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Effective Strategies Remote Business Leaders Use For Monitoring And Improving Remote Employees’ Performance, Lama Najem

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The shift to remote work has created leadership challenges in communication, career development, performance monitoring, trust, and time management. Remote business leaders are increasingly concerned about maintaining employee engagement and productivity, as ineffective leadership strategies can result in disengagement, reduced performance, and higher turnover in virtual work environments. Grounded in transformational leadership theory, the purpose of this qualitative pragmatic inquiry was to identify and explore effective strategies that remote business leaders used to support work-from-home employees and sustain organizational performance. The participants were eight remote team business leaders from the United States, Lebanon, and the United Arab Emirates. Data were …

Murphy’S Canon: Leadership In The Age Of Uncertainty, Ray Forbes

All Faculty and Staff Scholarship

How might the nefarious “Murphy’s Law,” allegedly created by a disgruntled American aerospace engineer in the 1950s, apply in today’s chaotic world? Just how applicable is the law now in a new era that has been characterized by the descriptive label of FUD, or Fear, Uncertainty, and Doubt? This paper will explore the infamous Murphy adage, as well as describe who Murphy was and how he came to formulate his cheeky directive. Additionally, this piece will expand on Murphy’s original provocative rule, feature several versions of it, provide alternative formulations, and discuss how the law might be reinterpreted to more …

From The Classroom To The Boardroom: Reducing Teacher Turnover By Enhancing Employee Engagement, Robert Thurston Fitzgerald Britton

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Teacher turnover and low engagement levels present significant challenges for K-12 public schools, destabilizing academic progress and underscoring the need for educational leaders to develop sustainable strategies for teacher retention and positive work environments. The purpose of the qualitative pragmatic inquiry was to explore high-performing K-12 district educational leaders' strategies to enhance employee engagement and reduce turnover. The study involved six district or school-based leaders, all with over 10 years of educational experience and at least 2 years in leadership roles. The study was grounded in the self-determination theory and focused on autonomy, competence, and relatedness in influencing teacher engagement …

Program-Level Evaluation Of One-On-One And Team-Based Mental Performance Services Among Collegiate Student-Athletes, Andreas Stamatis, Katie Nichols, Lindsey Gastinger, Andrew Augustus, Jasmine Oates

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

Student-athletes navigate complex physical, psychological, and social demands, prompting increased integration of mental performance (MP) services in collegiate athletics. However, program-level evaluations remain limited. PURPOSE: To assess the effects of one-on-one and team-based MP services on student-athlete outcomes during the Fall 2024 semester. METHODS: A total of 128 student-athletes (22% response rate) completed a post-season Qualtrics survey. Of these, 82 participated in one-on-one sessions and 68 in team sessions. Self-reported pre- and post-intervention ratings were collected retrospectively in Spring 2025 using custom 10-point Likert-type items assessing athletic performance, mindset, well-being, leadership, sport experience, and team culture. Paired-sample …

Christian Church Leaders’ Perceptions Of Improving Their Congregations’ Self-Efficacy, Well-Being, And Membership, Joseph M. Williams

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Declining church membership has reduced congregational engagement, and challenges in fostering self-efficacy and well-being have created significant concerns for Christian church leaders in the United States. Understanding how church leaders perceive and address these challenges is crucial for sustaining faith-based organizations and their impact on communities. The purpose of this qualitative case study was to explore the Christian church leaders’ perceptions of improving their congregation’s self-efficacy, well-being, and membership in Westchester, New York. Bandura’s theory of self-efficacy and Seligman’s theory of well-being grounded this study. The participants comprised 10 Christian church leaders. Data were collected using semistructured interviews. Through Braun …

Assessing Leadership In Business: A Critical Investigation Of Ray Dalio, Johan Gomez Hernandez

Honors Scholar Theses

Understanding what makes an effective leader remains a key point in the study of business leadership and company success. This paper offers a critical assessment of Ray Dalio's leadership at Bridgewater Associates, diving into both his strengths and shortcomings of his unconventional approach. Examining his leadership through established frameworks, Dalio’s success can be attributed to his clear vision-setting, culture of intellectual rigor, and rooted transparency. At the same time, it highlights points where his leadership style can be improved, especially in aspects such as employee recognition and the balance between high performance expectations and emotional intelligence.

Managing Change In Higher Education: Implementing Mobile Credentials Across Usnh, Amy R. Gray

M.S. in Leadership

As higher education institutions continue to embrace digital transformation, mobile credentials are emerging as an innovative solution for modernizing campus ID systems. Literature suggests that these digital versions of campus ID cards, stored on smartphones, offer enhanced security, operational efficiency, and a more seamless campus experience. This research project explored best practices and key factors necessary for implementing mobile credentials across the University System of New Hampshire (USNH), with a focus on leadership’s role in managing change. Using a mixed-methods approach—including case study analysis, a literature review, and survey research—this study examined best practices, challenges, and strategies for successful adoption. …

Collaborative Leadership Approaches’ Impact On Student Athlete Participation, Jacob Ledger

Leadership Education Capstones

The purpose of this study is to identify reasons for the decline in student athletes participating in high school football within the Big Nine Conference. The research is intended to identify several key reasons for the decline in youth sports, which contributes to high school sports, and ultimately football programs in the conference. The study also identifies two specific coaching and leadership styles and how they impact sports participation. Collaborative leadership and coaching styles compared to authoritative leadership and coaching styles. Using a qualitative research method using surveys and document review themes of sport specialization, Technology, burnout, Culture, and Feedback …

Bridging The Gap: Management Vs. Leadership And The Path To Mastering Both, Wesley A. Key

Marketing Undergraduate Honors Theses

Management and leadership, though often conflated, represent distinct but complementary skills that are critical for organizational success. This thesis aims to explore the fundamental differences between management and leadership, highlighting how these roles interact and the necessity for individuals to master both to excel in today’s dynamic business environment. Drawing on theoretical frameworks from psychology, organizational behavior, and case studies, this research synthesizes academic literature to address key questions: What core competencies distinguish leaders from managers? How do these competencies align or conflict with one another in real-world settings? And what practical steps can individuals take to develop proficiency in …

Assessing Leadership In Business: A Critical Investigation Of Jeff Bezos, Kyna Shah

Honors Scholar Theses

Understanding what makes a good leader is a topic of ongoing interest in the practice of business. Research to-date has distinguished between being a manager and being a leader and also has established a set of principles to consider in assessing leadership. In this thesis, I draw upon principles of leadership, including emotional intelligence; vision creation; inspiring others; leading in good and difficult times; fostering, developing, and recognizing others; and creating a winning culture to offer a critical assessment of Jeff Bezos as a leader within the business arena.

Las Jefas: Latina Leadership On The Us-Mexico Border Region Las Jefa's Fronterizas, Ruenna Valdez

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

This qualitative study shares the lived experiences of a Latina superintendent leading a large school district along the U.S.-Mexico border, with the aim of highlighting the systemic barriers and enabling factors that shape Latina leadership trajectories in historically underrepresented contexts. Grounded in Latino/a Critical Race Theory (LatCrit) and employing a narrative inquiry through Testimonio methodology, a semi-structured, in-depth interview was conducted and transcribed verbatim. Data were analyzed using Saldana's (2015) two-cycle coding approach - narrative coding followed by pattern coding - to distill rich, counter-storytelling insights into the superintendent's journey. Four interrelated themes emerged overcoming systemic barriers and gender bias, …

The Effect Of Gender On Career Success In Remote Work Settings In The Accounting Profession, Ashlyn Roche

Honors Theses

This study analyzed the career success assessments of hypothetical male and female public accountants working in remote and traditional office settings to determine if gender and work location affect work assessment. Subjects, practicing public accountants, were randomly assigned resumes of hypothetical accountants that included indications of either remote work or traditional office work and the gender of the assigned hypothetical accountants. Resumes of hypothetical accountants were otherwise identical. After initial assessments of assigned hypothetical accountants’ future career success, subjects were asked to recommend activities that would increase the likelihood of the accountants’ future career success. Subjects were then told that …

The Influence Rural Leaders Have On Local Population Change: A Two-Part Study, Nichole T. Reiner

Dissertations and Doctoral Documents, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2023–

This two-part research study aims to understand factors that influence a rural community population and how local leaders believe they can influence those factors to impact population changes. The first study focuses identifying factors that predict population change using a linear regression model. The second study is a multiple case study focused on three communities, where a mix of secondary data and community leader interviews provided an in-depth understanding of how local leaders perceive their capacity to influence factors influencing population change in their communities.

Advisor: LJ McElravy

Navigating Leadership: The Impact Of Intersectional Identities On Female Leaders In Postsecondary Education, Sara A. Shaw

Journal of Research in Technical Careers

This study aimed to explore the lived experiences of female leaders in postsecondary education, focusing on how intersecting identities influence their leadership and decision-making processes. Using a hermeneutic phenomenological approach and the theoretical framework of intersectionality, the research explored the relationships between gender, leadership, career decision-making, and other social identities. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and demographic surveys with 11 female leaders. The findings revealed seven key themes: Identity Influenced Experiences, Unintentional Navigation, Institutional Bias, Playing the Game, Institutional Champion, Supportive Mechanisms for Career Advancement, and Value Alignment. These themes illustrate how gender and intersecting identities shape career decisions …

The Dynamics Of Power Transfer In Organizations: Examining Downward Deference And Its Workplace Consequences, Hoang Bao My Nguyen

Dissertations and Theses Collection (Open Access)

This dissertation examines managerial power transfer as a core mechanism through which less-hierarchical management unfolds in organizations. While traditional management research has emphasized formal authority and top-down control, emerging organizational forms increasingly call on managers to share power with subordinates. Despite growing interest in constructs like empowerment, delegation, and participative leadership, the phenomenon of power transfer remains conceptually fragmented and undertheorized.

To address this, the dissertation defines power transfer as the intentional redistribution of authority, control, or resources by powerholders to lower-power individuals. Chapter 1 develops a typology of power transfer behaviors, organized along two key dimensions: extent of control …

The Backdrop Of Leadership: How Environmental Awe Influences Charisma Attributions, Jack Mcguire, Nicolas Bastardoz, Leonie J. Hentrup, David De Cremer, Jochen I. Menges

Research Collection Lee Kong Chian School Of Business

Charisma is often attributed to leaders based on how they look, talk, and behave. Yet very little is known about the role of the physical environment in influencing attributions of leader charisma. The role of the physical environment is crucial because leaders inevitably occupy physical spaces that vary across contexts. In this research, we find that the grandeur of the physical environment, specifically in its ability to induce awe, enhances attributions of charisma for leaders who are not already known to be charismatic. First, in a field experiment, we show that a real business leader is attributed with more charisma …

Meta-Analysis Of Leadership Styles And Mental Health Management Strategies For University Leaders, Justin P. Mckinstry

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

In this culminating project, a multiple-case study approach was used to investigate the impact of different leadership styles and their effects on mental health in the higher education sector. The research questions are: RQ1: What leadership styles in the past have positively affected employees' mental health at this higher education institution? RQ2: What leadership styles in the past have hurt employees' mental health at this higher education institution that caused a toxic work environment? Three real-world cases out of seventeen were selected and analyzed. The findings care RQ1: The transformational leader boosts and contributes to overall job satisfaction and well-being. …

Understanding Employee Performance In Technology-Mediated Environments, William Patrick Malloy

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative flexible design single case study was to expand the understanding of the dynamics behind performance management in technology-mediated environments and the effect it has on organizational outcomes. Managers in technology-mediated environments struggle to exercise control due to the inadequacy of existing performance management tools designed for traditional settings, which are not adequate in remote and hybrid work contexts. The study was conducted using a constructivist paradigm and a single-case study research design, employing semi-structured interviews, focus groups, and archival data analysis. Data from all sources were coded using NVivo, applying first- and second-cycle coding processes …

Leadership, Identity, And Student Voice In Secondary Schools, Gordon S. Geddes

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Many student leadership programs in U.S. high schools operate without clear guidance, often leaving students as passive participants in systems that may not effectively prepare them for leadership roles both in school settings and elsewhere. This study explores how listening to students’ voices can improve leadership programs by better understanding how young people see themselves as leaders. Using a case study approach at one school, I observed student leaders over one school year and analyzed their experiences through leadership development theories. The findings suggest that when schools take students' perspectives into account, they can create leadership programs that are more …

Women’S Evolving Roles: Gender, Authority, And The History Of Latter-Day Saint Patriarchy, Zachary Brady

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

This project aims to further understand contemporary women’s issues within the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by answering three questions. 1) What social and doctrinal factors have influenced the development of patriarchal structures within the LDS Church, and how have these factors evolved? 2) What are the current leadership and decision-making roles available to LDS women, and how does church membership feel about them? 3) What ideas exist for progress in gender equality and women’s leadership? This discussion provides relevant historical context, outlines current issues regarding LDS women’s authority challenges and theological interpretations, and numerous proposed solutions from …

Bridging The Digital Skills Gap: Positive Leadership In The Aerospace Industry 4.0, James Richard Robinson Ii

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative study explores how employees and leaders in a major aerospace manufacturing organization experience digital transformation in the context of Industry 4.0. As emerging technologies reshape manufacturing processes, organizations face a growing digital skills gap, particularly across a multigenerational workforce. This research focuses on how generational differences influence digital adaptation and how leadership approaches either support or hinder that process. Guided by the diffusion of innovations theory, the study involved semistructured interviews with 15 participants from four generational cohorts, representing IT, engineering, manufacturing, and operations roles. Findings reveal that trust, leadership style, and tailored training significantly shape how individuals …

Intergenerational Leadership : A Model For Developing An Age-Diverse Leadership Team, Jovelyn Califlores Gamiao

ATS Dissertations

No abstract provided.

The Imperative Of Training New Leaders In Nepal, Anjali Lama

ATS Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Navigating Perspectives: A Phenomenological Inquiry Into Communication Experiences Between North American–Trained International School Leaders And Expatriate Staff, Maggie Marie Cashdollar

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This descriptive phenomenological study explored the communication approaches and experiences between leaders and expatriate staff in English-medium international schools. The researcher aimed to understand how leadership communication, feedback, and cultural awareness impact professional relationships and organizational effectiveness in diverse educational settings. Semistructured online interviews were conducted with seven current or former international school leaders and teachers to capture their lived experiences. Thematic analysis revealed three major themes: (a) communication approaches, (b) the role of feedback in the workplace, and (c) cultural awareness in communication. Five subthemes emerged: (a) expectations, (b) inclusion, (c) being present, (d) growth mindset, and (e) positivity. …

Buyer Perceptions Of Single- And Mixed-Gender Dyadic Sales Teams: Should I Have A Wingman Or A Wingwoman?, Eric Kushins, Melissa Clark

Journal of Applied Marketing Theory

Prior research suggests that the gender composition of sales teams may impact team performance. However, research at the intersection of sales, gender, and teams is limited. In this study, we collect survey data from hypothetical buyers who viewed one of six sales pitch videos, including solo salesmen and saleswomen, single-gender dyadic sales teams, and mixed-gender sales teams. The hypothetical buyers were asked to rate each of the salespeople on important traits that have proven to lead to successful sales interactions, including customer orientation, understanding, trustworthiness, awareness of others’ feelings, competence, knowledge, and if the hypothetical buyer would take advice from …

A Descriptive, Comparative Study Of Preexisting Leadership Qualities And Leadership Effectiveness Of Theologically Conservative United States Army Battalion-Level Chaplains, Aaron Jonathan Fabian

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This immediate demand for spiritual and professional leadership can be overwhelming for a new battalion-level chaplain (Blackaby 2001; Howell 2003). They perform or provide religious service for Soldiers who have volunteered to serve their country. By going through the same military training in conjunction with their religious education and experience, chaplains are able to integrate with Soldiers where traditional clergy cannot. There is additional pressure to perform because chaplains, as commissioned officers, are evaluated immediately through an annual Officer Evaluation Report (OER hereafter, DA Form 67-9). With no time to acquire new skills, battalion-level chaplains are forced to rely on …

The Role Of Spirituality In Resilience Among Male And Female Education Staff And Role Differences, Cindi R. Bowling

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Working in the field of education can be challenging, even more so seems the challenge following a worldwide pandemic. Resilience is needed in any career, but education is one in which it is needed on a continuous basis. Spirituality may increase resilience in life. The idea that Jesus died and rose from the grave for a fallen world and through the Holy Spirit there is power to overcome is one that can help people press through hard times in life. This correlational study examined the relationship between spirituality and resilience in educational staff post-pandemic. To do this, The Daily Spiritual …

Women Leaders In Healthcare: Emotional Intelligence, Job Satisfaction, And Organizational Citizenship Behavior, Kuan-Yin T. Timothee

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this nonexperimental quantitative correlational study was to explore the relationship between emotional intelligence (EI), organizational citizenship behavior (OCB), and job satisfaction among women in nonclinical leadership roles within the U.S. healthcare sector. As healthcare organizations adapt to technological, social, and economic transformations, they must increase their focus on cultivating EI and promoting OCB, especially in leadership roles (Bowling & Sessa, 2021; Herr et al., 2022; Marstand et al., 2021). Additionally, research has shown that EI facilitates business development and diminishes obstacles to organizational sustenance. Although prior research has established a link between EI and OCB, there is …

Transformational Leadership And Its Impact On Team Success: A Detailed Chronicle Of Bellarmine University Men's Lacrosse, Ella Beames

Undergraduate Theses

This thesis uses a journalistic approach to explore the intersection between leadership, transformational leadership, in particular, and forms of success through the lens of Kentucky's only NCAA Division 1 Men's Lacrosse program. Interviews, written survey, and observation were utilized to gauge a community-wide perspective about the team and the holistic nature of the student-athlete experience within Bellarmine University Men's Lacrosse. Observation followed the team for three years and engaged players and coaching staff in telling the story of the team's shifting culture and the management process of the team's newfound success. Methods aimed to draw a connection between the change …

Global Health Concentration Journey, Leann Torrez

Research Symposium

The Oberlin College Global Health Concentration has played a crucial role in helping me strengthen my personal goals and professional vision, especially regarding the future I hope to shape for others. Before attending Oberlin, I knew I wanted to pursue a career in nursing, driven by both positive and negative experiences that my family, my communities, and I have encountered within the healthcare system. These experiences motivated me to acquire the necessary knowledge and skills to create a more equitable, accessible, and intentional healthcare environment for underrepresented communities. Throughout my time at Oberlin, I’ve been learning to think critically about …