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Social and Behavioral Sciences

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Dissertations

Theses/Dissertations

2004

Leadership studies

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Finding Meaning By Participating In Decisions Affecting Us, Our Work And Our Lives: Lessons Learned At Mondragón, David Herrera Edd Aug 2004

Finding Meaning By Participating In Decisions Affecting Us, Our Work And Our Lives: Lessons Learned At Mondragón, David Herrera Edd

Dissertations

There has been a growing interest in exploring participatory organizational models for the last fifty years, accentuated by the recent corporate scandals that revealed the inadequacies of non-participatory organizational systems. Research studies have focused on organizational structures, policies and practices that make participation possible but it is persons who make participation happen. The purpose of this study was therefore to explore the significance of participation by examining the question: What does the experience of partaking in decision making mean to persons who engage in it. This research is a phenomenological-heuristic study. Phenomenology explores the lived experience of participating in decision …


Organizational Structure And The Creative Process, Edward C. Bowen Edd May 2004

Organizational Structure And The Creative Process, Edward C. Bowen Edd

Dissertations

A creative edge can be a powerful source of competitive advantage in business, in war, in the arts, in science, and in life. In fact, creativity, innovation and the ability to adapt and change organizational structures in response to an increasingly fast-paced and competitive business environment are increasingly seen as essential for the success of many organizations. A current trend in organizational theory associates increases in formalization and both horizontal and vertical integration with decreases in an organization's ability to innovate and adapt. Consequently, organizational change efforts often involve moving from traditional, hierarchical structures toward flatter, more flexible types of …


The Relationship Between Leadership Styles And Labour Disputes In British Columbia's Public Schools, Yanping Wang Edd May 2004

The Relationship Between Leadership Styles And Labour Disputes In British Columbia's Public Schools, Yanping Wang Edd

Dissertations

For the last decade, adversarial relationships between teachers' associations and district administrators in the British Columbia public school system have been commonplace, frequently resulting in formal grievances and arbitration. Since dealing with these issues imposes enormous costs on both teachers' unions and school boards, this study used hierarchical regression analysis to explain why some schools have fewer grievances filed than other schools in the province. Specifically, this study used data gathered from 160 principals in the British Columbia public school system to examine the extent to which school demographics and principal leadership style helped explain variation in the rate of …


Wresting And Arresting Sense In Academe: The Complicated Discursive Structures Of Female Assistant Professors, Alana M. Nicastro Edd May 2004

Wresting And Arresting Sense In Academe: The Complicated Discursive Structures Of Female Assistant Professors, Alana M. Nicastro Edd

Dissertations

Women in academe often become entangled in an intricate equation of sensemaking as they work to balance the professional demands of teaching, research, and service, while at the same time learning the political and moral meanings of being a scholar. Structuration theory offers avenues for closely examining communicative strategies women utilize to navigate their roles as assistant professors. Through intensive interviews with seven female assistant professors this research investigates their process of wresting and arresting sense of the complicated roles, rules, and structures in academe. Analysis of interview data reveals the multiple discourses that frame organizational practices that facilitate and …


Implementing Student Learning Outcomes: The Link To Accreditation In California Community Colleges, Lori Waite Edd May 2004

Implementing Student Learning Outcomes: The Link To Accreditation In California Community Colleges, Lori Waite Edd

Dissertations

As the public demands accountability in higher education, regional accrediting bodies are under pressure from external governmental agencies, as well as from key stakeholders, to demonstrate their effectiveness and more specifically, provide evidence of student learning. All regional accrediting agencies now have incorporated some level of student learning outcomes into their criteria for reaffirmation of accreditation. This case study describes how three California public community colleges are implementing student learning outcomes on their campuses. Administrators, faculty and staff were interviewed about perceptions and insights related to learning outcomes. Artifact analysis was conducted to establish credibility and data triangulation. Findings suggest …


Two Perspectives On The Effectiveness Of An Entry-Level Community Rehabilitation Training Program: A Comparison Of Student And Supervisorial Perceptions, Howard D. Twomey Edd Mar 2004

Two Perspectives On The Effectiveness Of An Entry-Level Community Rehabilitation Training Program: A Comparison Of Student And Supervisorial Perceptions, Howard D. Twomey Edd

Dissertations

Although a significant amount of attention has focused on the effectiveness of graduate level training programs for rehabilitation counselors, little, if any, research has been devoted to entry-level training programs for Community Rehabilitation Program (CRP) personnel. To remedy this deficiency, this study first developed a survey instrument for both students and their supervisors to measure the change in skills, aptitudes, and attitudes that resulted from participation in a university sponsored training program. After administering the survey to 188 students and 20 supervisors, the perceptions of these two groups were compared and then select demographic measures were used to explain the …


Leaders' Influence On School Reculturing: A Case Study Of An International School, Brian C. Matthews Edd Jan 2004

Leaders' Influence On School Reculturing: A Case Study Of An International School, Brian C. Matthews Edd

Dissertations

Organizational theorists and even practitioners are beginning to use the construct of organizational culture to analyze and characterize the complexities and challenges of organizational life. The construct has been used to metaphorize, frame, interpret, and understand various aspects of organizational life, including leadership and the change process. The literature indicates that leaders can influence an organization by attending to its cultural dimensions. Much of this literature, however, is theoretical and speculative, and the empirical work has focused, for the most part, on business. The overarching purpose of this qualitative study was to enrich understanding of the culture construct and its …


The Creation And Development Of An Afrocentric Christian College: Imani Kuumba College And Graduate School, Juanita M. Browne Edd Jan 2004

The Creation And Development Of An Afrocentric Christian College: Imani Kuumba College And Graduate School, Juanita M. Browne Edd

Dissertations

The study examines Imani Kuumba College, (IKC), an Afrocentric Christian College. Since previous research does not examine any higher institution that provides a type of learning that focuses totally on the study of the Afrocentric world, this historical case study describes a unique educational institution that proposes to teach from a focus designed to raise self-esteem for African-Americans and racial understanding for other groups by studying the African-American experience, historically, spiritually and culturally. The study begins with an introduction that outlines the environmental and societal issues that motivated the creation of this innovative institution and its unique program. After discussion …