Digital Commons Network^™

Interrupting The Silence: An Action Research Study To Transform A Juvenile Justice Culture For Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, And Intersex (Lgbtqi) Youth, Dawn N. Mcrae

Theses and Dissertations

This action research (AR) study explored practitioners’ knowledge of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Questioning, and Intersex (LGBTQI) youth issues in a juvenile justice setting. A research and service approach was employed to develop a LGBTQI policy and training. This study was motivated by three research questions. Does sensitivity training increase practitioner knowledge concerning LGBTQI youth in juvenile justice? What are the attitudes of juvenile justice practitioners concerning the stigmatization of LGBTQI youth in a juvenile correctional setting? How can the findings of this study improve support networks for LGBTQI youth in a juvenile correctional setting? To examine these questions, pre-test …

Transcending We/They: A Qualitative Formative Evaluation Of The Transformative Potential Of An In-District Leadership Development Program, Jennifer Anne Sharp

Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative formative evaluation study revealed how teacher participation in an in-district leadership academy at a New Jersey school district engaged participants in preparing for future leadership roles. A program evaluation using qualitative methods can provide feedback on initiatives so that informed decisions can be made about program improvements (Patton, 2002b; Powell, 2006). Using a series of focus group discussions and interviews to gather such feedback, the study has informed decisions about one program’s evolving structure. Themes that emerged from the data provided by 13 participants were viewed through a constructivist framework, and using Mezirow’s (1981; 1985; 1994; 1997) theory …

Donors Assessment Methods And The Institutional Capacity Of Grassroots Organizations In Egypt., Angie Atef Sideek Henein

Theses and Dissertations

Donors are increasingly addressing the institutional capacity of partner grassroots organizations using various tools and methods. This study aims to analyze donors’ assessment methods and tools and the capacity building efforts of four key donors in Egypt. Using qualitative research, the study looks at donors’ assessment tools and methods before, during, and after the cooperation along with efforts in building the institutional capacities. The study finds that the project size is key to the level of donor engagement in the capacity building of grassroots organizations. Donors efforts primarily focus on managerial and technical capacities along with skills of proposal writing …

Innovation In The Local Administration System In Egypt, Mustafa Adel Abdulrahman

Theses and Dissertations

The Egyptian public sector always described as a highly centralized system, with an inflexible hierarchical structure and high levels of formal relationships channeling its communications through public enterprises and institutions. Even establishing the local administration system as an approach of decentralization, it still highly connected and governed by the central government. On the other hand, innovation in public sector studies and application in last two decades gained much interest from scholars, practitioners and even leaders and policy makers as an approach to enhance public sector efficiency and effectiveness. Accordingly, this study aims to explore innovation in the public sector in …

Deployment Resilience Among U.S. Airmen: A Secondary Analysis Of Risk And Protective Factors Using The 2013 Community Assessment Survey, Mark A. Dixon

Theses and Dissertations

Purpose: Since September 11, 2001 military personnel have experienced a pattern of frequent deployment and reintegration, known as the deployment cycle. Deployments present unique challenges and opportunities to military personnel with lasting effects. This study examines group differences based on risk and protective factors, which were grouped into four domains (physical, mental, social, and spiritual) according to the Comprehensive Airman Fitness model in use by the U.S. Air Force to teach and increase resilience. The groups represent various levels of exposure to deployment dangers, up to and including combat, and time, recent deployment within two years and past deployment more …

Exploring Teacher Readiness: What Features Of Professional Development Enhance Motivation To Implement Technology Innovations?, Robert S. Markle

Theses and Dissertations

Several studies suggest that if evidence-based school innovations are to be successful, schools must possess adequate capacity to implement them with quality. This paper utilizes a framework of organizational readiness called R=MC2, positing that readiness to implement with quality consists of three components: general capacities, innovation-specific capacities, and motivation. Specifically, this paper investigates whether certain key characteristics of professional development (active learning, integration, time for practice, collaboration, tailoring, coaching, and provision of feedback) can impact teacher motivation to implement novel educational practices. The paper answers two major research questions: 1) Which characteristics of quality professional development (PD) are related to …

Business And Security In The Age Of Terrorism: The Long-Term Effects Of The September 11 Terrorist Attacks On Seaport Governance And Control, Daniel J. Ostergaard

Theses and Dissertations

The primary research goal of this dissertation is to improve our theoretical understanding of the longterm effects of major transnational terrorist events on securityrelated institutional changes for business. To accomplish this goal, the September, 11, 2001, terror attack was chosen as the starting point for this research. The research context is the governance of seaport security. Using grounded theory to develop comparative case studies of several major security initiatives in the maritime industry after 9/11, this dissertation shows that a terrorist event initiates a process of institutional change that emerges over time as initial securityrelated ideas cascade into concrete actions. …

How Female Social Studies Department Chairs Navigate Their Roles As Leaders, Jeffrey C. Eargle

Theses and Dissertations

During the past four decades, state and federal education policy in the United States has focused on standardization and increased accountability. In contrast, education researchers advocate elevating the status of teachers through the professionalization of education. Teacher leadership is a concept that is used to reform schools and increase student achievement. The high school department chair is a formal teacher leadership role in the school hierarchy. Because research indicates that a majority of social studies teachers are male, female social studies department chairs are in a position to lead predominantly men.

A gap exists in the research on social studies …

Passing On The Legacy: How Rural Community College Senior Officers Prepare The Next Generation Of Leaders, Linda Thompson Thompson

Theses and Dissertations

Given the significant projected percentages of retirements of community college senior officers, forecasted workforce shortages, and the difficulty of attracting employees to rural community colleges, a qualitative study was undertaken to understand the learning experiences of seven senior officers in developing the competencies to lead at a rural community college. Through the interviews, the senior officers redirected the conversations to describe how they develop the next generation of rural community college leaders. Findings included the descriptive concepts of (a) rural legacies, (b) developing pragmatic competence, and (c) reciprocal development. A grounded theory model provided guidance on preparing the next generation …

Academia Meeting The Needs Of Industry: A Case Study Of Developing A New Degree Program For Petroleum Engineering, Rosemary Vogt

Theses and Dissertations

The recent oil boom in western North Dakota’s Bakken formation in the Williston Basin resulted in numerous opportunities for skilled professionals (for which an academic credential is required) in petroleum engineering. Oil and gas industries operating in the state approached leaders at the University of North Dakota (UND) with the request to develop a petroleum engineering program for the purpose of contributing to the need for a skilled workforce in the state. In 2012, the North Dakota State Board of Higher Education approved a new Department of Petroleum Engineering at the University of North Dakota. What is unknown or understood …

Effective Online Lectures: Improving Practice Through Design And Pedagogy, Terry Lane Bese

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this research project was to improve the practice of using online lectures at a small private university. Using action research methodology, the researcher worked with a group of five university instructors to refine the use of online lectures through design and pedagogical practice. Beginning with a template or guide based on the literature, the instructors developed online lectures connected with a student activity. Following the principles of the TPACK framework, instructors were urged to develop student activities that worked best for their specific content as well as their desired student outcomes. Two cycles of implementation, analysis, and …

A Comparative Study Of Leadership Skill Requirements Across Sales, Human Resource And Finance Functions, Ronald P. Conlin

Theses and Dissertations

The purposed of this quantitative study was to identify whether leadership skill requirements to perform one’s job effectively varies by job function. This research focuses on leadership skill rather than other leadership constructs such as leadership traits because leadership skills can be developed and improved upon. Past research in this area has identified that leadership skill requirements vary by level within an organization (executive, middle management, lower management) but nothing exists examining by job function (Mumford, Campion, & Morgeson, 2007). In this research, the job functions examined were sales, human resources, and finance, and 146 interviews were completed. The results …

Impact Of An Organization Identity Intervention On Employees' Organizational Commitment, Tami Cole

Theses and Dissertations

This project examined the impacts of an organization identity intervention on workers’ commitment during large-scale transformational change at a financial services company. A 21-member information technology team was recruited for the study. Commitment was measured using a quantitative instrument and the events and data collected during the identity intervention were described. Participants generally enjoyed the intervention, although team members grew increasingly negative over the course of the event due to past experiences with similar interventions. Commitment was consistent across both groups and remained unchanged across the study period. The study organization is advised to assure that its leaders support and …

Emergency Room Nurse Burnout, Brian Thomas

Theses and Dissertations

This study explores the pervasiveness of job fatigue in Emergency Room nurses. It identifies factors that contribute to nurse burnout, including job dissatisfaction and workplace bullying, and explores strategies for assessing and reducing fatigue syndrome. As the literature suggests, there is a link between nurse burnout and patient safety. These findings are expected to help organizations develop strategies to reduce stress in the workplace and develop wellness programs. Upon using an interviewing process, the study found several themes that pointed to the key factors of increased ER nurse burnout, and provided several implications as to the changes that need to …

Driving Employee Engagement Through Greater Purpose, Mark R. Gasta

Theses and Dissertations

A significant challenge for growing businesses is maintaining the culture that made them successful. An organization’s culture is manifested through rewards systems, values, rituals, stories, and celebrations. Vail Resorts’ mission is simple: to create the experience of a lifetime for their employees so they can, in turn, provide exceptional experiences for their guests. Vail Resorts faces a challenge: how to grow without becoming disconnected from the heart and soul of skiing and disenfranchising those that have joined the industry for the same purpose-driven reasons upon which the company was founded. This case study explored the specific actions taken by Vail …

Preparing Future Leaders In Higher Education: Excellence Practices From Staff To Mid-Level Management Role Transitions, Erica Sherese Little

Theses and Dissertations

Mid-level leadership is key to a functioning university and it is important that mid-level leaders feel they have the tools and resources they need in order to succeed. To be successful in a new mid-level leadership position, entering supervisors must clearly communicate a strong sense of vision, values, and principles to their staff and establish positive relationships to encourage inclusivity, support, and effectiveness. The purpose of this study was to determine what higher education institutions can do to prepare staff for a successful transition into mid-level management and leadership roles successfully. This purpose was achieved by identifying successes and challenges …

The Impact Of Coaches' Training On Implementation Of The Linked Learning Approach, Elizabeth Mckinstry

Theses and Dissertations

The onset of the 21st century brought a new dynamic in the workforce fueled by societal changes and technological advancements. These forces helped to create the conditions that transformed the economy from the industrial age of routine labor to a knowledge age where creativity, collaboration, and critical thinking are now needed for success. In addition, the forecasts for this new global economy of the 21st century project that students will need not only new skillsets but also increased levels of education to succeed in the workplace. To prepare all students for postsecondary education and foster the growth of these new …

Planning, Implementing, And Evaluating Manager-As-Coach Programs In Business: A Delphi Study, Katie Lea Frazier

Theses and Dissertations

The evolution of workplace coaching has been primarily driven by coach practitioners as empirical literature did not noticeably emerge until the 1990s. As a result, coaching in business has relied on a variety of theories about how people learn rather than grounding the practice in social science research. This research study used the Delphi method to reach expert agreement on the guiding principles of coaching and the planning, implementation, and evaluation of manger-as-coach programs in business. Expert participants in this study were solicited through LinkedIn coaching-related groups and from the International Coaching Federation’s open, online credential holder’s directory. Twenty-four expert …

Leadership Styles And Psychological Capital In A Home Improvement Organization, Mark C. Leonard

Theses and Dissertations

The academic and corporate pursuit of many programs is to understand the implications of leadership styles on organizations. Countless research hours have been spent examining the leadership construct in the hope of developing programs that impact performance. Furthermore, there has been a recent surge in the study of Psychological Capital and the potential implications for human performance and development. The purpose of this quantitative study was to understand the intersection of leadership styles, Psychological Capital, and productivity. The study examined two research questions. The first research question examined what correlation exists between the styles of leadership as measured by the …

Hud Culture And How It Affects Employee Job Satisfaction, Nicole Robinson

Theses and Dissertations

Many federal agencies contend with systemic employee relation challenges due to an ingrained culture fostered by the absence of trust and job satisfaction. The organizational structure within federal agencies is complex and represents a bureaucratic corporate culture. There is limited research related culture within the federal government and the relationship between trust and employee job satisfaction. The purpose of this research is to conduct a secondary analysis that examines various aspects of organizational culture and the effects on employee job satisfaction. Federal agencies administer annual Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey (FEVS) in the effort to assess factors to influence change in …

Exemplary Change Management Practices Used During Corporate Outsourcing Specifically Related To Integrated Facility Management, Jay Higdon

Theses and Dissertations

Too many outsourcing models fail to deliver expected results in Integrated Facility Management (IFM) models. IFM is a type of outsourcing model that transfers in-house work to an outside company that performs it onsite as if it were part of the client’s organization. This process requires collaboration, coordination, and communication, merging 2 corporate cultures into 1 cohesive business model. Managing the change process related to an IFM outsourcing arrangement is crucial because changing an organizational culture can heighten risk and potentially produce unsatisfactory results. Creating, changing, and managing an IFM outsourcing model require acceptance, coordination, and a clear understanding of …

Strategic School Solutions: A Capacity Building Framework For Leaders Accelerating 21st Century Teaching And Learning, Alessaundra D. Mills

Theses and Dissertations

This grounded theory study sought to create a viable framework that may help school leaders accelerate the expansion of an authentic 21st century instructional model. The U.S. economy is now more dependent on knowledge work than manufacturing. Yet, many for-profit, non-profit, and public sectors perceive schools as not adequately preparing students for 21st century careers and colleges. However, customary principal-led change is challenging. Leaders face several complex organizational challenges, including a modern-day duty and role expansion that limits time, and the inherent difficulty of human-behavior and organizational change, observed in the fact that schools have deeply entrenched norms: an estimated …

Understanding The Impact Of Radical Innovation On Innovator Attitudes, Attributes, And Innovation-Decision Process: A Case Study Of The Pulaski Academy Football Program's Adoption Of Radical Innovations, Lyall J. Swim

Theses and Dissertations

Understanding the attitudes and attributes of innovators is crucial given the gatekeeper roles these individuals or organizations play in enabling innovation diffusion to occur. But what do innovators look like, and are their characteristics the same regardless of the type of innovation being adopted? This case study of sought to understand the experience of the Pulaski Academy football program during the 2003 season as it acted as an innovator in adopting several radical innovations. The study provides a detailed case narrative that relies upon 25 existing text, audio, and video artifacts as well as 12 semi-structured interviews with program participants …

Perceptions Of Leadership Behaviors And Innovation By Saudi Arabian Police Directors In The Mecca Region, Abdullah Mohammad Shafee

Theses and Dissertations

Saudi Arabia faces many challenges, including the political instability of the Middle East as well as currently decreased oil prices. However, Saudi is ranked 83rd in the global creativity index. Thus, Saudi has developed Vision 2013 to promote innovation that includes increasing tourism. The Mecca Region is a center of tourism and the police directors will need to demonstrate creative ways to maintain safety of an increasing influx of international tourists. The purpose of this quantitative study was to examine the perceptions of leadership behaviors by directors of police force in Mecca as measured by Leaders Behavior Descriptive Questionnaire (LBDQ) …

Critical Considerations On Interpersonal Impact For Next Generation Professional Services Leaders: A Case Study, John L. Evans Jr.

Theses and Dissertations

With all the discussion surrounding the significance of culture within the realms of professional services organizations, this researcher was curious as to how to improve the quality of a culture. A higher quality culture, evidenced by a more positively energized work force, serves to improve competitive advantage for a concern, in a commoditized world. The following qualitative case study, a thirty-five day intervention in the months of May and June, 2016, with nine participants, that happened at Think Creative, Inc., of Orlando, Florida, intends on shedding light on how and why professional services organizational leaders should consider instituting a regimen …

The Relationships Among Transformational Leadership, Job Satisfaction, And Academic Service Quality At Al-Baha University, Maha Alghamdi

Theses and Dissertations

This study investigated the relationship between transformational leadership components (idealized influence [attributes], idealized influence [behaviors], inspirational motivation, intellectual stimulation and individual consideration), job satisfaction and academic service quality at Al-Baha University. The purposes of this study were to identify the extent to which, if at all, relationships exist between perceived levels of transformational leadership components, job satisfaction, and academic service quality among the faculty members, and to examine to what extent, if at all, are differences in demographic characteristics (gender, age, current position, and years spent at current position) of faculty members associated with the self-perceived levels of transformational leadership …

Exploration Of Mind Mapping As An Organizational Change Tool, Brenda G. Wilson

Theses and Dissertations

Mind mapping is a communication tool that has been around for decades though it is rarely discussed as a tool for facilitating organizational change. It is possible for this underutilized communication tool and the ever-present challenge of organizational change to work in harmony on a more consistent basis. This exploratory research asked Change Leaders and Change Participants about their current mind mapping usage or experience, and requested their input on the use of mind mapping for organizational change efforts. There were 76 Change Leaders and 11 others who self-described themselves as Change Participants who responded to a virtual data collection …

Dialogue: A Case Study, Debra Milburn Kelley

Theses and Dissertations

Dialogue is a useful organizational strategy that supports a shared understanding that is useful in the solving complex problems. A community hospital challenged with publicly transparent quality metrics and the associated financial and reputation penalties developed a culture supportive of dialogue and participation and was the setting for this research. The purpose of the research was to explore the decisions and messages an executive leadership team implemented that support the practice of dialogue and facilitated a culture of participation. This retrospective, qualitative study reviewed documents and artifacts over a seven-year time span from 2007-2014. two sources, 1) the Operation Committee …

The Next Generation Of Leaders In Law Enforcement: Critical Characteristics, Competencies, And Professional Experiences, Johnny C. Chanchang

Theses and Dissertations

Identifying effective leadership is a major issue facing law enforcement agencies throughout the U.S., especially as officers are faced with many life-threatening situations during the average workday. Strong leadership in these organizations can lead to organizational and cultural unity that protects officers and allows them to do their jobs more effectively. It behooves these organizations, then, to encourage cultures that can cultivate leadership qualities in officers prior to them being promoted to leadership positions. To do so, personality characteristics consistent with strong and positive leadership skills must be identified. This research project studied and compared the indicators of potential leadership …

Exceptional Leadership In Exceptional Times: Perspectives And Ideologies Of Special Education Directors In Southern California, Tangela R. Diggs

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to explore the self-reported personal perspectives of special education directors in K-12 urban school districts in Southern California. Over 20,000 administrators oversee the delivery of special education services in the United States and the demand for such leadership exceeds the supply of qualified candidates (Crockett, 2007). This study is significant because a gap exists in the professional literature concerning the leadership of central office level special education directors. Four research questions addressed the following areas: whether special education directors use aspects of transformational leadership in their roles, beliefs and values concerning special …