Leadership Studies Commons^™

How Leaders Build Employee Trust In Artificial Intelligence: Voice Opportunities, Humility, And Trust Transfer, Jack Mcguire, David De Cremer, Devesh Narayanan

Research Collection Lee Kong Chian School Of Business

Artificial intelligence is increasingly central to organizational work, yet employee trust in AI remains fragile. Although prior research has primarily explained trust in AI through technological characteristics such as transparency, reliability, and accuracy, we argue that trust in AI is also shaped by the social context in which employees encounter these systems. Drawing on affect-as-information theory and social information processing theory, we develop and test a model in which leader-provided voice opportunities reduce employees’ negative affect about AI-related work experiences, thereby enhancing perceptions of leader trustworthiness and, in turn, trust in AI. We further propose that this indirect effect depends …

On Whose Authority? Discerning Selection Of Female Leadership In The African American Non-Denominational Churches, Earnestine Tyshell Cothran

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological qualitative study was to explore the lived experiences of senior church leaders and women pursuing senior leadership roles within African American non-denominational churches in North Carolina regarding the selection of women for senior leadership roles. This study examined the lived experiences of senior leaders and women who served or sought to serve in senior leadership roles within African American nondenominational churches in North Carolina. The problem emerged from a previous literature review as a replication study, “The Influence of Views Regarding Scriptural Authority on Female Leadership within The Independent Baptist African American Denomination” (McZeal, 2021). …

Investigating How Leadership In Policing Fosters Effective Coping Skills In Their Followers: A Multiple Case Study, Douglas Wade Brady

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Police stress-induced mental health issues are a byproduct of a series of traumatic experiences over a period of time and considered by scholars a major issue in law enforcement with serious, if not deadly, consequences. The purpose of this qualitative multiple-case study was to investigate how leadership in policing fostered effective coping skills in their followers’ ability to deal with field operations, organizational, and personal off-duty stressors. Scholarly literature suggested there are still gaps between effective police coping skills, concerning stress-induced mental health, and renewed lifesaving resiliency. The research questions for the study are: RQ1. What coping means are effective …

A Qualitative Examination Of The Impact Of Job Satisfaction And Confluency Theory On Police Recruitment And Retention, David Fegett

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Historically, the policing industry has struggled to manage personnel levels to maintain community expectations; however, the problem has never been more prevalent than it is today. The training and expertise required to serve as a police officer requires certification that, in most cases, cannot be obtained before employment with a law enforcement agency. This complicates staffing problems as replacement personnel are unable to maintain current attrition rates. As staffing levels continue to decrease, community relations suffer due to the lack of services that the public is accustomed to seeing. This cycle of poor attrition and community relations continues to be …

A Phenomenological Study Of The Challenges Distinctive To Women In Christian Leadership And Their Effects, Melanie Rischer Bernard

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to gain understanding by identifying challenges distinctive to women in high-level leadership positions in Christian ministry, the lived experiences of those challenges, and how those challenges have affected or are currently affecting them. The study was undertaken to address a gap in the literature regarding the experiences of women serving in high-level Christian ministry leadership roles and to provide greater understanding of their leadership experiences. Role congruity theory of prejudice toward female leaders (Eagly & Karau, 2002) provided the theoretical framework for understanding challenges women encounter in Christian ministry leadership. Four research …

The Influence Of Arts-Based Volunteer Programs On Leadership Development In Adult Mentors Of Suburban Youth, Jindallrae Choi

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to understand the leadership development experiences of adult mentors participating in arts-based volunteer programs serving suburban youth in community settings. The theory guiding this study provided a framework for examining how experiential arts-based volunteerism facilitated leadership development through reflective practice and relational engagement. The central research question guiding this study was: How do adult mentors experience leadership development through participation in arts-based volunteer programs serving suburban youth? This qualitative study employed a transcendental phenomenological design to explore the lived experiences of 10 adult mentors engaged in arts-based volunteer programs within suburban communities. …

A Qualitative Case Study On The Workplace Challenges Faced By Organizational Leaders In The Employee Selection And Hiring Process Of Former Military Personnel, Jason Vranes

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative, single case study was to explore organizational leaders’ experiences and perceptions in recruiting, selecting, and integrating former military personnel in a non-military organization in the Southeastern United States. The study addressed workplace challenges in those processes and used implicit bias theory, intersectionality theory, and attraction-selection-attrition theory as the conceptual framework. Three research questions guided the inquiry by examining leaders’ assessments of cultural fit and soft skills, practices used to detect and mitigate bias in selection, and support provided after hiring. Data were collected through 12 semi-structured interviews with organizational leaders, one human resource focus group, …

From Disengagement To Stewardship: A Leadership Intervention To Strengthen Nonprofit Board Governance, Shannel M. Mceachin

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This study designed, implemented, and assessed a stewardship-based leadership intervention to strengthen board leadership and engagement within the Y.T.I. Youth Tutoring Initiative Board of Directors. The rationale for this project was grounded in nonprofit governance best practices and a theological framework of stewardship. Effective nonprofit leadership requires the board of directors to take an active role in governance and self-leadership. The Youth Tutoring Initiative Board of Directors faced leadership and engagement challenges, evidenced by limited individual contributions and organizational accountability. Without intervention, the leadership risked continued stagnation and limited strategic contribution. This project ignited the board's leadership by implementing a …

Exploratory Case Study Of Organizational Commitment At A Financial Institution, Sara Popovic

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Organizational commitment remains a key concern in financial institutions, particularly as organizations seek to sustain employee engagement, productivity, and retention. The purpose of this study was to explore the experiences of employees within one financial institution to understand the factors contributing to low organizational commitment despite ethical leadership practices. Guided by Meyer and Allen’s Organizational Commitment Theory, the study examined why organizational commitment remained low, how low commitment affected productivity, and how employees perceived organizational efforts to strengthen commitment. I collected data through semi-structured interviews with 30 employees and analyzed them using inductive thematic analysis. Three primary themes emerged: leadership …

How Do The Formal And Informal Leadership Strategies In Church With A Latino Component Result In The Ability Or Inability To Make Critical And Sustainable Changes?, Clara Herran

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative single-case study was to explore the challenges leaders in a church with a Latino component face and how those challenges may affect their ability to make critical and sustainable changes. The study examined leadership strategies, members’ interactions, cultural and contextual factors, and leadership actions and behaviors associated with gaining church support. Guided by a positivist paradigm, the study used a flexible qualitative design and single-case study method. Data were collected from 12 participants representing multiple leadership, ministry, volunteer, and congregational perspectives through semi-structured interviews and participant observation. Methodological triangulation was used to compare evidence obtained …

The Heroic Behaviors Of Havka Folman-Raban, Courier In The Warsaw Ghetto, Beth S. Dotan

Heroism Science

This article analyzes the elements of heroic behavior of Havka Folman-Raban during her experiences as a courier in the underground of the Warsaw Ghetto during World War II. Drawing on numerous missions she completed prior to being arrested in Kraków, Poland, and others made during her internment at Auschwitz-Birkenau and the Auschwitz subcamp Harmęże, this assessment considers!how Havka Folman-Raban’s wartime activities and convictions that continued throughout the rest of her life align with four commonalities of heroism identified in heroic behavioral sciences. We consider how Havka’s participation in the Socialist Zionist Pioneering Movement influenced her actions. To understand the breadth …

The Influence Of Childhood Experiential History On Elon Musk’S Personality, Amelia Brower, Aubrey Immelman

Psychology Faculty Publications

This paper presents the results of a developmental causal analysis of the adult personality of innovative entrepreneur and business leader Elon Musk, from the conceptual perspective of personologist Theodore Millon.

Psychodiagnostically relevant data relating to Musk’s personality were collected from biographical sources and media reports and synthesized into a personality profile using the Millon Inventory of Diagnostic Criteria (MIDC), which yields 34 normal and maladaptive personality classifications congruent with DSM-III-R, DSM-IV, and DSM-5-TR.

The findings of the personality assessment were previously reported in a separate paper. Musk’s primary personality patterns were found to be Ambitious/self-serving and Dominant/controlling, …

Trust In Leader As A Focal Point In Building Followers’ Servant Leadership At Schools, Regi Sanjaya, Maria Merry Marianti, Brigita Meylianti Sulungbudi

The South East Asian Journal of Management

Research Aims: This research recognises the evolving landscape of followership within Indonesia’s education sector, specifically examining the fundamental role of trust in the leader in promoting servant leadership behaviour.

Design/Methodology/Approach: The study involved 248 teachers from 11 of Indonesia’s 38 provinces, representing 25 cities and 79 schools across kindergarten, elementary, middle, and high school levels. Analysis was conducted using a regression-based method with SPSS 26.0 and PROCESS Macro 4.2.

Research Findings: The findings revealed two mediation pathways between principal servant leadership and followers’ servant leadership: one through trust in the leader and a serving culture, and the other through trust …

Women’S Perceptions Of Leadership Effectiveness During Perimenopause And Menopause, Shannon Clarkson Rains

Discernment: Theology and the Practice of Ministry

Perimenopause and menopause occur during the middle and later years of women’s professional lives, yet little research has examined how women in Christian leadership perceive their effectiveness during this transition. This mixed-methods study explored the experiences of 52 women serving in churches, Christian higher education, and nonprofits within the Churches of Christ. Participants completed an anonymous online survey addressing menopausal stage, symptoms, workplace experiences, and perceived leadership effectiveness, with optional open-ended questions inviting personal reflection.

Participants reported an average of thirteen symptoms. Although 60% perceived no change in their leadership effectiveness, 35% believed they had become less effective. Emotional symptoms …

Organizational Health Inventory: A Comprehensive Exam For Assessing Extension's Organizational Health, Tearney R Woodruff, Meggan Franks, Hannah G. Edwards, Lauren D. Hargrave, Brandi Berven, Cynthia Canfield

Journal of Extension

As Extension faces a retention crisis, it is crucial to focus on the health of our organizations. A collaborative working group, comprised of evaluation and staff development specialists across multiple states, identified the need for a free, accessible organizational health evaluation tool for Extension. Many higher education institutions cannot afford consultants to assess organizational well-being and effectiveness yet need the data the evaluation would provide. This article highlights a validated survey instrument, the Organizational Health Inventory–Extension (OHI-EXT), designed to help Extension organizations identify issues and implement targeted interventions that foster a stable and engaged workforce.

Epic Heroism For The Ordinary: Tolkien’S Reworking Of Odyssean Heroism In The Hobbit, Jon Billsberry

Journal of Tolkien Research

This article explores The Hobbit as a narrative of two Odyssean homecomings: Thorin’s return to Erebor and Bilbo’s return to Bag End. Thorin undertakes the more direct nostos: as a displaced royal heir, he returns to recover his ancestral household, inheritance, authority, and public identity. Bilbo, by contrast, leaves a secure home and gradually acquires the cunning, adaptability, judgement, and independence that make Thorin’s return possible. Tolkien thus separates heroic position from heroic conduct. This separation produces conflict at Erebor, where Thorin’s defence of royal possession threatens violence and Bilbo uses the Arkenstone to challenge the king he helped …

Leadforward: A Department-Based Leadership Development Program To Support Workforce Well-Being, Leisa A. Bryant, Denise Marshall, Loreal Williams, Miranda M. Phillips

Advances in Cancer Education and Quality Improvement

Introduction: Leadership development is increasingly recognized as an important strategy for supporting workforce engagement, professional growth, and succession planning in healthcare settings. To address leadership development needs within Food, Nutrition, and Patient Transportation (FNPT) departments, a structured leadership development program, LeadForward, was developed for emerging and midlevel leaders.

Project Description: LeadForward was implemented within the FNPT departments at a comprehensive cancer center. Ten participants completed the inaugural cohort. The curriculum was organized into 6 instructional modules designed to develop leadership competencies among emerging and midlevel leaders. Leadership outcomes were assessed using pre- and postprogram self-assessments across 14 leadership competency …

Actualizing Leaders To Inspire A Group Network (Align): Feasibility And Pilot Of Implementing A Commensality Group Program For Leaders In A Pediatric Healthcare Setting, Thomas B. Ayres, Kristin Ray, Angela Myers

Advances in Cancer Education and Quality Improvement

Background: Leadership behaviors in pediatric health care settings are strongly linked to leader burnout, professional fulfillment, and self-care in addition to influencing their teams. Despite their pivotal role, leaders often face substantial emotional burdens associated with their roles. Commensality groups, defined as small, recurring gatherings centered around shared meals and structured discussions, have emerged as a promising approach to enhancing connection, community, and resilience among health care professionals. A gap in the literature regarding commensality groups is understanding the mechanism of this well-being intervention. Our hypothesis is that commensality groups act as resource caravans and provide psychosocial resources to health …

A Qualitative Case Study Of Law Enforcement Supervisors’ Perspectives On Agency Efforts To Identify And Prevent Extremism Among Active-Duty Officers, Enoch D. Irvine

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The presence of political extremism among active-duty law enforcement represents a very real threat to the safety of citizens and the integrity of the policing profession. The purpose of this study was to have law enforcement supervisors describe what their agencies are doing to identify and prevent political extremism among active-duty officers in Utah. Law enforcement supervisors from three specifically chosen case-study agencies were invited to participate via a combination of semi-structured in-person interviews and an online survey. The findings of this study demonstrate the challenges law enforcement supervisors face in addressing extremism among officers while thoroughly highlighting the lack …

The Impact Of Active Killer Defense Training Preparations And The Church, Michael Edward Howell

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this grounded theory (GT) study was to develop and understand the training and prevention tactics used in defending the church against active killer violence. Exploring the Routine Activity Theory (RAT) developed by Cohen and Felson (1979) in relation to active killer violence aimed to contribute significantly to building a more robust understanding of related problems associated with active killer violence in the world today in terms of a motivated offender, suitable target, and a lack of a capable guardian. The central phenomenon of this GT study focused on the understanding of the lethal threat from active killer …