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Transitioning Organizations For Sustainability: Exploring The Intersection Of Sustainability, Worldview, And Organization Development, Jessica Bartenhagen
Transitioning Organizations For Sustainability: Exploring The Intersection Of Sustainability, Worldview, And Organization Development, Jessica Bartenhagen
Theses and Dissertations
Transitioning Organizations for Sustainability (TOS) is the practice of holistic organizational transformation in response to complex social, ecological, and economic challenges. This study examined the relationship between the worldview of organization development (OD) practitioners and their professional identity, particularly those practicing TOS. The study compared professional data with levels of agreement with the NEP Scale (Dunlap, Van Liere, Mertig & Jones, 2000). Data were collected through a survey of Pepperdine University MSOD affiliates and interviews with TOS practitioners. Current TOS practice, a future desire for TOS practice, a Master's level education, and a future-oriented outlook were shown to have some …
Attributes Of Asian American Senior Leaders Who Have Retained Their Cultural Identity And Been Successful In American Corporations, Maria Odiamar Racho
Attributes Of Asian American Senior Leaders Who Have Retained Their Cultural Identity And Been Successful In American Corporations, Maria Odiamar Racho
Theses and Dissertations
The purpose of this study is to understand the stories of Asian American senior leaders of Fortune 600 companies. The intent was to identify common attributes and experiences that could be used to help emerging leaders along their journeys and American corporations improve workplace environment and retention of top Asian American talent. Thirty-two Asian American senior leaders of Fortune 600 companies participated in an online questionnaire which included the Suinn-Lew Asian Self-Identity Acculturation (SL-ASIA) Scale. In addition, nine of those leaders were interviewed for stories and insights on the quantitative data. The findings uncovered that these leaders found a way …
Assessing The Impacts Of Knowing Natural Team Player Styles On Team Satisfaction And Cohesion, Mandy Lynn Florio
Assessing The Impacts Of Knowing Natural Team Player Styles On Team Satisfaction And Cohesion, Mandy Lynn Florio
Theses and Dissertations
This study sought to determine if an intervention in which the Parker Team Player Survey (Parker, 2008) was administered had an effect on workgroup cohesion and team satisfaction levels in a family-owned business. Data were collected from eight people in one family-owned business. Participants completed the Parker Team Player Survey and were given a brief synopsis of each other's team player styles. Each participant also underwent an interview to assess cohesion and team satisfaction levels. Eight weeks after the initial intervention, each participant was re-interviewed to determine any effects on team player satisfaction and cohesion levels. It was concluded that …
Understanding And Developing Use Of Self After Graduation, Hanina L. Stettin
Understanding And Developing Use Of Self After Graduation, Hanina L. Stettin
Theses and Dissertations
After graduation from a master's program, organization development (OD) practitioners are responsible for their own continued growth and learning. This research was conducted in order to provide the diverse, and relatively young, field of OD with some sense of (a) what methods practitioners are employing to develop and improve their Use of Self and (b) how they feel it helps them be better practitioners. The research was conducted in two stages. Firstly, alumni participated in an online survey gathering information about personal and professional practices. The data collected in the survey was enriched through second-stage research consisting of interviews with …
Engaging Virtual Communities In Appreciative Innovation, Colleen N. Holt
Engaging Virtual Communities In Appreciative Innovation, Colleen N. Holt
Theses and Dissertations
Since the introduction of the Internet, cyber networks have expanded into new virtual worlds, demanding global cooperation across borders, cultures, time, and space. Social media platforms have enabled consumers to exert increasing influence over business and communities. This experimental research combined appreciative inquiry and design thinking, into a new five-phase, 6-week process (AI.d) and examined its use as a tool for innovative collaboration. Young adults from a globally dispersed spiritual community applied AI.d, using Facebook as a collaborative virtual space. Virtual interaction, collaboration, relationship, goal efficacy, skill building, and innovation were measured. Results were positive: resources were identified and used; …
Emiratization: United Arab Emirates' National Workforce Development Program, Mohamed Abdusheikh
Emiratization: United Arab Emirates' National Workforce Development Program, Mohamed Abdusheikh
Theses and Dissertations
Since the economic boom in the oil industry in the 1970s, local workers in the United Arab Emirates have comprised less than 1% of the private sector workforce. Foreign workers dominate the private sector payrolls while most Emirates chose positions in government organizations. This imbalance poses economic and social risks to the country; and the government has strived to increase the numbers of local workers in these settings (called Emiratization) through aggressive legislation and regulation. To date, Emiratization has been largely unsuccessful by most accounts. This study aimed to identify and understand the success factors that might be associated with …
Exploring Cultural Intelligence: An Exploratory Study Of The Impact Of Cultural Intelligence On Team Effectiveness In A Multinational, Organization Development Graduate Program, Jack P. Schlafer
Theses and Dissertations
This exploratory study focused on the impact of cultural intelligence (CQ) on team effectiveness (TE) in a multinational, organization development graduate program. This field study included preliminary measures of both CQ and TE, an educational and focus group intervention for enhanced CQ skills, and post-CQ and TE reassessment. The results suggest that CQ skills, specifically Metacognitive CQ and Behavioral CQ, had a positive relationship on a team's ability to meet objectives and satisfy customers' needs in cross-cultural engagements. Curiously, Metacognitive CQ seemed to have diminished a team's ability to deliver results in a timely manner. Demographics such as age negatively …
Intrinsic Rewards Increase Job Performance Within An Organization, Meredith Catalini
Intrinsic Rewards Increase Job Performance Within An Organization, Meredith Catalini
Theses and Dissertations
Employee motivational programs consist of extrinsic and intrinsic motivators. This project showed the impact the use of intrinsic reward systems had on employee feelings of satisfaction and increased performance. The study was conducted with an organization that supports developmentally disabled adults. The focus was to improve medication administration practices by decreasing the number of medication errors made by employees. The data utilized to conduct this study consisted of pre- and postintervention employee interviews, database information, and application of intrinsic approaches with employees. The conclusion showed that there was a significant decrease in errors after intrinsic management practices were implemented. The …
Transitioning Organizations For Sustainability: Exploring The Intersection Of Sustainability, Worldview, And Organization Development, Jessica Bartenhagen
Transitioning Organizations For Sustainability: Exploring The Intersection Of Sustainability, Worldview, And Organization Development, Jessica Bartenhagen
Theses and Dissertations
Transitioning Organizations for Sustainability (TOS) is the practice of holistic organizational transformation in response to complex social, ecological, and economic challenges. This study examined the relationship between the worldview of organization development (OD) practitioners and their professional identity, particularly those practicing TOS. The study compared professional data with levels of agreement with the NEP Scale (Dunlap, Van Liere, Mertig & Jones, 2000). Data were collected through a survey of Pepperdine University MSOD affiliates and interviews with TOS practitioners. Current TOS practice, a future desire for TOS practice, a Master's level education, and a future-oriented outlook were shown to have some …
A Good Story Changes Everything, Daraunda Bryant
A Good Story Changes Everything, Daraunda Bryant
Theses and Dissertations
Although applied in organizational settings, storytelling is not commonly used or understood in change efforts. Furthermore, storytelling's impact on changing organizational culture has not been widely examined. This study therefore sought to answer the question: What is the effect of stories on culture change? Twenty-five participants (4 managers and 21 associates) completed one-on-one, in-person interviews prior to a storytelling workshop. All associates attended the storytelling workshop, followed by interviews of all four managers and four randomly selected associates regarding culture change. This study found that storytelling, in particular the storytelling workshop, influenced the behaviors and attitudes of organizational members and, …
Using Appreciative Inquiry In The 360-Degree Survey Feedback Process For Leaders, Aaron C. Herbert
Using Appreciative Inquiry In The 360-Degree Survey Feedback Process For Leaders, Aaron C. Herbert
Theses and Dissertations
This study identified how an appreciative 360-degree leader survey enhanced the feedback process for leaders. The qualitative study was conducted at a 1500-member Protestant church in Virginia. The two senior-most leaders (pastor and executive associate pastor) were evaluated by 10 subordinates. Examination of the impact of the appreciative process on the implementation and use of survey results identified risks, benefits, and suggested interventions. The study found that the appreciative process generally enhanced subordinates' willingness to participate, although some concerns did arise. Pastors and subordinates stated they did not have sufficient time to absorb the feedback or to identify deliberate action …
Exploring Relationship Awareness In Organizational Change Using The Strength Deployment Inventory, Angie Burwell Kerr
Exploring Relationship Awareness In Organizational Change Using The Strength Deployment Inventory, Angie Burwell Kerr
Theses and Dissertations
Most planned approaches to organizational change specify a set of steps intended to apply to most change efforts, without recognizing contextual factors impacting the approach or the individual changes required to achieve organizational results. The purpose of this study was to determine if increasing personal awareness of self and others through the Strength Deployment Inventory may affect planned change actions, as well as individual thinking and beliefs about change. The study contributes to a greater understanding of a relationship-centered change model. The case study was conducted in the Organizational Effectiveness department of an insurance corporation. Differences in wants and needs …
The Implementation Of An Appreciative Inquiry-Focused Strategic Planning In A Baptist Church, Akpene Ama Atiedu
The Implementation Of An Appreciative Inquiry-Focused Strategic Planning In A Baptist Church, Akpene Ama Atiedu
Theses and Dissertations
Strategic planning has become a viable process for many organizations over the last 60 years and is quickly becoming a common practice in faith-based organizations. Appreciative Inquiry as an approach to strategic planning has been found to be useful in organization development and change (Stavros, Cooperrider, & Kelley, 2003). However, few studies have looked at the application of an Appreciative Inquiry-focused strategic planning process in faith-based organizations. The purpose of this action research project was to design and implement a strategic planning process in a church using an Appreciative Inquiry approach. A triangulation of research methods (survey, direct observations, and …
Impact Of A High-Involvement Approach To Customer Satisfaction On Employees And Organizational Performance, Andrew G. Matthews
Impact Of A High-Involvement Approach To Customer Satisfaction On Employees And Organizational Performance, Andrew G. Matthews
Theses and Dissertations
This study examined the impacts of high-involvement approaches to enhancing customer satisfaction within a professional services firm. The study identified supportive organizational factors and employee attitudes and behaviors. Employee, customer, and organizational impacts associated with the initiative also were identified. Ten employees were surveyed and six were interviewed. Survey data were neutral, meaning that the respondents neither agreed nor disagreed with the items. Empowerment measures however, were significantly and positively correlated to organizational commitment, job satisfaction, and engagement. Organizational supports include direction, vision, allowance and recognition for these customer-focused behaviors, and having a return on investment from customer orientation. Supportive …
The Differential Impacts Of Telecommuting On Participant Worker Experiences, Dara S. Hysmith
The Differential Impacts Of Telecommuting On Participant Worker Experiences, Dara S. Hysmith
Theses and Dissertations
Telecommuting affects workers across job-related and person-related dimensions. Extant research highlights the impacts on work intensification, job satisfaction, isolation and development, manager and coworker relations, work-family conflict, physical and psychological health, gender and identity, time and space. This study explores telecommuter perceptions of the most profound impacts of the work arrangement and identifies actions they or their employers can take to enhance the experience. The research focuses on the experience of this population and investigates the phenomena using a mixed-methods approach consisting of an online survey and in-depth interviews. Results indicate the most profound impacts are: work intensity, isolation and …
Recovering From A Traumatic Job Loss, Ann Chu
Recovering From A Traumatic Job Loss, Ann Chu
Theses and Dissertations
Abstract In addition to satisfying basic human needs such as food and shelter, jobs can also satisfy an individual's need for identity, creative expression, and purpose. Job loss constitutes a major life stressor that can negatively affect one's financial stability, social standing, and sense of well being. Resilience represents those characteristics that help an individual bounce back quickly from a traumatic event. This study examined the role of resilience in laid-off employees recovering from job loss. Ten participants completed a survey and interview in this mixed methods study. Personal competence, social support, and family coherence were determined to most strongly …
Telling The Story: Teaching Leaders The Art Of Storytelling And Its Impact On Individuals And The Organization, Julie Jones O’Leary
Telling The Story: Teaching Leaders The Art Of Storytelling And Its Impact On Individuals And The Organization, Julie Jones O’Leary
Theses and Dissertations
There are many different approaches to communicating a story which engages and inspires the audience. The opportunity comes in teaching employees a framework to tell a story that influences outcomes. This study analyzed the effects of a storytelling class delivered to employees of a Fortune 500 organization. Data for the study was sourced from a mixed-method approach: archival interviews, class evaluations, and face-to-face interviews. These methods measured the participants' reaction to the training, evaluated the relevance to the job, and determined the impact of learning the art of telling a story. The findings showed participants reported improved confidence, strengthened relationships, …
Human And Relationship Capabilities In A Global Change Program, Elena Tran
Human And Relationship Capabilities In A Global Change Program, Elena Tran
Theses and Dissertations
This study examined human and relationship capabilities developed through a change program at an oil/gas exploration and production multinational organization. A convenience sample of 10 leaders and members of the change program were interviewed for the study. Although study participants were mixed in the assessment of the program's priority and the company's ability to deliver it successfully, the study found that the program most strongly developed capabilities related to leading and managing transformation and change, building infrastructure and process excellence, and developing critical skills and experience. Key program impacts reported were reducing risk, managing complexity, and better utilizing resources. Participants …