Research
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Rigorous Inquiry. Meaningful Insight. Applied Impact.
Research
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Rigorous Inquiry. Meaningful Insight. Applied Impact.
RESEARCH OVERVIEW
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My research is grounded in the study of people, organizations, leadership, and the evolving role of technology in shaping workplace and business outcomes. I view research as a means of developing deeper understanding, questioning assumptions, and generating knowledge that can inform responsible decision-making.
My scholarly perspective is applied and interdisciplinary. I am drawn to research questions that are academically rigorous while also relevant to leaders, practitioners, and organizations confronting complex workforce and organizational challenges. Across my research, doctoral mentoring, and scholarly evaluation, I emphasize evidence-based inquiry, methodological rigor, ethical research practice, and practical relevance.
RESEARCH INTERESTS
A longstanding area of interest is emotional intelligence, particularly its relationship to leadership effectiveness, coaching, employee performance, interpersonal behavior, and organizational outcomes. I also examine how organizational culture and change shape leadership practice, organizational behavior, and workforce development.
I am interested in strategic human capital management and the systems organizations use to support people and performance, including HR infrastructure, compliance, policy governance, workforce planning, performance management, and organizational development. Related interests include operational improvement, process optimization, KPI management, and the use of evidence to strengthen organizational decision-making.
A growing area of my scholarship examines how business intelligence, people analytics, big data, and artificial intelligence can support workforce strategy, evidence-based decision-making, talent management, and organizational performance. I am particularly interested in the responsible use of AI in HR and organizational strategy, including the interaction between technological capability, human judgment, leadership, and ethical decision-making. I also study how digital transformation and emerging technologies change work processes and managerial decision-making.
My broader scholarly interests include innovation, knowledge management, cultural and cross-cultural dynamics, consumer behavior, marketing strategy, sales management, digital business, entrepreneurship, and the ways organizations respond to changing economic and technological environments.
SCHOLARLY WORK
Alnabhan, O. (2026). AI-Enabled HR Systems in Small and Mid-Sized Businesses: Balancing Efficiency, Compliance, and Human Judgment. Preprint. https://doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.29404.76167
Alnabhan, O. (2021). Effects of Emotional Intelligence on Sales Performance in the Telecom Industry Located in Sacramento, California, United States. Doctoral dissertation, Westcliff University. https://doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.15439.04000
Alnabhan, O. (2006). An Empirical Description of the Emotional Intelligence (EI) of the Bankers at the Union Bank in Jordan. Master’s thesis, Anglia Ruskin University https://doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.17215.06563
CURRENT RESEARCH AGENDA
My current research agenda examines how emerging technologies, human capital strategy, analytics, and organizational systems can strengthen workforce effectiveness, operational performance, compliance, and responsible decision-making. The agenda reflects my broader interest in connecting technological innovation with human judgment, organizational capability, and practical business challenges.
Three research streams currently shape this agenda:
Emotional Intelligence in the Age of Artificial Intelligence: Human-Centered Strategy for the Future Workforce
Examines how emotional intelligence, leadership, ethical judgment, and human-centered management can complement AI-enabled workplaces and support adaptive, high-performing teams.
Leveraging Business Intelligence and Data Analytics to Improve Operational Efficiency in High-Growth Retail and Service Organizations
Investigates how analytics and real-time data can improve workflows, reduce operational inefficiencies, strengthen performance measurement, and support organizational agility.
Cross-Sector Adaptation of Blockchain for Workforce Compliance and HR Audit Integrity in U.S. Service Markets
Explores the potential of blockchain technology to strengthen compliance assurance, credential traceability, audit integrity, and secure workforce records across multi-state service organizations.
Together, these research streams examine how people, data, technology, and organizational systems can be integrated to support responsible innovation, stronger decision-making, and sustainable organizational performance.
RESEARCH FOUNDATION
My academic research foundation developed progressively across finance, human resource management, organizational behavior, leadership, and applied business research. Beginning with undergraduate research on the role of bank financing in supporting small businesses in Jordan, my early work introduced me to questions involving financial systems, entrepreneurship, organizational growth, and business decision-making.
At the master’s level, my research shifted toward the human dimensions of organizations through a study of emotional intelligence among bankers in Jordan. This work established an enduring interest in emotional intelligence, employee behavior, interpersonal effectiveness, and human resource management. My doctoral research extended that foundation by examining the effects of emotional intelligence on sales performance in the telecommunications industry in Sacramento, California, further connecting human behavior and leadership with measurable organizational outcomes.
My graduate and doctoral studies also produced a broader body of academic work spanning leadership, strategic human resource management, cultural intelligence, international business, corporate social responsibility, customer relationship management, marketing and consumer behavior, risk analysis, and big data.
View additional academic research on Academia.edu →
https://westcliff.academia.edu/DrOdayAlnabhan
DISSERTATION SUPERVISION
Doctoral dissertation supervision is a central part of my academic work and reflects my commitment to developing rigorous, relevant, and applied scholarship. As a Dissertation Chair, I guide candidates through the research process from topic development and proposal preparation to research design, analysis, interpretation, and final defense. My approach emphasizes methodological coherence, ethical research practice, scholarly contribution, and practical relevance.
Examining the Impact of Business Intelligence on Managerial Performance in Leading Telecom Companies in Jordan.
Hiring Strategies in the Health Industry: Leveraging AI for Effective Recruitment and Enhanced Talent Acquisitions in India.
Governance, Shared Leadership, and the Role of AI in Succession Readiness: A Case Study of First-Generation Family Firms in China.
Shadow AI and Confidential Data Leakage in UK-Headquartered SaaS Firms Operating in California: Evaluating Governance Controls.
Workforce Adaptation to Artificial Intelligence Integration Among Customer Care Executives: A Qualitative Case Study.
Cultural Intelligence as a Predictor of Self-Reported Employee Performance Among Accounting Employees in Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises in Orange County, California.
Use of Data Analytics in Merger and Acquisition Due Diligence: A Qualitative Multiple-Case Study of Data Privacy and Cybersecurity Compliance Risk Assessment in U.S. Technology Firms.
DISSERTATION COMMITTEE
In addition to serving as Dissertation Chair, I contribute to doctoral research as a committee member, supporting the evaluation and development of applied studies across a wide range of business and organizational topics.
Quantifying the Impact: Artificial Intelligence in the Pricing Strategies of the Fashion and Apparel Industry.
Electric Car as a Service (ECaaS): Understanding the Impact of Car Sharing in Improving the Electric Vehicle Market Penetration in India.
Challenges and Opportunities of Augmented Analytics.
The Impact of Consumption Values on Tourist Repurchase Intention: A Study in Nha Trang, Viet Nam.
Leadership Practices in Examining the Implementation of Digital Transformation of Healthcare in the Egyptian Private Sector.
The Past and Future of Netflix Customer Retention.
Third-Party Security Breaches in the Healthcare Internet of Things (IoT): Business Impact Analysis.
A Qualitative Study Examining the Effect Education Has on Generation Y’s Employee Motivation.
Strategies for AI-Driven Digital Transformation in FMCG Distribution: A Comparative Analysis of Pre- and Post-Pandemic Consumer Behavior Trends in Seattle’s Retail Ecosystem.
Macroeconomic Drivers of Bitcoin Prices: A Quantitative Time-Series Analysis of Inflation, Interest Rates, and U.S. Economic Policy Uncertainty.
RESEARCH REVIEW
My scholarly service includes doctoral-level research review and evaluation beyond my roles as Dissertation Chair and committee member. I have served as an invited panelist and expert reviewer, assessing doctoral proposals and research instruments and providing methodological and analytical feedback on quantitative and qualitative studies. My reviews focus on the alignment among research questions, methods, evidence, and conclusions, as well as the rigor and ethical conduct of the work. I also serve on the editorial board of the Journal of Artificial Intelligence and Business Research (JAIBR) as a Section Editor.
AI-Ready Behavioral Modeling of MBTI Profiles for Strategic Leadership Development.
Decentralized Autonomous Organizations: A Comparative Study of Functionality and Cost Against Enterprise Resource Planning Software.
Customer Satisfaction with Online Food Ordering Apps.
Employee Perception of Private Health Insurance Benefits: A Qualitative, Multiple-Case Study in Corporations in Mongolia.
Consumer Trust, Image Satisfaction, and Purchase Intention in YouTube Fashion Influencer Marketing: A Study of Urban California.
The Impact of Artificial Intelligence Adoption in Human Resource Management Practices on Human Capital.
MY RESEARCH COMMITMENT
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My commitment is to continue developing a focused body of scholarship that addresses meaningful questions facing contemporary organizations and their workforces. I seek to build research that not only advances understanding but also creates opportunities for dialogue, collaboration, and continued inquiry.
As my scholarly work evolves, I aim to contribute research that responds thoughtfully to emerging organizational and technological challenges while maintaining a strong human-centered perspective. Ultimately, I hope my work contributes ideas that help scholars, practitioners, and organizational leaders better understand change and translate knowledge into meaningful action.
“Research begins with curiosity, advances through disciplined inquiry, and becomes meaningful when evidence deepens understanding and informs better decisions.”
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DR. ODAY ALNABHAN