McCormick, D F (2010) A mixed methods study of leader values while applying servant leadership in a construction-related company. PhD thesis, University of Phoenix, USA.
Abstract
Construction industry leaders have reportedly failed to provide for sufficient succession planning to address a potential loss of experienced and effective corporate leaders within the construction industry. A mixed-methods sequential explanatory design study explored the approach and progress leaders of one construction-related company based in Northern Virginia experienced in the company's journey implementing servant leadership. The study included review of archival quantitative data the company leaders collected through administration of an internally-developed instrument to monitor whether employees exhibited servant leadership principles. The quantitative data were a basis for qualitative inquiry through semi-structured interviews with each of the company leaders and onsite observations. The data were consistent with the company leaders' successful initiation of the culture changes necessary for success at the participating company. The study results included two challenges facing companies in the construction industry and five general leader observations about the participating company's circumstances. Interviews with the company leaders led to identification of 12 essential elements of success managers and leaders of construction-related companies might consider when assessing whether servant leadership should be applied by the leaders of a similar firm: acceptance, accountability, communication, internal consistency, flexibility in management and decisions, hiring relevance, integrity—ethics, long-term process, results, service, top management commitment, and training. Five positive experiences or benefits from use of servant leadership were identified and two observations about leader development were noted.
| Item Type: | Thesis (Doctoral) |
|---|---|
| Thesis advisor: | Conrad, K A |
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | accountability; culture; flexibility; communication; leadership; training; employee; interview |
| Index terms: | top management, manager, interview, accountability, commitment, servant leadership, construction industry, succession planning, mixed method, onsite, ethics, integrity |
| Subjects: | management, health safety and environment, building construction, liability law, leadership, industry analysis, data collection methods, practitioner, psychology, ethical practice |
| Topics: | Human Resources, Organizational Design, Research Practice, Construction Technology, Roles and Professions, Legal Issues, Health and Safety |
| Descriptive scope: | 4 PCTE |
N.B. Descriptive scope is a count of how many of the five facets of empirical research are indicated by the words used in title, abstract and keywords. It is not intended as a judgement on the research; merely a count of the kind of word we would expect to indicate Phenomenon, Concepts, Theoretical framing, Empirical techniques, Analytical techniques. If all five are present, then a code of “5 PCTEA” will indicate this. If you feel the coding for this record is questionable, we welcome discussion around the terms we matched or the way we categorized them. The facet you would expect may not be coded, or a facet may be coded inappropriately. This can also bear on a larger question, of which facets should be treated as defining in construction management research. Please get in touch, and we will look at it. More details here