<p> This study examined the status of field employee turnover at a national afterschool program provider in relation to its turnover improvement goal and assessed the knowledge, skills, motivation, and organizational influences of those with the greatest impact on retention and turnover&mdash;frontline Area Managers (AMs) who directly supervise afterschool staff. Clark and Estes&rsquo; (2008) gap analysis served as the general conceptual and methodological framework for the study. A mixed methods convergent parallel study was conducted using document analysis, surveys, interviews, and observations. Document analysis revealed high employee turnover in the school year of study (62%), far surpassing industry norms and prior year performance. However, analysis also found high employee retention (74%), which can coexist with high turnover when most staff are retained, but a smaller segment repeatedly churns over the same period. Specifically, recurring turnover among 37% of the organization&rsquo;s field employee roles was found to be the source of its high turnover rate, while 63% of roles remained filled and therefore stable across the school year. Gap analysis of quantitative and qualitative survey results triangulated with interview and observation data illuminated barriers to AM success with retention and turnover. Barriers included limited knowledge of factors related to turnover, perception of minimal organizational focus on and resources for retention, significant external locus of control over turnover, and lack of ownership and accountability for turnover. The implications of these findings signal the risk of continued high turnover, where AMs could remain disempowered due to lack of critical knowledge, skills, motivation, and organizational resources for retention. The study concludes with recommendations for context-specific solutions grounded in literature and in the New World Kirkpatrick Model (Kirkpatrick &amp; Kirkpatrick, 2016), as well as an integrated implementation and evaluation plan, strengths and weaknesses of the study, limitations and delimitations, and recommendations for future study.</p><p>

<p> This phenomenological study examined the lived experience of 13 active mediators who conduct mediations between individuals of differing collectives (race, gender, age, religion, etc.). These mediators were volunteers, human resource professionals, or other external professionals utilized to assist in resolving workplace conflicts. They offered experience in corporate environments, state and federal government, school systems, and the community. </p><p> Study participants met the following criteria: (1) successfully completed the 40-hour mediation training; (2) conducted a minimum of 30 mediations over the past five years; (3) conducted a minimum of 10 diversity related mediations; and (4) experience with workplace conflicts.</p><p> As a phenomenological study, interviews were the method of data gathering. Following Merriam and Tisdale&rsquo;s (2016) interview structure continuum, data gathering occurred in two stages: highly structured/standardized and unstructured/informal. The first stage assessed the mediator&rsquo;s appropriateness for the study. The questions focused on the mediator&rsquo;s recent experience with conducting workplace and EEO mediations. The second stage was the detailed interview used to build an understanding of the lived experiences. Questions asked led to the understanding of the lived experiences of the mediators thereby supporting the research question.</p><p> Five conclusions emerged from the results of this study. (1) Communication that is poor or lacking is a major source of conflict. (2) Environmental changes have increased workplace diversity leading to more conflict. (3) Perceptions of fairness by authority and senior staff leading to conflict. (4) Parties who volunteer for mediation are more successful. (5) Mediators and the mediation process are not completely neutral.</p><p> Implications for theory are: the strengthening of the social identity literature by specifically identifying sources of conflict; expansion of the literature that explains the role management plays in conflict escalations; introduces a hybrid mediation style; and the expansion of trait theory literature by identifying which traits are prone to conflict. Recommendations for practice are workplace initiatives focusing on diversity and interpersonal skills; incremental training for mediators to ensure mediators practice in the spirit of neutrality; encouraging organizations to implement mediations for all conflicts prior to escalation of workplace chaos; and emphasizing the minimization of legal advice by licensed attorneys during mediations.</p><p>

<p> This study explored how middle managers experienced and responded to role ambiguity after they transitioned from previous roles well understood by the individuals and their role sets to new or redefined middle manager roles in high knowledge-based organizations (HKBO) that had undergone planned organizational changes. The study found that even in HKBOs where knowledge workers are the predominant workforce and change is constant, organizational change had significant negative impacts on middle managers. Their role transitions were found to be difficult and of negative valence when their preferred work role identities were challenged when in-role expectations were changed or by their new role requirements, which were often unclear, conflicting, or overlapping with other roles, leading to role ambiguity. Actions taken to resolve the sources of ambiguity such as the exercise of autonomy and working closely with their bosses to clarify expectations were ineffective without the support of the greater organization. Individuals found these impacts to be unsettling and to require significant identity work to redefine their work role identities. The key finding was that while externally they presented a work role identity that was accepted by their role set as consistent with the new role, internally they rejected that identity and maintained their preferred work role identity. This dual condition was seen to be persistent, indicating that these alternative identities can co-exist through construction of a coherent identity narrative that reconciles the differences and justifies the maintenance of the preferred work role identity while exercising a different role. Future longitudinal studies could explore how HKBO knowledge workers and middle managers are able to maintain this duality of work role identity and for how long. Also, for those who have successfully transitioned to new preferred work role identities, studies could assess how new learning was involved and how identity narrative was employed.</p><p>

<p> The purpose of this qualitative case study was to explore the role lean management tools serve to potentially stimulate learning within an (R&amp;D) team at a top 10 pharmaceutical company located in Northeast U.S. to ensure the organization can manage knowledge for developing innovation for drug development at a faster rate. Each of the nine participants worked together using the visual lean management tool for more than six months The information gathered from participant responses to semi-structured interview questions revealed the experiences, viewpoints, and reflections of the research participants regarding how the use of visual lean management tool influenced learning. Data were coded and analyzed with NVivo software for windows (QSR International, 2015) to obtain a detailed qualitative analysis of the narratives of each participant. The five findings included: (a) the SQDCI visual lean management tool provided a forum to share information to improve meeting metrics and timelines; (b) employee engagement and participation influenced the use of the SQDCI tool, meeting metrics, and timelines; (c) the metrics tracked by the SQDCI tool influenced employee engagement and meeting goals; (d) leadership support influenced employee engagement; (e) and time pressures negatively impact engagement in using the SQDCI tool and attending additional training. This qualitative case study contributed to the literature by identifying how the use of visual lean management tool influenced organizational learning by a pharmaceutical R&amp;D team. Finding methodologies that enhance the engagement of employees to transfer and manage knowledge remains essential for the pharmaceutical industry.</p><p>

<p> The purpose of this quantitative correlational study was to identify relationships between organizational culture types, supply chain integration, and firm performance. The study process included obtaining data from 201 supply chain professionals and procurement specialists working in various companies throughout the United States. Supply chain integration data and firm performance derived from results obtained from participants completing a 5-point Likert-type scale survey. The Organizational Culture Assessment Instrument helped with determining organizational culture types. The results revealed a significant correlation between supply chain integration and firm performance. All three integration variables, customer, supplier, and internal had a significant positive correlation with total integration and firm performance. The data also indicated that supply chain integration increased when organizational flexibility was present. An unexpected result was both clan and adhocracy cultures had a significant correlation to supply chain integration and firm performance. Conducting this study and revealing the findings added to literature and informs supply chain practitioners by determining the influence of organizational culture on supply chain integration performance. The results of this study substantiate that a flexible organizational structure, as shown in the clan and adhocracy cultures, increases supply chain integration and firm performance. As competitive forces intensify, the need for firms to develop a flexible organizational structure to leverage supply chain integration practices will increase. The results of this research could provide organizational leaders more insights into increasing supply chain integration efforts and improved firm performance through flexible culture alignment.</p><p>

<p> What is considered a fair and accurate performance appraisal depends on whom you ask. The performance appraisal, an evaluation/assessment instrument widely used by many human resource departments, has been in the controversial spotlight for almost as long as organizations have been in existence. The performance appraisal process (or lack thereof) is one of the mostly hotly debated human resources issue in today&rsquo;s work environment, and there is a trend to abandon traditional performance appraisals (Kenny, 2016). One purpose of the performance appraisal is to communicate to employees any information collected about their performance over a specified period of time. While the performance appraisal process is a critical function of human resources that can trigger assessment fairness perceptions, understanding how fairness influences job productivity and employee satisfaction, as well as employee behavior consequences, have practical implications. Social influences of perception are fast becoming contextual components of the performance appraisal process. The traditional approach to the performance appraisal is antiquated because the workplace environment has rapidly changed due to technological advances. The manner in which 21^st Century employees work and the definition of performance, significantly impacts how employee performance should be measured (Bititci, Garengo, Dorfer &amp; Nudurapati, 2012). Applying the social comparison, expectancy, and equity theories to the performance appraisal process suggests that an employee expects to be fairly compensated, recognized, and fairly rewarded for their contributions to meeting organizational goals. This research underscores the importance of incorporating organizational justice dimensions into the performance appraisal process. Additionally, this research enhances the understanding of organizational justice and the role that it plays on employee perception of the overall performance appraisal process. </p><p> Using thematic synthesis, employee and manager/supervisor perceptions, reactions, and observations of performance appraisal accuracy and equity were examined. These variables were identified as predictor constructs for appraisal effectiveness and satisfaction. The findings show that organizational justice within the context of the performance appraisal is significantly impacted by national context and demographic characteristics, and the relationship quality between the appraiser and appraisee is crucial. These results provide HR practitioners and organizations with a meaningful approach to integrate organizational justice. The pivotal role and important implications that organizational justice plays on the performance process is presented. </p><p>

<p> People with disabilities face discrimination around the world. This has a negative impact on society, individuals and the economy. In Saudi Arabia, people with physical disabilities face serious challenges. This research addressed the negative perceptions and attitudes toward disability in Saudi Arabia that resulted in discrimination against people with disabilities, create challenges for them and prevented them from participating in society equally. This mixed- method study investigated the challenges that face the physically disabled in Saudi Arabia in their personal, political, economic and professional paradigms. This research used quantitative and qualitative methods, to reflect the sentiment and impressions of both the disabled and non- disabled populations in Saudi Arabia on the topic of physical disability. There were 14 participants in the interview component of this research and 403 participated in the survey. This research identified the main challenges facing people with disabilities in Saudi Arabia as inaccessible environments, judgmental society, family and self-image, health care services and enforcement of existing laws and regulations. Furthermore, the results highlighted a number of steps needed for people with disabilities to overcome the challenges in their personal and professional lives.</p><p>

<p> Organizations that value tacit knowledge transfer (TKT) have significant advantages over competitors. The knowledge management (KM) community has identified willingness to share and use information as a TKT barrier. Trust has been revealed as key for building effective organization relationships. This study examined stages of trust as a pathway to bridge barriers that affect TKT. It was theorized that, if stages of professional relationship trust existed, then employees would be willing to share and use tacit knowledge. This was the foundation and inspiration for learning methods to measure and improve TKT. This quantitative research used structural equation modeling to investigate the direct effects of calculus-based trust (CBT), knowledge-based trust (KBT) and identity-based trust (IBT) on willingness to share and use tacit knowledge. Each stage was investigated individually. Results indicated that CBT and KBT significantly influenced TKT among employees. Employees in the CBT and KBT stage were more willing to share and use tacit knowledge. The results confirmed that CBT and KBT were pathways that bridged gaps for learning how to overcome TKT barriers.</p><p>

<p> This study examined the nature and impact of supervisor support on employee job satisfaction among fundraising staff within higher education. Sixteen fundraisers working in higher education institutions were interviewed about supervisor support for fundraiser task needs and personal needs, participant job satisfaction and supervisor impact on it, and participant intention to stay in their jobs and the field. Participants reported satisfaction with their supervisors&rsquo; task-related and personal support, high job satisfaction, and strong intentions to stay in their jobs and the field. Key mechanisms of supervisor support included aiding employee growth and development; accelerating and facilitating task completion; being caring, accessible, and communicative; and empowering employees. Doing meaningful work and attaining career achievement and growth also enhanced their job satisfaction. Factors increasing their stay intentions included their sense of achievement at work, rewards, and positive relationships. Suggestions for practice and continued research are offered.</p><p>

<p>Purpose: The purpose of this study was to discover and describe how exemplary leaders establish common ground and produce breakthrough results in the mental health field by utilizing the 6 domains of conflict transformation: collaboration, communication, problem solving, process, emotional intelligence, and ethics. Methodology: This thematic, phenomenological study was accomplished through examination of the lived experiences of exemplary leaders with firsthand experience transforming conflict and finding common ground. The target population for this study included executive-level leaders of nonprofit organizations, governmental institutions, state and national associations, and private businesses serving adults and children with mental illness, developmental or behavioral disabilities, and/or substance use disorders in the United States. Exemplary leaders were selected through criterion sampling to comprise the sample. In-depth, one-to-one interviews were conducted as the primary method for data collection. Findings: The findings from this study illustrate that exemplary leaders in the mental health field use key aspects of the 6 domains of conflict transformation as a set of intersecting behaviors that facilitate transforming conflict and finding common ground. Conclusions: It is concluded that leaders in the mental health field must have command of key aspects of the 6 domains of conflict transformation in order to achieve breakthrough results toward parity in the mental health field. Recommendations: Further research is advised: A replication of this study, a multiple-case study, and a mixed-method study are recommended to deepen understanding of finding common ground. Phenomenological studies exploring the unexpected findings in this research are also recommended. Developing the findings in this study will be useful for shaping policy, practice, and professional development in order to impact transformational change in the mental health field.