Behaviors used to create personal and organizational meaning studied
Dissertation Rules
Behaviors used to create personal and organizational meaning studied
Rose Nicole Villanueva wrote the dissertation “ Meaning Makers : A Mixed-Method Case Study of Exemplary Police Chiefs and the Behaviors They Use to Create Personal and Organizational Meaning ,” a summary of which follows , toward a doctorate of education in organizational leadership at Brandman University , April 2017
Following discussions and considerations regarding the opportunity to study “ meaning making ” in multiple types of organizations , four faculty researchers and 12 doctoral students discovered a common interest in exploring the ways exemplary leaders create personal and organizational meaning .
This resulted in a thematic study conducted by the research team of doctoral
Villanueva
students . The mixed-methods investigation was designed with a focus on the ways in which top executives in law enforcement make meaning for their followers and their organization .
Exemplary leaders were selected by the team from various public , for-profit and non-profit organizations to examine the strategies these professionals used . Each researcher interviewed three highly successful professionals to determine what behaviors helped them to make meaning ; the researcher then administered a survey to 12 followers of each leader to gain their perspective about the leadership behaviors most important to creating meaning in their organization .
To ensure thematic consistency , the team
co-created the purpose statement , research questions , definitions , interview questions , survey and study procedures . It was agreed upon by the team that for the purpose of increased validity , data collection would involve method triangulation and would include interviews and observations .
Throughout the study , the term “ peer researchers ” is used to refer to the other researchers who conducted this thematic study . My fellow doctoral students and peer researchers studied exemplary leaders in the following fields : Barbara Bartels , presidents of private nonprofit universities in Southern California ; Kimberly Chastain , chief executive officers of charter school organizations ; Candice Flint , presidents or chief executive officers of nonprofits in California ; Frances E . Hansell , superintendents of K-12 schools in Northern California ; Stephanie A . Herrera , female chief executive officers of private-sector companies in California ; Sandy Hodge , chief executive officers of engineering technology organizations ; Ed Jackson , exemplary technology leaders in Northern California ; Robert J . Mancuso , managing partners in consulting firms ; Zach Mercier , professional athletic coaches in NCAA Division 1 institutions ; Sherri L . Prosser , chief executive officers of healthcare organizations in California ; Jamel Thompson , K-12 superintendents in Southern California ; and I studied police chiefs in California and Utah .
The purpose of this thematic , mixedmethod case study was to identify and describe the behaviors that exemplary police chiefs use to create personal and organizational meaning for themselves and their followers through character , vision , relationships , wisdom and inspiration . Additionally , the study surveyed the followers of these exemplary leaders to evaluate the degree of importance to which they believe a leader uses character , vision , relationships , wisdom and inspiration to create personal and organizational meaning . Police chiefs were interviewed for this study regarding their insight in the use of the behaviors associated with character , vision , relationships , wisdom and inspiration .
There have been studies that have focused on these behaviors . However , there has not been a study that has included all five variables in the research that identify and describe behaviors that exemplary leaders use to create personal and organizational meaning . The literature and the findings support use of the five variables in the behaviors that create meaning .
The findings of this research show that exemplary leaders use all five variables throughout their leadership . Additionally , exemplary police chiefs agree that all five variables are needed , and one variable does not offset the others . Their followers also concur that the five variables are important to exemplary leadership behaviors that help create personal and organizational meaning .
Furthermore , the research yielded that both exemplary police chiefs and their followers concur that all five variables must be present in order to effectively create both personal and organizational meaning . The results in this study discovered that the behaviors related to character and relationships were essential variables for police chiefs to create meaning in their organizations . The overall findings concluded that the exemplary leaders and the followers had similar results relating to the five variables of character , relationships , vision , wisdom and inspiration for creating meaning .
The findings further revealed that the behaviors of trust , honesty , ethics and integrity were common themes when it came to
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the variables of character and relationships within the literature and among the exemplary police chiefs and followers .
Police chiefs and their followers do outstanding work in protecting and serving their communities each and every day . The ability to instill the behaviors relating to the five variables will create personal and organizational meaning for their organization and their followers .
This study confirmed the importance of meaning and creating purpose in everything we do . Exemplary leaders can collaboratively work with their leadership teams to create trainings and workshops relating to the five variables in order to become meaningful leaders . “ Great leaders recognize the vital importance of abundance and meaning to everyone in their organization . Including themselves ” ( Ulrich and Ulrich 2010 , p . 7 ).
Dissertation Rules
Research You Can Use is a periodic feature of EdCal that provides an opportunity for ACSA members to share their dissertation research . Publication of these summaries does not represent endorsement by ACSA of any specific program , policy or strategy . Dissertation summaries written by ACSA members in the past five years are welcome , along with a photograph of the researcher and present job title and location . If you have recent research to share , prepare a two-to-three page summary ( 750-1,200 words ), including vital statistics and conclusions . Email summary and photo to Cary Rodda , EdCal Editor , crodda @ acsa . org .
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REPORT
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include a policy timeline and infographic and are accompanied by a data tool looking at achievement gaps by county . The data tool shows the percentage of students meeting state standards on the most recent annual assessments in English language arts and math , as well as a county-by-county look at the achievement gap between Latino and White students on 2017 state assessments .
Find the report at https :// west . edtrust . org / resource / the-majority-report .
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