Transformational leadership has been linked to improved organizational performance and has been recognized as a possible solution to the challenges in Health Care. The role of Nurse Executives (NE) has become an influential leadership position in Health Care Organizations (HCO) and a factor in improving HCO. The purpose of this research was to explore self-reported leadership practices of Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Medical Center NEs, examine leadership strengths of the NEs, and report professional development needs of the NEs. The study population consisted of NEs employed in the Veterans Affairs Medical Centers (VAMC’s) throughout the United States. The Leadership Practices Inventory (LPI) Self-assessment by Kouzes and Posner (2001) was the survey instrument. A letter eliciting participation and a web page address containing the LPI was emailed to the NEs. The survey was completed via the web and submitted electronically. Seventy-seven (55%) of the NEs participated in the study. The results indicate the VHA NEs in this study are using transformational leadership practices regularly. Self-reported leadership practices of this population of NEs indicate that they are engaged in the five leadership practices of challenging the process, inspiring a shared vision, enabling others to act, modeling the way, and encouraging the heart. The NE strengths are enabling others to act, modeling the way, and encouraging the heart. They scored slightly lower in challenging the process and inspiring a shared vision. The self-reported LPI scores of the NE in this study were statistically significantly higher than the leaders in Kouzes and Posner’s research (2002b). The NEs were asked to identify the five most essential leadership skills of exemplary NE. The results indicate professional development for NE should include: transformational leadership skills, financial skills, organization skills, and personnel management skills. Incorporating these skills into a professional development program for NE could be a starting point to improving organizational performance of HCOs. The results of this research provide insight into current NE leadership practices and the professional development needs of NEs, which may lead to the development of a model for professional leadership training for NEs.

This study examines the relationship between principal leadership practices and teacher morale. A sample of ten public secondary schools, with a total of 664 teachers and ten principals, participated in this study. The Leadership Practices Inventory (LPI)(Kouzes and Posner, 2002) was used to gather information regarding the principals' leadership behaviors. Teacher morale was measured by using the Purdue Teacher Opinionaire (PTO)(Bentley & Rempel, 1968). The PTO provides a total score as a single measure of the general level of teacher morale while also providing ten subscale scores on different dimensions of teacher morale. Demographic data was gathered through the Tennessee State Department of Education website and through personal interviews with school officials. Research questions explored teachers' overall level of morale, self-perceived and observer-perceived leadership practices of the principal, differences in teacher morale between less experienced and more experienced teachers, the specific leadership behaviors affecting teacher morale, and organizational and structural dimensions of each school that may impact teacher morale. Results showed that teachers who participated in this study exhibited a moderately high degree of teacher morale. The principals who took part in this study exhibited a higher rating in self-perceived leadership practices than the level found in existing research. Principals in this study also indicated that they engaged in the identified leadership practices more frequently than their teachers' perceptions of their behavior. There were significant differences between teachers with five or fewer years of teaching experience and those with more than five years experience. In measuring the relationship between leadership practices and teacher morale, a positive correlation was revealed pertaining to each of the five factors. In the analysis of school demographic characteristics and teacher morale, it was revealed that there was a relatively strong, positive relationship between teacher morale and Act scores as well as student matriculation to college. Recommendations for future research are presented.

In recent years the important of leadership in the organization has become an area of interest. Leadership has been noted to impact corporate culture, employee commitment and response and the overall performance of the organization. Given the fact that leadership is such an important part of organizational development and discourse, effective methods for developing effective leadership in the organization are needed. Without definitive methods for leadership development, organizations will not be able to optimize the outcomes of leadership in the organization. Thus, there is a clear impetus to delineate what works best in the context of leadership development. This study used concurrent qualitative and quantitative research to understand better the effect of cross-cultural influences on the leadership development programmes and leadership practices development in a study population consisting of managers and supervisors in the Kuwaiti banking industry. Although Kuwaiti organisations employ many international employees and operate foreign subsidiaries, they have not created leadership development programmes to improve cross-cultural leadership skills for managers. As a result, Kuwaiti managers often rely on traditional transactional methods and an authoritarian style of leadership that may be less effective with employees from different nations and cultural backgrounds. The qualitative phase of the research collected data from Kuwaiti bank managers through interviews while the quantitative phase of the research collected data with survey instrument. The quantitative phase of the study also tested the validity of a conceptual model and hypotheses using structural equation modelling and regression analysis. The research was guided by distributed leadership theory, which considers leadership as a series of interactions between leader and follower with the follower sometimes adopting an informal role as temporary leader. The theory also considers the context in which the leader operates as a critical factor for motivating leadership practise. The testing and validation of the theoretical model in the study led to the acceptance of a new 'Effective Cross Cultural Leadership' (ECL) model. This model describes the relationship between the exogenous or independent variables of cultural differences, training and development in traditional Kuwaiti leadership, cross cultural leadership development programmes and international leadership practises with the endogenous or dependent variables of leadership development programmes and leadership practises development. The testing of the hypotheses of the study showed a statistically significant relationship between the four independent variables and the two dependent variables with exception of the relationship between the independent variable of international leadership practises and the dependant variable of leadership programmes development. The quantitative findings also indicated that demographic variables do not have a moderating effect on the model. The qualitative findings of the study determined that cultural differences between employees and managers influence the managers' leadership behaviours and their understanding of the type of leadership development programmes to improve their cross-cultural leadership skills. Managers with greater experience or knowledge of foreign cultures adopt more flexible leadership practises when leading international teams. The qualitative findings also determined that front office managers are more willing to use participative leadership styles in leadership practises, while back office managers rely on authoritarian leadership styles focusing on tasks in their leadership practises, indicating that the context influences leadership styles and practise. The findings of the study including the development and validation of the Effective Cross-Cultural Leadership (ECL) model contribute to the theoretical and practical knowledge of cross-cultural leadership in Kuwait that can be extended to other Middle Eastern nations. In addition, the study finding extends cross-cultural theory by indicating that international influences both internal and external to the organisation affect leadership styles despite national norms and preferences. These findings implied that Kuwaiti organisations experience significant pressure to adopt some international leadership practises and styles to accommodate the expectations and needs of the many international workers employed in Kuwait. The practical implication of these findings showed that Kuwaiti managers would benefit from leadership training emphasising that no standard or correct approach to leadership exists and that it can be acceptable for leaders to use participative styles when warranted by the situation.

The purpose of this study was to to investigate the impact of leadership practices on service quality in private higher education in South Africa as a source of competitive advantage. Higher education institutions and, more specifically, private higher education institutions, have faced increasing pressure on many fronts in recent years. These pressures include increased competition, lack of support from key constituencies, an increase in the size and diversity of the student population, dealing with changing technology, increased calls for accountability, a higher demand for quality by all the stakeholders involved, more responsibility for research and teaching and greater emphasis on efficient and effective management. The literature review for this study suggested that leadership impacts positively on quality and, equally important, on service quality. The academic leaders at these institutions have a tremendous influence on the quality of the education provided and the service rendered to the growing number of students. Using a quantitative methodology and a cross-sectional survey research design, this study was conducted on five campuses of a prominent private higher education provider across South Africa using two survey instruments. The Leadership Practices Inventory (LPI) questionnaire was utilised to conduct the leadership survey while the SERVQUAL instrument was applied in the service quality survey. The campus principals of the five campuses and some of their selected subordinates completed the LPI survey. The SERVQUAL questionnaires were completed by 984 students from the five campuses. Correlation analysis was the major statistical tool used to analyse the data. The findings of the study indicated a strong positive linear correlation between the leadership practices of principals and service quality to students at these institutions. / Business Management / M. Com. (Business Management)

Twenty-first century schools are complex organizations that serve individual students’ needs while meeting accountability and assessment demands. Effective leadership balances these diverse responsibilities through collective work of the shareholders in order to assure high levels of learning for all. This qualitative study examined Response to Intervention (RTI) implementation in two high performing high schools in Kentucky. Both schools were classified as distinguished on the 2014-15 Kentucky School Report Card. One school has a long-standing tradition of high performance. The other school’s journey to high performance involved moving from a Needs Improvement School to a School of Distinction. The 4-D Appreciative Inquiry (AI) Theory was used to explore the collective leadership practices of the two high schools. Data collection instruments and protocols followed the four AI phases (discover, dream, design, and deliver). Data were collected through observations, site visits, artifact reviews, individual interviews and and focus groups. The effective schools characteristics, RTI core traits, and collective leadership practices provided the context for the study design. In studying the RTI implementation process, evidence of effective schools characteristics, RTI core traits, and collective leadership practices were observed. Both schools focused intentionally on core instruction as an integral part of the RTI implementation process. The data concluded that the schools continue to make progress in meeting more students’ needs. Both schools have strategic plans to discover, dream, design, and deliver new ways to maximize the collective strengths of the school community. Evidence of each phase of AI emerged in the stories, conversations, and artifacts at both schools.

The purpose of this study was to to investigate the impact of leadership practices on service quality in private higher education in South Africa as a source of competitive advantage. Higher education institutions and, more specifically, private higher education institutions, have faced increasing pressure on many fronts in recent years. These pressures include increased competition, lack of support from key constituencies, an increase in the size and diversity of the student population, dealing with changing technology, increased calls for accountability, a higher demand for quality by all the stakeholders involved, more responsibility for research and teaching and greater emphasis on efficient and effective management. The literature review for this study suggested that leadership impacts positively on quality and, equally important, on service quality. The academic leaders at these institutions have a tremendous influence on the quality of the education provided and the service rendered to the growing number of students. Using a quantitative methodology and a cross-sectional survey research design, this study was conducted on five campuses of a prominent private higher education provider across South Africa using two survey instruments. The Leadership Practices Inventory (LPI) questionnaire was utilised to conduct the leadership survey while the SERVQUAL instrument was applied in the service quality survey. The campus principals of the five campuses and some of their selected subordinates completed the LPI survey. The SERVQUAL questionnaires were completed by 984 students from the five campuses. Correlation analysis was the major statistical tool used to analyse the data. The findings of the study indicated a strong positive linear correlation between the leadership practices of principals and service quality to students at these institutions. / Business Management / M. Com. (Business Management)

Millennials, who by 2024 will make up approximately 34% of the U.S. workforce, will play a critical role in organizational strategies and productivity, as will the supervisors who manage them. The purpose of this multiple case study was to explore the intergenerational communication strategies that Generation X supervisors used to motivate and engage high performing millennials in the workplace. The framework for this study was Mannheim's generation theory and the 2-factor theory of motivation by Herzberg, Mausner, and Snyderman. Data were collected from parks and recreation employees in the southeastern region of the United States, including 4 Generation X supervisors who completed semistructured interviews and 2 millennial cohort focus groups. Data were transcribed, coded, and validated through member checking and methodological triangulation. The 4 themes identified were culture and socialization, relationship building and intergenerational connectedness, employee growth and development, and rewards and recognition. The findings of this research may benefit millennials, frontline supervisors, parks and recreation agencies, and leaders in other organizations by providing an understanding of generational needs. The data presented in this study may support positive social change by showing that supervisors and millennial employees can build high quality relationships within their organizations, enabling those organizations to support the communities they serve.

Submitted by Izabel Franco (izabel-franco@ufscar.br) on 2016-10-05T18:09:42Z No. of bitstreams: 1 DissRAP.pdf: 2083325 bytes, checksum: 8b08bb11f1ffc189f96f855382cec78e (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Marina Freitas (marinapf@ufscar.br) on 2016-10-20T16:26:14Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 DissRAP.pdf: 2083325 bytes, checksum: 8b08bb11f1ffc189f96f855382cec78e (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Marina Freitas (marinapf@ufscar.br) on 2016-10-20T16:26:21Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 DissRAP.pdf: 2083325 bytes, checksum: 8b08bb11f1ffc189f96f855382cec78e (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-10-20T16:26:28Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 DissRAP.pdf: 2083325 bytes, checksum: 8b08bb11f1ffc189f96f855382cec78e (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-04-29 / Não recebi financiamento / Companies, to sustain their products’ competitiveness (cost, quality and time), need to maintain an improvement rate greater than the competitors, and not only possess good strategies, systems or technologies. The concept of "continuous improvement" has become increasingly popular in the business environment, and it is associated with a variety of approaches, and the lean manufacturing as one. Although the lean tools and methodologies are relatively easy to be implemented in different contexts, few companies can turn into real lean enterprises, since they have good results in the early stages of implementation, but fail in the long-term support. One of the key factors for sustaining lean approach is centered on the leadership role. This dissertation aims to develop, by performing an action research, the current leadership practices in a production planning area belonging to a company in the large industrial sector located in the State of São Paulo, and with a history of eight years working through the lean approach, to lean leadership model for the people development, in which are considerated the following factors: promoting employees self-development, people developing and training, and support daily kaizen. During the action research was possible to propose and evaluate the leadership practices to promote and support the implementation of lean approach. It was observed during the action research as a major challenge to reconcile operational routine of leaders and the team with the implementation of the lean principles and tools. / As empresas, para sustentarem a competitividade de seus produtos (custo, qualidade e prazo), necessitam manter um ritmo de melhoria superior ao dos concorrentes, e não apenas possuírem boas estratégias, sistemas ou tecnologias. O conceito de “melhoria contínua” tem se tornado cada vez mais popular no ambiente das empresas, e esta associado a uma variedade de abordagens, sendo o lean manufacturing uma delas. Embora as ferramentas e metodologias lean sejam relativamente fáceis de serem implantadas em diferentes contextos, poucas empresas conseguem transformar-se em verdadeiras empresas lean, pois apresentam bons resultados nos estágios iniciais da implantação, mas falham na sustentação no longo prazo. Um dos fatores chaves para a sustentação da abordagem lean está centrado no papel desempenhado pelas lideranças. Essa dissertação tem como objetivo principal desenvolver, por meio da realização de uma pesquisa-ação, as práticas de liderança atuais de uma área de planejamento da produção de uma empresa do setor industrial de grande porte localizada no interior do Estado de São Paulo, e com histórico de oito anos trabalhando por meio da abordagem lean, ao modelo de liderança lean para o desenvolvimento de pessoas, no qual são considerados os fatores: promoção do autodesenvolvimento dos funcionários, desenvolvimento e treinamento de pessoas, e o apoio ao kaizen diário. Durante a pesquisaação foi possível propor e avaliar as práticas de liderança para promover a implantação da abordagem lean. Observou-se como maior desafio a conciliação entre a rotina operacional do líder e da equipe com a implantação dos princípios e das ferramentas lean.

Educators have regarded building leader-member relationships using collaboration as a fundamental component to successfully improve students' academic achievement. Ineffective collaborative leadership practices may lead to achievement deficits particularly for many urban charter schools operated by educational management organizations. The purpose of this case study was to explore collaborative leadership practices educational management organization leaders need to assist school principals in low-performing K-12 urban charter schools to improve academic achievement. Guided by Fiedler's contingency theory, this case study explored the successful collaborative leadership practices of educational management organization leaders and school principals in a midwestern urban charter school to improve academic achievement. Data collection included semistructured interviews with 3 educational management organization leaders and 5 urban charter school principals and reviewing archival company documents. Data analysis involved coding and theming significant phrases and emerging patterns related to successful collaborative leadership practices until reaching data saturation. The emerging themes revealed included collaborative practices; academic achievement; implementation to change; school improvement; professional development; compliance and regulations; organizational culture, and community involvement. Findings from this case study resonated with Fiedler's contingency theory and indicated the significance of collaborative leadership practices. A significant positive social change implication is that the awareness of collaborative leadership practices in low-performing K-12 urban charter schools can enhance student academic achievement.

No description available.