Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®
Articles 1 - 30 of 52
Full-Text Articles in Entire DC Network
Examining Alignment Of Leadership Education And Observed Practices: A Study Of Leadership Studies Department Chairs, Sara Zare
Theses and Dissertations
This qualitative study examined how leadership studies academic department chairs’ leadership is influenced by their discipline and their professional identities as leadership educators. This study is an exploration of the alignment between leadership theories and practice. Two conceptual frameworks informed this study: (a) the leadership educator professional identity development (LEPID) model (Seemiller & Priest, 2015) and (b) the four frames model (Bolman & Deal, 2017). Using the LEPID model, this study investigated the intersection of leadership education professional identity dimensions and the leadership role of the leadership studies academic department chairs. Bolman and Deal’s (2017) four frames model was used …
Exploring Cultural Boundary Spanning Functions That Bridge Across National And Cultural Boundaries In Mncs, Tamara Downs
Exploring Cultural Boundary Spanning Functions That Bridge Across National And Cultural Boundaries In Mncs, Tamara Downs
Theses and Dissertations
In multinational corporations (MNCs), cross-cultural interactions and collaboration are unavoidable. Cultural boundary spanning (CBS) is a behavior that has been shown to reduce conflict and ensure project success. It is a behavior that bridges internal and external organizational boundaries. This study examined if and how CBS functions (behaviors) change across national and cultural boundaries in MNCs. These boundaries were characterized by four demographic groups of people found within MNCs: (a) parent country nationals, (b) host country nationals, (c) third country nationals, and (d) parent country national expats. The findings of this research suggest that any of these demographic groups can …
Psychological Safety In Startup Organizations, Jessica Barhydt
Psychological Safety In Startup Organizations, Jessica Barhydt
Theses and Dissertations
Psychological safety is an individually held belief that a group is safe for interpersonal risk-taking. Scholars have studied the concept primarily as a team-level construct. However, recent studies suggest that climates of psychological safety exist at the organizational level. An examination of the dynamism of the construct at the organizational level is needed: how it grows, changes, and declines. Startups, which grow and change quickly, are an excellent context to study organizational psychological safety. Through interviews, this study explored psychological safety as an organizational-level construct in startup organizations. Specifically, it examined potential commonalities between high and low psychological safety as …
Organizational Dissonance In The Context Of Organizational Decline And Turnaround Of A Security Printer: A Quantitative Case Study, Tina Marie Ramirez-Dominguez
Organizational Dissonance In The Context Of Organizational Decline And Turnaround Of A Security Printer: A Quantitative Case Study, Tina Marie Ramirez-Dominguez
Theses and Dissertations
The purpose of this non-experimental, quantitative study was to examine organizational identity dissonance experienced by an organization's social actors in the context of organizational decline and turnaround utilizing factor structures from five years of pre-existing, employee surveys to determine whether differences in factor scores occurred over the 5-year time frame. Organizational identity dissonance is the psychological stress or discomfort experienced by an organization's social actors from holding two or more contradictory attitudes, beliefs, or behaviors (McLead, 2008) in relation to the organization's identity. A social actor is an individual participating in a communal environment (Whetten & Mackey, 2002). A communal …
Mindfulness And The Toxic Triangle: Reducing The Negative Impact Of Toxic Leadership In Organizations, Gary Cheng
Mindfulness And The Toxic Triangle: Reducing The Negative Impact Of Toxic Leadership In Organizations, Gary Cheng
Theses and Dissertations
Toxic leadership costs organizations millions at a time in lost employees, lost customers, lost productivity, and even lost health. The literature shows toxic leadership extends beyond just leaders into an interconnected "toxic triangle" of destructive leaders, conducive environments, and susceptible followers. This study explored, "Can a free, online mindfulness-based stress reduction course reduce the negative impact of toxic leadership on the organization?" Ten volunteers self-identified as currently working under a toxic leader. The study used an explanatory sequential mixed methods design to measure resistance, compliance, and core self-evaluation along with interviews and journals. The results indicated mindfulness did reduce the …
Employees' Experiences And Perceptions Of Work Gamification, James Klasen
Employees' Experiences And Perceptions Of Work Gamification, James Klasen
Theses and Dissertations
The purpose of this qualitative study was to examine the potential for implementing gamification at one worksite. Twenty employees in the organization were oriented to the concept of gamification and their perspectives, reactions to, and experiences related to gamification were gathered using an online survey. Study findings indicated that participants had some understanding of and exposure to gamification—especially as it concerned turning boring tasks into games and measuring and rewarding goal achievement. Although participants voiced some concerns, many were open to implementing gamification tactics at work and recommended implementing rewards, recognition, and rankings. Findings indicate that gamification programs, to be …
Preparing Future Leaders In Higher Education: Excellence Practices From Staff To Mid-Level Management Role Transitions, Erica Sherese Little
Preparing Future Leaders In Higher Education: Excellence Practices From Staff To Mid-Level Management Role Transitions, Erica Sherese Little
Theses and Dissertations
Mid-level leadership is key to a functioning university and it is important that mid-level leaders feel they have the tools and resources they need in order to succeed. To be successful in a new mid-level leadership position, entering supervisors must clearly communicate a strong sense of vision, values, and principles to their staff and establish positive relationships to encourage inclusivity, support, and effectiveness. The purpose of this study was to determine what higher education institutions can do to prepare staff for a successful transition into mid-level management and leadership roles successfully. This purpose was achieved by identifying successes and challenges …
Change Management For Small Business Leaders, Lora Elizabeth Higdon
Change Management For Small Business Leaders, Lora Elizabeth Higdon
Theses and Dissertations
Small business owners face challenges associated with leading change, and many times lack the necessary resources to manage it properly. The purpose of this descriptive qualitative study was to determine what challenges leaders of small businesses face in managing change, what strategies and practices those leaders employ, and how the leaders of small businesses measure success in managing change. This study also determined what advice leaders of small businesses would suggest for managing change. Four research questions were created to assist with this process, and 13 semi-structured interviews were conducted in various cities throughout the state of Michigan. The participants …
The Leadership Process: An Analysis Of Follower Influence On Leader Behavior In Hospital Organizations, Shawn M. Warren
The Leadership Process: An Analysis Of Follower Influence On Leader Behavior In Hospital Organizations, Shawn M. Warren
Theses and Dissertations
The healthcare environment, specifically hospitals, face a turbulent environment and external forces that present difficult challenges to leaders. Hospital leaders are required to do more with less and navigate to ensure a profitable bottom line and high ratings of patient satisfaction. However, viewing solutions, such as developing a new force of leaders, to navigate through such a hostile environment may not be the only answer. This study seeks not to understand the leader solely, but is focused on the leadership process and the effect followers create due to their behaviors and attributes that influence leaders. The study draws from the …
Cultural Transparency In A Virtual Work Environment, Jason Kujanen
Cultural Transparency In A Virtual Work Environment, Jason Kujanen
Theses and Dissertations
The purpose of this mixed-methods study was to examine cultural transparency and engagement in workplaces where a majority of employees work virtually. The study was conducted with Cisco Systems, a high-technology company based in Silicon Valley, California, using an online survey and phone interviews to assess the organization’s level of cultural transparency and the factors that create an open and engaging environment. Trust was found to be a key denominator in fostering transparency and employee engagement. Virtual tools, such as instant messaging, WebEx, and telepresence, foster cultural transparency and can be powerful supports for the creation and maintenance of trust, …
Assessment Of The Relationship Between Organizational Culture And Lean Implementation In The Aerospace Industry, Jesus Arroyo
Assessment Of The Relationship Between Organizational Culture And Lean Implementation In The Aerospace Industry, Jesus Arroyo
Theses and Dissertations
The aerospace industry is facing a wide range of economic and global challenges that are working together to put tremendous pressure to become more efficient. These challenges are forcing organizations to utilize the skills and competencies of its human resources more effectively. Firms must encourage behaviors and work practices that help elicit the organization’s potential. For most aerospace organizations, lean—a total quality management approach—has become a tool for addressing these challenges and meeting expectations. Many researchers see lean as a general system to improve the profitability of manufacturing, but there is some discontent in implementing lean manufacturing. Some researchers explain …
Identifying The Impact Of Leadership Practices On Organizational Agility, Alethea G. Young
Identifying The Impact Of Leadership Practices On Organizational Agility, Alethea G. Young
Theses and Dissertations
This mixed-methods case study examined the impact of leadership on practices to organizational agility. Leaders and employees from three organizations (two universities, one financial institution) participated in surveys and interviews to generate data related to the organizational and personal leadership orientations and styles exhibited, the degree of agility in the organization, and the impact of organizational and personal leadership orientations and styles on organizational agility. Study findings suggested that leadership varies based on industry- and organization-specific demands, organizational agility can exist across industries and organization types, and that adopting a long-term focus and practicing agile leadership behaviors throughout the organization …
Comparative Analysis Of Corporate Culture In A Multinational Organization, Don G. Gilman
Comparative Analysis Of Corporate Culture In A Multinational Organization, Don G. Gilman
Theses and Dissertations
This study built upon the Project GLOBE (House, Hanges, Javidan, Dorfman, & Gupta, 2004) analysis by using a Web-based version of the GLOBE Questionnaire in order to examine the extent to which the cultural values and practices of middle managers in a multinational organization vary depending on (a) their cultural background and the region in which they work, (b) whether they were a member of a recently acquired company, and (c) the number of years employed by the multinational organization. Multinational organizations face the unique challenge of operating in societies that have different sets of cultural norms, expectations, beliefs, and …
Leading Towards Well-Being: Exploring Organizational Climate, Leadership And Individual Factors That Relate To Thriving At Work, Lora Geiger
Theses and Dissertations
Positive organizational outcomes are associated with fostering thriving well-being as new research shows thriving is tied to higher levels of engagement, innovation, reduced turnover and health care costs, higher affective commitment, productivity, and resiliency to change and burnout. A review of the relevant literature assesses connections in organizational climate, leadership, and individual factors related to resilience and thriving at work. This quantitative correlation study explores the relationship between these factors to assess which organizational, leadership, and individual factors correlate to employee engagement, commitment, resilience, and thriving at work. The findings contribute to understanding what influences human thriving and relatedly sustainability …
Intrinsic Conflict Between Management And Leadership, Dean Walton Mccall
Intrinsic Conflict Between Management And Leadership, Dean Walton Mccall
Theses and Dissertations
Organizational conflict manifests in misalignment of individuals and groups, and is often discussed in terms of the effect that leadership and management have on the state of affairs. It is built-in for any organization, yet its root causes are not fully understood. It is not uncommon to characterize leadership/management conflicts in terms of the style or personality type of the individuals involved; however, conflicting leadership and management objectives that are not style or personality dependent may also be a significant factor. If conflict is actually disagreement about the role-driven management objectives and leadership objectives at hand, rather than being based …
Systems Thinking And Six Sigma: Exploring An Integrated Model For Quality Management, Robertson Marlene Derian
Systems Thinking And Six Sigma: Exploring An Integrated Model For Quality Management, Robertson Marlene Derian
Theses and Dissertations
Despite the popularity and financial benefits Six Sigma programs produce, Six Sigma has its weaknesses. Critics of Six Sigma recommend inclusion of systems thinking, a method that examines an organization as a system and views its processes holistically with Six Sigma. The purpose of this quantitative study is to compare organizations that use Six Sigma only and organizations that use an integrated approach. The research questions explore to what extent organizations that implement an integrated quality improvement method differ in the success and duration of their Six Sigma programs compared to those that implement Six Sigma as a standalone method. …
Beyong Bullying: A Holistic Exploration Of The Organizational Toxicity Phenomenon, Deirdre H. Carlock
Beyong Bullying: A Holistic Exploration Of The Organizational Toxicity Phenomenon, Deirdre H. Carlock
Theses and Dissertations
A toxic organization is characterized by a narrow focus on bottom line profits and malicious or abusive behaviors go unnoticed or undisciplined (Kusy & Holloway, 2009; Macklem, 2005). It produces a toxic work environment where employees suffer emotional pain generated from damaging behaviors (Samuel, 2010). While some degree of toxicity is unavoidable, the unrelieved intensity of pressures over a prolonged period of time tends to wear people down (Bacal, 2000; Samuel, 2010) Much of the academic and popular literature addressing organizational toxicity focuses on bullying and dysfunctional behavior. This research shows that harmful behaviors are symptomatic of more complex systemic …
Workplace Conflict: A Phenomenological Study Of The Types, Processes, And Consequences Of Small Business Conflict, Clare Fowler
Workplace Conflict: A Phenomenological Study Of The Types, Processes, And Consequences Of Small Business Conflict, Clare Fowler
Theses and Dissertations
This dissertation concerns the conflicts experienced by small businesses. A small business is defined in this study as a business less than 10 years old with 5 to 50 employees. According to the U.S. Census, the majority of American employees work in small businesses. The literature shows that most of these small business owners report spending a substantial amount of their time and money dealing with conflicts. This dissertation analyzes the types of conflicts reported by small business owners, and some possibilities for resolving those conflicts. The literature suggests that conflicts are inevitable in the workplace, but that there are …
Leadership Competencies For Effective Hospital Chief Executive Officers And Chief Medical Officers In Mexico, Muñoz Alejandro García
Leadership Competencies For Effective Hospital Chief Executive Officers And Chief Medical Officers In Mexico, Muñoz Alejandro García
Theses and Dissertations
This study identified a leadership competency model for developing healthcare executives in Mexico based on the National Center for Healthcare Leadership (NCHL) Model. Eleven chief executive officers and chief medical officers were interviewed. They considered 86% of the National Center for Healthcare Leadership (NCHL) competencies as very important or vital and perceived a gap in the performance of these competencies. They also identified additional vital competencies beyond the scope of the NCHL's model. Participants also reported that leadership development and succession planning programs were lacking. Recommendations are to design a leadership development program using the NCHL model as a framework …
An Exploratory Study Of Work-Related Imagined Interactions With Real-Life Coworkers, Paula Thompson
An Exploratory Study Of Work-Related Imagined Interactions With Real-Life Coworkers, Paula Thompson
Theses and Dissertations
Communication between individuals in social systems includes not only interpersonal, external acts of discourse, but also intrapersonal communications within each person's interior cognitive space. One type of intrapersonal communication, imagined interactions, involves mentally imagining communication encounters with others in an internal dialogue symbolic of real-life conversations. This research project explored the phenomenon of imagined interactions with real-life coworkers as a component of the interior work lives of working adults. The research question was: How do supervisors utilize imagined interactions to make sense of and manage workplace relationships? An existing survey instrument, the Survey of Imagined Interactions, was modified to limit …
Exploring Cultural Intelligence: An Exploratory Study Of The Impact Of Cultural Intelligence On Team Effectiveness In A Multinational, Organization Development Graduate Program, Jack P. Schlafer
Theses and Dissertations
This exploratory study focused on the impact of cultural intelligence (CQ) on team effectiveness (TE) in a multinational, organization development graduate program. This field study included preliminary measures of both CQ and TE, an educational and focus group intervention for enhanced CQ skills, and post-CQ and TE reassessment. The results suggest that CQ skills, specifically Metacognitive CQ and Behavioral CQ, had a positive relationship on a team's ability to meet objectives and satisfy customers' needs in cross-cultural engagements. Curiously, Metacognitive CQ seemed to have diminished a team's ability to deliver results in a timely manner. Demographics such as age negatively …
Telling The Story: Teaching Leaders The Art Of Storytelling And Its Impact On Individuals And The Organization, Julie Jones O’Leary
Telling The Story: Teaching Leaders The Art Of Storytelling And Its Impact On Individuals And The Organization, Julie Jones O’Leary
Theses and Dissertations
There are many different approaches to communicating a story which engages and inspires the audience. The opportunity comes in teaching employees a framework to tell a story that influences outcomes. This study analyzed the effects of a storytelling class delivered to employees of a Fortune 500 organization. Data for the study was sourced from a mixed-method approach: archival interviews, class evaluations, and face-to-face interviews. These methods measured the participants' reaction to the training, evaluated the relevance to the job, and determined the impact of learning the art of telling a story. The findings showed participants reported improved confidence, strengthened relationships, …
Promoting Positive Performance Relationships Between Law Enforcement Supervisors And Their Officers, Shanell M. Law
Promoting Positive Performance Relationships Between Law Enforcement Supervisors And Their Officers, Shanell M. Law
Theses and Dissertations
This study served to determine if sworn officers experiencing low or high levels of Leader-Member Exchanges (LMX) are more likely to engage in behaviors or have attitudes that can ultimately lead to more negative or positive performance outcomes respectively. Five research questions assisted in revealing the perspectives of sworn officers as they act under the auspices of their superiors. The following research questions were answered throughout this study: (1) Do sworn officers perceive that their supervisors are aware of the officer's professional needs? (2) Do sworn officers perceive that their supervisors have confidence in their professional ability? (3) Do sworn …
Using Appreciative Inquiry In The 360-Degree Survey Feedback Process For Leaders, Aaron C. Herbert
Using Appreciative Inquiry In The 360-Degree Survey Feedback Process For Leaders, Aaron C. Herbert
Theses and Dissertations
This study identified how an appreciative 360-degree leader survey enhanced the feedback process for leaders. The qualitative study was conducted at a 1500-member Protestant church in Virginia. The two senior-most leaders (pastor and executive associate pastor) were evaluated by 10 subordinates. Examination of the impact of the appreciative process on the implementation and use of survey results identified risks, benefits, and suggested interventions. The study found that the appreciative process generally enhanced subordinates' willingness to participate, although some concerns did arise. Pastors and subordinates stated they did not have sufficient time to absorb the feedback or to identify deliberate action …
Intrinsic Rewards Increase Job Performance Within An Organization, Meredith Catalini
Intrinsic Rewards Increase Job Performance Within An Organization, Meredith Catalini
Theses and Dissertations
Employee motivational programs consist of extrinsic and intrinsic motivators. This project showed the impact the use of intrinsic reward systems had on employee feelings of satisfaction and increased performance. The study was conducted with an organization that supports developmentally disabled adults. The focus was to improve medication administration practices by decreasing the number of medication errors made by employees. The data utilized to conduct this study consisted of pre- and postintervention employee interviews, database information, and application of intrinsic approaches with employees. The conclusion showed that there was a significant decrease in errors after intrinsic management practices were implemented. The …
An Exploratory Study Of Contracted Security Officers' Retention, Lozano Gerardo De Los Santos
An Exploratory Study Of Contracted Security Officers' Retention, Lozano Gerardo De Los Santos
Theses and Dissertations
One of the characteristics of the contracted or outsourced security officers' industry is its high turnover rate. The objective of this qualitative study was to explore some of the factors that contribute to security officer's permanence in their employing organizations. The study took place in Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, Mexico. Eight security officers with more than a year's tenure, employed with 4 different companies, voluntarily agreed to participate in the research. The results of the study show that security officers who experienced good treatment, support, and care about their personal and family needs from owners, executives and supervisors, tended to continue …
A Study Of Health Care Payment Organizations' Culture And Adaptability To Revolutionary Change, Susan Andree Hunt
A Study Of Health Care Payment Organizations' Culture And Adaptability To Revolutionary Change, Susan Andree Hunt
Theses and Dissertations
The U.S. health care system is in the midst of revolutionary change. Health care costs continue to rise, significant portions of the population remain uninsured, and government regulation is increasing. The culture of organizations influences their ability to change, and research demonstrates that those with the characteristics of learning organizations are most adaptable. This study sought to establish the characteristics of health care payment organizations and to determine how well these align with the characteristics of learning organizations. A survey was sent to 138 individuals employed by 79 organizations in multiple segments of the industry to obtain their perception of …
The Differential Impacts Of Telecommuting On Participant Worker Experiences, Dara S. Hysmith
The Differential Impacts Of Telecommuting On Participant Worker Experiences, Dara S. Hysmith
Theses and Dissertations
Telecommuting affects workers across job-related and person-related dimensions. Extant research highlights the impacts on work intensification, job satisfaction, isolation and development, manager and coworker relations, work-family conflict, physical and psychological health, gender and identity, time and space. This study explores telecommuter perceptions of the most profound impacts of the work arrangement and identifies actions they or their employers can take to enhance the experience. The research focuses on the experience of this population and investigates the phenomena using a mixed-methods approach consisting of an online survey and in-depth interviews. Results indicate the most profound impacts are: work intensity, isolation and …
Human And Relationship Capabilities In A Global Change Program, Elena Tran
Human And Relationship Capabilities In A Global Change Program, Elena Tran
Theses and Dissertations
This study examined human and relationship capabilities developed through a change program at an oil/gas exploration and production multinational organization. A convenience sample of 10 leaders and members of the change program were interviewed for the study. Although study participants were mixed in the assessment of the program's priority and the company's ability to deliver it successfully, the study found that the program most strongly developed capabilities related to leading and managing transformation and change, building infrastructure and process excellence, and developing critical skills and experience. Key program impacts reported were reducing risk, managing complexity, and better utilizing resources. Participants …
The Path To Graduation: A Model Interactive Web Site Design Supporting Doctoral Students, Nicole Simmons-Johnson
The Path To Graduation: A Model Interactive Web Site Design Supporting Doctoral Students, Nicole Simmons-Johnson
Theses and Dissertations
This 2-phase mixed method study assessed 2nd-year doctoral students' and dissertation students' perceptions of the current Graduate School of Education dissertation support Web site, with implications for designing a model dissertation support Web site. Methods. Phase 1 collected quantitative and qualitative data through an anonymous electronic survey. Phase 2 consisted of 6 semistructured qualitative Skype interviews. Four themes emerged from the qualitative portion of the study: (a) Mentoring, (b) Student Support Groups, (c) Explicit functions and roles of Dissertation Chairpersons, and (d) the Opportunity to network and interact with dissertation students face-to-face or online. Results. Of the respondents, 42.3% found …