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Leadership Strategies For Sustainability Of Small And Medium Enterprises In Swaziland, Lizzy Oluwatoyin Taiwo

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractSmall and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) play an essential role in national and global economic growth. Lack of leadership strategies can negatively impact the sustainability and growth of SMEs. Business owners who implement appropriate leadership strategies can ensure the sustainability of their SMEs. Grounded in transformational leadership theory and sustainability development theory, the purpose of this qualitative multiple case study was to explore leadership strategies owners of SMEs use to ensure the sustainability of their organizations. The participants were four owners of SMEs within the four regions in Swaziland who successfully used leadership strategies to enhance the sustainability of their organizations. …

Strategies To Promote Employee Engagement In The Aerospace Industry, David R. Cunningham

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Disengaged employees harm organizational performance. Lack of employee engagement costs manufacturing leaders in the United States billions of dollars annually in productivity. Guided by the personal engagement theory, the purpose of this single case study was to identify strategies manufacturing leaders use to improve employee engagement. The participants were manufacturing leaders in the aerospace industry in southern California. Data were collected from face-to-face semistructured interviews with three participants and a review of company engagement strategies available on the company website. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis and methodological triangulation. Four themes emerged: (a) leadership competency, (b) intrinsic and extrinsic motivation, …

Staff Education For Identifying, Assessing And Managing Pain In Patients With Dementia, Nadia S. Handspike

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Pain is a common symptom in healthcare settings, especially among patients with Alzheimer's Disease (AD). AD patients have cognitive and communication impairment making it difficult or impossible for them to communicate their pain to their caregivers or healthcare practitioners. The purpose of this project was to implement a staff education program for healthcare professionals on evidence-based practices for assessing, recognizing, and managing pain in patients with AD. The practice-focused question explored if a staff education program on identification, assessment, and management of pain in patients with AD improves the staff's knowledge, skills, and attitude towards timely and effective pain assessment …

Strategies To Reverse Profit Declines At Exchanges, David L. Johnson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Military exchange business leaders recognize declines in profit have the potential for a loss of revenue and possible closings of the military exchange business in some locations. Grounded in Porter’s five forces model, the purpose of this qualitative single case study was to explore strategies military exchange business leaders use to reverse profit declines to remain sustainable. The participants were four military exchange managers who reversed the decline in profits and remained sustainable. Data were collected using semistructured interviews and a review of organizational documents. Through thematic analysis, three themes were identified: rivalry among existing competitors, potential development of substitutes, …

The Difference In Compliance When Visual Education Is Present, Jamie Lenee Joseph

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Lack of patient compliance is a dangerous, widespread problem, often linked to a patient’s misunderstanding of their diagnosis or treatment plan. This project’s practice questions pertained to exploring the impact of a staff education update on visual presentation and patient evaluation with patients taking factor Xa inhibitors in oral anticoagulants and how the staff education increased patient compliance while taking these medications. A combination of the ADDIE model and Kirkpatrick model were used in the planning, development, and evaluation of this project. A pre and post evaluation survey was used to determine the efficacy of the changes made within the …

Workforce Management Strategies In The International Airline Alliance Ground Staff Operations, Francis K. Kumaka

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

In the 21st-century international airlines' alliance ground staff operations environment, a lack of effective strategies to ensure a diverse and inclusive workforce has the potential to affect an organization adversely. Some U.S.-based international airline alliance leaders are concerned with the lack of effective strategies to ensure an inclusive and diverse workforce, as it may negatively affect corporate sustainability and profitability. Grounded in the transformational leadership theory, the purpose of this single case study was to explore strategies U.S.-based international airline alliance leaders in ground staff operations use to successfully manage a diverse workforce to ensure organizational sustainability and profitability. Data …

U.S. Military Treatment Facility Reform: Decision-Based Plan Of Action And Milestones, Sean E. Marshall

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

In 2017, the U.S. Congress mandated a specific reorganization and centralized approach in military medicine. The Air Force developed a medical reform construct to organize military treatment facilities (MTFs). The leaders of each unit are required to comply with the reorganization using internal resources with no additional funding or personnel. The purpose of this study was to deliver a plan of action and milestones (POAM) suitable for workgroup implementation to achieve the mandated health unit integration at a medium-sized MTF. The practice-focused question asked how a POAM road map guides effective decision-making. A consultancy approach was used to assist leadership …

Professional Social Work Supervision: The Relationship With Social Worker Retention And Self-Efficacy, Leesha Sh'rae Moore

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Licensed social workers offer services including mental health, case management, hospice and palliative care, and community-based support services. However, research is limited regarding dynamics that promote social worker retention and continuous social service provision. Using self-efficacy theory, this study intended to examine relationships between supervision satisfaction, supervisor characteristics, employee self-efficacy, and retention among licensed social workers. This study was based on secondary data analysis and involved using a cross-sectional correlational survey design. Secondary data were retrieved from the National Association of Social Work Center for Workforce Studies. Licensed social workers were asked questions involving their satisfaction with supervision received, profession …

External Stakeholder Relationship Strategies For Increasing Nonprofit Organizations' Financial Viability, Henry Ayoola Olofinmoyin

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractA business leader’s ability to establish and sustain effective relationships with organizational stakeholders affects business competitiveness and sustainability. Some executives of nonprofit organizations (NPOs) lack strategies to build relationships with external stakeholders to achieve financial viability for their organizations. Grounded in stakeholder theory, the purpose of this qualitative single case study was to explore strategies NPO executives use to build relationships with their organization's external stakeholders to achieve their organization's financial viability objectives. The participants were three senior executives of an NPO in Mississippi, United States, who have successfully managed financial viability objectives using external stakeholder relationship strategies for 3 …

Principals’ And Coaches’ Perspectives On Leadership Practices And Instructional Coaching, Shona Sandlin

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Education reform is the driver for changes in principal leadership practices. Instructional coaching is a common lever used to meet reform mandates but has had inconsistent results. The problem in practice is little is known about how principals use leadership practices to establish effective instructional coaching in their school building. The conceptual framework used in this study was the distributive leadership framework, which was used to analyze how leadership skills are distributed throughout an organization to meet overall goals. In this study, the principals and the instructional coaches were asked to perceive and describe the principal’s leadership practices that influence …

A Behavioral Health Organizational Perspective On Eliminating Restrictive Interventions, Malisa Santana Shuler

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

To manage difficult behaviors and ensure the safety of clients and staff, behavioral health organizations have often relied on restrictive interventions such as seclusion and restraint. Although organizational leaders are increasingly seeking alternatives, there is very little literature or organizational practice knowledge addressing this issue. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore, from an organizational leader’s perspective, sustainable best practices after the leaders of a behavioral health organization in the Southeastern region of the United States adopted a statewide initiative to reduce and eliminate restrictive intervention by transitioning to a no seclusion policy. The Baldrige Excellence Framework was …

Millennial Leadership In The Retail Industry, Phyllis Atwood

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The retail industry contributes to the United States economy, and high turnover rates reduce the profitability of businesses, which affects their sustainability. The general problem is millennials employed in retail are not finding adequate leadership support and alignment with their career expectations or social beliefs. This qualitative single case study involved an embedded group of millennials employed as retail managers with at least three years of supervisory experience. The purpose of this study was to explore experiences and expectations involving effective leadership. The study involved using the generational theory, cognitive model of behavior, and servant leadership theory to address how …

Strategies Human Resource And Line Managers Use To Reduce Workplace Bullying, Gregory James Brown

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Workplace bullying is a growing problem that costs companies billions of dollars each year. Human resource leaders who do not employ strategies to reduce workplace bullying may experience poor organizational performance and high turnover rates. Grounded in the organizational culture workplace bullying model, the purpose of this multiple case study was to explore strategies human resource and line managers (HRLM) use to reduce workplace bullying. Participants were five HRLM who managed programs that successfully reduced workplace bullying in Michigan. Data were collected from semistructured interviews and a review of archival documents. Yin’s five-phase analytic cycle was used to guide the …

Ethical Leadership Effects On Medical Laboratory Personnel Accountability Behaviors, Claude-Marthe Daverdine Cherizard

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Ethical scandals have continued to generate disturbances in the corporate world and have encouraged ethics studies in organizations. Research has shown there is a relationship between ethical leadership and employee accountability in a variety of organizational settings, including healthcare. However, in medical laboratories that relationship has not been explored. A quantitative study was conducted to examine if medical laboratory employee perceptions of manager ethical leadership was associated with their own accountability behavior. A total of 69 participants responded online to three instruments to measure the study variables: ethical leadership was assessed by the Ethical Leadership at Work Questionnaire, employee accountability …

Strategies To Reduce Nonconformance Of Parts In Aerospace Manufacturing, John Louis Lloyd Jr

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The cost of nonconformance of parts can impact the aerospace industry globally, resulting in revenue loss and consumer confidence degradation. Grounded in the eight disciplines of problem solving, the purpose of this multiple case study was to explore strategies aerospace manufacturing quality managers in the United States used to implement successful change initiatives to address the nonconformance of parts. Data were collected through semistructured interviews with four aerospace quality executives and supporting company documents. Data were analyzed using methodological triangulation, coding, and thematic analysis. Four themes emerged: (a) identify and implement a specific problem-solving strategy, (b) identify and mitigate employee …

Designing A Standardized Workflow For Improved Contract Administration In Non-Profit Organizations, Shaneva D. Mcreynolds

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This study explored a process that can help nonprofit organizations design and implement a new contract management system with a standardized workflow associated with administering their government contracts. The problem directly resulted in a decrease in efficiency and profitability for the organization. A mixed method study was conducted based on the business process reengineering (BPR) model. Previous studies have indicated that additional knowledge and development is required in the area of BPR implementation. Critical sources of evidence in the study included the partner organization’s stakeholders, its staff, including those of its subsidiaries, and peer-reviewed literature. Qualitative interviews with 10 participants …

Strategies To Recruit Underrepresented Groups' To Middle And Senior Management Positions In Financial Services, Natalie Tavale

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Consumers may avoid financial institutions that lack representation of underrepresented groups, severely impacting profitability. Grounded in the human motivation theory, the purpose of this qualitative descriptive study was to explore strategies to recruit underrepresented groups to middle and senior-level positions in the financial industry. The participants included six senior executives from the Eastern U.S. region financial institutions who implemented successful recruiting strategies for underrepresented groups to middle and senior-level positions. The data sources were semistructured interviews and a review of public organization documents. The three emerging themes from the thematic analysis were: mentoring programs, recruiting firms, and diversifying the pipeline. …

Strategies For Succession Planning And Sustained Business Profitability For Small Business, Icy Mae Barton

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Baby boomers are retiring rapidly and vacating prominent small business positions, leaving no one to replace them, which may result in business failure. When a small business fails, all stakeholders, including small business owners (SBOs), investors, employees, customers, and the community, suffer emotional and financial distress. Grounded in Argyris and Schön's organizational learning theory and Burns's transformational leadership theory, the purpose of this qualitative multiple case study was to explore strategies SBOs use to develop an effective succession plan. The participants were seven SBOs in the Washington, DC/Baltimore, MD metropolitan area who had been in business for more than 5 …

The Role Of Women In Public Administration In Saint Lucia, Elizabeth Elicia Bailey

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Women continue to face stereotypes and barriers with their advancement to leadership positions. Nonetheless, there is an increasing number of females in leadership roles partly due to programs and policies for the advancement of women, causing several women to aspire to and take up top leadership positions in the public sector. In Saint Lucia, women hold about 70% of the senior management positions that were once dominated primarily by men. However, little is known about the role of women in public administration in Saint Lucia. This qualitative study aimed to understand the perceptions of male and female leaders relating to …

Processes And Skills Manufacturing Organizational Leaders Use To Implement Corporate Restructuring, Eric Darko

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Corporate restructuring implementation failure has the potential for adverse business outcomes. Business owners are concerned with corporate restructuring implementation failure, as it is the number one predictor of the collapse of businesses. Grounded in transformational leadership theory and business process reengineering model, the purpose of this qualitative multiple case study was to explore the processes and skills business owners use to minimize corporate restructuring implementation failure. The participants comprised 10 business owners of the manufacturing sector who minimized corporate restructuring implementation failure. Data were collected using semistructured interviews and a review of the organization’s corporate restructuring information on social media …

Nurse Manager’S Leadership And Communication Skills And A Registered Nurse’S Organizational Citizenship Behavior, Satisfaction, And Intent To Leave, Emmitte J. Hall

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The Veteran’s Health Administration (VHA) is the largest employer of registered nurses in the United States. The American Association of Colleges of Nursing predicts there will be a nursing shortage through the year 2030 and replacing and training each nurse is expensive and negatively impacts patient care. A review of the literature showed organizations with high levels of organizational citizenship behavior (OCB) had high levels of job satisfaction, which reduces turnover, but there was no research on the existence and impact of OCB in a federal health care facility, specifically the VHA. The purpose of this quantitative, correlational research was …

Strategies For Sustaining Automotive Dealerships Beyond 5 Years, Lyndon Fitzgerald Taylor

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Small businesses in the United States employ 48% of the workforce, and only 50% percent of small businesses survive beyond 5 years. Business leaders are concerned with strategies to retain and expand their customer base to mitigate business failure and enhance survivability. Grounded in the leader-member exchange theory, the purpose of my qualitative multiple case study was to explore strategies automotive dealership business leaders used to sustain their businesses beyond 5 years. The participants comprised five business leaders in the automotive industry in the Central and Southwest U.S. State of Michigan. Data were collected using semistructured face-to-face interviews and a …

Strategies For Competitive Advantage In Small Construction Businesses, Syheed Fields

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Walden University

College of Management and Technology

This is to certify that the doctoral study by

Syheed Fields

has been found to be complete and satisfactory in all respects, and that any and all revisions required by the review committee have been made.

Review Committee Dr. Michael Lavelle, Committee Chairperson, Doctor of Business Administration Faculty

Dr. Carol-Anne Faint, Committee Member, Doctor of Business Administration Faculty

Dr. William Stokes, University Reviewer, Doctor of Business Administration Faculty

Chief Academic Officer and ProvostSue Subocz, Ph.D.

Walden University2022

AbstractStrategies for Competitive Advantage in Small Construction Businesses by Syheed Fields

MLD, The Pennsylvania State University, …

Modernization Of Legacy Information Technology Systems, Rabie Khabouze

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Large enterprises spend a large portion of their Information Technology (IT) budget on maintaining their legacy systems. Legacy systems modernization projects are a catalyst for IT architects to save cost, provide new and efficient systems that increase profitability, and create value for their organization. Grounded in sociotechnical systems theory, the purpose of this qualitative multiple case study was to explore strategies IT architects use to modernize their legacy systems. The population included IT architects in large enterprises involved in legacy systems modernization projects, one in healthcare, and one in the financial services industry in the San Antonio-New Braunfels, Texas metropolitan …

Improving Financial Management Skills Among Small Business Owners, Jonathan Jackson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Small business owners (SBOs) lack of financial management skills can negatively impact small businesses' profitability and result in business failure. SBO’s limited understanding of financial management skills increases the likelihood of business failure and negatively impacts local and national economies. Grounded in the stakeholder theoretical framework, the purpose of this qualitative multiple case study was to explore strategies SBOs use to improve financial management. Data were collected from five small business owners' successful years of freight business experience in Central Mississippi using semi-structured interviews, annual organizational reports, and member checking. Data were analyzed using Braun and Clarke’s (2006) six-step thematic …

Using Agile Strategies To Improve Project Success Rates, Tim Kirkland

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Project failures can be costly to businesses, but on average, program managers’ (PMs’) success rates for managing information technology (IT) projects is less than 35%. Organizational cultures struggle to adapt to agile project management (APM) that provides stakeholder flexibility for dynamic environments. Grounded by project management theory, the purpose of this qualitative multiple case study was to explore strategies project managers use to reduce IT project failures. The participants consisted of nine project managers in the northeastern United States with APM experience managing successful IT projects. Data were collected from virtual semi-structured interviews and journal notes. Ten open-ended interview questions …

Public Sector Managers’ Organizational Context Challenges For Talent Management Implementation With Millennials, Solomon Djan

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

A literature gap exists on organizational context challenges facing meso-level public sector managers that undermine retention of millennial talent. Scholars recommend that this gap should be addressed in theoretical and empirical research. The purpose of this study was to understand public sector managers’ perceptions on how organizational context challenges in their public sector agencies undermine talent management implementation with millennial employees. A single case study with an embedded unit design was used to address the literature gap, and qualitative data from 15 semistructured interviews, reflective field notes, and archival data were collected to answer the central research question. This study …

Leaders’ Strategies For Motivating The Millennial Generation To Sustain High Levels Of Performance, Juan Alvarez

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Failure to identify and implement strategies to address the needs of the Millennial workforce can lead to a decrease in productivity in the organization. The increasing number of Millennials in the workforce creates a challenge for many business leaders in maintaining or surpassing the productivity levels found in organizations where the baby boomer employees are the majority. Grounded in transformational leadership theory, the purpose of this qualitative single case study was to explore the strategies that warehouse supervisors use to enable Millennial employees to maintain or surpass productivity levels in organizations. Interviews were conducted with six warehouse supervisors who had …

Developing Workforce Capability In Nonprofits Through Effective Leadership, Catherine Byrnes Smoyer, Rocky J. Dwyer, Janice K. Garfield, Brandon D. Simmons

International Journal of Applied Management and Technology

Leaders of nonprofit organizations in the United States must build workforce capabilities to meet increasing demands for services. This single-case study explored strategies nonprofit leaders used to build workforce capability to address increasing service demands. The conceptual lens for this study was the full-range leadership theory. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with senior executives of a single nonprofit organization located in the Midwestern region of the United States, which included internal organizational and workforce performance data, strategy plans, annual reports internal and external financial documents, and publicly available information. Four major themes related to building workforce capacity emerged from …

Enabling Sustainable Organizational Change: A Case Of Cognitive Diversity In The Automotive Industry, Tonja Blom, Yvonne Du Plessis, Hamid H. Kazeroony

International Journal of Applied Management and Technology

In diverse societies such as South Africa, organizations continue to face inclusion challenges when implementing change. This study proposes a different method and new dimension of diversity management within the cognitive diversity construct, namely human niche theory, to tackle the diversity dilemma of exclusivity. The research question asked whether human niche theory, as a defined concept within cognitive diversity, could be utilized by managers to enable inclusion and promote sustainable organizational change implementation. Conceptually, this paper relates human niche theory to seven themes in the change process, namely, communication, training, motivation, resources, control, monitoring, and feedback. An exploratory single case …