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An Autoethnograpy Of A Baby Boomer In Higher Education: Challenges And Catalysts For Change, Deborra Finlan Dec 2022

An Autoethnograpy Of A Baby Boomer In Higher Education: Challenges And Catalysts For Change, Deborra Finlan

Theses & Dissertations

Higher education as a baby boomer brings mental, physical, and economic adjustments, concerns, and insecurities. Additionally, life delivers unexpected challenges and barriers which can cause hardships requiring various types of motivation. Fortunately, there are also catalysts which can contribute toward successes. Literature from four major elements were the focus in this study: motivation, adult learning, challenges, barriers, and catalysts. Theorists and theories included Vroom’s expectancy theory of motivation with the added factor of cost, and Ryan and Deci’s theory on self-determination; Mezirow’s transformative learning and Knowles’s self-directed learning; Cross’s theory on educational barriers—situational, dispositional, and institutional; and Cobb’s social support …


Franchising: A Microfoundational View Of Personality Relationships Towards Franchisee Financial Performance, Christopher Heath Rehkop Dec 2022

Franchising: A Microfoundational View Of Personality Relationships Towards Franchisee Financial Performance, Christopher Heath Rehkop

Theses and Dissertations

The franchisor-franchisee relationship is unique; it provides a blend of entrepreneurial spirit with the structure of an established corporation. Franchisees operate with a degree of independence, taking certain risks and managing the details of day-to-day business, yet are also obligated to follow prescribed systems and processes of the franchisor. Both parties have a vested interest in the success of this relationship. While many macro-level factors (economy, technology, and demographics) come into play for a franchise’s success, one micro-level variable that may be identified early during recruitment is the personality characteristic of the franchisee candidate. A micro-level or “microfoundations” approach addresses …


Developing Marketing Strategies To Enhance Students’ Perception Of Service Within The Thompson Scholarship Program, Emileigh Kleps Aug 2022

Developing Marketing Strategies To Enhance Students’ Perception Of Service Within The Thompson Scholarship Program, Emileigh Kleps

Honors Projects

Understanding the perceptions of Thompson Family Scholars to suggest improvements of marketing strategies within the Thompson Scholarship Program for the benefit of current and future Thompson Family Scholars.


The Museum Professionals’ Experiences Survey: Assessing Motivational Processes In Museums Through The Context Of The Organizing Framework, Devin E. Geraci Jul 2022

The Museum Professionals’ Experiences Survey: Assessing Motivational Processes In Museums Through The Context Of The Organizing Framework, Devin E. Geraci

Museum Studies Theses

Through the development and evaluation of the Museum Professionals’ Experiences Survey, this research blends Museum Studies and Organizational Behavior to understand managers’ perceptions regarding employee motivation, key drivers of motivation, trends in professional experiences’, and the different experiences of management and non-management personnel in the context of museum workplaces. With responses from 276 museum professionals in the United States, the application of this knowledge can be used to develop a workplace climate that encourages job satisfaction, high performance, and organizational commitment, and thus more positive outcomes for the museum. Recent controversies and public testimonies are evidence of negative professional experiences …


Finding The Silver Lining: The Role Of Affect And Adversity In Entrepreneurial Venturing., Lauren A. Zettel May 2022

Finding The Silver Lining: The Role Of Affect And Adversity In Entrepreneurial Venturing., Lauren A. Zettel

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Motivated goal pursuit is a foundational concept in entrepreneurial venturing. Entrepreneurs set goals for their ventures, and their persistence in pursuing these goals ultimately impacts the success of their venture. Many of the explanations of motivation in goal pursuit have focused on the benefits of steady progress and positive emotions. However, entrepreneurs inevitably face adversity and setbacks which, in turn, beget negative emotions. It is yet unclear what role adversity and the ensuing negative emotions may have in motivating entrepreneurs. In order to extend our theoretical understanding of affect and adversity in entrepreneurial venturing, this dissertation draws on the existing …


Millennial Motivation For Nonprofit Arts And Culture Organizations, Rebekah Wagenbach Jan 2022

Millennial Motivation For Nonprofit Arts And Culture Organizations, Rebekah Wagenbach

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Many arts-related nonprofit organizations rely on a volunteer labor force and often face difficulties fulfilling their missions without successful recruitment and retention efforts. Millennials make up almost a third of the volunteer force. This research focused specifically on members of the Millennial generation and their relationship with arts and culture-related nonprofit organizations in their communities for the purpose of helping these types of organizations recruit, retain, and manage volunteers from this age group. The theoretical foundation for this research consisted of public service motivation theory and generational cohort theory. The research question examined the primary motivations for Millennial adults born …


Corporate Managers’ Strategies To Increase Employee Motivation, Salim Ibrahim Hussien Jan 2022

Corporate Managers’ Strategies To Increase Employee Motivation, Salim Ibrahim Hussien

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractThe lack of employee motivation can impede organizations’ performance. Corporate leaders are concerned with the lack of motivation, as it can lead to negative attitudes and hinder the implementation of organizational strategies. Grounded in Vroom’s expectancy theory and Herzberg’s two-factor theory, the purpose of this qualitative (identify design) was to explore strategies corporate managers use to motivate their employees. Five participants were interviewed from five corporate organizations that successfully applied motivation strategies to motivate their staff. Data were collected through semistructured interviews and field notes. Using Yin’s five-step data analysis, seven themes emerged: establishing an employee incentive program, creating a …


Motivational Communication Strategies For Virtual Teams, Monica Metri Jan 2022

Motivational Communication Strategies For Virtual Teams, Monica Metri

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Organizational leaders may not communicate effectively to motivate their virtual teammembers to achieve goals. Leaders who lack communication strategies to motivate virtual team members can lead to dissatisfied employees and increased timelines to achieve project goals for their organization. This may adversely impact the accurate and timely achievement of goals, reducing profits and thereby, shareholder returns. Grounded in Herzberg's two-factor theory, the purpose of this multiple case study was to explore leaders' communication strategies to motivate virtual team members to achieve project goals. The participants consisted of eight virtual team leaders in the northeastern United States who successfully implemented communication …


Leadership Strategies To Motivate And Retain Employees In Small And Medium Enterprises, Shirley Jean Doescher Jan 2022

Leadership Strategies To Motivate And Retain Employees In Small And Medium Enterprises, Shirley Jean Doescher

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Organizational leaders find it challenging to determine what leadership strategies motivate and retain employees in their company, especially during a pandemic. Not knowing which leadership strategies would successfully motivate employees leads to higher turnover, less profitability, and higher costs to replace employees. Grounded in transformational leadership theory, the purpose of this multiple case study was to explore strategies corporate leaders use to motivate and retain employees in small and medium businesses (SMEs) in southeastern Wisconsin (WI). Data were collected from semi-structured interviews with eight participants from eight SMEs of southeast WI, as well as analyzing company documents. Yin’s 5-step process …


Motivational Strategies Warehouse Managers Use To Improve Employees’ Performance, Brooks Latonya Demming Jan 2022

Motivational Strategies Warehouse Managers Use To Improve Employees’ Performance, Brooks Latonya Demming

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Failure to improve employee performance can have unfavorable organizational outcomes. Organizational leaders are concerned about employee performance because improving employee performance is critical for achieving organizational goals. Grounded in Vroom’s expectancy theory of motivation, the purpose of this multiple-case study was to explore strategies warehouse managers use to improve employees’ performance. Data were collected using semistructured interviews with three warehouse managers, member-checking interviews, and a review of public company documents. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis. Three themes emerged: organizational communication, employee empowerment, and a supportive work environment. A key recommendation for warehouse managers is to communicate expectations to employees …


Motivational Strategies Warehouse Managers Use To Improve Employees’ Performance, Brooks Latonya Demming Jan 2022

Motivational Strategies Warehouse Managers Use To Improve Employees’ Performance, Brooks Latonya Demming

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Failure to improve employee performance can have unfavorable organizational outcomes. Organizational leaders are concerned about employee performance because improving employee performance is critical for achieving organizational goals. Grounded in Vroom’s expectancy theory of motivation, the purpose of this multiple-case study was to explore strategies warehouse managers use to improve employees’ performance. Data were collected using semistructured interviews with three warehouse managers, member-checking interviews, and a review of public company documents. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis. Three themes emerged: organizational communication, employee empowerment, and a supportive work environment. A key recommendation for warehouse managers is to communicate expectations to employees …


Self-Actualized Leaders’ Relationships With Dynamic Teams, Joseph Walter Pieri Jan 2022

Self-Actualized Leaders’ Relationships With Dynamic Teams, Joseph Walter Pieri

Theses and Dissertations

A recent study of 831 companies around the world found that employees on average tend to spend 54% of their time working within teams (Frey et al., 2013). Today, this number is estimated to be an additional four to six percent higher (Gallup, 2020). Despite the upward trend of increased reliance on team-based structures in effort to improve productivity and boost morale, research reveals approximately two-thirds of U.S. employees are not engaged in their workplace (Gallup, 2020). More than half (51%) of workers merely go through the motions of their job, barely meeting minimum position responsibilities. However, leadership is essential …