published_or_final_version / abstract / Economics and Finance / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy

The purpose of this study was to identify the executive skills employed by County Extension Directors (CEDs), Trade Association Directors (TADs) and Team Leaders/Chiefs-of-party (TL/COPs), to determine which frequently used executive skills were common to all three positions and to identify the major source of executive skill acquisition. Analysis of the executive skills employed by CEDs and TL/COPs (the TADs were excluded from this analysis for statistical reasons) revealed 34 frequently used executive skills common to both groups. These were in the areas of problem-solving, group dynamics, decision-making, coordinating, communication and organization. Most respondents acquired their executive skills on the job, but 85% held Bachelor's degrees and over half of those were in agricultural disciplines. Study results indicated an opportunity for Colleges of Agriculture to develop executive skill curricula in addition to technical curricula at the undergraduate level. Internships and experiential classroom activities were recommended to facilitate executive skill development.

Fen Chi Leung Wilson. / Thesis (M.B.A.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 1989. / Includes bibliographical references.