Organizational Behavior and Theory Commons^™

Dunbar’S Number In Motion: Agent-Based Simulations Of Friendship Formation, Christopher R. Cooke, Cameron D. Lutz

Northeast Journal of Complex Systems (NEJCS)

By contrasting Lévy flight and random walk strategies in simulated agents, we discern the effect of movement behavior on the total duration of social interactions. Our agent-based simulation results approximate empirically observed Dunbar social circle formation using simple behavioral rules of interaction and compatibility to mimic exogenous attribute-based friendship formation. We simulate the complexities of social interactions among agents with unique attributes and a time budget for social engagement over a one-year period. Two distinct simulations were conducted to evaluate the behavioral contributions of Lévy flight and random walk movement patterns on cumulative interaction duration and the formation of Dunbar …

Impact Of Transformational Leadership On Job Satisfaction Among Staff In Private Child Care Agencies, Carmin Marie Johnson

Online Theses and Dissertations

Leadership styles and behaviors can impact employees' job performance and satisfaction. Murari and Mukherjee (2021), highlight that “building trust, clear vision, intellectual stimulation, inspirational motivation, self-awareness, transparency, individualized consideration, wisdom and knowledge, and congruent values” (p. 3612); are the faces of transformational leadership. Positive or negative behaviors can significantly affect job performance and total job satisfaction. The behavior of leadership has a significant impact on the success of employees and organizations. Leadership behavior affects many organizations, such as schools, community organizations, governmental organizations, and private agencies. Creswell (2012) describes correlational design as a form of research that uses data analysis …

Structured Activities To Introduce Management Research To Undergraduate Business Students, Amanda S. Hinojosa

International Journal for Business Education

Following the frameworks for research and inquiry-based learning, this paper describes a series of activities which can be used in undergraduate management classrooms to expose students to management research. The focus of these activities on finding reputable article summaries allows instructors to introduce management research, explain how to evaluate it, and discuss the key implications of research without overwhelming students with the prose and technicalities presented in full research articles. The activities presented in this paper are intended to help students become informed seekers and consumers of research about organizational behavior and human resource management topics. Through bounded exploration in …

Internationalization And Its Challenges At U.S. Regional Comprehensive Universities: The Transformational Leadership Role Of Senior International Officers, Ibrahma F. Yaro, Aaron W. Hughey

Counseling & Student Affairs Faculty Publications

This interpretive phenomenological analysis investigated the role of transformational leadership and the challenges that senior international officers (SIOs) face in internationalizing regional comprehensive universities (RCUs) in the United States. Twelve in-depth interviews were conducted with SIOs from five regions: the West, Midwest, South, Southeast, and Northwest. The findings indicate that the transformational leadership approach is the primary leadership style utilized by senior international officers for the effective and successful internationalization of their institutions. The findings highlight a wide range of challenges that a senior international officer may encounter at a regional comprehensive university in the United States. The study outlines …

A Survey-Based Quantitative Analysis Of Stress Factors And Their Impacts Among Cybersecurity Professionals, Sunil Arora, John D. Hastings

Research & Publications

This study investigates the prevalence and underlying causes of work-related stress and burnout among cybersecurity professionals using a quantitative survey approach guided by the Job Demands-Resources model. Analysis of responses from 50 cybersecurity practitioners reveals an alarming reality: 44% report experiencing severe work-related stress and burnout, while an additional 28% are uncertain about their condition. The demanding nature of cybersecurity roles, unrealistic expectations, and unsupportive organizational cultures emerge as primary factors fueling this crisis. Notably, 66% of respondents perceive cybersecurity jobs as more stressful than other IT positions, with 84% facing additional challenges due to the pandemic and recent high-profile …

Can Whistleblowing Improve Organizational Effectiveness? Evidence From Financial Reporting Misconduct, Hong Kim Duong, Sadok El Ghoul, Omrane Guedhami, Emmanuel Sequeira, Zuobao Wei

Accounting Faculty Publications

Background

While whistleblowing (WB) has attracted growing research interest in recent years, several critical WB-related issues remain underexplored.

Purpose

This study examines the impact of external WB allegations on a firm’s organizational capital (OC). Such allegations often indicate management’s failure to address employee concerns internally, spotlighting potential deficiencies in internal reporting systems, employee communication, training, and trust in organizational fairness. To mitigate reputational damage, restore employee trust, and prevent future incidents, we posit that WB firms respond by increasing OC investment.

Research design

We employ a difference-in-differences approach, comparing OC changes in WB-targeted firms with those in a propensity score-matched …

Examining Antecedents Of Diversity Initiative Fatigue: A Moderatedmediation Model, Anne Simpson

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

This thesis investigates the relationships between bias awareness, motivation to respond without prejudice, racialized attitudes, and diversity initiative fatigue (DIF) among employees within an academic setting, specifically focusing on faculty and staff at Western Kentucky University. Data were collected through a survey-based approach to measure these constructs and assess their relationships. This study hypothesized that bias awareness negatively correlates with DIF and motivation to respond without prejudice mediating this relationship. Furthermore, the research examines how racialized attitudes moderate the relationship between bias awareness and motivation to respond without prejudice. By examining these relationships using a moderated mediation model, the study …

Expanding On The Relationship Between Incivility And Resource Depletion: Examining Race And Personal Tolerance For Mistreatment As Moderators, Aishwarya Kurmar

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Workplace incivility is ubiquitous, regularly impacting working adults. Through the framework of Conservation of Resources (COR) theory, I examined the relationship between workplace incivility and resource depletion using daily diary methodology. Workplace incivility negatively impacts employee outcomes at the organizational and individual level. As such, it was hypothesized that workplace incivility would have a positive correlation with increased resource depletion, measured as psychological fatigue. Under selective incivility theory, disenfranchised groups face increased instances of incivility. Following this theory, non-whites were hypothesized to experience a greater association between workplace incivility and resource depletion. Additionally, an individual’s personal tolerance of mistreatment for …

Social Comparison And Pressure: Examining The Roles Of Sex And Rank, Ashley East

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Faculty in academia face intense competition and growing expectations, often shaped by perceptions of others’ performance. During the COVID-19 pandemic, these dynamics were magnified, making social comparison a critical factor in understanding academic workplace pressures. The purpose of this study is to examine the changing work pressures and social comparison tendencies among academics during the COVID-19 pandemic. It is hypothesized that social comparison tendencies will be positively related to time pressure (H1a) and telepressure (H1b), with moderation by sex (H2a and H2b) and organizational rank (H3a and H3b). Using a panel survey of 197 tenure-track and tenured faculty members in …

Skip-Level Meetings: Perspectives Of Skipped First-Tier U.S. Tech Leaders, Samuel Blacher

Dissertations

Although significant research exists on numerous intersecting theories, such as adaptive leadership, leadership communication, and employee voice, and although they are discussed in business publications and widely yet inconsistently implemented in industry, skip-level meetings are little scholarly studied. Such meetings offer benefits for employees, direct (skipped) managers, and skip-level leaders, and through them, to organizations, yet they also hold risks and pitfalls, and are influenced by various contextual factors, such as stakeholders’ national culture and age. This exploratory qualitative study employed elements of interpretive phenomenology, followed by thematic analysis, to examine the experiences, perceptions, and emotions of a diverse set …

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 …

Warring Identities: The Transition From Servicemember To Civilian Employee, Michael Beeson

Business Administration Dissertations - Archive

This dissertation explores the role that military service identity plays in the transition to civilian employment. While there is a large volume of research on both the servicemember transition out of the military and military service identity, this dissertation contributes to this literature by examining the intersection of military service identity and the transition to civilian employment. This dissertation is designed to examine the nature of the military identity as servicemembers separate from the military and transition to civilian employment using competing theoretical identity frameworks rooted in identity and social identity theories. First I conduct a survey study that examines …

Assessing The Relationship Between Empathy Climate, Motivation To Empathize, Network Ties, And Leader Engagement In Pursuit Of Validating An Empathy Climate Scale, Sarah Gray Shults

CGU Theses & Dissertations

In the current fast-paced, collaborative, and volatile work environment, leader empathy is emerging as a critical leader capability for leaders across all levels. Leader empathy refers to a leader’s ability to understand and relate to the feelings and experiences of another individual or group of individuals while also recognizing that the experience is not their own. In 2018, the European Union cited leader empathy as the top leadership skill; in 2020, Forbes named leader empathy as one of three critical leadership competencies; and in 2023, Harvard Business Review listed it as one of eight essential leader qualities. Leader empathy is …

A Theoretical Framework For Black Women’S Leader Development, Kayla Kai Parker

CGU Theses & Dissertations

This dissertation examines the leader development journeys of Black women, identifying key contributors and inhibitors that influence their progression into and experiences within formal leadership positions. This study employed a grounded theory methodology, integrated with an intersectional framework and Black feminist theory. Study data was gathered utilizing three methods: social media listening data points (n = 216), a leadership roadmap survey (n = 69), and structured interviews (n = 15). The open, axial, and selective coding led to the creation of a theoretical framework outlining two pathways to leadership outcomes: one shaped by inhibitors (e.g., identity management, overcompensation, hindrance, resource …

The Role Of Multiracial Identity Integration In Developing Leader Adaptability, Ashley M. Watterson

CGU Theses & Dissertations

Today’s global economy and diverse workforce require leaders to navigate complex environments, demanding that they be highly adaptable. However, few studies have examined the cognitive resources needed to support this adaptability. This study examined the relationship between multiracial identity integration (MII) and leader adaptability, exploring the cognitive mechanisms of paradox mindset and attributional complexity. Using a sample of 182 multiracial leaders in the United States, results of a path analysis revealed that MII did not significantly predict leader adaptability, paradox mindset, or attributional complexity when controlling for other factors. Unexpectedly, attributional complexity had a significant but negative relationship with leader …

The Effect Of Human Resource Business Partners' Power On Business Managers' Work Outcomes: The Mediating Role Of Voice, Wei Liu

Dissertations and Theses Collection (Open Access)

As a fundamental construct in social sciences, power is defined as an ability to influence others’ behavior to pursue one’s own interests, which affects the work outcomes of individuals within the organizations. The main purpose of Human Resource Business Partners (HRBPs) is to cooperate with business managers to achieve work outcomes, but in practice, HRBPs are often positioned differently in different organizations due to the lack of a precise definition of HRBPs, so their support to business managers is different. In-depth research on the power and influence of HRBPs can provide theoretical guidance for enhancing the internal work outcomes within …

Adaptive Leadership In Hbcus: Navigating Hybrid Work Dynamics In A Post-Pandemic Era, Brittney A. Brooks

West Chester University Doctoral Projects

Leaders of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) institutions influence retention rates of HBCU employees. An organization's culture determines the behavior of its employees. When assumptions regarding organizational structure were made, communication about the company's expectations was often ignored, leading to employees becoming accustomed to the culture and resistant to change. This mindset hindered HBCU growth and the willingness to address the urgency for policy revisions. As institutions continue to transition post-COVID, adjusting human resource policies at HBCUs to cater to the individual needs of these employees is needed to maintain retention.

This exploratory mixed-methods research study investigated leadership in …

A Phenomenological Study Of Success Despite Barriers: How Leaders With Disabilities Experience Supervisory Leadership Through The Lens Of Adaptive Leadership, Ashley Oberlander Townsend

Dissertations

People with disabilities experience unemployment and underemployment more frequently than those without disabilities and encounter obstacles to becoming supervisory leaders (Harlan & Robert, 1998; Krzeminska et al., 2019; Roberson et al., 2021). The American workforce is significantly impacted by this problem, as more than one in four people have a disability (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2024). This hermeneutic phenomenological research utilized interviews to collect data from three participants to answer the research question to explore the problem: what are leaders with disabilities’ lived experiences in overcoming barriers to achieving supervisory roles using an adaptive leadership lens? The research …

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 …