Digital Commons Network^™

Absorptive Capacity In Rural Schools: Bending Not Breaking During Disruptive Innovation Implementation, Sarah J. Zuckerman, Kristen Campbell Wilcox, Kathryn S. Schiller, Francesca T. Durand

Department of Educational Administration: Faculty Publications

Rural schools have repeatedly been subjected to standardizing state and federal education policies that seek to minimize variance in instructional systems and increase the number of college- and career-ready graduates. The Race to the Top policy agenda combined standards-based and accountability-based reforms to meet these objectives and once again subjected rural schools to innovations from outside experts. This qualitative study uses four instrumental cases of rural schools to understand: 1) leadership strategies, and 2) mechanisms and processes of alignment, which allowed schools to maintain high levels of student performance in the face of disruptive policy innovations. The fi ndings of …

Managing Employee Attitude For A Successful Information System Implementation: A Change Management Perspective, Smita Chaudhry

Journal of International Technology and Information Management

In the last three decades, there has been considerable advancement in the design of information systems used in organizations. Information systems facilitate critical organizational activities like recording and processing of business transactions, analyzing complex and large sets of data and generating management and executive level reports. However, their adoption is generally fraught with challenges because of the negative attitude of employees to the impending change in their work life. Taking into account the enormous investment of cost, time and effort in information system implementation, it is imperative for organizations to recognize and influence employee attitude from the very beginning to …

Utilizing Relational Coordination Theory To Evaluate And Improve Interdisciplinary Communication During Emergency Cesarean Sections: A Quality Improvement Project, Angelarosa Didonato

Yale School of Nursing Digital Theses

Abstract

Interdisciplinary communication is a complex, dynamic process that can be difficult to achieve during an emergency cesarean section. Poor communication can have negative effects on patients and providers. The Relational Coordination Model focuses on improving team function by embracing the interdependence of team members and building a shared vision. The Relational Coordination Survey 2.0 was used to assess gaps in communication and collaboration. An education program was implemented to address team specific weaknesses. Reassessment of the teams showed improved an RC Team Score within most groups. The Relational Coordination Model provides a viable theoretical framework with which to institute …

Police Use Of Twitter: 21st Century Community Policing, Nicole Coomber

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

With the advancement of social media platforms like Twitter increasingly being woven into the everyday activities of society members, police services, in an attempt to stay relevant and reflective, have begun adopting Twitter into their work initiatives. The present study examines the perceptions Canadian police officers regarding their use of Twitter as a community policing tool. Through semi-structured interviews with police officers and administrative staff operating official police Twitter accounts, and constructivist grounded theorizing, this research provides an in-depth examination of the perceptions of police officers who use Twitter as a part of community policing initiatives. Specifically, the study explores …

Vincentian Heritage 34:2

Vincentian Studies

No abstract provided.

The Relationship Between Transformational Leadership Behaviors And Employee Engagement And Turnover Intent, James Bruce Bright

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The fast food industry is experiencing issues related to employee engagement and retention. Researchers have shown that managers' transformational leadership behaviors impact employee engagement and turnover intent in various work environments; however, no research to date has evaluated its influence on the fast food industry's hourly-wage, nonmanagement workforce. Building on the theoretical research of Burns and Bass, this study was conducted to examine the relationships among managers' 5 transformational leadership behaviors of idealized influence attributes, idealized influence behavior, inspirational motivation, intellectual stimulation, and individualized consideration and employee engagement and turnover intent. The Multifactor Leadership Questionnaire , the Utrecht Work Engagement …

Barriers To Effective Curriculum Implementation, Erica Nevenglosky

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

An administration of a private school located in the south reported the problem of a lack of curriculum fidelity to a new phonics program, which created a need to identify barriers preventing full curriculum implementation. Using the concerns-based adoption model (CBAM) as the conceptual framework, this qualitative case study identified concerns and barriers teachers report when implementing a new curriculum and used the. Data were collected from 10 participants (8 teachers and 2 administrators) through a questionnaire, interviews, and observations. Participants were interviewed to identify any barriers experienced with curriculum fidelity of a new phonics program. Teachers were observed to …

The Impact Of Transformational Leadership On Nonprofit Volunteer Engagement And Commitment, Victoria Bohannon Buck

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Nonprofit leadership attributes exert a significant effect on the nonprofit volunteer workforce to provide optimal service delivery to communities. Meeting the local community demands challenges nonprofit leadership to model inspirational behavior and attitudes that may motivate workers to transcend personal aspirations to support organizational goals more effectively. The purpose of this quantitative, correlational study was to determine whether transformational leadership influences the level of commitment and engagement of volunteer workers in nonprofit organizations. A theoretical framework based on transformational leadership guided the research. The research questions addressed the relationships between transformational leadership and nonprofit volunteer engagement and commitment. A sample …

How Servant Leadership Impacts Interpersonal Conflict Between Employees And Their Supervisors, Thomas Brandon Fields

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Managing interpersonal conflict between employees and their supervisors continues to be a challenge for all employees. Researchers have studied how leadership styles relate to conflict management in organizations, but little is known about how servant leadership relates to conflict management in the workplace. Servant leadership is a management style in which one motivates his or her employees by serving them. The purpose of this dissertation was to investigate how 7 servant leadership dimensions exhibited by supervisors correlated with 5 conflict management styles used by employees when employees had a conflict with their supervisor. A web-based survey invitation was shared with …

Management Strategies For Adopting Agile Methods Of Software Development In Distributed Teams, Igor A. Schtein

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Between 2003 and 2015, more than 61% of U.S. software development teams failed to satisfy project requirements, budgets, or timelines. Failed projects cost the software industry an estimated 60 billion dollars. Lost opportunities and misused resources are often the result of software development leaders failing to implement appropriate methods for managing software projects. The purpose of this qualitative multiple case study was to explore strategies software development managers use in adopting Agile methodology in the context of distributed teams. The tenets of Agile approach are individual interaction over tools, working software over documentation, and collaboration over a contract. The conceptual …

Leadership Strategies To Improve Volunteer Retention, Rudene Pauline Glass

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Nonprofit leaders face challenges retaining volunteers to support their organizations' human resources. The shortage of volunteers threatens nonprofit sustainability with increasing personnel cost for maintaining quality services. Grounded by Burns's transformational leadership theory, the purpose of this multiple case study was to explore strategies nonprofit leaders from southeastern Michigan used to improve volunteer retention. Data were collected through face-to-face semistructured interviews with 3 nonprofit leaders and a review of organizational documents such as volunteer implementation plans, strategic plans, and volunteer committee notes. Data were analyzed using a methodological triangulation process of sorting comments, which involved a chronological review of the …

Intrinsic Classroom Teacher Motivation, Mindi Hennefer

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

In the public education accountability movement, politicians and corporate reformers claim that student performance on standardized tests is an appropriate and reliable measure of a teacher's ability to educate. Given the process of holding K-12 classroom teachers directly accountable for individual student achievement based on standardized testing results, the teachers at XYZ Elementary School are currently motivated to change only through externally controlled factors or extrinsic motivation. The purpose of this research was to explore processes other than extrinsic motivation that motivate teachers to engage in strategies and methods that indirectly influence students to learn over the long term. The …

Strategies Business Managers Use To Engage Employees In The Chemical Industry, Akeem A. Adeyemi

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Lack of employee engagement in the workplace is one of the leading causes of lost productivity in the United States, estimated to cost organizations between $450 to $550 billion per year. The purpose of this single case study was to explore the strategies that some business managers in the chemical industry use to engage employees and increase productivity. The population for the study consisted of 5 small chemical business managers of a chemical company in the northeastern United States that demonstrated success in engaging employees. The conceptual framework for the study was social exchange theory. Data were collected from small …

Strategies For Selecting And Individualizing Training For Employee Positioning, Reba Michelle Royster

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Lack of effective selection and training of employees for positioning within a business can have extensive financial repercussions. Fostering mentoring relationships between leaders and employees increases competitive advantage and institutional financial growth. However, there is limited research that supports the role of mentoring leadership styles for improving organizational productivity. The purpose of this single case study was to explore strategies used by business managers to select and individually train employees for opportunities within the organization to achieve job-person fit. The sample included 5 business managers employed within a medium-sized organization in a consultation firm in the mid-Atlantic region of the …

Early Recognition And Treatment Of Acquired Pneumonia, Michael Lamorgese

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Sepsis is a life-threatening organ dysfunction disease process that costs the healthcare system millions of dollars each year. By using existing assets, the number of patients admitted to the hospital suffering from sepsis secondary to community-acquired pneumonia can be reduced. The purpose of this project was to improve and expand the scope of practice of the registered nurse working in a private medical office to initiate treatment for suspected CAP using evidence-based practice. Data from the last quarter of 2017 and the first quarter of 2018 were compared. The purpose of comparing these data sets was to examine outcomes of …

Department Structure And Leadership Functions For Advanced Practice Providers, Deondela Love

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Department structure and leadership functions can influence work climate. In one healthcare system, advanced practice providers (APPs) worked in a decentralized structure with multiple leaders. This project explored the impact of the change to centralized leadership for APPs working in an academic healthcare system in which employee turnover was high and satisfaction was low. An ad hoc committee led by the chief medical officer created a centralized department with a designated leader. Surveys and interviews were used to identify the benefits of the strategies implemented and understand whether the change in organizational structure resulted in an improved work climate for …

Implementation Of Food Safety Regulations In Food Service Establishments, Steve Randolph Mcallister

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Food service businesses in the United States have experienced millions of dollars in losses caused by foodborne illness outbreaks, which can lead to bankruptcy and business closures. More than 68% of all foodborne illness outbreaks occur in food service establishments. The purpose of this descriptive case study was to explore the strategies leaders of food service establishments use to implement food safety regulations. Force field analysis was the conceptual framework for this study. The population for the study consisted of 3 leaders of food service establishments located in the southeastern region of the United States. Data were collected using semistructured …

Turnover: A Case Study Of Middle Managers In The Landscape Industry, Jason Richard Stroman

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The landscape industry in the United States suffers higher turnover among middle management positions. Upper management does not know why this is occurring and currently has no strategy to deal with it. The purpose of this study was to investigate the reasons for high turnover among middle managers and explore the ways to reduce turnover. Reducing turnover may help with the stability of the landscape industry and increase employee retention. Conceptual framework for this study included Maslow's hierarchy of needs, Herzberg's two factor theory, situational theory, and contingency theory. This qualitative exploratory case study addressed the reasons for high turnover …

Strategies Church Financial Leaders Use For Financial Sustainability During Economic Crises, Jessie Hyman Jackson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Church financial leaders were affected by the economic crisis after the 2008 recession. In a 2009 group study conducted nationwide with church financial leaders, 57% stated that the economy had a negative effect on their church budgets. The purpose of this qualitative multiple case study was to explore successful strategies that some church financial leaders used to ensure financial sustainability during economic crises. Resource dependence theory was the conceptual framework. Data were collected from 6 church financial leaders at 4 churches in the northeastern region in the United States; church financial leaders were selected through purposeful sampling to participate in …

Increasing Influenza Vaccination Rates In A Primary Care Clinic: A Quality Improvement Study, Cassandra R. Roshel

DNP Projects

Background

According to the most recent CDC statistics, the influenza virus kills between 12,000 and 56,000 people per year in the United States. Although influenza vaccination is recommended each year, only about half of all Americans are actually receiving the vaccine annually. The goal of this quality improvement project was to increase influenza vaccination rates at a large academic medical center in Kentucky. At baseline, there was no standardized screening protocol in place prior to this study.

Methods

This study implemented a pre-test post-test design to evaluate the impact of a process change intervention on vaccination status from September 1, …

The Effects Of A Nurse Manager System Collaborative Council On Job Satisfaction, Intent To Leave, & Resilience, Heather Oliver

DNP Projects

Abstract

PURPOSE: The purpose of this project was to create a Nurse Manager System Collaborative Council (NMSCC) at Norton Healthcare and to determine the impact of participation in the NMSCC on job satisfaction, intent to leave, and resilience.

METHODS: This study employed a quasi-experimental, pre-test, post-test design to assess the effectiveness of the NMSCC at Norton Healthcare. Job Satisfaction was measured using the Warshawsky scale, Intent to Leave was evaluated using the Houser scale, and resilience was assessed using the Connor-Davidson CD-RISC scale.

RESULTS: Resilience increased after participation in the NMSCC for 6 months. Job satisfaction and intent to leave …

Pilot Of An Educational Module For An Adolescent Congenital Heart Transition Program In The Pediatric Setting, Katie J. Dust

DNP Projects

Abstract

PURPOSE:The purpose of this project was to pilot an educational module on a new congenital heart transition program to be instituted at a large Midwest medical system.The transition program is meant to assist pediatric cardiology patients in transferring from pediatric to adult care. An educational module was developed for inpatient health disciplines who will be involved in the transition program. Before offering the program throughout the medical system, a pilot was conducted to determine if the education was at the appropriate level. The educational module was modeled after the Got Transition Six Core Elements designed by the National Health …

The (Un)Changing Derivative Suit, Jessica M. Erickson

Law Faculty Publications

The past 25 years brought great upheaval in shareholder litigation. The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (“PSLRA”) upended securities class actions. As a result of this legislation, institutional investors now play a far more prominent role in these cases (Choi, et al. 2005), but also face procedural hurdles nearly unprecedented in our legal system (Erickson 2016). More recently, the number of merger class actions skyrocketed, as shareholders began to challenge nearly every significant merger or acquisition, often in multiple jurisdictions across the country (Sinha 2016). To curb these suits, courts announced increased scrutiny of settlements and invited companies …

ปัจจัยทางจิตวิทยากับผลต่อการใช้เครือข่ายสังคมออนไลน์ของผู้สูงอายุ, ชานนท์ ศิริธร

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

งานวิจัยครั้งนี้มีวัตถุประสงค์เพื่อ 1.) ศึกษาลักษณะการใช้เครือข่ายสังคมออนไลน์ของผู้สูงอายุ 2.) เพื่อศึกษาปัจจัยทางจิตวิทยาทั้งภายในและภายนอกกับผลต่อการใช้เครือข่ายสังคมออนไลน์ของผู้สูงอายุ 3.) เพื่อศึกษาเปรียบเทียบปัจจัยทางจิตวิทยาภายใน ปัจจัยทางจิตวิทยาภายนอก และการรับรู้คุณลักษณะของนวัตกรรม และ 4.) เพื่อศึกษาเปรียบเทียบการเห็นคุณค่าในตนเองและความพึงพอใจในชีวิต ระหว่างผู้สูงอายุที่มีปริมาณความเข้มข้นในการใช้เครือข่ายสังคมออนไลน์ระดับมากกับผู้สูงอายุที่มีปริมาณความเข้มข้นในการใช้เครือข่ายสังคมออนไลน์ระดับน้อย กลุ่มตัวอย่างเป็นผู้สูงอายุทั้งชายและหญิงที่มีอายุ 60 ปีขึ้นไป โดยทำการสัมภาษณ์เชิงลึกกับผู้สูงอายุ รวมทั้งสิ้น 25 คน จากนั้นทำการวิจัยเชิงสำรวจกับผู้สูงอายุที่มีปริมาณความเข้มข้นในการใช้เครือข่ายสังคมออนไลน์ระดับมาก และผู้สูงอายุที่มีปริมาณความเข้มข้นในการใช้เครือข่ายสังคมออนไลน์ระดับน้อย รวมทั้งสิ้น 730 คน ซึ่งทั้งหมดอาศัยอยู่ในเขตกรุงเทพมหานคร ผลการวิจัยเชิงคุณภาพพบว่า ผู้สูงอายุตัดสินใจใช้งานเครือข่ายสังคมออนไลน์เนื่องจากแรงกระตุ้นจากเพื่อน ลูกหลาน และบุคคลที่ชื่นชอบ โดยจะใช้งานใน 4 ลักษณะ ได้แก่ ใช้สร้างความสัมพันธ์กับคนอื่น ใช้หาข้อมูลข่าวสาร ใช้แสดงอารมณ์ความรู้สึก และใช้สร้างความภูมิใจในตน โดยปัจจัยที่แตกต่างกันอย่างมากระหว่างผู้สูงอายุที่ใช้งานเครือข่ายสังคมออนไลน์กับผู้ที่ไม่ได้ใช้งานคือ การรับรู้ความสามารถของตน (Self-efficacy) นอกจากนี้ยังพบว่า การใช้งานเครือข่ายสังคมออนไลน์ช่วยส่งเสริมให้ผู้สูงอายุเกิดการสร้างเสริมพลังในตนเอง (Self-Empowerment) โดยเฉพาะในการหาข้อมูลที่เป็นประโยชน์ต่อสุขภาพ ซึ่งส่งผลทำให้ผู้สูงอายุเรียนรู้การดูแลสุขภาพได้ด้วยตนเอง ไม่ต้องพึ่งพาผู้อื่น นำมาซึ่งการเห็นคุณค่าในตนเองและความพึงพอใจในชีวิต ส่วนในการวิจัยเชิงปริมาณ ผลการวิเคราะห์การถดถอยพหุคูณพบว่า ตัวแปรที่มีประสิทธิภาพในการพยากรณ์การใช้เครือข่ายสังคมออนไลน์ของผู้สูงอายุมากที่สุดคือ ปัจจัยทางจิตวิทยาภายในตัวผู้สูงอายุ (Adjust R2 = .325) ซึ่งพยากรณ์ได้ที่ร้อยละ 32.5 ถัดมาคือ ปัจจัยทางจิตวิทยาภายนอกตัวผู้สูงอายุ (Adjust R2 = .313) ซึ่งพยากรณ์ได้ที่ร้อยละ 31.3 และคุณลักษณะของนวัตกรรม (Adjust R2 = .187) ซึ่งพยากรณ์ได้ที่ร้อยละ 18.7 ตามลำดับ

Compliance Theory: A Case Study Approach In Understanding Organizational Commitment, Nelson J. Celis

DLSU Business & Economics Review

The Electronic Commerce (e-Commerce) Act of 2000 or Republic Act (RA) No. 8792 mandates all government agencies to transact business and perform government functions using electronic documents within two years from the date of its effectivity in June 2000. Unfortunately, only a handful of government agencies were ready to implement the said law in the year 2002 despite the availability of applicable information technology (IT) resources and appropriated budget. After 17 years, there is considerable improvement in the compliance with the said law, though there are still non-compliances of government offices that could not manage to be at par with …

Individual And Organizational Culture Predictors Of Participation In Training And Development Activities Among Student Affairs Professionals, Andrea Adams-Manning

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Organizational culture substantially impacts employee motivation, employee behavior, and employee participation in professional development activities. In the field of Student Affairs, it is critical for employees to regularly participate in professional development activities to stay up-to-date with understanding today’s students’ needs and meeting federal and state demands. This study examined what individual and organizational culture factors predict participation in professional development activities among student affairs professionals at higher education institutions. For this study, 354 participants from various public and private institutions were emailed an anonymous web-based survey. Field theory served as the theoretical foundation giving perspective as to how external …

The Connection Between Principal Leadership Behavior And School Climate, Raymond H. Epperson

Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations

This dissertation study explores the association between principal leadership behavior and school climate with an end goal of impacting student achievement. Certified staff members in a large suburban Illinois school district were involved in this study. Data were collected through the use of the Leadership Behavior Description Questionnaire Form XII (LBDQ Form XII) and the Organizational Climate Description Questionnaire (elementary OCDQ – RE, middle OCDQ – RM, and high school OCDQ –RS). All of the 10 leadership domains examined in this study showed statistically significant associations with various school climate areas. The leadership behaviors of Consideration, Integration, and Tolerance of …

Expediting And Sustaining Change: Diffusing Innovation In Dynamic Educational Settings, Jeff Dungan

FDLA Journal

Change is critical in most organizations. International schools attempting to redefine 21st century education for their students are constantly innovating pedagogies and school structures. International schools tend to be dynamic, fast paced, nimble learning environments constantly innovating to meet the demands of evolving student populations. Hayden, Rancic, and Thompson (2000) found common characteristics of international schools included open-mindedness, flexibility of thinking, and action with the pragmatic skills of students. International schools in the East Asia region are well resourced and often looking for ways to differentiate themselves in the highly competitive global educational marketplace. The International School Consultancy (2016) reported …

Incivility And Abrasive Conduct In Institutions Of Higher Learning And The Ombuds Role, Hector Escalante

University of the Pacific Theses and Dissertations

Current research indicates that abrasive conduct or incivility is on the rise in higher education and Ombuds are in a unique position to address this behavior. By applying transcendental phenomenological methodology to examine Ombuds experience when handling these types of cases and how the complex structures of higher education impact what they do, this study provides insights into how other institutions and organizations can address the rise in abrasive conduct amongst university faculty, staff and students. I interviewed ten university Ombuds experienced with cases of incivility, and I asked them open-ended questions regarding how they define and identify abrasive conduct. …

The Impact Of Pilgrimage Upon The Faith And Faith-Based Practice Of Catholic Educators, Rachel Capets

Theses

A pilgrimage of Catholic educators from Sydney Catholic Schools served as a phenomenographic case study for an investigation into the impact of pilgrimage upon the faith and faith-based practice of Catholic educators. Forty-five Catholic educators embarked on a pilgrimage for the Canonisation of Popes John XXIII and John Paul II in April 2014. The pilgrimage itinerary led the educators through Italy, whereby the pilgrims visited the holy sites of Saints significant in the life of the Church.

Phenomenographic data collection and analysis are used to investigate the range of ways educators’ perceive the impact of pilgrimage on faith. Pilgrimage is …