21368 research outputs found
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Digital Trust Recovery: Effective Data Breach Management Approaches
In the digital economy, organizations face an increasing number of data breaches that compromise sensitive information and erode consumer trust. Some organizational leaders are concerned about the lack of effective strategies to manage data breaches and restore stakeholder confidence, which threatens organizations’ reputation and financial stability, and long-term trust in digital systems. Grounded in cybersecurity risk management theory (CRMT) and situational crisis communication theory (SCCT), the purpose of this qualitative pragmatic inquiry was to explore the strategies employed by data managers in Virginia, Maryland, and Washington, DC, to manage data breaches and rebuild consumer trust. Participants were 10 experienced data managers who successfully addressed data breaches within financial institutions. Data were collected using semistructured interviews and company documents. Through thematic analysis, five themes emerged: (a) continuous training, (b) communication and collaboration, (c) structured incident response, (d) proactive controls, and (e) leadership and trust management. Recommendations include integrating CRMT frameworks, applying SCCT-based communication strategies, combining technical and human-centered safeguards, and offering transparent remediation to rebuild trust. Implications for positive social change include the potential for financial institution leaders, data managers, and policymakers to implement transparent breach response practices, strengthen data protection controls, and promote ethical accountability, thereby improving consumer trust and contributing to safer, more resilient digital environments
Staff Education for the Management of Chronic Pain in Patients with Mental Health Disorders
This Doctor of Nursing Practice project was a practice-focused quality improvement staff education initiative designed to address a gap in nurses’ knowledge related to chronic pain management in patients with mental health disorders. Chronic pain frequently coexists with psychiatric conditions, yet nurses often lack formal education on biopsychosocial, trauma-informed, and non-pharmacologic pain management approaches, contributing to fragmented and inequitable care. Addressing this gap is essential to improving patient outcomes and advancing evidence-based nursing practice. The practice-focused question asked whether implementing a targeted nurse education program would improve nurses’ knowledge related to chronic pain management in patients with mental health disorders. The purpose of the project was to enhance foundational nursing knowledge through a structured PowerPoint-based educational intervention. Analytical strategies included descriptive analysis of pre- and postintervention survey data using a 5-point Likert scale to evaluate changes in knowledge. The project included 16 registered nurses. Findings demonstrated meaningful improvements in knowledge across all domains, with mean overall scores increasing from 2.73 pre-intervention to 4.38 postintervention, representing a 60.4% improvement. Major products included an evidence-based educational presentation and a standardized evaluation tool. Conclusions support sustaining nurse education initiatives to promote holistic, trauma-informed care, with implications for improved nursing practice and positive social change through equitable, inclusive, and stigma-reducing care for vulnerable populations
Strategies Some Business Leaders Use to Implement Technological Innovation for Increasing Performance
Abstract Incorporating technological innovation is essential for maintaining organizational performance. Company executives in software-as-a-service (SaaS) enterprises who do not incorporate technological innovation risk reduced organizational performance and profitability. Grounded in Rogers\u27 Diffusion of Innovations (DOI), the purpose of this qualitative pragmatic inquiry project was to explore strategies employed by business leaders to effectively implement technological innovation and, in turn, increase organizational performance. . The participants consisted of fifteen business leaders who successfully incorporated technological innovation designed to improve organizational performance and profitability. The data collection process incorporated both semi structured interviews combined with a review of publicly available documents about their implementation of innovative technology. The following seven themes emerged from the data collection process:: (a) employee adoption and change management; (b) data-driven decision making improves organizational performance; (c) leadership and culture act as catalysts for innovation success; (d) organizational learning and training drive innovation sustainability; (e) customer-centric innovation as a strategic performance lever; (f) scalability and integration challenges; and (g) striking a balance between human-technology integration for sustainable innovation. A key recommendation is that business leaders monitor emerging technologies and cultivate an innovative culture. The implications for positive social change include the potential for business leaders to adopt practices that maintain workforce stability and improve employees’ quality of life and economic security
The Environmental Mental Health Services Needed for Youth Ages 18-25 Aging Out of the Foster Care System
Youth transitioning out of foster care experience increased mental health challenges that affect their ability to age out successfully to independence. In this qualitative modified action study, the environmental mental health services needed for adolescents, aged 18 to 25, aging out of the foster care system in Lafayette Parish, Louisiana were explored. This study was guided by the Families Rising framework. Purposeful sampling was used to recruit 20 participants who provided insights to this study. Participants were reached by posting flyers on social media and the online platform forums, and they signed the consent form to participate. The data were collected using semistructured interviews and analyzed using thematic analysis, following Lochmiller’s seven-step approach, to identify patterns and develop themes. The results revealed seven key themes: inadequate access to support services, barriers to navigating service systems, policy limitations, the importance of collaboration, the need for extended care, increased promotion of mental health programs, and variability in readiness for independence. The findings indicated that the lack of continuity of services and limited collaboration among agencies hinder successful transitions. Recommendations include implementing extended foster care support, improving multiagency coordination, and expanding mental health access and navigation supports. The study results can lead to positive social change by enhancing service accessibility, improving long-term mental health outcomes, and equipping community partners and human service organizations with effective strategies to support youth aging out of foster care
Book Review: Best Practices for Mentoring in Online Programs: Supporting Faculty and Students in Higher Education
This book review examines Ko and Zhadko’s (2023) practical guide to designing and sustaining mentoring systems in virtual learning environments. The review highlights the book’s dual focus on faculty and student mentoring, emphasizing structured, institutionally supported models that promote collaboration, professional growth, and learner persistence. Key strengths include the inclusion of actionable tools and templates, as well as thoughtful attention to both synchronous and asynchronous mentoring modalities. However, the book relies largely on descriptive approaches, with limited empirical evidence and less balanced depth across faculty and student mentoring discussions. Overall, the book is positioned as a timely and valuable resource for higher education leaders, faculty mentors, and instructional support professionals seeking to strengthen mentoring ecosystems in online and hybrid programs
Community College and School Administrators’ Perspectives on Communication and Collaboration in the Formation of Partnerships
Challenges have limited the opportunities for educational institutions to support student transitions and success. The problem addressed through this study was the challenge to establish effective partnerships between community colleges and public K–12 schools in a rural county in a southern state. Grounded in Hartford’s small group theory, the purpose of this basic qualitative study was to examine community college and K–12 administrators’ perspectives on the role of collaboration and communication, as well as the knowledge and skills needed for faculty, staff, and officials to create and sustain partnerships. Semistructured interviews were conducted with 18 community college and K–12 administrators. Thematic analysis using open coding was conducted resulting in six key themes: (1) collaboration as the foundation for partnership, (2) importance of a shared vision, (3) ongoing transparent communication, (4) knowledge of both systems and policies, (5) interpersonal leadership skills, and (6) continuous improvement and data use. These themes serve as indicators for educational leaders to consider when developing and applying targeted interventions aimed at strengthening partnerships in diverse education contexts. Based on the findings of this study, a multi-day professional development workshop was developed to equip senior leaders with strategies for building and sustaining effective partnerships. The implications for positive social change include improved collaboration between educational institutions, enhanced support for student transitions, and increased capacity for faculty and staff to foster equitable educational opportunities in the local community
The Relationship Between Cloud Computing Factors and Cloud Computing Behavioral Intention of First-Year University Students
In an era where vast amounts of data are generated daily, the ability to manage information through cloud computing has become critical; however, asymmetries in using this technology persist, particularly in developing countries. Academic managers often lack information about the factors influencing cloud computing usage. The purpose of this quantitative correlational cross-sectional study was to examine the relationship between cloud computing factors, including effort expectancy (EE), performance expectancy (PE), social influence (SI), and facilitating conditions (FC), and the first-year university students’ cloud computing behavioral intention (CCBI) in the developing country of Angola. A structured questionnaire was administered to a random sample of 195 first-year university students. The unified theory of acceptance and use of technology (UTAUT) was used to create a research model, incorporating EE, PE, SI, and FC as predictor variables of CCBI. The results of the multiple linear regression model were statistically significant, F(4, 190) = 24.05, p \u3c .001, explaining 33.6% of the variance in CCBI. Individually, EE, PE, and SI emerged as significant positive predictors of CCBI, whereas FC demonstrated a weaker, more indirect influence. Understanding this relationship could help academic managers design targeted policies and frameworks to enhance cloud computing usage in educational settings where the technology is still emerging in the current digitized world. The implications for positive social change include the potential for university leaders and policymakers to reinforce the UTAUT’s relevance in guiding their technology implementation strategies in diverse educational environments, thereby improving the quality of life for individuals and communities
Strategies to Reduce Safety Accidents in Chemical Facilities
Chemical-industry accidents remain a persistent threat capable of injuring workers, damaging communities, and destabilizing organizations, despite decades of safety regulations and technological advancements. Chemical facility managers, workers’ families, emergency responders, local communities, and entire supply chains bear the burden of every preventable failure. Grounded in human capital theory, the purpose of this qualitative pragmatic research project was to identify and explore effective strategies that managers use to reduce safety accidents in chemical facilities. The participants were six managers from chemical facilities in the eastern United States. Data were collected using semistructured and publicly available documents. Through reflexive thematic analysis, five themes were identified: (a) leadership commitment to safety, (b) employee engagement in hazard control, (c) continuous learning, (d) overcoming cultural and operational barriers, and (e) strengthening organizational safety systems. A key recommendation is for chemical facility managers to implement a structured recurring system that integrates employee-driven hazard identification with targeted incident-based training to strengthen proactive safety performance. Implications for positive social change include the potential to reduce workplace injuries, prevent environmental harm, and strengthen community protection through improved safety cultures in high-hazard industries
Relationship Between Attitude and Trust in Artificial Intelligence Among Project Managers
Artificial intelligence (AI) technologies have been rapidly integrated into U.S. project management workflows; however, the level of trust in AI-enabled automated tools among project managers remains unknown. The purpose of this quantitative correlational cross-sectional study was to examine the relationship between U.S. project managers’ attitudes toward AI and their trust in AI-enabled automated systems used in project management, controlling for the influence of industry sector. This study is grounded in the trust in automation framework. The participants consisted of 180 U.S.-based project managers experienced in AI, who completed the Artificial Intelligence Attitude Scale and Trust of Automated Systems Test. The bivariate regression indicated that attitudes toward AI significantly predicted trust, F(1, 178) = 91.10, p \u3c .001, accounting for 33.9% of the variance (R² = .339). Extending the model with industry sector yielded a statistically significant multiple linear regression, F(6, 173) = 19.01, p \u3c .001, explaining 39.7% of the variance in trust (R² = .397). Attitudes toward AI emerged as the strongest predictor across all models (β = .550, p \u3c .001), while the information technology, healthcare, and manufacturing sectors displayed higher levels of trust. The findings suggest that cognitive perceptions and the industry context have a significant impact on trust in AI technologies within project management workflows. These insights can help project-based leaders to foster environments that build trust and support effective adoption of AI systems. The implications for positive social change include the potential for organizational leaders and policymakers to foster more ethical and inclusive AI adoption, mitigate resistance to innovation, and enhance workforce adaptability during digital transformation
Mental Health Provider Perceptions of Self-Efficacy Following Prison Budget Reductions
Burnout rates for mental health workers are impacted due to budget restrictions in treatment programs. Fiscal challenges and their impact on the experiences of mental health providers have yet to be explored within correctional settings. There is a lack of research concerning mental health professional’s self-efficacy beliefs when providing treatment services to inmates. The purpose of this qualitative, phenomenological study was to explore mental health professional’s self-efficacy beliefs in correctional systems with context towards diminishing fiscal resources. Self-efficacy theory and prison rehabilitation management theory are the theoretical frameworks used as the foundation for this study. The research question was designed to explore the lived experiences of participants through semi-structured interviews. Eleven participants who currently work directly with inmates were interviewed. Narrative descriptions of experiences mental health professionals have in the prison environment were collected. Data collection tools included databases, public records, questionnaires, and interviews. Data programs were utilized for decoding and transcribing each interview. All participants identified how their self-efficacy beliefs, burnout, lack of responses, and resource availability were impacted by budget reductions. Participants expressed frustration and emotional exhaustion for lack of materials available while awaiting responses from prison management. Social change implicates an urgent need for mental health professionals’ immediate access to materials within their treatment programs. Future research would benefit from focusing on support to mental health professionals and resources needed for treatment programs