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The Impact of Machine Learning Security Models on Cloud Data Security
Get PDFAbstract Many information technology (IT) leaders face challenges in adopting machine learning (ML) models for cloud infrastructure, despite their potential to enhance data security. The extent to which IT leaders’ perceived security (PeS) and perceived privacy (PeP) influence their intent to adopt ML security models is critical for organizational success. Grounded in the technology acceptance model, the purpose of this quantitative correlational study was to examine the relationship between IT leaders’ PeS and PeP and their intent to adopt ML security models in cloud-based applications. Data were collected from 106 IT professionals in Chicago using a validated instrument. Results from a hierarchical multiple regression analysis indicated that PeS and PeP jointly explained a significant proportion of variance in the intent to adopt ML models (R² = .536, F(8, 97) = 14.01, p \u3c .001). Education level (β = −.012, p = .895), leadership role (β = .141, p = .122), experience at the current position (β = −.081, p = .292), and primary cloud computing strategy (β = −.060, p = .458) were not significant predictors. However, experience in cloud computing (β = −.230, p = .003) and industry type (β = .442, p \u3c .001) were significant predictors. The findings suggest that IT leaders’ PeS and PeP, along with greater industry maturity and cloud experience, contribute to stronger intent to adopt ML security models. The implications for positive social change include the potential for organizational leaders and IT trainers to implement targeted PeS and PeP awareness programs that improve responsible data handling and cloud security practices, benefiting employees, organizations, and the public through enhanced data protection and reduced risks of security breaches
Impact of Community Factors on Naloxone Overdose Reduction in Ohio
Get PDFThe opioid crisis in Ohio, driven by fentanyl, persists due to inequitable access to naloxone despite its proven effectiveness. This study examined how socioeconomic status (SES), race/ethnicity, population density, and hospital availability per capita predicted naloxone overdose reversals (dependent variable) in Ohio. Social-ecological theory guided this quantitative historical correlational analysis of Ohio’s Project DAWN index data (N = 5,280). Inclusion criteria included individuals ages 18 to 65 with naloxone-related overdose reversals (dependent), naloxone distribution (moderator), and community factors (independent). Multiple linear regression results showed that SES (p \u3e.50), race/ethnicity (% White, p = .588; % Black, p = .495; % American Indian, p = .682; % Asian, p = .091; % Native Hawaiian, p = .119), and healthcare access (p \u3e .306) were not statistically significant predictors of naloxone overdose reversals. However, population density (p \u3c .015) was significantly associated with naloxone overdose reversals. Naloxone distribution significantly moderates the relationships among household income, population density, and hospital availability per capita, explaining a substantial portion of variance in outcomes. These findings indicate that structural characteristics - particularly population density - play a critical role in predicting naloxone overdose reversals, underscoring the need to tailor distribution strategies to community context. The moderating effect of naloxone access highlights that equitable availability can strengthen overdose response outcomes. Overall, the study highlights the need for community-based naloxone initiatives that advance health equity and positive social change
Effective Strategies to Address Poor-Quality Suppliers in the Automotive Industry
Get PDFPoor-quality suppliers present a significant risk and cost liability across the manufacturing industry. Industrial automotive manufacturing leaders are concerned with this challenge because supplier quality directly affects production efficiency and accounts for over 70% of total production costs. Grounded in resource dependence theory, the purpose of this qualitative pragmatic inquiry was to explore successful strategies supply chain leaders use to identify and address poor-quality suppliers to improve manufacturing processes and achieve cost savings. The participants were six purposefully sampled supply chain leaders in the U.S. industrial automotive sector who were experienced in successful supplier mitigation strategies. Data were collected using semistructured interviews and a review of public industry documents. Through thematic analysis, five themes were identified: (a) communication, (b) relationships, (c) key performance indicators (KPIs), (d) Six Sigma, and (e) supplier integration. A key recommendation is for manufacturing leaders to redefine supplier performance criteria by utilizing KPIs that specifically grade supplier communication transparency and their willingness to collaborate on process improvements. The implications for positive social change include the potential to stabilize employment and income within the local community workforce by promoting supplier development over costly relationship dissolution
The Effect of Gender, Race, and Age on 30-Day Readmission Rates Among Heart Failure Patients in Mississippi
Get PDFA sizeable number of U.S. heart failure patients are readmitted within 30 days of hospital discharge. There was a need to explore ways to reduce this number and improve the care of heart failure patients when they are discharged home. The purpose of this quantitative correlational study was to determine if there is a relationship between age, gender, and race of heart failure patients and 30-day readmissions in the U.S. state of Mississippi in 2019. The dependent variable was heart failure 30-day readmissions, and the independent variables were age, gender, and race. Wagner’s chronic care model was the theoretical framework for this study and supported the purpose through a focus on quality care and improved patient outcomes. Data were obtained from the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project State Inpatient Database for 2019. The results of the binary logistic regression analyses showed that both gender (χ2 (1) = 5.234, p = .022) and age (χ2 (5) = 18.990, p = .002) groups were significant predictors of the 30-day readmission of patients. However, race was not a significant predictor of 30-day readmission of patients. The results showed that individuals aged 50–59 are more likely to be readmitted within 30 days than other age groups, and men tend to have higher readmission rates than women. These findings underscore the value of a standardized chronic care model for disease management. By better understanding the effects of age, gender, and race on heart failure readmissions, health care administrators may take actions to avoid initial heart failure hospitalizations. The study’s implications for positive social change include awareness of the diverse health care requirements among heart failure patients, enabling the development of enhanced strategies to address these needs and improve patient outcomes
Motivation and Productivity of Female Employees in China With Scoliosis Pain
Get PDFA scoliosis diagnosis can impact an individual’s work performance, particularly if there is a lack of proper ergonomics or workplace accommodations that might lead to increased pain and discomfort. Organizational leaders must understand this impact as an indicator of employee motivation and productivity. The purpose of this qualitative, interpretative phenomenological analysis was to explore the lived experience of female employees in China with scoliosis pain and its impact on their motivation and productivity. The theoretical foundations used in this study were the job demands-resources model and the self-determination theory. The participants consisted of eight female employees with scoliosis pain working in China. Data were collected using semistructured interviews. Five themes emerged from the data analysis: (a) navigating and adjusting everyday life with scoliosis pain, (b) tools used for managing chronic scoliosis pain, (c) psychological aspects and affective response to pain in the workplace, (d) chronic pain impacts work performance and productivity, and (e) opportunities to improve employee well-being. Organizational leaders can use these identified themes to create strategies addressing scoliosis pain and productivity, the role of need satisfaction and emotions in motivation, and the desire for ergonomic and relational support. The implications for positive social change include the potential for organizational leaders to implement policy changes that raise ergonomic awareness, amplify employees’ voices with scoliosis pain, and inspire systematic reform to further enhance accommodation support and workplace well-being
Attrition Experiences Among Officers in a Texas Correctional Organization
Get PDFThe Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) faces employee retention challenges, and recruiting and retaining correctional officers remains TDCJ’s most significant challenge and highest priority. Correctional facility leaders need to understand these challenges as indicators of workforce sustainability. Grounded in job embeddedness theory, the purpose of this general qualitative study was to explore the turnover experiences of Texas correctional officers, to understand why officers left their jobs, and the factors that contributed to their decisions to stay in their jobs. Participants comprised 11 former correctional officers who had worked between 5 months and 6 years for the TDCJ. Data were collected using semistructured interviews with open-ended questions. They shared their perceptions of the experiences that contributed to their decisions to leave the job. Five themes emerged from the inductive analysis: (a) job dissatisfaction, (b) ineffective leadership, (c) compensation and benefits, (d) work-life imbalance, and (e) lack of retention strategies and need for implementation. Three subthemes that emerged were the lack of recognition and appreciation, the lack of support, and the poor workplace relationships between supervisors and correctional officers. Correctional facility leaders can use these strategies as insights into reducing attrition, enhancing morale, increasing job satisfaction, and mitigating burnout. Additionally, the findings foster more humane relationships between correctional officers and prisoners, ensuring consistent treatment of prisoners with dignity and respect. The implications for positive social change include the potential for TDCJ leaders to implement effective interventions with job embeddedness that may make the workplace conducive to retaining and attracting correctional officers
Self-Connection as a Mediator Between Exercise and Well-Being
Get PDFScientists and health professionals have established the connection among physical activity and overall wellbeing. In more recent years, scholars have also researched the correlation among increased self-connection with increased overall well-being. Nevertheless, insignificant data has been gathered to investigate the impact of predictor variables upon the connection between exercise and wellbeing. This research study examined the mediating effect of self-connection among the relationship between exercise and wellbeing. The current study’s purpose was to gain better insights on how self-connection predicts a person’s physical activity, contributing to comprehensive insights how exercise habits may predict a person’s wellbeing by using a cross-sectional correlational survey. The Health Action Process Approach theory was used as a framework to explain how self-connection may mediate the relationship between exercise and wellbeing. The results indicate a significant correlation among the following relationships exercise and wellbeing, self-connection and well-being, and self-connection and exercise; however, no significant results were found in the data to support self-connection as a mediating variable in the relationship between exercise and well-being
Engagement Strategies to Increase Employee Retention and Productivity Within the Accommodation Industry
Get PDFA lack of effective employee engagement strategies in the accommodations industry can undermine retention and productivity, imposing costs on organizations and harming morale. Grounded in Kahn’s employee engagement theory, the purpose of this qualitative pragmatic inquiry was to identify and explore the effective employee engagement strategies that accommodations leaders use to increase employee retention and productivity. Participants were six leaders of accommodation industry organizations in the southern United States. Data were collected through semistructured interviews and analyzed using Braun and Clarke’s six-step thematic analysis. Five key themes were revealed: (a) implementing employee recognition programs, (b) providing career development and training opportunities, (c) providing effective communication and ongoing feedback, (d) promoting work-life balance and schedule flexibility, and (e) promoting consistency and accountability. Key recommendations include acknowledging employees’ contributions, offering professional development opportunities, maintaining transparent and consistent communication, and fostering a culture of well-being and accountability. The implications for positive social change include the potential for accommodations industry leaders to adopt these strategies, thereby increasing employee engagement, which may support improved productivity, guest satisfaction, and workforce stability within the scope of the organizations studied
Associations Between Health-Seeking Behaviors and Social Support for Adult Black Women in the United States
Get PDFA persistent gap exists involving health outcomes for Black women in the United States, regardless of socioeconomic status when compared to Black men and White women. This qualitative case study involved exploring the influence of social support on health-seeking behaviors among Black women. Sixteen participants, between ages 22 to 49 from nine states, were recruited. Data was collected using semi-structured interviews based on the social support theory. An analysis of the network composition showed that family members (including mothers, fathers, sisters, and partners), friends, community support groups not connected to social media, and online community support groups were the most frequently prioritized stakeholders in health-seeking behaviors and decision-making. Thematic analysis further revealed four health-seeking behavior central themes: social support network empowers being in charge of one’s health as a persona, social support network acting as a safety net, health information triangulation, and umbrella medical advisory status. These findings highlight the critical role of social support networks in terms of motivating health behaviors, providing dependable safety nets, facilitating informed decision-making, and fostering trusted relationships with healthcare providers. Results suggest leveraging social support systems for this population may remove barriers and contribute to improved health outcomes that inform the design of public health interventions, with implications for professional practice and positive social change
Effective Leadership Strategies for Aligning Vision and Mission to Drive Sustainability
Get PDFOrganizational leaders often struggle when ambitious innovation outpaces the systems, structures, and leadership practices needed to support consistent operational performance. When leaders fail to implement effective resolution strategies to align the organizational vision and mission with operational effectiveness, it impacts long-term operational effectiveness, productivity, and long-term sustainability. This qualitative single case study was an exploration of the strategies used by some business leaders in a mid-sized, for-profit telecommunications firm in the Midwest United States. The study applied the Baldrige Excellence Framework as the conceptual lens. Data were collected through semistructured interviews with executive leaders and through an analysis of internal archival records and organizational documents. Thematic analysis identified recurring patterns and alignment practices. The study identified three key themes: the need for structured communication systems that reinforce mission-driven expectations, the importance of cross-functional collaboration to translate strategic intent into daily action, and the value of performance measurement processes that provide leaders with real-time insight into operational execution. A key recommendation is for leaders to implement a formalized alignment system that links strategic goals, departmental actions, and workforce accountability through standardized communication, documented processes, and measurable outcomes. Applying these findings may contribute to social change by supporting stronger, more sustainable organizations that improve workforce stability, enhance service quality, and positively impact the communities and industries they serve