Unraveling Job Disengagement: Exploring Causes and Solutions

Unraveling Job Disengagement: Exploring Causes and Solutions Melissa Meade, Madison Caudill, and Dr. Jon McChesney, Mentor Department of Recreation and Park Administration, Eastern Kentucky University Job disengagement poses a significant challenge within organizational settings. Employees exhibit emotional detachment and diminished commitment to their job responsibilities. Addressing job disengagement is imperative for fostering a positive workplace culture and strengthening organizational performance. This detachment transcends dissatisfaction, penetrating morale, productivity, and employee retention (Burnett, 2023). Root causes of disengagement include ineffective leadership, limited growth prospects, high-stress work environments, and exclusionary organizational cultures. This research examines the effects of recreation on employee engagement. Recreation emerges as a promising solution to enhance employee engagement, offering avenues to add fun and replenish energy throughout the workday. Organizations can enrich job roles by strategically incorporating recreational activities and creating vibrant, fulfilling work environments. Engaging in recreational pursuits outside of work hours also serves to rejuvenate employees, countering the effects of disengagement. Furthermore, integrating enjoyment into workplace activities enhances satisfaction, morale, productivity, and employee retention (Tews, 2013). Embracing job enrichment strategies centered on recreation promotes employee well-being and effectively combats job disengagement. It is essential to recognize the pivotal role of managers and the work environment in implementing these strategies and fostering a supportive organizational culture conducive to employee engagement and fulfillment. This research underscores the importance of recreation to employee engagement here at Eastern Kentucky University with employees indicating that recreation enriches their job significantly

3D Printing Technology Acceptance through a Peer-Assisted Learning Continuing Education Course

As rehabilitation technologies rapidly develop, the lack of evidence-based training remains a barrier to technology adoption. Continuing education (CE) may provide training opportunities for new technologies, specifically 3D printing. Current models of CE course design rely on traditional, pedagogical methods, including didactic delivery, as opposed to applying adult learning models, which integrate experiential, self-directed learning to promote collaboration and problem-solving. This study sought to determine whether the active learning approach of peer-assisted learning (PAL) promoted collaboration and transference of knowledge between rehabilitation clinician peers when learning 3D printing. In this mixed methods study, 35 clinicians from occupational therapy, physical therapy, and speech language pathology disciplines participated in two hours of CE, which integrated tenets of PAL to explore attitudes toward technology adoption perceptions as measured by the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM). Pretest and posttest results were analyzed using paired permutation tests. All TAM responses improved significantly (p \u3c .05), suggesting that for rehabilitation clinicians, CE using an andragogical PAL approach contributed to improving technology acceptance of 3D printing. Content analysis of posttest open-ended questions further explored PAL implementation. The qualitative themes were: (1) Active opportunities supported learning, (2) group format facilitated problem-solving within a team, (3) technology was easier than expected, and (4) barriers remain for technology application in practice. In conclusion, the themes support the integration of PAL as a delivery method of CE to enhance technology adoption

Motivated Mentorships: How Reasons for Undergraduate Research Predict Scholarly Outcomes

Mentorship experiences involve a variety of motives at work simultaneously, and some of those are more effective than others. We hypothesized that personally-autonomous reasons (PARs, “for me”) and relationally-autonomous reasons (RARs, “for us”) for pursuing undergraduate research would be associated with better perceived and scholarly outcomes, whereas controlled reasons (CRs, “I have to”) would be associated with worse outcomes. Fifty-five undergraduate students who were presenting their mentored projects at university-hosted poster events completed surveys indicating their reasons for working on and completing their project, their perceptions of their project and their mentorship, and the number of past and planned future projects, presentations, and continued mentorship experiences. The results indicated that both PARs and RARs were associated with positive outcomes, but PARs were more commonly associated with the project and RARs were more commonly associated with the mentorship. Implications and practical applications for mentorship approaches are discussed

Do Takeover Premiums Hurt Post-Acquisition Performance? – Marketing Capabilities Matter!

Purpose The primary aim of this study is to resolve a longstanding debate concerning the impact of takeover premiums on post-acquisition performance. Specifically, we aim to examine how acquirers\u27 marketing capabilities and payment methods moderate the relationship between takeover premiums and post-acquisition performance. Design/methodology/approach This study employs linear regression to examine the relationship between acquirers\u27 marketing capabilities, payment methods, takeover premiums and post-acquisition performance in the Chinese manufacturing industry. Data for the analysis were collected from both mergers and acquisition (M&A) announcements and the China Stock Market & Accounting Research Database (CSMAR), covering 1,169 acquisitions from 2012 to 2021. Findings The results indicate that acquirers\u27 marketing capabilities moderate the impact of takeover premiums on post-acquisition performance. When acquirers possess strong marketing capabilities, takeover premiums increase post-acquisition performance. Conversely, when acquirers lack strong marketing capabilities, takeover premiums are not significantly related to post-acquisition performance. Additionally, it is noteworthy that takeover premiums show a positive correlation with post-acquisition performance, irrespective of the payment methods employed by acquirers for target firms. Originality/value Given that takeover premiums are essential for acquiring resources from target firms, it is crucial to maximize the value of these acquired resources. Our findings suggest that acquirers with weaker marketing capabilities before the deal should consider a more conservative approach to pricing target firms

Outcomes from an Intercollegiate Client-Centered Interprofessional Occupation-Based Assistive Technology Hackathon: A Pilot Program Evaluation

Assistive technology (AT) supports engagement for individuals with disabilities by improving independence in daily living tasks, work and productive activities, learning activities, and societal participation. However, for many individuals, access to AT is limited due to high costs, device availability, and inability to be customized. The Maker Movement and hackathons provide an opportunity to educate health profession students, design students, and community members about AT while engaging these stakeholders in addressing unmet AT needs for individuals with disabilities. The current study examines outcomes from an Intercollegiate Assistive Technology Hackathon. Nine co-designers (community members with disabilities) and 36 students from three universities participated in a seven-day hybrid voluntary hackathon to develop a client-centered and contextually relevant custom solution for a daily living challenge. Students, co-designers, and stakeholders gathered virtually to review the ten project pitches. Student preferences were identified, and event co-chairs curated teams. Hack teams collaborated virtually and in person at university-sponsored maker spaces to further define the challenge, ideate possible solutions, develop a prototype, test the prototype, and, in some cases, create a final product. Each team developed a collaborative solution. Personal and professional growth was reported by 95.2% of the student respondents. Solutions and additional outcomes are discussed and recommendations for future hackathons are shared

Title TBD

For Scholars Day, our submission will feature a case study poster focusing on a patient encountered in the clinical setting, who experienced postpartum hemorrhage following a cesarean delivery. The purpose of our project is to examine the nursing implications associated with caring for women who encounter this complication during childbirth. Our methodology involves gathering data from the clinical setting, including detailed assessments of patient records, nursing interventions, and outcomes. Furthermore, we plan to compare our clinical findings with existing. By incorporating clinical insights with evidence-based research, our presentation will contribute to a deeper understanding of effective nursing interventions and their impact on patient outcomes. While specific findings and conclusions are not yet available, our discussion will focus on the implications of our study for nursing practice, education, and research. We anticipate that our project will provide valuable insights for those attending the Scholar’s Day event

“You Just Haven’t Found the Right Person Yet.”: A Study of the Relationship Differences Between Asexual and Allosexual Individuals

Asexuality is an underreported and scarcely researched group. This study aimed to determine relationship and relationship goal differences between asexual and allosexual individuals. Using 134 responses to a Qualtrics survey, the current research found only one self-identified asexual individual and five total Asexuality Identification Scale identified individuals. Results showed little difference between Allosexual and Asexual relationships and relationship goals. There was a significant difference between the realization of an identity different from heterosexual and the self-claiming of an identity name

Fueling Success: How Effective Supplier Relationship Management Affects Automotive Supply Chain Performance

Since the invention of the first automobile, more than one hundred and thirty-six years ago, the amount of people owning or traveling via automobiles has grown substantially. Over time, the automotive industry has continued to grow into a massive organization delivering vehicles to consumers everywhere. To understand how the automotive industry has evolved over the years, one must look at the various aspects that go into creating the parts needed for each vehicle. Understanding how effective supplier relationships affect supply chain performance begins with buyers who can efficiently select adequate suppliers. Once a buyer can do so, they then must establish strategies that will maintain and develop those relationships. Buyer-supplier relationship management is critical to supply chain performance in that companies that engage in collaborative buyer-supplier relationships have higher value chain profitability. This study aimed to explain how buyers can drive supply chain performance through selected suppliers while continuously improving upon the overall production of each individual automobile

Significant Student Debt of Occupational Therapists Post- Graduation One to Five Years: Their Debt Context and Impact on Personal and Professional Lives

A growing amount of research examines the personal and financial burden of students in healthcare programs who graduate with large amounts of student loan debt. However, a paucity of literature addresses occupational therapists’ student loan debt burden. This study was conducted to describe the context of occupational therapists who have significant debt and the impact on their personal and professional lives. This study employed an exploratory sequential design in which quantitative data from a survey was collected first, followed by the collection of qualitative data from participant interviews to study occupational therapy graduates who accrued more than $100,000 in student loan debt. Forty-four occupational therapy graduates from Creighton University completed a survey asking questions about personal choices in relation to debt. Of these respondents, 20 completed a follow-up semi-structured interview. Six themes related to the effect of debt on personal lives emerged from the interviews, including: 1) mental health, 2) future purchasing power, 3) relationships, 4) maintaining life work balance, 5) frugality, and 6) financial literacy. Four themes related to effect of debt on professional lives were: 1) job limitations, 2) stuck, 3) career choice, and 4) salary dissonance. Future research should further examine how programs can address these concerns to promote student and practitioner well-being