Leadership Commons^™

Navigating The Academic Terrain: Examining The Challenges And Success Factors Of Student Veterans In Higher Education Institutions, Katherine Reyes, Corey Idleburg

Education Division Scholarship

This study investigates the academic experiences of student veterans, addressing specific challenges they face in higher education. Using Schlossberg’s adult transition theory, it explores the effects of invisible barriers, enrollment trends, and institutional factors on veteran student success, leveraging the VA’s GI Bill Comparison tool to examine public versus private school support. Findings underscore the need for targeted resources, faculty training, and institutional awareness to foster a supportive and inclusive environment that enhances veteran students' academic success and sense of belonging.

The Laughing Buddha: The Education Of Compassionate Leaders Through Improvisational Play, Belinda Chiu

Journal of Contemplative and Holistic Education

With an urgency to build a generative future, educational systems do not have a choice but to pay attention to how and what we train our future leaders. Yet there is still a gap as leadership studies are often relegated as a “soft” skill, rather than integrated as technical knowledge critical to the holistic effectiveness of a tertiary education. As a result, there is often a disconnect between students immersed in the idealistic bubble of the academy and graduates navigating life outside. Inquiry- and reflective-based methods of contemplative practices may be critical for leaders to avoid short-term, short-sighted decisions that …

Leadership’S Impact On Employees’ Perception Of Their Safety Culture In A Public Transportation Organization, Paul Hadley

Dissertations

Purpose: This nonexperimental quantitative study aimed to examine the relationship between various leadership styles using the Multifactor Leadership Questionnaire (MLQ; Bass & Avolio, 1995) and employees’ perceptions of their organization’s safety culture based on a developed Safety Perception Questionnaire (SPQ) within the context of a public transportation agency. Methodology: This study used a quantitative approach to collect data from employees in a public transportation agency. Leadership characteristics were assessed using the MLQ, which is a self-report tool designed to measure three distinct leadership styles. The employees’ MLQ scores were correlated with their results on the SPQ, which evaluates perceptions of …

Personal Disruption In The Career Advancement Of Female Executives In Medical Education, Ifeoma Dawodu

Dissertations

Purpose: The purpose of this explanatory mixed methods study was to identify and describe the perceived impact of Johnson and Mohr’s (2013) five disruptive career skills on female medical education executives on their advancement to executive leadership positions.

Methodology: This study employed a sequential explanatory mixed methods approach to explore the career advancement strategies of female leaders in academic medicine. First, a quantitative survey using Likert scales assessed the use and impact of personal disruption strategies among female executives; next, semistructured interviews provided deeper insights into their experiences. The sample focused on senior female leaders in California medical schools who …

The Impact Of Quality Management Principles On Army Aircraft Maintenance Outcomes, Matthew S. Caporossi

Dissertations

Purpose: The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to identify and describe the perceptions of organizational managers on the impact of quality management principles on helicopter maintenance outcomes at the California Army National Guard’s Aviation Classification Repair Activity Depot (AVCRAD). This study also explored the perceptions on the organizational culture as it pertained to leadership and employee engagement of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 9001 quality management systems.

Methodology: This qualitative phenomenological research examined the perceptions of Army aviation managers regarding specific ISO principles of leadership and

improvement on AVCRAD maintenance outcomes. The researcher conducted open-ended qualitative interviews …

A Delphi Study On Strategic Behaviors From The Adaptive Leadership Framework Used By Successful Cxos For Business Agility In A Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity, And Ambiguity Environment, Sevak Markarian

Dissertations

Purpose: The purpose of this Delphi study was to identify the strategic leadership behaviors, as outlined in Heifetz et al.’s (2009) adaptive leadership framework, that CXOs use to develop agile and adaptive organizations that succeed in volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity (VUCA) change environments. Additionally, the study aimed to assess the effectiveness of these behaviors and determine specific actions that CXOs recommend for implementing them successfully.

Methodology: This mixed-method Delphi study collected data from 20 technology executives through surveys and interviews, using purposive, convenience, and expert sampling. In Round 1, participants identified strategic adaptive leadership behaviors from Heifetz et al.’s …

Leadership’S Influence Over Turnover, Skill Retention And Building, And Company Culture, Joseph R. Stevenson

M.S. in Leadership

This capstone project explores the role of leadership in employee retention and turnover within the manufacturing industry. The project was chosen due to ongoing workforce challenges, including high turnover rates, skill shortages, and the increasing impact of automation and digital transformation. The study uses a mixed-methods approach, combining qualitative analysis of academic literature, case studies, and company policies with quantitative data from labor statistics and industry reports. The research identifies key factors influencing retention, including leadership style, compensation, workplace culture, and career development opportunities. Findings show that transformational leadership, clear advancement pathways, and a supportive workplace culture significantly improve employee …

A Phenomenological Study Exploring Servant Leadership Characteristics For Developing High-Performing Teams As Perceived By Public School District Early Childhood Leaders, Reggi'e Faye Webster

Dissertations

Purpose: The purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore and describe how exemplary public school district early childhood leaders apply four key characteristics of servant leadership (listening, stewardship, building community, and commitment to people’s growth), as defined by Spears (2010), to develop high-performing to support early learning programs.

Methodology: A qualitative, phenomenological approach was selected to explore participants’ experiences and perceptions of how they use four servant leadership characteristics to develop and sustain high-performing teams within early childhood programs on public school elementary and secondary school campuses. Participants were purposefully chosen based on specific criteria and recommendations from an …

Foundations Of Business, 2nd Edition, Holly Jackson

Open and Affordable Course Content at VCU

No abstract provided.

Uncovering New Perspectives On Job Performance In Diverse Work Settings: A Job Demand-Resource Theoretical Approach, Myesha P. Holmes

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

The aim of this study was to integrate the agility literature within the theoretical framework of the Job Demand-Resource (JD-R) Theory to examine and validate whether employee agility (job resources) and work overload (job demands) influence the relationship between subjective wellbeing, work engagement, and job performance among remote, hybrid, and onsite workers. Data was collected through a Qualtrics Online panel, utilizing five standardized and validated scales, from a sample of 504 full-time employed respondents across the United States. The data was analyzed using Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) and Analysis of Variance (ANOVA). The results indicated a significant relationship between employee …

The Influence Of Generative Artificial Intelligence On Leadership: An Exploration Of Technology Professionals' Perceptions Regarding Leadership, Adaptation, And Organizational Culture In The Digital Age, Paul Thomas Herdman

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

The emergence of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) has introduced new complexities for organizational leadership, requiring technology professionals to adapt in real time to evolving digital tools, strategic demands, and cultural dynamics. Although prior research has examined AI’s broad influence on business processes, few studies have explored how technology leaders experience and interpret the leadership challenges and opportunities arising from GenAI. This qualitative dissertation addressed that gap by investigating the perceptions of senior technology professionals regarding GenAI’s influence on leadership roles, competencies, decision making, and organizational culture. Using Lanigan’s (1977) phenomenological method of human science, this study explored the lived experiences …

Exploring Childcare Leaders’ Perspectives On Program Philosophies At The Intersection Of Care, Education, And Business: A Multi-Method (Qual + Qual) Study Using Simon Sinek’S Golden Circle, Megan Kybartas

Theses and Dissertations

This multi-method (QUAL + qual) study explores childcare leaders’ perspectives on program philosophies at the intersection of care, education, and business, which I call The Childcare Tripartite. Recognizing the significant dependency on high-quality childcare services and the foundational role of program philosophies in achieving this quality, this research addresses a notable gap in the literature regarding how early childhood leaders communicate and prioritize their program philosophies within the complex American childcare landscape. Employing semi-structured interviews, documentary materials, and demographic forms, and analyzed through both thematic and deductive content analysis, drawing on Simon Sinek’s Golden Circle, the study uncovers how philosophical …

Balancing Profit And Principle: How Firms Navigate The Rise Of Authoritarianism, Spencer Fraseur

Business Administration Dissertations - Archive

The purpose of my dissertation is to contribute to the growing discussion on the intersection of totalitarianism and business practices, highlighting the need for leaders to navigate the seismic shifts in global commerce and make ethical decisions in an increasingly complex landscape. Specifically, it examines the decline of the Rules-Based International Order (RBIO) and Liberal International Order (LIO) as well as the rise of totalitarianism across the globe, and the challenges these trends pose for businesses and managers. The first study constructs a comprehensive framework delineating the diverse responses of businesses to authoritarian regimes, ranging from resistance to accommodation. This …

Applications Of Systems Thinking In Honors Education: The Justice Challenge, Rebecca C. Bott, Jonathan D. Kotinek, Timothy J. Nichols, Heidi Appel, Andrea Radasanu, Joy L. Hart

Honors in Practice Online Archive

Honors education has long been praised for its potential as a test bed for curricular innovation. A wide variety of high-impact practices have been employed to prepare honors students to think critically and tackle complex problems. Examination of the use of systems thinking within pedagogical practices in honors education is, however, nearly nonexistent in the literature. The authors present a brief introduction to systems thinking; review its use within honors curricula; and examine how a nationwide collaborative of honors educators equips students with systems thinking tools to learn about and engage with complex interdisciplinary problems. The authors characterize systems thinking …

Balancing Burnout, Quiet Quitting, And Cognitive Turnover: The Quiet Revolution Of Gen Z Workers, Mohammed M. Nour

Information Systems & Operations Management Dissertations - Archive

This study investigates the phenomenon of quiet quitting and turnover intention among working Generation Z students in the U.S. and Taiwan. Using the cross-sectional study design, data were collected from over 500 participants from the U.S. and 69 from Taiwan. This study uses Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) and multiple regression to examine the predictive power of key workplace factors— emotional exhaustion, supervisory support, incentives, job satisfaction, and workplace environment—on both employee disengagement and turnover intention.

The results show that emotional exhaustion has a notable mediating effect in the relationship between job satisfaction and quiet quitting, and between supervisor support and …

Not Exactly "Perfect," But Pretty Darn Good: A Review Of Michael Schur's Book- How To Be Perfect: The Correct Answer To Every Moral Question, Justin Pepe

Management Faculty Publications

How to Be Perfect: The Correct Answer to Every Moral Question provides a quick-start guide to addressing ethical challenges by using humor to make complex philosophical concepts accessible. Based on the premise that traditional ethics pedagogy is often stodgy, esoteric, and depressing, the book appeals to students and professionals who find conventional texts unapproachable. By blending humor with moral philosophy, it offers a fresh way to develop ethical reasoning in students and employees. This book can help address the urgent need for managers and professionals to build the ethical capabilities necessary to tackle grand challenges.

Provision Cfo: Empowering Strategic Financial Excellence For Small Businesses And Entrepreneurs, Cindra Vang

Doctor of Strategic Leadership (DSL) Capstone Abstracts

Project Overview

ProVision CFO offers strategic financial management solutions tailored to the unique needs of entrepreneurs, small businesses, and rapidly growing organizations. This project aims to equip clients with robust financial strategies and actionable insights necessary for sustainable growth, operational excellence, and long-term success. ProVision CFO provides comprehensive financial guidance including fractional CFO and accounting services.

Project Themes

The ProVision CFO framework encompasses three key components designed to optimize financial performance and organizational effectiveness. Component One—Strategic Clarity: Establishing clear financial goals aligned with organizational vision, mission, and values. Component Two—Financial Optimization: Providing accounting services to streamline financial processes and enhance …

Introducing Sustainable Development Goals In College Curricula: A Way Forward, Christy Ashley, Jason D. Oliver, Hillary Leonard

Markets, Globalization & Development Review

The commentary proposes a blueprint to help guide curriculum innovations, partnerships, and teaching interventions that incorporate the United Nations sustainable development goals (SDGs) into the curriculum. It suggests the utilization of AACSB’s Societal Impact Canvas with Ancona et al.’s (2007) Leadership Capabilities (Sensemaking, Relating, Visioning, Inventing) to provide a blueprint for mission-aligned SDG integration at a local level. It provides an illustrative example from the University of Rhode Island (USA), where the focus is on the Blue Economy. It aims to provide practical guidance for how a college or university can efficiently organize to gain stakeholder input that helps enhance …

A Mixed Methodology Study On Effective Products And Services For Consulting Firms, Doc S. Dillard

Doctor of Education Dissertations

This study evaluated organizational effectiveness within small- to medium-sized educational technology and technology-adjacent organizations for consulting firms to develop appropriate products and services for clients. This allowed consulting firms to develop innovation in their approaches. More specifically, this research supported consulting firms specializing in educational technology in developing products and services for industry leaders to improve organizational effectiveness. The research employed a mixed methodology consisting of 10 educational technology leaders. Data were collected from survey questions and through evaluating related literature. The literature compiled included organizations across education, technology, and technology-adjacent industries. The research evaluated organizations through McKinsey’s 7S framework. …

Positive Reinforcement In Leadership, Jen Lee Williams

M.S. in Leadership

This project examined whether leaders’ use of positive reinforcement
improves team retention, satisfaction, and performance across Generation
X, Millennials, and Generation Z. Jen Williams selected this topic due to the
rising turnover challenges and lack of consistent reinforcement training in
leadership practice. Using mixed-methods design, the study combined a
quantitative survey of 13 working professionals with a qualitative interview
from a Generation X leader participant. Results showed that over 92% of
the participants felt motivated by recognition, and 72% linked
reinforcement to increased satisfaction and desire to stay with their
organization. Generational differences appeared in frequency, authenticity,
and emotional sensitivity …