Digital Commons Network^™

Transforming Toxic Cultures From The Inside Out: Strategies To Identify & Eliminate Toxic Leadership Tendencies, Jessie Ferreira

Doctor of Strategic Leadership (DSL) Capstone Abstracts

The for-profit and non-profit sectors are becoming increasingly interested in the issues of toxic leadership and problematic organizational cultures. Leaders are more conscious of how toxic habits and tendencies decrease organizations' profitability and overall success. Toxic workplaces and toxic leadership compromise morale, and psychological anguish result from these destructive actions, resulting in billions of dollars spent yearly. A possible solution to these issues lies in increasing our emotional intelligence, specifically, self-awareness.

How can self-awareness be improved? It’s up to each of us to examine ourselves and formulate an effective response to other people and the environment. Daniel Goleman’s Emotional Intelligence …

Self-Actualized Leaders’ Relationships With Dynamic Teams, Joseph Walter Pieri

Theses and Dissertations

A recent study of 831 companies around the world found that employees on average tend to spend 54% of their time working within teams (Frey et al., 2013). Today, this number is estimated to be an additional four to six percent higher (Gallup, 2020). Despite the upward trend of increased reliance on team-based structures in effort to improve productivity and boost morale, research reveals approximately two-thirds of U.S. employees are not engaged in their workplace (Gallup, 2020). More than half (51%) of workers merely go through the motions of their job, barely meeting minimum position responsibilities. However, leadership is essential …

Comedians Are Leaders: Comedians' Use Of Humor Makes Us Feel Like We Matter, Matthew Burt

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

This research examines funny functions of shared group membership – how content that clearly demarcates ingroup membership may be at the root of humor. Participants in this study listened to a recording of a stand-up comedian who was defined as being either a fellow college/university student (ingroup) or a non-college student (outgroup). Additionally, the audio either contained audience laughter or no audience laughter. Upon finishing the recordings, participants were asked to answer survey questions about their experience with the comedian, rate their overall sense of shared group identity with the comedian, their level of positive affect, distinctiveness from an outgroup, …

Spirituality Empowers Black Leadership: A Phenomenological Study Of Black Men Students’ Leadership And Spirituality, Jr. Keven Allen

Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2020 - Present

In this qualitative study, spirituality, and leadership among 15 Black collegiate men enrolled at higher education institutions were examined. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to describe and explore the essence of spirituality within the lived experiences of undergraduate Black men student leaders. The objective was to understand the intersection of spirituality and leadership within Black men, and how it informed their decision making and influenced their career aspirations post their undergraduate collegiate experience. In this study, spirituality is defined as an “internal process of seeking personal authenticity, genuineness, and wholeness as an aspect of identity development” (Love & …

Impact Of Leadership Skills On Entrepreneurs’ Business Success In Saudi Arabia, Omar Alaqeel

Theses and Dissertations

Most entrepreneurial businesses fail within the first 5 years of establishment. One of the major causes is the lack of leadership skills by the entrepreneurs. The aim of this quantitative study was to define the leadership skills that were required by entrepreneurs in Saudi Arabia in creating and sustaining entrepreneurial business successfully beyond 5 years and to identify the environmental factors affecting entrepreneurship ecosystem in Saudi Arabia. The population of interest in this study was entrepreneurs from Tasamy in Saudi Arabia. Tasamy is a non-profit organization that focuses on supporting entrepreneurship in Saudi Arabia. To answer the research questions for …

Thriving In A Vuca World: A Case Study Exploring Geopolitically- Focused Intelligence Teams In The Private Sector Through A Systems Theory Lens, Angela Lewis

Theses and Dissertations

For several decades, business executives have been faced with increasing complexity in the global environment, including disruptions, rapid changes, and heightened global pressures. In an effort to maintain a strategic advantage, business leaders are increasingly leveraging geopolitically-focused strategic intelligence teams to accurately and concisely synthesize large quantities of data to support high-level business decision making. However, limited research has been conducted on the organizational development of these teams, the context in which they exist, and how they can most effectively support differing and evolving decision-maker needs. As these teams have the potential to have an outsized impact on global business …

Developing Psychological Safety In Technical Teams, Susan Ellen Clayton Nakashima

Theses and Dissertations

Being promoted from an individual contributor to a supervisor brings new challenges and opportunities. One challenge new supervisors face is creating and fostering a psychologically safe environment to encourage teams’ interpersonal risk taking. This research introduces the antecedent of first level technical leaders perceived transformational leadership training on team members psychological safety. A study of 92 technical teams (400 participants across nine companies, three industries, and four US regions) measured the impact of four hypotheses related to psychological safety. A positive relationship between leaders training and team psychological safety was discovered. The highly correlated variables, training and emotional intelligence, led …

Caring For The Soul Of A Pluralistic Army: An Exploration Of Servant Leader Behaviors In Active Duty Chaplains, W. Joshua Grimes

Theses and Dissertations

The U.S. Army Chaplaincy is charged with the unique and sacred mission to “Care for the Soul of the Army” ─an Army with an increasingly pluralistic culture with respect to religious and spiritual beliefs. The purpose of this study was to explore the presence and degree of servant leadership behaviors in active duty chaplains, as an initial step in discerning the potential of servant leadership as a conceptual framework to help the chaplaincy provide effective pastoral care within a diverse organization. The study used an embedded mixed-methods design to capture quantitative data regarding servant leadership behaviors in 250 individual chaplains …

Hispanic School Leaders And Their Impact On Education, Linda Guzmán

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study is to investigate the impact Hispanic school leaders have in schools that are primarily Hispanic. The Hispanic community is one of the fastest-growing in the United States. Hispanics are the largest student group represented in elementary and high schools yet are disproportionately underrepresented in school leadership. Hispanic school leaders experience challenges in gaining the education, opportunities, and work experience to achieve leadership roles in schools. Once Hispanic leaders gain leadership roles and grow in experience, they face challenges implementing policies that positively impact their school community. A review of the literature identified challenges …

Impact Of Internal Corporate Social Responsibility Factors On The Employee’S Innovation Climate In The Medical Diagnostics Industry, Sofia M. Beglari

Theses and Dissertations

This study examined the relationship between employee-driven corporate social responsibility (CSR) factors and employee innovation in U.S. medical diagnostic companies during the respiratory syndrome coronavirus (COVID) pandemic. This study examined what employee-driven CSR factors affect such motivation of employees toward innovation. The research population was employees who have worked in operation, quality control, research, technical, and management departments of medical diagnostics companies in the United States of America. The investigator used a survey questionnaire for this correlation design study. Employees’ responses were analyzed based on education level, gender, and job function using descriptive analysis, t-test, and ANOVA-test. The theoretical framework …

Hustlenomics: Success Through The Hustleconomy, Folashade Onadeko

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study is to develop a guide to success for hustlers engaged in hustlenomics. This guide is based on the trials and impediments as well as the tactics and best practices effective hustlers deem as essential in leading them towards success within the hustleconomy. To accomplish this goal, a review of literature along with a qualitative phenomenological study was conducted.

The qualitative phenomenology research focused on the population of influencer hustlers as the investigation's subject. Interviews was used as the approach to collect data. Hence, 12 influencer hustlers that met the criteria of inclusion were interviewed utilizing …

A Qualitative Analysis Of The Organizational Culture On An Inner-City Revitalization Of One Government Entity In California, Erin Franco

Theses and Dissertations

Inner-city revitalization is one primary goal of municipal leaders, yet it remains controversial in that it requires the entire municipality to become an organized system operating as an organization. All parties involved in the process of inner-city revitalization must be engaged and willing to undergo the proposed changes. These changes include creating multiple streams of revenue for the city, creating jobs for community members, and encouraging community engagement to develop healthy and happy communities. As leaders engage in this pursuit, they must have a thorough understanding of leadership's critical task to develop an organizational culture that aligns with the mission …

Relational Leadership Strategies In U.S. Banking, Irakli Bandzeladze

Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative study aimed to gain an understanding of relational leadership strategies currently employed among banking leaders developing quality workplace relationships. A quality workplace environment is where individual differences are nurtured, information is not suppressed or spun but instead openly shared, and where employees feel the company adds value to them, rather than only expecting it from them (Goffee & Jones; 2013; Katz & Miller, 2014; Tan, 2019).

This study employed Uhl-Bien’s (2006) relational leadership model to explore the research question: What are relational leadership strategies commonly practiced by banking leaders to foster quality workplace environments? The study employed a …

The X-Factor Of C-Suite Executives, Sheila T. Tan

Theses and Dissertations

Organizations rely on C-level executives to make strategic decisions that will impact stakeholders and business performance. These executives are judged based on employee satisfaction, market share, and bottom lines. Some of them perform well at one point but eventually make disastrous decisions. There is still a gap in knowledge on what elements make them decide how they do and what can be done before they are installed to the highest post. This paper investigated common mindsets and belief structures, which will be referred to in this paper as the X-factor, of C-level executives based on the Matrix model as a …

A Conceptual Framework For How Trust And Humility Inform The Perception Of Leadership Among Rwandan Cooperative Members, Jennifer M. Jukanovich

Theses and Dissertations

In an era in which people must work together across borders to address complex issues, there is an unfortunate and unprecedented decline in trust across the globe. Humility is known to be a predictor of greater trust between followers and leaders, but there are few studies connecting the two constructs and very limited studies from Sub-Saharan Africa. This qualitative ethnographic case study conducted interviews among Rwandan cooperative members to ask how trust and humility inform their perception of leadership. Rwanda has one of the fastest growing GDPs in Africa but is still deeply affected by a breakdown in trust in …

All For One And One For All: One Market-Oriented Culture, Four Ceo Leadership Styles, Chris Linden Brown

Theses and Dissertations

The value of a market-oriented culture as one that sustainably satisfies customers, engages employees, and provides profitable growth is well-established. Market-oriented firms are more profitable, more innovative, and deliver higher customer and employee satisfaction than their competitors. However, we still know little of how leaders of such operations create and sustain their organizations’ market orientation. This research, positioned at the intersection of leadership and marketing strategy, draws on interviews with 66 CEOs and senior executives across a variety of firms and industries to generate insights into how these leaders developed their market-oriented approach and to identify the behaviors they engage …

Leader Or Leaderess? Consequences Of Using Feminatives For The Perception Of Leadership, Anna O. Kuźmińska

Studia i Materiały Wydział Zarządzania Uniwersytet Warszawski

According to the Implicit Leadership Theory, leadership roles are assigned in the process of social construction and depend upon the level of congruence with the cognitive representation of a leader. Previous studies show that this cognitive representation is much more likely to involve a leader being a male rather than a female. The article presents the results of an experiment aimed at tentatively verifying whether the use of the feminine forms could increase the cognitive availability of the representation of a woman as a leader. In the experiment, 135 teams (N = 307 respondents) were randomly assigned to one of …

Grounded Leadership: Exploring Health And Wellness Strategies Of Exemplary Field Grade Commanders In The California Army National Guard, Christopher G. Schoenwandt

Dissertations

Purpose. The purpose of this explanatory mixed methods study was to identify and describe what exemplary field grade commanders in the California Army National Guard (CA ARNG) do to maintain their physical, emotional, intellectual, social, vocational, and spiritual health.

Methodology. This study used a mixed methods approach relying on the collection of data to provide for a more flexible platform to triangulate multiple data sources and increase the validity of the study’s findings. The study used a quantitative survey to examine how exemplary field grade commanders in the CA ARNG rated their use of grounded leadership strategies combined with follow-on …

Servant Leadership Impact: Practical Insights For The Nonprofit Sector, Michael Ohaneson

Master's Projects and Capstones

In an environment often focused on sustainability and doing more with less, this project examines the effectiveness of servant leadership on organizations and individuals in the nonprofit sector. This capstone focuses on a comparative analysis of information collected via literature review and incorporates responses from interviews conducted with experts in the field of servant leadership. The project includes practical implications for the nonprofit sector.

Creating Positive Impact: The Power Of Greater Purpose And Consciousness Of Connectedness, Joseph Leah, Chris Laszlo

Engaged Management ReView

As the idea of business as a positive force in society continues to grow, we ask: Under what conditions do business leaders transform their companies into organizations that create positive value for all stakeholders, generate above-average economic returns, and serve personal well-being, community health, a fair and inclusive society, and a thriving natural environment?

This study aims to explore the underlying factors and motivations of business as a force for good, and to identify practical guidance for business leaders wishing to create a positive impact through their organizations. Our prior research led us to hypothesize that a leader’s mindset—or consciousness—is …

Preparation For College And University Leadership Before The Age Of 40, Ahmed Al-Asfour, Julia Keleher, Sydney Freeman Jr.

Journal of Research on the College President

The purpose of this study was to investigate the skills and competencies needed for candidates to be hired as a college or university president before the age of 40. Using a phenomenological approach, participants who first obtained the position as a college or university president before 40 were interviewed. Using Clark’s model of professional competencies as a conceptual framework, four themes were identified from the results. The themes include little to no mentoring at all, learn by either sinking or swimming; being in the right place, at the right time, with the right credentials; having the right education and experience …

Youth Leadership Development Programs: Participants’ Pre- And Post-Perceptions Of Leadership Life Skills Development, Courtney A. Pruner

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Research exists on the participation of youth in various types of youth leadership development programs. However, the problem is a lack of understanding of the perception of participants’ pre- and postparticipation on their development of leadership life skills. The purpose of this quantitative, causal-comparative study was to determine how youth leadership development program participants perceive themselves in the area of leadership life skills development pre- and postparticipation in a youth leadership development program. In this study, specific consideration was given to the difference in gender and ethnic minority affiliation reporting scores. The independent variables in this study were participation in …

Understanding Mentoring Relationships And Career Advancement In Higher Education, Nelky Rodriguez

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

The development of administrators, faculty, and staff within higher education presumes an apprenticeship between an experienced individual (supervisor, tenured faculty, or friend within the field) and the employee (Reybold, 2003). Understanding the path to career advancement within higher education can assist in personal career aspirations (Rhoads & Tierney, 1993). However, many institutions do not recognize the need for a mentor as necessary for developing a person’s career. A professional roadmap to advancement within higher education usually consists of policies and procedures and social and cultural norms, yet without guidance, these can be difficult to master on one’s own. Studies have …

Black Women's Perceptions Of The Experiences, Challenges And Barriers Leading To Senior-Level Leadership Positions In Higher Education, Latisha L. Marion

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation explored the lived experiences of Black women as they progressed in their careers to senior-level leadership positions in higher education. Using interpretative phenomenology analysis, this study specifically explored how Black women perceived their experiences, challenges and barriers leading to them obtaining senior-level leadership roles. Prior literature on the advancement of Black women leaders identified that women who fit the category of Black undergo extreme challenges, including the angry Black woman stereotype, concrete and glass ceilings, tokenism, colorism, imposter syndrome, and sexism. The findings from this study validate the literature as many of the themes produced in this study …

Teacher And Staff Perception Of School Climate: A Case Study, Michael Shane Hampton

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study is to determine how different public-school teachers and staff perceive school climate at an achieving public middle school. The research sought to find relationships between teacher sub-groups and other staff members, and how they perceived the school climate, either negatively or positively. The researcher believed that there would be a positive perception of school climate, which coincided with high student achievement. Additionally, it was believed that there would be no relationship between teacher types or demographics, and how the climate would be perceived among the different groups. This paper also presents a review of the …

A Phenomenological Study Of The Impact Of The Extrovert Ideal On Introverted Senior Pastors, Shawn Patrick Liebegott

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Susan Cain (2012) coins the term Extrovert Ideal. According to her, this ideal is the notion that extroversion is the preferred personality type in North American culture. This ideal extends to leadership where the best leaders are expected to exhibit extroverted personality traits. The Extrovert Ideal can be problematic for introverted leaders who may not fit the typical stereotype of the ideal leader. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore the impact of the Extrovert Ideal for introverted senior pastors who lead churches within the NorthStar Church Network located in northern Virginia. The data collection for this study …

Quality Management Development Through Gender Equality Based Leadership In Nahdlatul Ulama Universities, Rohmatun Lukluk Isnaini, Farida Hanum, Lantip Diat Prasojo

The Qualitative Report

There is still a wide quality gap between State Universities (SU) and Private Universities (PU) in Indonesia. This research aims to find the strategy pattern of Nahdlatul Ulama University (NUU) in the development of quality management through gender equality-based leadership. The pattern can be seen by using qualitative phenomenological research through interviews with the informants. Data analysis is done in five stages, namely writing all transcripts of interview results, finding statements about research focus, grouping these statements into meaningful units, and constructing all explanations about the meaning and essence of the informant's experience. The results showed that NUU implemented four …

Balancing School Improvement Strategies With Workload Pressures: A Participatory Action Research Case Study, Julia E. Morris, Geoffrey W. Lummis, Cath Ferguson, Graeme Lock, Susan Hill, Annette Nykiel

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

This participatory action research case study describes how one secondary school aimed to improve staff culture. Although pre-test data showed the school as performing consistently well in terms of their organisational health, the school chose to implement a line management intervention over 12 months to target three low-rating factors: appraisal and recognition, professional growth, and supportive leadership. Quantitative evaluation showed that while the improvement strategy had no effect on the intended targets, there were unanticipated effects on other factors. Staff reported a mixture of positive and negative effects from the intervention; however, a core issue was its impact on teachers’ …

[Excerpt From] Visionary Leadership In Healthcare: Excellence In Practice, Policy, And Ethics, Holly Wei, Sara Horton-Deutsch

Sigma Publications: Book Excerpts

This item record pertains to an excerpt from Visionary Leadership in Healthcare: Excellence in Practice, Policy, and Ethics, which is provided free of charge by the publisher.

About this book:

The pandemic years have laid bare the many faults and inequities in global healthcare systems. By exposing what is broken, COVID-19 has created a paradigm shift, spurring healthcare systems to evolve beyond an illness narrative toward one that focuses on health and healing. As nurses and healthcare professionals help lead this systemic change, they must re-envision their leadership styles.

Visionary Leadership in Healthcare equips and empowers leaders to envision, expand, …

A Case Study On Self-Sustainable Villages Of India, Anushka Umesh Sawarkar Miss

Journal of Environmental Sustainability

This case study is written with the purpose of understanding the main causes that led to the development of the mentioned five villages, under the guidance of Padma Bhushan Hon. Shree Anna Saheb Hazare and Padma Shree Hon. Popatrao Pawar. Earlier, these villages suffered from low agriculture output, water deficit leading to low economic output. However today, by adapting the five principles outlined in the study, they were able amplify their economic power sustainably for the whole community. Although the principles are not new, their successful implementation through ingenious techniques and leadership by overcoming usual hurdles and hindrances is what …