Leadership Studies Commons^™

Are We Prepared? A Qualitative Multiple Case Study On Multijurisdictional Readiness And Response Capabilities For Atypical Complex Coordinated Incidents Involving Mass-Casualty Cbrne Threats In The State Of Washington, Christopher J. Gard

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Complex coordinated terrorist attacks involving chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and explosive (CBRNE) elements, along with active shooter threats, pose significant challenges for first-responding law enforcement officers. Responding to active threats where civilian lives are at immediate risk of serious injury or death requires an immediate, decisive response from the initial officers on the scene. When responders learn that perpetrators have dispersed one or more CBRNE-related weapons during an ongoing violent spree, on-site law enforcement personnel must be appropriately trained and adequately equipped to quickly and decisively confront and neutralize the attacker(s). Because prolonged federal CBRNE response assets can be delayed …

The Low Participation Of Women In The Truck Driving Industry, Aurora Floodine

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Women remain underrepresented in the United States trucking industry, particularly in leadership roles, despite ongoing efforts to increase workforce diversity and address persistent driver shortages. This qualitative phenomenological study explored the lived experiences of female trucking professionals who began their careers as truck drivers and later advanced into leadership positions. The study examined the strategies that facilitated women’s progression into leadership and the systemic barriers that may limit their advancement within the trucking industry. Semistructured interviews were conducted with 11 female trucking professionals, and the resulting data were analyzed using thematic analysis. Six themes emerged from the findings: (a) independence, …

Passing The Mantle: An Explanatory Sequential Study Of Mentoring And Succession In Ministry, Carol Anne Hankinson

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This project developed an eight-week mentorship framework to address leadership succession in collaborative organizations. According to the Barna Group (2023), the aging of the American clergy has reached crisis levels for the Church. Christian institutions of worship must adopt a plan of action to address this concern. Scripturally and historically, mentorship has been God's plan for passing the mantle from senior to junior leaders (Akoto, 2024). Burns's (1978) theory of transformational leadership advocates relational mentorship to advance an organization's mission and purpose. To this end, the researcher explored an intentional mentorship program with 28 participants. A mixed-methods explanatory sequential design …

When God Lifts The Veil: Transformational Leadership And Political Skills Model As Counters To Machiavellianism And Organizational Politics In The Los Angeles City Council, John Sandy Campbell

The Scholarship Without Borders Journal

This paper examines how Machiavellianism and Organizational Political Behavior contribute to destructive organizational politics and applies Transformational Leadership Theory and the Political Skill Model as countervailing frameworks to the Dark Triad. Grounded in leadership and organizational behavior research, this theory-based conceptual paper provides a theory-driven analysis that synthesizes established models to explore how power and unethical governance erode public trust. This paper examines the relationship between leadership behavior and power dynamics in a contemporary political context. Rather than relying on empirical data collection, it draws on Transformational Leadership Theory, the Political Skills Model, the Dark Triad, Organizational Politics, and Organizational …

Leadership Strategies And Registered Nurse Burnout, Chloee Wendorf

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Burnout among registered nurse leaders has intensified within academic medical centers, where increasing clinical demands, staffing challenges, and organizational complexities converge. This qualitative single-case study explored how 32 nurse leaders within the experienced and responded to burnout, and how leadership strategies shaped emotional resilience and team well-being. Guided by the Job Demands–Resources model and transformational leadership theory, data were collected through semi-structured interviews and analyzed using memoing, coding cycles, and NVivo-assisted thematic analysis. Findings revealed that burnout was largely driven by workload intensity, emotional labor, and misalignment between demands and available resources. Transformational leadership strategies, including individualized support, relational transparency, …

Do Financial Institutions’ Senior Leaders’ Shared Vision Moderate Or Mediate The Relationship Between Emotional Intelligence And Sales Professionals’ Work Engagement?, Jacob Glen Hill

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The modern workplace is driven by rapid changes, complexities, and challenges resulting from disruptions in the global marketplace. The disruptions have prompted organizations to prioritize leadership effectiveness to navigate the required business changes better and maintain a competitive advantage. The prioritization of leadership effectiveness has brought emotional intelligence, transformational leadership, and employee work engagement to the forefront of research. This study evaluated the relationship between the emotional intelligence of financial institutions’ leaders and their sales professionals’ work engagement as mediated or moderated by the leaders’ communication of a shared vision. The sales professionals and their leaders at select asset managers …

Morality Meets Education: Transactional And Transformational Leadership Of Business Students, Arthur L. Conyers

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

In an era where ethical failures in business can destabilize markets and damage public trust, understanding how future leaders develop moral clarity is becoming increasingly urgent. Transformational leadership highlights relational influence and purpose, while transactional leadership provides structural clarity that supports organizational operations. Morality, broadly defined as adherence to a standard of righteousness, remains essential for leadership in commerce, policy, and organizational contexts. This qualitative phenomenological study looked into how business and management students experience leadership development, moral decision-making, and faith integration in their academic and personal lives. Students enrolled in accredited colleges and universities were interviewed, and transcripts were …

A Collaborative Leadership Development Model For Classical Christian School Consortiums, Lisa Diane Smith

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Over 55% of young adults in the United States have experienced some form of leadership development; however, their leadership skills are not being used within the church. Nearly 60% of those who regularly attended church during their youth are distancing themselves from it (Barna, 2023). Nonetheless, the same report suggested a link between youth who were well-integrated into a youth ministry and those who stayed active in the church. This Praxis program partnered with Redeemer Classical Academy to implement a Christ-centered leadership development initiative for its high school students. The argument supporting the Praxis program indicates that grounding students' leadership …

Promoting Leadership To Enhance Safety In Aircraft Maintenance: A Phenomenological Study Of Aviation Technical Operations, Komi Tete

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to explore how leadership styles affect the safety practices and overall performance of aircraft maintenance technicians (AMTs) in aviation Technical Operations (TechOps) environments. The study built on previous research indicating that safe and efficient aircraft operations depend on numerous technical and social processes. It focused on the comprehensive lived experiences of AMTs as they related to leadership influence on safety. The transformational leadership theory and safety culture theory guided the study, aligning with the inquiry by explaining how leaders could influence the behavior, motivation, and safety practices of AMTs. Ensuring the safety …

Leading Gen Z: The Connected Authentic Leadership Model, James Mitchell

The Scholarship Without Borders Journal

Generation Z is rapidly reshaping the global workforce, bringing with them new expectations for leadership grounded in authenticity, purpose, flexibility, technological fluency, and cultural intelligence. However, many traditional leadership models—such as transactional, servant, and even transformational leadership—only partially align with Generation Z’s needs. This study conducted a thematic analysis of 45 scholarly articles published between 2018 and 2024, identifying six leadership dimensions most valued by Generation Z: authentic transparency, servant-transformational focus, adaptive flexibility and inclusion, digital fluency, purpose-driven vision, and cultural intelligence. Based on these findings, the Connected Authentic Leadership Model (CALM) was developed to provide a holistic leadership framework …

A Dynamic Leadership Approach In Different Situations And Contexts, Francois Kammoe

The Journal of Values-Based Leadership

This paper is one of the first to provide empirical evidence supporting the conceptualization of a dynamic leadership approach in which employee maturity and organizational dynamism help leaders make the right choice of leadership styles to improve employee job satisfaction. As business environments change and employee maturity differs in this dynamic business era, and as there is a chaos characterized by numerous leadership styles in the leadership literature, adopting a dynamic leadership approach has become important to identify the most effective leadership styles suitable for employees. A quantitative study using conditional process analysis was conducted to examine a dynamic leadership …

Transformational Leadership And Its Impact On Team Success: A Detailed Chronicle Of Bellarmine University Men's Lacrosse, Ella Beames

Undergraduate Theses

This thesis uses a journalistic approach to explore the intersection between leadership, transformational leadership, in particular, and forms of success through the lens of Kentucky's only NCAA Division 1 Men's Lacrosse program. Interviews, written survey, and observation were utilized to gauge a community-wide perspective about the team and the holistic nature of the student-athlete experience within Bellarmine University Men's Lacrosse. Observation followed the team for three years and engaged players and coaching staff in telling the story of the team's shifting culture and the management process of the team's newfound success. Methods aimed to draw a connection between the change …

Workshop Series: Reflections On An Emerging Leadership Journey, Sanjay D. Paul

Doctor of Strategic Leadership (DSL) Capstone Abstracts

Defense Date

April 1, 2025

Candidate Name

Sanjay Paul

Personal Email Address

[email protected]

First Advisor

Dr. Emile Hawkins

Second Advisor

Dr. Debra Dean

DSL Final Project Abstract

Project Type

Global Conference Presentation

Project Overview

Reflections on an Emerging Leadership Journey is a PowerPoint presentation (of approximately 3 hours and 15 minutes) which designed to connect glo al interests in a way that can share best practices across an interdisciplinary front. Sanjay Paul shares ideas, observations, educational, volunteer, and professional experiences, along with his growth in the leadership journey. This journey can serve as a catalyst for others who are on …

Breaking Barriers: Bridging Gaps In Mental Health Literacy Through Digital Innovation, Adraine Racquel Chapman

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This study addressed the development and implementation of digital innovations aimed at bridging gaps in mental health knowledge, promoting awareness, reducing stigma, and enhancing support networks for children and adolescent families. Recognizing the critical need for accessible mental health education, this research reviewed methods in which digital tools were used to create engaging and informative resources. The study investigated the effectiveness of these digital innovations in increasing mental health literacy, fostering open communication, and building supportive communities. By integrating theoretical frameworks and empirical data, the dissertation highlighted the potential of digital platforms to revolutionize health education. The findings spotlighted and …

Estudio Fenomenológico Sobre La Relación Entre El Liderazgo Transformacional Y La Efectividad De Las Iniciativas De Gestión De Cambio En Las Organizaciones, Greilyn Soto-Perez

Theses and Dissertations

Esta Disertación Aplicada tuvo como propósito explorar la relación entre el liderazgo transformacional y la efectividad de las iniciativas de gestión del cambio en organizaciones de diversos sectores. Este estudio cualitativo se centró en comprender, desde el punto de vista de diferentes lideres transformacionales en distintas áreas e industrias, cómo los líderes y empleados experimentan y perciben el impacto del liderazgo transformacional en la implementación de cambios significativos organizacionales.

Este estudio de naturaleza cualitativa se enmarcó en un enfoque fenomenológico. Mediante entrevistas semiestructuradas en profundidad, se exploraron cuatro dimensiones del liderazgo transformacional: influencia idealizada, motivación inspiradora, estimulación intelectual y consideración …

The Impact Of Transformational Leadership And Knowledge Sharing On Intention To Use Gamification In Teaching, Truong M. Vu

Dissertations, 2020-current

This paper investigates the impact of transformational leadership and knowledge sharing on university professors' intentions to use gamification in teaching, employing the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) as a theoretical framework. Gamification, defined as the integration of game-based mechanics to promote learning and engagement, has shown significant potential in enhancing educational experiences but remains underutilized in higher education. This study suggests that knowledge sharing is a critical antecedent influencing the perceived ease of use, usefulness, and adoption of gamification by educators. Using a quantitative methodology, data are collected from 204 university professors in Vietnam, analyzing their perceptions of transformational leadership behaviors, …

Crafting The Wings Of Tomorrow's Leaders, Anushka Sharma

Purdue Journal of Service-Learning and International Engagement

SOAR is a social impact initiative I founded in partnership with Big Brothers/Big Sisters Lafayette. We provide novel leadership and character development resources for local Lafayette youth. The motto—engage, uplift, and achieve—speaks to my aims for inspiring the next generation of leaders, within Purdue members and local youth. This reflection essay is an opportunity to express the aims of SOAR, the intentionality behind this initiative, and how I hope to contribute to the development of youth in Lafayette and beyond. Mr. Brennan’s visit is a milestone for SOAR, and having the opportunity to converse with a renowned youth development leader …

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 …

Mitigating Workplace Burnout Through Transformational Leadership And Employee Participation In Recovery Experiences, John Pladdys

HCA Healthcare Journal of Medicine

Burnout is a complex organizational phenomenon that diminishes employee well-being and overall organizational productivity. Researchers propose that leadership style contributes to employees’ well-being, which impacts employee productivity. Organizations and leaders must address the causes of burnout and promote techniques employees can use to mitigate burnout, such as employee participation in recovery experiences. Recovery experiences are non-work activities that create positive outlooks and restore the energy needed to focus on one’s work.

This literature review examines current research in employee recovery experiences, conservation of resource theory (COR), burnout, and transformational leadership theory. Studying burnout through the lens of COR shows how …

The Influence Of Transformational Leaders In Reconnecting The Millennial Generation To The Community Of The Local Church, Brandi Lynn Ginty

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Population statistics point to an exodus of Millennials from local churches, reinforcing the increasingly widespread opinion that the church is no longer relevant or relatable (Barna Group, 2019a, 2019b; Conway, 2019; Del Rosario & Bock, 2017; Earls, 2022; Easton & Steyn, 2022; Fry, 2019; Gale et al., 2023; Kinnaman & Matlock, 2019; Omilion-Hodges & Sugg, 2019; Packard & Ferguson, 2019; Sumpter, 2019; Wilson, 2019). Culturally contextual ministry leadership methods are needed if the trajectory of these statistics is to change. To reach the population of the Millennial generation, ministry leaders need to examine the cultural needs of those they are …

Mastering The Void: The Secret Sauce Of Black Female Leadership In The Ivory Tower, Laschanda Johnson

Theses and Dissertations

This scholarly inquiry delved into the enduring disparity of gender representation within leadership roles, a phenomenon persisting despite women's remarkable progress in education and professional realms in the last 50 years. Concentrating on tertiary education, this study examined the scant presence of females, with a particular emphasis on Black females, in elite leadership roles. Its primary objective is to discern and corroborate the leadership aptitudes that have been instrumental in propelling the careers of Black female administrators in tertiary educational institutions. Employing a refined Delphi methodology, this research shared insights from the career trajectories and developmental experiences of Black females …

Leadership In Startups: How Founder Personality And Leadership Behaviors Impact Startup Success And Psychological Safety, Ria Passi, Ronald Riggio

CMC Senior Theses

New ventures created by entrepreneurs are crucial to the economy and to the diffusion of innovative technologies. However, startups often operate in highly uncertain environments characterized by constrained resources, lack of established processes, and complex market dynamics. Despite surges in startup investment, the failure rate for new ventures remains high, making it crucial to understand the factors that can contribute to their success. This thesis explores how founder personalities, leadership styles, and cultivating psychological safety impact startup performance and growth trajectories. Founder personality traits like openness, agreeableness, and conscientiousness are positively associated with securing funding, achieving exit opportunities, and overall …

Unlocking The Gates Of Change: Exploring The Impact Of Transformational Leadership On Openness Toward Organizational Change, William A. Whipple Iii

M.S. in Leadership

This capstone delves into the contemporary challenge of organizational change, specifically focusing on leadership's influence on employee openness to change. The objective is to provide leaders with practical tools for fostering employee receptivity to change in today's dynamic work environment. This study employs a mixed-method approach involving a literature review and a quantitative survey. The research reveals a positive relationship between transformational leadership and employee openness to change. A 21-item survey evaluates the correlation between five subdimensions of transformational leadership and employee openness. Practical implications suggest that leaders emphasizing inspirational communication can enhance employee openness to future organizational changes, contributing …

How Can Transformational Leadership Be Unbound From The Gender Binary Paradigm?, Jody Condit Fagan, Michelle Hamilton-Page

Libraries

Disrupting binary conceptions of gender could be one of the most needed paradigmatic shifts in leadership studies. Nonbinary leadership paradigms can liberate people of all genders from a framework that forces them to describe their leader behaviors as aligned with or transgressive of a binary gender. Academic leadership studies has generally focused on differences between men and women and discrimination against women, with trans and nonbinary gender identities notably absent. Traditional models of leadership need to be interrogated to see if they hold up under a nonbinary lens. In this presentation, we will examine two dimensions of the iconic model …

The Role Of Gender And Curiosity On Transformational Leadership: A Mixed-Methods Study, Brooke Colleen Mott

School of Natural Resources: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Environmental leaders are tasked with finding innovative solutions to dynamic environmental challenges. Leaders must gain and use new knowledge and experiences that motivate resolving gaps in one’s knowledge (i.e., curiosity) and thereby find forward-thinking solutions. Although curiosity is an integral part of human existence, it may be experienced in various ways. Studies have shown that men and women may possess different leadership styles. Nevertheless, the influence of curiosity on leadership between genders has not been as readily explored. Women exhibit unique characteristics for successful leadership in many contexts, but they are often underrepresented in natural resource management overall. Characteristics of …

The Influence Of Transformational Leadership On Team Performance And Team Creativity: A Team-Level Resilient Proactive Model, Youwei Zhu

Dissertations and Theses Collection (Open Access)

The current Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity, and Ambiguity (VUCA) era is characterized by a number of factors, including globalization, technological advancements, geopolitical instability, and shifting consumer demands. These factors have combined to create an environment in which businesses and organizations must be highly adaptable and agile to survive and thrive.

To succeed in the current VUCA era, organizations must have the ability to anticipate and respond to change quickly while also being able to adapt to new technologies and business models. This task requires a strong focus on innovation, agility, and collaboration as well as a willingness to take calculated risks …

Examining Transformational Leadership Self-Perceptions Of Current Chief Executive Officers Within Executive Peer Advisory Groups, Israel Passwater

Theses and Dissertations

This quantitative study examined the leadership perceptions of current chief executive officers from executive peer groups. The goal of this examination was to investigate to what extent these leaders view their behaviors as being transformational. The Multifactor Leadership Questionnaire (MLQ) 5X was used as the research instrument. The results indicate significant relationships between the 5 I’s of transformational leadership and the demographic questions in several key areas. Conclusions and recommendations for further research are provided based on the results of this study.

Leadership Development Of Physician-Trainees, Julie Robinson

Theses and Dissertations

Physicians frequently occupy leadership roles, yet training in leadership development in the medical education continuum is scarce (Angood, 2015; Dhaliwali & Sehgal, 2014; Rotenstein et al., 2018; Varkey et al., 2009). Effective leadership training can guide physician-trainees on a journey toward self- and others- awareness and management utilizing emotional intelligence (Goleman, 2006), integrity, authenticity (Erhard et al., 2010; George, 2003; Snook et al., 2012), communication, teamwork (Hackman, 2012; Larson & LaFasto, 1989), change management (Kotter, 1995; 2012), and systems thinking (Senge, 2006). The call to enhance leadership development of physicians across their education continuum is unmistakable (Blumenthal et al., 2012, …

The Correlation Between Transformational Leadership And Mental Health Clinician Burnout, Rebekah E. Shutter

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Mental health clinicians working in a hospital setting are at a high risk of experiencing burnout due to the stressful demands of their caseloads, compassion fatigue, limited resources, and unsupportive leadership. While there is ample research regarding the cause and effect of burnout on clinicians there is a gap in the literature when it comes to the impact leadership has on mental heath clinician burnout. The purpose of this quantitative, correlational study is to determine if and to what extent there is a correlation between Transformational Leadership and mental health clinician burnout. Participants for this study consisted of 200 mental …

The Relationship Between Transformational Leadership And Organizational Citizenship Behaviors Of Bank Employees In The United States, Silas N. Reuben

PhD in Organizational Leadership

This study examined the relationship between transformational leadership and organizational citizenship behavior (OCB) of bank employees in the United States. The study was necessary, as bank customers are urging banks to go the extra mile or engage in OCB to improve customer service given the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, which affected customers' use of bank services. The study used the 20-item MLQ Form 5X-short for transformational leadership and the OCB instrument developed by Podsakoff et al. to collect data from bank employees in the National Capital Region (NCR) of the United States. Pearson correlation analysis was conducted to …