School of Management (capstones)

Permanent URI for this collection

https://er.auk.edu.ua/handle/234907866/3

Browse

Now showing 1 - 20 of 64

AI-AUGMENTED PRE-SALES: DESIGNING AND EVALUATING AN AGENTIC RFP WORKFLOW IN HEALTHCARE AND LIFE SCIENCES
(Manuscript, 2026-05) Budnichenko, Svitlana
This study investigates the design and evaluation of an AI-augmented Request for Proposal (RFP) response workflow within the Healthcare and Life Sciences (HC&LS) pre-sales practice of a global IT services firm. Using a Design Science Research methodology combined with a quasi-experimental before-and-after evaluation, the study develops a Minimum Viable Prototype (MVP) comprising three coordinated AI layers — Research Agent's Cluster, Prototype Brief Writer, and Proposal Narrative Writer agent — embedded within a multi-agent full architecture and orchestrated via the n8n workflow automation platform. The workflow incorporates Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) using a Supabase pgvector knowledge base constructed from 192 classified HC&LS proposals from the organization's knowledge base, of which 32 are fully enriched with ten structured fields and indexed via cosine similarity search. The MVP reduced the active effort required to produce a first reviewable draft by approximately 80–85%, compressing the elapsed cycle from a typical 5–7 day process to same-day draft availability, while achieving a proposal quality score of 25/30 (83%) on a six-dimension evaluation rubric. Findings show that AI creates the greatest pre-sales value when embedded in a redesigned end-to-end workflow as an augmentation layer, not when applied as isolated task automation. Six design principles are derived: augmentation over automation, RAG-based knowledge grounding, early-stage AI prototyping, modular agent architecture, human-in-the-loop validation, and incremental adoption. The study contributes both a functional prototype and a generalizable framework for AI-enabled workflow redesign in pre-sales contexts.
AI INTEGRATION FOR TEST CASES GENERATION AND MAINTENANCE: OPTIMIZING TEST TEAM WORKFLOW
(Manuscript, 2026-05) Stepaniuk, Taras
Manual quality assurance workflows in fast-paced software delivery increasingly struggle to keep pace with rapid code evolution, with QA teams spending disproportionate effort on interpreting requirements and maintaining test documentation. This research investigates whether an Artificial Intelligence-driven middleware can optimize this workflow by automating the synthesis of requirements, design, source code, and existing test documentation into actionable testing artifacts. A middleware solution was designed and implemented on the Fastlane framework, integrating data from Asana, Figma, GitLab, and TestRail, and leveraging the OpenAI GPT-4.1 model through a structured Chain-of-Thought prompt. The evaluation combined quantitative KPI tracking across 24 production tasks with qualitative feedback from three QA engineers. The results demonstrate a 68% reduction in the test documentation effort ratio, a decrease in the median number of dev/test iterations from three to one, and a doubling of the single-iteration resolution rate. Qualitative analysis confirmed accelerated feature comprehension and reduced cognitive load. The study validates a hybrid human–AI model of quality assurance and defines a roadmap toward autonomous test maintenance.
EVALUATION OF MULTI-BRAND STRATEGY EFFECTIVENESS IN NICHE E COMMERCE UNDER SPONSORED SEARCH AUCTIONS: EVIDENCE FROM CONTRIBUTION MARGIN ANALYSIS
(Manuscript, 2026-05) Shukhrov, Dmytro
The growth of digital platforms allows e-commerce firms to scale via multi-brand models. This study empirically evaluates the financial effectiveness of Company X’s intuitive launch of three custom-printed wallpaper brands with overlapping catalogs but distinct price positioning. It analyzes whether these brands cannibalize each other's demand across three geographic markets. The research addresses four key questions regarding financial impact, source of growth, cannibalization risks, and market-size moderation, testing two main hypotheses (H1 and H2). Key Findings and Contributions: H1 confirmed: Co-owned brands do not experience demand cannibalization due to algorithmic audience segmentation (distinct seed audiences from different launch timing) and natural price sensitivity differences. H2 confirmed: The multi-brand model generates an additive, not substitutive, increment in total contribution margin. New Concept: Strategy effectiveness depends on the incumbent brand's maturity stage. Launching a second brand prematurely in early-stage markets with increasing marginal returns reduces short-term efficiency. Managerial Recommendations: Company X should use maturity indicators (advertising slope, YoY margin dynamics) to trigger new launches and invest in content differentiation.
THE IMPACT OF SEARCH QUALITY ON E-COMMERCE SALES
(Manuscript, 2026-05) Myropolskyi, Mark
This capstone project examines the impact of internal search performance on customer behavior and e-commerce outcomes using real search data from EVA.UA. Internal search is treated not only as a navigation tool, but also as a mechanism that shapes product discovery, customer experience, and the allocation of economically valuable traffic. The study aims to understand whether query popularity, query characteristics, platform differences, or traffic concentration across demand segments drive search-related business performance. The empirical analysis is based on a large real-world dataset that includes more than 42 million search events and more than 6 million unique queries, as extracted from the original raw data. After data cleaning, the study applies query-level and event-level analysis to evaluate search demand distribution, conversion patterns, add-to-cart behavior, platform differences, weighted and unweighted performance metrics, frequency deciles, and revenue concentration proxies. Numeric SKU-like queries and low-quality noise were filtered out to reflect genuine customer intent better. The results show that search traffic is highly concentrated in a small subset of high frequency queries. The top frequency decile accounts for a disproportionate share of total search traffic and revenue proxy. However, conversion differences across frequency segments are relatively small, which suggests that revenue concentration is driven more by traffic allocation than by substantially better query performance. The analysis also shows that query length has a non-linear relationship with conversion: medium-length queries tend to perform best. In contrast, very long queries yield unstable results due to a low sample size. Platform analysis reveals meaningful behavioral differences: web demonstrates the highest purchase conversion, iOS shows the highest add-to-cart rates, and Android underperforms on both conversion and downstream funnel efficiency. The findings suggest that the major business opportunity is not limited to further optimizing already dominant queries, but also to improving the exposure and handling of underutilized demand, especially on mobile platforms. These results contribute to understanding how internal search influences e-commerce performance and offer practical implications for search optimization, product discovery strategy, and customer experience management.
ISO 13485:2016 IMPLEMENTATION AND INTERNAL AUDIT READINESS IN A UKRAINIAN MEDICAL DEVICE MANUFACTURER
(Manuscript, 2026-05) Zabroda, Daryna
This capstone examines the implementation of ISO 13485:2016 quality management systems and internal audit readiness within a Ukrainian medical device manufacturer. The research addresses the problem of the gap between formal certification and actual operational effectiveness of quality management systems in emerging regulatory environments. This research is guided by the following research questions: how the level of ISO 13485 implementation affects regulatory readiness and compliance performance; how internal audit practices influence the recurrence of nonconformities; and how management involvement impacts CAPA effectiveness. The aim of the research is to evaluate the relationship between implementation depth, audit performance, and the effectiveness of corrective action. A mixed-methods single-case study design was applied. Quantitative data were collected through a clause-based gap analysis and internal audit metrics, while qualitative data were obtained through structured document analysis of QMS documentation. The sample consists of one Ukrainian medical device manufacturing organization in the pre-certification stage. The results indicate a moderate level of ISO 13485 implementation (70.5%), with stronger performance in documentation and weaker integration in monitoring and improvement processes. Internal audits effectively identify nonconformities but have a limited impact on preventing recurrence (32% repeat rate). CAPA processes demonstrate moderate effectiveness, with delays and incomplete closure. The findings suggest that implementation depth, rather than certification status, determines regulatory readiness and quality performance. Management involvement is critical for improving CAPA effectiveness and reducing recurring issues. The research contributes to theory by emphasizing implementation maturity and provides practical recommendations for improving QMS effectiveness in Ukrainian medical device organizations.
FOUNDER VISIBILITY, REPUTATION, AND TRUST IN STAKEHOLDER SUPPORT DURING BUSINESS CRISIS: A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF WARTIME B2B CASES
(Manuscript, 2026-05) Shcherbyna, Alina
This research aims to examine how founder visibility and reputation influence partner support during crisis situations in B2B contexts. The study focuses on understanding the mechanisms through which reputation acts as a key driver of partner behavior, particularly in high-uncertainty environments such as operational disruptions caused by external shocks (e.g., war-related damage to business infrastructure). The research explores how visibility contributes to reputation formation and how, in turn, reputation affects partners’ willingness to provide support, including financial flexibility, continued collaboration, and accelerated decision-making. Through qualitative and quantitative analysis, the study seeks to develop a conceptual model linking founder visibility, reputation, and partner support in crisis conditions. The object of the research is B2B partnership relationships in crisis situations, particularly in cases of sudden operational disruption affecting companies’ ability to deliver products or services. The subject of the research is the role of founder reputation, shaped in part by public visibility, in influencing partner support behaviors during crisis situations. This includes trust formation, perceived credibility, risk tolerance of partners, and decision-making regarding continued cooperation or withdrawal. Research Results: Research Results: the study revealed significant differences in the scale and mobilization of partner support during business crises depending on the founder’s visibility, reputation, communication style, and embeddedness in business networks. Analysis of the interview responses from both cases produced more than 100 initial codes, which were consolidated into seven major themes: depth of relationship, reputational trust, personal communication, founder visibility and personal brand, founder leadership and influence, trust formation mechanisms, and support decision drivers.
LEADING CROSS-CULTURAL AND REMOTE TEAMS IN HIGH-RISK ENVIRONMENTS: LESSONS FROM SAP PROJECT MANAGEMENT IN UKRAINE
(Manuscript, 2026) Khriapin, Ivan
This Capstone explores leadership in online SAP project teams composed of members from different countries who worked during the war in Ukraine. These teams operated under extremely challenging conditions, including air attacks, blackouts, stress, and remote work. While existing research highlights leadership competencies such as cultural intelligence, emotional intelligence, crisis leadership, and digital leadership, there is limited understanding of how these skills are integrated in real-life situations during a prolonged crisis. This study aims to examine how leaders behave and make decisions in such contexts. A qualitative research design was employed. Eight SAP project managers and team leaders who collaborated with Ukrainian and international teams during the war were interviewed. The data were analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis to identify recurring patterns in leadership behavior. The findings indicate that effective leadership in this context is not defined by a single style or competency. Instead, leaders continuously balanced two dimensions: structure—including clear roles, rules, coordination, and responsibility—and care for people, encompassing empathy, emotional support, calm communication, and sensitivity to stress. These dimensions were applied simultaneously and adapted to situational demands. Based on these insights, the study introduces the concept of Structured Empathy Leadership, defined as leading with organizational clarity while demonstrating genuine concern for team members. Rather than proposing a new theory, the study offers a practical explanation of how established leadership competencies can be integrated in high-risk environments. The findings provide valuable implications for SAP project managers and organizations working with remote and international teams in crisis or post-conflict settings.
AI IN THE BOARDROOM: DIRECTOR SENSEMAKING IN UKRAINIAN CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
(Manuscript, 2026) Skorupych, Artem
While artificial intelligence increasingly influences organizational decision-making, how corporate board directors make sense of AI for governance purposes remains underexplored, particularly in non-Western and high-stress contexts. This study investigates three questions: how boards currently engage with AI, how board composition and organizational context shape directors' perspectives, and what governance practices directors identify as necessary for responsible adoption. Using a qualitative design, the research collected data through semi-structured interviews (n=5) and written qualitative surveys (n=17) with Ukrainian board directors across banking, technology, energy, healthcare, and other sectors. Analysis followed Gioia-inspired methodology, progressing from first-order concepts through interpretive themes to aggregate theoretical dimensions. Findings reveal directors hold a dialectical understanding of AI—simultaneously recognizing its potential to address cognitive constraints (information overload, backward focus, data fragmentation) while creating governance risks (explanation difficulties, accountability ambiguity, judgment erosion). Board composition, particularly the mix of technical and traditional expertise, systematically shapes these perspectives, while Ukrainian wartime conditions create paradoxical pressures making AI both more urgent and more risky. Directors converge on governance practices emphasizing human-in-the-loop principles, formal frameworks, transparency, and director capability-building. The study contributes to bounded rationality, upper echelons, and socio-technical systems theories while demonstrating how extreme contexts function as theoretical microscopes, revealing dynamics relevant to boards globally.
IMPROVING TASK COMPLETION PREDICTABILITY AND WORK VISIBILITY IN OUTSOURCED IT PROJECTS USING PROCESS FORMALIZATION AND AI – ASSISTED COMMUNICATION AUTOMATION
(Manuscript, 2026) Diak, Petro
Outsourced IT projects often suffer from unpredictable task completion, limited real-time visibility, and coordination inefficiencies caused by inconsistent status updates and fragmented communication. In the studied environment, Data Engineers and QA engineers update work items in Azure DevOps irregularly, follow individual reporting routines, and frequently communicate via ad hoc messages in Microsoft Teams. As a result, task boards do not reflect the actual state of work, architects and leads are overloaded with coordination tasks, and project managers lack timely information for decision-making. This reduces delivery predictability and erodes client confidence. This Capstone addresses these issues by developing a Task Visibility and Predictability Framework that combines process formalization with AI-assisted communication automation. Using qualitative methods and semi-structured interviews, the study applies open and axial coding to identify causes of visibility breakdowns and coordination overload. Based on Agile governance and project-management practices, the framework establishes clear reporting responsibilities, standardized update routines, and structured communication rules. The framework introduces formal update triggers, minimal documentation standards, and role-specific responsibilities. It also incorporates lightweight AI-assisted mechanisms—such as reminders, stale-task detection, and Azure DevOps–Microsoft Teams integration—to support timely updates without relying on complex models or large datasets. Its application shows improved task visibility, fewer outdated task states, reduced need for status meetings, and lower coordination burden. The findings suggest that even simple automation, when aligned with clear processes, can significantly enhance transparency, predictability, and execution reliability in outsourced IT projects.
AN AI-DRIVEN PREDICTIVE MODEL FOR SCREENING LEGAL PROFESSIONALS IN INTERNATIONALLY ORIENTED UKRAINIAN IT COMPANIES
(Manuscript, 2026) Dzoban, Volodymyr
This applied research remedies a pressing talents issue for legal departments in Ukrainian IT companies because typical credentials are poor predictors for success in a fast-moving technology sector. The author created and tested a screening tool based on large language model and statistical modelling techniques to better evaluate candidates in an initial assessment stage. Using a dataset of 269 legal professionals who were 178 candidates for a major Ukrainian IT company and 91 professionals in the LinkedIn networking group, this study applied logistic regression analysis and narrative coding to explore predictors for success measured as acceptance of a job offer, retention for 24 months, and delivery of satisfactory performance. Results demonstrated that a background in the information technology industry, English language skills, foreign transaction experience, interest in technology, and a business focus were strong predictors for success, while traditional credentials such as university name, prior employment with a law firm, and membership in a bar association lacked predictive power. The model has 78.4% classification accuracy with 81.2% sensitivity and 75.6% specificity in cross-validation with AUC=0.78. It was used for creating a screening tool based on GPT for candidate screening where output classifies candidate data into organized assessments with scoring points for strong traits, areas of concern, and interview recommendations. Pilot testing showed a 60% reduction in screening time while maintaining quality. This study addresses a repeatable approach for statistical model development in the context of a particular legal staff environment and a usable screening tool for the technology sector legal recruitment. The results of this research challenge traditional forms of credentialism associated with legal recruitment and establish that culture fit factors potentially outperform legal credentials.
MANAGEMENT TRANSFORMATION IN THE UKRAINIAN VACATION SHORT-TERM RENTAL MARKET: LEVERAGING AI TOOLS FOR MARKETING AS A COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE AND RESOURCE OPTIMIZATION
(Manuscript, 2026) Danchak, Nestor
The rapidly growing artificial intelligence industry is transforming hospitality operations, with applications spanning automated customer service, content generation, and workflow optimization. While large hotel chains have more resources to adopt enterprise AI solutions, small vacation rental operators managing cabins, cottages, and nature-based properties face critical challenges: dependence on online travel agencies (OTAs) extracting 15-25% commission fees while controlling customer relationships, combined with resource constraints limiting competitive response capabilities. This capstone develops a management framework enabling small Ukrainian vacation rental operators to leverage accessible AI tools for marketing automation, platform independence, and resource optimization. The research employs qualitative methodology: empathy mapping and customer journey analysis. Applying them across nine in-depth interviews with vacation rental guests. Analysis identifies five distinct guest segments (Aesthetic Sensualists, Comfort Planners, Nature Explorers, Festive Socializers, Retreat Seekers) and three universal friction points: insufficient online brand presence, slow communication response times, and content-audience mismatch. The resulting framework integrates four automated components implemented through a phased 12-week roadmap, reducing weekly operator time to 2-3 hours while targeting 30-40% direct booking conversion within six months. While specific AI tools evolve rapidly (ChatGPT, Make.com, and Google Vision AI may be superseded), the framework emphasizes goal-oriented methodology: defining clear key performance indicators (KPIs), validating tool effectiveness against strategic objectives, and continuously adapting technology choices to serve business outcomes rather than pursuing technology for its own sake. This research proposes an actionable framework enabling resource-constrained operators to potentially achieve competitive advantages through strategic AI adoption. The framework design suggests significant time savings and platform independence opportunities.
USE OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE IN THE MANAGEMENT OF SECONDARY EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS IN UKRAINE
(Manuscript, 2026) Vyslynskyi, Bohdan
The management of secondary education institutions increasingly relies on digital tools to support administrative decision-making and organizational processes. While Artificial Intelligence (AI) has been widely discussed in the context of teaching and learning, yet its use in secondary school management remains underexplored. This study examines institutional readiness, current patterns of AI use, and perceived risks of AI adoption in the management of secondary education institutions in Ukraine. Using a mixed-methods approach, the study combines data from an online survey of 43 urban school administrators with insights from ten semi-structured interviews. The findings show a state of moderate readiness, as most schools indicated some level of infrastructure and strategic planning for AI integration. However, only a few cases of systematic use of AI have been reported in administrative practices. In most cases, respondents apply AI in isolated instances or pilot projects. AI applications are therefore most common in relatively simple administrative areas, such as scheduling and resource allocation, while their use remains rare in more complex areas, including decision-making and performance monitoring. The main barriers to wider AI adoption include concerns related to data protection, regulatory uncertainty, insufficient funding, and limited staff capacity. These findings suggest that effective AI integration in school management requires clear governance frameworks, targeted professional development, and upgrades to digital infrastructure.
MSMES AS A KEY DRIVER OF UKRAINE’S RECOVERY: EVALUATING SUPPORT PROGRAMS, COMPARING INTERNATIONAL PRACTICE, AND CREATING A BANK-HUB STRATEGY
(Manuscript, 2026) Zhulanova, Yuliia
This capstone is a consulting engagement that addresses three applied questions: (1) what the available market and program evidence suggests about the effectiveness of Ukraine’s MSME support instruments in 2022–2024; (2) how these instruments compare with historical and institutional lessons from South Korea, Israel, Japan, and the Marshall Plan countries; and (3) how a bank-based delivery approach can be structured to scale support under high risk and uncertainty. The analysis relies on practical evidence from operational statistics, program and administrative reporting, and donor/IFI documentation. Because inputs are fragmented across sources, results are synthesized through a unified KPI logic—drawing on OECD and World Bank evaluation approaches adapted to wartime conditions—and presented in comparative tables and appendixes. Oschadbank is used as a case study with a significant market role to validate and illustrate program findings at the bank level. The work also uses historical context to refine instrument design choices and to translate international experience into feasible steps for Ukraine. Results show that Ukraine deployed a broad toolkit dominated by subsidized lending and guarantees: over 100,000 loans were issued under “Affordable Loans 5-7-9%” (several hundred billion hryvnias), and over 30,000 loans were covered by state portfolio guarantees. Donor and hybrid facilities increase leverage and program quality (approximately 2–4×). The Oschadbank case indicates strong scaling capacity: its MSME loan portfolio increased more than threefold in 2022–2025, with around UAH 65 billion disbursed, supporting the feasibility of consolidating delivery through a Bank-Hub approach. Scenario simulations suggest that an MSME-focused Bank-Hub envelope of EUR 300 million+ could support several thousand additional investment projects and mobilize over EUR 1 billion when combined with IFI risk-sharing. The capstone concludes with an action-oriented plan to priorities instruments, rebalance support toward risk-sharing and blended finance, strengthen unified data and monitoring, and add a venture/equity pillar for innovative and high-growth firms.
DEVELOPMENT OF PRINCIPLES OF AN INNOVATIVE MODEL OF GROUP BUYING PLATFORM FOR ESTABLISHED COMMUNITIES: THE UKRAINIAN CONTEXT
(Manuscript, 2026) Natalukha, Vitalii
This research develops principles for an innovative Group Buying Platform (GBP) model tailored to the specific socio-economic context of Ukraine as a “frontier” economy and characterized by high inflation, institutional instability, and a social structure having low generalized trust. The study investigates how digital platforms can leverage pre-existing social ties within established communities, such as neighborhood associations and professional collectives, to facilitate collective bargaining power and overcome the interaction frictions. A qualitative survey was conducted with 37 residents of multi-apartment buildings in Kyiv to test hypotheses regarding consumer interest, trust dynamics, and willingness to pay for platform services. The results reveal that while economic savings are the primary motivator, the main barrier to participation is the risk of disorganization and financial loss. Data analysis confirms that a significant majority of users are willing to collaborate with strangers if the platform provides a guaranteed “Safe Wallet” escrow mechanism, effectively substituting institutional trust for interpersonal trust. The study concludes that sustainable investment model prioritizing resilience and sustainable growth is essential for the Ukrainian market. The proposed business model utilizes a bottom up, consumer-initiated approach that empowers existing communities to organize, thereby creating tangible economic value for households and acting as a substitute institution that fosters a culture of broader economic cooperation.
GROWTH STRATEGIES IN SUBSCRIPTION-BASED B2C STARTUPS: EVIDENCE FROM UKRAINIAN TECH ECOSYSTEM
(Manuscript, 2026-01) Honyk, Bohdan
This capstone project investigates how Ukrainian subscription-based B2C digital startups perceive and implement their growth strategies while operating within venture-builder ecosystems. The research addresses the central question of how Ukrainian subscription-based B2C startups grow within venture-builder structures, utilize shared capabilities, and how this context influences their acquisition, activation, retention, and monetization strategies. To answer this, the study also examines questions related to experimentation velocity, funnel standardization, and the trade-offs between autonomy and centralized support. The data were collected through seven semi-structured in-depth interviews with founders and C-level managers responsible for growth in venture-builder portfolio companies. Using a qualitative multiple-case design, all interviews were analyzed thematically across five constructs: acquisition, activation, retention, monetization, and venture builder ecosystem support. The findings reveal strong convergence around ecosystem-wide growth playbooks, including quiz-first onboarding, email-driven retention, and performance-based acquisition. At the same time, substantial divergence arises from differences in team autonomy, resource-sharing arrangements, product maturity, and product launch strategies. The study concludes that venture-builder ecosystems function simultaneously as accelerators and constraints: they reduce operational friction, diffuse best practices, and impose structural boundaries that shape strategic behavior. These insights have practical implications for founders and venture builders seeking to balance standardization with flexibility.
MANAGING THE WORK DYNAMICS OF LOCAL AND INTERNATIONAL STAFF WITHIN REPRESENTATIONS OF INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS IN UKRAINE
(Manuscript, 2026) Yermak, Yakym
This research investigates the status of Human Resource Management (HRM) practices in international organizations in Ukraine. The focus of this research is HRM differences toward expatriates and host country nationals (HCNs), and the impact of cultural trainings/onboarding on the collaboration of both groups. The study is built on Elton Mayo's Human Relations theory, and Configurational theory by John E. Delery and D. Harold Doty. These theories proclaim that strong interpersonal connections and synchronized HRM practices toward the staff lead to a high level of effectiveness for the whole organization. The data for this research was gathered through the open survey, where 46 expatriates and HCNs left their feedback on the status of HRM practices in their organizations. Participants presented organizations working in various fields: defense sector, culture, education, embassies, and others. The key findings of the research indicate differing perceptions of HRM practices and their impacts between HCNs and expatriates. HCNs report that HR differences influence negatively their perception of equality in the organization and basic work processes. More than half of the expatriates don't see these correlations. From the training side, it was identified, that cultural onboarding is a necessary step for strengthening working practices between HCNs and expatriates. These results contribute to the existing HR academic literature and deepen knowledge in the field of local and international staff cooperation in international organizations.
TEAM RESILIENCE DEVELOPMENT IN BUSINESS ORGANIZATIONS: WARTIME OPERATIONS EXPERIENCE
(Manuscript, 2026) Korol, Andrii
This research studies team resilience as a core component of organizational resilience in the context of extreme and prolonged crisis. Organizational resilience is understood as a dynamic capability that give ablity for organizations to anticipate, overcome, adapt to, and transform internal processes in order to sustain survival, consistency and growth under conditions of uncertainty, volatility, and disruption. While existing literature identifies multiple interrelated components of organizational resilience such as leadership, strategy, operations, finance, culture, learning, and networks, this study focuses specifically on team resilience as a critical, underestimated launching mechanism. The objective of the research is to analyse how managerial decisions and leadership practices influenced the development of team resilience in Ukrainian organizations during the full-scale war in Ukraine. The study explores how teams were stabilized, coordinated, motivated, and adapted under conditions of high uncertainty, time pressure, and emotional deformation, and how these processes contributed to develop organizational resilience. The findings disclosed team resilience during crisis emerges not as a single practice, but as a configuration of interdependent managerial mechanisms. Leadership presence and sensemaking, rapid and reversible decision-making, intensified, transparent and fair communication, redistribution of responsibility, and meaning-based motivation were identified as primary resilience enablers during the initial shock phase. At the same time, the study highlights several crucial structural blind spots, including over-reliance on leadership centrality, delayed formalization of learning, communication saturation, unarticulated emotional labour, and uneven distribution of resilience capacity across organizational levels. Based on these insights, the research proposes a multi-stage framework for strengthening team resilience as an integral part of organizational resilience. The framework combines immediate crisis-response practices with longer-term institutionalization mechanisms and provides actionable recommendations for organizations operating not only in wartime or crisis contexts, but also in environments characterized by continuous instability.
MOTIVATION TOOLS IN COMPANIES WITH DIFFERENT LEVELS OF INNOVATION
(Manuscript, 2025) Zasiedatielieva, Yaroslava
The topic of the research is to analyse the impact of motivational tools on the innovative development of companies in the context of the countries' positions in the Global Innovation Index. The main question of this study is how innovative companies use motivational strategies to stimulate creativity and innovative development. The participants are companies from countries that currently rank high in the innovation rankings (Switzerland, Sweden, the United States, Singapore, and the United Kingdom), as well as from countries that currently rank low in the innovation rankings (Nigeria and Nepal). For each country, two companies were selected: one large and well-known company engaged in innovation or technology development, and one medium-sized or local company. The method of data collection was based on content analysis of official materials, including corporate websites, HR policies, reports and media publications. The results of the research show that Self-Determination Theory is an effective tool for stimulating innovation in both high and low ranking countries in the Global Innovation Index. Potential implications of the study include recommendations for companies to develop effective incentive strategies that promote innovation. Future research could be focused on creating universal incentive models that consider global and local specifics.
THE ROLE OF FEMALE LEADERSHIP IN BUSINESS INNOVATIONS
(Manuscript, 2025) Volynets, Maryna
This research explores the role of female leadership in driving business innovation, addressing the critical question of how gender diversity in leadership impacts organizational creativity and innovation outcomes. Using firm-level data from the EBRD-EIB-WBG Enterprise Surveys conducted between 2018 and 2020, the study investigates the influence of female representation in top management and ownership on innovation metrics, including product and process innovations. The analysis consists of descriptive statistics, correlation analysis, and regression modeling to assess the relationships between female leadership and innovation outcomes, uncovering a critical threshold of at least 10% female representation in leadership roles. The results reveal that firms meeting or exceeding this threshold exhibit significantly higher rates of innovation, with product innovation increasing by 11.55% and process innovation by 8.45% compared to firms below the threshold. Moreover, the findings highlight the complementary role of majority women ownership in fostering innovation. Strong correlations between female leadership metrics and innovation outcomes underscore the importance of gender diversity in driving organizational performance. The study aligns with prior research, refining the understanding of critical mass in leadership diversity and its impact on innovation. Implications include the need for organizations to implement policies that elevate women into leadership positions and promote diversity as a strategic advantage. Future research could explore the effects of surpassing higher thresholds and examine industry-specific or regional variations. By demonstrating that even modest levels of female leadership can significantly enhance innovation, this study provides actionable insights for businesses and policymakers whose goal is developing inclusive and innovative organizational cultures.
MANAGEMENT OF STRATEGIC GROWTH IN B2B MARKETING: EFFECTIVE APPROACHES TO BRAND BUILDING AND SALES ACTIVATION (CASE STUDY)
(Manuscript, 2025) Volokhova, Maryna
This capstone explores the strategic management of growth in B2B marketing, focusing on balancing long-term brand building and short-term sales activation to achieve sustainable outcomes. The research addresses the question: How can B2B marketers effectively harmonize branding and sales strategies to foster growth? Using a mixed-methods approach, the study integrates insights from literature, survey data, and a Salesforce case study to highlight practical applications of theoretical models. The primary objective of this research is to explore the alignment between prevailing perceptions of effective B2B marketing strategies and evidence from academic research and Salesforce case study. The findings emphasize the importance of mental availability, consistent branding, and emotional storytelling in B2B contexts. Survey data reveals a preference for short-term sales tactics over long-term brand-building investments, reflecting gaps in understanding the compounding benefits of brand equity. The Salesforce case study demonstrates how leading organizations balance these priorities through thought leadership, customer advocacy, and data-driven strategies. The study concludes that achieving sustainable growth requires integrating emotional and rational messaging, leveraging customer advocacy, and adopting data-driven decision-making. These insights bridge theoretical frameworks with real-world applications, offering actionable recommendations for practitioners. Future research is proposed to explore evolving digital marketing dynamics and the integration of artificial intelligence in B2B strategies.

Browse

Recent Submissions