Pickett, A D (2021) Describing the perceived experiences and training of mid-level managers of millennials in the construction industry. EdD thesis, Grand Canyon University, USA.
Abstract
The purpose of this qualitative descriptive study was to describe how mid-level construction managers’ perceived experiences and training align with their perceived management style preferences of Millennials to create unique in-group LMX relationships with Millennials employed by a construction company that has offices in the major cities along the West Coast. Data were gathered from the 43 LMX-7 questionnaire participants, and 10 semi-structured interview participants, who work as mid-level managers of Millennials in the construction industry. Leader-member exchange (LMX) theory was the theoretical framework for this study. The Braun and Clark thematic analysis approach was utilized to analyze the interview transcripts. Six themes emerged from the analysis: Mid-level managers communicate openly and teach their Millennial subordinates, Mid-level managers seek to understand and support their Millennial subordinates, Mid-level managers are flexible and concerned, Mid-level managers hire women, resist, or redefine diversity and inclusion, Mid-level managers provide open communication and yearly reviews, and New encounters that build trust create unique in-group LMX relationships for Mid-level managers. The findings of this study may be leveraged to contribute to existing research on leadership in the construction industry, encourage an increased focus on research from the mid-level manager perspective, and generally progress LMX theory.
| Item Type: | Thesis (Doctoral) |
|---|---|
| Thesis advisor: | Lehmann, J |
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | diversity and inclusion; trust; women; communication; leadership; training; thematic analysis; interview |
| Index terms: | construction company, interview, manager, diversity and inclusion, preference, questionnaire, construction manager, thematic analysis, management style, construction industry, women |
| Subjects: | decision-making and reasoning, practitioner, organization, methods and analysis, management, industry analysis, sociology, data collection methods, profession |
| Topics: | Roles and Professions, Research Practice, Business Strategy, Human Resources |
| Descriptive scope: | 5 PCTEA |
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