Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Finding The Fit: Job Crafting As A Leadership Tool, Paul R. Johnson

Theses and Graduate Projects

Too many people go their entire lives in jobs that aren't quite the right fit. In fact, currently 70% of the American workforce is disengaged, a symptom of people feeling like the position or career they are in is not right for them. Some people end up switching jobs or careers multiple times throughout their life, while others may remain in a job they dislike. The focus of my research was to look at a third possible solution for unhappy workers: job crafting. By giving workers the freedom to add new tasks or alter existing ones, expand or contract their …

Leadership With Professional Associations, Shari R. Estep

Theses and Graduate Projects

This research reviews the concepts of leadership through the lens of professional associations and indicates how this applies to the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf. It recognizes that leadership is not just individual characteristics and traits or personality. This study reveals the many dimensions of leadership through the scholarly studies that were used to support the findings. By narrowing the concept of leadership as an interactive process and nonlinear, it illuminates how leadership plays out within an orgamzation. In a group or organizational context, leadership becomes a process in which all members are active participants. Those who establish organizations …

Best Practices And Challenges To Composting In A Restaurant Setting, Christopher Jon Audette

Theses and Graduate Projects

Composting and organic waste reduction has been an important topic in recent years. The large volume of food waste that is generated and sent to landfills is of growing concern for municipalities as they struggle to handle ever increasing waste. Though recycling efforts of glass, paper and metal materials has become more common, the addition of composting organic waste on a large scale is still relatively not established. Composting in restaurants is a growing component to reducing the amount of organic waste that ends up in landfills due to the high volume of waste that they generate. The creation of …

Developing More Effective Women’S Leadership Development Programs & Addressing The Organizational Barriers That Inhibit Them, Greta M. Hittner

Theses and Graduate Projects

After decades of work to close gender gaps at the highest levels of leadership, organizations are turning to women’s leadership development programs with greater frequency. These programs are often designed to address skill gaps common among women, but have produced limited results. This paper reviews the literature on the gender gap, women’s leadership development programs, and the requisite organizational transformations needed to address the gender gap. The implications are that change must come from both the bottom up by developing women’s leadership skills and from the top down with organizations confronting bias and structural barriers. Only then will organizations fully …

A Qualitative Exploration Into Larry Wilson's Transformational Leadership, Peter D. Engstrom

Theses and Graduate Projects

Larry Wilson was considered by many to be a transformational leader.

This paper explores the intersection of how people associated with Larry experienced him relative to the current research on transformational leadership through an interpretive method of gathering data from former employees, customers, and family. Data was gathered through a series of personal interviews, published text, and a questionnaire. The interviews and questionnaire yielded five main themes. The evidence suggests Larry’s style of leadership is consistent with the Full Range of Transformational Leadership, as posited by Bernard Bass and Bruce Avolio (1994).

A Leadership Analysis Of The Un Security Council, Omar Moallim

Theses and Graduate Projects

The United Nations (LN) is an organization established to "maintain international peace and security...develop friendly relations among nations [and] to achieve international cooperation ("UnitedNation",20l6). The Security Council is the UN's primary leadership body. It is led by five powerful countries - United States of America (USA), Russia, Great Britain, France and China -- that sit as "permanent members". The leadership of the Security Council is augmented by ten representatives from other countries who are elected by the General Assembly to serve two-year terms. The UN has guidelines for insuring and maintaining world peace. In spite of these positive intentions, international …

Preparing Millennials For Leadership: Understanding How Leadership Transitions Well Between Generations, Benjamin S. Stumph

Theses and Graduate Projects

There are measurable differences between those in the Generation X and Millenial generational cohorts. This study has been conducted to aid in identifying specific leadership tendencies that may cause challenging leadership transition in a large health cate organization. Research was completed to understand the differences in values and tendencies between members of these two cohorts. Following this research, two separate focus groups were conducted to discuss the differences and identify areas of opportunify in improving the leadership activities of both Generation X and Millennial leader at the organization. Finally, recommendations regarding ways to improve leadership transition were compiled and presented.

Overcoming Organizational Challenges During And After A Reductton-In-Force (Rif), Gerardo J. Gonzalez

Theses and Graduate Projects

Within the context of the modern environment of business, competitive forces are lncreasing exponentially. Turnover rates have risen as a result of the business environment, leading to substantial scholarship on the issue to explore the theoretical and practical implications of turnover. Turnover is directly linked to organizational performance, and thus must be effectively managed (Park & Shaw, 2013). Herein, the reduction-in-force (RIF) form of turnover will be explored extensively, considering the various planning processes that may be executed to achieve it, in addition to its implications. A RIF turnover is defined essentially as downsizing (McElroy et al., 2001 ). A …

Spiritual Leadership In Modern-Day Native American Culture And Approaches To Native American Religion And Christianity, Christine Diindiisi-Wallette Mccleave

Theses and Graduate Projects

This qualitative study focuses on the modern-day approaches to Native American religion and Christianity in the Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN metro area. The spiritual leaders interviewed were asked about the varieties of spirituality practices in the Native American community today, the potential conflicts or areas of compatibility among these various spiritual practices, and the role of spiritual practices in cultural revitalization and community activism. The results of thestudy present a spectrum of spiritual practices and approaches to Native American religion and Christianity including those who practice Christianity exclusively, those who blend Christianity with Native culture and practices, and those who practice …

Building A Successful Youth Soccer Academy: Key Leadership Tactics Of Expert Coaches, Evan Fuhs

Theses and Graduate Projects

This study examines the actions of successful soccer coaches in changing team culture. More specifically, in-depth interviews were conducted with eight coaches who met criteria for expertise and success. In order to discern the particular tactics these coaches used to build a successful team culture from the ground up, the interview guide was derived from a conceptual framework that was based on the theoretical tenets of transformational leadership and organizational culture change, as well as practical research of those subjects in the athletic arena. The findings are reported and provide support for the utility of transformational leadership tactics and change …

Impact Of Communication Mode On Effectiveness Of Business Communication, Sara J. Tyler

Theses and Graduate Projects

The purpose of this paper is to evaluate cofilmunication mode selection in a business environment and determine how the choice of medium impacts the effectiveness of the resulting communication episode. Communication modes evaluated include email, face-to-face meetings, instant messages, phone calls, and teleconferences. The findings of this quantitative study show that communication modes are selected primarily by convenience or the mode that initiated the episode, not because of expected effectiveness. Leaders can use this analysis to monitor the effectiveness of various communication modes used in their environments and develop cofilmunication guidelines to improve overall efficiency in a business environment.

The Role Of Volunteer Leaders In Deepening The Efforts Of A Communitywide Youth Asset-Building Initiative, Karen Mariska Atkinson

Theses and Graduate Projects

This paper examines, from a community-building perspective, the importance of engaging adults in a deliberate way to deepen asset-building efforts that will benefit the lives of young people. This was done through a leadership application project focused on volunteer adult leaders who connected, equipped and inspired small groups through discussions that deepen their understanding and actions in support of young people. Areas of study include the role of community, volunteer leader attributes, and small group structures. In addition, the project included the development of a guided discussion curriculum for use by volunteer leaders. The paper includes a methodology with a …

Leadership Development In A Midsize Nonprofit Midwestern 0rganization, Casey Fuerst

Theses and Graduate Projects

This action research project addresses the leadership development challenges of a midsize nonprofit in the Midwestern region of the United States. By looking at the first two phases of the program offered, the state of information on other similar organizations leadership development efforts, the state of information on mentoring options, and the application of Kouzes and Posners [2012J leadership theory of Exemplary Leadership, the project lays out the plan for the third phase of development.

From Start-Up To The Next Level : How To Grow A Small Start-Up Business, Antonelli Lindsay

Theses and Graduate Projects

This paper investigates the strategies used to help small business become profitable. A primary research question following a series of secondary questions were formulated in order to achieve this goal. First, it was considered necessary to understand what consulting business and small business mean from the small business perspective. The second step was to get an insight in the reason why small businesses hire consultants, and the third part of the study focused on the application of the strategic leadership theory. Here the frame of direction was based on Richard L. Hughes and Katherine Colarelli Beatty strategic leadership theory (2005).

"Multimedia Leadership Training: Where Is The Investment For Developing Tomorrow's Leaders In Multimedia Broadcast Stations?", Diana Pierce

Theses and Graduate Projects

Where is the current investment in training for multimedia managers and staff that produce daily broadcast news reports on multimedia platforms? What leadership-training program could be introduced at a local Midwest multimedia station that might address the need for leadership training at this station? This Action Research project examines the literature of what multimedia companies are doing in leadership training and observes specifically one Midwest station in particular. What is clear from the research is that multimedia managers want to have better human resource skills. What isn't clear is why leadership training for about one third of the multimedia industry …

Maintaining Trust Through Patient-Centered Care And Collaboration: A Leadership Model For Hospitals, Mamisoa S. Knutson

Theses and Graduate Projects

This study analyzes actions taken by hospital leaders throughout the United States to improve the services offered by their institutions. A review of studies by researchers on patient-centered care, doctor and nurse collaboration, and involvement of patients' families in the patients' experience revealed that increased focus on patient-centered care, doctor and nurse collaboration, and involvement of patients' families is necessary for trust to be attained by patients.

Knowledge Management In A Distributed Workforce: Implications For Leadership, Jennifer S. Milbradt

Theses and Graduate Projects

Over the past decade, the distribution of workers across the country and around the world who work together in various configurations has increased. Work relationships range from being co-located in the same office to working from a virtual office. This paper explores knowledge management in the virtual workforce and best practices for leadership in an increasingly distributed workforce. There is great potential for collaboration within a distributed workforce; however. people need to connect or be connected with each other in order for the collaborative process to flourish. In this project, knowledge management in a distributed workforce was explored among employees …

Elderspeak And Identity Subversion: A Leadership Challenge In Elder Services, Patty Lou Crawford

Theses and Graduate Projects

Using a cross-disciplinary approach, this paper provides an important connection between elderspeak and identity subversion. Elderspeak, sometimes referred to as secondary baby talk, is a modified speech pattern marked by increased volume, simplified syntax, diminutives, collective pronouns, and terms of endearment. It subverts identity by negating ltfe experience and the individuality of an elder. Research has found that elderspeak can lead to a diminished sense of self, yet it is a significant part of the speech environment for elders in institutions that are designed to provide care. For leadership in the growing field of elder services the use of elderspeak …

Developing The Emerging Leader At Bachman's, Inc.: Curriculum Design Considerations, John Daniels

Theses and Graduate Projects

The purpose of this project is to identify leadership principles and training strategies for inclusion in a leadership development program (LDP) tailored to the needs of the emerging leaders at Bachman's, Inc. and to develop a basic, working outline of such a curriculum. For the purposes of this project, I define emerging leaders as those individuals who have assumed their first position of authority or supervision over others. They have either been hired directly into a supervisory position, or they have been promoted from a position of production into one of supervision. In this paper, I outline a leadership development …

Employee Engagement's Impact On Organizational Performance Measures, John Robert Mason

Theses and Graduate Projects

The purpose of this research paper is to determine whether or not positive employee engagement scores correlate to higher achievement of organizational goals. In order to provide context a literature review was performed to understand the current definition of employee engagement, the relationship between engagement and goals as well as an understanding of how organizational goals impact employee engagement. A correlative study between surgeon engagement scores and organizational performance measures will be performed in order to understand the relationship between the two. The results of the study will be used to aid leaders in relying on engagement in order to …

Small Migrant Nonprofit Organizations: Leadership Approaches That Connect To The Country Of Origin, Josephat Makori Nyangau

Theses and Graduate Projects

As a Kenya migrant who has observed leaders of migrant organizations play a great role both in country of origin and their host, I was motivated to undertake this study to find out the approaches migrant leaders use to connect to their country of origin. This study aimed to review literature on small migrant nonprofit organizations with emphasis on Kenyan registered migrant nonprofit organizations in Minnesota. Other migrant organizations were also explored to help bridge the gap in the literature. The literature review conducted found few registered migrant nonprofit organizations of Kenyan descent in the Minnesota registry based on their …

Comparing Leadership Practices In Internationally Focused Non-Profit Organizations, Vincent C. Haen

Theses and Graduate Projects

This study examines the effective leadership practices in non-profit international organizations. A review of the literature identifies common leadership practices. An in-depth case study examines effective leadership practices in one successful non-profit organization. This will show consistency between the review of the literature and the in-depth case studies. Effective leadership practices have been identified as: systems for engaging others, long term leadership practices, and creative collaboration.

Women, Leadership And The Enlisted Military, Nicole Lillis

Theses and Graduate Projects

The military has changed dramatically over the years involving more active roles for women in leadership positions, regardless of combat experience. According to the Department of Defense,7.4 million people serve in today's military and 15 percent of them are women (DOD, 2013). There are 1.2 million enlisted personnel, 250,000 of that number are officers (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2013). Yet, relatively little research has been conducted on enlisted personnel in leadership roles, and virtually none regarding female enlisted leadership. Recent studies have shown that females face barriers in the military due to their gender and perceived stereotypes. Current literature often …

Remote Employee Engagement, Craig A. Dischinger

Theses and Graduate Projects

This action research project looks at employee engagement among geographically dispersed teams. The goal of this research is to better understand the theory of engagement and develop a methodology for increasing engagement for teams and individuals that work in a location outside of a main headquarters environment. The focus of this study involves three distinctly different teams. Each team has a unique headquarters environment, but shares the same responsibility of ensuring a safe and secure environment through the leadership and execution of a physical security program. However, each team is also dealing with engagement challenges related to being dispersed geographically …

Exploring The Transformational Impact Of Baccalaureate Education On Vocation A Hermeneutic Phenomenological Study Of Rn-Bsn Graduates, Libby Henslin

Theses and Graduate Projects

Four-year liberal arts colleges seek to expand knowledge and prepare undergraduate sfudents for vocational service to an increasingly complex and global society. This requires colleges to lead transformatively, in keeping with their vision, mission and values, to maintain institutional integrity. As a regionally accredited, Christian affiliated liberal arts college Augsburg College should provide a baccalaureate degree that is potentially transformative. A hermeneutic phenomenological study, informed by Transfotmational Leadership Theory, was conducted by interviewing four Bachelor of Science in Nursing completion graduates to explore the change in their call to professional caring service through their educational journey. Four essential themes emerged …

Collaborative Leadership: Jane Addams And Her Circle Of Friends, Sheila V. Davies

Theses and Graduate Projects

Collaboration and collaborative leadership are terms used often in current leadership language. Whether in private or public enterprises, collaboration has become a "catch word" that elicits ideas of shared ownership and effective problem solving. Collaborative leadership could be a "stand alone" leadership style or it could incorporate other leadership styles to prove most effective. The manner in which it is used depends, in part, on who is using it and for what purpose. Jane Addams, a progressive leader in the early twentieth century, used collaborative leadership effectively in her social change efforts. Together with Julia Lathrop, Florence Kelley, Alice Hamilton …

Young Professionals' Organizations - Just Another Happy Hour, Sadie C. Pulk

Theses and Graduate Projects

Today there are an abundance of young professionals' organizations, yet there is little research on what individuals hope to gain from their participation in such groups, why they join such groups, and their concurrent leadership development. Using a review of academic literature and interviews with young professionals serving on or recently serving on an executive committee for a young professionals' organization working to end Alzheimer's disease, this action research attempts to gain an understanding of young professionals' organrzations and what leadership development opportunities can add to them. It concludes with recommended actions for the group to take.

An Implementation Plan For Integrated Dual Diagnosis Treatment, Mary Jean Dunn

Theses and Graduate Projects

Recovery from substance abuse or mental illness can be a long and difficult process. lndividuals attempting to recover from both issues face an even more complex road to healing. Research shows that treatment models, which address both illnesses simultaneously, in the same setting, have the best success. Treatment models that address both issues at once are called Integrated Dual Diagnosis Treatment (IDDT). There are a number of IDDT models around the country and Minnesota has recently finalized its framework for IDDT certification. This paper examines the most corlmonly used components of IDDT models and will study the process of implementation …

Boundaries In The Workplace: A Study To Explore The Role Of Boundaries And Team Cohesion In A Predominantly Female Setting, Cynthia A. Check

Theses and Graduate Projects

This qualitative study explores the potential connection of gender, team cohesion and relational boundaries in the workplace. Information gathered through in-depth interviews was analyzed for patterns of connection between the three themes and compared to current research literature. Existing findings of factors that contribute to team cohesion were supported such as development of trust, respect, commitment to task and unified goals. Further research including gender specific studies and further definition and study of relational boundaries in the workplace would be beneficial.

Making Smooth Transition To The Workplace A Person Centered Approach, Jackie Pederson

Theses and Graduate Projects

The aim of this project ts to create recommendations for a better orientation to a new job or a new role withtn the same organization. Fifteen new employees within an organization were interviewed regarding what was helpful to them and what they experienced that was dfficult. Literature was reviewed that pertained to what was helpful and what was dfficult for new employees. The servant leadership model was examined as the model that might be useful to use to improve job orientation. It was chosen because of the relational, humanistic, person centered qualities it contains. A plan for orientation is,for organizations …