Digital Commons Network^™

Leadership Development In A Multigenerational Workplace: An Exploratory Study, Rene Heredia

Theses and Dissertations

The boundaries within our workplace continue to disappear and employees at all levels are impacted by the cultural and technological differences among generations. The gaps in values, beliefs, life experiences and attitudes are increasing. Leadership is essential in bridging these gaps to achieve top performance and operational excellence. There is no single strategy to provide support for developing leaders, each business must implement what works for them. Executive coaching, as an increasingly popular leader development strategy, seems to maximize employee engagement while fostering collaboration and teamwork. This exploratory research study explores how executive coaches are preparing leaders to succeed in …

Efficacy Of Collaborative Consulting Training Module, Brenda Stone

Theses and Dissertations

Code for America Fellowships pair technologists with local city governments to develop digital tools that support how governments provide service to their communities. The lack of project sustainability following these Fellowships has been a source of dissatisfaction for both Fellows and clients. Code for America supports each Fellow with technical training, but provides no training on consulting techniques that help clients sustain the changes or new technology being introduced. The purpose of this action research study was to determine the efficacy of a collaborative consultation module for the Fellows at Code for America. To gather data, surveys, interviews and analysis …

Exploring The Relationship Between Creativity Training And The Practice Of Pause For Leaders In A World Of Information Overload, Steven M. Ralph Jr.

Theses and Dissertations

The exponential growth of technology is driving a pace of change that is consistently disrupting industries around the world. At the same time, creativity has been identified as a top quality future leaders need to possess to navigate these turbulent times (IBM, 2010; Walinga, Cunningham, & MacGregor, 2011). This qualitative phenomenological study explores the role of pause in enhancing personal creativity and creativity training experiences for leaders. While research studies in the fields of creativity, leadership development and information overload are plentiful, there is a lack of research in how the practice of pause might impact creativity training experiences or …

The Stereotypes And Biases That Plague Millennial Leaders: Best Practices And Strategies For Job Promotion, Linda M. Mckenzie

Theses and Dissertations

A dichotomy within U.S. organizations needs attention. Society has labeled millennials as a narcissistic people who have entitlement issues and lack the competencies necessary for globalization. Millennials are firing back with a desire for purposeful work. Meanwhile, the cohort is employed in the workforce with this stigma and experience challenges promoting into executive leadership roles. The purpose of this study is to understand the challenges that millennials face being promoted to executive leadership roles. The literature review explored the top U.S. organizations to discover what sets them apart in distinction. The findings determined that the most successful organizations followed three …

Safety Mindfulness: The Incorporation Of Low-Dose Mindfulness As A Leading Edge Safety Intervention, Connell Nolan

Theses and Dissertations

With nearly 2.9 million work related injuries in the United States each year and nearly 5,000 work related deaths, opportunities exist to build on existing safety management interventions to improve workplace safety. In addition to the impact on worker’s lives related to workplace safety accidents, workplace related injuries and deaths account for nearly $200 billion in direct costs to U.S. organizations. Current research in the application of workplace mindfulness offers the potential for a leading edge intervention that can lead to increased attention and situational awareness, which could greatly enhance workplace safety. The current study explored the relationship that low-dose …

A Comparison Study Of American Indian And Caucasian Sex Offenders On Trauma And Selected Trauma Effects, Regina Sioux Ertz

Theses and Dissertations

American Indian/Alaskan Natives (AI/AN) have a long history of documented trauma experiences. In addition, AI/AN individuals are likely to have fewer economic resources and are faced with increased traumatic experiences in comparison to the general population. Further, the American Indian population is also affected by overrepresentation with incarceration rates in federal and state government detention centers. These data support the need to address non-sexual recidivism issues in the American Indian population. Little research has examined trauma experiences, selected trauma effects, and unique differences for American Indian sex offenders. Treatment employed for American Indian sex offenders is conducted based on data …

Exploring The Leadership Experiences Of Minority Women In A Black Greek Letter Sorority, Ashley Nichole Jennings

Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative phenomenological research study was designed to explore and reveal the lived experiences of minority women in Black Greek Letter Sororities and their understanding of sorority membership and leadership development following graduation. Data collection was completed using two qualitative streams: online questionnaire and one-on-one interviews. This study will contribute to the discussion of leadership development for Black Greek Letter Sorority members. More specifically, this study focused on the role that a Black sorority has in developing minority female leaders as they matriculate and develop within higher education and simultaneously in the sisterhood. This research study provided suggestions on opportunities …

University Research Development Offices: Perceptions And Experiences Of Research University Administrators, Roxana Ross

Theses and Dissertations

Universities are struggling to keep up with the cost of doing research. Some are searching for new ways to improve their likelihood of getting grant funding to support their research efforts. As a function of the academic research enterprise, research development offices and research development staff at universities utilize specific activities to enhance grant funding success and support university research goals. This study examines university research development activities and research development offices to determine if formal research development offices are perceived to have value and what research development activities are most impactful. The issue of fair measures of success for …

The Effect Of Economic Integration And Political Centralization On Linguistic Diversity - And The New Function And Status Of The English Language In Europe, Demba K. Baldeh

Theses and Dissertations

This paper examines the effect of economic integration (EI) and political unity on

linguistic diversity and the new function and status of the English language in

Europe. It shows the current sociolinguistic transformation and the growing use of

English both as strong effects and key indicators of the process.

Mobile Appointment Reminders In Patient-Centered Care: Design And Evaluation, Ying Wang

Theses and Dissertations

Reminder systems have great potential to enhance healthcare outcome if it can facilitate collaborative appointment management with accessible mobile communication technology in patient-centered care. Yet, Current appointment reminder systems are effective but not optimal (McLean, et al. 2016). Following the design science process delineated by Peffers et al. (2007) and other requirements, this study proposes a design of reciprocal reminder system that automates the process of appointment rescheduling for healthcare providers and patients in addition to confirmation and cancellation. Based on the premises of media synchronicity theory, media naturalness theory and stakeholder theory as kernel theories, this study develops a …

Improvements To Micro-Contact Performance And Reliability, Tod V. Laurvick

Theses and Dissertations

Microelectromechanical Systems (MEMS) based devices, and specifically microswitches, continue to offer many advantages over competing technologies. To realize the benefits of micro-switches, improvements must be made to address performance and reliability shortfalls which have long been an issue with this application. To improve the performance of these devices, the micro-contacts used in this technology must be understood to allow for design improvements, and offer a means for testing to validate this technology and determine when such improvements are ready for operational environments. To build devices which are more robust and capable of continued operation after billions of cycles requires that …

The Effect Of Teaching Strategies And Learning Environment On Certification Exam Pass Rates In Dietetic Education, Debra Head

Theses and Dissertations

The obligation for preparing competent graduates begins with an educational experience in an environment that promotes optimal learning. An important outcome of successful health professions education is the passage of the certification exam. The objective of this study was to evaluate learning outcomes and teaching strategies and the effect on certification exam pass rate in dietetic education programs. A non-experimental associational cross-sectional mixed methods design was chosen for the study in order to gather objective data through the use of the previously validated Constructivist Learning Environment Survey. A 30 item electronic survey was administered to faculty in dietetic education programs …

Improving The Nuclear Reform Implementation For Success, Allen Y. Agnes

Theses and Dissertations

This research identifies the method used for successful implementations. This method is critical to the nuclear enterprise as it will continually guide the program. Post-Cold War began an era of decline in the nuclear enterprise. Leaders were risk-averse in fear of being fired for making mistakes, the nuclear culture lost its experts, organizations were drawn to the conventional fight, and training lacked the priority necessary to rebuild the nuclear enterprise. In 2007 and 2008 two major incidents occurred, a necessary to bring focus and priority back to the nuclear enterprise. Several reports were accomplished to identify the issues and recommendations. …

The Influence Of Education And Experience Upon Contextual And Task Performance In Warehouse Operations, Allen R. Miller

Theses and Dissertations

Supply chain workers make observable, preventable errors while completing their assigned tasks in the shipping process. Previous research has indicated that individuals with a greater grasp of their work and better system knowledge are less likely to commit interpretation errors. We believe worker-performance may, likewise, be affected by an individuals knowledge of why and where they fit into a larger system defined as mission knowledge. To assess our research objectives, we conduct a controlled experiment with 100 workers in the Air Force supply career field to discern how mission clarity, that is, education, experience and subject characteristics affect pick and …

Air Force Project Risk Management – The Impact Of Inconsistent Processes, Eric J. Perez

Theses and Dissertations

On the surface, the majority of Air Force units appear to be executing some form of project risk management (PRM). Deeper investigation exposes many of the PRM practices currently in place to often be ad hoc, and as such, have the potential to poorly inform decisions when risk data is escalated to the enterprise levels of the Air Force. Resultantly, there is inconsistency between the PRM processes practiced by Air Force units. This inconsistency is an indication of risk mishandling at the project level and erroneous risk data provided at the enterprise levels of the Air Force. It may be …

Cultural Intelligence And Job Performance In International Transportation Business Settings, Shaun Colin Sexton

Theses and Dissertations

Motivating language (ML) is a technique used by managers to motivate subordinates using a three-part method aimed at reducing uncertainty, creating meaning, and establishing empathy. Preliminary research has shown that ML can help to improve such worker outcome variables as satisfaction, intent to stay, innovativeness, and performance. This study posits that a supervisor’s use of ML will significantly improve a subordinate’s cultural intelligence (CQ), which identifies an individual’s ability to adapt to new cultural situations through another multi-part method involving a person’s cognitive, metacognitive, motivational, and behavioral dynamics. Furthermore, CQ is examined against the same worker outcome variables as ML, …

Project Management In Kosova Using The Prince2 Metodology, Dea Mustafa

Theses and Dissertations

In order to have successful projects companies are using different project management methodologies. As a standard and proved logical framework methodology is PRINCE2 (Project In Controlled Environments) which is de facto standard for project management in UK. In addition Post and Telecom of Kosova had decided to implement PRINCE2 as a standard methodology for project management. Aim of this research is to prove that with implementation of PRINCE2 projects will have more probability to succeed and the failure of the projects will be identified in early stages of the project and products will be delivered with agreed time, quality and …

Examining Diversity And Inclusion In The Federal Workforce And The Impact Of Inclusion On Employee Engagement, Ashley N. Settles

Theses and Dissertations

As a result of globalization, developing markets, and demographic changes in the U.S. labor force, the United States has become increasingly diverse. Therefore, diversity and inclusion is a vital part of our society. Diversity is often viewed as a double-edge sword. Proponents argue that the benefits of diversity include greater creativity, innovation, and improved organizational performance. Opponents argue that organizational diversity is costly, increases conflict, and is overall unfair. No matter what side of the diversity argument that you find yourself, there is a general sentiment that diversity alone, is not enough. The goal is to make workplaces inclusive. In …

Examining Organizational Change Through A Socio-Cultural Lens: A Case Study Of Persistent Educational Inequity In A Rural, Mid-Sized School District In South Carolina, Deborah Hooks-Ward

Theses and Dissertations

This researcher in this study examined the dynamics of organizational change in a rural, mid-sized school district in South Carolina, with a focus on socio-cultural factors that hindered effective implementation of reforms aimed at reducing educational inequity. The research was conducted through a series of 15 interviews with board members and current and former superintendents from the school district and surrounding school districts. An analysis of the various responses led to the following findings: 1) a deep level of distrust seems to exist between board members and superintendents, 2) there is an ignorance of how income disparities may block educational …

A‌ ‌Study‌ ‌Of‌ ‌The‌ ‌Factors‌ ‌That‌ ‌Lead‌ ‌To‌ Burnout‌ ‌In‌ ‌The‌ ‌Accounting‌ ‌Profession‌, Stephen N. Kervin

Theses and Dissertations

This applied dissertation was designed to provide information on the causes of burnout to employees in the accounting profession. A review of the literature revealed research on many different industries, but a lack on research within the accounting profession. The purpose of this research study was to examine what demographic variables increase the likelihood of an employee suffering from burnout.

In order to identify the causes of burnout for accountants, this study used a descriptive research design. The research utilized the Maslach Burnout Inventory-General Survey and a demographic questionnaire.

Quantitative analysis was applied to the interpretation of the descriptive data …

Recreation At Work: More Than Fun And Games?, Andrew Lacanienta

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine the efficacy of Duerden, Courtright, and Widmer's (n.d.) Recreation at Work (RAW) Model and explore the relationship between RAW and employee flourishing (i.e., resilience, work engagement, organizational identification). This study explored the unique contribution from RAW and work activities in relation to employee flourishing. Structural equation modeling revealed RAW and leisure as a state of mind (LSM) perceptions (i.e., intrinsic motivation, perceived freedom, positive affect) had positive relationships with personal expressiveness (β = .704, p < .001) and organizational identification (β = .164, p = .002). Additionally, RAW had a positive relationship with resilience mediated by personal expressiveness (β = …

The Perceptions Of Economic Development Contributions Of A Community College On Local Areas: A Comprehensive Analysis Of One Rural Mississippi Community College, Burnell Harris

Theses and Dissertations

This study was designed to investigate and analyze whether a community college foster economic growth in its service area and, more specifically, to analyze the economic development contributions of one rural Mississippi community college to its service area. The population under study consisted of business owners in the community college’s area, local elected officials, a targeted community college president and administrators, economic development planners, and the Mississippi Development Authority. 100 questionnaires were distributed; 48% of them were returned. Data were collected, arranged, and analyzed using descriptive, comparative, and correlational statistical tools. Additionally, a 5-point Likert scale was used to measure …

The Implementation Of A New Teacher Evaluation Model: A Qualitative Case Study Of How Teachers Make Sense Of The Marzano Evaluation Model, Brian P. Donahue

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this qualitative case study was to explore how teachers understood and changed their instructional practice in response to imposed teacher evaluation requirements. The strategy of inquiry was a single case study, representative of a large suburban high school adapting to the changes required under the provisions of Achieve NJ, the policy mandating new teacher evaluation (Yin, 2009). The theoretical framework of sensemaking and sensegiving guided the analysis of how teachers processed the changes to their evaluation system and the role the context played in the implementation of the MTEM (Weick, 1995, Gioia & Chittipeddi, 1991). Data was …

Exploring My Leadership Practice In Connection To The Support System For Second- To Fourth-Year Non-Tenured Teachers, Joseph Patrick Vespignani

Theses and Dissertations

This autoethnography study offers a personalized story of an elementary school principal's leadership growth and application to practice as a result of the Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership program at Rowan University. Specifically, this study explored leading change to support second- to fourth-year non-tenured teachers. It is connected to the larger issue of new teacher attrition that continues to plague public schools across the nation. It is also aligned with the recent mandate of AchieveNJ that every public school in New Jersey must establish a School Improvement Panel (ScIP). Through reflective practice, I conducted a self-analysis of my leadership …

Organizational Development And Learning Technology In The Workplace: The Migration Of University Reporting Tools, Anne C. Pinder

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation study focused on organizational development (OD) as it related to implementing a new technology, the Cognos reporting tool, within working groups at a mid-sized University, in southern New Jersey. In this study, I intended to understand how these two work groups accomplished this change on an individual, team, and organizational level, while they achieved success through dealing with stressors associated with the software implementation. I was especially interested in how individuals in the two workgroups dealt with a major change within their organization. I was also interested in evaluating my personal leadership skills as a contributor to the …

Overhaul Facility Planning And Control Tool Selection And Implementation Analysis, Santiago L. Martin

Theses and Dissertations

The Argentine Air Force Materiel General Directorate (AAFMGD) has initiated an effort to assure logistical support and to gradually increase the productivity and efficiency of related processes. Within the efforts of increased productivity and efficiency over the AAF Overhauling Facilities, the Planning and Control Departments (PCD) became targets for improvements. These departments are tasked with providing the best certainty and visibility of all assets within their facilities to feed the logistics pipeline, and better support air operations. This thesis, sponsored by the MGD, is focused on achieving improvements in the PCD processes, through an academically rigorous evaluation of confounding factors …

A "Big Bang" Versus A "Small Bang" Approach: A Case Study Of The Expeditionary Combat Support System (Ecss) And The Maintenance, Repair, And Overhaul Initiative (Mroi), George B. Lafiguera

Theses and Dissertations

In 2003, the United States Air Force embarked on one of the largest and most comprehensive logistical transformation to delineate the logistics community’s strategy for supporting the warfighter. A key aspect of this campaign plan was to leverage information technology through an enterprise resource planning (ERP) solution called the Expeditionary Combat Support System (ECSS), a “big-bang” approach. In early 2012, the ECSS program was cancelled mainly due to uncontrollable increases in costs and schedule overruns. In late 2012, the Air Force Sustainment Center (AFSC) launched the Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul initiative (MROi), a “small-bang” approach, to increase enterprise visibility and …

Cost Analysis Reform: Where Do We Go From Here? A Delphi Study Of Views Of Leading Experts, Thomas W. Lamb

Theses and Dissertations

The Department of Defense (DOD) has faced many fiscal challenges in recent years, and these challenges have driven cost saving initiatives across all services and career fields. Many improvement initiatives or new policies aimed at better estimating, controlling, and reducing costs have been initiated to meet fiscal challenges. The senior leaders within the cost analysis workforce are faced with the challenge of managing change within their organizations to improve cost analysis processes and practices, while continuing to provide key decision support in the form of ongoing quality cost estimates.

This purpose of this research is to generate applicable research thrust …

Adjunct Faculty Sensemaking In The Context Of A Student Success Initiative At A Community College, Denise-Marie Coulter

Theses and Dissertations

Now that community colleges are being pressured by external forces to improve student completion and transfer rates, it is important to determine how part-time faculty are conceptualizing change and implementing it in their practice. They comprise the majority of the teaching staff at these schools, so they are a vital component to ensuring comprehensive change. I undertook an embedded case study to examine how adjunct faculty teaching a gateway English course make sense of the shift in mission to emphasize one school’s commitment to improving student success and whether or not their understanding of this change is impacting their pedagogy. …

The Relationship Between Teachers' Perceptions Of Response To Intervention (Rti) Implementation Factors And Self-Reported Rti Implementation Efforts, Kim Jones

Theses and Dissertations

Response to Intervention (RTI) is an educational reform effort that is being implemented across the nation. Considering that the systematic implementation of the RTI process requires organizational change, teachers may be hesitant or resistant to engage in the change process. This study organizes the potential barriers of RTI implementation into the RTI implementation factors of vision, professional development, professional support, and time resources. This quantitative study explored the relationship between teachers' perceptions of these RTI implementation factors and teachers' self-reported RTI implementation in their classrooms. The survey results came from 553 elementary school teachers across the state of Utah (30% …