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Leadership is contextual and requires educational leaders in public schools to both comply with sweeping political changes and be the catalyst for consistent positive improvements in service to children. The hypothesis of this study is that educational leaders who are demonstrating transformational leadership behaviors are utilizing systemic thinking to make decisions. Scholars who have examined systemic thinking approach argue that it is an engine for dramatic improvements in both organizational function and consistent, productive growth. This study seeks to answer the question: To what extent do educational leaders demonstrate systemic thinking and transformational leadership behaviors? Using observations and interviews, this qualitative study will examine educational leaders understanding of systemic thinking as a approach, their decision-making process, and the relationship between systemic thinking and transformational leadership behaviors. This study will explore potential connections between systemic thinking and transformational leadership behaviors. Implications for practice may include professional development and training in systemic thinking as it relates to a school leader’s intense decision-making process, as well to what extent that this study shows a positive relationship between systemic thinking pursuant to transformational leadership behaviors. / Educational Leadership

The purpose of this study was to examine whether transformational leadership behaviors were significantly related to the variables of teaching efficacy, job satisfaction, and organizational commitment as perceived by special education teachers. One hundred twenty-one special education teachers from region seven of the Commonwealth of Virginia completed surveys for this study. Confirmatory factor analysis revealed that administrative support was the transformational leadership behavior most frequently recognized by participants of this study. Pearson correlation analysis indicated that administrative support was significantly related to the factors of job satisfaction and organizational commitment. However, administrative support was not significantly related to teachers' sense of teaching efficacy. Teaching efficacy did share a significant relationship with teachers' job satisfaction. This finding suggests that the higher teachers report their perceived their sense of teaching efficacy, the higher they report their level of job satisfaction. The highest correlation in this study was between the factors of job satisfaction and organizational commitment. These findings suggest that as special education teachers' perceptions of administrative support increases, so do their levels of job satisfaction and organizational commitment; thereby increasing the likelihood that special education teachers will remain in their current teaching positions. / Ph. D.

The primary purpose of this research was to extend current knowledge of the individual differences that are traditionally associated with leadership emergence and to determine whether the individuals characterized by individual differences attributed to transformational leaders were also likely to emerge as a leader in a leaderless group. Leadership behaviors and followers' perceptions of emergent leadership of individuals with Ross and Offermann's (1997) enabling and forceful personality patterns were examined in an emergence setting that facilitates transformational leadership. A secondary purpose of this research was to further our knowledge of the process of leadership. The leadership process defined by Lord and his associates (Lord, Fot & Phillips, 1982; Lord, Foti & DeVader., 1984) was expanded to include relevant elements of Mischel's theory of personality (Mischel, 1999). The contextual influence of the task situation and feedback from others were examined. Individuals did not differ on transformational leadership behavior, but forceful individuals did exhibit a greater proportion of initiating structure behaviors than other individuals and were rated highest on leadership. In addition, there was no evidence of changes in the leadership process due to feedback based on the perceptions of others. Limitations and implications for future research are discussed. / Ph. D.

Prior work in the transformational leadership realm has focused primarily on relations among leader behaviors and various criteria such as subordinate satisfaction and effectiveness. This restrictive focus has limited the degree to which one of Bass's (1985a) central arguments can be directly assessed; namely, that optimally effective leaders engage in both transformational and transactional behaviors. In this study, an analytic technique known as the pattern approach was employed to effectively discern which particular pattern of leader behaviors was associated with the highest levels of subordinate satisfaction and commitment. In general, the most effective leaders used a combination of transformational (e.g., stimulating subordinates to think of old problems in new ways; presenting a charismatic and inspirational view of the future) and contingent reward (e.g., providing pay or promotions in exchange for effective subordinate performance) behaviors, coupled with a low level of passive management-by-exception behaviors (e.g., remaining uninvolved until problems emerge). These optimally effective leaders were generally more successful than leaders who used predominantly one (e.g., transformational or transactional) behavioral style. / Ph. D.

The elementary principal is a key person in public schools. Few studies have examined women in this position in depth and detail. This study tells the story of one female elementary principal, Peggy Moles. Using interviews, surveys, observations, contact logs, and reviews of relevant documents, this qualitative study provides a detailed description of her professional life and her personal life as it relates to her job. Data were collected over a two-month period, and analysis was continuous throughout the study. The transcripts, surveys, fieldnotes, and written documents were examined for themes which describe the subject’s professional life and leadership style. Five characteristics of leadership were extracted from the data which describe this principal as a transformational leader: she (1) encourages the participation of others by creating a professional atmosphere and attitude in the school that provide incentive and willingness for the teachers, parents, and community to become involved; (2) shares the decision-making with faculty and parents; (3) enhances the self-worth of others through her acceptance of teachers as individuals who are professionals, but who also have lives away from the school; (4) creates a nourishing environment by being respectful, caring, inviting, friendly, accepting, and supportive; and (5) facilitates the faculty and the parents at her school through professionalism and modeling. The study offers a practical example of transformational leadership. It also provides descriptions of this principal’s leadership to which most males or females should be able to relate. The impressions of those around her are included to render a more vivid description of this female’s leadership and the environment in which she works. The study provides the reader an opportunity to examine the life of one female in school administration and, at the same time, gives the reader a feeling for the subject as an individual. A description of a "day in her life" ties the transformational leadership characteristics to the actual day-to-day events in the principalship of Peggy Moles. / Ed. D.

The demand for excellent service in the hospitality industry is critical. This study evolved from the author's twenty-five years' experience within the hospitality industry where managing emotions is vital to quality customer service. This study addresses the existing literature gap of the relationship between emotional intelligence and transformational leadership. A purposeful sample of 37 human resource directors and managers within Starwood Hotels and Resorts completed Schutte's (2002) Assessing Emotional Intelligence Scale, Bass and Avolio's (2004) Multifactor Leadership Questionnaire and a demographic questionnaire. To explore the relationship of emotional intelligence and transformational leadership, the study focused on emotional intelligence and leadership competencies of transformational leadership—idealized influences, inspirational motivation, intellectual stimulation, individualized consideration. These competencies correlate closely with successful culture transformation, and the study demonstrated strong correlation. Data analyses resulted in observing a statistically significant relationship between pairs of scores to pairs of measures of leadership behaviors . The results support the research of Leban and Zulauf, 2004; Mandell and Pherwani, 2003; Sosik and Mergerian, 1999). A confluence of the data analysis and literature review of the constructs—emotional intelligence and transformative learning—yielded a preliminary conceptual model, The Transformational Leadership Pathway. The proposed conceptual model, providing a basis for future research, captures the hierarchy of transformational behaviors that may provide an instructive method to bring about culture change within service organizations. Four important recommendations for practice and research are included. One research recommendation is to replicate the study as global cross-cultural research to create better understanding of emotional intelligence and transformational leadership. Three recommendations for practice include: (a) a proposed competency model as an antecedent to transformational leadership that advances a leaders' competency in reading and interpreting social cues of followers, and adjusts behavior to align with the emotional needs of the follower, (b) adoption of ability based measures that may add to the selection process and contribute to the hiring of hospitality professionals in the workplace, and (c) consideration of replicating the study as global cross-cultural research to advance the construct of emotional intelligence contributing to transformational leadership. Additional recommendations for research and practice are included. / Ph. D.

The COVID-19 Pandemic exacerbated a multitude of systems in the United States in 2020 up to current day. The structure of non-profit organizations across the country weakened as demands escalated for free food resources with specific pressure placed on food banks and food recovery organizations. There were citizens who had not previously relied on free food services who found themselves in drive through pickups, waiting for pre-packaged food boxes or the occasional you-pick operation to feed their families and themselves. The increase in demand for free food services was reacted to by those leading and directing the free food distribution sites through a time of crisis. This qualitative study serves to analyze food recovery organization (FRO) leadership strategies and principles that guided their decision making and problem-solving skills in response to food shortages and supply chain issues. The merge of the eight pillars of transformational and servant leadership theory provided propositional pillars that were tested in practice through interviews with FRO leaders in Appalachia. The discovery of how these leadership strategies were enacted during a time of crisis will guide the development of a training curriculum for nonprofit leaders in the future. / Master of Science in Life Sciences / The COVID-19 Pandemic exacerbated a multitude of systems in the United States in 2020 up to current day. The structure of non-profit organizations across the country weakened as demands escalated for free food resources with specific pressure placed on food banks and food recovery organizations. There were citizens who had not previously relied on free food services who found themselves in drive through pickups, waiting for pre-packaged food boxes or the occasional you-pick operation to feed their families and themselves. The increase in demand for free food services was reacted to by those leading and directing the free food distribution sites through a time of crisis. This qualitative study serves to analyze food recovery organization (FRO) leadership strategies and principles that guided their decision making and problem-solving skills in response to food shortages and supply chain issues. The merge of the eight pillars of transformational and servant leadership theory provided propositional pillars that were tested in practice through interviews with FRO leaders in Appalachia. The discovery of how these leadership strategies were enacted during a time of crisis will guide the development of a training curriculum for nonprofit leaders in the future.

The challenges we face in society are becoming increasingly complex. Addressing complex problems (such as climate change, food security, and water conservation, among others) requires working with others in an interdependent and collaborative environment. However, employers have noted that college graduates are insufficiently prepared to work effectively in teams. The central problem this study seeks to solve pertains to the inability of college graduates to engage effectively in teamwork. I have identified transformational leadership and effective followership behaviors as predictors of teamwork quality and team effectiveness in the study. This study applies an explanatory sequential mixed methods design to examine: (a) whether transformational team leadership is positively related to team effectiveness, as mediated by teamwork quality, (b) whether effective team followership is positively related to team effectiveness, as mediated by teamwork quality; (c) team members' perceptions of overall teamwork quality, (d) team members' perceptions of how transformational team leadership influences overall teamwork quality and team effectiveness, (e) team members' perceptions of how effective team followership influences overall teamwork quality and team effectiveness, and (f) the differences and similarities that exist between teams in the perceptions of teamwork quality, transformational team leadership and effective team followership. Quantitative data were collected through surveys that were completed by 98 students (n=98) subdivided into 20 project teams (j=20) in the Virginia Governor School for Agriculture, as well as 84 students (n=84) subdivided into 10 project teams (j=10) in a leadership class at the University of Georgia. Follow-up focus groups were conducted with five teams (j = 5, n = 27). Statistical analyses included: descriptive statistics, correlational tests, exploratory factor analysis (EFA), Cronbach's alpha tests, and a mediation analysis based on ordinary least square regression-based path analysis. Coding and thematic analysis of focus group transcripts were carried out in the qualitative phase. Findings indicate that transformational team leadership was positively related to team effectiveness ( = 0.54, p < .05), such that the relationship was mediated by teamwork quality. However, teamwork quality did not mediate the relationship between effective team followership and team effectiveness. Findings show a distinction in the perception of teamwork quality between teams. Those with low-quality teamwork started out with limited social cohesion, exhibited social loafing, and were polarized along in-group versus out-group lines. In contrast, groups with high-quality teamwork started out with team bonding, resolved minor conflicts quickly, and established team synergy. Similarly, findings show a distinction in the perception of team leadership between teams, where those with low-quality teamwork exhibited centralized leadership, while teams with high-quality teamwork exhibited shared leadership. Lastly, findings show a distinction in the perception of team followership between teams, where those with low-quality teamwork exhibited passive team followership, and those with high-quality teamwork exhibited proactive team followership. The study has important implications for college students, leadership educators, organizations, and researchers. / Doctor of Philosophy / In today's world, employers are interested in the ability of college graduates to work effectively in a team. This is because the problems organizations face today are increasingly complex and require teamwork. Unfortunately, employers have rated many college graduates as inadequately prepared to work effectively in teams. Seeing this problem, I wanted to know what factors influence college graduates' ability to engage effectively in teamwork. While leadership researchers have identified team members' leadership and followership behaviors as factors that influence their ability to work effectively in a team, there is a need to know what that relationship looks like. Therefore, in this study, I have explored how transformational leadership and effective followership behaviors of team members influence teamwork quality and team effectiveness. I surveyed 20 student project teams comprised of 98 students in the Virginia Governor School for Agriculture, as well as 10 student project teams comprised of 84 students in a leadership class at the University of Georgia. As a follow-up, I conducted small-group discussions with five teams to understand what was going on in their teams regarding teamwork quality, leadership, and followership. I found that transformational team leadership influenced team effectiveness by improving the quality of teamwork in a team. However, effective team followership did not improve the quality of teamwork in a team. I also found a distinction in the perception of teamwork quality between teams. Those with low-quality teamwork started out with limited social cohesion, exhibited social loafing, and were polarized along in-group versus out-group lines. On the other hand, teams with high-quality teamwork started out with team bonding, resolved minor conflicts quickly, and established team synergy. Similarly, I found a distinction in the perception of team leadership between teams, where those with low-quality teamwork exhibiting centralized leadership, and those with high-quality teamwork exhibited shared leadership. Lastly, I found a distinction in the perception of team followership between teams, where those with low-quality teamwork exhibited passive team followership, and teams with high-quality teamwork exhibited proactive team followership. The study has important implications for college students, leadership educators, organizations, and researchers.

Principal leadership is crucial to improving school effectiveness and positively affecting organizational culture in the midst of expectations from education reform mandates. Principals who provide direction and exercise influence can inspire commitment from organizational members to attain shared goals. Rural school principals face unique obstacles and situations as documented in the research and literature. This qualitative research study aimed to provide insight as to the perceived impact of transformational leadership behaviors and characteristics on organizational culture. This study also provided insight as to the transformational leadership behaviors and characteristics perceived to positively affect organizational culture. The protocols, which included interviews, were administered by the researcher to principals and certificated teachers at four rural elementary schools (two elementary schools not in Program Improvement [PI] and two elementary schools in PI) in Fresno County that met specific student demographic criteria. The data from the interviews provided insight regarding increased individual and collective stress in rural elementary schools due to the unprecedented expectations of NCLB. The organizational response to this increased stress was found to be contingent on the behaviors and characteristics by the rural elementary principal. The findings indicated a difference in perceptions between certificated teachers at the rural elementary schools not in PI and in PI. The rural principals in non-PI schools utilized communication to define clear expectation, and a collaborative decision making process to develop a shared vision which cultivated trust among certificated teachers to improve organizational culture and student academic achievement. The rural principals in PI schools were found to have utilized bureaucratic leadership approaches. The bureaucratic leadership approaches led to increased stress and frustration among certificated teachers. Frustration was found to have negatively affected organizational culture and no improvement in student academic achievement. This study validated the need for rural school principals to be aware of effective leadership approaches to positively affect organizational culture.