Leadership Studies Commons^™

Leader Behavior In Successfully Completing An Erp Implementation At An Army Installation, Roy T. Ray Jr

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) has emerged as one of the breakthrough information technologies that can reshape business practices. The Army ERP systems are the central component of the Army’s business mission process. However, these ERP systems have yet to provide Army-wide, enterprise-level integration and resource visibility, which is needed to increase efficiency and effectiveness of Army operations and justify the cost of future ERP investment. Few companies complete their ERP implementation on time and within budget, and the incidences of underperformance and failure are incredibly high. Current research notes that the primary determinant of a successful ERP implementation is leadership. …

Is Charismatic Leadership More Influentiai, In Societal Or Organizational Settings, Anna Kessler

Augsburg Honors Review

It is important to contrast charismatic leadership in the political-societal context with that in organizational settings to gain knowledge about the relative strengths and weaknesses of each of them. Regardless of the feasibility and validity of this comparison, it can be stated that the influence of to- day's large corporations is continually growing, also substantially affecting international politics and society as a whole. Hence, taking the increasing interconnectivity of nations and corporations into account, it is important to examine the similarities and differences of visionary leadership in both contexts in order to draw conclusions about their most successful application, which …

Job Transitioning Experiences Of Blue-Collar Employees After Federal Downsizing, Eduardo Hurtado

Walden Faculty and Staff Publications

Downsizing, realignment, and closure of military bases have forced many low-skilled, blue-collar federal employees into involuntary job loss and job transition. The impact of involuntary job loss on blue-collar workers has been linked to stress and other adverse psychological effects. There is gap in the literature regarding the lived experiences of federal blue-collar employees following downsizing of military bases. The purpose of this qualitative, interpretive phenomenological study was to examine lived experiences of job loss and job transition for federal blue-collar employees following downsizing of military bases. Schlossberg’s transition theory provided a conceptual framework for the study. Ten ex-federal blue-collar …

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 …

Dilemma And Knowledge - Book Review Of Re-Imagining Utopias: Theory And Method For Educational Research In Post-Socialist Contexts, Jessica Zychowicz

Comparative and International Education / Éducation Comparée et Internationale

No abstract provided.

Fostering Healthy Masculinity At The University Of San Diego, James Beh

M.A. in Higher Education Leadership: Action Research Projects

The purpose of my study was to enhance supportive relationships for male undergraduates at the University of San Diego (USD) who may struggle with their masculinity, sense of belonging, and gender identity. My research question is how I can collaborate with others to create a culture that supports male undergraduates with their identity development and fosters positive connections for these men in the campus community? My findings indicate that while there are successful group spaces on campus that support USDs male students, there is a clear need to reframe and improve the approach of doing this work.

How Navy And Marine Corps Veterans Make Meaning Of The College Choice Process In The Post-9/11 Gi Bill Era, Derek Abbey

Dissertations

The Post-9/11 GI Bill was implemented in 2009. Since then more than 1,900,000 people have used the benefit and more than $90 billion have been paid to institutions of higher learning and to Post-9/11 GI Bill users. During this period there has been a shift in the types of college and universities veterans attend, as well as the educational models they select. These shifts are different than the general population of students. This period also included a spike in questionable recruiting practices by some colleges. In response to many institutions taking advantage of veterans, the President of the United States …

Making The Invisible Visible: Capturing The Multidimensional Value Of Volunteerism To Nonprofit Organizations, Sue Carter Kahl

Dissertations

Volunteers represent an important part of the nonprofit labor pool, and their contributions are diverse and significant. Yet, the assessment of the value that they bring to nonprofit organizations often is reduced to a few numbers and understood to be an economic decision based on their absence of wages. This value is traditionally reported as volunteer numbers, hours, and an hourly financial value assigned to volunteer time. These data are important tools for articulating volunteer contributions. However, the emphasis on numbers and economic value sometimes obscures important dimensions of service. Therefore, the purpose of this dissertation was to reveal more …

Discursive Leadership: Exploring The "Black Box" Challenge In Transcultural Leadership Studies, Christopher Patrick Brown

Dissertations

The increasingly globalized U.S. workforce includes significant numbers of adult immigrants integrating into the North American professional sphere. As such, it is important to have concrete ways to study and interpret different cultures’ thinking about teamwork, and their models of enacting shared leadership and communication in a multicultural context. Since 2006, hundreds of millions in federal grant funding has been invested in university-based language and culture programs focused on training government personnel and heritage populations in the languages and cultures of the Middle East and Central and Southeast Asia. Little is known about the performative strengths and challenges of the …

Social Innovators And Developmental Stages, Juan Carlos Rivas Espinosa

Dissertations

ABSTRACT

The past two decades have seen increased interest in social innovation as a leading source of change. While social innovation literature experienced vast growth, particularly in the Western world, there is limited research on the individuals engaged in it, especially concerning their leadership practice. The extant research focuses mostly on identifying traits and competencies exhibited by social innovators. These individuals are often thought of as exceptional people able to think systemically to identify and solve problems in novel ways. The field runs the risk of perpetuating the idea that to be a social innovator one must possess a specific …

A Tale Of Two Influences: An Exploration Of Downward Accountability In World Vision International, Elena Mccollim

Dissertations

International nongovernmental organizations (INGOs) face increasing accountability challenges stemming from past scandals and their claims to advance the public good. Since the 1990s, INGOs have responded with numerous reforms. The creation of the Humanitarian Accountability Partnership in 2003 and the INGO Accountability Charter in 2009 reflect sector-wide efforts to enhance accountability to mission, intended beneficiaries, and peer organizations.

Many INGOs have adopted a broad range of accountability reforms. This dissertation focuses on how World Vision, the world’s largest INGO, has done so. Downward accountability remains elusive due to such factors as INGOs’ lack of transparency toward beneficiaries; the power imbalance …

Exploring Gender Roles And Gender Equality Within The Evangelical Church, Christopher Bishop

Education (PhD) Dissertations

This research aims to facilitate better understanding of perceptions of gender roles and gender equality among members of the Evangelical Church and to determine whether these perceptions differ by gender. The evangelical community’s ideologies and values have come to shape social and political dialogues within the United States. A key component of the faith is understanding the role each member plays within his or her family unit and community at large. The evangelical faith’s organizational structure and ideologies are informed by a patriarchal model that’s placed women at internal and structural odds, based on research exploring evangelically informed organizations. However, …

Step Into Success: An Exploration Of The Impact And Potential Of The Second Year Torero Experiential Program, Carlos E. Cortes

M.A. in Higher Education Leadership: Action Research Projects

The purpose of my study was to gather qualitative data with students and professional staff associated with the Second Year Torero Experiential Program at the University of San Diego. I wanted to identify best practices regarding supporting and developing second years and gain an understanding of the potential and impact of the program on the student experience. Recognizing a need for more intentional engagement with second-years, I conducted one on one interviews using appreciative inquiry. My findings indicated a lack of awareness around STEP, the resources available through the program, and a desire to engage with a program that connects …

Improving The Practice Of Advocacy Among Student Leaders At The University Of San Diego, Martel Serwenda

M.A. in Higher Education Leadership: Action Research Projects

The purpose of the study was to improve how student affairs professionals can assist student leaders involved in the United Front Multicultural Commons (UFMC) to become better advocates for their needs at the University of San Diego. Utilizing O'Leary's cycle of action research, data was gathered in four cycles that included activities that focus on student engagement. Students kept a journal detailing some of their experiences and went through interviews and a focus group. Participants were from across the entire campus, but many were involved in student organizations and the UFMC. The findings indicate that students are aware of advocacy …

Coming Together: Graduate Students And Community Engagement, Irma Gonzalez

M.A. in Higher Education Leadership: Action Research Projects

The purpose of my research was to explore how graduate students regard and participate in community engagement opportunities at the University of San Diego (USD), specifically within the School of Leadership and Education Sciences (SOLES). Thus, my research question was: How can I explore and facilitate community engagement among SOLES graduate students? Through my work, I found that community engagement efforts are of interest to the USD graduate student population while greater efforts for access and involvement would be appreciated. By focusing on the current role of this topic among the graduate population and fostering greater awareness, I was able …

Analyzing The Impact Of Student Involvement And Leadership Development On Academic Achievement, Kalie Sabajo

M.A. in Higher Education Leadership: Action Research Projects

This study examined my effectiveness in supporting students’ use of the CSUSM Co-Curricular Model to deepen their understanding of and ability to articulate transferable skills between academics, employment, and extracurriculars, motivated by the following research question: (a) How can I, as a professional staff in student activities, support the students I serve to connect academic achievement and engagement in leadership development and student involvement? Data was collected through student self-evaluations, weekly one-on-one meetings, and larger group surveys with seven undergraduate students and three faculty members. My findings informed further implementation of the Co-Curricular Model in campus-wide programs and student evaluations.

Empower To Strengthen Culturally Based Fraternal Organizations, Koua Thao

M.A. in Higher Education Leadership: Action Research Projects

Membership in fraternities and sororities has served college students to have a sense of belonging at colleges and universities. However, students who are affiliated with culturally based fraternal organizations (CBFO) do not have a sense of belonging in the larger fraternity and sorority life community at the University of San Diego (USD). The purpose of this action research was to use my role as an advisor to guide the three CBFO to develop a Multicultural Greek Council to enhance CBFO member’s experience and to have a sense of belonging in the larger fraternity and sorority life community at USD. Participants …

Empowering Filipino American Young Adults Through Culturally Relevant Leadership Experiences, Donnaly Y. Atajar

M.A. in Higher Education Leadership: Action Research Projects

The purpose of this study was to explore the leadership development of Filipino American young adults. As an advisor for Lakas Mentorship Program in the Inland Empire, I explored the following question among program staff and mentors: How could I use culturally relevant curriculum to foster personal and professional development for young Filipino American leaders? I evaluated the impact of four cycles centered on leadership training and improving program practices to understand how to deepen engagement and facilitate positive transformation. I found that the following contributed to meaningful engagement: intentional leadership opportunities, institutionalized program structure, and peer mentorship and community …

Enhancing Racial Allyship At A Predominately White Institution, Breana Z. Clark

M.A. in Higher Education Leadership: Action Research Projects

This action research explores how undergraduate students involved in multicultural clubs and organizations at the University of San Diego, define and engage in racial allyship. The purpose of the study was to understand how these students identify allies of color or other racially minoritized groups; as a means to work in collaboration for resource acquisition, persistence, and to magnify student voice. This is important to the research as current social and racial justice rhetoric primarily focuses on white people as allies to communities of color. Thus, my research question was: how can I help students of color enhance their capacity …

Full Of Pride: Improving Latino Engagement And Retention In Usd's Lgbt+ Community, Miguel Rios

M.A. in Higher Education Leadership: Action Research Projects

The purpose of my study was to examine and implement strategies that would get gay Latino students at USD to engage more with the LGBT+ community on campus. Using McNiff’s action research method, I researched how I can work effectively with USD’s LGBT+ community to create a more diverse community that enhances the involvement of Latino students. My findings indicate that Latino students choose to explore their LGBT+ identity through other identity-based organizations and that a stronger need for community building is critical to enhance the involvement of Latino students within the LGBT+ community.