Leadership Studies Commons^™

Organizational Leaders’ Experience With Fear-Related Emotions: A Critical Incident Study, Al Barkouli

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

This study used the Critical Incident Technique (CIT) to better understand how organizational leaders experienced fear-related emotions. Through semi-structured interviews, fifteen executive leaders, mainly chief executive officers (CEOs), shared their experiences in response to threatening, risky, or dangerous incidents. In addition to a phenomenological understanding of the experience, participants illuminated the role that fear-related emotions play in leader decisions, how these emotions influence leader-follower relationships, the impacts of fear-related emotions on leaders’ health and well-being, and the ways leaders managed their experience with fear-related emotions including the role courage played. Leaders often faced threats, risks, or dangers (stimuli) from within …

A Mixed Methods Study: Dimensions Of Cross-Cultural Professional Success: Experiences Of Western Women Living And Working In Eastern Cultures, Tami J. France

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

In this world of global interconnectedness women continue to develop cross-cultural careers and their experiences impact and influence global scholarship and practice. Through this study, the relationships, resources, and characteristics that support female expatriate success were explored, with additional focus on the role of mentor and coach relationships. The mixed-methods study was conducted using a sequential approach to research that began with one-on-one semi structured interviews with ten professional women from the United States and Canada working or formerly working in China and Hong Kong. A survey was designed based on the interview findings. Professional women from western countries working …

A Mixed Methods Perspective: How Integral Leaders Can Contribute To The Growth Of Emerging Leaders, Susan M. Hayes

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

Given that organizational complexity continues to increase, leaders are looking for credible information, and a process that helps them become a better leader. Emerging leaders are faced with trying to be the best leader they can be while leading teams of people who think and act differently from them. To assist emerging leaders with their leadership, this study explores the literature and looks to highly respected and admired leaders for how they became the leader they are today. The purpose of this study was fourfold: first, to identify and describe first and second tier integral theory leaders from a sample …

“Just” Business And Often Personal: An Exploration Into The Incidents Social Entrepreneurs Identify As Critical To Leading Their Enterprises, Jerrid P. Kalakay

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

As the number of social issues around the world increases, the need for well-prepared social entrepreneurs to solve and improve those issues also increases. Social entrepreneurs with determination and courage may very well succeed in bringing sustainable social change where others have previously failed. The entrepreneurs who choose to lead social enterprises are distinctly committed to improving society through the creation of social value in addition to wealth creation. The purpose of this study was to explore the incidents social entrepreneurs identify as critical to leading their enterprises. Nineteen United States Ashoka Fellows were interviewed. Participants reflected on the most …

Creativity In Urban Placemaking: Horizontal Networks And Social Equity In Three Cultural Districts, Tom Borrup

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

Many authors point to expanding disparities related to wealth and social benefits brought by globalization and the creative city movement while culture and creativity emerge as growing forces in urban placemaking and economic development. The phenomenon of cultural district formation in cities around the globe presents challenges and opportunities for leaders, planners, and managers. Emerging theory related to cultural districts suggests culture can serve to build horizontal relationships that bridge people and networks from different sectors and professions as well as across ethnicities, class, and interests. Research for this dissertation examined the formation of three urban cultural districts social and …

Toward Transforming Health Systems: A Practice Study Of Organizing And Practical Inquiry In Academic Medicine, Thomas A. Ellison

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

Transformation of health care systems will be grounded in new professional relations and collective, cross-disciplinary actions to impact care delivery. Organizing such relations and actions involves practical inquiry rather than applying professional knowledge. This dissertation presents an exploratory, performative study of the initial organizing of the Health Systems Innovation and Research (HSIR) Program in Health Sciences at the University of Utah. The HSIR program was conceived principally to catalyze cross-disciplinary innovation and health services research and enhance care delivery changes by documenting care improvements and publishing research. This study includes a composite narrative of the organizing and practical inquiry work …

Site Visitation: School Leaders' Perceptions Of A Diagnostic Tool For School Improvement, Mary Shannon C. Chiasson

LSU New Orleans Theses and Dissertations

This case study explored the use of site-visitation as a diagnostic tool for school improvement. Nine charter schools in New Orleans were selected for the study. Based on qualitative research and systems theory, a within- and cross-case analysis of nine semi-structured interviews with school leaders were conducted. The school leaders’ experiences with the state-run site-visitation model and their use of the findings for school improvement was explored. The findings led to the development of a hybrid accountability model that encompasses the components school leaders believe will lead to school improvement. This study aims to assist educators, policy makers, and researchers …

The Tides Of Life (Chicago), C. William Pollard

C. William Pollard Papers

This speech was originally delivered at a Moody Business Network Luncheon, part of a series of such luncheons organized by The Moody Church in Chicago. In it Pollard posits that servant leadership -- while not always explicitly Christian -- is oftentimes the primary way one actualizes Christian values in the workplace.

Cross Cultural Analysis For Training And Facilitating Latin-American Audiences, Jose P. Alcazar

Creativity and Change Leadership Graduate Student Master's Projects

The purpose of this project is to help Creative Problem Solving (CPS) trainers and facilitators to improve the efficacy when working with Hispanic groups and individuals, either in a personal or in organizational environments. This project will guide the facilitators to use a more appropriate tools that will allow the resource group to feel more comfortable during the idea generation, creating an environment more according to the believes and behavioral habits; and the client to feel more confident to converge and make decisions accordingly to the initial goals. When training people in CPS, the project will align the methodology and …

Living And Leading Abundantly, Doug Smith

Leadership Hour at Otterbein University

Understand what leads to truly joyful, meaningful living - in other words, what leads to happiness. Discover that what gives you the perspective of confidence and happiness is a set of skills that you need to consistently, even if subconsciously, practice.

An Inquiry Into The Aviation Management Education Paradigm Shift, Matthew P. Earnhardt, Jason M. Newcomer, Daryl V. Watkins, James W. Marion

International Journal of Aviation, Aeronautics, and Aerospace

Working adults with four-year degrees from accredited colleges or universities earn, on average, almost three times more than individuals without a degree. This pay gap led Newcomer and his colleagues to study attitudes of aviation and aerospace managers towards education. That study found that managers valued education in new hires, even though they did not deem it critical to their own positions. That finding indicated a potential paradigm shift towards the perceived value of education in the industry.

In the current qualitative, phenomenological research, we interviewed 14 managers from various capacities within the aviation and aerospace industries to determine the …

Ethical Leadership: Creating Ethical Organizations, Alexander C. Heckman

Learning Showcase 2014

Many scholars examine this issue primarily from an individual perspective and in abstract or stylistic manner in which the leader serves as sort of an ethical judge making a ruling.

This poster examines the issue of ethical leadership from an organizational and practical perspective where a leader must think systemically about how to create an ethical organization. In doing so, the leader has to think like an engineer who takes action to design organizational structures that shape and direct action systematically in order to help create an ethical environment. The author applies systems thinking and uses the McKinsey 7-S to …

Faculty Perspectives On The Inclusion Of Spirituality Topics In Nonsectarian Leadership And Management Education Programs, Peter E. Williams, Stuart Allen

School of Educational Leadership

The purpose of this study was to explore faculty views on the inclusion of spiritual topics in graduate leadership and management programs, focusing on faculty experiences, perceived benefits and challenges, and teaching methods and principles in use. We interviewed twelve faculty members in leadership or management programs from eleven nonsectarian universities. Participants discussed eight benefits including the opportunity for whole person growth and skill development that would benefit leaders in a global workplace. Eight barriers to such inclusion were identified such as proselytizing and the misuse of power. The sampled instructors also made some suggestions for how to include spirituality …

Teamwork: Crucible For Learning About Collaborative Leadership, Lisa Deangelis, Sherry H. Penney, Maureen A. Scully

Center for Collaborative Leadership Publications

In teaching leadership development we have developed and revised a model of teamwork and collaboration, which has yielded innovative and positive results. Our study draws on insights from more than 90 project teams, gathered over twelve years of a mid-career executive education program designed specifically to teach collaborative leadership. The teams work on a strategic dilemma with a business association or community organization, highlighting the civic engagement aspect of collaborative leadership. Teams devise their own operating procedures, refine (not simply manage) the project, create working relationships with multiple stakeholders, and present a deliverable within the nine-month span of the program. …

Value Based Leadership, Dwight Smith

Leadership Hour at Otterbein University

Values guide your decision making process and how you feel about those you lead (and also how those you lead feel about you). Make certain that your values truly align with who you are as a person and as a leader.

To Lead Like Jesus - An Awesome Responsibility, C. William Pollard

C. William Pollard Papers

In this address at the Lead Like Jesus Summit (Four Seasons at Las Colinas - Dallas, TX), Pollard reflects on how he worked to apply the way of Jesus while leading a Fortune 500 company.

Women Directors On Public Company Boards: Does A Critical Mass Affect Leverage?, Cindy K. Harris

Business and Economics Faculty Publications

This study examines the relationship between corporate leverage (the ratio of total debt to total assets) and gender diversity on US public company boards, with particular focus on boards that have at least 25% women directors. Using this critical mass of women eliminates from consideration boards with lesser female representation, whose female directors may be marginalized in their contributions to board functioning and decision-making. I hypothesize that when boards have this minimum threshold of gender diversity, the influence of risk-averse female directors will impact board decisions related to financing, resulting in lower debt ratios when compared to boards with no …

The Quest For The Entrepreneurial Spirit, C. William Pollard

C. William Pollard Papers

Drawing from his years of experience leading The ServiceMaster Company, Pollard outlines for the Entrepreneurial Leader's Organization (ELO) Conference (Vancouver, B.C.) the main tenets of what he considers the entrepreneurial spirit.

The Soul Of The Movement (Short Version), C. William Pollard

C. William Pollard Papers

In this speech at the 2014 Faith at Work Summit (Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary - Boston, MA), Pollard contends that people represent the only thing of eternal value in the global marketplace. In light of this, he argues that Christians must be service-oriented ambassadors for Christ in the corporate world.

The Soul Of The Movement (Long Version), C. William Pollard, Al Erisman

C. William Pollard Papers

In this speech at the 2014 Faith at Work Summit (Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary - Boston, MA), Pollard contends that people represent the only thing of eternal value in the global marketplace. In light of this, he argues that Christians must be service-oriented ambassadors for Christ in the corporate world.

Included at the end of the speech is an email from one of the summit's conveners, Al Erisman, and Pollard's handwritten notes.

Executing The Strategic Plan: Five Actions Midlevel Leaders Can Take, Daniel Jensen

Faculty Works

The article offers suggestions for executing strategic plans for organizational success. Topics discussed include determining the objectives, goals, and organizational vision, measuring specific tasks to evaluate progress against expected results, and use of SWOT analysis to determine the strengths and weaknesses of organizations.

Linking Innovation & Creativity With Diversity & Inclusion Using Lean Six Sigma, Robin A. Roberts

Office of Diversity & Inclusion

“The SHRM Workplace Diversity Conference & Exposition fosters awareness and appreciation of workplace diversity issues through thought leadership, strategy development, resources, publications and professional development for HR professionals and other business leaders. Making the business case for diversity, helping HR professionals to better articulate its strategic business value, and enabling them to build more diverse and inclusive cultures, are the cornerstones of the initiative.”—Society for Human Resource Management website

2014 A National Review Of Community Leadership Programs, Caster Family Center For Nonprofit And Philanthropic Research, University Of San Diego

Nonprofit Leadership and Capacity Building

In May 2014, LEAD San Diego commissioned the Caster Center for Nonprofit and Philanthropic Research (Caster Center) to conduct a national review of organizations that support leadership development and civic engagement (i.e., community leadership programs). The Caster Center researched 32 such organizations and conducted phone interviews with 12 of them. The interviewed organizations included nine community leadership programs: six were independent nonprofits, two were nonprofits housed within a Chamber of Commerce, and one was a Chamber of Commerce program. The remaining interviews were with two statewide community leadership programs that were foundation funded and a university research center.

Leadership Isn't Easy, Clarke Price

Leadership Hour at Otterbein University

How often have you heard "leaders are made not born," but what goes into "making" a leader? Leadership isn't easy, but with a personal commitment & perseverance, you can start down the road to being an effective leader. This session will present ideas to help you improve as a leader or begin the journey toward developing effective leadership skills.

Leading Happiness: Leadership And Happiness At Work In Certified B Corporations, A Qualitative Study Of Leaders And Employees To Understand The Influence Of Shared Leadership On Worker Happiness Within Certified Benefit Corporations, Travis Hellstrom

Capstone Collection

The Certified B Corps movement is setting a new standard for businesses, committing to a multiple stakeholder orientation focused on community, environment and the workplace in addition to financial profit. More than 1,000 companies, including well-known companies like Patagonia, Ben & Jerry’s, King Arthur Flour, and Etsy, have joined the ranks of Certified B Corps in over 30 countries.

The B Corps certification is understood to promote a set of organizational practices, which envision improved employee performance and well-being. An important element of that well-being is employee happiness. Previous research has shown that improved business leadership practices can have significant …

The Magic Of (A)Ffective Management, Ryan Weir

Charleston Library Conference

(A)ffective management is a people-first approach to managing employees. After all, employees and supervisors are people first. No matter how hard any individual may try, inevitably the stress and strain of life outside of work can and will bleed through into the work environment. The (A)ffective and effective manager understands this and incorporates this understanding into how he/she interacts with superiors and subordinates in the work environment on a daily basis. This article offers strategies on how to be an (A)ffective manager.

Business As A Calling / Profit As A Virtue, C. William Pollard

C. William Pollard Papers

This speech was delivered at a Symposium on Corporations, Capitalism, and Christianity sponsored by The Center for Lifelong Learning at Windsor Park Retirement Community in Carol Stream, IL. In it Pollard considers the integration of business and faith, focusing primarily on how leaders must cultivate the humanity of their employees while simultaneously maximizing profit.

A Call To Leadership: The Awakening, Robin A. Roberts

Office of Diversity & Inclusion

A presentation given to student leaders at Bethune-Cookman University highlighting the transition from student to young professional.

Business As A Calling Of God (Dallas), C. William Pollard

C. William Pollard Papers

Speaking at Dallas Theological Seminary's Table Conference 2014, Pollard considers the integration of faith and work, noting in particular the need for both a transformation of leadership and new approach to educating future business leaders. For Pollard, what it means to lead cannot be divorced from questions of faith and God.

Ethical Culture Starts At The Top, Singapore Management University

Perspectives@SMU

In a world where people have little faith in businesses and executives, getting the C-suite to build a credible value system is critical