The communication of an organizational change vision is a key to the success of organizational transformation. Theorists have prescribed models of how to make change vision communication successful but these models have no empirical data to support them. The purpose of this study was to explore the efficacy of change agents in communicating a change vision that compels employees to accept a perception of reality (mental model) that aligned with the change agents' vision. A case study of the merger of two metropolitan agencies was conducted to examine the relationship between the communication of a change vision and its effect on organizational change. The primary change agent and several organizational members affected by the transformation were interviewed. Primary and secondary organizational documents concerning the merger were collected. Mental models from organizational members were compared for similarity to the change agent's vision. Written and oral materials communicating the change vision were analyzed using Automap text analysis software as a measure of effectiveness and to determine which type of communication was most effective. Findings suggest that the change agent's vision was poorly defined and communicated yet the transformation succeeded because organizational members created their own compensating change vision. Social change implications of this study may include challenging unproductive methods of organizational change that have wasted resources and led to organizational misalignment. A better understanding of the communication of change visions will lead to cost savings and more effective and efficient change efforts that benefit managers, employees and the customers of public agency services.

Research literature identifies ethical leadership, a leadership grounded in ethical norms and practice, as a critical vehicle for achieving organizational goals and fostering good governance. However, little research on leadership has focused on the public sector, leaving a gap in the literature. Leadership in governance is a concern in local government in Nigeria; in spite of the 1976 reforms, the country still lacks good governance and corresponding socioeconomic development. The purpose of this qualitative case study was to explore an ethical leadership model, and determine how such a model could inspire and sustain good governance in Nigerian local government administration. Ethical theories of utilitarianism, deontology, and virtue ethics comprised the theoretical frameworks for this study. Research questions focused on the ways in which Nigerian local council officials attempted to foster and sustain good governance via ethical leadership. Face-to-face interviews with open-ended questions were conducted with 25 civil service employees purposefully selected from a local government. Data were analyzed by identifying themes utilizing constant comparison; these themes included honesty, concern for people, citizen participation, accountability, transparency, and rule of law. Results indicated a preference for an ethical leadership style, with the potential to harness resources to develop Nigeria's socioeconomic situation and improve the quality of governance. The implications for positive social change lie in informing public officials of the value and attributes of an ethical leadership style as well as training institutional leaders on this model. As ethical leadership is fostered in public administration, socioeconomic and human development may follow.

Based on the Government Performance and Results Act, the United States Air Force is transforming its business through e-government, the adoption of information technology enabled enterprise business systems. The problem this research addressed was the lack of theory on implementation success of enterprise business systems, especially when users perceive that organizational mission and the value of the systems differ from the enterprise vision and goals. The purpose of the study was to conceptualize the acceptance of enterprise business systems by internal users. The research was based on theories about the influence and interaction of drivers of technology adoption and user acceptance. The critical research questions involved exploring the internal users' perceptions of the value of the systems, what users need, and how those perceptions align with the vision and goals of their organization and the enterprise business systems. Grounded theory was used to construct a theory of the value and acceptance of the enterprise systems from the users' perspectives and experiences. Data were collected from twelve study participants using open-ended and semi-structured interview questions. The data were analyzed using an iterative comparative process to derive commonalities and differences among user value. The findings demonstrated that when internal users value an enterprise business system, shared understanding of the vision the system will be effective and efficient and will meet organizational goals. These findings can be used to improve the alignment of the Air Force systems' value for the user and the enterprise, increase the transparency in IT transformations, and enhance the effectiveness of enterprise system change initiatives, thus resulting in overall reduced business costs.

Proefschrift--Leiden--Rijksuniversiteit, 1994. / Bibliogr. p. 257-268.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Rutgers University, 2009. / "Graduate Program in Public Administration." Includes bibliographical references (p. 197-208).

Thesis (doctoral)--Université de Bourgogne, 2000. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 556-636) and index.

Thesis (doctoral)--Université de Bourgogne, 2000. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 556-636) and index.

Texte remanié de: Diss.--Fakultät für Verwaltungswissenschaft--Universität Konstanz, 1996. / Bibliogr. p. 371-403.

L’administration des Bâtiments du Roi au XVIIIème siècle est une institution au service du monarque sous la tutelle de la Maison du Roi. Elle a en charge la construction, l’entretien et la réparation des résidences et bâtiments royaux comme les châteaux de Versailles, Fontainebleau, Saint-Germain, Marly, Compiègne entre autres. A ce titre, certaines académies comme celles d’architecture, de peinture et sculpture et de France à Rome en dépendent, ainsi que les manufactures des Gobelins et de la Savonnerie. Des départements plus spécialisés comme la machine de Marly, les rigoles de Trappes et Saclay, les marbres, les pépinières en font aussi partie. Le passage de la surintendance à la direction des Bâtiments du Roi sous le duc d’Antin (1708-1726) a des conséquences essentiellement sur le pouvoir du Directeur qui perd ses prérogatives au niveau financier par rapport au surintendant. Si l’organisation bureaucratique se consolide et se rationalise, les changements sont surtout liés aux difficultés budgétaires de la monarchie qui poussent aux économies et perturbent les missions d’origine de l’administration. Il s’agit d’une étude à la fois administrative, économique, politique et sociale qui expose le fonctionnement d’une administration centrale au siècle des Lumières. La thèse présente à travers l’étude de la comptabilité, le fonctionnement et l’organisation d’une administration qui se bureaucratise tout en étant un outil politique, particulièrement pour les Directeurs qui travaillent avec le Roi. Elle présente aussi une étude du personnel et de son travail quotidien entre procédures administratives, influences de la cour et difficultés financières. / The administration of the King's Buildings in the 18th century is an institution in the service of the King under administrative supervision of Maison du Roi. It administers the building, the maintenance and upkeep of the King's residences and properties such as the Château de Versailles, Fontainebleau, Saint-Germain, Marly, and Compiègne. In this respect, some academies like those of architecture, painting and sculpture, depend on it. One can also quote as examples the Manufacture des Gobelins and de la Savonnerie. The administration also includes the Departments of the Machine de Marly, of the drains in Trappes and in Saclay, those of the marbles and the plants nurseries. The evolution from the Superintendency to the Direction under the Duc d'Antin (1708-1726) has consequences on the power of the Director mainly, who loses his financial prerogatives in relation to the superintendent. Even if the bureaucratic organisation is strengthened and rationalised indeed, the modifications are mostly due to the budget problems met by the monarchy that urged for savings and impeded the initial missions of the administration. This thesis studies the way a central administration works in the age of the Enlightenment, focusing on the administrative, economic, politic and social areas. Through a study of the accountancy, it puts forth the functioning and organisation of an administration that is becoming a bureaucracy as well as a political tool, particularly for the Directors who work for the King. The dissertation also sets forth a study of the personnel and their daily tasks, having to deal with administrative procedures, the influence of the Court and financial difficulties.

The primary purpose of this study was to develop a better understanding of the role and accomplishment of selected urban School Councils in pursuing the mandated goals and objectives of the Massachusetts Education Reform Act of 1993. The study investigated the effectiveness of current policies and practices of School Councils in accomplishing the projected goals and objectives of the Massachusetts Education Reform Act in their school districts. Further, the study evaluated the perceptions of School Council members regarding the extent to which they are successful in pursuing the projected goals and objectives of the educational reform as a result of involvement in the development of a School Improvement Plan. The sample for the study included Council members of randomly selected elementary schools from four urban school districts in Massachusetts. The data for the study were collected through the use of a questionnaire validated by a panel of experts in the field of education and by conducting a follow-up personal interview with six of the respondents who volunteered to be interviewed. Both quantitative and qualitative methods were conducted to analyze the data collected for the study. The quantitative analysis was achieved by providing answers to the research questions through the use of certain descriptive statistics, as well as testing the research hypotheses through the use of appropriate inferential statistics. The qualitative analysis was pursued by classification and interpretation of the responses provided by the participating Council members to the open-ended items of the questionnaire as well as the resulting interviews. With regard to the scope of the study and in accordance with the resulting analyses, several conclusions emerged from a number of significant findings. Finally, in compliance with the significant findings of the study, a number of recommendations were made to those who are interested in evaluation of the role and accomplishment of School Councils. Future investigators are encouraged to replicate the study with a special focus on sampling representation and other methodological approaches to secure the generalization of the results.