Organization Development Commons^™

Improving The Land Trust Model’S Impact On Environmental Conservation In Northern California, Peter Talbot

Master's Projects and Capstones

For years, the land trust sector of California and much of the United States has operated with a dollars and acres mentality that has prioritized fundraising as a result of acreage protected. Within California, nearly 5.8 million acres of land have been protected by 132 land trusts throughout the state. To accommodate for the diverse cross-section of land and the many needs of the population, land trusts take on numerous shapes and sizes. A unique aspect of this diversity is the rich agricultural and natural spaces found throughout the state. This mix of land and variety of land uses has …

Utilizing New Technologies To Measure Therapy Effectiveness For Mental And Physical Health, Jonathan Ossie

Dissertations

Mental health is quickly becoming a major policy concern, with recent data reporting increasing and disproportionately worse mental health outcomes, including anxiety, depression, increased substance abuse, and elevated suicidal ideation. One specific population that is especially high risk for these issues is the military community because military conflict, deployment stressors, and combat exposure contribute to the risk of mental health problems.

Although several pharmacological approaches have been employed to combat this epidemic, their efficacy is mixed at best, which has led to novel nonpharmacological approaches. One such approach is Operation Surf, a nonprofit that provides nature-based programs advocating the restorative …

The Right People In The Wrong System: Examining The Tension Between Nonprofit Individuals And Organizational Structure, Erin Vong

Master's Theses

Nonprofit organizations pursue missions of social good while still operating within the confines of systems of oppression, creating a tension between organizational values and operational success. Previous research focuses on the micro-level role of individuals and the macro-level role of ideologies that create these tensions for nonprofit workers in these spaces. Through a qualitative case study, this thesis seeks to uncover the meso-level role of organizational structures in the experiences of nonprofit workers. The research questions that guided this case study were (a) How does one organization present equitable working conditions for its staff? (b) How do staff at this …

Exploring The Relationship Between Nurse Supervisor’S Servant Leadership Behavior And Nursing Employee’S Self-Assessment Of Engagement And Burnout In Nigeria, Michael Otuwurunne

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

Burnout is a problem among workers in Nigeria, especially among nurses (Ozumba, & Alabere, 2019). This study examined whether there was a significant relationship between the employee perception of the servant leadership behaviors of the nurse supervisor and the employee’s self-rating of burnout: exhaustion and disengagement, and servant leadership behaviors of the nurse supervisor, and engagement: vigor, dedication, and absorption. Exhaustion refers to an intensive physical, affective, and cognitive strain while disengagement refers to the distancing of oneself from one’s work, and experiencing negative attitudes toward the work object, work content, or one’s work in general (Demerouti et al., 2001). …

Affective Commitment, Mentoring, And Anticipated Turnover Among Millennials, Keiasha Hypolite

Dissertations

ABSTRACT

Millennials comprise the largest group of individuals in the workforce, yet organizations struggle to keep millennials engaged in the workplace. Millennials move from job to job, with an average stay at one employer between 12 and 18 months (Hechl, 2017). Researchers have reported that millennials cause the majority of turnover in the workplace. Globally, human resources practitioners experience difficulties retaining millennials (Sahraee et al., 2021). Previous studies have researched millennials, affective commitment, mentoring, and turnover. However, no known research has used all four factors to solve a global problem. In their discussion of the highly competitive labor market, Ramírez …

A Method For Collective Healing: The Utility Of Talking Circles, Samuel Montano, Victoria Williams, Jia Jian Tin

Journal of Multicultural Affairs

This paper highlights the importance of Justice and Healing Talking Circles (JAHTC) in higher education settings, as well as other institutions to provide a safe place for individuals and groups to have collective healing experiences. This paper outlines the current sociopolitical climate that poses a threat to social equity, social justice, and communal healing, while also providing a method and rationale for the implementation of JAHTC.

U.S. Involvement Of Water Sanitation In El Salvador, Emilio Lau

Helm's School of Government Conference

No abstract provided.

Toward Diversity, Equity, And Inclusion Outreach And Engagement In Extension Education: Expert Consensus On Barriers And Strategies, John Diaz, Cody Gusto, Lendel K. Narine, K.S.U Jayaratne, Colby Silvert

The Journal of Extension

Barriers to the successful implementation of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) education and outreach initiatives are being documented across higher education institutions as DEI policies and protocols are gaining attention. Despite growing attention to promote DEI in higher education institutions, there remains a need to examine barriers preventing DEI efforts in a systematic way, particularly in Extension education contexts to formulate strategies to promote DEI. We present an expert, consensus-based framework to identify the most salient barriers to successful DEI implementation in Extension. We also discuss opportunities for Extension practitioners to overcome salient barriers with tailored mitigation strategies.

Liberian Immigrants' Experiences In Career Advancement To Leadership Positions In The United States Of America: A Phenomenological Study, Joshua Z. Bernard

Education Doctoral Dissertations in Organization Development

The purpose of this study was to understand the experience of Liberian Immigrants in career advancement to leadership positions in the United States. In this study, there were a total of six Liberians interviewed; three women and three men, and their ages ranged from 35-51. These interviews were done in a suburb of Minneapolis, Minnesota. Each participant interviewed in this study was able to speak in detail about their experience beginning with his or her migration process to the United States, their experiences living in the United States, and their achievements. Each participant has at least a master’s degree. One …

Knowledge Management & Decision Making: How Leaders Can Make More Informed Decisions, Jennifer Riad

Journal of Educational Leadership in Action

People make decisions daily, but the question remains: Are they making sound judgments in the decision-making process? This article aims to understand better knowledge and decision-making, the limitations accompanying those, and how to improve these actions. Leaders must be conscious of these limitations and actively work against them to make more informed decisions. A review of the literature revealed four themes—the nature of knowing, cognitive limitations, groupthink, and ethics. This article imparts a brief “crash course” on various examples that interfere with good decision-making to educate readers and conclude with corresponding recommendations. Recommendations include acknowledging the limitations that impede decision-making, …

Developing The Food Navigator Role At Everyone's Harvest, Chase Rodriguez

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

Everyone’s Harvest (EH) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit that operates farmers’ markets. In order to reduce hunger in Monterey County, Everyone's Harvest offers several food assistance programs for low-income people including the Market Match (MM) incentive program which matches CalFresh money, modern day food stamps, dollar for dollar. The problem is that in Monterey County 1 in 4 adults and 1 in 3 children are food insecure. The purpose of the Food Navigator (FN) at EH is to engage with the local community and connect low-income people with food assistance resources, primarily the MM program. This project was a role development …

The Role Of Organizational Support In The Relationship Between Safety Climate And Organizational Outcomes, Lee Chambers

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Organizations employing individuals in high-risk or safety-sensitive occupations (e.g., construction workers, commercial drivers, pilots, and oil rig workers) face the challenge of ensuring their employees’ safety and well-being amidst various hazards and dangerous situations. To address this, cultivating a positive safety climate has been identified as a crucial factor in reducing workplace accidents or injuries. However, despite its importance, the link between safety climate and non-safety outcomes remains underexplored in the literature. In response, this study proposed a model based on social exchange theory, which highlights the crucial role of organizational support in explaining the relationship between safety climate and …

Textbook Affordability At Smith College: Affirming Smith's Commitment To Creating An Inclusive, Equitable And Accessible Educational Community, Natalie Laroche

Other Student Projects

The U.S. Public Interest Research Group’s (PIRG) Education Fund, notes that “in 2020, 65 percent of students surveyed reported skipping buying a textbook because of cost” (Vitez & Nagle, n.d.). The costs of course materials are rising at astronomical rates. According to the Student PIRGs, “the cost of textbooks and course materials has increased at three times the rate of inflation since the 1970s” (Xie, 2023). Textbooks are unnecessarily expensive and are increasingly a barrier to education access and student success. Extensive research has demonstrated that while publishers can get away with (and profit off of) high prices, students who …

Victims Of Crime: System Navigation, Ashley R. Chesney

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

Santa Cruz County’s Shared Safety Workgroup, a collaborative chapter of United Way Santa Cruz, is working to better meet the needs of survivors and victims of crime. Due to the complexity of their trauma and the systems they navigate many survivors of crime are experiencing re-victimization. UWSCC attempted to create a comprehensive system mapping process for Santa Cruz County’s survivor-serving system with the assistance of community agencies. The expected outcome of the system mapping project is to create the first-ever system mapping tech platform that uniquely autogenerates services for survivors of crime while eliminating specific barriers based on their individual …

The Traits And Skills Of Successful Immigrant Workers In American Organizations, Lolita Tuopay

Education Doctoral Dissertations in Organization Development

There is no clear-cut, defined step-by-step process for immigrant workers to follow that guarantees success within American organizations. The existing literature identifies immigrant demographics common to leadership roles but does not point to specific traits or skills immigrants need for promotion to leadership positions or how to navigate the hiring process within U.S. organizations. The purpose of this phenomenological qualitative research was to identify factors contributing to immigrant workers’ success within American organizations. An interview approach was used because the immigrants who have lived these experiences are the most accurate storytellers. The study comprised 15 volunteer participants. Those participants formed …

Indigenous African-Centred Organizational Change: Building Capacity At A Grassroots B3 Organization, Emanuella Nicola Bringi

The Organizational Improvement Plan at Western University

Nakupenda Community Services (NCS) is a B3 organization based in Ontario Canada. At NCS there are several valuable programs serving the everyday needs of clients. While the services are valued by the community, the internal challenge within the organization is the lack of capacity to lead all programs. Compounding this problem is the demand for more programs and services given the impacts of the recent pandemic. The very active board of directors and employees have made significant efforts to meet the needs of clients, but the problem of capacity persists and negatively impacts service delivery as employees and leaders tend …

How Does Hybrid Project Management Contribute To Managing Change In A Volatile And Uncertain Context In The Financial Services Industry: An Interpretive Multiple Case Study, Matthew C. Dewey

Education Doctoral Dissertations in Organization Development

Organizations, governments, and individuals around the globe are currently experiencing Industry 4.0 (also known as the Fourth Industrial Revolution, 4IR, or I4.0), as evidenced by new disruptive technologies appearing on a global scale at an unprecedented rate. This environment might be best described as volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous (VUCA). Although organizations utilize a wide range of management methods to overcome unexpected challenges, including both organization development and change management, project management has emerged as a critical strategic competency for the delivery of strategic initiatives to increase business value. Organizations are increasingly gravitating toward the use of hybrid project management …

Evaluating Change In Representation And Coordination In Collaborative Governance Over Time: A Study Of Environmental Justice Councils, Saba Siddiki, Graham Ambrose, Davor Mondom

Center for Policy Design and Governance

The brief provides a summary of "Evaluating Change in Representation and Coordination in Collaborative Governance Over Time: A Study of

Environmental Justice Councils," co-authored by Saba Siddiki and Graham Ambrose and published in the journal Environmental Management.

We Don’T Have To Do All Of It Alone: A Phenomenological Study On How Mid-Level Leaders In Community Colleges Flourish Through Collaboration And Advocacy, Mackenzie Taylor Klinker Hutchins

Dissertations

Purpose: The purpose of this phenomenological study was to identify and describe the formal and informal leadership development experiences of mid-level leaders promoted within Washington State Community Colleges.

Methodology: This phenomenological study identified and described the formal and informal leadership development experiences of 17 mid-level leaders promoted within Washington State Community Colleges. Respondents were purposively chosen based on specific criteria and recommendations of two expert sponsors. The researcher collected data through semi-structured interviews, where the participants provided descriptive data that would aid in answering the study’s research questions.

Findings: Analysis of the qualitative data from 17 mid-level leaders promoted within …

The Dark Side Of Leadership: Mid-Level Managers And Their Experience With Hubristic Behaviors Of Executives, Leili Sadaghiani

Dissertations

Purpose: The purpose of the study is to identify the emotional reactions of mid-level managers to executives’ hubris behaviors in a corporate setting.

Methodology: This leadership study uses qualitative phenomenological methodology was executed to explore the lived experiences of mid-level managers with past executives who practiced hubristic behavior.

Findings: The findings of this research on the lived experiences of mid-level managers with hubristic behaviors of executives suggest that the lack of support lessens the mid-level manager’s confidence; with little support; the mid-level manager was either afraid to fight the executive or gave up trying; the mid-level manager faced stress even …