderson Dds, Facd

Journal of the American College of Dentists

The dental profession has well-established standards governing clinical practice, education, and research, yet has lacked comparable standards to guide leadership behavior. The American College of Dentists (ACD) Standards for Leadership in Oral Healthcare Task Force developed a comprehensive framework spanning four levels: 1) core; 2) team; 3) local and regional; and 4) national and international. This article describes the local and regional standards, which include 10 standards organized into three themes—Building Foundation, Leading with Purpose, and Developing Others—and their application through interactive workshops at the ACD Spring Leadership Conference 2026. Using structured role-playing exercises, Section leaders and Regents stress-tested the …

J Am Coll Dent 2026 92 2b

Journal of the American College of Dentists

This special issue of the Journal of the American College of Dentists responds to a growing but long-underrecognized demand for humanities and ethics in dental education, practice, and scholarship. It emerges from the work of the National Collaborative on Humanities and Ethics in Dentistry (NCHED), a multi-institutional partnership formed in 2023 to address the persistent exclusion of dentistry from broader health humanities conversations. Through national webinars and scholarly collaboration, NCHED has demonstrated substantial interest in ethical reflection, historical analysis, narrative inquiry, and the arts as essential to understanding oral health and dental care.

The unexpectedly strong response to the call …

Evaluating The Burnout Mitigating Effects Of A Structured Mentorship Program In Newly Hired Advanced Practice Providers, Melissa Soper

DNP Projects

Importance: Burnout is a leading driver of clinician intent to leave, lower productivity, increased medical errors, and increased resource use.

Objective: The purpose of this project was to evaluate the effects of an evidence-based mentorship program on newly hired advanced practice providers’ (APPs’) level of stress, burnout, and professional fulfillment.

Results: At baseline, APPs demonstrated higher stress levels, moderate professional fulfillment, and low burnout. Outcomes showed improvement at the end of a mentorship program.

Conclusion: Longitudinal studies with larger sample sizes are needed to determine the true effect of a 6-month mentorship intervention on APP burnout, stress, and professional fulfillment.

Artificial Intelligence–Enabled Revenue Cycle Management And Financial Performance In Healthcare Organizations, K’Reesa Webster

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

The purpose of this review was to examine how artificial intelligence–enabled revenue cycle management (AI-enabled RCM) systems have been associated with financial performance outcomes in healthcare organizations. A literature review following a systematic process consistent with PRISMA 2020 guidelines was conducted to identify quantitative studies published between 2015 and 2026. Eligible studies were required to report at least one financial outcome related to claim denial rate, days in accounts receivable, or operating margin. Twenty-seven studies met all inclusion criteria. Findings across these studies indicated that AI-enabled RCM systems have been associated with lower denial rates, shorter accounts receivable timelines, and …

Integrating Social Media And Entrepreneurship: A Study Of Social Media, Creativity, Strategy, And Innovation In Building A Successful Brand Presence In The Digital Era, Lys Ishiari

Undergraduate Honors Theses

Social media has completely changed what it means to start a business. It was once just a place for personal interactions but is currently a powerful channel that drives the growth of multiple industries (Felicia, 2022). Now, anyone can use their personal creativity and hobbies to build a brand, especially on apps like Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok. The purpose of this study is to identify the common themes behind social media entrepreneurs’ success, which allows individuals to become both creators and business owners in the digital age. Furthermore, a key part of writing this paper is personal; it connects to …

Psilocybin-Assisted Therapy And Alcohol Use Disorder, Zoe R. Evans

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

This current paper has studied whether the psilocybin-assisted treatment has been linked with meaningful shifts in three clinical outcomes among adults 18 years old and above diagnosed with alcohol use disorder (AUD): percentage of heavy drinking days, abstinence rates, and neural responsiveness to alcohol-related cues. A literature review following a systematic approach was performed using guidelines from PRISMA 2020 based on four databases, namely PubMed and PsycINFO, and Scopus and CINAHL, where peer-reviewed articles published between 2015 and 2026 were included. A semi-structured professional interview with a clinical researcher in the Division of Addiction Sciences of Marshall University was also …

Does A More Functionally Diverse Top Management Team Make The Financial Statements More Comparable?, Md Mahmudul Hasan, Audrey Wen-Hsin Hsu, Sayan Sarkar, Tsung-Hsuan Joey Yang

Accounting Faculty Publications

We examine whether top management team (TMT) functional diversity affects financial statement comparability. Drawing upon upper echelons theory and the information sharing perspective in diversity research, we argue that TMT functional diversity produces more comparable financial statements due to better information sharing and integration. Using a sample of US firms, we find that financial statement comparability is positively associated with TMT functional diversity. We also find that the positive relationship between TMT functional diversity and comparability is more pronounced in firms with a poor information environment. Our findings remain robust after addressing endogeneity concerns. This study contributes to the existing …

The Future Begins Today: A Case Study On Retirement And Hsa Decisions, Bonnie R. Albritton, Amy Foshee Holmes, Stephan A. Stewart

School of Business Faculty Research

This case study explores retirement and health plan decisions faced by many students who are newly hired as full-time employees. Students are drawn into the storyline of two former college classmates and friends as one accepts a full-time position after graduation and the other seeks a master's degree in accounting. The accounting student takes on the role of a consultant to research retirement and health plan options, calculate the impact on take-home pay, and estimate taxable income and related taxes. Learning objectives for the case include understanding how the tax consequences differ between retirement plans, explaining the attributes of a …

Developing Empathy In Business Students Through Humanities-Based Study Abroad: An Exploratory Empirical Study, Jorge Colazo, Makiko Fukuda, Katsuo Nishikawa Chávez

School of Business Faculty Research

No abstract provided.

Unlocking Organizational Support Through Psychological Empowerment: Identification And Test Of Transformational Leadership As A Catalyst Of Perceived Organizational Support, Ryan L. Klinger, Nathapon Siangchokyoo, Tipat Sottiwan

Management Faculty Publications

Organizational support theory (OST) explains how employees develop and respond to beliefs about their organization, with perceived organizational support (POS) representing a central construct within this framework. Integrating psychological empowerment theory, we examine an intrinsic motivational pathway through which POS relates to employee in-role performance and identify transformational leadership as a contextual catalyst that may strengthen this process. We test a multilevel moderated mediation model using multisource and multi-time data from 217 employees and 41 supervisors. Results indicate that POS is positively related to in-role performance through the psychological empowerment dimensions of competence and self-determination. Moreover, transformational leadership strengthens the …