Digital Commons Network^™

Registration, Attendance, And Reality: African-Americans Engaged In Sat Preparation, Don Coleman

Theses and Dissertations

There is limited research into the persistence, participation, and efforts of African American students in their preparation for college admission exams (SAT, ACT). Registration, attendance, and the experienced reality of African American students who voluntarily enrolled in an SAT prep program as well as perceptions of African American instructors were the foci of this mixed methods action research. This study examined the development of a Saturday SAT preparation program over an 18 month period. Theoretical frameworks of Stereotype Threat (STT) (Steele, 1992; Steele & Aronson, 1995) and schooling effects (Diamond, 2007; Kao & Thompson, 2003; Ladson-Billings 1995, 1997; Starratt, 2003; …

Positive Global Leadership, Carolyn M. Youssef, Fred Luthans

Department of Management: Faculty Publications

In the wake of increasing globalization, today’s organizational leaders are faced with unprecedented complexity. To help meeting the challenge, this article proposes a new positive approach to global leadership. After first providing the background on positivity, positive global leadership is carefully defined and its similarities and differences with both the established and contemporary leadership theories are noted. The discussion then turns to how positive global leadership addresses three major challenges in the global context of distance, cultural differences and cross-cultural barriers. The article concludes that this new positive approach can help global leaders to leverage diverse strengths in themselves and …

A Look Inside: Self-Leadership Perceptions Of Extension Educators, Kristina G. Ricketts, Hannah S. Carter, Nick T. Place, Teresa Mccoy

Journal of Extension

Extension educators are often considered influential community leaders. Still the question remains—how do educators motivate themselves to success? Does this contribute towards their self-leadership perceptions? Specialists from three universities administered a survey to look at the "self-leadership" of Extension educators. Results indicated Extension educators use a variety of motivation strategies; however, there was a lack of awareness of how their thought processes contributed towards leadership success. Ultimately, future Extension professional development curriculum and trainings should be focused on developing motivational strategies such as how to successfully "self-talk," evaluation of one's beliefs and assumptions, and how to visualize successful performance.

Leadership Development In Undergraduate Public Relations Students: A Case Study, Mitchell Friedman

Communication Studies

This qualitative case study considered the relationship between a Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA) chapter at a public state university in Northern California and its local Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) affiliate chapter. Its purpose was to explore student perceptions of the contributions of this relationship to what they learned about leadership while serving as club officers. Research was conducted during the fall semester 2010.

The study explored efforts designed to help PRSSA chapter officers fulfill their individual responsibilities. Local and national PRSA representatives provided advice and counsel through diverse channels, the intent of which was to …

Female Undergraduate Student Perceptions Of Their Engagement In An Experiential Learning Activity, Sara Lynne Jahansouz

Masters Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

This study explores Panhellenic Sorority Recruitment grounded in a learning-outcomes-based curriculum as a vehicle for student engagement and learning. This study explores the demographics of participants and the perception of learning that occurred within the context of engagement in experiential learning activities during the first week of the Fall 2009, 2010, and 2011 academic semesters at The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (UTC). This study was conducted by utilizing quantitative and qualitative measures through the administering of pretests, post-tests, and withdrawal surveys. This study has determined that significant learning occurs through engagement in the Panhellenic Sorority recruitment process, including the …

Communication Patterns Among Members Of Engineering Global Virtual Teams, Holt Zaugg

Theses and Dissertations

Global virtual (GV) teams provide an opportunity for engineering students to participate in meaningful, cross-cultural learning projects without additional costs of time and money associated with study abroad programs. However, students must learn how to communicate effectively with international team members. Instruction to help students learn which virtual communication technologies to use and how to use them is needed. Training must include cross-cultural training that facilitates team communications and interactions with people from different cultural backgrounds. This study focused on how 10 specialized lessons, Principles of Global Virtual Teams (PGVT), facilitated the communications and interactions of students participating on GV …

How Far Can I Trust You? The Impact Of Distance And Cultural Values On Leaders’ Trustworthiness, Michelle C. Bligh

CGU Faculty Publications and Research

Employees' level of trust in leaders has long been deemed an important key to successful organizational dynamics and performance. Utilizing survey data, the current study investigates differences in levels of trust between one's immediate manager and the organization's top leadership, the impact of individualism/collectivism on these levels of trust, and the influence of leader-follower distance on leadership trust. Results revealed higher levels of trust for direct leaders than organizational leaders among the U.S. sample. While individualism/collectivism was not found to significantly affect levels of leadership trust, perceptions of less leadership distance had a positive impact on levels of leadership trust.

Role Of Communication And Listening In Leadership, Kae Van Engen

Faculty Work Comprehensive List

In our world today, leadership is important in many organizations. Leaders create the opportunity to develop relationships based on listening. Listening is a multidimensional construct that requires further integration within leadership studies. This study aimed to seek the validity of focusing on listening within the study of leadership. The research promotes the understanding of the verbal and nonverbal characteristics of the listening process that have the greatest ability to influence a person’s leadership potential, as well as examining what leadership characteristics can influence a person’s listening. Understanding these characteristics presents evidence that listening deserves the recognition to be studied as …

The Social Construction Of Organizations: Understanding The Process Of Organizational Development From A Communicative Perspective, Corey Jay Liberman

Proceedings of the New York State Communication Association

No matter how one approaches and teaches organizational communication, it is likely that we all borrow the idea that communication both produces, and is produced by, organizations: an idea that was popularized as a result of Charles Redding’s foundational publication. This idea, however, is not easy to grasp, even for the advanced undergraduate student. In fact, when we think outside of the box, even for a moment, it is difficult for students to understand that when we refer to “organizations” we are reifying the very notion of “organization” and, in so doing, are dialoguing about the communication between and among …

Linking Authentic Leadership To Positive Employee Health, Behavioral Engagement, And Job Performance, Yan Liu

Doctoral Dissertations

In recent years, there has been increasing interest in the emerging field of positive organizational behavior. The field of Positive Organizational Behavior (POB) has its roots in the concept of "positive psychology" (Bakker & Schaufeli, 2008) but is more narrowly defined as "the study and application of positively oriented human resources strengths and psychological capacities that can be measured, developed, and effectively managed for performance improvement in today's workplace" (Luthans, 2002, p.698). More and more researchers have begun to emphasize what is right with people rather than focusing on what is wrong with people.

Given this opportunity, this dissertation explicitly …

The Southeastern Librarian V. 60, No. 1 (Spring 2012) Complete Issue

The Southeastern Librarian

Complete issue of The Southeastern Librarian, volume 60, No. 1 (Spring 2012).

Partnering To Teach Orienteering: The Ut Libraries' And Ut Outdoor Program's Experience, Gregory H. March, Benjamin Darnell

The Southeastern Librarian

Working with departments on campus to foster and support learning is a fundamental component of the University of Tennessee (UT) Libraries’ service philosophy. Academic libraries that have a broader view of the traditional liaison model and seek to develop unique and non-departmental relationships can raise their profile on campus (Dahl 2007, 3). An example of such a relationship, one that has provided a real life collaborative learning experience for students, is the partnership between the UT Libraries and the University of Tennessee Outdoor Progr am (UTOP) to teach orienteering.

The Relationship Between Principals' Leadership Behaviors And The Development Of Professional Learning Communities In Schools With Teacher Study Groups, Casey D. Shorter

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

.

Identifying Patterns In The Crucial Educational Leadership Constructs Used By The Most Cited Authors And Published Works Of 1990-2010, Sitalaiti Lotulelei

Theses and Dissertations

This study conducted a bibliometric analysis for the purpose of identifying the crucial leadership constructs that best explain and/or define effective educational leadership in two decades (1990-2000 and 2001-2010). The study reviewed top authors in educational leadership and analyzed their top cited works to identify leadership constructs which were (a) unique to leadership works within the 1990-2000 decade, (b) unique to the 2001-2010 decade, and c) similar or different between the two decades. The study found that the leadership constructs did evolve and shift during the study period and addressed the changing demands of individuals, educational organizations, and the external …

Leadership Programs For Women In Higher Education, Susan R. Madsen, Karen A. Longman, Jessica R. Daniels

Marketing and Strategy Faculty Publications

Bennis and Goldsmith (2003) argued that “immediate demands for leadership confront us daily. Our cities are in crisis, our communities face turmoil, our political, religious, and business leaders are repeatedly charged with ethical violations, and the world’s multiple demands require our immediate attention” (pp. xi-xii). With such critical needs in society today, leadership development has become an important area of inquiry within human resource development (HRD), and is now emerging as foundational to our field. According to Rosser (2007), leadership development is a unique aspect of HRD “because it is important to both scholars and practitioners and is a common …

Addressing The Failure Of Abstinence-Only Sex Education Programs: An Emerging Leadership Perspective, Cedric Harville Ii

Florida Public Health Review

Over the past 15 years, abstinence-only sex education has been the sole method of education supported by the federal government as it relates to adolescent sexual health. Despite the exponential increase offunding provided for abstinence-only sex education, few tangible positive results have surfaced. At high rates, teens still take part in risky sexual behaviors, and are at high risks for teen pregnancy, sexually transmitted diseases, and HIV/AIDS. As a result, it is necessary to take an alternative approach that provides adolescents with a comprehensive view of sex education in order to effectively reduce these negative outcomes. A comprehensive education will …

Organizations As Systems In Crisis: Characteristics And Behaviors Of Successful Leaders, Dennis Paul Gonzales

Organization, Information and Learning Sciences ETDs

Given the increasingly complex and fluid nature of organizations today, there is an urgent need to study the role that leadership can play in helping organizations to successfully navigate through difficult and turbulent times. This dissertation investigated the journey of six participants who served as leaders in organizations during periods of change and turmoil. An interpretive phenomenological approach was the primary method of data collection, analysis, and interpretation used to organize the data gathered primarily through interviews with the participants. Personal experience, as well as current leadership and change theories served as the background and frame of reference for this …

An Examination Of Midwest Community College Presidents' Leadership Styles, Marvin Jones Jacobs

Wayne State University Dissertations

This study examined the leadership styles of community college presidents and chancellors in the Midwestern part of the United States on leadership styles they embraced based on their personal characteristics, age, gender, education and experience in higher education, location, and other prevailing personal characteristics. The three leadership styles measured in the study were transformational, transactional and passive avoidant. Three research questions were posed for the study. A total of 176 presidents in five states were sent surveys. Of this number, 82 (46.6%) completed and returned the MLQ questionnaire and the investigator-developed demographic survey. Survey findings suggested participating presidents appeared to …

The Roles Of Flourishing And Spirituality In Millenials’ Leadership Development Activity, Allison L. O'Malley, Denise E, Williams

Scholarship and Professional Work - LAS

Confronted by today’s epidemic of corporate meltdowns, broken institutional paradigms, unethical decision-making, and demand for innovative competencies in order to remain competitive, educators and researchers are challenged to examine how today’s future leaders develop the skill and will to be effective. Whether labeled GenY, Generation Next, Generation Tech or Millennials (i.e. individuals born between 1982 and 2003), this group of change agents differs in attitudes, behaviors, and intrinsic and extrinsic motivations from older generations (e.g. Taylor & Keeter, 2010; Twenge, Campbell & Freeman, 2012). The scholarly debate on the role of meaning making (Park, 2005) describes the Millennial on a …

College Of Business News & Views, Winter 2012, Illinois State University

College of Business News & Views

Newsletter of the Illinois State University College of Business

Theological And Liturgical Dimensions Of Ecclesial Authorization For U.S. Catholic Lay Ecclesial Ministers, Mary Beth Yount

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This work provides steps toward a practical understanding of the changing ministerial relationships in the U.S. Catholic Church given the rapid increase in lay ecclesial ministers ("LEMs") and decline in ordained priests. New ecclesial relationships develop through shifts in ecclesial ministry; formalizing these new relationships, the study argues, will allow for smoother transitions in parishes and a deeper theological understanding of the Church as a whole.

After outlining and exploring the Church's theological understandings of LEMs as called, having a particular vocation, and able to provide us with unique contributions, the author posits that liturgical celebrations for installing LEMs can …

Honors In Chile: New Engagements In The Higher Education System, Juan Carlos Skewes, Carlos Alberto Cioce Sampaio, Frederick J. Conway

Journal of the National Collegiate Honors Council Online Archive

Honors programs are rare in Latin America, and in Chile they were unknown before 2003. At the Universidad Austral de Chile, an interdisciplinary group of scholars linked to environmental studies put forward a pilot project for implementing a new experience in higher education. Challenged by an educational environment where (i) apathy and mediocrity have taken over the classrooms, (ii) monodisciplinary training rules the university campus, and (iii) authoritarian teaching persists, this has been an experiment in new ways of approaching the classroom. Stimulated by experiences in the USA, a project proposal was written, finding support in the Chilean Secretary of …

Transformational Leadership In China: The Role Of Trust And Harmony, Wai Kwan (Elaine) Lau

Management Faculty Research

Transformational leadership attracted a significant amount of scholarly attention in the past few decades. This study is designed to develop an effective transformational leadership model that works in the Chinese context. A model is proposed to clarify the mediating effects of trust and harmony on the relationship between transformational leadership and its effectiveness. The model provides a new perspective on leadership in the Chinese context that is ignored in the Western leadership literature. It also offers a clearer understanding of how best transformational leadership practice combines with traditional Chinese wisdom to do a better job in accounting for the leader-follower …

A Christian Servant Leadership Model And Training For The Adventist Church In France, Olivier Rigaud

Doctor of Ministry Projects

Problem. French history (the French Revolution) has shaped a country considered as one of the most secular in the world. The Seventh-day Adventist Church in France is profoundly affected and challenged by this environment. With 11,617 members among over 65 million French in 2010, the penetration ratio is very low (0.0185%) and a deep malaise is felt in the French churches. Reports indicate a lack of consecration, internal conflicts, discouragement of isolated churches, a lack of vision, and spirituality in decline. Today, the Adventist Church is unknown, despite its efforts in communication and visibility. Many change efforts have also been …

Defining The Intangible Skillset Of Advanced Practice Nurses: A Psychophenonemological Study Of Aprnand Graduate Nursing Student Narratives, Kathryn Perticone

Yale School of Nursing Digital Theses

The purpose of this pilot qualitative study was to generate a definition of advanced practice nurses that delineates their intangible skillset. The definition was derived from narratives of eleven experienced advanced practice nurses and 18 graduate nursing students who responded to individualized questionnaires. Results were analyzed using van Kaam's, 12-step psychophenomenological method. Four necessary and essential qualities of the intangible skillset of advanced practice nurses were identified as: Development of a patient-centered relationship; provision of care that is holistic and promotes health and wellness; use of practical critical thinking and judgment; and, engagement in "tri-lingual communication" or the ability to …

The Relationship Between Authentic Leadership And Employee Retention: Measuring The Perceived Level Of Authentic Leadership And The Effect On Employee Retention, Deborah Morton

Browse all Theses and Dissertations

Authentic Leadership is an emerging leadership approach that is still in the formative stages of development. There has been noteworthy research on strategies to develop or enhance authentic leadership behaviors (Northhouse 2010) that can lead to high employee retention, however there has been only a small amount of research examining the relationship between authentic leadership and employee retention. This descriptive study examined the perceived level of authentic leadership on the four scales of the Authentic Leadership Questionnaire by retained and non-retained employees in one organization to determine if there is a relationship between authentic leadership and employee retention.

The Role Of Communication And Listening In Leadership, Elinor Kay Van Engen

Communication & Leadership Dissertations and Theses

In our world today, leadership is important in many organizations. Leaders create the opportunity to develop relationships based on listening. Listening is a multidimensional construct that requires further integration within leadership studies. This study aimed to seek the validity of focusing on listening within the study of leadership. The research promotes the understanding of the verbal and nonverbal characteristics of the listening process that have the greatest ability to influence a person’s leadership potential, as well as examining what leadership characteristics can influence a person’s listening. Understanding these characteristics presents evidence that listening deserves the recognition to be studied as …

Transitioning Organizations For Sustainability: Exploring The Intersection Of Sustainability, Worldview, And Organization Development, Jessica Bartenhagen

Theses and Dissertations

Transitioning Organizations for Sustainability (TOS) is the practice of holistic organizational transformation in response to complex social, ecological, and economic challenges. This study examined the relationship between the worldview of organization development (OD) practitioners and their professional identity, particularly those practicing TOS. The study compared professional data with levels of agreement with the NEP Scale (Dunlap, Van Liere, Mertig & Jones, 2000). Data were collected through a survey of Pepperdine University MSOD affiliates and interviews with TOS practitioners. Current TOS practice, a future desire for TOS practice, a Master's level education, and a future-oriented outlook were shown to have some …

Transitioning Organizations For Sustainability: Exploring The Intersection Of Sustainability, Worldview, And Organization Development, Jessica Bartenhagen

Theses and Dissertations

Transitioning Organizations for Sustainability (TOS) is the practice of holistic organizational transformation in response to complex social, ecological, and economic challenges. This study examined the relationship between the worldview of organization development (OD) practitioners and their professional identity, particularly those practicing TOS. The study compared professional data with levels of agreement with the NEP Scale (Dunlap, Van Liere, Mertig & Jones, 2000). Data were collected through a survey of Pepperdine University MSOD affiliates and interviews with TOS practitioners. Current TOS practice, a future desire for TOS practice, a Master's level education, and a future-oriented outlook were shown to have some …

Leadership Programs Designed To Develop Creative Leaders : A Multi-Case Study, Karen Tilstra

Dissertations

Problem. The topic of this study is creative leadership and how it is developed. Three creative leadership development institutes were studied to determine how each provided leadership development: Leadership Development Institute on the campus of Eckerd College in St. Petersburg, Florida; International Center for Creative Leadership on the campus of Buffalo State College at University of New York, in Buffalo, New York; and the Banff Centre, in Banff, Alberta, Canada. The purpose of this study is to describe the approach and specific components of these three leadership development programs that attempt to deliver training that produces leaders who practice creative …