Digital Commons Network^™

Of Corruption And Anti-Corruption Strategies In Nigeria: The More You Look The Less You See, Sylvester Olubani Fajonyomi

Journal of African Policy Studies

This statement from the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria reflects the outcome of the regime's efforts at fighting corruption in its first four years (1999-2003) in office: "Some members of the Nigerian public have expressed their opinion to the effect (that) our anti-corruption crusade in the last four years has been deficient in credibility because it appeared to lack the support of the Federal Executive Council who only rarely expressed their support in public. The situation has to change with the new cabinet. Each and every one of you must do more than give a nodding support for …

Efficiency Processes In Egyptian Enterprises: Current Status In A Transition Economy, Samir S. Youssef

Journal of African Policy Studies

Taking the view that business organizations are essentially resource transformation agents aimed at satisfying societal needs for goods and services and, in effect, improving quality of life, this paper examines the impact of the transition stage forces on the efficiency processes in business organizations within the Egyptian economy, an economy that is still developing free market institutions.

Female Leaders In Intercollegiate Athletics: A Design-Based Mixed Method Study Focusing On Female Leadership Development Through Strengths-Based Training, Abby Weber

Dissertations

Historically, women endured challenges obtaining leadership roles in male-dominated industries, specifically sports. Despite Title IX's intent to promote gender equality, the number of female leaders in sport leadership positions unintentionally decreased as the number of female athletes increased, reducing female mentor visibility (Acosta & Carpenter, 2014; LaVoi & Dutove, 2012; Taylor & Wells, 2017; Tibbetts, 2020; Walker & Bopp, 2010). The low number of female mentors available negatively impacted future sport career aspirations by female student-athletes (Levi et al., 2023; Swim et al., 2021). Recurring gender stereotypes continued to impede women's leadership opportunities, as society viewed leadership traits as inherently …

Position Utilization And Leadership Of Senior Woman Administrators In The Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference, Mattie J. Schimenz

Leadership Education Capstones

This study investigates the utilization and impact of the Senior Woman Administrator (SWA) position within the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC), focusing on job satisfaction and career confidence. Historically, women led collegiate women’s sports, but with the consolidation of men’s and women’s athletics under a single governance structure, female representation in leadership declined. While women make up 44% of NCAA athletes, only 27.2% of athletic directors are women (Statista, n.d.). The SWA role was created to ensure women have a voice in athletic department decision-making. This mixed-methods study explores whether the SWA role is fulfilling its original purpose of promoting …

The Digital Incorporated Worker Narrative: A Mixed Methods Study Of Digital Capital, Work Selection, And Outcomes In The Fourth Industrial Revolution, Tracie King

Dissertations

Digital technology permeates society and industry, making digital-ready workers necessary for firms of all sizes as a firm seeks competitiveness in the market (Bergson-Shilcock et al., 2023; de Ruyter et al., 2018; Gorski et al., 2022; Karaboğa, 2023; Kim et al., 2017; Qureshi Zia, 2019). Firms seeking digital-ready workers face a complex digital divide that creates a worker shortage (Bergson-Shilcock et al., 2023; Karaboğa, 2023; Qureshi Zia, 2019). This study aims to describe workers' work selection, work experience, and outcomes in a complex digital society.

Most digital divide research focuses on the individuals excluded from owning, accessing, and having skills …

Public Comment: Using Critique-Like Mediating Artifacts To Democratize Discourse At City Council Meetings, Piper Schuerman

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Are local governments designed for equitable citizen participation? While civic engagement aims to empower citizens and support representative governance, barriers to participation can hinder those outcomes. City council meetings, key venues for public input, pose specific challenges such as long durations, dense content, and intimidating formalities. These issues disproportionately affect Generation Z (born between 1997 and 2012), who frequently report feeling underinformed or having limited time to engage. This thesis explores how city council meetings might use multimodal mediating artifacts, inspired by design critique practices, to make public discourse more accessible for Gen Z adults.

Grounded in activity theory and …

Front Line Innovation In Federal Agencies: U.S. Department Of State Passport Services Innovation Portal Engagement Program, Bill Langer

Creativity and Change Leadership Graduate Student Master's Projects

This project explores strategies for enhancing front-line innovation within federal agencies through employee engagement with the U.S. Department of State's Passport Services Innovation Portal. Rooted in the principles of creative leadership and intrinsic motivation, the project addresses persistent barriers to innovation in federal settings, such as bureaucratic inertia and a lack of feedback mechanisms for idea submissions. Utilizing the Creative Problem Solving (CPS) model and a modified 21st-century facilitation framework, the project team designed and implemented an engagement program that included informational briefings and targeted newsletters. Quantitative data from website analytics and idea submissions were analyzed using paired t-tests and …

A First-Generation 4-H Youth Member Intervention Framework To Support Members To Enter, Engage, And Persist In The Program, Jeremy Elliott-Engel, Nicholas A. A Morris

Journal of Youth Development

The First-Generation 4-H Youth Member (FG4-HYM) Intervention Framework is an organizational management perspective for preparing 4-H youth programs that supports the welcoming of youth and families that have no previous experience with the organization. Using the Bronfenbrenner ecological model, we explore the multiple layers of 4-H program management that support the participation of FG4-HYM in the 4-H club program. This framework provides a tool for 4-H professionals to use when assessing their program’s readiness to provide high-quality programming to all audiences, regardless of their families’ previous experience with the organization. This framework represents the foundational requirements that an organization must …

Navigating The Tides Of Change: Girls’ Experiences In Scouts Bsa, Alexandra Rush, Olivia Kochis, Beth Belanger, Jennifer Brown Urban, Miriam R. Linver

Journal of Youth Development

On February 1, 2019, Boy Scouts of America officially accepted girls into its signature program (ages 11–18) and changed its name to Scouts BSA. This historic shift provided a novel opportunity for researchers to investigate the experiences of some of the first 13 girls to enter this traditionally all-boy space and examine how participation influenced sense of self and purpose. A qualitative phenomenological approach was adopted to explore girls’ experiences and perceptions and meanings they constructed, using secondary data consisting of 38 transcribed interviews from all 13 girls. Girls ranged in age from 12–18 years old (M = 13.72, SD …

Understanding Gossip In The Workplace: The Impact Of Personality And Emotional Intelligence, Alessandra Mogrovejo

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

Workplace communication is a constantly evolving process. In recent years, workplace gossip has been reframed as a more complex construct, with researchers increasingly recognizing its positive and functional aspects. The current study aimed to contribute to the gossip literature by examining how personality traits, specifically Neuroticism and Extraversion, predict workplace gossip, and whether Emotional Intelligence (EI) moderates these relationships. A sample of 185 full-time employees in the United States completed measures of personality, EI, and four types of gossip: negative gossip about supervisors and coworkers (NWGS and NWGC), and positive gossip about supervisors and coworkers (PWGS and PWGC). Stepwise regression …

Are We Safe?: An Explanatory Dissertation Of African American Females' Psychological Safety At Work, Loren Ashley Shelley

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

This dissertation aimed to explore the relationship between demographic diversity and psychological safety within workplace teams, with an additional focus on African American females. Despite extensive research on psychological safety, there is limited understanding of how demographic diversity influences perception of psychological safety within teams and an even more limited understanding of African American females’ perception of psychological safety within teams. The study sought to address this gap by investigating if team similarities and dissimilarities with regards to demographic differences, marginalized identities (moderation), with an emphasis on African American female identity, and microaggressions (mediation) affected individuals’ perceptions of psychological safety …

Full Issue, Volume 20, Issue 2

Journal of Youth Development

No abstract provided.

Creating Resilient Social Workers: A Pilot Study On Implementing Resilience-Building Skills With Social Work Students, Andrea Sparrow

Doctor of Social Work Capstone Projects

Social work students in Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) accredited programs are expected to develop competencies in working with individuals, groups, and communities. However, limited research exists on their preparedness with resilience-building skills to navigate occupational challenges. This mixed-methods exploratory study examined the relationship between completing online resilience-building modules and students’ knowledge of resilience strategies. A pre-and post-assessment measured knowledge uptake among undergraduate and graduate students at the University of Louisville’s Raymond A. Kent School of Social Work and Family Science. The study explored two key questions: (1) What is the relationship between completing resilience-building modules and students’ knowledge …

The Effects Of Short-Term Rental Regulation On Neighborhoods In Traverse City, Mi, Joseph H. Slonecki

Master of Public Administration Capstone Papers

With the increase in popularity of Short-Term Rentals (STRs) and the increase in housing and rental prices throughout the United States, this study aims to explore the effects STRs have on housing and rental prices in Traverse City, MI. Traverse City is a popular tourist area and has experienced significant price increases over the last decade. STRs have been a topic of regulation by many local units of government and the area lacks unified regulation. The study area is confined to two census block groups of adjacent neighborhoods that occupy different townships. The townships have two different approaches to STR …

The Ripple Effects Of Belonging: How Faculty–Student Connections May Drive Mutual Success, Marissa Burton

Honors Theses

Experiencing a sense of belonging on a college campus is predicted to increase academic success, classroom engagement, and greater well-being for students. Less central to the belonging conversation is faculty belonging; since faculty play an instrumental role in the development of student belonging, we hypothesize that faculty belonging may increase positive student outcomes inside and outside the classroom. Study 1 examines faculty experiences of and beliefs about belonging at a Predominantly White Institution (PWI), with the aim of identifying patterns and indicators of heterogeneity. Results revealed that significant burnout is central to a lack of faculty belonging and stronger desires …

Melanated Reflections Through Testimonios: Centering The Experiences Of African American Women Teachers Turned Leaders And Their Implications On Recruitment, Selection, Hiring, And Retention Of Women Of Color In Leadership Positions, Tanya Rochelle Santos

Dissertations and Doctoral Documents, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2023–

According to the National Center for Education Statistics (2022), during the 2017–2018 academic year, only 7% of all teachers identified as Black or African American, with approximately 76% of that group being women. This qualitative study investigates the lived experiences of African American women educators who have transitioned into leadership roles within P–12 educational settings across the Great Plains Region of the United States. The research explores how their experiences intersect with issues of racial and gender equity, particularly within the broader discourse of social justice in education and educational leadership.

Framed within the theoretical lens of Black Feminist Thought, …

Quick Response Codes In Extension Outreach Communications: Insights From A Visual Content Analysis And Educators’ Perceptions, Kobina Danful Fanyinkah

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Increased smartphone use presents an opportunity to enhance the creative inclusion of Quick Response (QR) codes in extension outreach efforts. Tailoring extension programs to communicate with specific audiences has been identified as essential, highlighting the need for targeted and context-specific strategies. The development of QR code technology has provided a unique approach that allows extension professionals to target clientele with specific extension messages and programs. While extension has a commendable record in educational delivery through traditional forms of outreach, research on how best to employ digital tools with extension audiences is thin at best. Though the rising popularity of QR …

How Can Coalitions Positively Impact Michigan’S Rural Communities And Influence Local Policies: A Comparative Case Study, Amanda Bonesteel-Kratt

Master of Public Administration Capstone Papers

This research explores the impact of coalitions on communities and their influence on local and state policies in rural agricultural communities in Michigan. Nonprofit organizations often utilize coalitions to strengthen their outreach efforts and impact, and in this paper, the author focuses on Farm-to-Power (FTP), a new nonprofit organization in Michigan. FTP advocates for landowners’ rights regarding renewable energy, specifically wind and solar, on a utility scale. This paper explores the best practices concerning effective coalition-building that have the capability to impact policy changes that benefit farming communities through improved economic stability. Access to renewable energy leases for Michigan farmers …

Safety, Access To Resources, And Inclusion: A Mixed-Methods Study Of The Lgbtqia+ Community In The Inland Empire, Jessica Mary Fanene, Leonardo Serrano Jr.

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

LGBTQIA+ individuals face growing discrimination, exclusion, and systemic inequities that threaten well-being. Rising anti-LGBTQIA+ rhetoric exacerbates these challenges, contributing to anxiety, depression, and heightened suicide risks. This study explores LGBTQIA+ individuals’ sense of well-being by analyzing how external factors impact safety and inclusion. Using an exploratory, mixed-methods approach, this study surveyed members of the LGBTQIA+ community in the Inland Empire to determine perceptions on well-being (n = 219). Based on descriptive statistics, about one third of participants reported a below average to average sense of safety (35.6%), access to resources (32.0%), and inclusion (33.8%). Meanwhile, thematic analysis revealed that the …

Navigating Leadership: The Impact Of Intersectional Identities On Female Leaders In Postsecondary Education, Sara A. Shaw

Journal of Research in Technical Careers

This study aimed to explore the lived experiences of female leaders in postsecondary education, focusing on how intersecting identities influence their leadership and decision-making processes. Using a hermeneutic phenomenological approach and the theoretical framework of intersectionality, the research explored the relationships between gender, leadership, career decision-making, and other social identities. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and demographic surveys with 11 female leaders. The findings revealed seven key themes: Identity Influenced Experiences, Unintentional Navigation, Institutional Bias, Playing the Game, Institutional Champion, Supportive Mechanisms for Career Advancement, and Value Alignment. These themes illustrate how gender and intersecting identities shape career decisions …

Burnout Among Mental Health Professionals In Northern California: A Mixed-Methods Study, Sade Butler

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Burnout, characterized by prolonged emotional, physical, and mental exhaustion, is a widespread issue affecting millions of professionals in the United States and globally. Previous research has not adequately addressed the phenomenon of burnout, particularly in California. This study took a mixed-methods approach to determine the scope of, contributing factors to, and coping strategies for burnout among mental health professionals in Northern California. A sample of 93 mental health professionals completed a survey that contained both closed-ended and open-ended questions on burnout. Descriptive statistics indicated that 89.2% of participants experienced a moderate to severe level of burnout at work. Meanwhile, thematic …

Engaging Church Teams To Support Youths Aging Out Of Care, John Alan Honeycutt

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Emerging Adults (EAs) in out-of-home care (OHC) face significant challenges when aging out of the foster care system, including histories of traumatic experiences. Approximately 30,000 exit Child Protective Services (CPS) annually, with 4,000 becoming instantly homeless. This study used a facilitated grounded theory approach, engaging 14 participants representing two churches. The aim was to identify the topmost factors for gaining interest, commitment, and action from a Volunteer Church Team Volunteer Team to assist one EA in their transition to independent living (IL). Primarily, non-Hispanic White and Native American Indian participants aged 35–65 contributed insights during three hours of brainstorming and …

Lived Experiences Of Older Adults After Involuntary Work Separation, Mark Mallock Rose

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to describe the lived experiences of those subjected to involuntary work separation at age 50+ in the United States. The literature concerning involuntary job loss is lacking in research pertaining to the 50+ age demographic. This research is important in the aspect that older workers face specific challenges that their younger counterparts may not after involuntary work separation. Understanding the psychological responses, positive aspects, and negative aspects of involuntary job separation in older adults added to the literature for those aged 50+. The research design was qualitative inquiry using virtual recorded interviewing …

Bridging The Digital Skills Gap: Positive Leadership In The Aerospace Industry 4.0, James Richard Robinson Ii

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative study explores how employees and leaders in a major aerospace manufacturing organization experience digital transformation in the context of Industry 4.0. As emerging technologies reshape manufacturing processes, organizations face a growing digital skills gap, particularly across a multigenerational workforce. This research focuses on how generational differences influence digital adaptation and how leadership approaches either support or hinder that process. Guided by the diffusion of innovations theory, the study involved semistructured interviews with 15 participants from four generational cohorts, representing IT, engineering, manufacturing, and operations roles. Findings reveal that trust, leadership style, and tailored training significantly shape how individuals …

Leadership Matters: The Impact Of Transformational Leadership And Mattering On Job Attitudes And Perceived Performance, Chelsea E. Robbins

All Dissertations

Mattering refers to the sense that one is significant and valued by others, which has been linked by a small but growing body of research to key work-related outcomes, including job satisfaction, organizational commitment, and job performance. This study examines mattering among Basic Science Medical Educators (BSME), a group potentially vulnerable to low workplace mattering due to limited leadership support and isolation from communities of practice. Consideration for follower well-being is important across many leadership theories, and transformational leadership behaviors overlap highly with behaviors thought to increase mattering. Survey responses from BSME and a general workforce sample were analyzed to …

Disrupting Foundation Culture: Lessons In Learning To Share Power And Decision-Making, Sonia Caus Gleason, Tina Eshaghpour

The Foundation Review

There is much discussion of shifting organizational culture in philanthropies to share power and decision-making. However, examples of foundation learning endeavors to disrupt culture in service of systems change, racial equity, and responsiveness are less common.

Our article provides a window into the demanding work at The California Wellness Foundation and how internal collaboration and learning have led to progress in racial equity and power-sharing with communities. We focus on the introduction of Learning Labs, an action research model that framed and scaffolded the investigation of philanthropic terms and practices. This catalyzed collaborative decision-making within cross-functional teams while senior leaders …

Coming Back To Life: Inner Work, Intentional Containers And Feminine Leadership For Social Change — A Phenomenological Case Study Of A Social Change-Oriented Organization And The Self, Maria Trias Arraut

Dissertations

This qualitative study explores the phenomenon of inner work within social change organizations through an in-depth case study of a nonprofit organization dedicated to women’s empowerment and transformation. Using a phenomenological approach and ethnographic methods, the research combines intensive 7-month fieldwork in 2016 with reflective analysis years later, shaped by my own evolving relationship with inner work practices, providing a unique perspective on how inner work lived experience shapes individuals, organizational culture, and social change efforts.

The findings reveal that the social change organization (SCO) operated through three distinct yet interconnected levels of inner work practice: tending to the personal …

Navigating Perspectives: A Phenomenological Inquiry Into Communication Experiences Between North American–Trained International School Leaders And Expatriate Staff, Maggie Marie Cashdollar

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This descriptive phenomenological study explored the communication approaches and experiences between leaders and expatriate staff in English-medium international schools. The researcher aimed to understand how leadership communication, feedback, and cultural awareness impact professional relationships and organizational effectiveness in diverse educational settings. Semistructured online interviews were conducted with seven current or former international school leaders and teachers to capture their lived experiences. Thematic analysis revealed three major themes: (a) communication approaches, (b) the role of feedback in the workplace, and (c) cultural awareness in communication. Five subthemes emerged: (a) expectations, (b) inclusion, (c) being present, (d) growth mindset, and (e) positivity. …

The Effects Of Hyper-Communication: A Quantitative Study On Workplace Productivity, David J. Olson

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Today's workforce is overwhelmed with information delivered by tools designed to make them more productive. In a milieu of distraction and overload, employees are disadvantaged in processing the tremendous volumes of information they receive. This is called hyper-communication, which is associated with stress, overload, communication misalignment, and, ultimately, distractedness that impairs an employee’s work efficiency. This quantitative study presents research conducted through surveys examining hyper-communication's effects on workplace productivity. A sample of 631 respondents, solicited through social media, participated in this study. The participants came from diverse occupational backgrounds, providing cross-sectional insights into how factors like employees' titles, roles, gender, …

Public Employees' Resistance To Organizational Change, Malte Grohmann

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Resistance to organizational change among public employees is a significant challenge for public sector organizations, as it directly impacts their effectiveness. This researcher explored the inability of public leaders to manage such resistance effectively, aiming to deepen understanding of its root causes, the role of leadership during change, and how leaders can influence employees’ responses. Using a flexible, multiple case study design, the research examined two educational organizations undergoing similar changes in distinct contexts. The researcher employed a conceptual framework based on existing literature, incorporating key ideas, including specific factors that contribute to resistance, effects of resistance to the success …