Leadership Studies Commons^™

Perceived Career Barriers Among Women Working In Public Transportation Based On Leadership Development Training And Race: A Causal-Comparative Study, Tamika Gunn White

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This quantitative, causal-comparative study investigated differences in perceived career barriers among women engaged in leadership development training programs and those who were not, with a specific focus on their racial backgrounds. The research targets women within the public transportation workforce, utilizing a convenience sample comprising individuals willing and able to provide insights into the issue of perceived career barriers among women in this sector. Purposive inclusion criteria encompass self-identifying as a woman, reporting ages between 25 and 65, and current employment in the public transportation sector. The Perception of Barriers Scale assessed career- and education-related barriers. The data collection procedure …

Bridging The Governance Gap: Addressing Board Turnover And Team Building In Northern California Special Districts, Karin R. Freese

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The turnover of publicly elected or appointed board members in Northern California’s special districts poses a significant challenge to effective governance, impacting these local governments' strategic capabilities and mission accomplishment. Despite extensive research on governance, there is a notable gap concerning the effects of turnover and the role of formal training in building effective governance teams in special districts. This qualitative multiple-case study addresses this gap by investigating the governance dynamics following board turnover, focusing on the perspectives of both board members and general managers. Employing a flexible design, the study integrates interviews, document analysis, and archival data to examine …

Exploring Spiritual Leadership Theory's Beneficial Member Outcomes By Women Who Founded And Lead Nonprofit Evangelical Christian Organizations, Barrie Milton Lewis

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The problem under investigation has two facets: the lack of testing the Spiritual Leadership Theory (SLT) in religious organizations and the lack of any study of Christian women who lead the nonprofit evangelical ministry organization or the classical Christian education (CCE) school they founded or cofounded. This qualitative phenomenological study addressed this problem by exploring the phenomenon of beneficial member outcomes from SLT’s practice by these women who lead those Christian organizations. The literature review includes SLT’s compatibility with Christian leadership and an extensive analysis of the biblical, theological, and historical literature concerning the leadership role of women in the …

Higher Education And Women In Leadership: Gender-Based Training For African American Women In Transformational Leadership, Chavon Anette Freeman

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Christian African American women in leadership have unique lived experiences. Although God calls women to lead, they often meet challenges in ministry and the marketplace. Developing into a great woman in leadership requires intentionality and preparation. This study explored the perceptions and perspectives of Christian African American women in senior leadership roles in ministry and wider corporate America. The qualitative research revealed the need to address gender and racial issues in higher education, develop gender-based training, and further transformational leadership development. The research design utilized interviews with ten open-ended questions to collect data. The study focused on Christian African American …

Mentorship Among Early Career Senior Pastors: Examining Whether Mentored Leaders Are Better Equipped To Lead, Shayla Lenai Hilton

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Early career senior pastors are often expected to confidently step into senior leadership positions with minimal support, direction, guidance and/or training. The support of an experienced mentor could potentially lessen the challenges for early career leaders. The purpose of this mixed-methods phenomenological study was to explore the effectiveness of mentorships for early career senior pastors who hold senior leadership positions in Christian churches in the United States. For the purposes of this study, a early career senior pastor is defined as an individual with 0-10 years of experience in a senior leadership position. The phenomenological study explored three questions: (1) …

The Development Of A Men’S Ministry At Remnant Church To Foster The Spiritual Leadership Development Of Men To Provide Leadership For Family, Church, And Community, Anthony L. Herron

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The problem this student seeks to address is that the Remnant Church in Midwest City, Oklahoma, does not have a men's ministry to develop men as spiritual leaders. The Remnant Church is a non-denominational church focused on growing and developing people to become more like Jesus Christ. The men of the Remnant Church do not meet regularly for discipleship or fellowship.

The men of Remnant Church are not organized to provide a network of support for men. Men need a support network within the church to develop spiritually. Men need a forum for discussing men's issues, such as leading in …

Participation As Preparation: A Phenomenological Study Of Black Greek Letter Organization (Bglo) Members In The Workforce, Letasha Carrie Mcfarlane

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore how membership in a Black Greek Letter Organization (BGLO) impacts the experiences of Black professionals in overcoming obstacles in the modern workforce. This study utilized a qualitative, phenomenological design to capture the lived experiences of 10 BGLO members working in federal military and educational organizations in the United States. Participants were recruited through purposeful sampling, and data were collected via open-ended questionnaires, semi-structured individual interviews, and a focus group. The data were analyzed using thematic analysis, which revealed four major themes: (1) Utilization of Opportunities to Overcome Workplace Challenges, (2) Cultivation …

The Phenomenological Study Of Women Mentoring Younger Women: A Titus 2 Action Research Project, Shannon Bludworth

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Though church attendance is down, women still comprise the largest percentage of churchgoers. With the decline in church attendance, a decline in programs for women has ensued. Nevertheless, the continued need for mentoring women remains the same. This DMIN action research aims to address this need and develop a mentorship program where mature women mentor younger women in their continued personal spiritual growth. This research project includes a training seminar for the mentors, a six-week Bible study for the mentees, and six weeks of one-on-one mentoring, during which the mature women mentor the younger women in their faith. Triangulation of …

Biblical Followership In The Local Church: A Phenomenological Study, Terrence M. La Masters

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This qualitative phenomenological study explores biblical followership in the local church context by examining the followership construct formed by followership and leadership distinctives. Followership, often overlooked in the leadership process, is typically not considered equal to leadership in purpose, process, or impact. While Kelley’s comprehensive model of followership from 1992 has been widely recognized, this study specifically focuses on the first formal theory of followership proposed by Uhl-Bien, Riggio, Lowe, and Carsten in 2014. This theory highlights the interconnected nature of leadership and followership and the integrated behaviors of followers and leaders, is particularly relevant in the local church setting—a …

Navigating The In-Between: Transformational Practices In The Church's Liminal Spaces, Matthew James Engel

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This dissertation-in-praxis explored the concepts of transformational and adaptive leadership within the Christian Church during periods of liminality, emphasizing the continuous presence and certainty of challenges rather than focusing on specific challenges such as digital technologies, attractional methods, or COVID-19. The study draws upon Bass's transformational leadership theory (1985) and Heifetz’s (1994) adaptive leadership theory to establish a framework emphasizing the importance of thorough leadership training in times of uncertainty and transition. Integrating biblical narratives, the study highlights the need for adaptive and visionary leadership in religious contexts. Employing a mixed-methods approach involving quantitative surveys and qualitative measurement of responses …

The Heart Of The Matter: Prioritizing The Mental & Emotional Wellbeing Of Pastoral Leaders, Ashley M. Herron

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Pastoral leadership is a unique and peculiar leadership vocation. It is unique and peculiar in its expectation that those in the pastoral leadership vocation should operate in multiple roles. It is also particularly unique in its experience of occupational stressors. The pastoral vocation is considered by many to be the single most stressful occupation in the United States and perhaps around the world (Thordarson, 2022). Although pastoral leaders are experiencing mental and emotional stress and distress at high rates, they are not seeking help at the same rate. Research indicates that pastoral leaders are reluctant and slow in pursuing care …

Perceptions Of The Pastoral Role In Fostering Generation Z And Millennials' Spiritual Growth Using Digital Platforms, Wanda Elaine Belvin

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore pastors recognizing their roles and their perceptions of fostering and nurturing individual spiritual growth in their congregants with emphasis on their Millennials and Generation Z with assistance of digital platforms and its impact on leadership. Since the pandemic, church attendance has been in decline particularly within this demographic and this study explored ways to reduce this trend. The theories guiding this study were servant leadership and spiritual formation. This study focused on individual rather than congregational spiritual growth. Since those in this age group are digital natives, the focus was on …

The Perceived Effect Of The Cliftonstrengths Assessment Of Christian Leader Self-Awareness, Daniel Lee York

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to explore the perceived congruence between the coached CliftonStrengths (CS) assessment model and leader self-awareness (SA: internal, external, and spiritual) as described by the participants (Creswell & Creswell, 2018). The theory behind this study was emotional intelligence, with specific attention on self-awareness and its import to general leadership theory (Antonakis et al., 2009; Bar-On et al., 2000; Goleman, 2019; Higgs, 2002; Eurich, 2017).

A selective phenomenological study was utilized because the author evaluated leaders’ perception of the effect of CS on their SA or “What is it like to experience such-and-such?” (Leedy …

Leadership Diversity In The Technology Industry, Renee' Y. L. Smith

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Diversity is a relevant topic in the modern workplace. This research is an exploration of diversity in the workplace from a leadership perspective. Specifically, this research includes the lack of leadership diversity in the technology industry and its impact on employee turnover and operational costs. The purpose of this research was to contribute to the extant body of knowledge by understanding the issue and determining factors to mitigate the issue. This study utilized a flexible design and qualitative research methodology, specifically a case study. A constructivist paradigm aligned with my Christian worldview. The study included interviews, surveys, and documents as …

The Relationship Between Servant Leadership Attributes / Behaviors And Congregant Commitment Among United Pentecostal Church International Churches, Corey D. Driggs

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Research regarding servant leadership has grown and resulted in positive results supporting the potential benefits for organizations to adopt a servant leadership culture among leaders (Neubert et al., 2008; Walumbwa, Hartnell, and Oke, 2010). Most prior research has focused solely on the development of a working construct model (Barbuto and Wheeler, 2006; Dennis and Bocarnea, 2005; Ehrhart, 2004; Hunter, et al. 2013, Liden, Wayne, Zhao, and Henderson, 2008; Parolini, Patterson, and Winston, 2009; Sendjaya, Sarros, and Santor, 2008; van Dierendonck, 2011). Studies have also shown that there is a significant relationship between servant leadership attributes and behaviors with organizational commitment …

Character Challenges American Christian Business Leaders Face In The Secular Digital Age, Kevin J. Kennedy

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

In the digital age, Christian business leaders are a minority who are commonly expected to change their leadership priorities to fit within the secularized culture. These expectations for change in their leadership principles can generate character challenges to the very core of a Christian business leader’s beliefs forcing them to make decisions which pit the practice of their proclaimed faith against a secularized business practice. In these workplace challenges, the Christian business leader’s faith, freedom of conscience, freedom of speech, and freedom of religion compete with secularized practices accepted in today’s American culture. This research documents the insufficient understanding of …

Leadership In The Age Of Advanced Technology, Matthew Brancatelli

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Invention has been the catalyst for societal advancement, altering human occupations, changing the business world, and bringing geographically separated societies closer. This case study research looked at the impact of advanced technologies on business leadership—digital transformation reshaping every aspect of the business world, including the people, processes, and platforms. An interview guide (Appendix A) was used with open-ended questions to gain insights into the problems and issues faced in manufacturing related to technology's impact on business leaders and the actions and behaviors an organization can develop to be better prepared to address emerging technology. The insights gathered in this study …

Identifying Effective Leadership Styles Among Winning College Head Football Coaches: A Hermeneutic Phenomenological Study, Valin Kattoula

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this hermeneutic phenomenological study was to discover and interpret the successful leadership styles of winning college head football coaches (HFC) in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). The theory that guided this study is Bass’s (1995) transformational leadership theory. The central question asked, “What are the lived experiences of winning college HFCs leadership initiatives?” The study used a hermeneutic phenomenological design where HFCs participated in interviews and a focus group and submitted a writing prompt response to obtain the lived experiences about proven winning leadership styles. The study’s findings identified sixteen themes and five sub-themes. The sample …

Using Situational Leadership To Disciple And Develop Men For Spiritual Leadership In The Home, Christopher N. Andrews

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

God has designed the family to be the primary source of faith and spiritual formation, commanding all parents to pass along the faith and teach the commandments to their children. Scripture teaches that men hold a special role as the spiritual leader of the home. For men to fulfil this God appointed role they need to be trained and mentored. At the time of this research there was no formal ministry dedicated to the spiritual development of men at FBC Brandenburg. The purpose of this research was to test the Situational Leadership Model in a discipleship program designed to train …

The Affect Of Diversity And Ethical Principles In Primary And Secondary Educational Leadership: A Hermeneutical Phenomenology Study, Charles P. Holloway Jr.

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this hermeneutical phenomenological study was to understand the experiences of diversity and ethical principles in educational leadership for teachers, administrators, and classified licensed professionals within minority school districts. Downton’s (2016) theory on transformational leadership guided this study's theoretical framework for the research and ensuing findings. This research was created to answer the following central question: What are the perceived effects of diversity and ethical principles on teachers, administrators, and classified licensed professionals within minority school districts? Three sub-questions were used to understand the experiences of diversity and ethical principles in educational leadership within minority school districts. The …

Journey To Becoming A Superintendent In New York: A Transcendental Phenomenological Study, Jeremy R. Koch

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to understand the lived experiences an individual encounters on their journey to becoming a superintendent at a school district in New York. The theory used in this study was the push-pull model (PPM) by E. G. Ravenstein and the push-pull mooring model by E. S. Lee and later B. Moon, to study the lived experiences of those who have become school district superintendents. The PPM was used to determine what themes are present in an individual’s journey to the superintendency that pulls them to the position, pushes them away, or causes them …

An Explanatory Study Of Toxic Leadership And Servant Leadership Related To Organizational Culture And Behavioral Trust, Daniel Timothy Thames

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this quantitative ex post facto correlational study was to determine if a relationship exists between followers’ perceptions of toxic leadership and servant leadership as they relate to organizational culture and behavioral trust as measured by the Toxic Leadership Scale (TLS), the Servant Leadership Questionnaire (SL-7), the Organizational Culture Scale (OCS), and the Behavioral Trust Inventory (BTI). Toxic leadership was evaluated through the framework of Padilla et al.’s (2007) toxic triangle and Thoroughgood et al.’s (2012) susceptible circle of followers of toxic leaders. Exploring the theoretical context of toxic leadership, this project studied the effects of toxic leadership …

Aiding A Reformed Church Into A Multiethnic And Economically Diverse Congregation, Leroy E. Childress Jr.

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Ethnic and economic diversity can be experienced in the local church. There is a biblical undertone in the Scriptures that shows Jesus, the apostles, and Old Testament themes that point to Revelation 7 for the reality of it. This reality can be lived on earth while Christians practice for heaven. While 95 percent of the churches around America remain homogeneous, with intentionality, adequate training, and a willingness to engage in difficult conversations, historically Reformed churches can also experience ethnic and economic diversity within their congregations. Although many churches do not feel the capabilities to become multiethnic and economically diverse, by …

Success Treating Substance Use Disorder: A Case Study Of Minnesota Adult And Teen Challenge, John Joseph Lenss

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Minnesota Adult and Teen Challenge (MNTC) is an addiction treatment center. The reason for this qualitative case study was to discover why clients of substance use disorder treatment programs believe that they can graduate from their program when 50% of those who start the same long-term program drop out. This case study focused on graduates from MNTC in Minneapolis, Minnesota. This study discovered the graduates' common attributes that may improve MNTC treatment center programs, which could decrease the number of people who walk away from addiction recovery programs prematurely and increase the number of those who graduate. According to MNTC …

Measuring Technical Super-Efficiency Of Christian Faith-Based International Humanitarian Organizations, Barbara G. Price

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

COVID-19 left a wake of destruction upon its descension, pervasion, and diffusion across the continents. Not only did this happen at individual, household, and corporate levels, but also the nonprofit world. Christian ministries, faith-based organizations, and faith-based charities are among some of the largest international relief and development agencies that are on the front lines of humanitarian and disaster relief efforts (MinistryWatch & Smith, 2023). Understanding the effects of COVID-19 or phenomena with similar magnitudes on faith-based organizations is critical to understanding the impact at the level of their international humanitarian development and relief programs. There is a need for …

An Examination Of Employee's Perceived Level Of Their Leader's Religiosity As A Moderator Of The Relationship Between An Employee's Religiosity And Job Satisfaction, Brad Carney

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this study was to investigate whether an employee’s perceived level of their leader’s religiosity moderates the relationship between an employee’s level of religiosity and job satisfaction. The participants in this research study were recruited through the utilization of a snowball sampling method, primarily leveraging Liberty University’s doctoral student email list and social media platforms such as Facebook and LinkedIn. Participants in the study were required to be 18 and older and had been employed under their current leader for a minimum of one year. The total sample size was N=65. The researcher used a quantitative self-reporting survey …

Cultivating Multicultural Christian Youth Ministry Team Leaders Through Covenant Relationships With Youth In Kc And Stl Metro Area Churches, Christopher D. Edin

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

One significant challenge for today’s Christian churches involves bridging the gap between youth involvement in church after high school graduation and moving on to college (Owens, 2014). Owens (2014) asserts that today’s adolescents experience parental and church support during high school, but once they head off to college, they leave that support and stability at home. Students leave the church for many reasons. This study proposes that one significant reason is that Christian churches do not educate youth ministry team leaders on multiculturalism. This research explored satisfactory multicultural competencies necessary for youth ministry leaders to disciple youth by asking adult …

The Battle Of Mobile Bay: A Joint Masterpiece, Thomas Rutherford Key

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The United States and Confederate Navies saw the most action and glory in the first days of the Battle of Mobile Bay in 1864. It is therefore not surprising that historians paint the opening scenes of the battle with naval accounts such as Admiral David Glasgow Farragut shouting, “Damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead!” as he sails into Mobile Bay. They mention little about the Army. In contrast, historians record little about the U.S. Navy’s role in the following three weeks while the Army laid siege to Fort Gaines and Fort Morgan. However, both services played critical and interdependent roles …

Mentoring Emerging Leaders As It Relates To Senior Leadership Succession, Kevin D. Neal

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this case study was to explore the effects that a leadership mentoring plan had on the development of emerging leaders within the ministry of the International Ministry Network of Churches (IMNC). This study also sought to determine future leadership readiness regarding succession. This church fellowship currently does not have an established mentorship program in place, and without a successful plan for preparing new leaders for the future of the IMNC, the organization's growth and perpetuity can be potentially impacted negatively. The research was conducted by surveying senior local church leaders within the IMNC to assess their current …

Edification And Evangelism Through Worship Leadership, Donald G. Wolf

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

To gain Christ worshipers, evangelism is the church’s most significant commission. Disciples of Christ are commanded to preach the gospel: Mark 16:15. However, the church's edification through worship leadership produces the heart for evangelism in God’s people to be evangelists. This multiplies the ministry of the congregation to their world. This paper addresses the components of successful leadership that help people to be edified and evangelized in through the integrity of the gospel presentation through worship, specifically American evangelical worship leadership. Adaptive approaches must be considered as cultures evolve while retaining the accurate theological gospel message. Recorded historical commentary and …