Digital Commons Network^™

Best Practices And Challenges To Composting In A Restaurant Setting, Christopher Jon Audette

Theses and Graduate Projects

Composting and organic waste reduction has been an important topic in recent years. The large volume of food waste that is generated and sent to landfills is of growing concern for municipalities as they struggle to handle ever increasing waste. Though recycling efforts of glass, paper and metal materials has become more common, the addition of composting organic waste on a large scale is still relatively not established. Composting in restaurants is a growing component to reducing the amount of organic waste that ends up in landfills due to the high volume of waste that they generate. The creation of …

Developing More Effective Women’S Leadership Development Programs & Addressing The Organizational Barriers That Inhibit Them, Greta M. Hittner

Theses and Graduate Projects

After decades of work to close gender gaps at the highest levels of leadership, organizations are turning to women’s leadership development programs with greater frequency. These programs are often designed to address skill gaps common among women, but have produced limited results. This paper reviews the literature on the gender gap, women’s leadership development programs, and the requisite organizational transformations needed to address the gender gap. The implications are that change must come from both the bottom up by developing women’s leadership skills and from the top down with organizations confronting bias and structural barriers. Only then will organizations fully …

Overcoming Organizational Challenges During And After A Reductton-In-Force (Rif), Gerardo J. Gonzalez

Theses and Graduate Projects

Within the context of the modern environment of business, competitive forces are lncreasing exponentially. Turnover rates have risen as a result of the business environment, leading to substantial scholarship on the issue to explore the theoretical and practical implications of turnover. Turnover is directly linked to organizational performance, and thus must be effectively managed (Park & Shaw, 2013). Herein, the reduction-in-force (RIF) form of turnover will be explored extensively, considering the various planning processes that may be executed to achieve it, in addition to its implications. A RIF turnover is defined essentially as downsizing (McElroy et al., 2001 ). A …

Building A Successful Youth Soccer Academy: Key Leadership Tactics Of Expert Coaches, Evan Fuhs

Theses and Graduate Projects

This study examines the actions of successful soccer coaches in changing team culture. More specifically, in-depth interviews were conducted with eight coaches who met criteria for expertise and success. In order to discern the particular tactics these coaches used to build a successful team culture from the ground up, the interview guide was derived from a conceptual framework that was based on the theoretical tenets of transformational leadership and organizational culture change, as well as practical research of those subjects in the athletic arena. The findings are reported and provide support for the utility of transformational leadership tactics and change …

Leadership Development In A Midsize Nonprofit Midwestern 0rganization, Casey Fuerst

Theses and Graduate Projects

This action research project addresses the leadership development challenges of a midsize nonprofit in the Midwestern region of the United States. By looking at the first two phases of the program offered, the state of information on other similar organizations leadership development efforts, the state of information on mentoring options, and the application of Kouzes and Posners [2012J leadership theory of Exemplary Leadership, the project lays out the plan for the third phase of development.

Training, Development & Leadership: The Need For And Feasibility Of Establishing A Commercial Banking Development Program Inside A Mid-Size Bank Headquartered In The Upper Midwest, Jolene J. Wall

Theses and Graduate Projects

The purpose of this study was to explore the need for and feasibility of establishing a Commercial Banker development program inside a mid-size Bank located in the upper Midwest. Organizations could be facing a talent shortage in the coming years as the Baby Boomer generation begins to retire. Organizations are looking for ways to develop future employees to fill employment gaps. Many organizations today are utilizing internship programs as a tool for new employee development. Internship programs allow organizations to recruit top talent from local universities, while keeping traditional recruiting and onboarding costs contained. lnternship programs are currently being utilized …

Communication Satisfaction And Part-Time Employees In A Park And Recreation Organization, Debra Lynn Derosa

Theses and Graduate Projects

The purpose of this study was to investigate levels of communication satisfaction depending on work status (whether employees work on a full-time or part-time basis) in a single municipal park and recreation organization. Part-time and full-time employees were surveyed using the Down and Hazen's Communication Satisfaction Questionnaire, resulting in 40 usable responses. The results showed that both part-time and full-time employees surveyed had low levels of communication satisfaction in the researched organization. Part-time employees had slightly higher levels of communication satisfaction than the full-time employees in each of the eight communication dimensions researched. This study draws attention for organizational need …

Transformational Leadership And Profitability In A Retail Setting, Barbara Koziol

Theses and Graduate Projects

Creative Kidstuff, a privately owned company with five retail locations in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area and a sixth location in West Des Moines, Iowa, experienced rapid growth in its first 15 years of business, Sales started to decline due to vendor mergers, consolidations, and bankruptcies along with increased competition from other toy retailers and the advent of on-line shopping. Transformational leadership has been shown to be effective in organizations undergoing change. My hypothesis was that there are significant leadership differences between stores which are highly profitable and those that are not. The Creative Kidstuff Employee Survey was designed with questions …

Staff Retention In Small Non-Profit Organizations, Michelle A. Redding

Theses and Graduate Projects

This study is an exploratory analysis of employee perceptions affecting staff recruitment, staff retention and job satisfaction in the small, human service non-profit organization. The study uses a human resource framework to address staff retention and provides conceptual guidance for advancing understanding about staff retention in the non-profit human services sector. The statistical findings are, however, inconclusive without further rigorous examination. A three category typology based on job recruitment factors, job retention factors, and job satisfaction is initially presented to define the strategies. Select dimensions of both intrinsic and extrinsic factors are explored in the recruitment stage of employee decision-making …

Study Of Leadership Characteristics During Transformational Change In Health Care Organizations, Susan Long

Theses and Graduate Projects

This qualitative research study explores the behavior of leaders during transformational change in health care organizations. For this study, health care workers, who had experienced transformational change within their organization in the previous three years, were interviewed about the behaviors of their leader. Findings of this study suggest leaders who regularly communication and support of team members; build organizational culture that supports collaboration and team work; and effectively plan for change initiatives, including providing adequate resources for the change, have more positive change initiatives than leaders who not demonstrate these behaviors

The Patient Protection And Affordable Care Act And Medicaid Expansion: Leadership Strategies For Effective Change Management In Managed Care Organizations, Emily Aurand

Theses and Graduate Projects

As a result of tlie 2010 Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA), eligibility requirements for the Medicaid program were revised resulting in a greater number of people eligible to enroll in tlie government healthcare program. These circumstances require numerous organizational changes for Medicaid managed care organizations (MCOs) that administer the Medicaid program in order to accommodate the healthcare needs of the growing Medicaid population and comply with applicable regulatory requirements. This case study sought to identify effective leadership strategies employed by Minnesota Medicaid MCO change leaders guiding organizational change processes and seeking quality change outcomes, resulting from the externally …

Driving Employee Engagement: Contemporary Trends In Engagement, Sarah A. Nelson

Theses and Graduate Projects

Employee engagement is an important concept in today's workforce. Engaged employees work harder and more efficiently, while disengaged workers may in fact work against the company's mission. Employee engagement can be increased with a number of different interventions and initiatives. Internal social media platforms promote communication and collaboration among employees. Employees who have had additional training and development are more engaged, as well as employees who receive feedback from managers. Promoting a balance between work and life also leads to more engaged employees, as well as recognizing employees for the work they do. Managers can also learn ways to increase …

The Effect Frequent Organizational Restructure Has On Employee Perceptions, Lisa Sabasteanski

Theses and Graduate Projects

This qualitative study investigates the effect frequent organizational restructure has on employee perceptions. Frequent is defined as two or more restructures in less than eighteen months. For this study, I evaluated findings from ten employees who worked in various industries throughout the Midwest who had experienced at least two restructures in less than eighteen months. Interviews were conducted with individuals to understand their perspective of organizational restructures they've participated in at their company. Findings from this study suggested when leaders clearly articulate the rationale for the organizational restructure and when they are honest and transparent about what is going on …

Leadership Program Outcomes Study: Essential Elements Of Leadership Trainings Offered To Marginalized Populations, Emily Halbur

Theses and Graduate Projects

ln order to better understand the purpose of and best practices associated with non-profit organizations offering leadership trainings to their constituents, 14 participants from two different organizations were interviewed about their experiences. These organizations work with two unique populations, those with intellectual disabilities and at-risk teens. The individuals interviewed were asked the same questions and their responses were compiled to help find themes within these two leadership trainings. Based on their responses, a list of seven criteria was assembled regarding what makes a leadership training successful from the perspective of the participants. For organizations looking to offer similar programs to …

Computerized Provider Order Entry Implementation: Provider And Hospital Leadership Impacts On Success, Elizabeth J. Walker

Theses and Graduate Projects

Healthcare organizations are consistently exhausting efforts to improve their patient safety standards and outcomes, especially those that are regulated by federal and state agencies. Many healthcare organizations have chosen to implement an Electronic Health Record (EHR) to facilitate better decision-making and faster tumaround for providers, thus improving patient safety. The EHR allows providers to manage patient care with the help of decision support functions, and with greater accessibility to the patient's information. One of the components of an EHR is the application of Computerized Provider Order Entry (CPOE). Although the benefits to both providers and patients have shown to be …

Email Overload: The Implications Of Virtual Communication At The Office, Matthew John Hearne

Theses and Graduate Projects

This investigation focuses on the implications of email overload on worker productivity, stress, and privacy in the workplace. This research attempts to confirm the affects of email overload at the office by comparing case study results with the review of related literature and subsequently offering a conclusion based upon this comparison.

Gender Difference In Transformational Leadership: A Comparison Of Liberian Male And Female Leadership Styles From 1986 Through 2006, Anthony Ansumana Kanneh

Theses and Graduate Projects

The goal of this study was to investigate the leadership styles of Liberian male and female leaders by examining five hypotheses, as measured by the Multifactor Leadership Questionnaire (MLQ: Form 5X; Bass & Avolio, 1999) administered to 119 leaders and 360 raters. The samples investigated were selected from Liberian male and female leaders in the State of Minnesota and the Republic of Liberia. Few of the transformational leadership dimensions as measured by MLQ were found to be positively and significantly correlated with leadership behavior of both genders of Liberians. Overall, the results revealed no significant differences between the genders, in …

Internal Executive Coaching Program: Exploring The Experiences, Benefits, And Recommendations For Participants And Organizations, Susan D. Poulos

Theses and Graduate Projects

Organizations are searching for ways to enhance leadership skills to meet strategic goals. Executive coaching is one method used by organizations to improve communication, job satisfaction, staff retention and overall productivity. While external coaching programs have been used for years, internal coaching programs are a more recent development and little research has been conducted to examine their effectiveness. The purpose of this study is to examine the experience of managers who participated in an internal executive coaching program in order to explore the benefits and recommendations for participants and organizations. A case study of one organization's Internal Executive Coaching Program …

Congregational Care And Support Of Pastors In Parish Ministry: A Social Systems Approach To The Care Of Servant Leaders, Dawn M. Nelson

Theses and Graduate Projects

Congregational care and support of pastors in parish ministry is rarely considered. While there is literature regarding clergy stress, burnout, and satisfaction; studies were not located regarding the active role of congregations in the care and support of the parish pastor.

The church is a social system and can be studied as such. Information was obtained from church communities that are members of the Presbyterian Church USA, in Minnesota. The study will explore pastoral perceptions as well as congregational perceptions to determine understanding and involvement of the congregation in the provision of pastoral care and support. The results of the …

The Positive Effect Of Team Management In An Inbound Call Center, Nancy Bernard

Theses and Graduate Projects

The research proposes to investigate if using team management and self-directed work teams or SDWTs in an Inbound Call Center can be implemented. Would a self-directed team work in the confines of an Inbound Call Center? Could converting to a SDWT environment also foster a positive work environment? The goal of this research project is to test the positive and direct correlation of creating a SDWT environment using team management theory within the structure of an Inbound Call Center that successfully meets all quality measures while maintaining a positive work environment. Using a self-directed work team in an Inbound Call …

Communicating Strategic Change In The Corporate World A Case Study Of 3m Company, Lisa H. Herzog

Theses and Graduate Projects

Working hypothesis: High-level leaders must communicate change In a manner that motivates and persuades employees. The purpose of this study is to analyze the styles of communication used by high-level leaders. This study used prior written works and one-on-one audiotaped interviews conducted with a Chief Executive Officer, a Chief Financial Officer, and an Executive Vice President of a local Fortune 500 company to determine patterns in communication practices. The implications that this work will have in the field of leadership studies will show readers that communication is crucial to the success of high-level leaders. There are favorable proven communication styles …

Military Model Of Leadership, Eddie M. Frizell

Theses and Graduate Projects

Military leadership has been tested and refined since the beginning of armed conflict. Society has entrusted its safety and welfare to a select few. These men and women of the Armed Forces have proven themselves worthy of this distinction.

A soldier has a very distinct view of his peers in the sister services. Researching the various armed services' leadership training programs, has given clear indication that they are more alike then different.

All services have based their leadership training on the same essential points: levels of leadership, values, attributes, skills, actions, human dimensions, stress, leadership styles, and consequences. These points …

Organization Communication In University And College Public Relations And Marketing Capacities, Kathryn Rumpza

Theses and Graduate Projects

This paper explores communication issues in public relations and marketing capacities at institutions of higher education. The basis for this Leadership Application Project (LAP) starts with three basic assumptions: 1) Communication from leadership is critical; 2) Information sharing is important in any educational institution; and 3) Individuals working in the areas of public relations and marketing have a crucial role in communicating the goals and mission of any institution. A review of the literature explores the roles of leadership, history, and theories specific to organizational communication in this field.

Finally, a theoretical model was developed based on the research findings …

Examining Perceptions About Restorative Justice Among Correctional Managers And Leaders, Sigrun M. Klausen

Theses and Graduate Projects

There has been an increasing dissatisfaction with the current criminal justice system, and restorative justice with its ancient roots, has made its way into criminal justice in the past 20 years as a different way of thinking about crime. The Minnesota Department of Corrections established a Restorative Justice unit in 1994 as the first state in the nation. To adapt restorative justice in the prison system, a change in organizational culture is required, and it is important that managers and leaders understand and accept the principles. A questionnaire with closed and open-ended questions was sent to managers and leaders in …

The Leadership Of The Domestic Violence Movement In Minnesota, Suzanne Koepplinger

Theses and Graduate Projects

The beginnings of the domestic violence movement were heavily influenced by cultural feminist thought and servant leadership styles. In recent years, more hierarchical and professional service providers have gained ground and changed the face of service provision, legislative efforts and public outreach in the domestic violence movement. What began as a social change movement has evolved into an institution in its own right. This shift has caused new styles of leadership and a new paradigm to take root. Transforming, empowering and visionary leadership, all with a base in feminism, mark the current players. It has not been an easy transition, …

Discipleship: Empowering Followers For The Modern Church, Gordon Thomas

Theses and Graduate Projects

The modern church finds itself under increasing pressure as the number of individuals entering the ministry continues to fall short of the number accepting vocational calls outside of ministry or retiring. Churches of all denominations are looking for creative ways to re-engage their members into accepting a broader range of responsibility in the church. The term many are using is 'discipleship'.

This study will first examine the stewardship theory developed by Peter Block - the choice of service over self-interest. This theory will then be contrasted with the work done by Pastor Michael Foss in his recent book Power Surge. …

Using Complexity Theory To Select Between Leaders And Managers, Michael W. Jordan

Theses and Graduate Projects

Several authors have attempted recently to extend Complex Adaptive Systems (CAS) theory to organizations and business management (Wheatley, 1992; Lind, 1994; Beccone, 1998; Zimmerman, Lindberg & Plsek, 1998, Eoyang & Olson, 2001). The theory might be useful for practitioners, but it cannot provide detailed scientific predictions. The following questions are posed for analysis: Could CAS theory be applied to hiring and promoting leaders and managers? Would it be possible, and would it make sense, for organizations to identify emergent leaders as management prospects given Beccone's analysis of the distinction between leaders and managers? How might the procedures and results likely …

Leadership For Inter-Organization Collaboration, Dawn Cvengros

Theses and Graduate Projects

This work related project implemented strategies of leadership behavior designed to assist representatives from organizations that represent state and local government agencies, nonprofit organizations, and industry make advancements to develop a sustainable collaboration among these organizations. The representatives voluntarily convene to improve the nutritional wellness of low income people in Minnesota. The dynamics of strategic leadership theory as it was applied to this project are illustrated. The purpose of this project was to identify ways to assist them inter-organization collaboration (IOC) achieve the goal: to develop and sustain a cohesive, visible, inclusive, and productive collaboration among member organizations. The objective …

Cultivating Purpose & Meaning In Health Care Employees: A Case Study Of Spirituality Integrated Within An Organization, Denise Cleveland

Theses and Graduate Projects

This case study explores the impact of spirituality between an organization and employee. The literature supports a growing interest among leaders in the idea of integrating spirituality into the workplace. Many leaders are recognizing the role of spirituality in fostering the human spirit to create relationships and systems that allow people to feel valued and supported. These values contribute to a sense of community within the work environment. This study seeks to understand more about the attributes, characteristics and outcomes of an organization that integrates spirituality throughout its organizational culture.

Achieving Alignment Through Adaptive Leadership, Susan Schultze

Theses and Graduate Projects

This application project will focus on achieving strategic alignment through adaptive leadership. It will look at intrinsic motivation as a means for adaptive leadership to develop the entrepreneurial spirit within an organization. It will develop the intrinsic motivation building blocks as a means of working through alignment frameworks. The emphasis will be on components that can be used at the workgroup level, as individuals and as a team. The Five Disciplines of the Learning Organization support the concept of connectivity across an organization that achieves alignment through iterations of the alignment model. This project will also refer to complex adaptive …