Digital Commons Network^™

The Impact Of Transformational Leadership On Employee Motivation Across Non-Profit And For-Profit Organizations, Kayla L. Lent

M.S. in Leadership

This project examines the impact of transformational leadership on employee motivation within both nonprofit and for-profit organizations. Using a case study approach, the research was inspired by the author’s observations of transformational leadership in practice and its effects on employee engagement, morale, and alignment with organizational goals. A qualitative methodology was employed, featuring a semi-structured interview with a nonprofit leader to explore key components of transformational leadership: idealized influence, inspirational motivation, intellectual stimulation, and individualized consideration. Findings reveal that transformational leadership fosters intrinsic motivation and strengthens organizational culture across sectors. The study concludes with practical recommendations for adopting transformational practices …

Climbing The Not-For-Profit Leadership Ladder In Australia: Equity, Diversity, And Inclusion, Cheng Yen Loo, Shajimon Peter, Ian Moore, Michael Grove, Loretta Baldassar

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

This qualitative study examines equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) in the leadership roles of not-for-profit organizations (NPOs) where a significant number of social workers engage in professional practice. Two focus groups—one with members of the senior management of NPOs (n = 5) and another with emerging (aspiring and less experienced) leaders of NPOs (n = 6)—were conducted to gather perspectives and opinions on EDI in their organizations’ leadership roles. Four major themes emerged from the findings for promoting EDI, which include a whole of organization commitment, multilevel consideration with recruitment, mentorship, training, and advisory board as an untapped potential. Recommendations …

The Leadership Identity Presented On Linkedin, Carl L. Tolbert

The Journal of Values-Based Leadership

LinkedIn has evolved in a way similar to other social media platforms but is unique in that it focuses on professional networking and careers. Many professionals seek to showcase their leadership skills and philosophies as part of a publicly showcased online persona. This paper aimed to examine the posts specific to leadership and thematically investigate presentation strategies, motivation, and purposes behind the posts. The paper begins with a historical review from the inception of LinkedIn through pivotal milestones in the history of the company. Key concepts from the literature are then reviewed specific to social media use and motivations behind …

The Call To Worship/Music Vocational Ministry: A Case Study To Better Understand The Function Of The God-Ordained Call To Vocational Worship Ministry, Jerry Leonard Newman

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This study investigates the multifaceted role of worship and music leaders in Christian congregations. It emphasizes that their responsibilities extend beyond mere musical proficiency to embody a profound spiritual calling rooted in a vocational call to ministry. A survey of 401 worship leaders from various Christian denominations reveals the role's dual nature: they are skilled musicians and spiritual guides uniquely called to facilitate the congregation’s faith journey. This vocational calling highlights their divine appointment to ministry, aligning with biblical principles such as those found in Ephesians 4:11-12, which stress the equipping of the saints and the building up of the …

The Relationship Between Perceived Leadership Communication And Feedback On Job Satisfaction, Organizational Commitment, And Professional Isolation Of Remote Workers, Simone I. Orlowski

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting lockdown have significantly contributed to the fact that teleworking has established itself in all branches of industry. With remote working, communication mainly occurs via digital channels such as emails, chat platforms, or video conferencing, and leaders need to ensure that communication is clear, regular, and effective to avoid misunderstandings and promote collaboration. The purpose of this quantitative correlational study was to examine the relationship between effective communication and feedback from leadership with job satisfaction, organizational commitment, and professional isolation of remote employees. In a quantitative correlational study, participants were recruited from different branches in …

The Heart Of The Matter: Prioritizing The Mental & Emotional Wellbeing Of Pastoral Leaders, Ashley M. Herron

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Pastoral leadership is a unique and peculiar leadership vocation. It is unique and peculiar in its expectation that those in the pastoral leadership vocation should operate in multiple roles. It is also particularly unique in its experience of occupational stressors. The pastoral vocation is considered by many to be the single most stressful occupation in the United States and perhaps around the world (Thordarson, 2022). Although pastoral leaders are experiencing mental and emotional stress and distress at high rates, they are not seeking help at the same rate. Research indicates that pastoral leaders are reluctant and slow in pursuing care …

Participation As Preparation: A Phenomenological Study Of Black Greek Letter Organization (Bglo) Members In The Workforce, Letasha Carrie Mcfarlane

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore how membership in a Black Greek Letter Organization (BGLO) impacts the experiences of Black professionals in overcoming obstacles in the modern workforce. This study utilized a qualitative, phenomenological design to capture the lived experiences of 10 BGLO members working in federal military and educational organizations in the United States. Participants were recruited through purposeful sampling, and data were collected via open-ended questionnaires, semi-structured individual interviews, and a focus group. The data were analyzed using thematic analysis, which revealed four major themes: (1) Utilization of Opportunities to Overcome Workplace Challenges, (2) Cultivation …

The Role Of Customers In Strategic Information Technology (It) Initiatives, Siddharth Aggarwal

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This study focused on a small organization in the United States of America. The organization has IT departments that cater to the IT needs of its internal and external customers through IT products and services. Such organizations run full life cycles of product management and product development and often face off with situations to prioritize the use of their limited resources. Ideally, organizations focus on strategic IT initiatives that might be in the company's and its customers' best interest. However, instances occur when IT-driven initiatives lose that focus and might end up diverting resources toward the latest shiny technology and …

How Leadership Styles Impact Lgbtq+ Civil Rights, Milo Thompson

Theses

Leaders rely on different leadership styles to legitimize their rule and obtain political power. However, these leadership styles have positive or negative impacts for protecting human rights in the LGBTQ+ community. This thesis examines how political leadership styles impact protecting or repressing the civil rights of the LGBTQ+ community. This article argues that constitutionalist leaders who abide by the “rule of law” will better protect LGBTQ+ civil rights than personalist, ideological, or performative leadership styles. Drawing on both qualitative and quantitative research methods, this paper examines how leadership styles impact LGBTQ+ discrimination.

Addressing Agency In Intersectional Leadership: The Consequences Of Agentic Leader Behaviors For Black And White Men And Women In Leadership, Sydney Roux

LSU Master's Theses

As Black women gain representation in business and entrepreneurial leadership, it is important to consider how these women will be perceived as leaders. Role congruity theory (RCT) posits that women’s gender roles do not align with the leadership role which often negatively impacts leader evaluations. However, RCT is often employed without a racial context where women are presumed to be White, and thus, it is unclear if the same assumptions can be applied to Black women. Leadership scholars have identified the ways in which attributions and expectations of leaders are shaped by both demographic characteristics and behavioral events. Because Black …

Indiana School Teachers’ Self-Efficacy Perceptions In The Areas Of Clear And High Expectations, Collaborative Inquiry, And Feedback, Jacinda Smith

All-Inclusive List of Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study examined Indiana public school educators' perceptions of self-efficacy in three instructional practices: setting clear and high expectations, fostering collaborative inquiry, and providing feedback. Using a quantitative approach, it explored whether these perceptions varied by teaching experience (0–5, 6–15, 16+ years), school location (urban, rural, suburban), grade level (PK–2, Intermediate 3–5, Middle School 6–8, High School 9–12), and socioeconomic status of the student population (0–25%, 26–50%, 51–75%, 76%+). Findings revealed significant differences, with veteran teachers and those in rural schools reporting higher efficacy levels than peers in urban settings or with fewer years of experience. These results suggest the …

Exposing The Disaster Disparities And Experiences On College Campuses, Deleanor Kirkpatrick Murray

All-Inclusive List of Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Challenges in higher education continue to arise, providing administrators with insights into how prepared—or unprepared—their institutions may be for future crises. The purpose of the study is to examine how mid-level leadership, staff, and students perceived the disaster response to Hurricane Ida during the 2021–2022 academic year. Using the theoretical frameworks of the Four-Frame Model (Bolman & Deal, 2021), Critical Race Theory (Delgado & Stefancic, 2017), and Institutional Theory (Manning, 2018), this case study employed interviews with 8 participants. Data analysis resulted in the emergence of 7 major themes and 11 sub-themes. The findings from the study suggest that participants …

Exploring Mindfulness Within Leadership Development: A Phenomenological Study, Amardeep Kaur

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

Leadership is a key to success in a complex, rapidly changing world. While scholarly and organizational interest in mindfulness is growing within the leadership and leadership development space, it remains largely unexplored from the leader's perspective. This phenomenological study explored how leaders perceived and described their mindfulness experiences within their leadership development. This exploratory research used a transcendental phenomenological approach (Moustakas, 1994) to capture their self-expression through in-depth, semi-structured interviews. Day's (2000) conceptual framework on leader and leadership development guided the study. The participants were recruited from organizations based in the U.S. that offer mindfulness-based programs, snowball sampling techniques, and …

The Impact Of Benevolent Sexism On Evaluations Of Female Leaders, Daniella A. Lockhart

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

This study investigated the impact of benevolent sexism beliefs on evaluations of female leadership candidates in hiring decisions, as well as the moderating effects of occupational gender composition and the gender of the comparison candidate. While seemingly positive, benevolent sexism subtly reinforces traditional gender roles by portraying women as warm but less competent, particularly in leadership roles where competence is crucial. The data in this study was collected from 146 participants via an online questionnaire using MTurk and snowball sampling. Aligning with previous research on gender bias, results indicated that benevolent sexism negatively impacts perceptions of competence and warmth, especially …

Exploring The Impact Of Leaders’ Emotional Intelligence On Employee Retention And Job Satisfaction: An Employee-Centric Perspective, Stacia Mccambridge

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Employee retention and job satisfaction are crucial for the success of higher education institutions, as turnover incurs high costs and disrupts operations. This qualitative phenomenological study explored how leaders’ emotional intelligence, as defined by self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, and relationship management emotional intelligence, impacts employee satisfaction and retention in university settings in Southern California. The theoretical framework used for this study was the emotional intelligence theoretical framework of Goleman et al. (2002), which includes self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, and relationship management competencies to conduct surveys and interviews. The two research questions that guided this study of how employees described, based …

A Phenomenological Study Of Hispanic First-Generation High School Graduates Who Do Not Pursue Higher Education, Amanda J. Arrambide

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This phenomenological study identified why only 47% of Hispanic first-generation students
/="/">pursue college after high school graduation. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the high
/="/">school graduate enrollment rate was down about 4% compared to the 66.2% rate in October
/="/">2019. The data collection and analysis procedures included qualitative interviews over Zoom
/="/">with the participants, with recording devices. High schools should provide opportunities for
/="/">students to explore various career paths through internships, job shadowing, career fairs, and
/="/">vocational training programs. This helps students make informed decisions about their college
/="/">major and career goals. …

Virtual Leadership Through The Use Of Commanders Intent, Lisa M. Hammond

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The shift to remote work triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic has transformed organizational dynamics, exposing the limitations of traditional leadership models and emphasizing the need for innovative approaches. This dissertation examines the application of the military concept of Commander’s Intent in remote work settings, focusing on its potential to enhance mission alignment, autonomy, and productivity. Employing a mixed-methods approach, the study integrates quantitative survey data and qualitative thematic analysis to explore how Commander’s Intent impacts mission clarity, person-job fit, and leadership effectiveness. Findings reveal that Commander’s Intent strengthens mission alignment and empowers teams to act autonomously while maintaining strategic coherence, …

Removing Barriers To Create Sustainable Leaders In Extension: The Odyssey Of Leadership Development, Lauren Griffeth, Joel Burnsed

Journal of Extension

Leadership development programs are an exploratory journey that develop Extension faculty to better themselves in service to the organization. In an effort to mitigate potential barriers for participants, it is imperative that organizations work to create conditions conducive for success. We posit barriers for extension professionals include, participants having a fixed-mindset (Dweck, 2016), time constraints (Lindle, 2015; McAlearney, 2006), and the employee burnout epidemic (Fisher, 2018; Seppala & Moeller, 2021). Proactively working against common negative influences, sets up leadership program participants to become more fully immersed in learning and subsequently have a better chance for a positive behavior change.

Building Extension Professional’S Capacity To Engage Volunteers: Evaluation Of The Developmental Stages Of An Extension Professional Model, Kandi O'Neil, Rachelle Vettern, Rebecca Harrington, Sarah Maass, Patricia Mcglaughlin, Josset S. Gauley

Journal of Extension

The Developmental Stages of an Extension Professional (DSEP) model depicts how professionals can move through the stages of service, education, management, and leadership to build volunteer and program capacity. It encourages Extension professionals to assess the situation and adjust their leadership style.

Researchers used a mixed methods approach to assess Dr. James Rutledge’s DSEP model. Findings confirmed training Extension professionals in the DSEP model throughout the Achieving the Extension Mission through Volunteers course led to positive behavior change when working with volunteers. Extension needs to train professionals and utilize the DSEP model to build program capacity through volunteer engagement.

A Role Discovered: Exploring Northwell Health's Patient Experience Structure And Leadership Characteristics, Agnes Barden, Nicole Giammarinaro, Natalie Rousseau, Carolyne Burgess

Patient Experience Journal

Examining the evolution of healthcare, leaders in patient experience (PX) have played a pivotal role in shaping a more compassionate and human-centered landscape. This three-part multi-modal descriptive study aimed to investigate shared traits, skills, and characteristics among PX leaders in hospital settings. Employing a transformational leadership self-assessment tool and a guided interview process, recurring themes surfaced. The majority of participants reported employing a transformational leadership style. PX leaders emphasized the significance of communication, empathy, adaptability, teamwork, presence, and relationship-building in their roles. While hospital executive leaders had a slightly varied perspective on essential PX leader skillsets, they underscored the importance …

An Organizational Approach For Teaching, Coaching And Empowering Displaced People, Tiffani J. Holloway

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This document will describe the issue of homelessness, the needs of the homeless/ displaced people, and how those needs can be addressed by creating a program. The purpose of the Transformational Home Empowerment Services for Everyone (THESE) program is to provide valuable resources to displaced individuals living within a shelter or transitional housing. The leader of this program used transformational and servant leadership skills, which will be described in the text. This program's vision, objectives, outputs, and outcomes will be listed. Details about the collaborating organization, Alice’s Home of Hope shelter, and information about the organization’s leadership and program participants …

What Makes An Effective Chief Of Pediatric Cardiology: Insights From Chiefs Of North American Pediatric Programs, Michael E. Kim, Wayne Franklin, Anne M. Dubin, Jeffrey J. Kim, Shubhayan Sanatani, R. Krishna Kumar, Shubhika Srivastava, Thomas R. Kimball, Mark Lewin, Joseph Rossano, Colin J. Mcmahon

Department of Medicine Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: Although the position of a pediatric cardiology chief is often seen as the apex of one's academic career, its roles, responsibilities, and qualifications are not well defined in the literature. This study was done to gain further insight of the role and attributes of a pediatric cardiology chief by surveying those who are currently serving the position across North American centers.

METHODS AND RESULTS: This was a mixed-methods study with a survey given to North American pediatric cardiology chiefs at programs with fellowship training programs. The survey was a semistructured questionnaire that was independently reviewed by 3 cardiologists. Smaller …

Liderando Juntos Y Revueltos: A Collectivistic Leadership Approach To Address Latinx Immigrant Health And Psychological Needs, Oswaldo Moreno, Luz M. Garcini, Melanie M. Domenech Rodriguez, Alfonso Mercado, Amanda Venta, Thania Galvan, Michelle Silva, Oscar F. Rojas Perez, German Cadenas, Manuel Paris

Psychological Science Faculty Publications

Psychologists are positioned to help address societal and public health crises in beneficial ways, including collectively working with public sectors to serve marginalized communities. This article highlights the relevance of helping to address societal and public health crises with collectivistic psychological leadership approaches and uses Latinx psychology leaders for addressing the current immigrant needs among Latinx communities. We draw attention to the domains needed for collectivistic psychological leadership that are culturally nuanced and equity, diversity, and inclusion-focused to advance the well-being of historically marginalized immigrant communities. Finally, the article highlights how our collectivistic approach operates in the public sector by …

Radical Hospitality: Transforming Adjunct Care, Jennifer L. Kritsch, Rachelle Wong, Michael Corke, Ricardo Ramos, Deb Erickson

International Christian Community of Teacher Educators Journal

What would it look like to actively connect with others instead of fighting to affirm our differences? Could radical hospitality usher in a way to connect with others? What would a deep connection to adjuncts in an educational community look like? This research intended to document adjunct faculty responses to departmental efforts to better support adjunct faculty based on their expressed needs. Further, the researchers examined literature on the ethic of care, hospitality, invitational theory, and the role that leadership plays in making people feel welcome. The research team also illuminated how radical hospitality/transformative care can redefine the relationships found …

Using Images To Elicit Leadership And Management In Nursing Praxis: A Photovoice Research, Juneau Flor Encinares Julian, Carren B. Manalo, Esteve Adrian Estiva

Leadership Connection

This study used photovoice to typify leadership from the descriptions of selected photos eidetic of management. This study will also explore, document and reflect on the experiences of the participants on their exercise of leadership and to excerpt from their own insights of what leadership means.

Service Leadership: The Role Of Supervision In Advanced Nursing Practice, Renee Simone

Leadership Connection

Session presented on Monday, September 19, 2016:

Significant attention in research and education has been paid to the importance of leadership in nursing, especially for the developing role of the Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN)/Nurse Practitioner (NP) (Metzger & Rivers, 2014; Severinsson, Johansson & Lindquist, 2014; Dale et al., 2013; Taylor, 2013; Queiros, 2014). Supervision as one aspect of leadership has been linked primarily with managerial responsibilities and mentorship for new nurses (Moked & Crach-Zahavy, 2016). Efforts have been made to capture and quantify both the harmful sequelae of unsupportive supervisory relationships on staff and positive behaviors among managers and …

Initiating The Process Of Professional Identity Formation In The Leadership Course, Judith Ann Young, Elizabeth A. Ferguson, Debra Sipes-Fears

Leadership Connection

Session presented on Monday, September 19, 2016:

Institutes of higher learning have responded to the challenge to better prepare nurse graduates with the needed skills to meet demands of 21st century practice through curriculum reform. One learning outcome for a baccalaureate program is to facilitate the formation of professional identity and the demonstratration of professionalism in attitudes and behaviors. Professional identity relates to one's self concept, how one views the nursing role, and responsibilities to self, society, patients, families and others. Self-awareness is important in order to articulate the role of nursing to the public. Professional image influences our speech, …

Plenary 2: Balancing Your Volunteer And Professional Passions, Patricia E. Thompson

Leadership Connection

Session presented on Thursday, September 25, 2014: This session will share the benefits of volunteering, and how to balance those hours into your already busy schedule.

Emergent Leadership: A Novel Perspective Of Frontline Clinical Leadership, Eduardo C. Chavez, Linda H. Yoder

Leadership Connection

Session presented on Friday, September 26, 2014:

Approximately, 44,000 - 98,000 preventable deaths and over 1 million patient injuries occur yearly due to medical errors in health care delivery in hospitals in the United States (U.S.). Despite changes to health care policies and systems, improvement of the quality and safety of patient care have not met expectations because rates of preventable deaths and harm remain high in the U.S. More recently, the promotion of leadership at the point-of-care has been proposed as a strategy for improving the quality and safety of patient care. In the landmark report, The Future of …

Celebrating Xi Lambda Chapter's 20th Anniversary, Olabisi Oyelana

Leadership Connection

Session presented on Friday, September 26, 2014: In this poster presentation, Xi Lambda Chapter, located at the University of Manitoba, College of Nursing, Faculty of Health Sciences, highlights its achievements over the past 20 years to celebrate its anniversary. The poster was displayed at our 20th anniversary celebration on May 22, 2014 and will be displayed permanently in the Helen Glass Centre for Nursing, University of Manitoba. Ten past presidents, greetings from a charter member, a congratulatory letter from STTI President and Chief Executive Officer, and key citizenship activities such as community outreach are displayed on the colourful and eye-catching …