Digital Commons Network^™

The Relationship Between Toxic Leadership, Organizational Citizenship, And Turnover Behaviors Among San Diego Nonprofit Paid Staff, Melanie J. Hitchcock

Dissertations

Toxic leadership is associated with a number of negative consequences to the long-term health and welfare of people in organizations. Destructive leader styles redirect employee efforts from mission accomplishment to self-protection and survival behaviors, undermining the organization. Increased demand and decreased funding are characteristic of the nonprofit sector. Therefore, successful nonprofit organizations tend to rely on creativity and innovation to ensure their communities are appropriately and sufficiently sustained. Supportive, not toxic, leadership helps foster organizational environments that encourage prudent risk-taking and innovation.

This concurrent mixed methods study explored the relationship between toxic leadership and organizational citizenship and turnover behaviors among …

Balancing Content And Process Expertise In The Practice Of Foundation Consulting, Chris Cardona

The Foundation Review

Despite foundations’ frequent recourse to consultants, little, if anything, has been written on the expertise required of foundation consultants and how they cultivate it. This article looks at the types of expertise that these consultants bring to their work and for which their clients hire them.

This expertise falls into three categories: process expertise, or what the consultant does with the client; content expertise, or what the grantmaker does; and hybrid expertise, consultant processes that are their own subject areas.

This article also offers examples of how content, process, and/or hybrid expertise might combine to address particular foundation needs, and …

An Increasing Usefulness For Managerial Communication Research On The Main Topics Of Management, Reginald L. Bell, Deborah Roebuck

Faculty Articles

Effective communication is necessary across all management tiers and functions. In addition, it is an integral part of managerial decision-making. Over the last 10 years, interest in the nuances of communication as related to management has intensified. These studies have fostered diverse approaches to linking management and communication. Our investigation, using 2x5 and 2x4 factorial ANOVAs, reveals that differences exist among the means of five professional communication fields. Numerous articles published between 2004 and 2013 were examined, and we found an increasing usefulness for managerial communication research on the main topic of management.

A Study Of The Perceptions Of Diversity And Inclusion Initiatives In Producing Improved Productive Work Cultures, Robert T. Crouch

Education Dissertations and Projects

Organizations today view diversity in the workforce as extending beyond antidiscrimination laws. Diversity in the workplace is viewed as a means for organizations to maintain a competitive edge in the global job market by focusing on inclusion and performance. Organizations have begun to recognize that diversity results in economic benefits when initiatives are aligned with their strategic plans, goals, and core values (U.S. Department of Commerce, 1999).

The purpose of this study was to determine the perceptions of departmental personnel regarding the impact of diversity and inclusion initiatives in improving and sustaining productive work cultures. Additionally, this study sought to …

The 'Free Purposing' Organization: Beyond Empowerment...Towards 'Engaged Commitment', Hani N. Boulos

Student Scholarship

Wide ranges of organizations are explicitly rejecting the norms of rational bureaucracy in designing and running their organizations. Grounded in a qualitative study of those organizations, this paper seeks first to identify some common structural commonalities, and differentiate them from the traditional hierarchies, and second to develop a theoretical framework for understanding them and assess the way they foster internal commitment for desired purpose. We interviewed 61 individuals from 12 organizations in diverse sectors and different geographic locations. We discovered emergent novel forms and practices. We developed a conceptual framework to capture the main discoveries, not as models of perfection, …

A Delphi Study Of The Potential Influence Of Women In Stem Careers, Sharyn Elizabeth Mlinar

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

American businesses are working with educational institutions to attract women into technical and scientific professions. However, less than one quarter of the people working in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) are women. The educational system as-a-pipeline model is not supplying business with skilled workers, specifically female STEM employees. Organizational change must occur and this process begins with the organization's leadership. Guided by the the conceptual frameworks of Kotter & Rathgeber and Kouzes & Posner, this Delphi study asked 54 female professionals, in various locations across the United States, about what influenced them in their education and career choices. Responses …

Comic Art And Humor In The Workplace: An Exploratory Study ...Zzzzzz, Kella Brown

Theses and Dissertations

This study is a qualitative, exploratory examination of the phenomena of humor in the workplace. The purpose is to derive a better understanding of how real people enact humor in the workplace by examining the humor depicted by and through fictional characters in comic art. The body of work of cartoonist, Scott Adams, was the primary source of data. The study relies on what the imaginary characters of Dilbert find absurd, funny, and ridiculous about an imaginary workplace, the employee-employer relationship, the content of the characters' jobs, or in the social relationships of fictional characters. It involves analyzing specific cultural …

Manufacturing Organizations During Sub-Acute Crises: An Examination Of Critical Interactions In Five Sub-Acute Crisis Cases, William A. Brake

Student Scholarship

Manufacturing organizations face a steady barrage of sub-acute crises. Sudden, often surprising events that seriously threaten critical objectives provide an environment of steady disruption and uncertainty. Viewing organizations as Complex Adaptive Systems (CAS), this qualitative study collects and analyses 29 interviews across five unique cases of small manufacturers recalling a recent sub-acute crisis and their responses. Interviews were conducted with a senior manager, a small group of key managers and then each of the managers individually. Our comparative analysis found that positive and negative thoughts, feelings and actions were predominate across a wide variety of cultures and crises. We propose …

Impact Of Leadership Style On Innovation: A Study Of Retired Military Senior Officers In Executive-Level Supervisory Roles Within The High-Technology Engineering Defense Industry, Jose Collazo

Theses and Dissertations

This study examined the relationship between leadership style and past military rank, and how these might impact an organization’s innovation climate. The sample consisted of (a) retired U.S. Army senior officers currently employed as executive-level supervisors in the high-technology engineering defense industry and (b) those working under such supervisors. Two leadership styles investigated in this study are transactional and transformational, the former defined by incentive structures based on pay and promotion according to performance, and the latter defined by charisma, inspiration, intellectual stimulation, and individualized consideration. Although these are not mutually exclusive styles, they are conceptually distinct operating modes. The …

When Does Six Sigma Reduce Defects And Increase Efficiencies?, Richard Jay Sands

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

A field research-based statistical study was used to investigate successes and failures of Six Sigma methodologies based projects. Six Sigma methodologies require that projects be designed, planned, and implemented using techniques specifically designed to achieve desired benefits that are based on the method's key drivers for project success. This study addressed an identified gap in the literature that Six Sigma projects do not fail because of Six Sigma methodologies, but that the projects can fail because of deficient support processes. Six Sigma projects that do not achieve the desired benefits are often labeled as "fads". Research questions related to management …

Faculty Perspectives On The Inclusion Of Spirituality Topics In Nonsectarian Leadership And Management Education Programs, Peter E. Williams, Stuart Allen

School of Educational Leadership

The purpose of this study was to explore faculty views on the inclusion of spiritual topics in graduate leadership and management programs, focusing on faculty experiences, perceived benefits and challenges, and teaching methods and principles in use. We interviewed twelve faculty members in leadership or management programs from eleven nonsectarian universities. Participants discussed eight benefits including the opportunity for whole person growth and skill development that would benefit leaders in a global workplace. Eight barriers to such inclusion were identified such as proselytizing and the misuse of power. The sampled instructors also made some suggestions for how to include spirituality …

Evaluating The United Nations Development Assistance Framework (Undaf) As A Strategic Programming Tool At The National Level, With Special Reference To Egypt, Rasha Mahmoud

Theses and Dissertations

The unique character of the United Nations (UN) imposes strategic challenges on the organization’s leadership and management structures at the national and the international level. In response to these challenges, the UN reform efforts, introduced in 1997, paved the way for the UN system effectiveness, efficiency and coherence. Emerging from the reform, the United Nations Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF) engages various development stakeholders in identifying and achieving national development priorities. This review found that the UNDAF is an effective strategic instrument that well-positions the UN at the national level and it enhances national capacities and supports national governments in identifying …

Conceptual Frameworks And Research Models On Resilience In Leadership, Janet Ledesma

Faculty Publications

The purpose of this article was to discuss conceptual frameworks and research models on resilience theory. The constructs of resilience, the history of resilience theory, models of resilience, variables of resilience, career resilience, and organizational resilience will be examined and discussed as they relate to leadership development. The literature demonstrates that there is a direct relationship between the stress of the leader’s job and his or her ability to maintain resilience in the face of prolonged contact with adversity. This article discusses resilience theory as it relates to leadership development. The concept associated with resilience, which includes thriving and hardiness, …

Introducing Agile Principles And Management To A Library Organization, Daniel Forsman, Peter Hansson

Proceedings of the IATUL Conferences

Libraries are pressured to adapt to changing conditions due to user demands, behavior, emerging technologies and a need for cost-efficient solutions. Software companies have turned to agile development to stay competitive and to deliver working solutions in a short timeframe. Agile processes are built upon co-operation, iterative workflows and delivering working solutions with a high business value. Agile development and management in an agile organization constitutes a controlled framework of principles with a promise to ensure that the organization focuses on the right things and is able to adapt to new needs.

The Library at Chalmers University of Technology in …

Perceptions Of General Education Deans And Department Chairs Of Their Colleges As Learning Organizations, May Charmayne Mulligan

Dissertations

Higher education institutions are being pushed towards increased assessment practices because of rising costs, mass access, new delivery methods, and rising competition on the national and global scale. Academic deans and department heads are at the center of these assessment efforts, and assessment should guide changes within the organization for improvement. Learning organization theory provides a framework for creating an environment favorable to assessment and improvement. Six learning organization principles – learning, communication, measurement, problem-solving, structure, and vision – were used for this study.

An online questionnaire was used to capture the perceptions of deans and department heads as to …

A Review Of Business Communication Under The Leadership Function, Clive Muir

Faculty Publications

An effective way to perpetuate an academic discipline is to identify and to define its intellectual and historical roots, then to set such roots in the foundation textbooks and courses of the discipline. In that regard, Business Communication still struggles to establish its roots when compared to other disciplines in business schools, particularly Management. For this study, we undertook an extensive review of significant scholarly works on Business Communication as a discipline. We discovered there are prevalent themes in the broader context of rhetoric, technology, culture, dissemination, and impression; and this was confirmed by our examining the tables of contents …

Critical Competencies Needed For Successful Outside Sales Managers: A Delphi Study, Christie Cooper

Theses and Dissertations

As the world is rapidly advancing in technology and organizations are changing to become flatter, leaner, more efficient and more profitable it is critical for leaders and managers to keep their skills relevant to the world. In particular, outside sales managers once thought if they were outstanding performers as a sales person the next logical promotion would be to an outside sales manager. Therefore, it is vital to the success of an organization and the human capital in the organization, that leaders, in particular outside sales managers, have the necessary skills or competencies to be successful. The purpose of this …

Does An It Organization Transform Its Identity When Engaged In Outsourcing?, Carol Mcguire

Student Scholarship

Firms have outsourced since the infant days of manufacturing. Many firms find that the ability to fill gaps in their expertise or gaps in human capital with individuals outside the organization is crucial to keep pace with customer demand. Much has been published about the decision making process and resulting impacts of outsourcing from business operations point of view, with financial considerations being extensively explored. But less has been published about the relationship between outsourcing and the identity of the organization engaged in outsourcing. Worldwide IT spending was estimated to be $2 Trillion in 2013 with approximately 12% directed to …

Manager Influence On Collaborative Change Initiatives, Ron Milam

Theses and Dissertations

Ensuring all residents in Southern California have access to healthy food is one of many examples of an issue too complex and challenging for any one organization to change on its own. More and more, organizations work in collaboration and designate individuals to manage these collaborative change initiatives. This research uncovers the specific influence managers of collaborative change initiatives have in shaping positive outcomes for the collaborations they serve. Based on interviewing 11 managers and funders from six leading collaborative change initiatives, there are two contextual ways in which managers influence collaboration: their position itself carries influence and their ability …

Examining The State Of The Field And Possibilities For Collaboration In Organization Development, D. Wade Shows

Theses and Dissertations

This study examined the state of organization development (OD) and the possibilities for collaboration within it. Thirteen leading OD professionals were interviewed. Study findings indicated that the field of OD is struggling and needs to demonstrate its unique value. Collaboration in the field was determined to be limited and participants expressed little interest, time, and energy for initiating collaboration, although they believed collaboration could help enhance the credibility and relevance of the field. Several barriers to collaboration were identified, such as divergence in the field and "turf" issues. Several success factors for collaboration also were identified, such as having a …

A Web-Based Knowledge Management Tool Utilizing Concept Maps For On-Line Student Advising, Jay M. Lightfoot

Journal of International Technology and Information Management

Increasingly complex program offerings by universities combined with on-line educational opportunities have created a situation where students must deal with an extremely complicated array of curriculum decisions. At the same time, many universities are moving away from the traditional one-on-one advising model toward one that relies heavily on web-based resources. The result of this is that students are often forced to self-advise using complicated and often poorly structured websites. This paper describes a knowledge management tool to mitigate this problem by creating an intuitive, web-based interface to help students navigate directly to the Internet advising materials that are most applicable.

Leading Under Pressure, Coping Practices Of Executives: A Mixed Methods Study, Darlene Thomas

Theses and Dissertations

Work-related stress continues is the largest contributor to the rise in insurance cost for most organizations (Dewe, O'Driscoll, & Cooper, 2010). The biopharmaceutical industry is no exception. Today's leaders must focus on efficiencies, cost reduction, and organization performance while restructuring the organization to do more with less, which can create tremendous stress. This research explored coping strategies practiced by executive leaders in the biopharmaceutical industry. The overarching research question was: How do senior leaders confronted by work pressure attempt to cope, and are the coping strategies practiced effective at reducing and deflecting stress in a way that doesn't adversely affect …

The Consequences Of Functionalist Assumptions In The Epistemology Of Organizational Culture. The Perspective Of Critical Management Studies, Michał Zawadzki

European Management Studies

The author presents the reflection about the consequences of assumptions characteristic for the functionalist paradigm in the epistemology of organizational culture in the management sciences. The study was conducted from the perspective of Critical Management Studies, which stands in opposition to the functionalist paradigm, offering theoretical and practical settlement of an emancipation.

Interaction Between Human Resources Management And Ohs: Preparing Future Managers, Sylvie Gravel, Monique Lortie, Henriette Bilodeau, Jessica Dubé

Rapports de recherche scientifique

Plusieurs disciplines, dont l’ergonomie, la médecine, la toxicologie, l’andragogie et bien d’autres, ont contribué à l’avancement des connaissances en santé et sécurité au travail (SST). Malgré les avancées scientifiques, un défi demeure, celui de développer les habiletés des gestionnaires et de sensibiliser ces derniers à leur rôle dans la prise en charge des mesures correctrices et préventives en matière de santé et de sécurité. Une équipe de professeurs de l’Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM) a proposé de relever ce défi en constituant une banque d’études de cas destinée à l’enseignement aux futurs gestionnaires. Les cas ont été élaborés à …

The Effectiveness Of Total Quality Management Principles In The Printing Industry, Paige Cornelison

Graphic Communication

The purpose of this study was to determine the history and implications of the term “Total Quality Management”, to define the core principles of the concept, and to test their prevalence and effectiveness within the printing industry.

The research consisted of an in-depth survey, which was distributed to employees of printing companies across the country. The survey aimed to collect data that was predominately qualitative in nature. It inquired upon the utilization of quality management systems within the participant’s companies, the core objectives and direct effects of these systems, as well as upon the knowledge and usage of Total Quality …

Rationalizing Creativity—Rationalizing Public Service: Is Scheduling Management Fit For The Digital Era?, Ann-Marie Murray

Articles

In public broadcast organizations across Europe, scheduling has been transformed from a marginal, administrative activity to a highly strategic management tool (Hellman, 1999; Hujanen, 2002; Meier, 2003;Ytreberg, 2000) Ellis (2000)described it as “the locus of power in television,” organizing production and managing budgets (p. 26). The role of scheduling in public broadcast organizations today reflects the demands of increasing competition and political pressure for efficiency and accountability. However, new challenges have emerged in the transition from public service broadcasting to public service media (PSM). PSM providers must redefine their mission for the digital era and find …

Corporate Social Responsibility, Daniel H. Brown

Senior Honors Theses

This paper will address Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and its far-reaching implications. Initially, the term CSR will be introduced and defined to provide the backbone for the following discussions. The paper will address the theoretical constructs of CSR, managerial strategies for implementing CSR and the application of stakeholder theory. The thesis is built upon Dr. Archie Carroll’s four-part CSR construct. In addition, international standards of CSR, with a focus on Nike, Inc.’s actions, will be evaluated.

Effects Of Improvisation Techniques In Leadership Development, Farnaz Tabaee

Theses and Dissertations

Studies show that improvisation in leadership decision making is on the rise, and it transpires in organizations 75-90% of the time, yet very little research has explored this skillset. No other leadership skillset that is applied two thirds of the time has ever been so underdeveloped. The purpose of this study was to assess the effects of a pilot workshop applying a Holistic Improvisational Leadership Model as developed by the researcher and based on the latest improvisation research. The study employed a mixed methods design to gather qualitative and quantitative data for a descriptive evaluation of the pilot training workshop. …

A Descriptive Study Of The Key Leadership Characteristics Of Mid-Level Managers In The Business Divisions At A Federally Funded Research And Development Center (Ffrdc), Kevin Michael Caporicci

Theses and Dissertations

Leadership sets the tone and determines and shapes the organization. The more proficient individuals are in leadership and management skills, the more the organizations will thrive. Technical challenges have and will always be barriers, but competent leadership will always resolve those barriers. There are leaders of organizations who revel in success and those that perish in futility. What is the difference? Is it the organizational structure? Could it be luck? Throughout history there are individuals who have been praised for their leadership abilities. What can we learn from them? The purpose of this study was to determine the key leadership …

The Utility Of Diversity Training In The New Millennium: Does It Impact A Leader's Ability To Manage Differences And Create An Inclusive Work Environment?, Lisa Chanel Woodson

Theses and Dissertations

Although diversity training is an $8 billion industry, questions surrounding its utility and impact remain. To address the issue of diversity training effectiveness, the research project goes beyond reviewing workforce diversity as a measurement, and investigates whether diversity training impacts a leader's ability to manage differences and create an inclusive work environment. Data were collected from 44 individuals in leadership roles across multiple organizations in the United States. All participants completed a condensed Diversity Relationship Indicator TM assessment, as well as a 6 question interview protocol to gauge their experience with diversity training. The results of the research reflected the …