Business Commons^™

Proving Yourself: How Top Executives Relate Their Leadership Experience, Ellen S. O'Connor, Denise M. Lucy

Denise Lucy

We asked 30 top executives (CEOs, COOs, and Presidents) to describe their paths to and in office. Our purpose was to explore how executives practice leadership in the way they discuss their experience. We identified three structures that interviewees used: the full proof, a thesis statement backed by evidence; the narrative plot, a trajectory toward a goal; and the signature story, a defining leadership experience. We argue that structuration proves leadership; that is, full proofs and narrative plots communicate dependability and signature stories convey realism. We also constructed paradigmatic narratives or representative experiences of leadership, which suggest an experiential curriculum …

Sex Sells: How Advertising Agencies' Commodification Of Image Affects Older Women In Advertising, Diane Fittipaldi

Diane Fittipaldi

The purpose of this study was to understand how advertising agency culture affects the long-term careers of women account executives as they age. The primary research questions were: 1) How do self-image and cultural stereotypes affect the decision to enter the advertising business; 2) How do women navigate the male-dominated culture of the ad agency; 3) What strategies do women use to get ahead in advertising; 4) How do women survive long term in a culture that favors youth? Qualitative data was collected via unstructured, one-on-one, in-depth interviews with a nationally sourced sample 15 female advertising account executives aged 40 …

Leadership Challenges In The Sustainable Internationalization Of A Medium Scale State University Located In The Usa: A Case Study, Babu George, Jaylen Adams, Jennifer Hopkins

Babu George

Why Do We Learn What We Learn? The Intersection Of Leadership And Learning In Aviation Environments, Kadie Mullins

Kadie Hayward Mullins

Why do we learn what we learn? Teach what we teach? Train how we train? Largely, decisions regarding instruction and training in aviation environments are dictated by leadership. Industry CEOs beliefs on professional development, organization culture inspired by leadership, and the instructors’ personal leadership philosophies create specific learning schema while legislation, credentialing agencies, and public policies provide mandates surrounding licensing and certifications. This paper will explore the contexts and concepts in which learning and leading intersect and the impacts of those intersections on learner outcomes and instructional planning. Exploring pertinent historical, societal, philosophical, and psychological factors that guide instruction and …

Merge Ahead: Library-It Organizations In The Liberal Arts, Lisa A. Forrest, Niranjan Davray, Heather Woods, Dave Smallen

Lisa Forrest

Organizational mergers between libraries and information technology services have become more common in recent years. From curbing administrative costs to improving communication to supporting student and faculty success, merged institutions cite a variety of reasons for joining forces. How do successfully merged library and IT services work? What are the challenges and opportunities for those leading within these organizations? What lessons can stand alone organizations glean from these unions? Presenters from four liberal arts institutions--Hamilton, Kenyon, Trinity, and Wellesley Colleges--will share a variety of perspectives and advice for those contemplating a merger or just looking to improve Library-IT relationships. Session …

The Configuration Of Performance Appraisal: Investigating The Impact Of Leadership And Personality Using A Within- And Between-Supervisory Group Analysis, Steve Markham, W D. Murry, Dow Scott

Dow Scott

The key to improvfrig performance appraisals in organizations may be the leadership exchange processes that occur between managers and subordinates. We suggest two ways in which this might unfold: (a) the direct relationships among leadership attention, tenure with supervisor, and actual performance appraisal rating and (b) the cqnfiguration of these three variables around the organization's structure in which differences between supervisory groups are highlighted. Our findings suggest that all three variables are significantly related. For leadership attention and performance appraisal, an individual-level model best applies. A group model is implied for leaders~ip attention and tenure with supervisor, whereby entire supervisory …

Where Do I Stand? The Interaction Of Leader–Member Exchange And Performance Ratings, Hassan Baker, Guowei Jian, Gail Fairhurst

Guowei Jian

The congruence model of leader–member exchange (LMX) quality predicts that agreement between leader and members regarding relationship quality is associated with follower performance. However, questions remain over how cultural relational norms influence congruence. This study, based on a government-linked international joint venture in Malaysia, investigates cultural relational norms in relation to leader–member agreement on relational quality and leader evaluation of member performance. Our findings revealed that LMX quality agreement was related to in-role and extra-role performance among dyadic relationships conforming to Malaysian cultural norms. This study contributes to understanding how cultural relational norms provide conditions to the congruence model of …

Destructive Leader Behavior: A Comparison Of Australian, American And Iranian Leaders Using The Destructive Leadership Questionnaire (Dlq), James Shaw, Anthony Erickson, Farzaneh Nasirzadeh

Anthony Erickson

This article provides insights into the important but relatively unexamined issue of destructive leadership in a non-Western country. Although tentative, the article also provides some guidance for expatriate managers in adapting their own behavior to avoid being categorized as “destructive” by non-Western subordinates. In the following pages, we report the findings of a study of destructive leader behaviors among convenience samples of Australian, American, and Iranian leaders. No differences were found between Australian and American leaders in regard to the nature and frequency of destructive behaviors. As a result, the Australian and American data were combined and compared to a …

Destructive Leader Behavior: A Comparison Of Australian, American And Iranian Leaders Using The Destructive Leadership Questionnaire (Dlq), James Shaw, Anthony Erickson, Farzaneh Nasirzadeh

James B Shaw

This article provides insights into the important but relatively unexamined issue of destructive leadership in a non-Western country. Although tentative, the article also provides some guidance for expatriate managers in adapting their own behavior to avoid being categorized as “destructive” by non-Western subordinates. In the following pages, we report the findings of a study of destructive leader behaviors among convenience samples of Australian, American, and Iranian leaders. No differences were found between Australian and American leaders in regard to the nature and frequency of destructive behaviors. As a result, the Australian and American data were combined and compared to a …

Complexity Theory For A New Managerial Paradigm: A Research Framework, Gandolfo Dominici, Vasja Roblek

Vasja Roblek

In this work, we have outlined a research framework for a new management paradigm, attempting trying to link the main concepts of complexity theory, change management, knowledge management, sustainable development and, cybernetics. We discussed the transition from the industrial era to the post industrial age. In the development process, nothing is fixed in advance; we can say that it is opportunistic, and adapts to the challenges of the environment, as well as to their effects for and within organizations and society. We saw how the processes of organizational change have occurred as a result of the move to adapt to …

Paradoxical Truths In Heroic Leadership: Implications For Leadership Development And Effectiveness, Scott T. Allison, Jennifer L. Cecilione

Scott T. Allison

In this chapter, we discuss the basic elements of heroic leadership, showing how heroism and exemplary leadership are deeply intertwined. We then describe six paradoxical truths about heroic leadership that are often unrecognized and unappreciated. We believe that ignorance of these counterintuitive truths and paradoxes about heroic leadership can lead to misunderstandings about leaders, leadership, and leadership development. Most of these paradoxes are a central part of the hero’s journey as described by comparative mythologist Joseph Campbell (1949). We will discuss the genesis of these paradoxical truths, and we will suggest ways that an awareness of these principles can engender …

Leader Mistreatment, Employee Hostility, And Deviant Behaviors: Integrating Self-Uncertainty And Thwarted Needs Perspectives On Deviance, David M. Mayer, Stefan Thau, Kristina Workman, Marius Van Dijke, David De Cremer

Kristina Workman

Integrating self-uncertainty management and thwarted needs perspectives on leader mistreatment and workplace deviance, we examine when and why leader mistreatment is associated with workplace deviance. We propose that competence uncertainty strengthens the relationship between leader mistreatment and workplace deviance and that hostility mediates this interactive effect. Four field studies and one experiment support the hypotheses. The first two studies provide evidence for the predicted interaction between leader mistreatment and competence uncertainty, and the next three studies demonstrate that hostility mediates this interactive effect. We discuss an extended social exchange explanation of workplace deviance and highlight the psychological interplay between motives, …

Commentary On ‘Why Compassion Counts!’: Compassion As A Generative Force, Jane E. Dutton, Kristina Workman

Kristina Workman

[Excerpt] Twelve years ago, Peter Frost called upon us to consider why compassion counts. More than a decade later, we can see, feel, and understand why compassion counts both in the field of organizational studies and in our lives as scholars. As he was so many times during his career, Peter was prophetic in identifying and animating a core idea that is central to our field and to our lives. We approach this essay with three goals in mind, all focused on elaborating how compassion is a generative force. By generative, we mean that compassion as an idea opens up …

Leveraging Human Capital Through Engaged Leadership, David Cooke

David Cooke

A leader needs to decide who they are, what they represent and what they are building. Research shows that there are considerable benefits as regards inspiring loyalty to a company when the leader truly cares about their staff, their customers and their community.

Leader-Follower Congruence And Transformational Leadership: A Test Using Response Surface Modeling, George Hrivnak, Tjai Nielsen

George Hrivnak

Using polynomial regression and response surface modeling in a lagged field study, we examine relationships among leader and follower extraversion fit and follower ratings of transformational leadership. This paper builds on prior research investigating the influence that leader and follower personality factors have on follower perceptions of leadership. Data from a sample of 117 Naval Midshipmen dyads suggest that leader-follower extraversion congruence at Time 1 was positively related to higher follower ratings of transformational leadership at Time 2. The implications of these findings are discussed with respect to perceptions and attributions of leadership, the potential role that extraversion congruence may …

Leadership And Crisis Management In Modern Organizations, Chris D. Bellamy

Dr. Chris D. Bellamy

Leadership in modern organizations is complex. This research identifies how leaders in modern organizations can effectively deliver results through crisis management, while maintaining organizational culture. The author addresses leadership through organizational culture, the actions leaders must take, corporate policies and practices. In addition, this research directly contributes to leading organizations through crisis management and maintaining organizational culture today.

“If You Don’T Hear From Me You Know You Are Doing Fine”: The Effects Of Management Nonresponse To Employee Performance, Timothy R. Hinkin, Chester A. Schriesheim

Timothy R. Hinkin

A study of 243 employees of two different hospitality organizations compared the effects of managers’ giving feedback with no comments at all (favorable or unfavorable). The study found that feedback, formally known as contingent reinforcement, improves performance even when that feedback involves negative or corrective comments. Echoing previous studies, this research found a positive relationship between contingent rewards and workers’ effectiveness and satisfaction. Moreover, contingent punishment also had a small positive relationship with effectiveness and satisfaction. Going beyond previous work, however, this study found that managers’ omission of any commentary on good performance has a direct, albeit moderate, negative relationship …

Transformational Leaders In The Hospitality Industry, J. Bruce Tracey, Timothy R. Hinkin

Timothy R. Hinkin

The classic metaphor of the manager as one who fights fires may need to be replaced by that of one who focuses on fire prevention.

Becoming A Leader In The Hospitality Industry, Timothy R. Hinkin

Timothy R. Hinkin

[Excerpt] Leadership has been defined in many ways, but the essence of leadership involves influencing people toward a desired objective. Leaders do not push followers—they pull them. While management is often concerned about stability, efficiency, and control, leadership is focusing on innovation, adaptation, and employee development. Management focuses on coping with the day to day, while a true leader is looking into the future. A manager can develop a brilliant marketing campaign, create an innovative strategy for growth, and design the most efficient work processes, but if the followers don't engage effectively in the implementation of these initiatives, these efforts …

Barriers To International Business, Chris D. Bellamy

Dr. Chris D. Bellamy

There are many barriers that companies face when attempting to expand operations on a global scale. This paper identifies four barriers businesses must overcome, and the strategies they can deploy to overcome these barriers. The author justifies support for these strategies with current research for each barrier. The paper also identifies and applies current research which document the strategic impact for the four barriers.

Work Groups And Teams In Organizations: Review Update, Steve W. J. Kozlowski, Bradford S. Bell

Bradford S Bell

This review chapter examines the literature on work team effectiveness. To begin, we consider their nature, define them, and identify four critical conceptual issues—context, workflow, levels, and time—that serve as review themes and discuss the multitude of forms that teams may assume. We then shift attention to the heart of the review, examining key aspects of the creation, development, operation, and management of work teams. To accomplish objectives of breadth and integration, we adopt a lifecycle perspective to organize the review. Topics involved in the team lifecycle include: (1) team composition; (2) team formation, socialization, and development; (3) …

The Bigman Metaphor For Entrepreneurship: A "Library Tale" With Morals On Alternatives For Further Research, Alex Stewart

Alex Stewart

Melanesian Bigmanship (a meritocratic, enacted career of political-economic leadership) is recounted as an anthropological metaphor for entrepreneurship. This “library tale” has two purposes. The first is a demonstration of conceptual uses of ethnographies for developing grounded theory. Propositions are generated on entrepreneurial orientations and opportunity structures. Opportunities are seen to arise in the creation of linkages between spheres of exchange, or fields in which an object exchanges at different values. Entrepreneurial tactics, such as converting between spheres, call for skills in informal planning, astute use of timing, and networking. These “tactical” skills coexist with “moral” skills, in persuasiveness, the manipulation …

Revisiting The Meaning Of Leadership, Joel Podolny, Rakesh Khurana, Marya Besharov

Marya Besharov

During the past fifty years, organizational scholarship on leadership has shifted from a focus on the significance of leadership for meaning-making to the significance of leadership for economic performance. This shift has been problematic for two reasons. First, it has given rise to numerous conceptual difficulties that now plague the study of leadership. Second, there is now comparatively little attention to the question of how individuals find meaning in the economic sphere even though this question should arguably be one of the most important questions for organizational scholarship. This chapter discusses several reasons for the shift, arguing that one of …

Review Of 'The Dark Side Of Transformational Leadership' By Dennis Tourish, Vaughan S. Roberts

Vaughan S Roberts

An Investigation Of Authentic Leadership's Individual And Group Influences On Follower Responses, Carol Gill, Arran Caza

Carol Gill

In this study, we investigated and clarified aspects of the multilevel nature of Authentic Leadership (AL) and its effects on followers. Specifically, we hypothesized that AL would have distinct effects through both personalized AL (P_AL), which is a leader’s direct effect on a follower, and through generalized AL (G_AL), which is a leader’s indirect or group-based effect on a follower as a result of leadership effects among the follower’s coworkers. These hypotheses were consistent with a complete review of the empirical literature on AL’s effects and the results from a sample of leaders and followers working in a large multinational …

Linking Innovation & Creativity With Diversity & Inclusion Using Lean Six Sigma, Robin A. Roberts

Robin A. Roberts

“The SHRM Workplace Diversity Conference & Exposition fosters awareness and appreciation of workplace diversity issues through thought leadership, strategy development, resources, publications and professional development for HR professionals and other business leaders. Making the business case for diversity, helping HR professionals to better articulate its strategic business value, and enabling them to build more diverse and inclusive cultures, are the cornerstones of the initiative.”—Society for Human Resource Management website

A Call To Leadership: The Awakening, Robin A. Roberts

Robin A. Roberts

A presentation given to student leaders at Bethune-Cookman University highlighting the transition from student to young professional.

Gazing Into The Crystal Ball: Using Scenarios For Future Visioning Of A Distance Learning Library Service, Anne Marie Casey, Jon E. Cawthorne, Kathleen Citro

Anne Marie Casey

This article describes the use of scenarios as a tool to assist a large distance learning library service in its strategic planning. Through a description of the scenario process from beginning to end, the authors detail the steps that the library director and the consultant took initially; their missteps; and the successful conclusion. This study of the journey through the scenario process to a new strategic plan should prove useful to library administrators interested in exploring new ways to plan for uncertain futures.

Cross-Generational Perspectives On Work-Life Balance And Its Impact, D. Roebuck, D. N. Smith, T. El Haddaoui

Deborah N. Smith

This qualitative study focuses on how women of three different generations, Generation Y, Generation X and Baby Boomers, view the concept of work-life balance and what relationship these views have to their attainment of workplace leadership positions. Work-life balance was defined differently across the three generations, but the generational lines faded as most women reported struggling with finding a balance. Some women conveyed choosing not to pursue high-level leadership positions as the personal cost was too high. Those who had obtained high-level leadership positions shared what types of support were most effective in helping them juggle personal and professional obligations. …

Leadership Optimization, Cathy L. Chaney

cathy L. Chaney

Through team mentoring and striving to achieve a positive balance while communicating writing concepts,perspective individuals gain a wealth of knowledge over a period of time. Learning the concepts that leaders portray while in leadership positions shed a great deal of light into the pathways of learning.