Leadership Commons^™

Factors Contributing To Meaningful Work And Intention To Stay In Generation Z Healthcare Workers, Jennifer A. Sippel-Tompkins

PhD in Organizational Leadership

The COVID-19 pandemic intensified two growing workforce challenges: (a) the Great Resignation and (b) quiet quitting, characterized by rising turnover and disengagement. Generation Z healthcare workers, now emerging as a significant segment of the workforce, have entered this environment with distinct values, emphasizing meaningful work, flexibility, growth, and organizational integrity. The purpose of this qualitative bounded case study was to explore the factors contributing to meaningful work and intention to stay among Generation Z healthcare workers in a large healthcare system in the United States. Data were collected through focus groups, paired interviews, single interviews, and analysis of anonymous employee …

On The Borders: Black Women’S Multiple And Competing Social Identities And Expectations, And The Impact On Their Intragroup Leadership And Relational Experiences, Clover Baker-Brown

PhD in Organizational Leadership

Black women in the United States are often portrayed as a monolithic and unified group—defined primarily by racial identity and expectations of a shared understanding of common experiences. However, while racial identity is frequently foregrounded in public discourse, this framing often overlooks the overlapping of Black women’s multiple identities and the influence on their sense of belonging in their various groups. This omission can be subtle yet misleading. How Black women choose to self-identify may result in competing expectations or intragroup mistrust, which can impact their overall leadership and relational experiences. Black women's social identities are diverse, vibrant, and transcend …

The Role Of Organizational Culture And Pastoral Leadership In Sustainable Church Outreach: A Multisite Mini-Ethnographic Case Study, Althea P. Gordon-Scott

PhD in Organizational Leadership

This study examined the role of organizational culture and pastoral leadership in sustainable church outreach programs. Two churches were chosen for this multisite mini-ethnographic case study because, for multiple years, they have participated in multiple outreaches each week to their non-Christian neighbors. These two churches differed in terms of geographical location, size, demographics, and budget. Data collection included field observations, semi-structured interviews, focus groups, and document analysis. The themes that surfaced from the data were altruistic foundations, relational equity, organizational agility, organizational challenges, exemplary pastoral leadership, and the centrality of God. This research contributes to the theoretical and practical understanding …

Teacher Mindset: An Investigation On The Influence Of Teachers’ Transformational Leadership On Growth Mindset, Rodolfo Reyes

Doctor of Education (Ed.D)

Identifying transformational leadership as a predictor of a growth mindset can be useful in developing teachers’ growth mindset. This nonexperimental quantitative study examined the relationship between teachers’ growth mindset and transformational leadership, and how the dimensions of teacher transformational leadership styles predict teachers’ growth mindset. The current study examined 63 participants in a school district in Florida. Using Dweck’s growth mindset survey (2006) and a researcher-created instrument to assess teachers’ perceptions of growth mindset and transformational leadership, the study resulted in a statistically significant finding of the association and prediction of transformational leadership on growth mindset. Demographics, such as teachers’ …

Authentic Leadership As Predicted By The Fisher Temperament Inventory Scales, Stephanie J. Giddings

PhD in Organizational Leadership

Authentic leadership has garnered increasing attention from scholars and practitioners for its emphasis on ethical and transparent leadership practices that foster positive organizational outcomes. Despite its popularity, research into its antecedents remains underdeveloped. This study is a response to calls to examine potential psychometric predictors of authentic leadership, focusing on temperament as a biologically-rooted factor. This quantitative research involved surveying 338 U.S. leaders on temperament and authentic leadership. Temperament, as measured by the Fisher Temperament Inventory (FTI), offers a neuroscience-based perspective and resolves the potential crossover issues found in the widely studied Five-Factor Model (FFM). Using the Authentic Leadership Questionnaire …

Provision Cfo: Empowering Strategic Financial Excellence For Small Businesses And Entrepreneurs, Cindra Vang

Doctor of Strategic Leadership (DSL) Capstone Abstracts

Project Overview

ProVision CFO offers strategic financial management solutions tailored to the unique needs of entrepreneurs, small businesses, and rapidly growing organizations. This project aims to equip clients with robust financial strategies and actionable insights necessary for sustainable growth, operational excellence, and long-term success. ProVision CFO provides comprehensive financial guidance including fractional CFO and accounting services.

Project Themes

The ProVision CFO framework encompasses three key components designed to optimize financial performance and organizational effectiveness. Component One—Strategic Clarity: Establishing clear financial goals aligned with organizational vision, mission, and values. Component Two—Financial Optimization: Providing accounting services to streamline financial processes and enhance …

Influence Of Transformational Servant Leadership On Developing Urban Livability: A Case Study Of Kampala Capital City Authority In Uganda, Calvin Oule

PhD in Organizational Leadership

Transformational servant leadership is an emerging leadership concept that integrates the tenets of transformational leadership and servant leadership. The purpose of this research was to conduct a case study of Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) to explore how transformational servant leadership influences the development of urban livability. Since the investigation was a qualitative case study, data were collected through interviews with 10 KCCA leaders. Data were also gathered using document review. The study was guided by research questions that sought to understand the participants’ views on transformational servant leadership, urban livability, and the role of transformational servant leadership in developing …

A Phenomenological Study On The Followership And Follower Dissent Experience Of Black/African American Female Healthcare Leaders, Shella M. Miller

PhD in Organizational Leadership

Although followership has traditionally been viewed as self-explanatory and innate, it is critical to leadership success and deserves equal scrutiny. Despite its recognized importance to leadership, followership theory remains underdeveloped and understudied, particularly in relation to intersectional factors, such as race and gender and the followership experience of individuals. This gap is particularly salient in today's diverse healthcare settings, where diverse representation and effective leadership and followership are critical for addressing pressing healthcare challenges, including health disparities. Black/African American women are disproportionately represented in entry-level roles compared to leadership positions within healthcare and often face unique challenges related to their …

Dangling Bridge Builders: Exploring The Personal And Professional Experiences Of Dei Executives With Workplace Belonging, David E. Jackson

PhD in Organizational Leadership

This phenomenological study explores the experiences of African American chief diversity officers (CDO) with workplace belonging in organizations where they implement diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB) initiatives. Through interviews with six CDOs across various sectors, the research examines how their backgrounds, identities, and organizational climates influence their perceptions and experiences of belonging. The study reveals five key themes: organizational experience, systemic disruption, identity politics, environmental incongruence, and workplace resilience. Findings indicate that CDOs often face unique challenges related to their marginalized identities, systemic barriers, and organizational resistance to change. Their journeys to leadership are characterized by personal experiences with …

Alumni Giving At A Christian Liberal Arts College That Originated As A Bible College, Joel K. Johnson

PhD in Organizational Leadership

Alumni giving is a critical revenue stream for Christian liberal arts colleges that originated as Bible institutions. This dissertation includes an in-depth case study of the patterns and determinants of alumni donations, focusing on the transition from Bible colleges to liberal arts institutions and the subsequent impact on alumni giving behaviors. Quantitative data from a member institution of the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities were analyzed to explore the influence of demographic variables of age, marital status, and era of institutional operation on alumni contributions. This research addressed six key questions, including comparisons of the participants' mean giving to …

The Influence Of Organizational Culture On Mission Drift In A Christian University, Mark Reddy

PhD in Organizational Leadership

This study addressed a critical gap in the literature by investigating the relationship between organizational culture and mission drift within Christian higher education. While mission drift has been widely discussed in popular press, limited academic research has explored the factors influencing it, particularly organizational culture. Utilizing the Denison Organizational Culture Survey (DOCS) and the Mission Drift Survey, this study evaluated how culture influences mission clarity and safeguards against mission drift in a Christian university. Findings reveal that consistency and mission from the DOCS are strong predictors of mission clarity, with both showing statistical significance (p < .001). In addition, the DOCS elements predicted safeguards against mission drift through consistency and mission at the significance level of p < .05. The study’s results highlight the importance of consistency and mission in combating mission drift, offering Christian higher education institutions practical insights for reinforcing their foundational goals. Additionally, the research contributed to validating the Mission Drift Survey in an academic context, broadening its potential application beyond business and into higher education sectors. This topic is growing, and further research is needed to expand on these findings and explore additional organizational cultural factors.

The Role Of Leader-Member Exchange In Building High Performers, Akeem J. Robinson

PhD in Organizational Leadership

This qualitative case study examined the critical factors that affect job satisfaction, commitment, and overall performance among high performers recognized as Employee-of-the-Month (EOM) winners within multiple healthcare systems, as well as insights from professionals in human resources, education, and higher education sectors, to provide a broader understanding of leadership dynamics and performance across different industries. By exploring how these award-winning employees perceive and navigate their relationships within the organizational hierarchy and among their peers, the results provide valuable insights into the relational qualities that influence their interactions with both leaders and team members. The study leveraged the leader-member exchange (LMX) …

The Influence Of Leaders’ Emotional Intelligence And Employees’ Emotional Intelligence On Employee Engagement, Mildred D. Usher

Doctor of Education (Ed.D)

The influence of emotional intelligence (EI) on employee engagement (EE) is significant. However, limited research exists on how both perceived leaders' EI and perceived employees’ EI influence EE. Identifying predictive factors that contribute to EE is crucial to organizational success. The current study examined 96 retail employees residing in the U.S. The purpose of the non-experimental, quantitative study was to examine the relationship between perceived leaders' EI and perceived employees' EI on employee engagement in U.S. Southwest region retail organizations. An online multi-sectional survey including demographic questions, the Self-Report Emotional Intelligence Test (SSEIT), and the Utrecht Work Engagement Scale (UWES) …

Career Commitment Of Female Mid-Level Leaders In The Tourism And Hospitality Industry In The State Of Florida: A Narrative Inquiry Approach, Amy M. Bernard Harrelson

PhD in Organizational Leadership

The tourism and hospitality industry (THI) is the leading industry in the state of Florida's economy, yet it faces challenges related to workforce retention and leadership diversity. The aim of this dissertation was to explore the career commitment of female mid-level leaders within this industry, focusing on the factors influencing their commitment to their careers in the THI. This study involved in-depth interviews with three female mid-level leaders working in the THI in the state of Florida, using a qualitative research method with a narrative inquiry approach. The findings revealed that these leaders are driven by a profound passion for …

The Influence Of Coaching Behaviors On Gen Z Collegiate Athletes And Team Morale, Erik Bennett

PhD in Organizational Leadership

A coach's behavior significantly influences both athlete and team morale. As a generational change occurs, the behaviors exhibited by coaches may also require change. As members of Generation Z (Gen Z) begin to fill collegiate sports rosters, understanding their unique characteristics and preferences becomes critical for effective coaching strategies. Drawing upon generational studies and the interviews of six collegiate athletes within the Gen Z cohort, how coaching behavior influences collegiate athletes' athletic performance and team morale was analyzed within this cohort. Using a qualitative approach, data gathered from the six Gen Zaged collegiate athletes were analyzed to reveal patterns of …

A Quantitative Study Of The Influence Of Emotional Intelligence On The Ministerial Effectiveness Of Executive Pastors As Scored By Their Lead Pastors., Thomas P. Frisinger

PhD in Organizational Leadership

Over the past two decades, churches have expanded their pastoral staff to include executive pastors (XP) to support lead pastors (LP) by mitigating stress and enhancing effectiveness (Krenz-Muller, 2022; Tidwell, 2020) in finances, facilities, and governmental entities, and staff oversight and development. This study involved an examination of the relationship between the emotional intelligence (EI) levels of XPs, using the TEIQue-SF (Cooper & Petrides, 2010), and their perceived ministerial effectiveness (ME) as assessed by LPs on the Ministerial Effectiveness Survey (MES; Dobrotka & Frisinger, 2024). The aim of the study was to identify any significant correlation between XPs and ministerial …

How Leaders Make Sense Of Esg To Lead Sustainable Businesses: Multiple Case Studies, Tiffany M. Crosby

PhD in Organizational Leadership

This multiple case qualitative research study involved an exploration of ESG leadership in four publicly-traded Midwestern U.S. sustainability-oriented companies to determine what the process of leading ESG looks like, how sustainability leaders integrate environmental, social, and economic goals, and how an organization’s internal and external affect sustainability leadership. Numerous quantitative studies have linked prevailing behavioral leadership theories to improved financial performance outcomes for sustainability-oriented companies, but qualitative research into ESG leadership practices has been limited, creating a gap that is addressed through this study. Using a conceptual framework grounded in upper-echelon and stakeholder theories, the ESG leadership practices of an …

Workshop Series: Embark On Your Journey Of Growth And Development, Heather Wilharm

Doctor of Strategic Leadership (DSL) Capstone Abstracts

Project Overview: Embark is a workshop series structured to assist entry-level associates in beginning, continuing, or restarting a journey of growth and development by offering each participant valuable knowledge, tools, and strategies to become a lifelong learner.

Project Themes: The curriculum consists of three steps, each with three to four modules. Step One—During Step One, each participant will understand their real (and true) needs, desires, goals, strengths, and everything else that makes you tick. Step Two—During Step Two, each participant will learn what it takes to optimize their performance which will inform their individualized growth and development plan. Step Three—During …

A Mixed-Method Inquiry Into Rural School Principal Perspectives Regarding Inclusion Through Social Justice Leadership, Amy J. Konz

PhD in Organizational Leadership

The purpose of this exploratory mixed-methods phenomenological study was to understand the perceptions of school building leaders (SBLs), also referred to as principals, regarding their facilitation of social justice leadership (SJL) and culturally responsive school leadership (CRSL) practices to support student inclusion and belongingness within the K-12 educational setting in NYS. This research study fills the knowledge gap related to student belongingness through the principal's perspective and illuminates how SBLs support inclusion. First, nine high-need rural school principals participated in semi-structured interviews, and second, 101 SBLs from across NYS completed a survey using the Social Justice Behavior Scale (SJBS). Findings …

Building A Professional Community Of Practice Through Collaborative Inquiry, Christopher E. Stevens

PhD in Organizational Leadership

Little if any research has been conducted to determine the dynamics of and meaning derived by a group of professionals using collaborative inquiry (CI) to create a values and behaviors (VB) statement in the early stages of forming a community of practice (CoP). This case study involved individual interviews and other observational techniques to determine meanings derived from the inquiry and identify the value individuals and the group as a community may have gained from the CI. The research questions for this study addressed how using CI to establish the VB statement affected the development of the CoP, the meaning …

Does Participation Matter? Exploring The Role Of Participation In Corporate Leadership Development Programs On The Intent To Stay Of High-Potential Employees In The Biotech Industry, Glenna M. Griffin

PhD in Organizational Leadership

The idea of leadership development programs for high-potential employees within organizations has long been a standard for driving employee retention within organizations. Yet, employee retention is different from employee intent to stay. Retention metrics measure historical data, looking back to determine how long an employee has stayed in the organization. Employee intent to stay measures, at that moment, data that contribute to an employee’s motivation to stay with the organization. Employers spend significant budgets on leadership development programs for high-potential employees and report on that participation in company retention metrics. Does the investment in these programs also support an employee’s …

Exploring The Intersection Of Ethical And Virtuous Leadership: An Analysis Of Correlation And Interchangeability Of Measurement Tools, Ty H. Wenglar

PhD in Organizational Leadership

Exploring the nuanced dimensions of leadership within contemporary organizational contexts, in this study, I delved into the correlation and interchangeability between virtuous and ethical leadership paradigms. Anchored in a methodological framework that includes a thorough literature review and a correlation research design, I assessed the relationship between perceptions of virtuous leadership (measured by the virtuous leadership questionnaire) and ethical leadership (measured by the ethical leadership scale) among leaders and subordinates across a representative demographic of the professional business environment. Drawing from a qualified participant pool of 533, I found a statistically significant, direct, and robust correlation (r = .91, p < .001) between virtuous and ethical leadership perceptions. Simple linear regression analysis showed that perceptions of virtuous leadership significantly predict those of ethical leadership, explaining 83.02% of the variance in ethical leadership perceptions (F (1,531) = 2,596.06, p < .001, R² = .83). These findings illuminate the close alignment between the constructs of virtuous and ethical leadership and suggest the potential use of their measurement instruments interchangeably without modification. By challenging traditional leadership models and advocating for an integrated approach to moral leadership, I highlight the critical importance of fostering both ethical behaviors and virtuous traits for effective leadership. A discussion of the implications for leadership development within organizations and outline directions for future research is provided, emphasizing the need for a holistic approach to cultivating leadership qualities that enhance organizational culture and effectiveness.

Personality Trait Theory And Combat Performance: A Retroactive Study Analyzing Combat Performance And Resilience Among Usaf Eod Veterans Of Iraq And Afghanistan, Michael C. Pasley

PhD in Organizational Leadership

The United States' national security depends upon high-performing leaders within select high-stress and high-risk military functional communities. However, research into the personality traits needed to perform well in these communities is lacking. This quantitative, retrospective, nonexperimental, correlational research aimed to determine whether relationships existed between the personality traits of Air Force EOD Team Leader Veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan and their combat performance and resilience. The theoretical foundation of this study encompassed personality trait theory, theories of human resource management and performance, and criterion measurement theories. The TAKE5 FC, a commercially available forced-choice five-factor model personality assessment, measured personality traits. …

Exploring The Impact Of Workplace Spirituality On Millennials’ Job Satisfaction And Organizational Commitment Using The Multidimensional Existential Meaning Scale, Nathan S. Gonzalez

PhD in Organizational Leadership

The aim of this research was to assess how meaning in life influences job satisfaction and organizational commitment among Millennials across diverse professions. Data were collected to examine these relationships comprehensively, employing the Multidimensional Existential Meaning Scale, Minnesota Satisfaction Questionnaire, and Organizational Commitment Questionnaire. Despite extensive research in workplace spirituality, research on Millennials and meaning in life remains scarce. Methodologically, this research adopted a quantitative cross-sectional design involving 131 participants from 24 industries in the United States. Reliability analyses demonstrated the trustworthiness of the employed scales, with strong correlations observed between job satisfaction and organizational commitment with the dimensions of …

Leading Change During Crisis: Nonprofit Leaders’ Experiences During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Jose A. Diaz Jr.

Doctor of Education (Ed.D)

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to discover which experiences from the COVID-19 pandemic led to leadership and organizational changes within nonprofit organizations located in southern Florida. Data for the study were collected by interviewing leaders of five nonprofit organizations that provided human and social services to individuals and families before, during, and after the pandemic. The participants discussed some of the challenges they experienced with social distancing protocols, service delivery continuity to service users, and the concerns among staff and volunteers. Four themes were common among the participants of the study: operational restrictions, technological adaptations, staff morale and …

The Role Of Intercultural Communication In Recruiting And Retaining Student-Athletes: A Phenomenological Study On Understanding The Sociocultural Aspects Of Building Non-Revenue Teams In Intercollegiate Sport, Eva Rouser

PhD in Organizational Leadership

Recruiting and retaining student-athletes at NCAA Division I and II member institutions is difficult. However, the coaches of non-revenue-producing sport have developed communication measures to assist in successfully fielding teams of culturally unique individuals that build an ingroup culture to compete despite limiting factors. The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to examine the lived experience of non-revenue-producing sporting coaches’ intercultural communication methodical variations in interactions with student-athletes as each coach adapts exchanges to serve as relationship-building elements to balance cultural norms with the acceptance of unfamiliar cultural behaviors. Relevant themes emerged from the data gathered during participant interviews, …

Exploring Implicit Belief Alignment In Leaders And Followers, Candice F. Fast

PhD in Organizational Leadership

Through quantitative, nonexperimental research, this study focused on follower schemas among leaders and followers. The sample included 203 leaders and followers from Canada and the United States. The research addressed a literature gap through comparing leaders and followers’ implicit beliefs. In followership literature, two prominent areas of study regarding followers’ implicit beliefs are the implicit followership theory (IFT) and follower role orientation. Although many scholars have considered IFT and role orientation as the same construct, no scholar has ever compared the theories for correlation. Thus, the study addressed another literature gap through correlation and predictive analysis tests to compare between …

Evaluation Of The Hispanic Paradox: Conceptualized Through The Lens Of Generational Decision-Making Styles Of First-, Second-, And Third-Plus-Generation Hispanic Leaders, Daniel De Leon Jr

PhD in Organizational Leadership

The primary objective of this dissertation was first to ascertain whether there is a statistically significant effect of generation on decision-making styles and secondarily to ascertain whether there would be a statistically significant interaction effect for study participant gender and generation upon decision-making styles. The researcher hypothesized that there are quantifiable differences among Hispanic generations: first-generation Hispanic immigrants to the second and third-plus generations (Kiang et al., 2011; Pan & Pierre Lu, 2015). Decision-making styles create a framework to understand an individual's decision-making process, problem-solving matrix, and interactions with other organizations and team members (Rowe & Boulgarides, 1983). The population …

Towards A Model Of Follower Development: Exploring The Success Differentials In Leader And Follower Development Outcomes As Experienced By Bankers In Nigeria., Chris O. Chukwuma

PhD in Organizational Leadership

The aim of this qualitative study was to understand the leader and follower development experiences of middle-level managers in the Nigerian banking industry regarding developing followers into leaders. I used two research questions to explore the perception and treatment of followers and the levels of leader and follower development as influences on the development of followers into leaders. The research was set in Nigeria, with a purposive sample of middle-level managers in the Nigerian banking industry. I used a descriptive phenomenological technique to conduct long, deep interviews with 12 middle-level managers via Zoom video and then transcribed them with Otter.ai …

Exploring The Application Of Compassionate Leadership Behaviors In The Workplace, Tracy L. Laurie

Doctor of Education (Ed.D)

This qualitative case study answers the central research question “How are compassionate leadership behaviors encouraged and/or discouraged in the workplace?” Interviews with five individuals from one work team in an Am Law 100 law firm revealed how the compassionate leadership behaviors of integrity, accountability, presence, empathy, authenticity, and dignity (Shuck et al., 2019) were applied at work. This research explored four themes: leadership courage, growth mindset, empowerment, and coaching performance. Each theme has four subthemes further describing the data: Leadership courage: managing consistently and fairly, being transparent, communicating honestly, and taking risks; Growth mindset: working intentionally, developing others, learning continuously, …