Business Commons^™

Successful Leadership: Optimizing The Influence Of Personality On Work Engagement, Joey A. Fleck

Online Journal for Workforce Education and Development

Abstract

Objective: This paper examines the positive influence that personality has on the level of engagement workers have in their work. By determining the connection between personality characteristics and work engagement, leaders can be proactive in promoting higher levels of engagement by their workers. Background: Engaging in one’s work encompasses the total person and includes elements such as energy, mental resilience, willingness to invest in one’s work, enthusiasm, pride, and the happiness that comes with being involved in work. The level of work engagement of workers in their work has implications for the workers as well as for the organization. …

Effect Of Conflict On Team Performance And Satisfaction Among Health Profession Students, Jeffery D. Kaufman Ph.D

Online Journal for Workforce Education and Development

Objective: This study continues prior research investigating the relationships between task conflict, relationship conflict, team performance, and team member satisfaction within teams of students in programs that tend to matriculate to healthcare professions. Background: As the use of teams both in practice and education continues to increase, understanding how conflict impacts team processes becomes ever more important. Methods: Student teams (n = 47) completed two different decision tasks as well as instruments that measured their individual levels of perceived task conflict, relationship conflict and satisfaction with their team. Results: No significant relationship was identified between either types of conflict …

Preparing Adults With Autism Spectrum Disorders For Employment, Princess M. Cullum, Demetria Ennis-Cole

Online Journal for Workforce Education and Development

The work experiences and job histories of adults with ASD were examined to determine whether or not they corroborate findings in the literature. Incidences of ASD are on the rise, and children diagnosed with ASD will become adults who will need employment opportunities. Most employers are using a variety of technology tools to increase productivity, communicate, perform record-keeping tasks, save time and money, and conduct business. Individuals with ASD gravitate toward technology, and employment opportunities that capitalize on the use
technology may allow them to be productive in the
workplace. Semi-structured interviews using
open-ended questions reviewed and approved by
founders …

An Analysis Of Safety Culture & Safety Training: Comparing The Impact Of Union, Non-Union, And Right To Work Construction Venues, Harry Miller Csp, Tara Hill, Kris Mason, John S. Gaal Edd

Online Journal for Workforce Education and Development

The construction industry is one of the most dangerous sectors of the US economy. As such, the safety attitudes and climate within small (residential) contracting firms may play a role in providing a safe culture and working environment. The intent of this practitioner-based research study is to compare and determine if there is a difference in safety practices—based on documented field inspections and their related original number of violations observed by OSHA—between union residential carpentry contractors in the St. Louis area and:

1) non-union residential carpentry contractors in the St. Louis area;

2) non-union residential carpentry contractors across Missouri; and …

The Great Regression’S Impact On Construction Training Programs: Multi-Level Analyses Of Recruiting & Retention Concepts, John S. Gaal Edd

Online Journal for Workforce Education and Development

The intent of this practitioner-based research study is to determine if there is a difference in the attitudes of construction industry professionals—at local and international levels—towards various training-related recruiting and retention concepts. In light of the global economic malaise, training programs are being held to higher standards and, thusly, different metrics than in the past. In today’s environment, outcomes-based designs (versus outputs-based) have gained attention from both private and public funders of such training programs. Thusly, programs must adapt to the needs of the industry rather than rely on outdated materials and methods. To this end, a survey was designed …

Essential Skills For Leadership Effectiveness In Diverse Workplace Development, Szu-Fang Chuang

Online Journal for Workforce Education and Development

Globalization, technology advances, and diversity have greatly influenced international business and multinational management operations. Global managers cannot consistently apply traditional leadership when dealing with multiple cultural conflicts and managing international employees in the rapidly changed diverse workplace. This study is an initial effort to examine the new looks of leadership in the diverse workplace development and identify essential leadership skills demanded in a global context. Global leaders need to develop cultural awareness, global mindset, interpersonal skill and effective manager-employee relationship in facing the changes and challenges of the global market. Eleven essential leadership skills for the global leaders to promote …

Conflict Management Education In Medicine: Considerations For Curriculum Designers, Jeffery Kaufman

Online Journal for Workforce Education and Development

It is important to address conflict in the medical field for a variety of reasons ranging from reducing turnover to increasing the quality of care received by patients. One way to assist with the management of medical conflict is by teaching resolution techniques to medical personnel. There is an opportunity for conflict management curriculum to address many of the issues facing physicians, administrators, staff and patients, however, it is also necessary for those developing that curriculum to understand the nature of the environment and appropriate conflict management tools to be used in that environment as part of the design process. …

Job Dissatisfaction: A Factor In Maintaining A Highly-Qualified Family And Consumers Sciences Teacher Workforce, Sally E. Arnett, Frederick W. Polkinghorne

Online Journal for Workforce Education and Development

The supply and demand mismatch in available family and consumer sciences (FACS) teachers in the State of Illinois makes it essential that attrition among highly qualified FACS teachers be decreased or eliminated. Job dissatisfaction has been a signification predictor of the decision to end employment. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to identify specific factors that contributed to the level of job satisfaction or dissatisfaction among Illinois FACS teachers. Using a descriptive research design, members of the Illinois Family and Consumer Sciences Teacher Association were asked to participate in an online survey. Results revealed the majority (95.06%) of participants …

Suggestions On Effective Corporate New Employee Orientation Program For Human Resource Specialists, Xin Chen

Online Journal for Workforce Education and Development

The purpose of this study was to suggest strategies for preparing new employee orientation programs for private section organizations. More specifically, the study addressed challenges and approaches for effective orientation programs. The paper discusses two curriculum and instruction models. A model designed by Finch and Crunkilton was adapted for a general and department orientation development. The Mager and Beach’s model was suggested to use for job orientation development.

The Impact Of African American Skin Tone Bias In The Workplace: Implications For Critical Human Resource Development, Cynthia Sims

Online Journal for Workforce Education and Development

The impact of skin tone bias among African Americans in the workplace was examined utilizing grounded theory. The data revealed the harmful personal and workplace effects of the phenomenon. Findings suggest that there is a silencing of issues of race, power, and privilege in organizations. The author recommends utilizing a critical human resource development perspective in order to explore and address systems of privilege that silence employees and perpetuate inequities in the workplace.

Servant Leadership: A Review Of Literature, Clay Brewer

Online Journal for Workforce Education and Development

The philosophical foundation of servant leadership existed thousands of years ago. Servant leadership is a unique style of leadership ideology which flows against the grain of self-interest human behavior. America’s financial collapse has created need for leaders to unite with followers and defy the trade and industry meltdown. Servant leadership values reflect and heal the organizational needs necessary in pioneering the road to recovery from the economic recession. In this paper, servant leadership is characterized by listening, empathy, healing, awareness, persuasion, conceptualizing, foresight, stewardship, commitment to growth, and community building (Spears, 2004). The application of servant leadership principles creates increased …