Leadership Studies Commons^™

A Personal Inventory Of Transformative Experiences Resulting In The Development Of An Authentic Leadership Style, Trudy Hochradel

Theses and Graduate Projects

An analysis of personal experience triggers a transformative process for the leader, which results in the recognition of one 's authentic leadership style. This analysis is a three stage journey- taking inventory of oneself, recognizing transformative experiences, and embracing one's authentic leadership skills. This project includes a model for a personal inventory.

Teaching Entrepreneurs, James R. Traeger

Theses and Graduate Projects

With the growing popularity of entrepreneurship, colleges and universities are scrambling to accommodate the increasing need for entrepreneurial education. This research paper takes an in-depth look at the characteristics of entrepreneurs, the methods educational institutions are using to teach them, and the curriculum used to prepare them. I will explore to see if there are common methods used in entrepreneurial education and will create a curriculum that will strive to help aspiring entrepreneurs be successful. I will also explore leadership theories that incorporate the characteristics of an entrepreneur. All this will help identify key elements associated with entrepreneurs and thus …

Access To Higher Education For Undocumented Students, Meghan Flores

Theses and Graduate Projects

The framework for this research comes from my professional experiences with the undocumented student population at three small, private, liberal arts institutions. Through these experiences, I have encountered that due to the lack of policy and/or communications of policy, treatment of financial aid resources are not equitable among these students within the same setting. The agenda for the research comes from direct work with undocumented students who are seeking clarity on their options. There are no published data on how private higher education institutions are addressing the issue of access for undocumented students. Therefore, the purpose of this research was …

Can Leading Change Catalyze Innovation In The Workplace, Rebecca L. Smithwick

Theses and Graduate Projects

This paper focuses on the importance of change in business in the twenty-first century, looking primarily at how to obtain effective change, sustain change, and enable the possibility of change Ieading to innovation within one device manufacturing company. I will present evidence from various theories from the mid-1900s to the present day which recommend how to effectively implement Iasting change. This article will discuss the possibility of a two-day workshop being able to influence the likelihood of change needed to catalyze innovation based upon response from recent workshop attendees. Recommendations will be made on additional steps the company may need …

The Effect Frequent Organizational Restructure Has On Employee Perceptions, Lisa Sabasteanski

Theses and Graduate Projects

This qualitative study investigates the effect frequent organizational restructure has on employee perceptions. Frequent is defined as two or more restructures in less than eighteen months. For this study, I evaluated findings from ten employees who worked in various industries throughout the Midwest who had experienced at least two restructures in less than eighteen months. Interviews were conducted with individuals to understand their perspective of organizational restructures they've participated in at their company. Findings from this study suggested when leaders clearly articulate the rationale for the organizational restructure and when they are honest and transparent about what is going on …

How To Successfully Recruit Students In The Rapidly Changing World Of Higher Education: Ethical Leadership For Enrollment Managers Of Private Non-Profit Institutions, Charles R. Abbott

Theses and Graduate Projects

Throughout the history of Post-Secondary education in the U.S. private non-profit institutions have played a vital and leading role in helping to shape and prepare the youth of the nation intellectually, socially and emotionally. However the landscape of higher education has changed significantly over the past few decades with the entire purpose and focus of this education coming into question. By noting the importance of obtaining a higher education and defining the differences between non-profit and for-profit institutions This paper focuses on examining these changes. Furthermore, in particular this work will examine ethical leadership and concentrate on the techniques necessary …

Executive Turnover In The Chamber Of Commerce Industry, Lori R. Higgins

Theses and Graduate Projects

The purpose of this action research project was to design an executive director retention plan for chambers of commerce. A literature review was conducted, reviewing inf,ormation on executive turnover, Ieadership traits and skills, and nonprofit executive challenges. A qualitative survey was emailed to 103 current chamber of commerce executive directors of whom 55 responded. A similar survey was emailed to 19 former chamber of commerce executives of whom 14 responded. The results of the surveys showed that executive directors of chambers tend to be visionary leaders who enjoy effecting change, serving businesses, and having leadership opportunities. Overall, executives are satisfied …

A Qualitative Study On How Dialogue, Discussion, And Debate Manifest In A Corporate Setting, Lisa Wocken

Theses and Graduate Projects

How do dialogue, discussion and debate occur in the workplace? I explored this question through qualitative interviews of 14 high potential leaders at a Fortune 50 company, by asking them about their conversations at work.

Through in-depth transcript analysis, I identified and quantified behavioral themes for each form of conversation. Each response was labeled as effective or ineffective and counted to determine the frequency with which it was cited. The results indicated that discussion behaviors were effectively and prevalently exhibited in 86% of examples. Dialogue behaviors were effective and common, and cited in 36% of examples. Debate behaviors were ineffective …

Youth Leadership Development In The Activism Context: A Case Study Of The Wilder Youth Leadership Initiative, Susan Marie Phillips

Theses and Graduate Projects

In conducting this research I investigated the effectiveness of youth leadership development programming in the Wilder Youth Leadership Initiative (YLI), a program located in St. Paul, Minnesota. For this qualitative case study, I used participant observation, semi-structured interviews and a survey to explore the development and demonstration of specific leadership capacities and skills (communication and interpersonal skills, analytical and critical functioning, decision making skills, personal identity, project management, reflection, and sense of empowerment) among youth participants. I also explored the programmatic structures that facilitate Youth Leadership Development (in the context of a cause chosen by youth, explicit outcomes, developmentally appropriate …

Trials, Tribulations, And Triumphs: Writing The Major Paper Or Thesis As A Graduate Student With Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, Judy L. Chucker

Theses and Graduate Projects

Graduate students with attention deficit disorder or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (AD/HD) are at risk for failure to complete their graduate programs. Skills used in writing a major paper or thesis requirement incorporate those that are particularly compromised by the disorder. The literature does not address the problems facing graduate students with AD/HD, and disability service programs do not appear to offer support tailored to the needs of this population. This phenomenological study probes the experience of five graduate students with AD/HD who were in the process of writing, or had completed a major paper or thesis. This paper hopes …

Innovation Through Social Networking In Communities Of Practice, Patricia K. Brill

Theses and Graduate Projects

Innovation helps bring competitive advantage to organizations. Without competitive advantage organizations are in danger of not surviving. Two initiatives have recently emerged to support innovation: Communities of Practice (CoPs) and Social Networking. Communities of Practice provide an opportunity to organizations where innovation is created through the knowledge-sharing and informed ways of working. Social Networking is being utilized in organizations to foster collaboration and expose expertise for employees to tap into.

The purpose of this study is to determine the value of combining CoPs with social networks. This will be done by studying communities in the MIX (Medtronic Information Exchange) social …

The Bible And The Ballot: The Christian Right In American Politics, Terence L. Burns

Theses and Graduate Projects

The year was 2004. It was late October in Minnesota and winter was corning. So was an election. The Presidential election of 2004 pitted the sitting President George W. Bush against Senator John Kerry. As a self-described "political junkie", I had been watching the debates and developments during the long campaign with great interest. Of particular interest to me was watching the political involvement of Evangelical Christians and their leaders develop and grow. On this particular Sunday in 2004, I was at my post as musician at an evangelical "mega" church in the western suburbs of Minneapolis. The church was …

Leadership Program Outcomes Study: Essential Elements Of Leadership Trainings Offered To Marginalized Populations, Emily Halbur

Theses and Graduate Projects

ln order to better understand the purpose of and best practices associated with non-profit organizations offering leadership trainings to their constituents, 14 participants from two different organizations were interviewed about their experiences. These organizations work with two unique populations, those with intellectual disabilities and at-risk teens. The individuals interviewed were asked the same questions and their responses were compiled to help find themes within these two leadership trainings. Based on their responses, a list of seven criteria was assembled regarding what makes a leadership training successful from the perspective of the participants. For organizations looking to offer similar programs to …

Complexity Theory And Local Government Application, Scott A. Brink

Theses and Graduate Projects

Local governnent agencies are experiencing changes that are making the delivery of essential services more challenging. These changes can largely be attributed to increasing demands for more services while budgets are reduced. That trend, combined with globalization, rapid advancements in technology, changing demographics, and other factors limit the ability of agencies to adapt and react to change fast enough. In more recent years, the rate of change has accelerated to the point that traditional methods of planning and adapting to change no longer work. Many organizations feel overwhelmed and helpless. The factors driving change influence each other in complex ways …

Communication In A Digital Age, Natalie M. Miller

Theses and Graduate Projects

The inundation of technology over the past twenty-five years in the form of desktop computing, cell phones and the Internet has transformed how we communicate with one another. Traditional communication such as face-to-face meetings, although critical to our everyday dialogue, has fallen flat within organizations. At this point, we lean towards advanced methods of communication provided in a digitally mediated format. Digitally mediated communication (DMC) provides us with a multitude of ways to communicate and has freed us from the boundaries of time and place. This study researches the transformation of communication with its progression into the digital age by …

Comparison Of Registered Nurse Job Satisfaction To Patient Satisfaction And The Link To The Role Of The Nurse Manager, Deborah M. Spotts

Theses and Graduate Projects

This is an in depth qualitative research study using a compelling literature review and an in depth case study of one hospital comparing registered nurse job satisfaction scores with patient satisfaction scores. The literature review indicates that research positively correlates nurse job satisfaction to patient care satisfaction. This research study focuses on understanding the possible relationship between registered nurse job satisfaction and patient satisfaction with nursing care. The role of the nurse manager is explored in order to understand possible the impact of that role on the satisfaction scores of both groups.

The Potential Relationship Between The Traits Associated With Left Brain Or Right Brain Dominant Tendencies And The Characteristics Of Leaders Or Managers, Alex Keto

Theses and Graduate Projects

The debate over whether the characteristics of leadership and management are unique characteristics or whether they are one-in-the-same characteristics continues today. In the past, traditionally, the best managers within a company were promoted to roles of leadership and many times these new leaders failed. There is growing support for the concept that the characteristics of highly effective leaders and managers are unique. A review of these characteristics reveals a potential relationship between the characteristics of exceptional managers and the traits that have been associated with left brain dominant tendencies. The characteristics of exceptional leaders relate to the traits that have …

An Examination Of The Impact Of Social Influences On Followers' Assessments Of Male And Female Leadership Behaviors, Mary L. Brown

Theses and Graduate Projects

The idea that people generally may want or expect male and female leaders to lead in similar ways, which appears as an underlying assumption in much of the literature on leadership, should be refined to delineate differences between leadership competence and leadership style. The findings in this qualitative survey suggest that male and female followers expect male and female leaders to demonstrate similar levels of competence based on their having similar skill sets, experience, education levels, and technical training and aptitude; however, people generally believe that male and female leaders exhibit different leadership styles based upon a number of personal …

Rounding Of The Administrative Supervisor And The Engagement Of Charge Nurses In An Acute Hospital Setting, Kellie J. Geiger

Theses and Graduate Projects

Hospitals that generate positive employee engagement can retain employees and produce positive effects on the hospital budget, employee morale, and high quality patient care. The purpose of this research will be to study the relationship of Administrative Supervisor rounding and the employee engagement of unit charge nurses. Understanding the significance regarding hospital leadership presence during off shifts, weekends and holidays can have an impact on employee satisfaction, retention, ill calls, and hospital morale and produce better patient care. The hypothesis for this research focuses on the physical presence of the Administrative Supervisor which leads to greater perceived leadership support and …

Does Customer Service Training Influence Patient Satisfaction Scores?, Beth Holman

Theses and Graduate Projects

Competition in ambulatory health care is challenging leaders to focus their energies on increasing patient satisfaction at all levels of the patient experience. Gaining new and retaining established patients is essential to staying viable in this dynamic health care environment. A qualitative research study was conducted to determine if training staff in customer service principles would increase patient satisfaction. Patient surveys were conducted before and after training of staff. Patient comments regarding interactions with staff from the first survey determined the training materials. The second survey was conducted after the training. In the first survey,6,8% of the surveys contained dissatisfying …

Integrative Literature Review Emotional Intelligence And Its Relationship To Transformational Leadership, Katharine Ellingson

Theses and Graduate Projects

A common topic referenced in leadership books and articles is how to be an effective leader. Many of these resources suggest high emotional intelligence is related to effective leadership. In addition, they reference transformational leadership as being highly effective. The purpose of this integrative literature review is to provide an overview, critique and synthesis of past research that looks at the relationship between emotional intelligence and transformational leadership. This analysis includes thoroughly examining the existing controversies of these two theories and providing suggestions for future research so this field of study can continue to evolve and provide value to the …

Coco Chanel: A Transformational Leader, Tyann Severine Rolph

Theses and Graduate Projects

The focus of this case study is to examine Coco Chanel in the context of the transformational leadership model developed by James McGregor Burns. Other transformational leadership theorists' perspectives will be integrated into this analysis in order to delineate the characteristics that profile the unique leadership style of fashion designer Coco Chanel.

More specifically, this study will demonstrate how Chanel used fashion as a tool of communication to convince women worldwide of their imprisonment in physically constricting clothing designed to conform to the ideals of a male-dominated society. Chanel, as an international designer and third-wave feminist, went further through her …

Leadership And The Theory Of Metacommunication, Regina M. Brown

Theses and Graduate Projects

Effective leadership communication goes beyond the study and process of organizational communication. The purpose of this research is to conceptualize effective leadership communication as a multifaceted concept that is best understood from its diverse perspectives concurrently. In order to illuminate this concept, the term metacommunication will be coined, borrowing from Freud's metapsychology theory. The metacommunication theory informs the study of leadership emergence, development, and effectiveness by looking at the phenomenon in a holistic manner. The leader as CAS along with the environmental factors effecting leadership is better viewed and understood by acknowledging and respecting the complexity of the human condition. …

Migrant Workers Remittances: Building Futures And Forging Leadership Back Home, Mohamed Abdinur

Theses and Graduate Projects

For many developing countries, remittances from migrant workers are larger, more stable and outpace foreign direct investments and overseas development aid as a source of development funds. In many developing countries, external sources of finance, particularly remittances, are imperative to carry out poverty alleviation strategies as well as local economic development, given the low rate of domestic savings and high government expenditures. Remittances appear to be very promising as developing countries continue the search for additional sources of income to achieve the United Nations Millennium Development Goals. With the benefits of the remittances that migrant workers send back home, overseas …

Women's Indirect Intra-Gender Aggression: A Study Of Workplace Relationships, Deborah Friedman

Theses and Graduate Projects

In the 21st century, there are more women in the workforce than ever before. These women work in places and positions across the professional spectrum, and to their positions they bring higher degrees and they compete for higher-paying positions that bring added responsibility. Research has demonstrated that these women and many women have been taught that relationships are important-and that relationships are maintained by avoiding confrontation. Women in the workforce, then, strive to be friends and coworkers at once, and when conflict, disagreement, and/or hurt feelings arise, they often resort to indirect and covertly aggressive behaviors such as gossip, rumors, …

Good Leadership For Top Performing Teams, Britta Sundberg

Theses and Graduate Projects

Finding good leaders is one of the biggest challenges a business faces. Companies need strong people that positively lead in good times and even more importantly during down times. Every organization will face challenges and it is how the leadership handles the situation that witl determine the success of the outcome. What behaviors do successful managers have that help them continue to perform in good times and in tough times, not allowing the tough times to destroy what they have worked towards? Accountability, leadership development and open communication are vital when leading a team. This thesis will look at these …

Computerized Provider Order Entry Implementation: Provider And Hospital Leadership Impacts On Success, Elizabeth J. Walker

Theses and Graduate Projects

Healthcare organizations are consistently exhausting efforts to improve their patient safety standards and outcomes, especially those that are regulated by federal and state agencies. Many healthcare organizations have chosen to implement an Electronic Health Record (EHR) to facilitate better decision-making and faster tumaround for providers, thus improving patient safety. The EHR allows providers to manage patient care with the help of decision support functions, and with greater accessibility to the patient's information. One of the components of an EHR is the application of Computerized Provider Order Entry (CPOE). Although the benefits to both providers and patients have shown to be …

At The Heart Of Health Care Reform: Leadership Lessons From President Obama, Jodi A. Petrich

Theses and Graduate Projects

Health care encompasses a broad. complicated web of political. economic and cultural ideology. values and systems, which have haunted every U.S. president serving over the last century. While many presidents have tried, few have succeeded in making such sweeping change as President Barack Obama when, on March 23, 2010, historic reform was enacted, with the passing of the Patient Protection and Affodable Care Act. A history of broad reform efforts under each president's leadership is reviewed. followed by an exploration into definitions and requirements of presidential leadership. Lessons for reform as developed by Blumenthal and Morone (2009) are outlined and …

Leadership Philosophy And Practice Which Drive Improved Chemical Health Outcomes, Denise St. Peter Mcalpin

Theses and Graduate Projects

This research project is designed to identifo a relationship between a particular leadership style and the practice of leadership among outpatient chemical health treatment programs.

Client discharge outcome data obtained will help determine the most improved and the least irnproved treatment results specific to "use of chemicals" at the time of discharge.

The subjects will be asked to anonymously answer ten questions about leadership style, philosophy and practice in an attempt to determine if leadership plays a role in the client's outcorne measures.

Those surveyed will be asked to describe themselves using adjectives most associated with leadership theories developed by …

The Relationship Between Mentor-Mentee Gender Combinations And Mentoring Relationship Success, Kristen E. Spreck

Theses and Graduate Projects

Mentoring relationships pair a more experienced person with a lesser experienced one, to promote the personal and professional development of both participants. Understanding how the gender combinations of these relationships impact success is essential to designing strong mentoring programs for organizations in today's marketplace. Previous research on mentoring relationships presents unclear results as it relates to the impact of gender. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between gender combination and mentoring relationship success specifically related to career development for leaders. The researcher collected and analyzed data from 68 subjects using an electronic survey tool. Results of …