Digital Commons Network^™

Changing Organizations: A Meta-Analysis Of Change Implementation Strategies' Effects On Organizational Outcomes, Jay A. Welborn

Theses and Dissertations

This research represents a meta-analysis of 24 empirical studies that explored and identified which organizational factors moderated the relationships between facilitation strategies and change adoption The results indicate two key facilitation strategies, participation and communication that produced significant results. Participation resulted in a positive impact on job satisfaction, organizational commitment, performance, and turnover rates, while communication resulted in a positive impact on job satisfaction, organizational commitment, change adoption, and intent to remain. Contrary to many research studies, participation strategy was a non-significant moderator for change adoption. The identified strategies and outcomes were then analyzed for potential moderators. Due to the …

Differences In Civil Engineer Perceptions Of Change Based On Prior Training And Experience, Steven W. Lo

Theses and Dissertations

The Department of Defense (DoD) and the United States Air Force (USAF) have moved toward an aggressive stance to competitively source and privatize (CS&P) support functions as much as possible. This move is intended to shrink support costs and redirect the savings to force and equipment modernization. In addition, the USAF hopes to realize improved services, gain access to technology, share risks with contractors, and allow its forces to focus on the core competencies. In order to implement OS&P, the USAF communicates information through two major pathways, passive and active. Passive communication is similar to traditional classroom learning where information …

Development Of A Decision Framework For Knowledge Management Projects, William D. Bower

Theses and Dissertations

Air Force resources are being committed to fund, implement, and support organizational knowledge management initiatives without any overarching Air Force Knowledge Vision or Knowledge Strategy to guide these efforts. The purpose of this research is to provide a framework model and framework implementation process that can be used to guide the identification, selection, and eventual implementation of Air Force knowledge management projects. An initial Literature Review was conducted and the findings were used to develop a framework model to guide the identification and selection of appropriate knowledge management initiatives that are consistent with organizational strategy and strategic objectives. Next, a …

Analysis And Evaluation Of The Macroscopic Organizational Structure Of Red Horse, Lance D. Clark

Theses and Dissertations

The primary contingency engineering capability within the United States Air Force is provided by Rapid Engineer Deployable, Heavy Operations Readiness Squadron, Engineer (RED HORSE). This thesis examines the macroscopic organizational structure of RED HORSE; that is, the manner in which RED HORSE resources (personnel and equipment) are organized collectively, above the unit (squadron or flight) level. It builds on the findings of the Air Combat Command - sponsored RED HORSE 2010 Strategic Study, and focuses on issues of geographic location and chain of command above the unit level, as the study found these two topics were found to be vital …

The Effects Of The Arkansas Leadership Academy's Strategic Leadership Institute For Teams On The Creation Of Learning Communities, Paula Griffith Cummins

Theses and Dissertations

The problem of this comparative study was to determine whether school districts that participated in the Arkansas Leadership Academy Strategic Leadership Institute for Teams exhibited more characteristics of a learning community, as identified by Hord (1997), than they did prior to participation. A secondary problem was to determine if districts that had significant participation in the Leadership Institute for Teams exhibited greater growth in the learning community characteristics than districts with no participation. The sample was drawn from Arkansas public school districts that had participated in any Leadership Institute for Teams during the identified time, with an equal number of …

The Grand Forks Public Schools Frameworks Project : Building-Level Leadership Factors In A District-Wide Change, Daniel E. Kimzey

Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

An Administrative Internship Experience At Maple Shade Junior/Senior High School, Maple Shade, New Jersey, 1999-2000, Frank Jankowski

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to develop a plan that would allow teachers in the junior high at Maple Shade High School to incorporate technology into their lessons on a more consistent basis. The use of technology would improve learning and better prepare our students for the future.

The intern used interview and survey as data gathering techniques for the project. The intern brought meaning to the data through a thorough analysis of interview responses. Also, surveys were collected, coded, and analyzed.

Teacher preparation and prior teaching experience were cited as reasons behind the fear of technology. Staff claimed …

Active Collaborative Teaching, Todd R. Slimm

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine if the effects of teachers collaborating would have an effect on professional knowledge (pedagogy) and teacher efficacy. Teachers were exposed to three programs designed to promote collaboration (teachers talking about teaching and learning). The entire school staff was introduced to the program with 29 participants in the actual data study. Data was gathered through a questionnaire/survey/interview process. The major method of data analysis was tallies, percentages, and personal comments during interviews. The study found that the three programs had an effect on teacher collaboration. All three programs were found to be of …

Not More Important – Just Different: Concerns Of Middle School Female And Male Students, Marianne W. Gaffney

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to identify the specific needs of middle school females in order to develop a curriculum for an after school female program. This program would enhance the growth of female students ages eleven to fourteen.

After school meetings were held weekly for three months with female students in Orchard Valley Middle School. Attendance at these meetings ranged from eight to twenty girls. From these meetings, concerns pertinent to female students were identified. A survey was developed to determine the focus of middle school student concerns. The hypothesis being that males and females in middle school …

The Renaissance Concept And The Effect Of Positive Reinforcement On Student Performance, Henry N. Kobik

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of extrinsic rewards on the extrinsic and intrinsic motivation levels of high school students. To complete this task, 118 students were chosen to complete a series of surveys which measured perceived levels of academic performance and motivation. This process allowed the students to not only respond in a multiple choice format but also provided the opportunity for written feedback as well. Further information on the topic was gathered from discussion with these students. All of the participants were chosen through random selection using the school roster and they represented the …

An Action Plan For Improving The Continuum Of Services That Are Offered To The Classified Student At The Lower Cape May Regional High School, Gene Sole

Theses and Dissertations

Though there are many success stories in the Lower Cape May Regional High School, for a myriad of reasons many of the classified students are not achieving their potential. In this thesis, the intern will evaluate the continuum of services offered to the classified student, with the overall intent of advancing the learning of those in special education. In his role as the acting Assistant Principal, the intern was able to get staff members to work towards the goal of improving the services that we offer our students. In addition, the intern's role as a member of the special education …

Will The Adoption Of A More Stringent Attendance Policy Improve The Attendance Of Students At Nehaunsey Middle School?, Suzanne F. Gibson

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this quasi-experimental research design was to discover whether, after implementing a more stringent attendance policy, would the attendance of students improve? A pattern of poor attendance was observed in an increasing number of students who were absent more than 10% of the school year, and this alarming trend prompted this study. The entire student body of 200 students was included in this study, in which attendance records were studied before and after the adoption of the new Attendance Policy. Although the intention was to compare data for the ten month school year period before and after the …

Effective Programming Of A School District's Educational Access Channel, Darren J. Hickman

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study is to develop a district policy and practice of collecting and disseminating school information and public service announcements to the public using Atlantic City Public Schools' educational access channel, ACTV Channel 2. Using a case study research design, the project will result in an evaluation of current usage by parents and families of children who attend Atlantic City Public Schools and what they would like to view.

An upgrade in programming with more educational programs was a major objective for this study. To assist in programming improvement, a questionnaire survey was developed and was administered …

Identifying The Role Of The School Business Administrator, Diana L. Schiraldi

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine the role of the school business administrator and to determine the congruency or incongruency between role expectations of the business administrator and actual role performance. Individuals participating in this study were the school business administrator and seventeen of his role set partners. Role set partners included the superintendent of schools, four district level administrators, eight building level administrators, two board members, a teacher and a custodial supervisor. Participants were surveyed using a written questionnaire to determine their views of the business administrator's role. The business administrator's daily activities were documented through shadowing. …

A Multicultural Club At Hammonton High School, Mildred Peretti

Theses and Dissertations

This action research study examines the attitude change among rural high school students regarding diversity and tolerance presented through a multicultural club. Fifty randomly selected students and parents of the high school were pre-tested using a survey instrument measuring needs assessment and an attitude profile. Data analysis was conducted using percentages of each of the four questions asked. The entire student body was then exposed to various multicultural facts and experiences promoted through a multicultural club. Activities included daily factual announcements, a trivia contest of information retrieval, guest speakers, music, assemblies, displays of heritage's artifacts, and relevant content knowledge integrated …

The Effectiveness Of Peer Mediation On Student Behavior At The Paul W. Carleton School, Charles A. Warfield

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of the newly developed and implemented Peer Mediation Program in an elementary school. Peer mediation is the use of third party students who are trained in the mediation process to help other students resolve interpersonal conflicts prior to their escalation to physical or verbal offenses. Students may be referred to the Peer Mediation Program by teachers or the administrator. They may also request a mediation session on their own. Disputing students who participated in the Peer Mediation Program worked cooperatively to reach an agreement with the aid of the peer …

Facing The Monster: Responses Of North Dakota Higher Education Leaders To The Potential Impact Of Declining Public School Enrollment On The State's University System, Jane L. Schulz

Theses and Dissertations

This study was designed to examine the perceptions of leaders of higher education in North Dakota regarding declining public school enrollment and its potential impact on higher education in the state. Educational leaders from three higher education institutions of differing types and other state policymakers were interviewed to determine their responses to the phenomenon of enrollment decline, the impact foreseen on higher education, and the planning activities used or being considered for use in preparation for the possible impact.

Data were gathered from open-ended interviews and through examination of planning documents of institutions and the North Dakota University System. A …

A Review And Comparison Of British Colonial Administrative Practices In Nigeria And Ghana And The Effects Upon Modernization And Development Efforts In Nigeria And Ghana Since Independence, Matthew J. Kissenger

Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Organizational And Individual Effects On The Reporting Of Wrongdoing In The Workplace, Brian M. Stumpe

Theses and Dissertations

The study focuses on the organizational context in which the act of whistle-blowing occurs within organizations. The study suggests that many aspects of the context in which whistle-blowing actually occurs may be within the span of control of managers. Thus, management can possibly take steps to after certain aspects of the organizational context and ensure that organizational members are willing to report wrongdoing observed within their organization. To fulfill this objective, the study analyzes survey responses taken from military members' and civilian employees' responses to a 1997 survey distributed throughout the Aeronautical Systems Center (ASC), Wright Patterson Air Force Base …

Analysis Of The Air Force Iso 14001 Pilot Study Conducted By Dod, Rodney C. Harris

Theses and Dissertations

The Department of Defense (DoD) conducted an ISO 14001 pilot study with the primary goal of determining how ISO 14001 could help DoD organizations reduce risks, improve compliance with environmental regulations, enhance stewardship, contain costs, and meet emerging regulatory requirements. This thesis analyzed the pilot study, specifically looking at the ISO 14001 implementation at three Air Force installations participating in the study. The research objectives were to identify factors that affect implementation of ISO 14001, compare the implementation strategies used by the bases, and develop propositions for Air Force managers to consider when implementing ISO 14001. Interviews of key personnel, …

The Influence Of Outsourcing On Job Satisfaction And Turnover Intentions Of Air Force Civil Engineer Company Grade Officers, James F. Kennedy

Theses and Dissertations

A survey was distributed to 865 active duty Air Force Civil Engineer company grade officers (CGOs) assigned to locations throughout the world. The survey was designed to assess the CGOs' current job satisfaction and their intentions towards making a career out of the Air Force. Additionally, the survey measured the CGOs' perceptions of outsourcing, and how they feel that it will influence the Civil Engineer career field. Relationships were evaluated between the perceptions of outsourcing and job satisfaction, and between job satisfaction and turnover intentions. Overall, Civil Engineer CGOs reported a slightly positive level of satisfaction and a negative perception …

Building Community Through Partnerships And Collaborative Efforts, Judith M. Lang

Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Model Based Activity Based Costing In The Minnesota Department Of Transportation, Roger Hille

Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

A Descriptive Case Study Of A Single Innovation’S Effect On Multiple Literacy Initiatives In Arkansas, Deborah N. Williams

Theses and Dissertations

When schools implement high quality classroom instruction, research-based interventions, networks of support at multiple levels, and a strategic plan for monitoring change elements, students are provided a range of opportunities that promote successful learning. This descriptive case study examined Reading Recovery's effect on the acceleration of the change process in selected elementary schools in Arkansas. Two purposeful samplings were used to investigate, discover, understand, and gain insight. Quantitative and qualitative data were collected to develop the description. Data-driven decisions toward the building of a comprehensive early literacy school reform model for accelerating change were also examined in relation to reading …

Implementation Of An Activity-Based Costing System In An Air Force Laboratory Environment, Jayson M. Wrona, Martin Memminger

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine the initial implementation of an Activity Based Costing (ABC) system within the United States Air Force's Research Laboratories (AFRL). We were attempting to ascertain what the initial purposes for implementing ABC within AFRL were, then determine whether or not those goals were being attained. We also attempted to evaluate the current system's appropriateness for achieving those initial purposes. Finally, we provide suggested changes to the model and areas for future research. We noted problems with AFRL's current ABC system. We were able to condense the problem into two main categories. First, when …

Evaluating The Impact Of Block Scheduling, John Joseph Hourani

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to evaluate and describe the effectiveness of a 4x4 semester block schedule with respect to academic achievement, discipline, attendance and the school climate of Penns Grove High School. A longitudinal trend study design was utilized to compare statistics from the school's first two years under the block schedule to the school's final two years of the traditional schedule. Such statistics include the frequency of students obtaining A's, F's, and honor roll status, as well as monthly attendance rates, and discipline referral counts. Additionally, a modified action research design is used to examine the new …

Developing And Implementing A Daily Schedule Which Promotes Professional Collaboration And Meets The Needs Of The Students At The Lakeside Middle School In Millvile, New Jersey, Scott M. Sheppard

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this report was to develop and plan a daily schedule which promotes professional collaboration and meets the needs of the students at the new Lakeside Middle School. A properly structured schedule contains the organizational elements for delivering the curriculum to meet the needs of the students.

This research program involved the students in grades 6, 7 and 8. The students and staff are housed in four different schools throughout the district. A commercial building has been converted into the first true middle school (grades 6-8) in the history of the district. The school opens in September of …

Reform: In Search Of A Rationale, Ada R. Barlatt

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine the implementation of the Core Curriculum Content Standards at Pleasantville. The district, a special needs (Abbott district), receives 85% of its funding from the state, therefore, must provide all children with a "Thorough and Efficient" education.

Two separate groups of students were studied. One group represented the current students in grade 10 and the second group represented the current students in grade 9. Also included in the study were teachers, counselors, administrators and employers.

The overall approach in this study was to use several methods to investigate the effects on a local …

Interest Attitude Survey Towards A Block Scheduling Change In Secondary Schools, Diane Tucker

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study is to research teacher attitudes towards a block scheduling change, in order to determine block scheduling favorability in schools where traditional scheduling presently exists. It will be determined if subject areas, years of experience and dominant teaching style have any relevancy towards block scheduling favorability.

Two-hundred and sixty-three faculty members from five randomly selected schools were surveyed, requesting information on subject area, years of teaching experience, dominant teaching style and favorability towards a block scheduling change.

Data was collected, analyzed and presented to determine block scheduling favorability and relevancy in subject area, years of teaching …

Combination Of Heterogeneous And Homogeneous Grouping To Achieve Better Reading And Math Scores, Diane R. Cioffi-Longo

Theses and Dissertations

This report described the process used, for an elementary school with a student population of approximately 587 students, to investigate the existing reading and math programs offered to students. The preliminary research indicated a need for an extended staff development program, and the implementation of advanced methodologies. The conclusions of the project, as a whole, provided data which emphasizes the need for growth in reading and math pedagogy awareness with the district of Glassboro.

Purposed preliminary investigation strategies included; (a) interviews with reading and math teachers, regular homeroom teachers, and teachers in other academic disciplines; (b) a review of documents …