Challenges to interorganizational coordination in integrated coastal management in the developing world : a case study from southwestern Madagascar

Includes abstract.Includes bibliographical references (leaves 79-91).This dissertation discusses the challenges to interorganizational collaboration in Integrated Coastal Management (ICM) projects in the developing world. After roughly 20 years of implementation, ICM is just beginning to systematically review its initiatives especially in the developing world. The early reviews of ICM initiatives that have been published note several challenges that are hindering the effectiveness of many ICM initiatives. One of these challenges is how to implement effective interorganizational coordination in ICM initiatives

A Transcendental Phenomenological Study of the Lived Experiences of Middle Managers: Self-determined Lifelong Learning in the Banking Industry

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to describe the experiences of middle managers in the banking industry practicing heutagogy to develop lifelong learning skills. The theory guiding this study is Deci and Ryan’s self-determination theory and its relationship with lifelong learning. This study aimed to answer the central research question: What are the lived experiences of middle managers in the banking industry practicing heutagogy to develop lifelong learning skills? Data collected from individual interviews, focus groups, and journal prompts were synthesized using open and axial coding to identify patterns and connections in the resulting data. Data analysis followed the Stevick-Colaizzi-Keen method described by Moustakas. Following an in-depth analysis of the collected data, five major themes emerged. Learning and employment growth, lifelong learning and adaptation, organizational implementation of learning, referrals and career advancement, and personal growth through experience and accomplishment offer a valuable perspective into middle managers\u27 experiences in the banking industry practicing heutagogy to develop lifelong learning skills. These themes provide insight into the various aspects of their personal and professional growth journey. The study concludes by discussing the implications and findings for future research

Gender-Based Pay Inequality in the Canadian Insurance Companies

AbstractThe problem in this study was gender-based pay inequality among women at Canadian insurance companies. The purpose of this hermeneutic phenomenological study was to understand gender-based pay inequality for women at Canadian insurance companies. Aigner\u27s, Cain\u27s, Arrow\u27s, and Phelps\u27 statistical discrimination theory guided the study. The theoretical foundation also included the human capital theory by Becker and Schultz. The research questions focused on understanding C-suite and V-level executives’ lived experiences of gender-based pay inequality and identifying effective strategies that should be adopted to overcome the problem at Canadian insurance companies. This study used purposeful sampling to recruit 15 C-suite and V-level executives from Canadian insurance companies. Twelve participants were necessary to reach saturation. Inductive coding started after the transcript verification. A thematic analysis of the 12 transcripts helped to establish six themes: statistical discrimination; limited efficacy; gender equality policies; standard, fair, and transparent hiring and promotion practices; actively seeking women in leadership positions; and antioppression training. Participants stated that the women’s remuneration was not congruent with their experience, education, training, or qualifications because of statistical discrimination. The implications for positive social change are that policymakers should ensure that gender pay equity laws get universally implemented in public and private companies on the federal and provincial levels. The policymakers at companies also need to adopt fair and transparent hiring and promotion strategies, implement antioppression training, and increase the quota representation of women in top-level positions and committees to influence positive social change further

Gender-Based Pay Inequality in the Canadian Insurance Companies

AbstractThe problem in this study was gender-based pay inequality among women at Canadian insurance companies. The purpose of this hermeneutic phenomenological study was to understand gender-based pay inequality for women at Canadian insurance companies. Aigner\u27s, Cain\u27s, Arrow\u27s, and Phelps\u27 statistical discrimination theory guided the study. The theoretical foundation also included the human capital theory by Becker and Schultz. The research questions focused on understanding C-suite and V-level executives’ lived experiences of gender-based pay inequality and identifying effective strategies that should be adopted to overcome the problem at Canadian insurance companies. This study used purposeful sampling to recruit 15 C-suite and V-level executives from Canadian insurance companies. Twelve participants were necessary to reach saturation. Inductive coding started after the transcript verification. A thematic analysis of the 12 transcripts helped to establish six themes: statistical discrimination; limited efficacy; gender equality policies; standard, fair, and transparent hiring and promotion practices; actively seeking women in leadership positions; and antioppression training. Participants stated that the women’s remuneration was not congruent with their experience, education, training, or qualifications because of statistical discrimination. The implications for positive social change are that policymakers should ensure that gender pay equity laws get universally implemented in public and private companies on the federal and provincial levels. The policymakers at companies also need to adopt fair and transparent hiring and promotion strategies, implement antioppression training, and increase the quota representation of women in top-level positions and committees to influence positive social change further

Fixed Effects Estimation of Private Health Insurance Influence on Factors Affecting Workplace Outcomes: Survey of income and program participation analysis

As a critical component of thriving administrative culture and management, I find the need to improve workplace outcomes by better understanding factors that influence worker demographics and employment characteristics influenced by private health insurance. As such, I conducted this quantitative longitudinal, panel survey analysis on Survey of Income and Program Participation (SIPP) variables. Fixed effects regression is employed to analyze the factors among the two predictors and one outcome variable. The interactions among the thirteen variables tested and mediation from private health insurance are examined and substantiated via a series of Sobel tests. Results showed that independent variables of employment characteristics and private health insurance influenced the likelihood of sickness absenteeism and productivity. Additionally, results showed that private health insurance partially mediates the influence of the independent variables on the outcomes. These findings suggest that businesses and policymakers ought to ensure health insurance coverage for all workers. Keywords: Employment Characteristics, Fixed Effects, Health Insurance, Sickness Absenteeism, Survey of Income and Program Participation, Productivity, Worker Demographics, Workplace Outcome

New Directions in Compensation Research: Synergies, Risk, and Survival

We describe and use two theoretical frameworks, the resource-based view of the firm and institutional theory, as lenses for examining three promising areas of compensation research. First, we examine the nature of the relationship between pay and effectiveness. Does pay typically have a main effect or, instead, does the relationship depend on other human resource activities and organization characteristics? If the latter is true, then there are synergies between pay and these other factors and thus, conclusions drawn from main effects models may be misleading. Second, we discuss a relatively neglected issue in pay research, the concept of risk as it applies to investments in pay programs. Although firms and researchers tend to focus on expected returns from compensation interventions, analysis of the risk, or variability, associated with these returns may be essential for effective decision-making. Finally ,pay program survival, which has been virtually ignored in systematic pay research, is investigated. Survival appears to have important consequences for estimating pay plan risk and returns, and is also integral to the discussion of pay synergies. Based upon our two theoretical frameworks, we suggest specific research directions for pay program synergies, risk, and survival

Examining the Relationship Between School Climate and Teacher Self-Efficacy in Oregon

The purpose of this quantitative, predictive correlational study is to determine if school climate (SC) factors can accurately predict teachers\u27 self-efficacy (TSE) in Oregon public schools. Using social cognitive theory and ecological systems theory as theoretical frameworks for this study, the importance of this research includes, adding Oregon data to the body of knowledge, narrowing the research gap, and a better understanding of SC and TSE that may be applied to improving a school’s climate, school planning, increasing TSE, and retaining teachers. The sample for this study were Oregon public school teachers, 69 of which participated in the study. Two instrumentations were used to collect data, School Climate Index and Teachers\u27 Sense of Efficacy Scale surveys. The instrumentations were distributed to the teachers by the districts’ superintendents using email. Multiple regression analysis was used to analyze the collected data. Although SC factors’ collegial leadership, teacher professionalism, and academic press were not significantly correlated to TSE, community engagement was significantly correlated. The statistics show that together, the combined SC factors were significantly correlated to TSE. In conclusion, this study replicated previous studies examining the relationship between SC and TSE and that more research is needed to narrow the research gap. Limitations to this study include improving sample size and diversity. A few recommendations for future research are replicating this study in another state, using different instruments, and examining a reverse relationship to see if SC can be predicted by TSE factors

How the Input-Process-Output Model Affects the Decoding of Internal Strategic Financial Communication by Non-Financial Branch Managers

The purpose of this instrumental case study was to explore how non-financial branch managers at US mortgage companies processed the decoding of internal strategic financial communication (ISFC) when the message was encoded by the language of numbers (LON). The LON includes Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP). A non-financial branch manager is an individual who manages a mortgage company branch office and may not possess LON decoding proficiency. This lack of LON decoding proficiency could result in ISFC decoding errors, potentially resulting in unintended financial consequences. Financial miscommunication is connected to the failure of over 50% of new small businesses each year. Business failure creates significant emotional and financial consequences for the individual employees impacted by the dissolution of the business. The central research question identified as CRQ/RQ1 asks: How does a receiver decode internal strategic financial communication when the receiver is unfamiliar with the encoding scheme? The data collection methods included interviews, questionnaires, and observational methods to generate codes and themes that were analyzed through a qualitative approach. The seven participants provided the findings that suggest noise from the LON-encoded message resulted in a communication transmission error. The implications suggest that an alternative delivery format and an appreciation of the identified relationship between message complexity and receiver motivation might improve communication

Effective Strategies to Sustain Small African American Food Service Businesses Beyond 5 Years

AbstractAfrican American small food service business owners contribute to national and local economies; however, only 45% of them sustain their businesses beyond 5 years. African American small food service business owners are concerned with the lack of effective business strategy implementation, as it is the number one predictor of actual business failure. Grounded in the general systems theory, the purpose of this qualitative multiple case study was to explore strategies African American small food service business owners used to sustain their businesses beyond 5 years. The participants were seven African American small food service business owners in the southeastern United States who employed effective business strategies necessary for maintaining African American small food service business operations. Data sources included audio-recorded semistructured interview data and business documentation, including business website information and Facebook social media site material. Through thematic analysis, three themes were identified: (a) building a robust business network, (b) strategic pricing, (c) and building strong customer and employee relationships. A key recommendation is for African American small food service business owners to enhance business networks through the membership of an industry-related business association. The implications for positive social change include the potential for African American small food service business owners to create jobs, augment local and national economies, and increase profitability

Effective Strategies to Sustain Small African American Food Service Businesses Beyond 5 Years

AbstractAfrican American small food service business owners contribute to national and local economies; however, only 45% of them sustain their businesses beyond 5 years. African American small food service business owners are concerned with the lack of effective business strategy implementation, as it is the number one predictor of actual business failure. Grounded in the general systems theory, the purpose of this qualitative multiple case study was to explore strategies African American small food service business owners used to sustain their businesses beyond 5 years. The participants were seven African American small food service business owners in the southeastern United States who employed effective business strategies necessary for maintaining African American small food service business operations. Data sources included audio-recorded semistructured interview data and business documentation, including business website information and Facebook social media site material. Through thematic analysis, three themes were identified: (a) building a robust business network, (b) strategic pricing, (c) and building strong customer and employee relationships. A key recommendation is for African American small food service business owners to enhance business networks through the membership of an industry-related business association. The implications for positive social change include the potential for African American small food service business owners to create jobs, augment local and national economies, and increase profitability