University of Phoenix College of Doctoral Studies issues white paper on thinking globally to impact business and career pathways

Author Dr. Erik Bean explores how adopting a global perspective embraces diversity of thought and contributes to workforce revitalization

University of Phoenix College of Doctoral Studies announces the release of a white paper by Erik Bean, Ed.D., associate research chair with the Center for Leadership Studies and Organizational Research (CLSOR), titled “Think Global, Act Local: The Impact of a Global Mindset to Awaken Local Career Opportunities.”

The 2024 Career Optimism Index® study, conducted by University of Phoenix Career Institute® highlights the importance of lifelong learning and continuous skill development in maintaining career optimism and adaptability in a globalized world.

Bean’s white paper explores how adopting a global perspective can revitalize local career momentum. “A global perspective fosters innovation and creativity. Exposure to different cultures and business practices encourages the exchange of ideas, leading to creative solutions for local challenges,” Bean states. “By fostering innovation, driving economic growth, and bridging skills gaps, a global perspective can revitalize local economies and create a more inclusive and dynamic workforce.”

Bean holds a doctorate in education from the University of Phoenix, with research interests in media literacy, cultural competence, immediacy, leadership, and mental health. He is the section editor of Leadership Perspectives in The Journal of Leadership Studies, a publication by Wiley® that is sponsored by the University of Phoenix.

The Michigan Chapter Leader of Media Literacy Now, Bean also is the author of several educational books such as Social Media Writing Lesson Plans, Using Microsoft Word AutoCorrect for Rigorous Grading, WordPress for Student Writing Projects, and Bias Is All Around You: A Handbook for Inspecting Social Media & News Stories. He is a recipient of the 2022 Gold Medal in American Writing Awards and two silver medallions from Nautilus and Readers’ Favorite.

The full white paper is available at the University of Phoenix Career Institute^® webpage or as a direct link here.

Bean has been employed with University of Phoenix for over 25 years.

About University of Phoenix 

University of Phoenix innovates to help working adults enhance their careers and develop skills in a rapidly changing world. Flexible schedules, relevant courses, interactive learning, skills-mapped curriculum for our bachelor’s and master’s degree programs and a Career Services for Life® commitment help students more effectively pursue career and personal aspirations while balancing their busy lives. For more information, visit phoenix.edu.

About the College of Doctoral Studies

University of Phoenix’s College of Doctoral Studies focuses on today’s challenging business and organizational needs, from addressing critical social issues to developing solutions to accelerate community building and industry growth. The College’s research program is built around the Scholar, Practitioner, Leader Model which puts students in the center of the Doctoral Education Ecosystem® with experts, resources and tools to help prepare them to be a leader in their organization, industry and community. Through this program, students and researchers work with organizations to conduct research that can be applied in the workplace in real time.

About the Career Optimism Index®
The Career Optimism Index® study is one of the most comprehensive studies of Americans' personal career perceptions to date. The University of Phoenix Career Institute® conducts this research annually to provide insights on current workforce trends and to help identify solutions to support and advance American careers and create equity in the workplace. For the fourth annual study, fielded between December 5, 2023-January 2, 2024, surveyed more than 5,000 U.S. adults who either currently work or wish to be working on how they feel about their careers at this moment in time, including their concerns, their challenges, and the degree to which they are optimistic about their careers. The study was conducted among a nationally representative, sample of U.S. adults and includes additional analysis of the workforce in the top twenty DMA markets across the country to uncover geographic nuances. The study also explores insights from 501 U.S. employers to provide comparison between the workforce and those who hire, train, and retain them. Additionally, for the first time, a statistical modeling analysis was conducted to illustrate how employers and employees can benefit financially from investing in career optimism.