Following the 1992 LA Riots, the LAPD underwent institutional reform, with Community-Policing as a lead programmatic effort to bridge tensions between the community and the LAPD. Conceptually, Community-Policing was designed to improve community relations and create shared responsibility. Following the early 90’s, several programming efforts were made to support the Community-Policing approach. Following the reform period, one must wonder whether Community-Policing proves effective. In order to assess the effects of community-policing, this paper is formatted as a Case Study, conducted in Watts, California. The Watts Case Study analyzes the effectiveness of Community-Policing, and how Community-Policing has shaped community-police relations over time.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate outcomes of the service-learning requirement in the Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN) curriculum at the local college. The problem addressed in this study was that the local ASN program lacked formal evaluation of the service-learning requirement. Guided by Kolb's model of experiential learning, a goal-based, summative evaluation employed as a qualitative case study explored the perceptions of 20 stakeholders including graduates, faculty members, and key community informants. The research questions focused on how service learning influenced a student's learning of cultural competence and the impact service learning had on the community. In-depth qualitative data were collected through face-to-face or phone, semi-structured interviews. Qualitative content analysis was the analytic method used in this study. To ensure trustworthiness, students' perceptions were triangulated with faculty's and community members' perceptions as related to outcomes of service learning, and interpretations were validated through member checking. Key results from the study indicated that service learning was perceived as a valuable component in the curriculum that influenced the students' knowledge of social and cultural factors, as well as their level of cultural competence in clinical practice. In addition, service learning was perceived as having a positive impact on the community. An evaluation report was created to provide administrators at the local college summative data upon which to base decisions regarding curriculum requirements or changes. Positive social change may result if nursing students are involved in civic engagement and have an opportunity to develop a more critical consciousness while serving the local needs of the community.

In the Middle East real estate industry, 46% of projects fail in terms of strategic dimensions. Based on the dynamic capabilities approach and contingency approach, the purpose of this exploratory multiple case study was to identify the successful strategies project leaders used to improve the alignment of projects with business strategy. Data were collected from 7 Skype semistructured interviews with real estate construction project leaders from 3 real estate organizations ranked among the top 10 in the Middle East. Public organizational documents were used for methodological triangulation. A thematic coding approach was adopted following a nonlinear sequential process that involved four stages: (a) reading and preparing the collected data, (b) coding, (c) abstracting the codes into conceptual categories, and (d) identifying the themes' relationships and patterns and creating a thematic map. The 4 themes identified were the (a) flow of strategy, (b) governance of projects during the development phase, (c) governance of projects during the delivery phase, and (d) measurement of project performance and strategic success. The results confirmed the idiosyncratic nature of the selected contexts and the need to increase some dynamic capabilities' dimensions. The contribution of this study to positive social change includes improved community lifestyle and environmental quality.

There has been a shortage of registered nurses in the United States for more than a decade, and an aging population is increasing this problem. This study was prompted by the number of associate degree nursing graduates at a Midwestern community college failing the NCLEX-RN licensure exam, which is required for employment. The purpose of this study was to explore associate degree graduate nurses' views of the effectiveness of classroom and clinical training on NCLEX -RN exam performance. Guided by the conceptual framework of Bigg's students' approaches to learning, which maintains deep learning is associated with achievement of learning outcomes, this qualitative case study investigated ways to improve success on the licensure exam. The central research questions examined the perceptions of what nursing school experiences contributed to NCLEX-RN success or failure. Semistructured interviews with 5 recent graduates who have been successful and 5 who failed the exam were conducted to gather the data. Triangulation and member checking were used to improve the quality of the data. The student perceptions were coded to identify emerging themes. The following themes that impact NCLEX performance were identified: extreme anxiety, fear of failure, faculty student relationships, and approach to learning. The findings revealed the need for additional faculty training in curriculum and instruction, reducing stress and building self-confidence. Based upon these findings, faculty were encouraged to participate in a 3-day professional development activity designed to improve their skills in preparing students to take the nursing examination. Possible social changes can benefit healthcare institutions, nursing graduates, and community by expanding the nursing workforce.

Almost 50% of small businesses close within 5 years in part because of inadequate marketing strategies. The purpose of this multiple case study was to explore how landscape industry small business owners have successfully used social media marketing to help ensure business viability. The population for this study was landscape industry small business owners in central Alabama, who have been successful in using social media marketing. The conceptual framework for the study included adoption theory to understand the successful implementation of social media as a marketing tool, and social exchange theory to explain how social behavior results from the exchange process within social media. Data collection included semistructured interviews with 4 small business owner from the landscape industry and content analysis of the social media for 4 landscape industry small businesses. Data were alphanumerically and thematically coded. Analysis revealed 4 themes: (a) marketing strategy adoption; (b) primary social media types used; (c) social media content including aspects such as service, education, and holiday posts; and (d) benefits and challenges such as social media as a low-cost marketing option for improved visibility, but with a trial-and-error learning curve. Results may be used by small businesses to improve their long-term viability through social media marketing strategies, and to improve citizens' quality of life and the local economy through increased tax revenues leading to more resources for schools, public safety organizations, and other institutions in the community.

The college under study only requires instructors to use traditional resources to teach literacy content leading to a variation in the use of technology within literacy courses. In this college, technology is not being integrated well, too little or inconsistent exposure to technology depending on the instructor. The purpose of this study was to investigate the attitudes of faculty toward integration of technology into classroom instruction and students' perceptions of technology as a part of their learning. Dewey's theory of educative experience was the conceptual framework used in this study. Data collection for this qualitative study was based on semistructured interviews from 6 students and 6 instructors from the community college under study. Data were analyzed, transcribed, and coded resulting in 3 major themes (technology integration, barriers, and traditional learning) and 5 sub-themes (trends in higher education, continuing learner, unlimited access, limited access and support and technology adoption and its potential). The findings revealed that instructors were primarily at ease with technology but limited in the integration of technology through Blackboard Learn. A professional development on Blackboard Learn was created. With this project and its overall results, stakeholders can decide the next action to take so that the college can meet the needs of its instructors and students. This project offered implications for a positive social change by extending an opportunity for instructors to learn a new Blackboard feature for managing and implementing technology into instructional practices. The professional development session allowed instructors to learn to integrate technology in their classrooms.

Because sales are the primary revenue generators for insurance companies, reducing attrition of sales agents is essential to organizational success. The purpose of this single descriptive case study was to explore strategies that 6 Nebraskan sales leaders within the insurance industry used to reduce attrition. Participants had experience in sales leadership and the attrition of sales personnel and were able to provide insight into the unique perspectives on attrition in the insurance industry. Participants met the following criteria: (a) manage an insurance sales office or organization or (b) held an insurance sales leadership position for at least 1 year and (c) are actively employed in the insurance industry. Data were collected from interviews with sales leaders, focus groups with sales representatives, and documentation from organizational websites for data triangulation. The expectancy theory framework guided the data analysis process. The data analysis process involved using thematic analysis which allowed coding data that related to the expectancy theory and research question. Data analysis also included the uncovering of repetitive themes and patterns and synthesizing results. Five themes emerged from data analysis: (a) leadership's responsibility for motivating sales personnel, (b) organizational commitment to creating a culture of engagement, (c) the use of compensation and rewards as sales motivators, (d) the necessity for training and development, and (e) a need to improve the selection process for new candidates. Organizational leaders may apply findings in other, similar settings to strategize community growth initiatives encouraging young people entering the workforce to stimulate local economies. Other possible benefits include reduced customer issues and claims.

In an urban high school in California, students are generally unskilled in critical writing. The problem has been associated with instructional barriers encountered by teachers. In this qualitative case study, English Language teachers provided their perceptions of such barriers and shared perspectives for solutions based in professional development. Grounded in the theories of Halpern, Saiz and Rivas, Weigle, and Harris and Graham, the conceptual framework emphasized instructional models that develop metacognition in writing, which can increase students' critical thinking. Selection criteria required participants who were English Language Arts teachers of writing critical thinking. Data from 4 participant interviews were coded, labeled, and collapsed into themes on the teachers' perceived barriers towards teaching critical thinking. Interview data were triangulated using field notes that revealed that limited teacher pedagogy, lack of student application, and an overall scarcity of school support prevented educators from teaching critical thinking in writing. The findings indicated a lack of an understanding from students, teachers, and administration of the instructional elements needed to develop successful critical thinking in writing. This study promotes positive social change by illuminating the instructional barriers by these 4 high school English Language Arts teachers. In addition, a professional development program, informed by the findings of this inquiry, will present teachers and administrators with strategies to increase critical thinking and writing. These coaching and mentoring strategies comprise a sustainable systemic program that will improve student critical thinking and writing.

Many U.S. colleges and universities have created programs to improve retention and graduation rates of Black male students. The purpose of this qualitative case study was to examine the lived experiences of Black male learning community participants and discover what faculty and staff perceive to be major influences on the retention of this population. The conceptual framework was rooted in Tinto's student integration model and Swail's geometric model of student persistence and achievement. The research questions within this study examined what faculty/staff perceive to be a major influence on the retention of minority male learning community participants. The questions also examined the perceptions of black male learning community participants regarding the major influence on their decision to remain at the selected institution after their first year. Data collection included semistructured interviews with 2 faculty, 2 staff, and 6 student learning community participants, and examination of national and local records. Data coding and analysis revealed 5 themes: college selection, college perception, learning community experience, Black male retention, and Black male mentorship. Findings indicated that most learning community participants returned to the institution based on faculty/staff support and a brotherhood bond with their peers. Faculty and staff reported that the institution could retain more minority male students if faculty/staff engagement with students and male mentorship beyond the learning community were increased. The project included a professional development program on effective minority male mentoring strategies for faculty/staff at the selected institution. This project may bring a new perspective on the idea of minority male retention while providing university officials with qualitative data to increase retention.

The low retention rate of information technology (IT) project managers from a region in the southeastern United States has increased an organization's operational costs and decreased the organization's global competitiveness. The conceptual foundation for this study was the resource-based theory of competitive advantage. This multiple case study explored IT project managers' perceptions of the factors that contributed to their retention. Participants in the study included 10 IT project managers with at least 5 years of experience who were also members of a chapter of the Project Management Institute (PMI). Semistructured interviews were conducted via teleconference to collect data that were subjected to a thematic analysis. Three key themes emerged from the analysis: an understanding of project management, challenging work, and certification support. The results of the study might provide those individuals in charge of hiring IT project managers with criteria that define what these IT project managers require as well what benefits can be offered and what methods can be applied in retaining these IT Project Managers. Findings from the study have implications for positive social change by contributing to the project management body of knowledge, positioning companies competitively, and effectively engaging IT project managers.