Digital Commons Network^™

Keeping The Faith: The Organizational Saga Of Anderson University From 1995–2015, Mark Hughes

Department of Educational Administration: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

This case study tells the story of Anderson University from 1995 to 2015. During this period, Anderson transitioned from a 2-year college to a 4-year university. The institution made this transition to remain viable and went through a period of decline because of the high costs associated with becoming a senior institution. After a leadership change, a period of stabilization occurred which set the stage for an evolutionary leader who determined the institution was ready for change. As an experienced strategic planner, this evolutionary leader engaged the faculty in the process of strategic planning which achieved their buy-in to develop …

The History Of The Doctoral Program In Organizational Leadership At Brandman University From An Innovation Theory Perspective: Alpha Cohort 2012, Jennifer Dinielli

Dissertations

Purpose: The purpose of this historical research study was to document the development of the Doctoral Program in Organizational Leadership at Brandman University from concept and design to implementation with the Alpha cohort of 2012. In addition, it was the purpose of this study to chronicle the decisions that guided program development and the factors that influenced key leaders and decisions from an innovation perspective of Bolman and Deal’s four-frame model of structural, human resource, political, and symbolic frames. Methodology: In this historical study, artifact and relic review and interviews were utilized to secure data from key leaders involved in …

Examining Follower Perceptions Of The Relationships Between Public Sector Leadership Behavior And Personality Traits, Robert Perez

Theses & Dissertations

To fill a gap of leadership research in the public sector, conducted in a municipal government department, in a southwestern United States city of over 1,000,000 residents, this quantitative survey research examined the relationships between 66 observer ratings (response rate of 46.15% from a sample of 143 participants) of a department director’s level of the Big Five personality traits, measured by the NEO Five-Factor Inventory-3 (NEO-FFI-3), and transformational leadership as measured by the Multifactor Leadership Questionnaire 5X (MLQ 5X). Demographic data was collected to examine potential relationships between the NEO-FFI-3 and MLQ 5x ratings. To compare the self-other ratings, the …

The Effect Of Faculty Leadership Style On The Results Of Student Evaluation Of Teachers, Sadeq Sohrabie

Theses & Dissertations

Higher education administrations use Student Evaluation of Teacher (SET) frequently as a performance metric for instructors and professors. Many decisions are being at least partially made based on SET results such as recruiting, retention, and promotion decisions. SET has been subject of many studies but just recently leadership style is being studied as a factor affecting SET. Research shows instructors’ transformational leadership in classrooms can lead to more effective and efficient classrooms, which in turn yields higher student satisfaction and academic gains. In this Study, the relationship between SET and transformational/transactional leadership style has been examined using structural equation modeling. …

Extracurricular Involvement And Identification: An Analysis Of The Student Experience, Kelvin Kelley

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Every year universities and colleges provide millions of students with not only educational experiences but also social experiences. Students’ involvement on campus influences their identification with other students, student groups, and even the university. Understanding the relationship between extracurricular involvement and a student’s sense of belonging is essential for higher education professionals. This research looked at the college student experience through the lens of student involvement theory, relationship motivation theory, and social identity theory. The study examined the level of extracurricular involvement a student has and the relationship to both social identity and organizational identity. Social identity theory and organizational …

Follow The Leader: A Followership Perspective In Restaurants, Courtney Troxtel

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

While leadership has been a popular research topic in the hospitality industry, followership has a limited amount of research contributing to the body of knowledge. Followers are a key aspect of the leadership equation; therefore, it is important to understand their role in the industry. The purpose of this study is to explore the leadership theory of followership in restaurants to examine the connections between followership training, voice behavior and employee turnover rates. The study adds to the existing knowledge of followership in the hospitality industry and provides ideas for future research and practical implications.

A descriptive survey was made …

Literature Review For A Certificate Program In 21st Century Skills, Mary L. Alexander

Creativity and Change Leadership Graduate Student Master's Projects

Artificial intelligence, automation, rising tuition costs, increase need for reskilling, and now the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown are just a few of the influences on the shifting landscape for higher education. In this project, I review the compounded pressures on institutions while examining the possible solution of modularized credentials and a focus on 21^st century skill content to inform discourse on the subject at a private, faith-based university in Texas. The literature review yielded studies to inform a conversation about the growing problems and possible solutions for the future of higher education and training for the workforce. Additionally, as part …

Painting The World Crimson: The Global Spread Of Graduate Management Education As Facilitated By Harvard Business School, Keshav Krishnamurty

Graduate Doctoral Dissertations

The growth and spread of business education worldwide is a phenomenon of contemporary interest, because it has enabled the expansion of a global managerial class that operates as social and economic elites worldwide in a time of growing inequality. I take a historic approach to this contemporary phenomenon by examining the role that Harvard Business School (HBS) played in the 1950s and 1960s in the conceptualization and launch of the now very prominent Indian Institute of Management (IIM) in Ahmedabad. Using the archival materials at the Special Collections of the Baker Library at Harvard Business School, my research uncovers which …

An Analysis Of Degree Completion Among Female Students At Utah Valley University: A Demonstration Case For An Individualized Analysis Model In Higher Education, Tara S. Ivie

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Higher education institutions are facing low degree completion rates on an epidemic scale. The role of a bachelor degree completion in the well-being and future life of college students is of paramount importance, impacting physical and mental health, financial stability, relationship satisfaction and duration, safety, and community engagement.

Institutions must be critical of and act to address barriers to degree completion. In addition to an intrinsic investment in the success of their students, institutions may be
motivated by institutional improvement, performance-based funding, and the ethical ambition to create an educated society. Understanding when and why students drop and stop out …

Emotional Intelligence And Decision-Making In Higher Education Administrators In Post-Secondary Institutions In Eastern Tennessee, Rachel Ellis

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This purpose of this phenomenological study was to understand the impact of emotional intelligence on decision-making in higher education administrators. A qualitative research design was used for this study. Data was collected in three phases from the following sources; survey, case study submissions, and open-ended face-to-face interviews. The research data, about emotional intelligence and decision-making, were collected form ten higher education administrators. Constant comparative method was an important part of the data collection process for this study. Range of participant leadership experience was 3-8+ years and participant roles were either, Department Chair, Program Director, Dean, Provost, and President. The findings …

Team Building & Coaching, Daniel Kelley

Instructional Design Capstones Collection

A supervisor’s ability to make proper hires and coach existing employees is related to the creation of a pipeline of future supervisors. As corporations grow, so does its personnel. As the personnel grows, so does the need for more leaders that can appropriately manage personnel without human resource intervention. This paper discusses the need for an internally designed program created to help existing supervisors build a bench of future company leaders. Background information of the company is discussed along with the importance of staff development in achieving its mission. A literature review was performed to determine the benefits of an …

A Qualitative Study Of Private Christian School Admission Policies Regarding Homosexuality And Transgenderism, Karen K. Caroe Ed.D.

Journal of Applied Social Science Research and Practice

The US Supreme Court decision in Obergefell v. Hodges (2015) had far-reaching consequences for Christian businesses, organizations, and ministries. As the rapidly changing socio-political environment embraces LGBTQ concerns, private religious schools must prepare to address new types of admission decisions. The purpose of this qualitative, exploratory study was to determine whether private religious schools have codified policies in place that specifically address the admission of students from same-sex families and homosexual or transgender students. The results of a nationwide, online survey of 61 private religious schools as well as semi-structured interviews of five religious school administrators revealed that almost …

The Influence Of End Of Life Education On Stress, Anxiety, And Attitude Of The Healthcare Profession Student, Chiquesha Davis

DNP Final Reports

Providing comfort and support to the dying patient is a significant part of the dying process. When soothing a patient, who is dying, the goal is to prevent or relieve suffering as much as possible. Respecting the patient's health and quality of life goals and decisions is essential. Healthcare profession students can experience multiple levels of anxiety, stress, and a negative attitude while taking care of the dying patient. The implementation of a successful intervention is at the cornerstone of helping reduce stress, anxiety, and attitude change in healthcare profession students. The application can also have a positive impact on …

You Say You Want A Revolution: A Multiple Case Study Of Diversity And Inclusion Messages To Transform Engineering Culture, Stephanie Lezotte

Theses and Dissertations

Lack of diversity in engineering programs has drawn recent national attention (National Science Foundation, 2017). Scholars have suggested the normative engineering culture perpetuates the marginalization of students and faculty with excluded identities (Leydens & Lucena, 2017; Seymour & Hewitt, 1997; Walden, Trytten, Shehab, & Foor, 2018). This multiple case study examined three engineering units committed to creating an inclusive engineering culture that values social justice in order to redefine the "ideal" engineer. The overarching research question was: How do engineering diversity champions produce and circulate institutional messages about diversity and inclusion? Drawing from communications studies, cultural studies, and organizational theory, …

Learning Centered Leadership: Exploring How Distinguished Learning-Centered Principals Apply Key Processes Of Learning-Centered Leadership, Jared G. Wright

Theses and Dissertations

School leadership is a complex and challenging endeavor, especially in an era when school principals are held accountable for student achievement outcomes. Research on school leadership has shown that a principal’s influence on student achievement is indirect and significant. Over the past three decades, research on school leadership has developed conceptually and now offers more concrete descriptions of the actions and behaviors leaders can utilize for learning-centered leadership. The developers of the Vanderbilt Assessment of Leadership in Education (VAL-ED) evaluation framework sought to create a school leader assessment tool that measures learning-centered behaviors, instead of measures that focus on the …

A Framework For Installing Innovation Into A Small Enterprise, Charles R. B. Stowe, Robert J. Lahm Jr.

Southern Business Review (Archived)

Charles R. B. Stowe MBA, JD, Ph.D., is a professor, Department of Business Administration, Lander University, Greenwood, SC 29649.

Robert J. Lahm, Jr., is an associate professor, Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation, Western Carolina University Cullowhee, NC 28723.

Altruism, Egoism, Or Something Else: Rewarding Volunteers Effectively And Affordably, Laura Phillips, Mark Phillips

Southern Business Review (Archived)

Laura Phillips, PhD, is an assistant professor of management sciences at Abilene Christian University, Abilene, Texas, 79699.

Mark Phillips, PhD, is an associate professor of management sciences at Abilene Christian University, Abilene, Texas, 79699.

Motivating Downsizing Survivors In Small Businesses, Sandra Obilade

Southern Business Review (Archived)

Sandra Obilade is a labor specialist in Brescia University’s School of Business, Owensboro, KY 42301. Recipient, Best Paper Award, 29th Annual International Industrial Relations and Human Resource Conference (IIRHRC), Savannah, GA 31401.

Innovation And The Path Not Traveled, William Townsend

Southern Business Review (Archived)

William Townsend, Ph.D., is a visiting assistant professor of management in the Davis College of Business, Jacksonville University, Jacksonville, Florida 32211.

Unresolved Tax Issues In Viatical And Life Settlements, Bruce Evans, Tim Fontenot, Barbara Scofield, Bill Shoemaker, Robert Walsh

Southern Business Review (Archived)

Bruce Evans is a professor of management at the University of Dallas, College of Business, Irving, Texas 75062.

Tim Fontenot is a manager at Thomson Tax and Accounting, Dallas, Texas, 75092.

Barbara Scofield is a professor of accountancy at the University of Texas of the Permian Basin, School of Business, Odessa, Texas, 79762.

Bill Shoemaker is an assistant professor of accounting at the University of Dallas, College of Business, Irving, Texas, 75062.

Robert Walsh is an associate professor at the University of Dallas, College of Business, Irving, Texas, 75062.

Leading Transformational Change: Enhancing The Adjunct Faculty Experience Through Narrative And Relationship, Greta I. Shepard

Higher Education Student Work

No abstract provided.

What's The Problem Now?, Randall Bass

To Improve the Academy: A Journal of Educational Development

Revisiting an essay from 1999, this article explores the current conditions in higher education, and society more broadly, that help shape the roles for the scholarship of teaching and learning (SoTL) and educational development. By seeing the current “crises” of higher education not only as “problems” to be investigated but as a “wicked problem,” we might be able to elevate and complicate the role that inquiry into teaching and learning might play in institutional change and the expansion of higher education. The article argues for the necessity, even urgency, of seeing educational development as a lever for change, fully engaged …

Motivations And Obstacles Influencing Faculty Engagement In Adopting Teaching Innovations, Wayne Jacobson, Renee Cole

To Improve the Academy: A Journal of Educational Development

Significant progress has been made in understanding science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education and ways it can be improved, but propagation of change remains a challenge. This study presents an analysis of STEM faculty responses to open-text survey questions that asked them to identify motivations and obstacles to making changes in their teaching. Responses reveal wide variability among faculty perceptions, conceptualizations of change, and understandings of evidence. These findings suggest reasons faculty are not uniformly receptive to calls for change and challenge educational developers and advocates of STEM education reform to be explicit about their own understandings of meaningful …

Program Evaluation Of A District’S Elementary School Wellness Curriculum To Improve Undergraduate Training, Katie Boyer

Dissertations

This doctoral research project examined elementary teachers’ preparation to teach health content (Emotional, Relationships, Growth and Development, Nutrition, Physical Activity, Hygiene, Safety, Substance Use/Misuse, Diseases, Environmental/Consumer/Community Health) within the framework for a state’s certification and qualifications. The study used a mixed-methods approach in a Midwest school district to discover components of undergraduate certifications, current teaching methods, and potential modifications to the curriculum. While all surveyed elementary teachers were licensed to teach the health content, many were not formally qualified to teach the material due to content gaps in their teacher preparation programs. The study concluded that undergraduate institutions preparing teachers …

Sense Of Belonging Among Foreign-Born And U.S.-Born Latinx Subgroups At A Community College, Raquel Cotuno

Dissertations

This qualitative case study explored sense of belonging among 15 U.S.-born and foreign-born Latinx students at a community college designated as a Hispanic serving institution. To further explore sense of belonging among these students, semi-structured interviews were conducted with both groups of students. The results indicated that U.S.-born Latinx students contributed sense of belonging to instructors who displayed characteristics of equal treatment, genuineness, and support in and outside of the classroom. Instructors who displayed these characteristics made students feel more connected to the instructor and to the college as a whole. Results also indicated that foreign-born Latinx students credited their …

Perceptions Of Literacy Coaching Program Indicators Of Success By Key Stakeholders At International Schools, Stephanie Lott

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations

Literacy coaching is widely regarded as an effective form of job-embedded professional development. The majority of the current literature on literacy coaching has focused on factors contributing to the effectiveness of such programs in public schools in the United States. However, relatively little attention has been given to the transfer of these factors as facilitating the success of coaching programs in the understudied context of international schools. This qualitative study originally sought to explore coaching specifically directed literacy, but evolved to examine instructional coaching more broadly from data collected in two international school settings in the European Union. Data from …

Enhancing Knowledge Worker Creativity In Bureaucratic Organizations: A Grounded Theory Study, Jaime Macias

Doctor of Education (Ed.D)

Through a grounded theory qualitative study consisting of interviews, observations, and document reviews, this study examined a mid-sized military organization to answer two questions: (1) How does the military organizational design (i.e., bureaucracy) influence the creative process? and (2) How do leaders amplify (mitigate) the positive (negative) effects of bureaucracy on the creative process? The data suggest that the perceived tension between organizational hierarchy and creativity is mitigated by the immediate supervisor’s behavior and ability to navigate the bureaucratic landscape. This study added to the existing body of research on creativity in the workplace in two ways. First, the researcher …

Avoiding Cultural Calamities: Exploring The Influence Of Culture In Intercultural Plcs At An International School, Eric K. Johnson

All Theses And Dissertations

This qualitative instrumental case study explored the influence of national culture within the context of professional learning communities (PLCs) at an international school. This study utilized Hofstede’s cultural dimensions theory as the theoretical framework and drew from DuFour and Eaker’s characteristics of effective PLCs. This instrumental case study focused on one international school located in the European Union. The purpose was to engage international teachers who take part in weekly PLC meetings through a demographic questionnaire, one-on-one interviews and direct observation, in order to develop a better understanding of the influence of culture within those meetings. The study addressed two …

Physical Therapists’ Perceptions Of Leadership Orientations: An Exploratory Case Study, Theresa O'Neil

All Theses And Dissertations

The study addresses the problem of the limited understanding of physical therapists' perspectives on leadership orientations. The purpose of this mixed-methods case study was to expand on the understanding of physical therapists’ perceptions of leadership orientations. The methods used were the Bolman and Deal Leadership Orientations Inquiry (Self) survey and phone interviews describing a leadership experience. The research questions were: To what degree do physical therapists exhibit multi-frame leadership as defined by Bolman and Deal? To what degree do physical therapists use each of the four frames as defined by Bolman and Deal, Structural, Human Resources, Political and Symbolic? What …

From Bible College To University: Factors Related To Institutional Change During The Leadership Of Three University Presidents From 1979 To The Present, Rustin B. Lloyd

Doctor of Education (Ed.D)

Higher education is known for its slow rate of change, but as the 21st century continues institutions of higher education (IHEs) are feeling the pressure to adapt. In addition to the pressures faced by higher education at large, Christian IHEs faces increasing secularization. This qualitative case study examined the underlying history and rationale for transition and change during the administrations of three presidents. Using organization change theory, three administrators were interviewed to determine the factors that influenced change at a Christian IHE from 1979 to 2019. The institutional changes in Christian higher education provided rich areas for research on leadership …