732 research outputs found
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Meaning Makers: A Mixed-Methods Case Study of Exemplary Chief Executive Officers of Engineering Technology Organizations and the Behaviors They Use to Create Personal and Organizational Meaning
No full textPurpose: The purpose of this thematic, mixed-methods case study was to identify and describe the behaviors used by exemplary chief executive officers of engineering technology organizations to create personal and organizational meaning for themselves and their followers through the five variables of character, inspiration, relationships, vision, and wisdom. Additionally, followers were surveyed to determine the degree to which they perceive the behaviors related to character, inspiration, relationships, vision, and wisdom help to create personal and organizational meaning.
Methodology: Exemplary chief executive officers of engineering technology organizations were interviewed to determine their perception of which behaviors they utilize to employ character, inspiration, relationships, vision, and wisdom to bring meaning to their lives, their followers, and the organization. Followers completed electronic surveys delivered to them by email.
Findings: There has been significant research done on leadership skills, traits, and behaviors, as well as on meaning; however, there is a gap in the literature describing the behaviors used by exemplary chief executive officers of engineering technology organizations when employing the five variables to bring meaning to themselves, their followers, and the organization. The review of literature revealed the importance of character, inspiration, relationships, vision, and wisdom as leadership skills and in building personal and organizational meaning. The study revealed that exemplary leaders create meaning for themselves, their organizations, and their followers through behaviors that exhibit positive character, inspiration, relationships, vision, and wisdom. Of these five variables, relationships, vision, and character were the most-cited behaviors in creating meaning.
Recommendations: Further research is advised by replicating the study in other engineering technology organizations. Further research is advised by researching female chief executive officers in engineering technology organizations.
Conclusions: By identifying and describing the behaviors associated with character, inspiration, relationships, vision, and wisdom by exemplary chief executive officers of engineering technology organizations, researchers can provide information to leaders, trainers, and organizations so that best practices may be developed to benefit all leaders, their followers, and the organizations in which they work
Exemplary Leadership: A Mixed-Methods Case Study Discovering How Female Chief Executive Officers Create Meaning
No full textPurpose: The purpose of this thematic, mixed-methods case study was to identify and describe the behaviors that exemplary female chief executive officers (CEOs) use to create personal and organizational meaning for themselves and their followers through meaning-making domains: character, vision, relationships, wisdom, and inspiration. Additionally, it was the purpose of this study to determine the degree of importance to which followers perceived behaviors within the meaning-making domains.
Methodology: The exploratory mixed-methods case study was selected to gather insight into the behaviors of four female chief executive officers through interviews. Twelve of their employees were asked to complete an online survey. The results of both the qualitative interviews and quantitative surveys were then compared for triangulation.
Findings: The qualitative findings of this research suggest that exemplary female CEOs demonstrate behaviors from each of meaning-making domains (character, vision, relationships, wisdom, and inspiration), with character and vision as most significant to meaning making. Followers concurred with their quantitative input, finding the domains of character and relationships to be the most significant in creating meaning within the organization.
Conclusions: The study’s findings support the need for CEOs to integrate behaviors from each of the meaning-making domains (character, vision, relationships, wisdom, and inspiration) in order to create meaning for themselves and their followers. CEOs wishing to develop behaviors across these domains should make decisions based on a moral compass, invest in strategic planning, as well set aside time for reflection and self-development.
Recommendations: There is a need for further exploration in this area of study. Replication studies could identify differing populations, exemplary male CEOs, or look at other geographical locations. For a deeper look into this topic, a pure qualitative design approach is suggested. The 21 emerging themes also need a deeper understanding and each could contribute to its own study. Finally, it is highly advisable that studies be conducted in order to add to the body of knowledge on meaning-making leadership
Leadership Practices That Create a Sustainable Collaborative Community
No full textThe purpose of this qualitative study was to discover the principal leadership practices perceived as supporting the development of professional learning communities and a sustainable collaborative culture. In addition, it was the purpose of this study to examine principal leadership practices school teachers in Antelope Valley School Districts perceive as important to creating a sustainable professional learning community. This study contributed to the literature to understand the important leadership practices that support the implementation and sustainability of professional learning communities. The participants in the present study were elementary principals and teachers implementing professional learning communities in Antelope Valley elementary school districts. This study was designed using qualitative interviews and focus group discussions. Principals participated in an initial demographic online questionnaire and face-to-face interviews and teachers participated in focus group discussions. Examination of the qualitative data indicated that principals and teachers perceive that the leadership practices of collaboration, having a clear focus, creating a data-driven environment, and developing accountability were the most important leadership practices needed in the implementation and sustainability of a collaborative community. Under the practice of collaboration, supporting teachers during the collaboration process was most important. Second, was the practice of having a clear focus, focusing on collective goals and building a clear purpose was most important. Third, was the practice of creating a data-driven environment, using student achievement data to improve teaching practices and student learning was important. Last, was the practice of creating accountability, creating individual and group accountability for the goals and student achievement was important. This study data support the conclusion that the leadership practices of collaboration, having a clear focus, data-driven inquiry, and holding everyone accountable to the goals were needed in the development and sustainability of a collaborative school culture. Future research is advised. Recommendations include the study of the following: How principal collaboration supports the implementation of professional learning communities. What practice do superintendents and central office leaders perceive as important for developing and sustaining collaborative communities? Future research could be conducted on the actual classroom practices as a result of professional learning communities and the impact on student learning
The Development of Organizational Training: Identifying Generational Differences and Perceptions in Computerized Learning Systems in Government Organizations
No full textPurpose: The purpose of this quantitative study was to determine the degree of effectiveness and preferences as it related to various computer-based training (CBT) and instructor-based training (IBT) types as perceived by baby boomer, Generation X, and millennial generational Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center Pacific (SSC Pacific) employees based in San Diego, California, as measured by the Northern Virginia Community College (NVCC) Extended Learning Institute Survey.
Methodology: The study used a descriptive, causal-comparative research design. A survey was administered to collect demographic data and responses that described and determined the degree of difference and effectiveness for various CBT types as perceived by generational groups.
Findings: Participants from all generations had varying attitudes toward training effectiveness and perceptions of training types; however, research suggests that baby boomers continue to adapt and embrace workplace technological changes based on attitudes toward their learning effectiveness and preferences. Generation Xers continue to embrace and reinvent workplace technological changes based on attitudes toward their learning effectiveness and preferences, and learning gaps between the younger, technology-savvy generation and older generations suggest attitudes and behaviors have closed in technologically advanced and diverse organizations.
Conclusions: First, there are varying attitudes toward the degree of training effectiveness and perceptions of training types. Second, generational studies helped to uncover differences between the generational groups and the importance of understanding their training perceptions. Third, the concluding thought of this research is that implementing effective principles of transformational leadership is, foremost, the way to achieve success in training in a rapidly changing technological environment.
Recommendations: This study considered insight into the perceptions of training effectiveness and preferences of government employees in a technologically advanced organization. The study also considered the role of the U.S. Department of the Navy, Naval Education and Training Command, organizational development (OD) professionals, and curriculum development designers with the state of generational group perceptions of CBT effectiveness and the preferred type of CBT instruction. Results could help organizations engage generational employees by developing age-friendly blended teaching methods, such as slower presentations with increased discussion, longer practice sessions, and interactive computer programs to aid learning to close gaps in training and enhance technological proficiency
Supporting a Growth Mindset in High School Classroom Teachers
No full textPurpose. The purpose of this qualitative case study was to identify and describe the strategies that California public high school principals utilized to develop a growth mindset in classroom teachers.
Methodology. This qualitative case study used interviews from 12 high school principals to gain an understanding for how they supported a growth mindset in their classroom teachers. The population for the case study was northern California high school principals, and the sample included high school principals from Napa, Sonoma, Solano, Marin, Alameda, and Contra Costa counties. To participate in the study, principals needed to be serving in at least their third year as principal at their school site, were principal at the time their school earned its most recent WASC accreditation, and received a WASC accreditation term of six years with a two day visit or better.
Findings. A total of 15 common themes emerged among the 3 research sub-questions of the study. These findings touched on the importance of school culture, providing feedback to teachers, and celebrating successes. Additionally, themes emerged about the characteristics of teachers with a growth mindset, including their desire to try new things and learn from feedback.
Conclusions. Four main conclusions were drawn based on the findings of this study. First, principals should intentionally address the culture at their school. Second, principals should determine and communicate a clear school-wide focus. Third, principals should find creative ways to celebrate teachers’ successes. Lastly, principals should invest in the professional learning community (PLC) structure at their schools.
Recommendations. Recommended action items based on the research included districts providing ongoing instructional coaching training to principals so that they can better guide teachers in reflection and learning. School districts need to also explicitly train principals in the concept of growth mindset. Furthermore, school districts need to reflect on and evaluate the effectiveness of their teacher evaluation process. Principals should explore creative and innovative ways to recognize teachers for their successes and implement professional learning communities at their school sites. Additionally, principals need to find ways to include the student point of view in the teacher learning process
A Mixed-Methods Study: An Examination of the Relationship between Private Social Media Participation and Accountability, Adherence, and Social Connectedness in
No full textPurpose: The purpose of this mixed-methods sequential explanatory study was to examine the influence of private social media usage on accountability, adherence, and social connectedness in weight loss and fitness program participants.
Methodology: This study utilized a mixed-methods sequential explanatory research design comprised of a multi-state quantitative survey of weight loss and fitness participants and subsequent qualitative interviews to elucidate the influence of private social media on weight loss and fitness program participants regarding program accountability and adherence, and social connectedness to others. The population included 3,000 participants of The Camp Transformation Center and 1,000 participants of Warrior Fitness and Wellness Camp.
Findings: The major of findings from this study revealed the frequency of private social media usage significantly correlated with participant accountability, adherence, and connectedness to weight loss and fitness programs, and participant public declaration of weight loss and fitness intentions via mandatory posting on personal Facebook pages significantly increased accountability and adherence to weight loss and fitness programs. Further, participants declared making themselves a priority was integral to program success.
Conclusions: The study established frequent private social media usage led to accountability and social connectedness, which then drove adherence. Resultantly, it is imperative for weight loss and fitness program developers to understand the magnitude of social media usage as an intervention for engaging and supporting participants and to encouraging program adherence via accountability and social connectedness for weight loss and fitness success.
Recommendations: It is recommended this study be replicated using a larger sample size with different social media platforms and different types of weight loss and fitness programs. Additionally, it is recommended to conduct this study by stratifying fewer demographic variables to determine if there is a relationship between the strata and weight loss and fitness program accountability, adherence, and social connectedness. It is further recommended to conduct this study using Nathaniel Branden’s Intelligent Selfishness versus Self-sacrifice as the theoretical framework
