Digital Commons Network^™

A Study On Parental Involvement: Getting Parents Going, Lois W. Lantz

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of the study was to investigate whether kindergarten and first grade parents would be more inclined to be actively involved in their children's educational endeavors if provided with workshops and training sessions that would make them more knowledgeable and comfortable in the academic setting. Specifically, the study addressed the following areas: (1) would there be an increase of parental participation in the workshop and training sessions, (2) would more parents be inclined to become active educational partners, and (3) would student achievement increase.

To investigate these areas of the study, a sample of eighty (80) parents of kindergarten …

A Report On The Internship Experience In Educational Leadership At Eastern Camden County Regional School District, Audry Cser

Theses and Dissertations

The current system of record-keeping for the various student activity accounts was assessed and revised in order to establish a more accurate and efficient accounting policy of all monies. Internal audits will be implemented in order to demonstrate a more critical accounting for all student activity accounts. In addition to monthly and year ending reconciliation statements it will be necessary at the end of each fiscal year to provide district auditors with accurate financial documents exhibiting the receipt of student monies for various activity accounts.

Prior to developing a revised accounting system for student activity accounts, current practices, procedures and …

A Feasibility Study On Block Scheduling At Egg Harbor Township High School, Egg Harbor Township, New Jersey, 1997-1998, Joetta M. Surace

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this internship in Educational Administration at the Egg Harbor Township High School in Egg Harbor Township was to provide the intern with experiences which enhance the skills that are vital to achieving success as a school leader. The purpose of this study in the area of change was to conduct a feasibility study on block scheduling by involving all constituent stakeholders in the process during the 1997-98 school year. The intern researched various block scheduling plans, attended workshops on block scheduling, organized a Block Scheduling Study Committee, visited various block-scheduled schools, and made information available to constituent …

An Internship Experience In Educational Leadership In The Pitman School District, Eileen P. Roberts

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this project was to study the observation instrument and job description of an instructional aide, evaluating each for its relevancy and updating where necessary. Instructional aides and administrators were inserviced to ensure everyone's understanding of job expectations and indicators for evaluation. Classroom instruction would be enhanced by achieving uniformity in evaluation and knowing the value of the job.

All twelve instructional aides completed a survey and were interviewed, answering questions about the responsibilities of his/her job. Through this process, the intern determined the need for a revised job description and evaluation instrument. Samples of job descriptions and …

An Internship Experience To Improve The School Climate At Upper Pittsgrove School Through The Teaching Of Courteous Behaviors And Service, Susan Perna

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study is to provide evidence to support the statement that all students will be able to follow a basic code of courteous behaviors and participate in service learning during school to improve the climate of the school and to produce a caring community. Surveys were administered to the staff and students at the beginning, midpoint, and end of the year to assess the current school climate conditions. A daily tabulation of behavior incidents was used as a statistical comparison to last year's to determine whether the program had any effect on reducing the number of behavior …

Anatomy Of A Gang Suppression Unit: The Social Construction Of An Organizational Response To Gang Problems, Carol A. Erickson

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis explores the institutional response of a mid-sized, Midwestern police department, to a perceived growing problem with youth gang activity. More specifically, this thesis analyzes both individual and organizational level variables which provide justification for the creation and existence of a Gang Suppression Unit. The evolution of the Gang Suppression Unit is traced from both formal and informal constructions of a gang problem, from the perspective of the police.

Data collection consisted of 250 hours of participant observation with both uniformed patrol officers and members of the Gang Suppression Unit, from the Cedar Springs Police Department, as well as …

The North Dakota Bridges Project: Middle Level Education Reform Efforts In Six Schools, James W. Stenehjem

Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Job Satisfaction Of The Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist, Lynda Harvey

Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Empowerment As An Organizational Tool For Increasing Competitiveness: A Case Study, Carl D. Sweet

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis explores the use of employee empowerment as a means of improving organizational competitiveness in the marketplace. The methodology used is a case study of a small, private-sector company that used this strategy to improve its productivity, product quality and profitability. The results of this research were then examined to determine whether the successful practices identified in this organization can be applied to Air Force attempts to adopt employee empowerment. The paper summarizes the organizational characteristics generally present where employee empowerment has been successfully implemented, as reported in current management literature, including the following: (1) company culture conducive to …

Consolidation And Realignment Of Base-Level Support Equipment Maintenance, James C. Katrenak

Theses and Dissertations

The adoption of the 'Objective Wing' organization in the U.S. Air Force has realigned many base-level maintenance functions. Support equipment is currently maintained and accounted for by several units under the Logistics Group Commander. This research determined the feasibility and consequences of consolidating or realigning maintenance of powered and non-powered AGE, MMHE, engine trailers, and vehicles into one consolidated maintenance shop or unit per base. This study consulted many sources, ranging from occupational survey reports and career field education and training plans to actual field observations of maintenance processes and unstructured interviews of personnel and supervisors. This study determined that …

Identifying Situational Constraints To Focus Quality Improvement In An Air Force Aerial Port, Timothy J. Pettit

Theses and Dissertations

This research analyzes the effects of situational constraints on individual performance within an Air Force Aerial Port squadron. Situational constraint research originated with laboratory studies by Peters and O'Connor in 1980 and was investigated in an Air Force field environment in 1984; mixed results were obtained. Laboratory studies identified direct performance inhibitors (Peters et al., 1980); however, field studies found little correlations with job performance (Kane, 1981; O'Connor et al., 1984a). Data collected in June 1995 (Dougherty, 1995) and March 1996, in this study, were used to accomplish a longitudinal analysis. Correlations between constraints and performance were also low in …

Manufacturing Firms In The Red River Trade Corridor : Measuring Commitment To Employee Training Practices From Internal Organizational Structures, Jeffrey S. Cook

Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Job Satisfaction Of Rns In A Changing Health Care Environment, Paula Allard

Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

An Examination Of The Relationship Among Job Satisfaction, Educational Satisfaction, And Post-Industrial Change For A Selected Sample Of Graduates Of Master’S Degree Programs In Business, 1970-1990, Sherry Tomlin Sandkam

Theses and Dissertations

Post-industrial society in the United States is characterized by a knowledge explosion which has been accompanied by an increase in occupational complexity and specialization and the ongoing need to upgrade knowledge and higher education at the master’s level, especially in professional programs. Research supports a consensus about the positive outcomes of master’s education in general, however, conflicting data exist regarding master’s degree programs in business, including criticisms of graduates, declining application and enrollment patterns, and concerns on the part of graduates with the major organizational changes which are occurring in the workplace as post-industrial society moves from a goods-producing to …

Student And Faculty Perceptions Of A Notebook Computer-Based Instructional System: A Case Study, Paula R. Cooke

Theses and Dissertations

Notebook computers are becoming an increasingly prevalent, and sometimes mandatory, accessory in college education. They and other new computer-assisted educational tools can increase dramatically the efficiency of traditional methods of instructional delivery and can provide the technological basis for new innovations in teaching strategy. However, as with any paradigm shift, the changeover in teaching and learning methods is difficult, expensive, and a disruption to the "status quo."

The object of this study was a four year polytechnic institution that recently implemented a mandatory notebook computer program for all students. The purpose of this study was to discover the perceptions of …

An Empirical Investigation Of The Integrated Weapon System Management Concept Of Seamless Processes, Timothy H. Surabian

Theses and Dissertations

This research investigated the way four Air Force Materiel Command (AFMC) single manager organizations operationalized the Integrated Weapon System Management (IWSM) concept of "seamless processes." In this thesis, the IWSM concept of "seamless processes" refers to the degree of integration between acquisition and sustainment organizations. Four SPO organizations were involved in six case studies. This research focused on the way "seamless processes" affect the shifting of the organizational "center of gravity" within or between single manager organizations. An interview questionnaire was administered to 13 Product Center managers and 6 Logistics Center managers. The interview questions focused on IWSM in general, …

Tracking Air Force Pallets Using Rfid Technology: A Concept Study, Gary A. Gross

Theses and Dissertations

The lack of asset visibility experienced at Aerial Ports of Embarkation (APOEs) during Operation Desert Storm is a phenomenon that has occurred in every major conflict for the last 40 years. The costs associated with this lack of control directly relate to the combat readiness and capability of supported units. This study examined the possibility of installing a Radio Frequency Identification (RF-ID) system to track Department of Defense 463L pallets worldwide. Performance characteristics of commercially available RF-ID systems were summarized, and a conceptual Air Mobility Command (AMC) tracking system was presented. For purposes of concept study, Amtech Corporation's Intellitag RT …

Assisting Defense Conversion Technology Transfer Efforts. A Case Study Of Ohio's Miami Valley, Marissa C. Salvador

Theses and Dissertations

Major changes in the geopolitical environment and the social and economic needs of the United States have resulted in resources being shifted away from national defense. Although the expected decrease in defense spending should not be harmful in macroeconomic terms, it can be devastating locally. To mitigate the effects of the drawdown, individual states and local communities must search for ways to bolster their local economies. One avenue that can be pursued to enhance future economic growth is the transferring of technologies to the commercial sector. Intermediary organizations have emerged to facilitate the process of technology transfer by serving as …

Faculty In Transition: A Qualitative Study Of The Vertical Extension Of A College., Susan Brorson

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine the perceptions of faculty during the process of expanding an associate degree granting technical college to a baccalaureate degree granting polytechnic university. Two research questions were addressed: (1) What perceptions did faculty have about the vertical extension? (2) Did the faculty go through a transition process in adapting to the vertical extension? If yes, what transition process did the follow? The site for this qualitative study was the campus of the University of Minnesota, Crookston. Twenty-eight of 30 full-time tenured teaching faculty participated in this study. Qualitative research methods included open-ended interviews …

An Analysis Of The Extent To Which Humor Is Accepted And Employed In The Workplace For The Enhancement Of Productivity And Creativity, Jonathan R. Specht, Paul D. Tobin

Theses and Dissertations

Today's business literature is filled with discussions of the many benefits humor can bring to the work environment. Two of these purported benefits, namely, the enhancement of workplace productivity and the enhancement of workplace creativity, have attracted the attention of modern managers challenged with keeping their organizations competitive despite dwindling financial and human resources. Unfortunately, little research has been done to date which actually demonstrates a link between the existence of workplace humor and improved levels of productivity and creativity. Without this demonstration of causality, most managers are reluctant to invest corporate resources in pursuit of workplace humor despite its …

A Model For Merging Information Systems: A Case Study Of The Air Force Material Command Merger, John A. Ellis, Matthew T. Pirko

Theses and Dissertations

As the Department of Defense continues to shrink, downsizing and rightsizing are terms that often indicate that changes are inevitable to many military units and organizations, some of these changes result in organizational mergers. One of the critical areas for such mergers lies within getting the information systems of the premerger organizations to work together. This thesis presents a model for merging information systems as part of an organizational merger. The proposed model, synthesized from existing technical and non- technical models and guidelines, addresses five key areas for consideration for a successful information systems merger. Those areas are: (1) Organizational …

An Analysis Of The Effects Of Lean Logistics On The Current Air Force Reparable Pipeline: A Simulation Study, Tracey L. Hill, William N. Walker

Theses and Dissertations

This research investigates the effect of Lean Logistics proposals on the current Air Force repairables pipeline. Lean Logistics proposes reducing reparable asset levels at operating bases, reducing transportation time between bases and depots, and reducing depot repair times. Computer simulation is used as a tool to perform a 3X3X3 full factorial experiment to determine the effects of the Lean Logistics proposals on fully mission capable aircraft and transportation cost. Results indicate that lean Logistics outperforms the current repairables pipeline in term of fully mission capable aircraft. A cost benefit analysis is performed to determine the trade offs between transportation costs …

Scenario Analysis: An Integrative Study And Guide To Implementation In The United States Air Force, Jamey B. Cihak, Steven A. Mozel

Theses and Dissertations

With the uncertainties in the current Air Force environment, extrapolated forecasting methods are no longer sufficient for meeting the Air Forces strategic planning needs. The Air Force could benefit from using a more sophisticated method to determine the opportunities and obstacles it will face in the future. The key characteristics that distinguish scenario analysis from other forms of forecasting are the qualitative, contextual descriptions of the future environment, and the identification of several possible futures. This thesis discusses the concept of scenario analysis and its relevance to the Air Force as a strategic planning tool. It begins with an overview …

Organic Maintenance Performance Measurement: A New Approach, John S. Nehr, William G. Queener

Theses and Dissertations

The growing role of Air Force Air Logistics Centers ALC in complex, multiyear developmental programs increases the need for effective cost and schedule performance measurement. In order to effectively manage these activities, timely and accurate cost and schedule information must be collected and compared with an established baseline. The ALCs need a new management technique which facilitates this type of performance measurement. A proven approach to cost and schedule performance measurement in weapon system acquisitions is Earned Value EV. This approach, required of contractors who are subjected to the CostSchedule Control Systems Criteria CSCSC, allows the program manager to obtain …

A Maintenance Manpower Study Of The Composite Wing At Mountain Home Afb, Stella T. Smith, Cristina C. Vilella

Theses and Dissertations

In response to changes in threats, the Air Force has reorganized several flying units into composite wings. They are intended to provide a flexible, rapid deployment force. This study focused on the impact of the composite wing organizational structure on the determination of maintenance manpower authorizations at Mountain Home AFB, the Air Forces first air intervention wing. An opinion survey of maintenance and manpower experts was used to identify factors that are important in the determination of maintenance manpower authorization levels. Statistical analysis identified important-factors and indicated differences in opinion between maintenance and manpower specialists. Factors specific to the composite …

Perceptions Of Teachers, Students, And Parents Regarding Inter District Collaboration In A North Dakota School Consortium, Pam R. Carlson

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to gather the perceptions of students, parents, and teachers regarding the reorganization of their school districts into one school district Prior to 1990, enrollment erosion and cost pressures created concerns for the citizens of seven school districts in Nelson County, North Dakota. In 1990, the citizens of the Greater Nelson County Consortium of these seven independent school districts proposed that they be considered for supplemental pupil payments for collaborative activity as allowed under Section 15-27.6 in the North Dakota Century Code. Since 1990, Greater Nelson County schools have entered a variety of collaborative activities. …

Staff Development Practices For The Implementation Of Outcome-Based Education, Nancy J. Allen

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to discover what staff development practices educators have used or are in the process of using to develop and implement an outcome based educational program and to determine which of those practices has been most effective in achieving the desired results. Based on that information, recommendations were made for staff development in implementing outcome-based education (OBE).

The study included a synthesis of research and literature on staff development and OBE. Staff development coordinators at five OBE sites from across the nation were interviewed, and project directors at 30 OBE sites in Minnesota were surveyed …

Faculty In Transition: A Qualitative Study Of The Vertical Extension Of A College, Susan A. Brorson

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine the perceptions of faculty during the process of expanding an associate degree-granting technical college to a baccalaureate degree-granting polytechnic university. Two research questions were addressed:

1. What perceptions did faculty have about the vertical extension?

2. Did the faculty go through a transition process in adapting to the vertical extension? H yes, what transition process did they follow?

The site for this qualitative case study was the campus of the University of Minnesota, Crookston. Twenty-eight of 30 full-time tenured teaching faculty participated in this study. Qualitative research methods included open-ended interviews and the review …

Air Force Restructuring : An Analysis, Duane L. Hiebsch

Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

The Impact Of Advanced Information Technologies On Architecture And Engineering Design Firms: A Field Study, Mcdonald Davis Iii

Theses and Dissertations

The research investigated architecture and engineering design firms that have a reputation for being competent in the utilization of advanced information technologies. It is believed that competency in the use of these technologies has contributed to the ability of A&E design firms to perform engineering design services effectively and efficiently.

Review of the literature suggests that the use of advanced information technologies has had lasting interactive effects on the strategy, structure, management, tasks, and the personnel of organizations. There does not, however, appear to be any dissertation research on the impact of advanced information technologies on architecture and engineering firms. …