Digital Commons Network^™

The Impact Of Targeted Professional Development On Principals’ Instructional Leadership And The Cultivation Of Positive School Culture, Anastasia M. Opahle

Dissertations

Effective principal leadership is the cornerstone of effective schools, as it has been shown to increase student success. In the State of Wisconsin, there is currently no requirement for ongoing professional development for principals. This study examined the impact of professional development targeted at principal leadership on student achievement and school culture. Using a mixed methods approach, results showed principals who participated in a yearlong principal cohort indicated their leadership skills improved. The qualitative data showed the participating principals believed the targeted professional development was collaborative, reflective, relevant, and actionable. This research indicates that sustained, targeted professional development is crucial …

Reflective Practice For Slow Librarianship, Este Pope

Dartmouth Library Staff Publications

This book chapter explores reflection as a concrete practice of slow librarianship. The author discusses how developing a regular reflective practice as an academic librarian and technologist creates opportunities to be a more mindful, collaborative, and adaptive leader and team member. The chapter provides background on the reflective practice approach, discusses the connections to slow librarianship, and provides examples and recommendations for incorporating reflective practice in the library workplace. Resources and further readings are also provided.

Exploring The Leadership Journeys Of Female College Presidents At Health Professions Focused Institutions: An Explanatory Sequential Mixed Methods Study, Caroline S. Zeind, Bobbie Ann Adair White, Yoon Soo Park, Tewodros Eguale, Anne Thompson

Journal of Research on the College President

National data on the academic presidency reflect a long-standing gender gap with little known about the presidency at health professions focused institutions (HPFIs). This mixed methods study explored the relationships between the academic presidency and institutional characteristics of HPFIs, and the leadership journeys of female presidents at HPFIs. An analysis of institutional and leadership data for 487 HPFIs was conducted using a quantitative approach, followed by interviews of 15 female presidents at HPFIs to understand their perceptions of the barriers, and factors that helped with presidency attainment. The results of 479 HPFIs revealed that only 36.3% of women served as …

Exploring Exemplary Leadership: A Phenomenological Study Of Campus Presidents, Krysten Stone

Dissertations

Purpose: The purpose of this phenomenological study was to identify and describe the strategies used by exemplary campus presidents to build and lead resilient teams in for-profit vocational colleges, grounded in Kirkman and Stoverink’s (2023) team resources framework.

Methodology: This phenomenological study explored the lived experiences of 10 exemplary campus presidents serving in for-profit vocational colleges throughout California’s Central Valley. Purposeful sampling was used to identify participants who met the study’s criteria. Data were collected through semistructured, open-ended interviews and the analysis of four organizational artifacts including strategic plans, communication workflows, meeting structures, and leadership models. Data were systematically coded …

How Do Reading Specialists Shape Their Identities As Literacy Leaders? An Exploration Of Competence, Performance, And Recognition Within Communities Of Practice, Christina Glance Petrone

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This qualitative multiple-case study explored how reading specialists enact literacy leadership within elementary schools in West Virginia. Although reading specialists are increasingly expected to support schoolwide literacy improvement, leadership responsibilities are not always explicitly defined within their roles. Guided by a communities of practice framework and an identity model, this study examined how reading specialists develop and demonstrate literacy leadership through their daily interactions with teachers, administrators, and other school personnel. Data sources included participant questionnaires and semi-structured interviews with participants, their principals, and colleagues from their school. Participants in this study included three reading specialists (interventionists) working in K-5 …

More Than A Seat At The Table: Examining How Psychological Safety, Identity Representation, And Leadership Accountability Impact African American Women In Global Workplace Environments, Shelbi Chandler

Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative phenomenological study examined the lived experiences of African American women working in corporate technology environments, with particular attention to psychological safety, representation, and systemic barriers to advancement. Despite increased organizational commitments to equity and inclusion, research continues to demonstrate that Black women encounter persistent intersectional barriers shaped by race and gender within professional settings (Erskine et al., 2021; Field et al., 2023; Roberson, 2019). Guided by Du Bois’s (2008) theory of double consciousness, Goosby Smith’s (2014a) Ubuntic inclusion framework, and appreciative inquiry (AI; Cooperrider & Whitney, 2005), this study explored how African American women interpret, navigate, and respond …

Teaching Durable Skills In A School Principal Certification Program, Kevin Hub

Pedagogicon Conference Proceedings

Eastern Kentucky University (EKU) offers principal certification through a specialized Principal Certification Cohort Degree program. One component within this academic program is teaching durable skills through a deeper dive into curriculum, a broader range of field experiences, and the development of durable skills through a series of experiential learning assignments.

Leading On An Uneven Playing Field: How Systems Of Race And Gender Shape African American Women’S Leadership Advancement, Nikki Goins-Hughes

DSW Capstone Projects

Systemic barriers to leadership for African American women are deeply rooted in historical and structural inequities within the United States. Intersecting identities of race and gender have historically shaped access to leadership advancement opportunities for African American women. Despite efforts to prioritize gender and racial equity in leadership, African American women continue to experience exclusion or are highly scrutinized in decision-making spaces, contributing to their continued marginalization in leadership. Therefore, this capstone draws on a systematic literature review, conceptual framework, and practice application to examine the systemic barriers that limit access to leadership advancement opportunities for African American women and …

Narrating Institutional Becoming: Faith, Leadership, And Identity Reconstruction During A College-To-University Transition, Viviene H. Dyer

Dissertations

Problem

The contributions of faith-based higher education institutions to the tertiary landscape in small island developing states are insufficiently addressed in the scholarly literature. Consequently, there is limited understanding of how these institutions navigate organizational transitions and respond to capacity gaps that the public sector is unable to fill within dynamic cultural and regulatory environments. This gap is especially evident for Seventh-day Adventist institutions, whose efforts to preserve mission and identity during periods of institutional change remain underexamined and poorly documented.

Purpose

The purpose of this narrative inquiry study was to examine how university administrators influenced the development and ongoing …

The Journey To Generative Conflict: An Action Research Study In A Community Action Agency, Maya Townsend

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

Countries around the world face unprecedented levels of polarization and discontent, creating conditions that encourage organizational conflict as employees replicate patterns present within the environment. Organizational conflict can be a source of anxiety, a distraction from work, and an impediment to innovation, sound decision making, and quality outcomes. However, conflict need not be destructive. With that background, this dissertation is guided by the following primary research question: How can an organization develop a generative conflict culture that strengthens relationships and contributes to positive outcomes? The single-case study follows one community action agency as it seeks to develop and implement more …

El Liderazgo Estratégico En La Gestión De Cambio Para La Innovación En Una Universidad Privada De Puerto Rico, Luis Javier Bosques Rodríguez

Theses and Dissertations

Esta disertación aplicada buscó determinar la importancia del liderazgo estratégico en la gestión de cambio para la innovación, según la percepción de los administradores académicos (rectores, decanos y directores) en una universidad privada de Puerto Rico. Se planteó que, en el contexto de una educación superior que enfrenta retos como desastres naturales, pandemias y exigencias tecnológicas, los líderes deben tener una visión estratégica clara para guiar a sus instituciones hacia la innovación y la competitividad.

El investigador propuso examinar cómo estos líderes comprenden y aplican conceptos clave de liderazgo estratégico en la gestión de cambio e innovación. A través de …

Ecce Leadership Development: Supports, Barriers, And Identity Formation, Andrea Weidele

Open Access Dissertations

Early childhood care and education (ECCE) leadership development is not given the attention it deserves. Despite the proven link between high-quality ECCE programs and positive societal outcomes, leadership development within the sector is significantly under-resourced. Because program quality is inherently tied to leadership efficacy, there is an urgent need to investigate the supports and structures that foster effective ECCE leadership. This study addressed that gap by using a qualitative multiple case study to explore how six ECCE program leaders of licensed ECCE programs from a New England state describe their leadership development, including supports and barriers they encountered and how …

Manejo De Oportunidades En Tiempos De Crisis: Liderazgo Y Cambios En Una Organización -Estudio De Caso, Maria Valente

Theses and Dissertations

Esta disertación aplicada fue diseñada para proporcionar informaciones relevantes sobre situaciones de crisis que amenazan la supervivencia de las organizaciones. Además, busca comprender los fenómenos que desarrollan las crisis y explorar los resultados significativos del liderazgo en tiempos de crisis.

Se empleó un diseño de investigación cualitativa. Los elementos descritos en esta investigación cualitativa evalúan el impacto de las situaciones de crisis, describiendo cada etapa y factores intrínsecos y extrínsecos que son responsables por la desestabilidad en la organización.

En este estudio se identificaron las prácticas de liderazgo y los proyectos estratégicos que permiten planificar oportunidades de cambio en el …

Exploring The Temporal Context Of Abusive Supervision, Alexandra Kandah

Graduate Studies Theses and Dissertations 2026

This dissertation examined the temporal dynamics of abusive supervision and their implications for employee burnout and turnover intentions. Drawing from gestalt characteristics theory and uncertainty management theory, this research investigated whether the timing, frequency, variability, and change in abusive supervision influence employee outcomes beyond traditional cross-sectional conceptualizations. Study 1 used a qualitative design to explore how abusive supervision unfolds over time. Fourteen working adults reporting a past abusive supervisor participated in semi-structured interviews focused on the temporal dynamics of their experience with abusive supervision. Results indicated that abusive supervision often began early, recurred frequently, and was characterized by unpredictability and …

Speaking For The Families: Organizational Socialization Of Military Spouses In Volunteer Leader Positions, Virginia Klaus

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

Military spouses holding volunteer leadership positions in military unit family readiness groups, provide a link between commanders and families of service members. They act within military organizations as the only official voice of spouses, a stakeholder group recognized as influential in retention rates and force readiness. Despite their importance, military spouses are often portrayed in research as passive members, taking on roles to meet the expectations of their peers and military organizations. That contradicts historical evidence of military spouses as active organizational members who have socialized other spouses, and as family advocates who have challenged military organizational practices and policies. …

Digital Leadership In The Era Of Ai: Present And Emerging Research Topics, Joanna Samul, João Falcão E Cunha

European Management Studies

Purpose: This study explores the development of digital leadership in the context of rapid digital transformation and the expanding role of artificial intelligence. Its primary objective is to synthesize current knowledge on the concept of digital leadership and its core competencies and outline prospective research directions. To achieve this, the paper reviews existing research themes and examines the influence of digital leadership on various employee and organizational outcomes.

Design/methodology/approach: The research employed a systematic literature review, incorporating content analysis of 162 peer-reviewed articles retrieved from two major academic databases: Scopus and Web of Science. This approach enabled a comprehensive …

Abc Pharmaceutical Company Change Model: Implementing J.P. Kotter's 8-Step And Adkar Change Models For Ethical Alignment, Shelbi B. Chandler, Amalfi Gayosso, Alison Lawton, Ali Holness-Roland

The Scholarship Without Borders Journal

In this paper, we use the pseudonym ABC Pharmaceuticals (ABC) to refer to the company under examination, GlaxoSmithKline (GSK). ABC Pharmaceutical (ABC) must assess, adapt, and change to ensure regulatory compliance, maintain and attract employees, and remain competitive. ABC has a history of erroneous practices and is at risk internally with employees, and externally with regulators and the public sectors. The authors applied J.P. Kotter’s (1996) 8-step and the ADKAR (Hiatt, 2006) models for change management. J.P. Kotter’s top-down model addresses leadership’s role in creating a compelling vision aligned with its actions, and the ADKAR bottom-up model assesses employees’ readiness …

Christian Leadership In The Information Age: Has Unlimited Access To Information Influenced Truth, Robert J. Houk

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study is to understand and explore what influences and effects, if any, may be identified as church leaders interact with congregants that have been exposed to a wide array of information in pursuit of truth obtained from various sources. At this stage in the research, the Information Age is being examined to determine if it has had any influence on the pursuit of truth as people seek answers to life's fundamental questions. Previous research had identified growing changes within young people’s beliefs as they sought higher education thus leading to a decline in enrollment …

What Will It Take To Keep You? A Phenomenological Investigation Of Teacher Career Decisions In Title I Elementary Schools., Tonya Nicole Holt

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative phenomenological study explored the factors influencing teachers’ decisions to remain in or leave Title I elementary schools in Kentucky. Grounded in Herzberg’s Motivation–Hygiene Theory, the study examined the interplay of intrinsic motivators and extrinsic conditions that shape teacher satisfaction, commitment, and attrition. Twelve current Title I teachers participated in semi-structured interviews designed to capture their lived experiences and perceptions of work in high poverty contexts. Analysis revealed a balance of pull factors—such as purpose, relationships, and supportive leadership—and push factors—including workload, resource limitations, and inadequate administrative support. Leadership quality emerged as the central variable mediating these forces. Teachers …

Reflect And Respond On The Importance Of Caring And Shared Decision Making In Leadership Development, Ann Langan, Christine Fardellone

Biennial Convention (CONV)

Purpose Statement: There is a gap in the literature related to leadership behaviors with a caring component unique to the nursing profession. Nurses require leaders who support caring, honesty, exemplary professional practice, new knowledge, and approach situations with moral and ethical transparency.

Background Information: Nurse leaders who model the attributes of the authentic nurse leader support a healthy work-life balance and enhance nurse engagement. One of the most important focuses of leadership in healthcare today is shared decision-making. The Authentic Nurse Leadership theoretical framework is based on Jean Watson's Theory of Human Caring. Significance Learning more about the self-perception of …

Mental Health Among Minorities In Law Enforcement Positions, Sydnee Monet Brown

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Law enforcement officers often deal with complex work environments, including negative public opinions, challenging legal systems, and resource constraints. These factors can compound to make officers' work more psychologically stressful. This is especially true for minority officers who also have to deal with daily incidents of prejudice, discrimination, and cultural misunderstandings within the police force. The current qualitative phenomenological study employed semi-structured interviews to investigate the experiences of minority police officers, in an effort to gain more insight into their mental health experiences. The results of this study show that discrimination, systemic issues, and stigma associated with accessing psychological help …

The Heart Of Policing: Exploring The Essence Of The Phenomenon Between Organizational Culture And Police Officer Job Satisfaction, Charles C. Palmer

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological qualitative study was to explore the essence of the phenomenon between organizational culture and police officer job satisfaction among rural law enforcement agencies in Oklahoma. Retaining police officers has become an increasingly challenging task for law enforcement organizations across the United States, as high turnover, costly recruitment, and voluntary resignations continue to strain departments. While previous research has primarily examined demographic and occupational variables influencing satisfaction, limited attention has been given to how organizational culture affects the lived experiences of U.S. police officers. Guided by Edgar Schein’s organizational culture theory, this study examined how …

Effective Marketing Strategies Business Leaders Use To Remain Profitable And Sustainable Beyond 5 Years In The Digital Age, Lauren Taylor Sawyer

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

A lack of effective marketing strategies to stay profitable in the digital age is a concern for small and medium-sized business leaders because it can lead to early business failure, lost revenue, and reduced long-term sustainability. Grounded in relationship management theory and Kotter’s (1996) 8-step change model, this qualitative pragmatic inquiry was conducted to explore effective marketing strategies business leaders use to remain profitable and sustainable beyond 5 years in the digital age. Participants were six business leaders located in the Southeastern United States who had successfully sustained their companies for over 5 years and were directly responsible for marketing …

Reclaiming Eve: The Importance And Benefits Of Women In Leadership, Takesha S. Jones

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Despite considerable progress in women's career representation, global barriers remain rooted in gender discrimination through the lens of historical, cultural, and theological traditions. Imposing invisible obstacles such as the glass ceiling and sticky floors are entrenched biases that obstruct upward career advancement. Amid these challenges, the diverse talents and unique perspectives of women often remain overshadowed by their male counterparts in perceptions of quality leadership. This study aimed to explore the connection of the sins in the Garden of Eden narrative to the origins of and ongoing disqualification of women as unfit to lead. The study aimed to reaffirm gender …

Generation Z And Entrepreneurship: Community Banking’S Next Challenge, Arturo Rodriguez

Journal of Business & Entrepreneurship

Generation Z (Gen Z), is currently graduating from college and joining the workforce in the United States. Gen Z is distinctly unique from other generations and has been identified as highly entrepreneurial. Gen Z has also been recognized as being highly reliant on technology, which is something that the banking industry, but specifically, smaller community banks have not yet fully embraced. This paper explores strategies that community banks’ executives and board of directors can utilize to attract Gen Z entrepreneurs who, in general, despise or do not have knowledge of the way in which banks conduct business lending.

An Exploration Of The Evolving Boundary-Spanning Leadership Role Of Architects, Rory Concannon, Roisin Murphy, Oluwasegun Seriki

Articles

Architects form part of multidisciplinary teams in the construction of the built environment. Traditionally they have played a leading role within the construction process, often managing entire projects to completion. In recent years the composition of construction teams have evolved, leading to a perception that the architects leadership role has been diminished. Little is known about the boundary-spanning leadership required by architects, particularly in the light of the evolving roles. Through in-depth, semi-structured interviews, this research reduces this gap by exploring architect’s leadership practices in the context of changing boundaries within the construction team. Our findings reveal six specific competencies …

Exploring The Impact Of Leadership On Encouraging Innovative Behaviours: An Employee’S Perspective, Fouzia Khan, Aysa Siddika, Abdullah Sarwar

International Journal of Management, Finance and Accounting

Innovation is crucial in the current business environment amidst uncertainties and heightened competition. The study explored how employees perceive their leaders' behaviour regarding innovations in the service sector. An in-depth interview technique has been employed as part of a qualitative research approach to identifying leaders' behaviours likely to enhance or discourage employees' innovative behaviour. Eight participants with extensive experience in the service sector were selected from various sectors, including consultancy, financial services, and the telecommunications industry in Malaysia. Thematic analysis was used to identify leaders' behaviours that encourage or discourage employees' innovative behaviour at work. The study observed 15 different …

Perceptions Of Nonclinical Healthcare Executives On Advancing Physical Therapists Into Executive Healthcare Leadership Positions, Lindsey Johnston

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Healthcare professionals often aspire to transition beyond clinical roles into organizational leadership. In particular, physical therapists may seek executive leadership opportunities beyond rehabilitation departments. However, there is limited understanding of how nonclinical healthcare executives perceive physical therapists advancing into these roles. This qualitative study aimed to understand nonclinical healthcare executives' perceptions regarding physical therapists’ advancement to executive healthcare leadership positions. The study was guided by new institutional theory and Level 5 leadership theory and addressed four research questions to explore these perceptions in depth. A general qualitative methodology was employed, with data collected through semistructured, virtual interviews with eight nonclinical …

Perceptions Of Air National Guard Students’ Transformative Technology Experiences During Their Professional Military Education Courses: A Transcendental Phenomenological Study, Tiffany Colburn

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to understand the perceptions of Air National Guard students stationed in the United States about technology integration during their professional military education (PME) courses and its role in encouraging leadership perspective transformative learning in the United States. The theory guiding this study was the transformative learning theory. This study explored how technology could help students expand their views while completing their PME courses and enabled them to use their own experiences to add value to the course. The central research question was: What are the perceptions of Air National Guard students on …

Factor Analysis Of The Cultivated Leadership Questionnaire (Clq) And Measurement Against The Short Dark Triad (Sd3), Christopher Ewing, Michael Epstein

The Journal of Values-Based Leadership

This study aimed to evaluate the Cultivated Leadership Questionnaire (CLQ), a self-report tool designed to assess leadership based on key constructs such as self-regulatory behaviors, emotional intelligence, prosocial actions, positive motivational strategies, and personal influence. An exploratory factor analysis identified two main components that together accounted for 65.44% of the variance, suggesting a general leadership factor and a secondary factor capturing more specific leadership attributes. The study also examined the relationship between Dark Triad traits—psychopathy, narcissism, and Machiavellianism—and the leadership behaviors measured by the CLQ. The results revealed negative correlations between both Machiavellianism and psychopathy with leadership behaviors, while narcissism …