Digital Commons Network^™

Strengths And Limitations Of The Design Of Helen Keller International’S Childsight® Program Based On Lessons Learned Through The Implementation In Vietnam, 2011-2013, Bradley J. Owen

Capstone Collection

The ophthalmology sector in Vietnam currently faces many challenges. The Asia- Pacific Region, including Vietnam, is reported to have the most cases of uncorrected refractive error in the world at approximately 62 million people. A 2009 study implemented by the World Health Organization also concluded that the Western Pacific region, including Southeast Asia, has 3.98% of the population suffering from uncorrected refractive error, with an estimated cost to the region’s GDP of 111 billion dollars, or .86% of regional GDP (Smith, et al. 2009). In Vietnam alone it is estimated that one in five children suffer from some form of …

For The Love Of Music: A Story Of Organizational Culture And Change, Malii Brown

Capstone Collection

For the Love of Music: A Story of Organizational Culture and Change is an examination of culture and possibilities for change at an organization that manages one top-tier, U.S. classical music orchestra. The research was carried out for the purpose of making and refining meaning from collective employee experiences at a canon cultural organization whose practices reflect and influence our society beyond the context of music. The inquiry at the heart of the work is, ‘How does the organizational culture of the subject organization, Orchestra, Inc.[1], affect its readiness for organizational change?’ The research methodology consisted of organizational culture assessments …

Exploring The History And Challenges Of Monitoring And Evaluation In International Nongovernmental Organizations: Complemented By Intern Experience At Save The Children Usa, Scott Toscano

Capstone Collection

This paper examines the monitoring and evaluation (M&E) system of a large international non-profit organization, Save the Children. An internship was used to support the central M&E unit and work on projects related to its needs. Projects included cataloging evaluation reports from the past two years and evaluation plans for the upcoming year, interviewing key informants about technical resource utilization and validating evidence about known gaps in Save the Children’s M&E system. A review of evaluation literature showing the evolution of the development evaluation practice is followed by a description of the mechanisms in Save the Children’s M&E system and …

A Tale Of Two Trusts: A Case Study Of The Consolidation Of Two Community Land Trust Affordable Housing Organizations In Vermont, Isaac I. Wagner

Capstone Collection

Between early 2010 and May 2011 the Windham Housing Trust conducted a feasibility analysis to study the possibility of merging with or acquiring the Rockingham Area Community Land Trust, a similar community land trust organization providing affordable housing in an adjacent county.

This study analyzed the one year feasibility study and merger negotiation process between the two organizations, and explored the complex set of relationships between financial partners, communities, residents, and funding stakeholders. The methodology for this work included reviewing current literature about nonprofit mergers and acquisitions, funder involvement, and community impact of consolidating services. In addition the author interviewed …

Mentoring Unfolded: The Evolution Of An Emerging Discipline, Nora Dominguez

Organization, Information and Learning Sciences ETDs

The purpose of this study was to outline the development of mentoring in the fields of business, education, and psychology over the past three decades. With the aim of revealing an organized framework of the theory and practice of adult mentoring in academic and workplace contexts, a systematic review of 25 books and 80 articles published in peer-reviewed journals between 1978 and 2012 was analyzed using two methodological approaches: qualitative meta-summary and qualitative meta-synthesis. Through the analysis of published literature, this study provides a taxonomy of evidence-based mentoring best practices for the creation and maintenance of exemplary formal adult mentoring …

Practicing Technology Implementation: The Case Of An Enterprise System, Yukika Awazu

2013

Drawing on four theories of practice – Communities of Practice (CoP), Bourdieu's theory of practice, Pickering's mangle of practice, and Actor Network Theory (ANT), the study provides an in-depth understanding about technology implementation practice. Analysis of an Enterprise System implementation project in a software manufacturing company reveals five stories of practice that relate to the major challenges faced. The story of mentoring related to the challenge of developing skilled analysts, and is examined by focusing on episodes about newly hired staff members. The story reveals the inhibiting impact of past habits and the role of occupational status. The second challenge …

Respectful Workplace And Violence Prevention A Fidelity Checklist For Mndot D7, Annemarie Burgess

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

The Minnesota Department of Transportation strives to provide a safe and respectful workplace. Wiens (2011) notes that “Government makes up 18 percent of the U.S. workforce, according to the National Criminal Justice Reference Service; yet, 30 percent of victims of workplace violence are federal, state or local government employees”(p. 5). District 7 of the Minnesota Department of Transportation has identified issues of ongoing concern that include: communication problems, gender and generational differences, and potential union based seniority conflicts resulting in perceived intimidation and interpersonal conflict. This Capstone project was an effort to develop a fidelity checklist to ensure that state …

Engaging Young Professionals In Credit Unions: Reviving A Movement Through Online Social Networking, Meet-Ups, And Events, Rebecca Spachek

Capstone Collection

Credit Union young professionals feel distanced from their jobs and comparatively less satisfied than their older coworkers. The industry is failing to retain young talent causing a growing gap between the young professionals and aging leaders. The Cooperative Trust is a network of young professionals working to close this gap by connecting and engaging members with the larger Credit Union Movement. This paper will examine the question, “Have active members of the Cooperative Trust experienced an increase in engagement in the credit union movement since joining the Cooperative Trust?”.

Positive Workplace Dynamics: A Qualitative Exploration Of Exceptional Performance In Community College Units, R. Michael Stapleton

Theses and Dissertations--Educational Policy Studies and Evaluation

In this companion dissertation findings are reported of applied case study research on four community college organizational units that consistently meet or exceed standard performance measures. Ample prior evidence confirmed that performance extended significantly beyond what might be explained by available tangible resources alone. The case study contexts are common in higher education in general: a) an external partnership, (b) an ad hoc team, (c) a traditional, cross-divisional service unit, and (d) a grant-funded student service unit.

Emerging positive organizational theory and research shows promise for revealing performance-influencing phenomena and behaviors that are not adequately represented in standard measures. Therefore, …