Leadership Commons^™

Program Factors Influencing Investment In Nhri Leadership Mentoring Relationships, Elizabeth A. Kenes

Department of Agricultural Leadership, Education, and Communication: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

The purpose of this study was to examine how specific programmatic factors influence levels of investment within mentoring relationships in a collegiate leadership mentoring program. Previous research has demonstrated the benefits of mentoring; however, much of this work has relied on self-reported data and has not directly linked program factors to clearly defined mentoring outcomes. This study addresses this gap by examining how relationship duration, meeting consistency, and training and learning predict mentoring investment using observational program data.

Using the Investment Triangle framework and an integrative theoretical framework as guiding foundations, this study examined mentoring investment within NHRI Leadership Mentoring …

Public Perceptions Of Leadership Effectiveness In Ethiopia Over The Last Decade, Fikadu Reta Alemayehu

Dissertations and Doctoral Documents, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2023–

Ethiopia is one of the largest countries in Africa, with a fast-growing economy, rich history, diverse agroecology, more than 70 languages, and a population exceeding 130 million. However, the country continues to face serious internal conflict, high malnutrition, and economic hardship, while the study of leadership effectiveness remains limited and lacks consistent longitudinal research. To help fill this gap, this study examined how public perceptions of leadership effectiveness and development outcomes changed in Ethiopia between 2013 and 2023, using Afrobarometer survey data. The analysis explored how citizens’ views about governance, wellbeing, and access to services evolved during a decade of …

Parliamentary Procedure Interactive Notebook: Newly Revised, P. Troy White, Amie Carter

Department of Agricultural Leadership, Education, and Communication: Faculty Publications

An interactive notebook for teaching fundamentals of parliamentary procedure. Over 120 pages of content to help teach correct principles of this critical organizational management skill. P. Troy White is a Professional Registered Parliamentarian and a Certified Parliamentarian, ensuring that the content included follows the 12th Edition of Robert's Rules of Order.

Between Two Worlds: A Case Study Of Third Culture Identity And Reentry For Unl International Students, John S. Tessalee

Department of Agricultural Leadership, Education, and Communication: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Third Culture Kids (TCKs) and international students share many commonalities, such as their globalized nature, adaptability, and the adoption of cultural components from their host country versus their home country. However, they contain enough differences to be considered separate groups. Traditionally, people need to be immersed in a culture different from their parents’ culture between the ages of 0 and 18 to be considered a TCK, whereas international students are typically between 18 and 24 years old by the time they attend universities overseas. The cultural absorption of TCKs in their formative years is usually greater than that of international …

Planting The Seed: Rumors And Ceo Dismissal, Diego Villalpando

Dissertations and Doctoral Documents, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2023–

Researchers have investigated the short-term performance implications of CEO dismissals as assessed through investor reactions to CEO dismissal announcements. While the corporate governance mechanism of dismissal that boards orchestrate when CEOs underperform could be positively perceived by investors, empirical evidence suggests that a positive association between CEO dismissals and investor reactions is equivocal. Thus, in my dissertation, I examine investor reactions to S&P 500 dismissal announcements and further understanding about this intriguing relationship through the development of theory that incorporates the important theoretical mechanism of information uncertainty. Since it is increasingly hard for boards to reduce the information uncertainty surrounding …

Caterpillar Strategic Audit, Tyler Vander Woude, Grant Kingston, Kaiden Bedient, Drew Shafer

Honors Program: Senior Projects (Public)

This strategic audit evaluates Caterpillar Inc.'s business-level and corporate-level strategies, examining how the company maintains its competitive advantage in the heavy machinery and industrial equipment sectors. The research focuses on Caterpillar's hybrid approach, combining differentiation and cost leadership strategies to offer high-quality, durable products while optimizing costs through technological innovation, supply chain efficiencies, and product longevity. The methodology for this audit includes a comprehensive internal and external analysis, incorporating frameworks such as SWOT, PESTEL, VRIO, and Porter’s Five Forces. Additionally, Caterpillar’s strategic initiatives in vertical and horizontal integration, governance structure, and financial performance were assessed. The research also explores the …

A Strategic Audit: Eli Lilly & Company, Natalie Karrels, Ethan Heinemann, Jonathan Patton, Meg Williams

Honors Program: Senior Projects (Public)

This strategic audit assesses the external and internal forces impacting Eli Lilly & Company’s strategic decision-making strategies. All information has been gathered from industry reports and company reports, including reports for investors, analyst calls, financial statements, and news reports. The report highlights the quantitative, qualitative, performance, strategy, and leadership decisions that have allowed Eli Lilly & Company to succeed for the past 150 years.

Applications Of Systems Thinking In Honors Education: The Justice Challenge, Rebecca C. Bott, Jonathan D. Kotinek, Timothy J. Nichols, Heidi Appel, Andrea Radasanu, Joy L. Hart

Honors in Practice Online Archive

Honors education has long been praised for its potential as a test bed for curricular innovation. A wide variety of high-impact practices have been employed to prepare honors students to think critically and tackle complex problems. Examination of the use of systems thinking within pedagogical practices in honors education is, however, nearly nonexistent in the literature. The authors present a brief introduction to systems thinking; review its use within honors curricula; and examine how a nationwide collaborative of honors educators equips students with systems thinking tools to learn about and engage with complex interdisciplinary problems. The authors characterize systems thinking …

Leaders’ Experiences Of An Organizational Journey To Inclusive Leadership, John Allan Slieter

Dissertations and Doctoral Documents, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2023–

The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to explore the lived experiences of fourteen leaders of a large community healthcare organization while they undertook adoption of an initiative intended to create a more inclusive culture in their organization. Utilizing a Transcendental Phenomenological approach to data collection and analysis, data generation occurred through semi- structured interviews. Analysis of data provided descriptions of the sense making that explains how these leaders experienced the phenomenon contextually. Four themes emerged from this study, (a) Our mission is to serve, (b) Who is at the table? (c) Securing our future, and (d) …

Exploring Mindfulness Within Leadership Development: A Phenomenological Study, Amardeep Kaur

Dissertations and Doctoral Documents, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2023–

Leadership is a key to success in a complex, rapidly changing world. While scholarly and organizational interest in mindfulness is growing within the leadership and leadership development space, it remains largely unexplored from the leader's perspective. This phenomenological study explored how leaders perceived and described their mindfulness experiences within their leadership development. This exploratory research used a transcendental phenomenological approach (Moustakas, 1994) to capture their self-expression through in-depth, semi-structured interviews. Day's (2000) conceptual framework on leader and leadership development guided the study. The participants were recruited from organizations based in the U.S. that offer mindfulness-based programs, snowball sampling techniques, and …

Leading The Way: An Exploration Of Leadership Behaviors In Academic Advising, Amanda Bergeron-Bauer

Dissertations and Doctoral Documents, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2023–

Academic advisors in higher education serve as more than a resource for planning classes. These student affairs professionals also assist with success plans, identifying career paths, connecting students with relevant campus resources, and working through academic and personal concerns. Over time, the field of academic advising has transitioned from a prescriptive form of advising that consisted primarily of transactional interactions to a hybrid approach that incorporates developmental advising or helping to develop the whole student. As institutions emphasize the importance of developmental advising on their campuses, it is necessary for academic advisors to expand their skill sets to better meet …

Rivian Automotive Strategic Audit, Bruno Salles

Honors Program: Senior Projects (Public)

This thesis provides a comprehensive analysis of Rivian Automotive, a pioneering electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer, focusing on its background, performance, challenges, and future outlook. Founded in 2009 by Robert "RJ" Scaringe, Rivian embarked on a mission to revolutionize the automotive industry with its innovative EV offerings, driven by a commitment to performance, utility, and sustainability. The company's journey from inception to its Initial Public Offering (IPO) in 2021 and subsequent challenges amid the global semiconductor chip shortage and market dynamics are examined. A detailed PESTEL analysis evaluates the political, economic, social, technological, environmental, and legal factors influencing Rivian's operations and …

Lockheed Martin Strategic Audit, Trevor Deboer, Gunnar Lombard, Sam Nelson, Tj Taylor, Paul Wynegar

Honors Program: Senior Projects (Public)

Abstract

This case study explores Lockheed Martin, a global leader in defense contracting. Our team performed a strategic audit using the theories of strategic management. Our research was pulled from various sources, including Lockheed Martin’s website, SEC filings, related news articles, and relevant industry analysis. The goals of this case study revolved around collecting data and performing analysis to evaluate Lockheed Martin’s potential for competitive advantage in the airplane and parts manufacturing industry.

Some of the various analyses performed on Lockheed Martin include firm analysis, industry analysis, internal analysis, external analysis, competitive dynamics, business-level strategy, corporate-level strategy, and exploring their …

Lululemon Strategic Audit, Tessa Mozingo, Olivia Eno, Molly Mitchell, Connor Morrissey, James Eshleman

Honors Program: Senior Projects (Public)

This case study focuses on lululemon, a prominent athleisure apparel company. Our team conducted an audit of the company revolving around strategic business management principles. Our research used publicly available information that included the company’s website, SEC filings, news articles, lululemon’s annual reports, financial statements, IBIS industry reports, and online sources. The goal of this strategic audit is to develop an understanding of lululemon’s business activities and strategies, collect and analyze both internal and external data, and evaluate lululemon based on strategic management concepts.

In this strategic audit, we conduct internal, external, performance, and competitive analyses and an examination of …

Audio-Technica Strategic Audit, Caleb Druckemiller

Honors Program: Senior Projects (Public)

Audio-Technica is a multinational audio equipment design and manufacturing company specializing in the production of headphones, microphones, and turntables. The company has been a gold standard for professional use since its inception and has recently ventured into consumer markets. Using both internal and external analysis tools, this audit aims to evaluate how Audio-Technica has established itself in the highly competitive audio equipment industry. Specific techniques include Porter’s Five Forces and PESTEL analyses. After conducting this examination of Audio-Techinca and its industry environment, strategic recommendations will be made to best position the company moving forward.

Marriott International: A Managerial Strategic Audit, Brooke Eschenbrenner, Alex Zlatic, Madison Bechtel, Brandon Collins, Charlotte Straley, Grant Gubbels

Honors Program: Senior Projects (Public)

A strategic management audit of the public firm, Marriott International, was conducted to identify various factors and managerial strategies that affect Marriott and the global hotels and tourism industry. At the industry level, we conducted a PESTEL and Five Forces analysis, researched the competitive landscape, and assessed the total value potential. We found that the industry experienced a major decline during the COVID-19 pandemic but saw recovery as international travel opened up again. On the company level, we conducted an internal analysis, identified Marriott’s management structure, and identified the firm’s structure and strategies through a SWOT analysis and other relevant …

Lululemon Athletica Inc. Backhaul Strategic Audit, Hadley Hiatt

Honors Program: Senior Projects (Public)

Lululemon Athletica Inc. (Lululemon) is an athletic apparel company headquartered in Canada. Lululemon targets consumers who strive to live a healthy, active lifestyle. Its business model is based on the “Power of Three x 2” focusing on three strategic pillars, product innovation, guest experience, and international expansion. This analysis seeks to understand Lululemon’s face paced growth and unique business strategy through the use of a PESTEL analysis of macro environment, Porter’s Five Forces analysis of the competitive environment of the industry, analyzing the company’s strategy, major strategic objectives, competitive advantages, resources that may lead to a sustainable competitive advantage, and …