Digital Commons Network^™

An Analysis Of Peer Leadership Competencies And Skills, John P. Baker

Dissertations

A significant leadership challenge exists while leading others without legitimate or formal authority. Leading without legitimate authority may require different and limited leadership skills and competencies, especially when leading peers. This quantitative study analyzed the leader competencies and skills needed for effective peer leadership.
A literature review identified four competencies cited frequently as important: (a) communication; (b) support; (c) mental/hard work ethic; and (d) reflection/feedback. Analysis of an ROTC leadership assessment database provided convergent validity for the literature review while adding one additional competency, physical. The lack of existing instruments measuring peer leadership competencies and skills necessitated the development of …

A Dynamic Network Analysis Of Vision In Complex Organizations, Jon Christiansen

All Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to model the role of vision in a complex organization and the roles that agents, tasks, knowledge, roles, resources and beliefs play. For this purpose, an investigation into the current structure of this model is conducted. Additionally, this study sought to develop a better understanding of how agent's individual vision and beliefs about the organizational vision can be influenced over time. This purpose sought to identify the evolution of vision, therefore, required a method that simulates how these entities change over time. Dynamic Network Analysis was utilized to capture an understanding of the existing …

Toward A Functional Followers’ Model In The Organizational Leadership Process, John Ekundayo

Academic Leadership: The Online Journal (2003-2012)

There are many researchers and practitioners who have at various times and situations defined the term leadership to suit their whims and caprices. A popular scholar in the field of management and leadership opined that “there are almost as many different definitions of leadership as there are persons who have attempted to define the concept” (Bass, 1981, p. 11). There is no gainsaying the fact that in organizations, leadership plays a vital role almost on a daily basis. It is perhaps based on this premise that makes many practitioners and scholars to focus more on leaders when discussing or writing …

The Leadership Practice Of Museum Educators, Tina R. Nolan

Dissertations

This grounded theory study is an examination of the culture, context, conditions and competencies of a set of six museum educators from a large city in the United States. Participants were education department leaders from a variety of museum types, including: A science museum, an ethnic arts museum, a settlement house museum, a children‘s museum, an aquarium, and a zoo. An analysis of data points to an emerging framework that codifies particular leadership settings and domains of practice for leaders of museum educators. An array of data collections were employed in the study, including: Semi-structured interviews, unstructured observations, written reflections …

Virtual Teams And Their Leaders: A Paradigm On Achieving Learning Agility, Laurie Pearson

Academic Leadership: The Online Journal (2003-2012)

This paper provides a brief historical background on the redefinitions of school leadership preparation programs in a particular state (Illinois) in the United States. The paper chronicles the collaborations, challenges, and accomplishments of a professional organization, from the period of 2001 to 2010. Set in the context of concerns about school leadership preparation at the national level, the paper focuses principally on the work of the Illinois Council of Professors of Educational Administration (ICPEA) as it engaged with multiple stakeholders at university and state levels to strengthen school leadership preparation.

A Commentary About The Black And Latino Doctoral Experience In The United States, Pamela Felder, Milagros Castillo

Academic Leadership: The Online Journal (2003-2012)

The Central Educational Center is a product of multiple visions, desires, and hopes. The ideal vision is outlined in a book entitled “The Eden Conspiracy” (Harless, 1997). Other perspectives include a requirement from local business that basic skills of high school graduates need to be rapidly improved, the desire of a growing local school system to provide costly industry-standard career-technical education to all high school students, the vision of a regional technical college to “dual enroll” high school students and make technical college a viable post-secondary option, and the hopes of a Governor looking for a viable model to support …

Leadership Traits, Tools, And Practices: Decision Making In A Crisis, Linda M. Murawski

Ed.D. Dissertations

Crises often present complex, uncertain, and unstable situations where routine decision making is not enough. Crises are typically unpredictable yet leaders must prepare to make decisions using a variety of traits, tools and practices. While all leadership is dependent on many factors and subject to many variables, in a crisis, those variables are magnified. Effective decision making during a crisis is a key trait of crisis leaders and is developed over time and with practice.

Using the classic Delphi Technique, the researcher obtained qualitative data from experts in crisis management concerning (a) the difference between non-crisis and crisis decision making, …

A Psychometric Analysis Of The Leader Resilience Profile©, Pamela E. Paustian

All ETDs from UAB

This study assesses the validity and reliability of the Leader Resilience Profile (LRP©), a quantitative survey instrument designed to measure the strength of multiple dimensions of resilience typically evident in leaders. Although content of the LRP© was initially tested for construct validity by a panel of experts, reliability and internal validity were not tested. The current research uses data gathered in a cross-sectional survey to analyze the individual instrument items and the instrument as a whole for internal consistency, validity, and reliability utilizing exploratory factor analysis. The study sample consisted of 327 LRP© surveys completed from January 2011 through August …

School Based Management In Colorado Public Schools: The Impact Of Administrative Decision Making On The Achievement Of Low-Socio Economic And Minority Students, Belinda A. Lujan

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

One of the most popular reform initiatives of the 20th century was the decentralization of administrative services and decision making in public schools. The implementation of site-based decision making (SBDM) or school-based management (SBM) was an effort to delegate decision making authority to the schools sites. The hope was that those working closest to the students would be able to make the best decision to improve student achievement. As popular as this reform effort became, over the years there has not been much research to measure its direct impact on student learning and achievement especially for minority and low-socio economic …

A Descriptive Study Of The Factors That Prevent Principal Candidates From Advancement To The Principal Position, Robyn Regina Witcher

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative study examined the perceived barriers to the principalship by prepared principal candidates as a means of understanding why some candidates are unsuccessful in acquiring a principalship. The use of a questionnaire, interviews, and reflection postcards served as the data collection methods concerning their lack of success in achieving a principal position. Portraitures were used to illuminate the journey of these candidates as they completed the necessary requirements, developed the skill vital to becoming a principal, and interviewed for prospective openings.

The findings revealed that the barrier to the principalship for these candidates is their own lack of awareness …

A Structural Equation Model Of Leader Attributes In The Principalship, Amy Young

All Dissertations

To become a principal in South Carolina, one must have teaching experience, a master's degree, and certification in the area of primary responsibility. Beyond what is learned through coursework, internships, and certification tests, what intangible factors critically influence a principal's actions and decisions, and (ultimately) success? Trait theory begs the question of whether any of these criteria truly influences the decisions and actions of the principalship. Are there interactive traits of leadership that describe the behaviors of school principals? This study revisits trait theory by examining leader attributes relative to the principalship of South Carolina public schools. This study replicates, …

Servant Leadership In International Education, David B. Austell

Journal of Global Initiatives: Policy, Pedagogy, Perspective

The objective of "Servant Leadership in International Education" is to explore goodness of fit between Servant Leadership models, stemming primarily from the business and corporate communities (including such organizations as Southwest Airlines), and the service environments of International Education. The article will define the elements of Servant Leadership in its review of the key literature (for example Robert Greenleaf, Barbara Kellerman, John Maxwell, James MacGregor Burns, James Kouzes and Barry Posner, John Gardner, Peter Senge, Warren Bennis, and Margaret Wheatley). The article will define the service areas of International Education, and show strong goodness of fit between the elements of …

Community College Succession Planning: Preparing The Next Generation Of Women For Leadership Roles, Angela Kaysen Luzbetak

Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to explore strategies to enable community colleges to develop and cultivate women for leadership roles through succession planning. According to the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC), the pace of administrative and other key staff retirements exceeds the pace at which these positions are being re-staffed (Shults, 2001). One might question why the purposeful development of future community college leaders is critical. Community colleges currently face a crucial leadership crisis in the United States. Pending retirements and the lack of succession planning to fill upcoming vacancies is reaching a critical turning point. The Chronicle …

Effects Of Personality On Attitudes Toward Academic Group Work, William R. Forrester Jr., Armen Tashchian

Faculty Articles

This study investigated the effects of personality on attitudes toward academic group work among a sample of 225 business students. Data were collected using pre-existing scales for measuring personality and attitudes toward academic group work. Specifically, the Neo-FFI scale was used to measure the five personality dimensions of openness, agreeableness, extroversion, conscientiousness and neuroticism. Regression analysis indicated that extroversion was the best predictor of respondents' attitudes toward academic group work. Individuals with high extroversion scores had positive attitudes toward academic group work. Neuroticism, agreeableness and conscientiousness were also related to respondents' preference for group work and discomfort with group work. …

Graduate Connections- February 2010

Graduate Connections: A Newsletter for UNL Graduate Students

In This Issue:

Navigating Graduate School ....... 1

Measuring Progress

Grad School Glossary

Orals Survival Kit

Master’s and Doctoral Q&A

Good Practices in Graduate Education ....................................... 8

Avoiding Plagiarism

Professional Development .........10

Effective Leadership

Getting Students to Read

Helping Troubled Students

Teaching Tip ...............................12

The One-Word Journal

Funding Opportunities ...............14

The Graduate Writer ..................16

Verb Tense

Announcements ..........................17

Registrar’s Notes

Call for PFF Nominations

Electronic Thesis Option

CLC Opportunities

Events ...........................................18

Lab Safety Colloquium

Grantwriting Seminar

NURAMP

Research Fair & Poster Competition

Nebraska Lecture

Interactions .................................20

Graduate Awards Winners

GSA News

Calendar ......................................21

Event Dates/Deadlines

Degree Deadlines

Readers’ Corner ..........................22 …

The Relationship Between Selected Leadership Behaviors And Attitudes Toward Behavioral And Social Inclusive Practices Among Middle School Principals In North Carolina, Mary A. Houser, Genniver Bell, Virginia Dickens, Terence Hicks

Faculty Working Papers from the School of Education

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between selected leadership behaviors (transformational and transactional) and attitudes toward selectedinclusive practices (behavioral and social) for students with disabilities. Determining how transformational and transactional leadership behaviors are related to principals’ attitudes toward inclusive practices is needed because such understanding will assist administrators and other professionals in deciding what type of leader is best suited for leading inclusive schools. There are few studies related to administrators’ leadership behaviors and their attitudes toward inclusion in any form. The results of this study provide an opportunity to examine North Carolina principals’ leadership behaviors …

As A Leader Do You Choose To Be A Horse, Lemming Or Goose?, Ruby Kohl

Academic Leadership: The Online Journal (2003-2012)

Organizations are often compared to living organisms (Morgan, 2006). In nature, there are many examples of group organizations that demonstrate leadership patterns: herds, bands, families, mobs, colonies, prides, gaggles, flocks, schools, etc. Survival of a species is often based on the type of leadership nature has established for a particular species in a particular environment at a particular time or season.

Academic Leadership Experiences Of Foreign-Born African Immigrants In American Institutions Of Higher Education, Taiwo A. Ande

All-Inclusive List of Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose ofthis study was to explore the academic leadership experiences of foreign-born African immigrants who occupied mid- to senior-level positions of leadership in American colleges and universities. The study explored the cha1lenges and opportunities foreign-born African immigrants faced as they aspired and moved through various leadership positions in United States (U.S.) institutions of higher education. Detailed interviews were conducted with six foreign-born African academic leaders who currently or previously occupied academic leadership positions in the United States. Participants were from Ghana, Nigeria, and Kenya, and they occupied academic positions of directors, departmental chair, and associate provost. Seven themes emerged …

Cooperative Grouping Working On Mathematics Homework, Maggie Pickering

Action Research Projects

In this action research study of my classroom of sixth grade mathematics, I investigated the impact of cooperative grouping on mathematics homework completion, achievement, and attitude toward mathematics. I discovered that many students do benefit from cooperative grouping in the mathematics classroom; however, low-ability students tended not to benefit as much as other students. Also, homework completion and student attitude toward mathematics did not change with cooperative grouping. As a result of this research, I plan to continue to use cooperative groupings but will change the way cooperative learning is used in my mathematics classroom to see if there is …

Considerations Of Distance Education Integration: A Qualitative Study, Jennifer L. Styron, Shuyan Wang, Ronald A. Styron Jr.

Journal of Educational Technology Development and Exchange (JETDE)

As higher education institutions determine whether or not to initiate or expand distance education offerings, there are many considerations and levels of decision making that need to be measured. This study investigated the role of key administrators at the departmental chair and dean levels in expanding distance education offerings. Findings of this study included faculty and student considerations, resources and external support, and integration costs of distance education offerings as major considerations within distance education decision making. Furthermore, the need for realistic timelines, planning for the associated costs of distance education offerings, and current tenure and promotion policies are discussed. …

The Practical Application Of Transformational Theory Vs. Complexity Leadership Theory On The Challenges Of Leading Information Technology (It) Software Development Teams, Jodine Burchell

Journal of Business & Leadership: Research, Practice, and Teaching (2005-2012)

Since the turn of the 20th century many leadership theories have emerged and evolved over time. Transformational leadership is one of the older, more prominent theories and has been used in organizations and in political arenas for many years. Complexity leadership theory, on the other hand, is relatively new in practice and academia. To date, there is very little literature addressing the similarities and differences between the transformational and complexity leadership theories as well as their comparative value in organizational contexts. Both the Complexity Leadership and Transformational Leadership theories are presented and the similarities and differences of each theory are …

Data-Driven Decision Making: The Development And Validation Of An Instrument To Measure Principals’ Practices, Marcus Childress

Academic Leadership: The Online Journal (2003-2012)

From the perspective of preparing school administrators, principals need to learn to use and believe in factual data when they make their administrative decisions. In alignment with the NCLB, the revised Standards for Advanced Programs in Educational Leadership have more emphases placed on school administrators’ ability and knowledge in using data (Educational Leadership Constituent Council (ELCC), 2002; National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE), 2002). The ELCC/NCATE (2002) standards serve as school leadership preparation program standards and can be used as a cornerstone for the professional development of existing school administrators (Murphy & Shipman, 1998; Murphy, Yff, & …

About The Authors, Volume 27 (2009)

To Improve the Academy: A Journal of Educational Development

About the editors and authors of volume 27 (2009) of To Improve the Academy: A Journal of Educational Development.

Developing Leadership In A National Cohort Of Secondary Biology Teachers: Uses Of An On-Line Course Structure To Develop Geographically Distant Professional Learning Community, P. Balcerzak, V. May, B. Schaal

Journal of Mathematics and Science: Collaborative Explorations

This report is a descriptive study of the role that on-line courses might have on the development of Professional Learning Communities (PLC’s) that support national leadership initiatives of participating high school biology teachers. The one hundred teachers involved in the Life Sciences for a Global Community (LSGC) Institute are expected not only to deepen their content knowledge, but also impact their district and state biology curricula. Additionally, the dispersion of Institute participants across the country presents a unique opportunity to develop, communicate. and implement a national coherent reform agenda. However, the geographic distance presents a barrier to collaborative design of …

The Effect Of A School-Year-Long In-Service Leadership Development Grow-Your-Own Program On New And Veteran Assistant Principals’ Perceived Leadership Effectiveness, Luann M. Richardson

Student Work

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of a required school-year-long in-service leadership development grow-your-own program on new and veteran assistant principals' perceived leadership effectiveness compared to supervising principal and central office administrator ratings. The study analyzed perceived leadership effectiveness as measured by the school district's Principal/Assistant Principal Evaluation Form in six domains: (a) shared vision, (b) the culture of learning, (c) management, (d) family and community, (e) ethics, and (f) societal context after participation in a required school-year-long in-service leadership development grow-your-own program. Overall, pretest-posttest results indicated that new assistant principals' ( n = 8) and …

A Qualitative Study Of An E-Commerce Organization In Transition, Steven C. Lopez

Doctoral Dissertations

unavailable

From Paper Dolls To The Presidency: A Collective Case Study Of The Childhood Years And Life Experiences Of Five Female College And University Presidents, Regina M. Toman

College of Education and Human Sciences: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

The purpose of this collective case study was to understand how five female presidents of small American colleges and universities perceived and described their childhood years and the life experiences that characterized their career paths. Data was collected through a series of semi-structured, open-ended, oral history interviews and the review of personal and professional documents such as vitae, speeches, and publications.

Personal narratives highlight the people, places, and experiences characteristic of each participant’s childhood years. The study presents a chronology of the life course experiences characteristic of each participant’s career path and in-depth analyses of turning point experiences and epiphanies. …

Nature And Application Of Knowledge And Its Significance To Organizational Management Leaders, Heidi Gregory-Mina

Academic Leadership: The Online Journal (2003-2012)

Epistemology is a branch of philosophy, which provides an individual with tools for understanding what he or she knows, but epistemology cannot be separated from an individual’s metaphysics. It is almost impossible to separate a thinker’s epistemology from his or her metaphysics, because epistemology connects with specific ethics and politics and metaphysics connects all of that, in a coherent philosophical system. Metaphysics connects the philosophical system because epistemology does not fit well with randomness but does connect with specific ethics and politics. In 1854, the term epistemology appears to have been used for the first time, correlating with an intense …

2008-2009 Executive Committee Meetings And Minutes, Morehead State University. Students Government Association.

Student Government Association Records

Minutes and supplementary materials from the Student Government Association Executive Committee of Morehead State University from the Fall Semester of 2008 to the Spring Semester of 2009.

New Perspectives On Academic Leadership Moving The Research Agenda, Sabine Hotho, Jim Mcgoldrick, Alastair Work

Academic Leadership: The Online Journal (2003-2012)

The purpose of this paper is threefold: 1. to expand the theory base underpinning academic leadership and HRD; 2. to expand theoretical frameworks to challenge prevailing myths about the ‘unwilling academic manager’; 3. to open up new research avenues and questions which have a better chance of constructively supporting HRD practice in HE.